Yesterday we went to a mediaeval day at Bolsover Castle. Since I decided to grow down and do things that I used to be worried about, I was chatting away to the re-enactors when I realised that there were very few visitors actually instigating conversations but once one had started a small crowd gathered to listen. It dawned on me that it was the British thing about not drawing attention to yourself or not wanting to bother people even though the re-enactors love to talk to visitors.
The jousting was fantastic but again no matter how much the commentator tried to entice the crowd to cheer very few in our area did. Well until we started. It was really weird to sit with so many excited but silent people. Apart from the odd subdued, "Ooooh," people didn't get involved. We didn't feel constrained to be quiet esp when the Knight of the North was taking part. Oddly once we'd started whooping and hollering there was a ripple effect around us as if by drawing attention to ourselves it made it OK for others to join in and everyone enjoyed the freedom to be noisy.
What is it about the British that makes us so reticent in situations where it would be totally acceptable to be loud and excited?
Wicked Little Letters? (funny film of a long-forgotten case)