No Sex Please, we're British!

[TalkingPoint]

No Sex Please, we're British!

We often make generalizations about countries and nationalities. For example, many people think that the British don't like sex. Or we think that all French people wear berets and drink red wine. These are called clichés or stereotypes. These clichés are often inaccurate, or at least out-of-date. Often they are completely wrong and unfair.

Does it help international relations to make generalizations about countries and national characteristics?

[hugoromo]

Absolutely, it doesn´t help. But it´s funny to know how people see themself.
I am Chilean, I have British friends, and people that I´ve come across on internet. I´ve read British books too, but I find that it isn´t true in its whole.
And that is just because, again the books I´ve read, the people I´ve met and the movies that I've seen.

I am for looking for the similarities rather than the differences among cultures and their peoples.
:) I am Chilean too. What are you talking about?

[ziouzioua]

All I have seen and read about the British civilazation is that British people are honest and what I know about them is that they are better off in their lives.

[Guest]

I find Brits very sexy

[Farawayfromyou]

:D ,Hi! I have known that the British si very coversation,and I like the uk

[Mandy2]

Sometimes we might get the idea that people who travel to another country know already a lot about it, but it has often much more the character of a fuzzy idea about the foreign people and their behavior and is not always correct. These ideas about another country or its citizens often match the real situation in the respective country only a little! and are governed by some obvious basic behavior patterns. Stereotypes tend to be superficial and we should keep this in mind, before we believe them. If possible, visit a country, meet its people first, learn about their culture first hand in meetings, talks etc and then make up your mind, instead of believing stereotypes.

[PolishLady]

Stereotypes are as old as people I think. "The problem" lies in different culture and mentality. I'm partly writing my MA thesis on this topic and I find it very interesting. Why? Because I'm a Pole and I dislike general opinions about my nation, especially given by the Americans as far as I know :( But isn't it a stereotype either?? I'm not going to tell you I don't like the Americans, contrary, I would like to meet some of them :) And the British? Personally, I think they are very original and interesting. And what about us, Polish girls? We are just different, and so are the girls from Germany, Britain, Russia, Slovakia.... With Polish greetings - Polish Lady (not Makbeth :lol: )

[kenji]

We need to stop using generalizations....global world baby!

[Ika]

I don't think all the pople in all the world are the same, it is unbelievable, i really believe that there is a difference between for example people from Northern countries and from the South. The temperament is different, after all. And stereotypes, whether we like them or not, are created for some reason, don't you think? another thing is how much we believe them, and how open is our mind to accept the fact, that all the people are unique, whatever the stereotype they are attached to. Besides, if you have to meet somebody from another culture, knowing some stereotypes can help you to make friends, it can save you some shock, if the behaviour is very different from yours later you will find out yourself, how much do the strerotypes work. Just don't be biased, and all will be ok.

[Arale]

Now most young people have sexual relation before their marriage. And it seems man just want a virgin girl. It is really not fair. Do you think it is an important criterion to find your future spouse?

_Arale_

[Judy2004]

I think most of generalizations about countries and national characteristics except for cliches or stereotypes help international relations.

We may all admit the fact that people who come from different countries think and behavior in a different way. So before we get to know foreigners, the only way we can obtain an idea about them is from generalizations.Obviously, during the communication with foreigners,if you are equipped with the up-to-date generalizations,you can understand your parter more and feel more comfortable,at the same time, make your parter feel at home.In addition, more information from the generalizations can avoid the misunderstanding ,sometimes even culture conflict to the greatest extent.

There is a big difference between the east asian countries and the west countries.It is well known that Chinese are hospitable,if you go to visit a chinese friend,he or she may be busy in and out and prepare a number of best food for you, while having the meal,the owner will put the best dishes in front of you as if he will show impolite if he does not do it. The west, however,are totally different,which I have got from the generalizations. Therefore,one time when I had the chance to have dinner with an English friend,I was familiar with the way that she respected my choice and didn't place any dish specially near to me.If I don't know about the difference,maybe something will occur to my mind that English people aren't polite enough to foreigners.

Of course,we live in the world,where change is constant.Like all the other things,generaliaztions should be up-to-date,otherwise they will be reduced to cliches or stereotypes which become the hindrance of international communication.Furthermore,with the development of science,all the world will become one earth village,all the countries interact more.So it can be predicted that something special in one country will assimilated by other countries and many things will tend to be identical,thus some generalizations about it should be amended to reflect such changes.

[Pirate]

But some stereotypes are true! For example English people are supposed to be polite or Italian people are supposed to be romantic. I think it's good for international relation if we know some really special things about people from other countries.

[maryemily]

great topic!!!!!! yeah, people tend to make stereotypes, for example, about Brazilian girls....people say we make sex all the time, I have already heard that in some countries, people think we don't have houses, buildings, or go to school, or can even have culture. That is due to the fact (in part) that our midia exports that image....only Carnaval, and beaches....Here, we think British are cold and are always on time.....and French don't have showers.....of course, generalizations contain faults. Once, a teacher of mine said that, when living in Spain, tried to date a boy, and his mother didn't like her because for her, Brazilian women are all whores!!!!!!!!

[Pirate]

great topic!!!!!! yeah, people tend to make stereotypes, for example, about Brazilian girls....people say we make sex all the time,

Aw, I know South American girls are quite hot, but not that stuff! I always see them in stadium watching football excitingly.
It's somehow like the cliche' "all who speak Spanish can dance since s/he can walk!"

Once, a teacher of mine said that, when living in Spain, tried to date a boy, and his mother didn't like her because for her, Brazilian women are all whores!!!!!!!!

Forget it, she might be too old to know what is true ... he he

[Andrefm]

:? I agree, because the same happens here in Brazil, people think we just have carnaval and our country is amazonas forest.
I think nobody should include a whole coutry that has many diferent people in only one image. It can't express the truth.

[xiaomanman]

No Sex Please, we're British!
For example, many people think that the British don't like sex.

generalization is inaccurate sometimes. If British people don't like sex, why would so many British babies come to the world everyday? Where are these new babies from?

Of course, they are from sex.

[Shazzam]

No Sex Please, we're British!
For example, many people think that the British don't like sex.

generalization is inaccurate sometimes. If British people don't like sex, why would so many British babies come to the world everyday? Where are these new babies from?

Of course, they are from sex.

Exactly!

The reason it is looked upon that the British don't like sex is because they don't like to talk about sex. It is a taboo. From what I have heard from some people that I know that are British it is seen as being in very bad taste.

[MissLT]

Exactly!

The reason it is looked upon that the British don't like sex is because they don't like to talk about sex. It is a taboo. From what I have heard from some people that I know that are British it is seen as being in very bad taste.

Hmmmm... I believe the stereotype of the Americans don't like sex more than the Brits don't like sex . Americans are afraid to show X-rated scenes on television, but they somehow have teenagers drop out of high school because partly they're pregnant . Brits's televison, on the other hand, shows a lot of nudity. Nothing of that censor board over the nudity parts (I hate it when they're doing the stupid censor thing; it ruins my moods. ) on their shows like American's.

[lillychen]

Sex, I think every adult like it if he or she have a good health. It is important just like eating and sleeping for a human being.why not a British man?

[Shazzam]

Exactly!

The reason it is looked upon that the British don't like sex is because they don't like to talk about sex. It is a taboo. From what I have heard from some people that I know that are British it is seen as being in very bad taste.

Hmmmm... I believe the stereotype of the Americans don't like sex more than the Brits don't like sex . Americans are afraid to show X-rated scenes on television, but they somehow have teenagers drop out of high school because partly they're pregnant . Brits's televison, on the other hand, shows a lot of nudity. Nothing of that censor board over the nudity parts (I hate it when they're doing the stupid censor thing; it ruins my moods. ) on their shows like American's.

I was referring to general conversation not media. I know that most british people don't like discussing sex. They might watch it but they don't like talking about it.

[MissLT]

I was referring to general conversation not media. I know that most british people don't like discussing sex. They might watch it but they don't like talking about it.

Neither do most people in the world. People around the world have jokes about sex, but we don't talk about it as a daily conversation. It even goes far worst in some countries; it's like it's a taboo (you've already said it ). And teaching kids about sex is still something that not everyone agrees on. In America, the school has to have the permission from the parents to teach those kids about safe sex and stuff. I think it's idiotic not to teach kids about safe sex; however, I personally find those who talk about it as like their everyday conversation are having mental disorder. I don't like people who kiss and tell. What happening in the bed should remain in the bed.

[Rui]

What happening in the bed should remain in the bed.

in bed or somewhere else, because doing it always in bed it's kind boring , and besides… I guess it’s not a secret to anyone what is supposed to do 8)

[MissLT]

What happening in the bed should remain in the bed.

in bed or somewhere else, because doing it always in bed it's kind boring , and besides… I guess it’s not a secret to anyone what is supposed to do 8)

Uh huh! Intimacy should be respected. We have jokes about sex genders, but not sex in general. Well, we only do that with family or close friends, you agree with me? Not in a crowded place, open public, to strangers, etc. right?

[mr_Love]

[Rui]

What happening in the bed should remain in the bed.

in bed or somewhere else, because doing it always in bed it's kind boring , and besides… I guess it’s not a secret to anyone what is supposed to do 8)

Uh huh! Intimacy should be respected. We have jokes about sex genders, but not sex in general. Well, we only do that with family or close friends, you agree with me? Not in a crowded place, open public, to strangers, etc. right?

well, i agree with your opinion... however it's difficult sometimes to understand why people are so shy talking about it, as i said... i do the things that everybody does... and i respect if someone has a different opinion, i don't know but i look to sex like any other thing we do in live, if it gives you pleasure you should do it as much as you can but with careful, i guess we need to have this kind of behave with all matters, isn't it?

[tikay]

As an Amercian, am I a cowboy? No, I cannot ride a horse. Am I culturally ignorate and insensitive? No - as I have lived overseas for some time and speak 3 languages. But, I do share some traits of stereotype cowboys, that is independence a willingness to venture into the unknow. But other cultures share those same traits also.

I am sort of new so I hope I am doing this right...with the quote from above...
I agree with you we might have some qualities of the stereotypes from our countries of origin,but there is so much more to find out about people, I only wish that the mis-understandings that sometimes come up were easy to solve, between cultures. I was once married to someone from another culture (South pacific islander-Tonga) and we tried to get past all the different ways of thinking and doing things but in the end it was too difficult & too many dissagreements...we had to move on, to be able to be the people we really were.
I believe stereotyping exists (mostly) only when one does not care enough to look deeper...still we are (sometimes deeply)affected by our culture.
I was raised by people considered "hippys", in the so called "counterculture" a whole different take (or story) on culture.

[tikay]

Now most young people have sexual relation before their marriage. And it seems man just want a virgin girl. It is really not fair. Do you think it is an important criterion to find your future spouse?

_Arale_

You are right! this is so ridiculous, as something of a feminist I have to say how wrong of anyone to expect so much of a girl...or a guy for that matter, and the stereotype is that the woman is purer if she has avoided her sexuality before ...but having been married now she becomes what? a vixen overnight? Then (is she impure the minute she has sex) the things we want from our potential partner in life should be things we will do ourself...just my opinion.

[Shazzam]

Now most young people have sexual relation before their marriage. And it seems man just want a virgin girl. It is really not fair. Do you think it is an important criterion to find your future spouse?

_Arale_

You are right! this is so ridiculous, as something of a feminist I have to say how wrong of anyone to expect so much of a girl...or a guy for that matter, and the stereotype is that the woman is purer if she has avoided her sexuality before ...but having been married now she becomes what? a vixen overnight? Then (is she impure the minute she has sex) the things we want from our potential partner in life should be things we will do ourself...just my opinion.

I don't think it has anything to do with purity. My thoughts are that is more about ego and control. Men don't like to be compared, if a woman has had more than one partner they feel insecure. The control part stems from the fact that most women have a very special place for their first sexual partner. You can draw you on conclusions on that one.