Regards, Ivan
Posted on 06/18/2004 4:51:08 PM PDT by MadIvan
Tomorrow's American leaders think Britain is arrogant, cold, rainy, and far from the cutting edge in science, culture or business, a "disturbing" new survey suggests.
The survey, entitled "Pale People in the Rain" and commissioned by the British Council, found that young, high-achieving students placed Britain far down their list of places to study abroad. They called British universities strict, expensive, hard to enter and "mainly for the upper classes".
For most subjects, they thought staying in the US was the best choice. For computing or high technology, almost three quarters said Japan was the cutting edge. Students interviewed in separate focus groups were uniformly unable to name a single recent British scientific or technical achievement.
For art and design, two thirds made France their preferred destination. Only in the humanities, especially history and literature, did Britain come top as a place to study.
London was judged a "fun" place to study by 90 per cent of students and England had a positive rating as a country. Yet - asked to choose one country to visit - only six per cent chose England. The most popular were France and Italy.
More than 60 per cent of the students said Britain was too cold and rainy for them to want to study there. Fewer than half believed Britain was aptly described as "modern and contemporary", while fewer than one third strongly believed Britain was a "technology leader".
Maureen Michaels, whose New York-based firm conducted the poll, said: "If Britain was a business client of mine, I'd tell them, 'You are not a top choice, in any shape or form'."
The survey questioned some 2,000 ethnic minority students with A or B grade averages and extensive extra-curricular achievements. It was designed to focus on the fastest growing segments of the US population - Latino, Asian American and blacks. All live in Texas and California, booming states set to dominate the "new America" of a few years' time.
The British Council expressed concern that only one third of minority students thought Britain could be described as "diverse".
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
Glad to hear that California is booming.
...When I was back in school, I skipped class whenever I could. They always caught me, in the library. Reading...
Oh, I've heard of him! He's that guy who thinks he's Al Gore, right?
I don't know what cold and rain has to do with studying, but it's hard to argue that Britain can be cold and rainy. I have friends who moved to the south of France for that very reason.
Gee, why I am not surprised to read that this survey was given to the "diversity crowd." Could you imagine if white students complained about a country being "too brown"?
Dumbed down education, grade inflation, or both?
The British Council expressed concern that only one third of minority students thought Britain could be described as "diverse".
The other two-thirds thought that "diverse" was somethng poets wrote.
Don't for get the teeth.
Oh, God. Those teeth.
A myth, I assure you. Mike Myers has not done Britain any favours.
Regards, Ivan
But Britain is cold and rainy. lol
Not a myth. I assure you.
Regards, Ivan
Oh I don't know, a country that gave us Thomas Paine and the Beatles can't be all that bad.
Seems like an odd group to sample and an odd perception of the US.
I dunno:
If England is this great technological leader, why don't they have decent special effects on Doctor Who?
Most of Britain isn't that cold, certainly not more so than Juneau or Seattle or Portland. In winter, most of Britain is far milder than Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, or the interior Northeast.
I visited England, France and Italy last year. If I had my choice, it would be tough call between England and France. I would have to pick England. I felt the most comfortable there,and people very friendly. The rain didn't bother me, and I was suprised I could actually time the periods between rainfalls *LOL*
More like Cold, Damp and Sarcastic.
I've been to Italy twice. Last time was on 9/11.
Last year I visited England during the heat wave. It rained briefly one night. We backpacked the countryside and hiked much on the South Downs Way.
We're going back this August.
Been to Germany and Austria too.
IMO England and the English are tops. Same same the cask ales: Old Speckled Hen and Wadworth 6X.
If I had to move, I'd move to England but I don't want to live next to Madonna.
I'm not sure about that.
Italian design has it all over French, whether it's cars, toasters, or clothing.
If you want to grow up to run the world, go to school here.
So9
Because their English cars were in the shop and they had no way to get to work.
" Same same the cask ales: Old Speckled Hen and Wadworth 6X "
These alone are worth moving to England for ! Can't get these in Japan , but I was fortunate to be able to procure 10 cases each of Black Sheep " Monty Python " and Riggwelter ale ! Should last me until the end of September !
Aw, that's not so bad. You should see what the survery said about Russians.
Once a stereotype like this takes hold, it's hard to budge.
Don't feel bad, Ivan.
I'm surprised they even know how to speak English.
I've been to England twice, both times in early fall, for a week each time. The first time it was sunny the whole time except for one day of rain. The second time it was overcast more often, but it still rained only one day.
Don't forget rotten teeth..... where the hell have you been??? Did you have any good secret missions lately?
De gustibus non dispundanum est. I fled California for Seattle because Seattle was cold and rainy. Surprise... the past few years haven't been very cold, or rainy. (Gloomy still prevails in winter though.)
Haven't figured out an argument that liberalism flourishes best in hot, dry environments, though. But we need to restore the definition of "mossback":
mossback, noun. 1. An old shellfish or turtle with a growth of algae on its back. 2. An old, large, or sluggish fish. 3. An extremely conservative or old-fashioned person.
Mossback Pride!
I know, but I don't like those places either. lol
Ages ago, ( Back in the Stone Age) I vistited England for two weeks in December.
The weateher was MUCH nicer and warmer than what I had in my native Michigan.
And I was as far north as Scotland.....
The locals wee amazed that I wandered around in my light jacket....to ME it was balmy... ( Heck: the last rose wasn't dead in the park! And it was December! )
"Should last me until the end of September !"
Sounds about par. Drink it in good health!
We went to Fairport Convention's (an old English folk rock group)annual festival in Oxfordshire last year and one of the sponsors - Wadworth 6X - had a tanker truck full of just that one variety. It was amazing. My wife and I are going again this year and then up to Scotland.
Cheers.
I've visited London a few times over the last decade. While its expensive and the weather stinks, the thing one can't deny is the large number of single hotties that inhabit the city. I can't recall anyplace else that had as many drop dead beautiful women per capita (Paris included).
cyborg wrote:
If I had to move, I'd move to England but I don't want to live next to Madonna.
"I'd move to England but I don't want to live next to Madonna"
Cy,
England ain't that small. ;>)
However, every now and then I would have problems with the locals. They tend not to take too kindly to Young Conservative Americans, if you can possibly imagine that.
Well this is true, and I'd not live in London so I could run into her at all and her faux accent *lol*
And I CANNOT spell!
Sorry , Gentlemen!
That's it.
I'm going to BED!
;-)
Nor any of us on this side of the pond.
Love it! Just stay out of the classrooms...you don't learn anything there.
While I have absolutely NO love for the French, I do think you need to chill.
Coincidence ! I am a huge ( pre-Gerry Conway ) Fairport fan ! Their original drummer , Dave Mattacks , is a buddy of mine !
I've spent some time on the other side of the pond. ALL stereotypes have some basis in reality.
" I can't recall anyplace else that had as many drop dead beautiful women per capita (Paris included). "
Come to Tokyo !!!! Blows England out of the water .
Really?
Most people never heard of Fairport, or they say, "Are they still playing?"
Of course, they are much different from the original band, Simon Nicol is the only original, but they are still fantastic.
The festival is in a small village called Cropredy. Are you familiar with it?
Gerry Conway played with Sandy Denny many years ago also.
Where have you been?
I can see by checking your "in forum" that you have been posting for the past several days, and I was out of town myself last weekend, but I'm surprised that I didn't spot your handle before this.
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