Why is American banter so different to the UK?

[Roweena_85]

[Levin]

Americans seem to be very literal and irony often goes over their heads. Maybe Americans still take themselves seriously where as Brits have really seen it all before, and have more of a self-scepticism. American humour is usually terrible, but there are exceptions. Take poppybear on this website. Americans get so riled up by the things she says. When I make a comment oftentimes they take it so literally. Language is supposed to be subtle and full of all kinds of different hidden meanings. It's used as a way to poke fun and subvert. This is often lost on Americans.

[Levin]

I should say to balance out that often Americans are charming and lovely in real life.

[Roweena_85]

Can fully agree they're nice people from the few I've met, just the humor that seems different

[Ranasal_Gansen]

As a minority living in the US I don’t really care for British culture I see it as just a grosser older version of the culture I already have to deal with. I could care less if American banter is good or not. I don’t even think there is such a thing.

Further more I find British banter kind of unfunny. American humor is more stupid and low denominator. The country is too wide and unregulated to allow for complicated humor that some people won’t get. Whatever I don’t expect Brits to understand because their culture is just too different.

Brits like to compare themselves to Americans but they really should compare themselves to Europeans. The culture across the ocean is just too separated to allow for smooth comparison.

[Ranasal_Gansen]

Thanks for MHO! :D I appreciate it!

[Agape93]

Comparatively, we are a young nation. And like all young things, we can’t get our act together and learn how to treat others with respect, courtesy and with freedom.

[Roweena_85]

Just think the humor is slightly different

[Agape93]

Yeap it isn’t

[Agape93]

Is**

[Ranasal_Gansen]

America is not that young

[Agape93]

That’s why I said comparatively. Pay attention

[scarlett774]

I think UK banter is sooo much more fun and endearing than American banter, American banter is just kinda dry and cheesy and not nearly as endearing as UK.

[Ranasal_Gansen]

America doesn’t even have a banter which I prefer.

[Levin]

Did you get that from watching the One Direction chaps? :D

[Kaneki05]

is it really different cause i don't see any difference?

[Roweena_85]

From my experience

[gandolph3]

Do you thinkAmerican is better, worse or just different

[Roweena_85]

From experience, its just different.
The people who I've met were genuinely nice but there was just a lack of understanding with jokes and how serious it was taken

[gandolph3]

As Churchill said, "Two great nations separated by a common language"

[Roweena_85]

Suppose that's accurate

[gandolph3]

Does your profile say you are from the US, i thought you were Welsh

[Roweena_85]

I live in Wales

[gandolph3]

Thought so, you having trouble sleeping

[Roweena_85]

Just tonight, being on my phone isn't helping

[gandolph3]

Sorry, what do you usually do when you can't sleep

[Roweena_85]

Watch Netflix

[gandolph3]

Anything worthwatching

[Roweena_85]

Not particularly

[gandolph3]

I am watching Lovecraft country

[Roweena_85]

How's that?

[gandolph3]

Lovecraft wrote some strange stuff, takes place just sfter korean war.. deals with magic, monsters and bigotry

[Roweena_85]

Worth watching?

[gandolph3]

Starts a little slow, but gets better

[MannMitAntworten]

American humour is far more, “in your face” whereas UK humor tends towards the dry subtle and dark sarcasm. It more often than not goes over American heads if they are not used to this form of humour. It is not that they do not get it, they just fail to see the humour in it is all.

[MemeSupreme]

the slangs are different

[Steve37]

I'm not sure what you mean. Different how?