Discussion on British culture - our favourite British stuff!

[Willow]

And how about the way some Englishmen call women in general "love"?  I know it doesn't actually mean anything, but it's still nice to hear.

That is endearing.  At the recent conference I went to in Vegas, we had our fair share of Englishmen.  Most of them called my friends and I "Sweetheart."  I couldn't tell if they were being condescending or if it was just a British thing, but on the other hand I thought that it had a sort of Bogartesque flair to it, so I smiled pretty and let it go.

The 'love' thing is a Northern expression and it isn't limited to men/woman it is completely asexual and quite acceptable man/man or woman/woman. 

No it's not.  I have never heard a man call another man "love" outside a sexual context.  I call people "love" to be friendly.  Women call men and women "love" and men call women "love" but it doesn't work the other way. 

Some people don't like it and it can be patronising in some contexts, but I don't mind at all if people call me love in a well intentioned way.

[Tank]

And how about the way some Englishmen call women in general "love"?  I know it doesn't actually mean anything, but it's still nice to hear.

That is endearing.  At the recent conference I went to in Vegas, we had our fair share of Englishmen.  Most of them called my friends and I "Sweetheart."  I couldn't tell if they were being condescending or if it was just a British thing, but on the other hand I thought that it had a sort of Bogartesque flair to it, so I smiled pretty and let it go.

The 'love' thing is a Northern expression and it isn't limited to men/woman it is completely asexual and quite acceptable man/man or woman/woman. 

No it's not.  I have never heard a man call another man "love" outside a sexual context.  I call people "love" to be friendly.  Women call men and women "love" and men call women "love" but it doesn't work the other way. 

Some people don't like it and it can be patronising in some contexts, but I don't mind at all if people call me love in a well intentioned way.

When I joined a company in Leeds I had to spend 4 weeks in the warehouse picking and packing. It was a 'waster' to see who could stick it. That's the first time I'd been addressed as 'Love' by another bloke ever, so it happens in Leeds I can guarantee that 

[Siz]

And how about the way some Englishmen call women in general "love"?  I know it doesn't actually mean anything, but it's still nice to hear.

That is endearing.  At the recent conference I went to in Vegas, we had our fair share of Englishmen.  Most of them called my friends and I "Sweetheart."  I couldn't tell if they were being condescending or if it was just a British thing, but on the other hand I thought that it had a sort of Bogartesque flair to it, so I smiled pretty and let it go.

The 'love' thing is a Northern expression and it isn't limited to men/woman it is completely asexual and quite acceptable man/man or woman/woman. 

No it's not.  I have never heard a man call another man "love" outside a sexual context.  I call people "love" to be friendly.  Women call men and women "love" and men call women "love" but it doesn't work the other way. 

Some people don't like it and it can be patronising in some contexts, but I don't mind at all if people call me love in a well intentioned way.

When I joined a company in Leeds I had to spend 4 weeks in the warehouse picking and packing. It was a 'waster' to see who could stick it. That's the first time I'd been addressed as 'Love' by another bloke ever, so it happens in Leeds I can guarantee that 

I've been called 'love' by some northern guys on a building site I was working on once. It was just a friendly term and had a good vibe about it.

[Crow]

I've been called 'love' by some northern guys on a building site I was working on once. It was just a friendly term and had a good vibe about it.

That could be due to the fact you're a southern fairy  . But on a serious note I have been called 'love' by a few fellas and was meant in the same mannerism as 'mate'.

[Too Few Lions]

'mi baba' and 'mi luvver' are common greetings here in the west country

[Augustus]

One of my favourite British things are Jaffa Cakes 

[Hector Valdez]

Oscar Wilde was a pussy. Of course, that's not a bad thing.

I like the english language, and all the english poets. Samuel Taylor Coleridge is someone that must be read before death, lest life be left a loss and failure...Amen.

[Recusant]

Oscar Wilde was a pussy. Of course, that's not a bad thing.

The first sentence above manages to be irrelevant, inaccurate and asinine in equal measure. The second does nothing to redeem the first. I think I'm going to like having you around.

[OldGit]

Samuel Taylor Coleridge is someone that must be read before death ...Amen.

Agreed - it's so much easier than reading him when you're dead. 

[Amicale]

[Firebird]

Any of you ever watch Coupling? Loved that show!