Americanisation of the UK

This thread is (mostly) very sad to read.
I agree Peli.
It’s as if a lot of posters don’t realise there are American members of Gransnet, and moderate their posts accordingly, or they do realise, but don’t care how offensive their comments appear.

polly123

I have noticed it for some time and hate it. I hate all the silly rituals which have now become part of our culture and also the sloppy language and spelling. As has been said, other European countries have managed to keep their language and identity.

Have you visited France recently?
The French love American culture.

unherd.com/2022/04/america-has-captured-france/

I got into so much trouble with the lovely American man who shared our table on a cruise, gmarie. His companion mentioned that the last series of Downton Abbey, which she loved, hadn’t made it to the States at that time and I told her it was on the ship’s TV schedule. She barely left their cabin till she’d watched every single episode.

peli

This thread is (mostly) very sad to read.

I agree, Peli. Our son’s lovely wife is American and they and our two GC live in the States. We’ve never been met with anything but kindness and interest (apart from at immigration at Chicago!) from Americans on our many visits to different areas of the US.

Of course there are plenty of aspects of the US that we don’t like but to diss a country because there are small differences between us seems mean-minded and petty.

Well said suedonim.
Our family situation is the same (DiL American) & we have received nothing but kindness from her & her extended family and friends.

Oh dear.
This thread must have moved away significantly from its initial aim. To discuss how American culture/traditions have to some extent taken root in the UK.
I also have relatives in America and at no point was this thread about having a go at Americans.

Maggiemaybe

My American son in law was very embarrassed when two of his brothers came to stay. He took them to London and they insisted on talking to total strangers on the Tube! he had to explain to them that "we" don't do that!

Maybe it does people good to have their norms challenged, Deeda!

"A lot of men wrapped their shirt tails between their legs and did not wear underpants, those that did called them underpants." Oh my goodness, I did not know that and I can't un-know it now!

Really nothing to get my knickers (or pants, panties, underwear etc.etc. ) in a twist about, I would be more worried when people in the UK start having the 'hero worship' that Trump gets in the USA. Languages evolve including English. The Americans actually made English as widely spoken as it it today and an International Language, not the English, they took the English Language to more countries than we did.

The Americans actually made English as widely spoken as it it today and an International Language, not the English, they took the English Language to more countries than we did
And on Tangier Island, VA, they still speak English in the way it was spoken in England in Shakespeare’s time.

I’ve missed GransNet and all you lovely ladies - but here it’s been all politics for me. Now that the Democratic convention is over and Kamala Harris/Tim Walz have been put in place as our candidates… Onward!!

I’m reading this topic with great interest. When I visited England I came away thinking I’d much rather have your cultural norms penetrate our society and way of living, than you becoming Americanized.

But of course, you can’t stop the lightening speed at which the whole world seems to be morphing itself into some indistinguishable blob.

Nice and fun to try new things but everyone needs to hang onto the ethnic and cultural traditions we came from. The younger generations probably don’t care as much as we do, but all will not get lost if we just keep them going at home and in our communities.
Wishing all of you a g’day!

Oh Americans aren’t that bad surely?

Halloween is Celtic Festival of Samhain btw so trick or treating is a Scottish and Irish import into America!!

Really annoys me that "Mom" has got into Uk speak instead of "Mum"!

The only aspect of American culture that I don't like is that so much of it is monetised.

gentleshores

Really annoys me that "Mom" has got into Uk speak instead of "Mum"!

This crops up from time to time on GN but, as the daughter of a "mom", I feel I have to reiterate that "mom" has been widely used in the West Midlands for many decades - probably centuries - so is by no means an import from the US.
And, even if it were, why is it not just as acceptable as "mam", "mum", "ma" or any other pet name for a female parent?

Scribbles I agree. My DD’s spent most of their childhood in the northeast & call me Mam. My DS, for some reason, addresses me as ‘Muvva’ which I think originated from Viz comic. 😆