"The English are no craic"

07-05-2019 7:57pm

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

No they are not.

That is because you are FROM there.

They don't do that for everyone.

Dubliners are nice to people they know too ..anyone can do that!

Country people are nice to the people they know well in their area. It isn't that they are nicer people.

I'm not so sure. Have you ever hitch hiked in rural Ireland? You won't be waiting for long. There isn't a culture here where helping a stranger is seen as an ordeal.

I love Dublin for different reasons, it's my home for now, and as nice as my neighbours are, there's a very strained formality. I once got locked out my apartment, so I buzzed the neighbours to buzz me in. The next day, the woman's partner knocked on the door saying that was grand as a once off but please not to make a habit of it. I was stumped.

ILoveYourVibes · 07-05-2019 7:58pm

completedit wrote: »

This is our worst national trait. We can be very very stand offish and reserved in the cold light of day. Like no link between seeing a person on a night out and then just randomly.

Very true.

I don't have this trait at all though. Dunno where it comes from.

ILoveYourVibes · 07-05-2019 8:00pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

I'm not so sure. Have you ever hitch hiked in rural Ireland? You won't be waiting for long. There isn't a culture here where helping a stranger is seen as an ordeal.

I love Dublin for different reasons, it's my home for now, and as nice as my neighbours are, there's a very strained formality. I once got locked out my apartment, so I buzzed the neighbours to buzz me in. The next day, the woman's partner knocked on the door saying that was grand as a once off but please not to make a habit of it. I was stumped.

I HAVENT HITCH HIKED IN RURAL IRELAND BUT AM SURE GONNA TRY IT NOW!

And if i get murdered its YOUR fault!

I think its just considered 'unsafe' in Dublin not an ordeal.

Electric Sheep · 07-05-2019 8:03pm

Most Irish people are not as much craic as they think they are. Try listening to them sober.

Mad_maxx · 07-05-2019 8:05pm

completedit wrote: »

To know what the craic is, just look at what it isn't. Take your typical Midwestern American and there you have the antithesis of the craic and or banter

Americans are extremely dull in my experience

ILoveYourVibes · 07-05-2019 8:05pm

Electric Sheep wrote: »

Most Irish people are not as much craic as they think they are. Try listening to them sober.

And far ruder than they think they are. A lot of Irish are way more obnoxious than Americans. Particularly with the swearing and aggressive behavior sometimes. A lot of Irish people never learnt to be civil.

Alrigghtythen · 07-05-2019 8:07pm

I met the English once and they were great craic

Jimmy Garlic · 07-05-2019 8:08pm

Bunch of dryballs with ridiculous haircuts.

partyguinness · 07-05-2019 8:09pm

cgcsb wrote: »

They go to weddings and go home at 9 o'clock in silence.

Yeah and it's on a Monday- been there done that.

Mad_maxx · 07-05-2019 8:12pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Well, not that we should be turning on one another when there are innocent Brits to attack, but it's Dubliners I've always had a problem with.

They're like Londoners without the sexy accent and sexy salaries. A highly rude, very unhelpful class of people. Down home in the countryside, people would quite literally go out of their way to help you, and think nothing of it. My neighbour once footed all our turf for absolutely no reason except to be nice. Our neighbours are like family - they come into our yard and take our things without asking, and we do the same. You'd be considered an eccentric to ever complain to them with any seriousness.

I often find that Dubliners have taken from the British (whose jurisdiction was of course only really focused in The Pale) an excessive formality and a most British orderliness. They may not be as bad as the tedious British Middle classes, but there is an inflexibility there, a coldness, that doesn't tend to be found in rural Ireland.

It isn't just an urban thing either. Galwegians are lovely too, as are many people from Limerick and Cork. Although the less said about Belfast, the better.

Even though it has a lot of scum, Limerick people are very warm, unpretentious and friendly, Galway city is the smuggest place in Ireland outside D4 and D6, Galway County is incredibly clannish, Galway isn't friendly overall, mayo is a very friendly place.

ILoveYourVibes · 07-05-2019 8:17pm

I never understand how people can take issue with an entire area or the people from an entire area.

One thing I DO like about the British is they are just a tad more polite than Irish people.

partyguinness · 07-05-2019 8:18pm

It must also be borne in mind that part of the so called 'craic' and Ireland is that Ireland is a very small country and essentially still quite monocultural and indigenous. A small island of 4m people. This gives us a more homely approachable nature- almost innocent.

England or even Britain has a population touching 70m and is hugely varied and complex. It is truly multi cultural and a multi national society in a way Ireland will never ever be or could even begin to imagine. Within 30 miles radius of me is a population of 6m- more than the entire island of Ireland and I am nowhere near London.

cgcsb · 07-05-2019 8:19pm

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

No they are not.

That is because you are FROM there.

They don't do that for everyone.

Dubliners are nice to people they know too ..anyone can do that!

Country people are nice to the people they know well in their area. It isn't that they are nicer people.

My experience of the garden variety midlands culchies is a fear and loathing of outsiders coupled with resentment and gossip.

completedit · 07-05-2019 8:20pm

Mad_maxx wrote: »

Americans are extremely dull in my experience

Ash they are a nation of extremes tbf. But the ones who come to Europe will often be a bit dull. They're usually the ones who feel mortified to be American an have trump as president.

partyguinness · 07-05-2019 8:21pm

cgcsb wrote: »

My experience of the garden variety midlands culchies is a fear and loathing of outsiders coupled with resentment and gossip.

You are far braver than me to even go there in the first place. The midlands is somewhere to pinch your nose travelling between Cork and Dublin...:pac::pac:

EmmetSpiceland · 07-05-2019 8:22pm

Mad_maxx wrote: »

Even though it has a lot of scum, Limerick people are very warm, unpretentious and friendly, Galway city is the smuggest place in Ireland outside D4 and D6, Galway County is incredibly clannish, Galway isn't friendly overall, mayo is a very friendly place.

Galway gets pretty “wild” as you push further west, and I don’t mean in a party sense.

07-05-2019 8:23pm

cgcsb wrote: »

My experience of the garden variety midlands culchies is a fear and loathing of outsiders coupled with resentment and gossip.

To an extent.

By all means we'll share our farm machinery with you and mow your lawn but it doesn't mean we like you, and we all have a long list of sworn enemies.

I have one neighbour who would sooner run you over as look at you, I don't mean to say this is a utopia.

But people generally get along and will go out of their way to help you, and feed you, and speak to you -- even if you don't want their help, food, or conversation.

We are also ferociously nosey.

cgcsb · 07-05-2019 8:24pm

partyguinness wrote: »

You are far braver than me to even go there in the first place. The midlands is somewhere to pinch your nose travelling between Cork and Dublin...:pac::pac:

Its a region best seen from the window of an express train alright. Flat like the accent.

cgcsb · 07-05-2019 8:28pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

To an extent.

By all means we'll share our farm machinery with you and mow your lawn but it doesn't mean we like you, and we all have a long list of sworn enemies.

I have one neighbour who would sooner run you over as look at you, I don't mean to say this is a utopia.

But people generally get along and will go out of their way to help you, and feed you, and speak to you -- even if you don't want their help, food, or conversation.

We are also ferociously nosey.

I lived in the Midlands for a time for work. Gave an elderly neighbour a key to let in the esb man while I was in work one day. Well I'd say just about everything I own was thoroughly rooted through in rooms he had no business being in. Never again.

ILoveYourVibes · 07-05-2019 8:28pm

You never get threads about the Irish on British forums.

ILoveYourVibes · 07-05-2019 8:29pm

[PHP][/PHP]

cgcsb wrote: »

I lived in the Midlands for a time for work. Gave a neighbour an elderly neighbour a key to let in the esb man while I was in work one day. Well I'd say just about everything I own was thoroughly rooted through in rooms he had no business being in. Never again.

LOL! I haven't found country people are nosey quite the opposite actually.

partyguinness · 07-05-2019 8:30pm

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

You never get threads about the Irish on British forums.

Good luck getting a British forum in the first place.

cgcsb · 07-05-2019 8:31pm

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

You never get threads about the Irish on British forums.

Do they have forums? They rant about how awful we are in the comments section of their rags like the daily hate mail and the telegraph. Most of their rants are ill informed drivel, at least this thread is based on personal anecdote. Good for the goose and all...

ILoveYourVibes · 07-05-2019 8:32pm

partyguinness wrote: »

Good luck getting a British forum in the first place.

I mean UK sites.

ILoveYourVibes · 07-05-2019 8:33pm

cgcsb wrote: »

Do they have forums? They rant about how awful we are in the comments section of their rags like the daily hate mail and the telegraph. Most of their rants are ill informed drivel, at least this thread is based on personal anecdote. Good for the goose and all...

Yes.

We are never mentioned.

partyguinness · 07-05-2019 8:33pm

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

I mean UK sites.

I know that's what you meant. I have yet to find a UK equivalent of Boards.

odyssey06 · 07-05-2019 8:35pm

cgcsb wrote: »

Do they have forums? They rant about how awful we are in the comments section of their rags like the daily hate mail and the telegraph. Most of their rants are ill informed drivel, at least this thread is based on personal anecdote. Good for the goose and all...

And there is zero ill informed drivel about Britain on boards.ie? Pull the other one.

saabsaab · 07-05-2019 8:37pm

Ah don't go knocking the midlands, without it the West and the East would be beside themselves, Imagine that!

partyguinness · 07-05-2019 8:38pm

TBH the midlands in most countries gets a bad rap.

cgcsb · 07-05-2019 8:38pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

And there is zero ill informed drivel about Britain on boards.ie? Pull the other one.

Like I said it's good for the goose. Most people here comment on their experience. Over on the UK ragloids they just say stupid crap like 'Éire supported Hitler in 2 world wars" and "Southern Ireland need our money" and various other semi literate drivel.

cgcsb · 07-05-2019 8:39pm

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Yes.

We are never mentioned.

What sites have you in mind out of curiosity?

Mad_maxx · 07-05-2019 8:40pm

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

And far ruder than they think they are. A lot of Irish are way more obnoxious than Americans. Particularly with the swearing and aggressive behavior sometimes. A lot of Irish people never learnt to be civil.

I don't mind the informal style, in fact I think it's a real natural asset of ours when it comes to business and other nations like it, bad manners is another story but some nations view informality as "rude"

odyssey06 · 07-05-2019 8:42pm

cgcsb wrote: »

Like I said it's good for the goose. Most people here comment on their experience. Over on the UK ragloids they just say stupid crap like 'Éire supported Hitler in 2 world wars" and "Southern Ireland need our money" and various other semi literate drivel.

You have probably blocked so many trolls on boards you dont see all the equivalent gibberish spouted on boards in general if not necessarily this thread.

partyguinness · 07-05-2019 8:48pm

Mad_maxx wrote: »

I don't mind the informal style, in fact I think it's a real natural asset of ours when it comes to business and other nations like it, bad manners is another story but some nations view informality as "rude"

I have found that the English like my informal manner in business. It eases tension and they begin to feel more comfortable. I will sometimes swear in a tense situation (as in i will go out of my way to do it within reason of course)- purely to ease the tension and it works as the client is used to stuffy suits and formal settings. It makes me more 'human' and rapport is instant.

There you go...swearing as a business tactic.

As a former (English) boss said to me: "I've never met anyone so disorganised but clients like you. Clients really like you and your department is making money for the first time ever."

I am also well able to handle the Asians and their BS as they like a more 'relaxed' approach. Quite similar to the Irish but the Irish are infinitely more professional.

07-05-2019 8:49pm

cgcsb wrote: »

I lived in the Midlands for a time for work. Gave an elderly neighbour a key to let in the esb man while I was in work one day. Well I'd say just about everything I own was thoroughly rooted through in rooms he had no business being in. Never again.

I don't know why I love the term 'rooting' so much, but it's so visual. I genuinely Lol'd at that.

It's also very relatable. I remember sending a visitor into the sitting room once, old chap, very respectable, while I went out to the yard to call Dad in. I couldn't have been gone more than two minutes, and when I came back inside he was pawing through the sideboard drawers like a dog after a bone. I have no idea what he was looking for -- I don't think he knew himself. Its just an instinct.

I didn't even give out to him. I 'got' it.

We rural types can be nice in some ways, but I'll be the first to admit my own noseyness has at times shocked me. Don't leave me alone with anything private.

odyssey06 · 07-05-2019 8:51pm

partyguinness wrote: »

I have found that the English like my informal manner in business. It eases tension and they begin to feel more comfortable. I will sometimes swear in a tense situation (as in i will go out of my way to do it within reason of course)- purely to ease the tension and it works as the client is used to stuffy suits and formal settings. It makes me more 'human' and rapport is instant.
There you go...swearing as a business tactic.

I dont think your approach would work though if you used swear words as punctuation... there is informal and there is disrespectful. You have the cop on to know which is which.

Mad_maxx · 07-05-2019 8:51pm

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

[PHP][/PHP]

LOL! I haven't found country people are nosey quite the opposite actually.

Rural folk are really interested in blow ins for a few months but that is just them busying themselves compiling the facts on you, once that important job is complete, you become invisible to them

cgcsb · 07-05-2019 8:52pm

I think the UK branches of the company I work for get annoyed when they send me emails that start: "Dear Mr. X," and I reply with "Hi Michelle".
They get off on that sir/maddam sh1te, like you're the same slag you always were Michelle, cut the ****. We always joke in the office about starting emails with 'hi' throw in a few smiley faces for the craic.

pgj2015 · 07-05-2019 8:54pm

partyguinness wrote: »

I have found that the English like my informal manner in business. It eases tension and they begin to feel more comfortable. I will sometimes swear in a tense situation (as in i will go out of my way to do it within reason of course)- purely to ease the tension and it works as the client is used to stuffy suits and formal settings. It makes me more 'human' and rapport is instant.

There you go...swearing as a business tactic.

As a former (English) boss said to me: "I've never met anyone so disorganised but clients like you. Clients really like you and your department is making money for the first time ever."

I am also well able to handle the Asians and their BS as they like a more 'relaxed' approach. Quite similar to the Irish but the Irish are infinitely more professional.

id say your boss liked how modest you are.:rolleyes:

EmmetSpiceland · 07-05-2019 8:58pm

I think the English can be quite condescending towards us Irish, particularly in London. Maybe it’s a “former colony” type of arrogance. I’m not sure what their history syllabus is like but I’d highly doubt they are the bad guys in it.

They tend to make fun of how we speak, constantly repeating “grand” or saying “tree” for how we say “three” thinking it’s hilarious.

I know a girl working for a big financial institution over there and gave her the nickname “Potato”. Now this isn’t some dumpy stout girl, she’d be a very attractive, slim lady so it’s not to do with her appearance. That could be misconstrued as a reference to the famine, which she thought it was, but I’m not sure they have too much knowledge of that.

cgcsb · 07-05-2019 8:59pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

I don't know why I love the term 'rooting' so much, but it's so visual. I genuinely Lol'd at that.

It's also very relatable. I remember sending a visitor into the sitting room once, old chap, very respectable, while I went out to the yard to call Dad in. I couldn't have been gone more than two minutes, and when I came back inside he was pawing through the sideboard drawers like a dog after a bone. I have no idea what he was looking for -- I don't think he knew himself. Its just an instinct.

I didn't even give out to him. I 'got' it.

We rural types can be nice in some ways, but I'll be the first to admit my own noseyness has at times shocked me. Don't leave me alone with anything private.

As a native Dubliner and this being a culture shock, I was living alone you see, I was full on checking for cameras and have expecting him to have taken articles of my clothing for some demonic purpose and fully expected to end up dead in a septic tank somewhere. But false alarm he was just a harmless and my home invasion was a mere act of boredom

partyguinness · 07-05-2019 9:00pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

I dont think your approach would work though if you used swear words as punctuation... there is informal and there is disrespectful. You have the cop on to know which is which.

Yes I do of course. All within reason and certainly not gratuitous. Exception rather than a rule.

When a client is getting frustrated with an overall situation and rather than spouting some bland corporate speak an odd gentle swear helps to express the frustration also. In other words it says 'I am on your side and I am just as frustrated as you.' Sometimes you will find they start swearing too.

road_high · 07-05-2019 9:00pm

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

And far ruder than they think they are. A lot of Irish are way more obnoxious than Americans. Particularly with the swearing and aggressive behavior sometimes. A lot of Irish people never learnt to be civil.

There’s a lot of Irish I’d describe as having “no manners” and it cuts across all classes and age groups. Years ago I worked for a summer in an Agri diy supplies and the ignorance was just incredible- older Irish men in particular are the most miserable, ungrateful mean people you could find. And never wanted to pay for anything- the most polite customers- a group of Irish travelers that came in for horse stuff!!
I don’t know what it’s like now, but past generations really missed out on basic manners and etiquette. Reckon a lot of these people most have been favored by the church/teachers and escaped all manners lessons.
Generally find continental Europeans and Americans so polite in comparison to many of us

cgcsb · 07-05-2019 9:02pm

partyguinness wrote: »

I have found that the English like my informal manner in business. It eases tension and they begin to feel more comfortable. I will sometimes swear in a tense situation (as in i will go out of my way to do it within reason of course)- purely to ease the tension and it works as the client is used to stuffy suits and formal settings. It makes me more 'human' and rapport is instant.

There you go...swearing as a business tactic.

As a former (English) boss said to me: "I've never met anyone so disorganised but clients like you. Clients really like you and your department is making money for the first time ever."

I am also well able to handle the Asians and their BS as they like a more 'relaxed' approach. Quite similar to the Irish but the Irish are infinitely more professional.

I'd say you'll have to smoke a cigar after that post, having given yourself such a thorough seeing to. Your own trumpet is well and truly blown.

partyguinness · 07-05-2019 9:03pm

pgj2015 wrote: »

id say your boss liked how modest you are.:rolleyes:

She is not my boss anymore. I was head hunted a few years back and now I am the boss. I know what I am good at and I know what I am not so good at- that my friend it a great ability.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it...:D

road_high · 07-05-2019 9:07pm

Mad_maxx wrote: »

Even though it has a lot of scum, Limerick people are very warm, unpretentious and friendly, Galway city is the smuggest place in Ireland outside D4 and D6, Galway County is incredibly clannish, Galway isn't friendly overall, mayo is a very friendly place.

Limerick is so friendly- there’s a real sense of decency and warmth about people there- really chilled. Cork the same but a bit sharper. People in Munster generally very friendly as is the west. We are a bit harder in Leinster I think.

Dubs tend to be very protective and uncompromising- worked with a few from time to time and so long as they are ok then that’s all that mattered.

partyguinness · 07-05-2019 9:08pm

cgcsb wrote: »

I'd say you'll have to smoke a cigar after that post, having given yourself such a thorough seeing to. Your own trumpet is well and truly blown.

TBH you have to be a bit of an arrogant **** to move to England and run a business full of English people where they probably all hate my Paddy guts.

Nobody cracks Irish jokes in my presence that's for sure.:D

cgcsb · 07-05-2019 9:10pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

I think the English can be quite condescending towards us Irish, particularly in London. Maybe it’s a “former colony” type of arrogance. I’m not sure what their history syllabus is like but I’d highly doubt they are the bad guys in it.

They tend to make fun of how we speak, constantly repeating “grand” or saying “tree” for how we say “three” thinking it’s hilarious.

I know a girl working for a big financial institution over there and gave her the nickname “Potato”. Now this isn’t some dumpy stout girl, she’d be a very attractive, slim lady so it’s not to do with her appearance. That could be misconstrued as a reference to the famine, which she thought it was, but I’m not sure they have too much knowledge of that.

That's bullying. They'd be sacked if she were Indian.

I don't think the arrogance is a former colony thing, they view themselves as superior to everyone regardless of where else in the world they are from. Same attitude is prevalent in France. The French and English like to talk about how different they are to eachother but really they are a hop skip and jump. The superiority complex permeates all levels of society. I'll give you an example, the plastic bag tax. They agonised over this policy for years, report after report, never once acknowledging their neighbours had this system for years and it worked well. They just like everything they do is for the first time in the world, same with Boris Bikes and all that.

The opposite is the case in Ireland whenever a new project or policy is discussed the first port of call is how our neighbours tackle the same issue.

cgcsb · 07-05-2019 9:11pm

road_high wrote: »

There’s a lot of Irish I’d describe as having “no manners” and it cuts across all classes and age groups. Years ago I worked for a summer in an Agri diy supplies and the ignorance was just incredible- older Irish men in particular are the most miserable, ungrateful mean people you could find. And never wanted to pay for anything- the most polite customers- a group of Irish travelers that came in for horse stuff!!
I don’t know what it’s like now, but past generations really missed out on basic manners and etiquette. Reckon a lot of these people most have been favored by the church/teachers and escaped all manners lessons.
Generally find continental Europeans and Americans so polite in comparison to many of us

I think that's grumpy old man syndrome and is international.

partyguinness · 07-05-2019 9:16pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

I think the English can be quite condescending towards us Irish, particularly in London. Maybe it’s a “former colony” type of arrogance. I’m not sure what their history syllabus is like but I’d highly doubt they are the bad guys in it.

They tend to make fun of how we speak, constantly repeating “grand” or saying “tree” for how we say “three” thinking it’s hilarious.

I know a girl working for a big financial institution over there and gave her the nickname “Potato”. Now this isn’t some dumpy stout girl, she’d be a very attractive, slim lady so it’s not to do with her appearance. That could be misconstrued as a reference to the famine, which she thought it was, but I’m not sure they have too much knowledge of that.

She should not put up with that- the Irish can be too tame when it comes to that nonsense. No Asian would put up with that but yet your buddy does which is why they keep it up.

Anytime someone has hinted at that **** in my presence has got it back with both barrels and with interest and never heard from again.

The English like that have big mouths but you bite back they turn into little puppies and run off.

"The English are no craic"

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