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Humor is arguably Britain's finest export. It's bold, witty, and full of puns, and can knock you out almost instantly. In fact, hands down the funniest person I know is from Manchester, England. (He also wrote for Bored Panda, so if you've been reading us for long enough, you might even know who I'm talking about.)

So let's take a closer look at the culture that molds it. Spanning across multiple social media platforms, British Memes is an online project that paints a vivid picture of what everyday life looks like in this corner of the world.

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    Edward Monks
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    absolutly, the later the better. Post lunch me doesnt want to be sat working for hours and hours after eating

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    English comedian Ricky Gervais, who co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in the hit BBC series The Office, which was on air for two years and adapted for a U.S. series for eight seasons, thinks that a good way to describe British humor is to juxtapose it to its American counterpart.

    "It's often dangerous to generalize, but under threat, I would say that Americans are more 'down the line,'" Gervais wrote in TIME. "They don't hide their hopes and fears. They applaud ambition and openly reward success."

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    "Brits are more comfortable with life's losers. We embrace the underdog until it's no longer the underdog. We like to bring authority down a peg or two. Just for the hell of it," Gervais explained.

    "Americans say, 'have a nice day' whether they mean it or not. Brits are terrified to say this. We tell ourselves it's because we don't want to sound insincere but I think it might be for the opposite reason. We don't want to celebrate anything too soon."

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    Andi
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    if British --- crisps not chips - unless its chips not fries .... simple

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    #9

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    Nick Jeffery
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For me, you put the divider down after your shopping to ensure nobody else's stuff is on your bill, not to help the person behind...

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    Kayjunmoon
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why would he be expected to say thank you? It also stops the woman's groceries getting mixed up.

    Mary Peace
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm in the UK, and I find most people move the divider for the next customer, and most people say thank you.

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    Highwaytozen
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here in Sweden it's considered rude not to put a divider down after you've put all your items on the conveyer belt

    Ninette T
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Over here it's more like, if you can't be bothered putting down a divider, it's assumed you don't mind paying for the groceries 🤷🏼‍♀️

    BadCat
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But who puts it down when? I put down a divider for my stuff. When someone comes up behind me with one thing and I'm already at the debit machine and they just put down their item next to mine and the cashier thinks it's mine that doesn't mean I'm not straightening out the error.

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    PaxScientia
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You don't put down the divider for the next person. You put it down so the cashier knows where your purchase ends and you don't end up buying someone else's food.

    Alex Boyd
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    FFS, The divider isn't for the person behind you; it's for the cashier, so she doesn't have to guess what each of hundreds of individual customers any given day might consider the appropriate-size gap to leave between their order and the one before!

    CindyLouWho1209
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It also indicates that the person behind you can begin loading their groceries on the conveyer belt.

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    Victor Trejo
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    From where I come from, the divide is there (as some people already commented) for the cashier to know what things belong to whom. My pet peeves: When I get in line, I leave enough space between my groceries and the person before, and when they get the divide, I feel like they are implying their products are better than mine.

    john li
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I already had my groceries down im going to be petty back and pretend not to notice and let the woman awkwardly explain to the cashier its not her groceries or she has to buy my groceries also. Its not only for me its for her and the cashier also.

    Leo
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What?? I'm Swedish and I've never experienced that. Usually it's the person behind you that puts it down!

    RMA
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Note the ‘moanimum’ in the handle. Says it all.

    Octavia Hansen
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When someone does not at least acknowledge something I did for them, I like to announce a loud, "YOUR WELCOME!" in the hopes it will sear it into their tiny brain that it's a good thing and they missed an opportunity to connect or smile or it could influence them to do it for someone else. Maybe it's an educational opportunity, or something I'm smug about.

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    Gervais thinks Brits see failure and disappointment lurk around every corner. This is due to their upbringing. While Americans are raised to believe they can be the next president, Brits are told, "It won't happen for you."

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    The comedian also pointed out that while irony shows up in the smarter US comedies, Americans don't use it as much socially as Brits. "We use it as liberally as prepositions in everyday speech. We tease our friends. We use sarcasm as a shield and a weapon. We avoid sincerity until it’s absolutely necessary," he said. "We mercilessly take the piss out of people we like or dislike basically. And ourselves. This is very important. Our brashness and swagger is laden with equal portions of self-deprecation. This is our license to hand it out."

    #10

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    El Dee
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    School WAS terrible, it's just that work is even worse lol!

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    This, Gervais has found, is sometimes perceived as nasty by the 'recipients' who aren't used to such customs, but he reassured everyone that it isn't. "It’s play fighting," he explained. "It's almost a sign of affection if we like you, and ego bursting if we don't. You just have to know which one it is."

    "I never actively try to offend. That's churlish, pointless and frankly too easy. But I believe you should say what you mean. Be honest. No one should ever be offended by truth. That way you'll never have to apologize. I hate it when a comedian says, 'Sorry for what I said.' You shouldn't say it if you didn't mean it and you should never regret anything you meant to do."

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    Another thing that the rest of the world may not know is that in the UK nothing and nobody is off-limits, so you will regularly see politicians being ridiculed and anybody in the public eye, including the Royal Family, is fair game.

    No wonder satire is so popular in the UK. As Gervais briefly mentioned, Brits love humbling people when they get too arrogant and there have been many comedy shows dedicated to exactly this type of humor, including Have I Got News For You and Weekly Wipe.

    #18

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    Daria Z
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I do the same on my way back from work, but with a girl :D

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    Debbie Barnes
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love island is awful. It's the kind of show that makes having root canal treatment a pleasure. Nothing to do with love and everything to do with getting a job in TV or getting a modelling career off the ground.

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    But the UK has also had a number of hit sitcoms where pretty much nothing happens apart from everyday life. There are no knee-slapping moments but a lot of cringey situations when you cannot believe someone has done or said what they have.  

    These sitcoms are subtle but absurdly funny and ones worth watching are Gavin and Tracy, I'm Alan Partridge, and The Royle Family.

    #24

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    Nathaniel
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Could they only afford a couple of tins of Heinz Spaghetti for the party?

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    Laurence Thomas
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hope they have good hygiene standards for preventing covid, otherwise on your last day, you'll be leaving a little hoarse.

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    #34

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    Cat Palmer
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I looked it up (I'm sick and have nothing better to do): they're red spider mites and are considered a pest as they kill plants, so I guess they've been killed off with insecticide. Thanks for occupying my brain with something other than how ill I'm feeling for a few minutes!

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    #35

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    ToGo
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lugging letters and parcels around in the heat for hours (then the snow/rain/ice in winter), worried if Tyson the territorial rottweiler will actually get one of your fingers this time.... No thanks.

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    #37

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    DDmaybeandor
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    British culture. Idk anyone talking about drinking cider, maybe stolen liquor or beer though.

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    Deborah Harris
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What's stopping her is that the lowest amount you can withdraw at a cashpoint is £5.00 :D

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    #39

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    jon gilbertson
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    what do you consider snacks? I'm in the Midwest US. we do popcorn, chips (crisps), beef jerky. curious to what other cultures snack on.

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    #40

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    Laura Ketteridge
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I knew a guy who was always 23 minutes late. We ended up telling his to be places 25 minutes earlier than we were due to start. It made a serious difference, and we could start things on time.

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    #46

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    #47

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    Mirt
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Absolutely. Easier then having to go through my email to find it

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    censor
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    isn't that the queen's portable toaster that she's dropping those chocs into?

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    #49

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    Adam Zad
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In New York, I found the street crossings very rude. I got to the intersection and pressed the button to cross the street, and the system asked me how much I weighed! Really! It said, "Weight." I glowered at it and said, "About 275, not that it's any of your business!" And the street crossing said, "Wait."

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    #54

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    Mary Peace
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    2 years ago

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    My cousins don't. Becos all the nannies and granddads died a long time ago.

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    #58

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    Aurora
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    2 years ago

    This comment has been deleted.

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    #61

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    Deux
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Half-hearted censoring, even BP can't be arsed with it anymore.

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    James016
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I had my way, I would have blackout curtains and no visible light at all.

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    #69

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    Mary Peace
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    2 years ago

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    I think you mean the lifestyle to which you would like to become accustomed.

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    #72

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    Ton Kroon
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not at all. That's your introduction scene in their movie! Make it epic.

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    censor
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    2 years ago

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    it's because you are what we call a "deprived child" the other days of the year

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    Debbie Barnes
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    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They're all exhibitionists.. This programme has given them a stage to go naked on live TV.

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    #80

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    Deux
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Only ever been to Nandos once in my life and learned pretty quick that it's not for me. Am I even British?!

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    censor
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    you know the whole world is under the impression the uk has terrible food, and you are not helping.

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    censor
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can't be british, you are way too not cynical. Your passport is revoked.

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    Donnie Mc00
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    my family all do the same!! heres the full video for anyone who hasn't seen it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilsiCOYexuk

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    James016
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Since Boris is a fan of classics, we should launch him into the sea using a trebuchet.

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    Adam Zad
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Three years ago, I bit off a nose. One lousy nose! I'm branded for life, here!"

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    censor
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hate to break it to you but it's the same everywhere. We're all wage slaves.

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    USMCFelicia
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Did anyone else lick their lips while reading this to check the level of dryness?

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