I was a tad offended at Gwyneth Paltrow's remarks about Americans until I remembered that, like other American anglophiles, she was probably suckered in by the accent. I have a few friends and colleagues who are originally from the UK. Look, even they find it hilarious that Americans are so quick to think they're civilized intellectuals just because of their accent.
I remarked on this phenomenon to one of my English colleagues a few years ago. He laughed, nodded his head and said, "Yes, absolutely. We're sooo friggin' intelligent. Our football matches are sooo refined. Benny Hill was the king of the intellectuals. And, of course, we flaunt our intelligence with phrases like, 'shut yer fookin' cakehole, you!'!"
To clear up the reasoning behind Her Highness, Gwyneth Paltrow's comments, the People's Cube has done an eye-opening interview. Enjoy!
Oh and, by the way, Ms. Paltrow, if you think the British are more intelligent, you might learn a bit from the Beatles about how to be more civilized: "Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl but she doesn't have a lot to say..."
I remarked on this phenomenon to one of my English colleagues a few years ago. He laughed, nodded his head and said, "Yes, absolutely. We're sooo friggin' intelligent. Our football matches are sooo refined. Benny Hill was the king of the intellectuals. And, of course, we flaunt our intelligence with phrases like, 'shut yer fookin' cakehole, you!'!"
To clear up the reasoning behind Her Highness, Gwyneth Paltrow's comments, the People's Cube has done an eye-opening interview. Enjoy!
Oh and, by the way, Ms. Paltrow, if you think the British are more intelligent, you might learn a bit from the Beatles about how to be more civilized: "Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl but she doesn't have a lot to say..."
Comments
Oh, well. Public opinion moves in mysterious ways.
(And the People's Cube link was pretty funny!)
And here's Derbyshire on the "pluses and minuses" of dour American culture vs. the playful nature of British dinner chat.
"Now, I know I'm going to regret saying this, but Gwyneth—spoiled-rotten showbiz airhead that she undoubtedly is—is on to something. No, of course Brits are not more civilized, intelligent, or sociable than we Yanks. They do have a thing that we don't have, though, and it makes for fun dinner tables.
[...]
What is the missing factor? As near as I can put my finger on it, it's playfulness."
I happen to like Derbyshire, but he doesn't just succeed in pushing my buttons... he excels.
I was reminded by the video clip that the other issue with "Her Highness" is that she's not ever lived a REAL American life. How would she know what a REAL dinner conversation might be in America?