Monday, July 02, 2007

Hyperbrits

In which I cast aspersions upon reductionist notions of 'Britishness'.

Or, if you prefer, a bit of smartalecky empty drivel.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Props for only one comment out of the first 14 setting out to insult you, there. Normally it's t'other way around on CiF.

I don't agree with perklet's assertion that you're like a 15 year old who's just been made captain of the school debating society at all, and I'm normally happy to call anyone that! Although a smart-alec you certainly are. But there's nothing wrong with that!

Rog said...

I heard someone recently refer to the high level of vitriolic comments "Comment is Free" often attracts.
They did allow that some posts fell into the category of "flamebait" though.

Anonymous said...

Yes, some of them are 'flamebait' I'm sure but there's always going to be a handful of, 'This writer is so arrogant and so delusional and so uninspired and so ill-informed and so close-minded and so brainwashed and so liberal and so ... etc. etc.' no matter who the writer is. I mean, there are certainly some CIF writers who are some [all] of the above, but the insult tends to lose its effectiveness when used over and over.

Fun to watch though.

FirstNations said...

Hell, I laughed.

Tim F said...

Well, someone seems to have deleted the drivel comment. Probably CiF doesn't want to be accessory to the mental abuse of a 15-year-old...

Anonymous said...

Tim, I think this piece dovetails nicely with the post you wrote recently regarding Jade Goody's autobiography. As soon as there exists a test designed to instruct immigrants in matters of "British" culture, then the question "Who decides?" must be asked. I'd be fascinated to know how the compilers of such a test decide what to include and exclude and whether "high" and "low" culture have equal weighting. I'm also not sure that an homogenous "British" culture exists anyway. If you take Norman Tebbit's definitive test (i.e which side would you support in a cricket match, where England were playing, say, Pakistan or the West Indies?), then I'm afraid the answer from many Scots would still be "Pakistan or the West Indies"! If, indeed, they watched cricket at all.

As always, an entertaining, well- written piece of writing.

amyonymous said...

Tim, i do really enjoy your columns; they are so very british and i am so very american (ugh, i almost hate to say that in this current climate). i have been to england, scotland and wales 3 times and i know i actually belong there - reading your work helps me pretend that i am (i'd even take the stupid test).

my favorite comment is the badges, like scout badges. now that is an idea worth pursuing.....

Tim F said...

I always root for the Windies, Marsha. A lonely and forlorn habit these days, but if it annoys Lord Norm it's gotta be worth it.

Don't be so hard on your countrymen, Amy. They're streets ahead of any other nation in the realm of equal opportunities. Electing a president with learning difficulties, that's a pretty heartwarming gesture...