The North/South divide of England
Posted by: Webke on 04 December 2004
I am sure most of you are aware that if you live below the M62 you are considered southern, and those above are therefore considered Northern (including myself).
I am a student, and do alot of travelling around England doing traffic surveys (for a bit of extra cash). Since doing this, I have realised how the country differs from North to South inn terms of peoples attitudes etc.
When I am working, I often have quite an interesting interaction with the locals of the area that I am working in on that given day.
I really cant believe sometimes how arrogant and rude people from the south can be. Why is this? - Why are people in the North more friendly and have much more time for you than those in the south.
For example, the amount of times you let someone pass you, or give way to them in London, and they dont even look at you to thank you at all.
I often get abuse from walkers by (whilst I am just stood there doing counts on the footpath), one guy (in london told me to fack off, and told me that I had no "right" to be on "his" public highway.
People in the North will come over to me, acually say Hi, not talk down to me like I am some robot, and have laugh etc.
Why is this??? - I really dont get it.
Anyone else had simular experiences?
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by Bananahead
M62 ?
The frozen north starts above the Thames
Maybe your fellow northeners are just amazed that you are actually willing to do some work
Nigel
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by BigH47
I wouldn't judge any country by its capitol. There are a few well(ish) mannered people down here south of the Watford border point. Capitol people seem too far up there own arses (always too busy). Exception being Edinburgh everybody seemed much more laid back than Glasgow. I suspect anybody not knowing would have thought the later to be the capitol.
Anyway what are you doing in this thread ?
Why don't you bugger off back to where ever you came from?
Howard
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by Deane F
Webke
I haven't travelled extensively, and never to the UK, but everywhere I have ever been has had it's share of pricks.
Might I suggest the division between the North and South is purely in your imagination?
Your traffic surveys may be scientifically conducted, but perhaps your personal prejudices are exercised when people are rude to you in what you consider to be "The South" and serve to reinforce notions you already hold above question? And perhaps a similar thing happens when you experience behaviour you approve of in "The North"?
Deane
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by long-time-dead
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
Exception being Edinburgh everybody seemed much more laid back than Glasgow.
Howard
Could you please read the thread title and tell me just where in ENGLAND the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow are ?
HTH
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by Bananahead
quote:
Originally posted by long-time-dead:
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
Exception being Edinburgh everybody seemed much more laid back than Glasgow.
Howard
Could you please read the thread title and tell me just where in ENGLAND the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow are ?
HTH
Take a deep breath. Read the whole thread from the top. Notice that Howard is making a comparison between England and Scotland.
Nigel
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by Derek Wright
The difference between the N and S does exist -
In the North everyone wants to get in on what you are doing, in the south you just get on with what you are doing.
The northerners refer to the northern behavour as being friendly - in the south the northern behavour is considerd to be intrusive and interfering.
Many years ago when I was a student I made a quick visit to my home town (not even in the far North) to collect a car - I was in the town for a very short time.
By the following day some "good hearted" busybody had told my parents that I had been seen in town the previous day.
For many years the Kleenexe line (Bristol to the Wash) was considered to be the transition zone. North of it shirt cuffs were used, south of it paper tissues were used.
Derek
<< >>
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by HTK
quote:
Originally posted by Deane F:
Webke
I haven't travelled extensively, and never to the UK, but everywhere I have ever been has had it's share of pricks.
Deane
True enough. I was born and lived in the South East and now live in the South West. I also worked and lived (Mon-Fri) in the Midlands. Quality of life seems better down here in the West but the idiot count is ubiquitous. People are people. But happily the sane and reasonable vastly outnumber the pricks.
Going back to the South East, people come off as a more impatient and brusque. I think that's more about my sensitivity than their poor IPS. You knnda get used to the mannerisms and dialect that you're immersed in. My old Monday morning drive from Frome to Nottingham was priceless. At 6am I'd be addressed as 'luvver' and by mid morning it was 'ducks'. Gotta love it.
I've also spent a lot of time in the North (but not lived there). Same mix of strata but just with different accents. But it is cloder (the weather that is) - no doubt about that.
Cheers
Harry
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by long-time-dead
quote:
Originally posted by Bananahead:
Take a deep breath. Read the whole thread from the top. Notice that Howard is making a comparison between England and Scotland.
Nigel
Nigel
I can read the first six words perfectly clearly - they comprise the title of the thread.
If Howard wishes to take the thread off-topic then that is his perogative.
No need to take a deep breath. I know the geographical layout of the British Isles well enough.
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by DLF
quote:
Originally posted by Webke:
I am sure most of you are aware that if you live below the M62 you are considered southern, and those above are therefore considered Northern (including myself).
I am a student, and do alot of travelling around England doing traffic surveys (for a bit of extra cash). Since doing this, I have realised how the country differs from North to South inn terms of peoples attitudes etc.
When I am working, I often have quite an interesting interaction with the locals of the area that I am working in on that given day.
I really cant believe sometimes how arrogant and rude people from the south can be. Why is this? - Why are people in the North more friendly and have much more time for you than those in the south.
For example, the amount of times you let someone pass you, or give way to them in London, and they dont even look at you to thank you at all.
I often get abuse from walkers by (whilst I am just stood there doing counts on the footpath), one guy (in london told me to fack off, and told me that I had no "right" to be on "his" public highway.
People in the North will come over to me, acually say Hi, not talk down to me like I am some robot, and have laugh etc.
Why is this??? - I really dont get it.
Anyone else had simular experiences?
I wouldn't class Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham as friendlier than Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. Cities, London in particular, are a stressful places to live, overcrowded and you have to be 'harder' to survive.
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by Webke
I wouldn't class Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham as friendlier than Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. Cities, London in particular, are a stressful places to live, overcrowded and you have to be 'harder' to survive.[/QUOTE]
These are below the M62...
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by Roy T
I feel that North and South are just a state of mind and not geographical locations as can be seen by feeding postcodes into
upmystreet. North and South seem rather mixed together nowdays.
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by BigH47
LTD
quote:
Could you please read the thread title and tell me just where in ENGLAND the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow are ?
Bananahead
quote:
Take a deep breath. Read the whole thread from the top. Notice that Howard is making a comparison between England and Scotland.
I was actually making the comparisons about CAPITOL cities it just happened to be Scotland's. It could and should have included Paris.
My point was not to judge a whole country on its capitol as it happens Edingurgh made a really favourable impression Glasgow did not. Exception proving the rule or whatever.
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by undertone
Even products are effected. I once brought up the brand name Sugden in a conversation I was having with the owner of a London Hi Fi shop. His reaction was "we don't see much of it down here, it's a northern product you know". Imagine, there are car parks in the U.S. that are bigger than the UK, but still a UK made product can be banished to one small corner of the country.
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by HTK
quote:
Originally posted by undertone:
Even products are effected. I once brought up the brand name Sugden in a conversation I was having with the owner of a London Hi Fi shop. His reaction was "we don't see much of it down here, it's a northern product you know".
ROTF! I guess he's never heard of Linn either.
Nowt so strange.....
Cheers
Harry
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by long-time-dead
even more strange is that products south of the "divide" become "effected" by "Northern" products...... usually they just have an affect - especially if they are from the "Scottish Company".........
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by long-time-dead
...... and should it not be CAPITAL cities as we are outwith the CAPITOL city of Washington, DC. ?????
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by long-time-dead:
even more strange is that products south of the "divide" become "effected" by "Northern" products...... usually they just have an affect - especially if they are from the "Scottish Company".........
Nice one long-time-dead.
I suppose that "upgraditis" is an "affective disorder"?
Deane
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by long-time-dead
Deane
Hopefully, an upgrade provides an "effect" - otherwise it becomes a total waste of money.......
.... and don't we have "affection" for Linn Products ?
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by Deane F
Well, I've always thought Linn came across with an "affected" air in their marketing and media presence.
Deane
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by long-time-dead
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by BigH47
Whatever.
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by long-time-dead
Is off-topic getting to you ?
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by bhazen
Well, as a 'Merikan, my observation is that London is full of immigrants, and the countryside full of British people (and some immigrants: killer Indian restaurants in Leicester!). Almost all were quite charming and helpful to me as I (quite literally) blundered my way around the country on occasional visits. Those that were rude to me were rare, and forgiveable for being the exception. I'm particularly grateful to the retired RAF officer and his wife in Croydon who came to my aid after I'd been thumped rather severely one night by some, er, "football supporters"; they took me in, cleaned me up and gave me tea & dinner, and even drove me back to where I was staying in Richmond. In most urban areas in the U.S., people would just let you lie there bleeding and moaning, and the police would eventually pick you up for loitering or public incoherence.
In fact, regardless of where I found myself in Great Britain, I found kindness and consideration, not to mention patience. You all have a lot to be proud of as citizens and human beings.
Posted on: 05 December 2004 by Steve Toy
Living in the middle, I find that the North begins at Stoke on Trent and the South begins at Birmingham.
Stoke is possibly the first proper Northern accent, and on the way South you start hearing rounded vowels in words like path, grass and laugh when you reach Birmingham.
Otherwise there is no North/South divide; it is but a continuum along which an arbitrary dividing line can be subjectively drawn.
As for the attitudes of people, I find both Northerners and Southerners to be outgoing and friendly. You are more likely to have difficulty engaging in conversation with strangers here in the rather stand-offish Midlands.
Stafford must rank as one of the most unfriendly places in the UK insofar as the locals won't (necessarily) give you a good kicking and steal your wallet, but they will more than likely blank any attempts you may make to engage them in conversation.
Regards,
Steve.
Posted on: 06 December 2004 by Deane F
I may not be in tune with the United Kingdom, but when I read the original post that started this thread I thought it had a lot in common with what a racist post might look like.
The question Webke posted basically asks why people who are from one area are superior to people who are from another area. Huge generalisations are drawn over groups of individuals and personal anecdotes are used to justify the author's use of stereotypes.
Deane
