Two separate nations. Two entirely different cultures. Yet so deeply intertwined. What is your personal relationship with the U.K. or if you're English, what is your personal relationship with the U.S? British colonists owe the very existence of the United States today and have constantly had a direct impact on the evolution of American culture. From the Beatles invasion, the pop era of the 80s, Austin Powers, Lady Di, the Royal Family, James Bond, Harry Potter, a plethora of British rock bands over the last 40 years, PM Gordon and Blair, the BBC, etc. how has British culture affected you?

Not being from the US or the UK.... I would say both nations, cultures, etc have had a massive impact on my homeland.


I find it fascinating that Aussies align more with Canadians in every aspect, and find the with holding stiff upper lip of the Brits too much like pretend, and the whole Yank culture to be less than upfront also.

Canuuks are real... what you see is what you get...same as aussies.

A challenge. I lived with an Aussie once for 3 1/2 years. Ok, I'm game, how much do you know about British/American culture? Why do Aussies think they have the edge over Americans? Why do you think you have a special relationship with Canadians and the United States may or may not have a deeper relationship with Canada than you're aware of? Put your cards on the table, lass.

Australia back around the 24th May 1770 had a little drop in visit from a pommy bloke and a mob of his mates....a youngish buck by the name of James Cook...

He thought this strange country would make a fantastic place as a british penal colony.

And for the next 220 odd years most predominate influence was from the UK.

The US has become a more prevalent influence through politics, exports, finance over the past 50 odd years...post second world war...and culturally over the past 30 years through media....many of our children play pretend games with an american accent as the bulk of our television/ movies/ etc are american!!

Canadians and aussies have had an easy repoire since the get go of overseas visits.... culturally we are similar... a looser laid back attitude to life, a very real and authentic way of getting about, similar social health and welfare structures.



I made no comment in regards to US/Canada alignments culturally or otherwise...

I CANNOT comment on their compatability impact effect...as I am neither from the US nor Canada.

You asked a question...in your OP... I answered..... from ONE OF THE OTHER COUNTRY'S in the World's perspective.

Ironically there are more than two countries in the world!

I answer for me...MY PERSPECTIVE..... not a whole bloody universes perspective!

Touchy! Okay, have some ice cream and calm down a little. Americans have had a backwards concept about Aussies as much as Aussies do about Americans. You can thank the media for that. Outback Steakhouse, Steve Irwin, and Crocodile Dundee kind of messed up Oz's PR. Originally the Dutch, yeah, the bloody Dutch could have had OZ, but they passed on it, and gave it up to Cook. Alot of Americans seem to forget how Darwin and the Northern Territories had the bloody hell bombed out of it by the Japanese, until that movie "Australia" came out. I welcome your perspective, jess, just tell me how the whole Oz/Canadian thing got started. This is news to me. Convenient timing since the Winter Olympics are in Vancouver this year.

Dammit we're off topic here, it's gone to the U.S. vs Australia and I wanted to talk about the U.S. vs the U.K.




Where are you, Brits?

monty pythons the holy grail

benny hill

iron maiden

judas priest

sex pistols

Shawn of the dead

Good answer, but you left out Elton John and Culture Club!

And BonnyMiss

A long time ago............... Back in the days of the Raj I jest. I think most countries have been influenced by the culture of British Literary writings; Shakespeare being at the top of the list. I know for a fact that many Americans aspire to be like the British when it comes to social etiquette, some Americans class themselves as "well read" when they can quote from works the great bard. They are happiest when they can trace (and claim) their Irish,Scottish, Welsh or English heritage. Americans celebrate St,Patrics Days bigger than we do over here, and from personal experience, Americans seem to be fascinated by a British accent ( except Dan's) Yes,some Americans see us Brits as stuck up, boring, stiff upper lip and humourless..............We call that eccentricity; but that is for another thread.

I agree. Forgot to mention ol' Willie Shakespeare. Yes, his work is quite popular in the U.S. Regarding heritage, mine is Scottish, so I feel a certain kinship with the British Isles. I never had a problem with the British style humor, though it is somewhat of an aquired taste and has a certain dry wit to it. London has the 2012 Summer Games coming up, and that will be good for Britain, as long as there's no British Airways strike then. My church pastor in fact is British, he lived in Bristol about 8 years ago, and he still has the Queen's tongue.

I have to agree that us Canucks can relate better to the Aussies. The Canadian/American relationship has become very strained mostly because of the free trade agreement. I have personally been bashed by quite a few Americans for being Canadian but still do think very highly of the Americans. Cheers.

don't forget...you guys butter your buns over there too

Although I am curious about something. In America we have the states and each state is almost like it's own country. Example: Texas is nothing like NY, Cali is nothing like Arkansas, etc.

Is it similar over in the UK?

There's nowt wrong with a buttered bun.

Each counnty (and country) has its own "culture" the Welsh, Irish and Scottish have their own language (Gaelic) but it differs for each country. The Scotts speak Gaidhlig, the Irish-Gaeilge and the Welsh - Cymraeg, then there are the Orkney islands (an archipelago in northern Scotland) their language is Norroena, although not so widely spoken in our modern times. When it comes to mainland England, there are some differences in regional "slangs" and accents. You know as East Ender from the way they speak and the same goes for anyone from Cornwall, Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester etc. On the whole we are able to understand each because we all speak a common language - English, I guess some may call this globalisation.

that's right,Arkansas is better than Cali

I cant think of any way the UK culture affected me in my whole life until I actually visited the UK and married a Brit. Well, there were those 'patriotic' songs in grade school which were actually sampled from British anthems....

Hi Jess

Nice country ya gots there... Wanna F..K?

There was something called the American Revolution.

Wanna Fork?...nah I eat with chopsticks....but thanks for that.