Americanisation of the UK

They were horrible. When I was 15 1966 my mum saved up and bought me a mid brown pair to go to France to visit a family in Paris she had known during the war.

Oh dear ...Paris up to date teenagers...within 2 days I had used all my holiday spends to buy a pair of cord Levi jeans

(to Irismarle)

stayanotherday

Yes. Proms, play dates, car pools, baby showers and gender reveals. Halloween is a whole industry now instead of apple bobbing and knocking on neighbours doors in a homemade costume for a few pence.

I call Radio 4 the American station as there are lots of programmes about or dominated by Americans.

If you want to see the future of Britain, look at America.

I really hate the "Prom" thing, many children don't have the money to buy the fancy clothes. I think Baby Showers are just grabby attempts to get presents, and some Hen and Stag nights cost participants more than most people earn in a month.
I don't mind gentle Trick or Treating for young children, but buying expensive costumes and damaging property are just too much.
My grandson had a "Graduation Ceremony" when he left nursery. No. Just no.

Maggiemaybe
I can top that, TiggyW. One of our charity shops has put their Christmas cards out on display.

And I have just bought some to take back to France with me. 🤣

Their spelling ?

It isn't only the UK and English that is affected, though. Every country in Europe that I have been in, and I have been in many, has fast food both as an acuality and as a word, sells cheap plastic toys to celebrate Halloween etc.

Just so you know, very few people in Scotland used the word "knickers" when I was a child, it was actually consider rather vulgar. Children wore pants, or underpants, ladies panties or briefs. A lot of men wrapped their shirt tails between their legs and did not wear underpants, those that did called them underpants.

We knew English people talked about knickers, just as they called their daughters "darling" in public, something no Scottish mother would have dreamed of doing. "Dear" was the usual affectionate term, or "love" .

Worthingpatchworker It’s doubtful they would celebrate Bonfire night as this is framed in our history not theirs. Instead they celebrate their history with Independence Day with fireworks.

Their Independence Day is "4th of July" - amusing that whilst in America they're somewhat confused by Revolutionary war on the whole.

We've been asked if we know "the 4th of July"? Of course, day after 3rd July and day before 5th July. However, they seem to feel we should be insulted. No, grateful you have your own history.

We are only ever 10 years behind USA. Which I find frightening when you see what’s going on over there.

I have only had a
KF. twice and been ill both times.
On holiday in China there was no other choice near the hotel than a McD The Chinese had a salad with their meal but didn't know what to do with it so left it on the plate. They had gone out for an English !!!
I met an American who didn't know where England is, In Us my SiL was asked to donate sick leave to someone who wanted cancer treatment and another wanting extra maternity leave . That would cause a revolution here.

cannot stand it when I hear teenage boys from Surrey trying to sound like they are tough american gangsters hip hop artists from the bronx , so stupid

We have employment laws which protect British workers from the working conditions prevalent in America. I doubt if they will be repealed any time soon.
Eleanor Roosevelt famously said that no-one can make you feel inferior without your permission.
Similarly, nobody can make you adopt American language, culture and customs without your permission.
If other people choose to, it’s their freedom to do so.

Having read many of the comments here, I am not sure what the problem is? Surely it is up to the British as to whether they adopt any influence from America? I came from Britain in the early Nineties to live in California, and I was guilty of being critical of a lot of things here. But over the years, and having come back to visit family in England every year, I really love the genuine friendliness of the people; the weather is wonderful; lifestyle is easier….. I am sure I will get some criticism, but unless you have lived in America for a long period of time, you cannot appreciate it.

Agree with most of what you say but never said knickers in my life! 🤣It's always been pants or underwear...

cc

stayanotherday

Yes. Proms, play dates, car pools, baby showers and gender reveals. Halloween is a whole industry now instead of apple bobbing and knocking on neighbours doors in a homemade costume for a few pence.

I call Radio 4 the American station as there are lots of programmes about or dominated by Americans.

If you want to see the future of Britain, look at America.

I really hate the "Prom" thing, many children don't have the money to buy the fancy clothes. I think Baby Showers are just grabby attempts to get presents, and some Hen and Stag nights cost participants more than most people earn in a month.
I don't mind gentle Trick or Treating for young children, but buying expensive costumes and damaging property are just too much.
My grandson had a "Graduation Ceremony" when he left nursery. No. Just no.

Exactly and it's all for show instead of low key enjoyment. Heard of the nursery graduation. Daft isn't it?

Babs03

stayanotherday

It is Jane as call me an idealist but I would prefer a country that looks after its citizens.

The end of year school disco, yes! I was shy but at least it was simple fun rather than all the pressure and money attached to proms. Shame your son couldn't go to his graduation but the university might accommodate by letting him tag along to a later time if he changes his mind

Yes I think proms are a bad idea, some kids from better off backgrounds arrive in a stretch limo, wearing designer dresses or tuxedos. I even heard of parents hiring a helicopter for their child’s prom. And friends of ours said their Dil hired someone to do their daughter’s make up and hair. Is costing parents thousands. And kids from poorer backgrounds will probs feel awkward.
The end of term disco is a much better option. We didn’t have anything to mark the end of the last school term, we just hung around near some allotments drinking barley wine and scoffing sweets.
I was sick as a dog and told my mum I must have a stomach bug.

It's just getting bigger and brasher all the time and competitive.

Now that sounds much more fun!

I’m with Lixy and Tenko

I’m not a fan of the American obsession with money and the lack of workers’ rights etc.

However, I’ve embraced full-on Halloween celebrations as it pleases my older DGS - where he lives make a big thing of it.
In addition, I’ve had baby showers here for both DDs. In fact, I’ll jump on any bandwagon to liven up life, especially in the dark Winter months. I hope there’ll be memories for my DGSs when I’m long gone.

The incorrect use of font instead of typeface drives me up the wall!!

Nannee49 - I assumed that developed lazily here - is it from America then?
What word do they use for font then?

I was brought up to refer to my under garments as pants in 1950’s, my mother considered knickers to be common!

The two ladies we met from Maryland, always changed their pants before dinner -I was a bit surprised, till they turned up in trousers different from the ones they’d worn all day.

As an American, I just want to say that the same is true on our side, to a certain extent - but in a more positive way. Here in the US, you are all seen as the cool cousins across the pond.

My three closest friends, my actual cousin - who spent her junior high and high school years (Senior School and Sixth Form) in England, and I watch mostly Britbox, Acorn, and PBS Masterpiece shows which have spoiled American TV for us in many ways. I've even watched the American and British versions of some shows like "Ghosts" and "Life on Mars", and the British versions top ours hands down.

Our favorite bands growing up and some current favorites are/were The Beetles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, The Who, Elton John, Ed Sheran and Adelle.

My dad spent his last days watching Fawlty Towers, Keeping up Appearances, Doc Martin, Call the Midwives, As Time Goes By and Foyle's War. One of these shows was on every time I went by to see him. His only trip to Europe was to England to visit all of the English pubs because as a retired engineer he put together the beer making apparatus for his friend's brewpub here in California.

My son got me into Doctor Who. That same son honeymooned in London and saw a play at the West End. Pride and Prejudice was my favorite book in high school English and now the majority of my Audible novels are by British authors.

And most Americans love anything to do with the Royals current or historical.

So it certainly goes two ways, eh?

What an interesting post gmarie.

We lived in America for a while and found the TV and processed foods pretty shocking, I admit...
But when we returned to the UK we definitely thought we needed to import some US "can do" attitude and optimism which did not seem to be evident here!

We should all maybe be a bit more relaxed about language and customs and take the best of our neighbours where we can.

This thread is (mostly) very sad to read.

Mollygo

The two ladies we met from Maryland, always changed their pants before dinner -I was a bit surprised, till they turned up in trousers different from the ones they’d worn all day.

We've had holiday homes in America. Been on many holidays in America, apart from whether we had a home there or not. Had, both of us combined, 6 operations in America, whilst working there to be able to have 'group insurance'.

I find Americans friendly, polite, positive, easy to talk. I dislike "gun in my car or pocketbook attitude. I also dislike "Catholics aren't Christian" (not saved) bit. I'm easily amused by words in common and different.

Knickers, pants, panties, trousers, slacks - I can work most of their words out easily. I dislike trousers, preferring jeans - they say black slacks with panties under. I say jeans with pants under - they don't understand.

Biscuits, cookies. Scones, biscuits. None of that matters.

There is a current BBC news report about the fire at Somerset House. Apparently the "Van Go" painting is safe!!!

The other thing which maddens me is the use of "train station" instead of "railway station". The news and Homes Under the Hammer are the worst culprits.