KristieJun 30

New piece of writing on how British politeness and 'manners' are the last surviving pillars of the Empire.

'Not all legacies of the British Empire are loud. Some are quiet, habitual, and dressed in good intentions. In the UK, tone still trumps truth, and politeness remains more culturally sacred than justice.'

https://kristiedegaris.substack.com/p/please-thank-you-and-other-forms-of-control

#Writing #WritingCommunity #Culture #Scotland

Please, Thank You, and Other Forms of Control

How politeness is the last surviving pillar of the British Empire. Not all legacies of the empire are loud. Some are quiet, habitual, and dressed in good intentions. In Britain, tone still trumps truth, and politeness remains more culturally sacred than justice.

Kristie De Garis
Show threadCara BruarJun 30
@kristiedegaris excellent post, thank you. This scourge also exists in Australia.
Show threadKristieJun 30
@CaraBruar Ah I'm sorry. I feel the British are to blame for this also. A scourge indeed!
Show threadCara BruarJun 30
@kristiedegaris well, the British started it, but in theory we have been an independent country since 1901. One day we might act like it. But I think most cultures have a similar system, especially tone policing.
Show threadKristieJun 30

@CaraBruar I find my directness is often appreciated more elsewhere, not everywhere of course, but it goes particularly badly in the UK.

I looked into a lot of surveys on tone policing and it does seem incredibly widespread.

Show threadanthropomorphic blast radius
@kristiedegaris @CaraBruar I have known a couple of Nigerian ladies in the last handful of years. They are rude! Damn! lol They speak plainly and it's funny to watch people get themselve tied up in knots about it.
Jun 30 at 8:48pmWeb