The Picard Maneuver
Being British
Mar 1 at 2:25pmWeb
Show threadcattywampasMar 1
Stiff upper lip my chap.
Show threadBenchpressMuyDebilMar 1
The water company is probably privatized
Show threadOfficer_PicklesMar 1
They’re doing a great job, look at all that fresh water!
Show threadAlcoholicornMar 2
Fresh water, directly from the Themes.
Show threadDarkCloudMar 1
Unless they’re in Australia and NZ, then they become “Whinging Poms” because they used to not be able to handle the weather and culture.
Show threadLushed_LungfishMar 1
This has, iirc, led to some definite communication issues with allies. I think it was in the Korean war when a British unit was asked by an American unit what their status was. The reply was: just a bit sticky. Americans thought: all good no problem. British meant: we are surrounded, out of ammo and are about to be overrun.
Show threadespentanMar 1
Hehe, yeah, the Brits were surrounded by something like 20k Chinese soldiers, as I recall. A bit sticky indeed.
Show threadfox2263Mar 2
What happened to them do you know?
Show threadespentanMar 3

I don’t, but from this wiki article it sounds like at least some survivors were eventually rescued:

The surviving Glosters were rescued by a column of tanks; they escaped under fire, sitting on the decks of the tank.

Further reading: Battle of the Imjin River

English understatement - Wikipedia

Show threadSchwertImSteinMar 1
Could I ask for explanation?
Show threadDiplomjodlerMar 1
You can’t complain in the UK any more, or you’ll be jailed.
Show threadfourMar 1

oi, you got a license for that complaining?

Show threadThe Picard ManeuverMar 1
It’s an English stereotype that they feel awkward when expressing emotions and would rather suffer silently than “impose” on someone by asking for help.
Show threadSchwertImSteinMar 1
thanks
Show threadNaibofTabrMar 1
Keep a stiff upper lip, old chap.
Show threadhungryphrogMar 2
Ohhh I thought there was some stereotype about Brits getting water leaks all the time, that clears it up.
Show threaddeathmetal27Mar 3

I guess Pink Floyd was referring to this in the song Time:

“Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way.”

Show threadMiaouMar 2

Yankees are so over the top whenever they yell something that they believe the British speak in euphemisms all the time.

Of course this stereotype wouldn’t exist if they knew how to speak more than one language, or if non-native speakers didn’t usually learn simplified English.

Show threadgmtomMar 1
Nah in that situation it would be bad enough for a “things could be better honestly”
Show threadGiveOverMar 1
Jokes aside I think this situation would be “a bit of a pickle”
Show threadKnock_Knock_Lemmy_InMar 2
It’s a bit damp here.
Show threadMrsDoyleMar 2
Mustn’t grumble.
Show threadOwlMar 2
Dutch*
Show threadTheoriginalthonMar 2
Tis but a scratch
Show threadDestideMar 2
Living the dream
Show threadJaviMar 2
Oh yeah? Ask me about the weather, I dare you.
Show threadGandalf the GorsedMar 2
Tja. Kann nicht klagen.
Show threadOrangenkuchenMar 2
“Keine Kraft mehr zum klagen”
Show threadTargaryenTKEMar 2
So… am I just too American to understand the joke? Because my family watches a LOT of British TV and I swear to God it doesn’t matter what the show is but basically half of all dialogue is either a complaint or an insult (which is just a complaint about someone else if you think about it). Like, it there some meta humor I’m not getting? Or is it more of a TV vs Real Life thing?
Show threadhawgietonightMar 3
Read: Dr Livingstone, I presume
Show threadZILtoid1991Mar 3
Where’s the “innit” and the “loicense” mentions?