Comment by My_Name
5 days ago
You seem to be unaware of one of the British idioms used in language, it's called "A joke".
Calling her 'the wicked with of the terfs' was one of those. I found it quite funny personally. I can find the joke funny despite my opinion of Rowling as a person or her statements on particular topics. Sometimes, here in the UK, we make jokes featuring people because the joke is funny, not just to virtue signal.
Here in the UK, there is a significant section of the population whose base state is mildly dissatisfied and the external manifestation of that is low level grumbling about minor things. It's not a virtue signal, it's not a statement, it is just how they are. You may do better understanding if you take off your glasses of American Exceptionalism and view things more objectively.
Ironically, your post could very easily be read that you were upset by the article, wanted to express that to strangers, and signalled your social ingroup by referencing other things you were upset about, like the joke.
This post contains more than one joke also. Some people will get them, some will not. And that's OK.
I feel this post is also an example of the the British past time of having a moan.
It's a stereotype that Brits can be miserable and complain a lot, but the truth is most of us just enjoy having a moan about ultimately inconsequential things.
The example that comes to mind is just how many of the blokes I know will complain about reality shows like Married at First Sight or Love is Blind, yet will sit down with their partner each evening to watch them.
The uninformed might suggest they simply don't watch the shows if they're annoyed by them, but if they didn't watch they'd have nothing to moan about, and that's half the fun!
While I'm sure the blog post was made primarily for sparking discussion around the point of la guage differences, I wouldn't be surprised if simply having a moan about something perceived as mildly irritating but otherwise inconsequential wasn't also a driving factor. :)
I've lived in the UK all my life and have the same thoughts as GP.
It would be more of a joke if there was a connection between "west" and "terfs".
> Here in the UK, there is a significant section of the population whose base state is mildly dissatisfied and the external manifestation of that is low level grumbling about minor things
Does that have a name? What causes it? Is it a proud cultural tradition, or more a sort of disease?
I'd say it's cultural. Stiff upper lip and all that. It would be impolite or even confrontational to complain about something, so you have a little moan instead.
A common response to the question "how are you?" is "could be worse". I've always felt this is a good example of British culture, though maybe it's not so simple to understand if you've not lived here.
A casual moan about the weather or the fact that the potholes only ever get haphazardly filled in a week before people need to re-justify their budgets for the following year is a great way to blow off a little steam while building social bonds with the people around you.
These mild inconveniences are perfect when filling dead air with a friend or passing the time with a stranger at the bus stop (it's always 5 bloody minutes late, why do they even bother with the digital signage if it's always wrong? Ah well, it is what it is).
As for causes, you'll get many varying answers, from Thatcher to that just being how it goes.
I believe it was Family Guy season 3 episode 4 in which the Drunken Clam is taken over by the British and turned into a pub, and when Peter and his pals try to storm it and take it back they get defeated by means of biting wit and clever sarcasm. That kind of focused negativity would be an awesome image to live up to, but instead you paint a picture here of habitual incoherent cattiness, it seems like some unfulfilled potential. But I have no specific proposal in mind, guess I'm just moaning about it.
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