STOP CLOSING MY POSTS!!!

They wouldn't, would they?

It seems ive been misunderstood. My comment on different traits from different countries wasnt having a go at people. I am merely saying that you cant expect a born and bred italian to have the same sense of humour as a brit. I was just saying that could explain why his attitude comes across as sharp and abrupt some times.

Matt

Matt,

I think the variation in individuals is always larger than the variation between "the people" from different countries. There are Brits having absolutely no sense of humour and there are phlegmatic Italians. I even have heard of Germans with some sense of humour.

You never should expect anyone to be this way or another unless you know him or her. Nationality has not much to do with it. That's what I tried to convey.

Prieni

I thought Germans did't use towels when they go swimming

They use the towels all right after swimming, but not always do they use a swim suit (especially true for East Germans)...

Prieni

im just going by my own personal experiences. I used to work in a casino as a senior inspector and there was a chap from italy who was very direct and a bit abrupt. He was alovely chap , heart of gold but couldnt talk with tact. Some people including myself dont like abruptness. I hate being talked down to.

Matt

My wife keeps telling me I have no tact, but there you go.

I have learned through experience that you can't generalise trends or attitudes based on region or culture, let alone nationality. In today's age when we live in such a multicultural society and where people can mix up and blend in ways far intense that one can even dare to describe you would be treading thin ice and could end up totally lost.

I purposely steered away from responding to the comment although rhetoric that Nathan put when he touched the subject about where I was from and that back where he is from they do things differently. This is the sort of questions that I would rather not respond because a simple answer which in fact is "I am British" which in fact I am would raise still more questions. I have been there and I know the avalanche of questions that come flooding such as "but were you born here?" or, "are you originally from here" or for example "oh but which is your mother tongue if not english" aaahhh the stuff I am asked is just ridiculous. This is my home and my signature shows that I am in London, that should suffice and I can't see any real reason for a point to be raised in a comment regarding where would I come from.

Oh by the way, this is just a friendly comment, no issues raised and I will make sure to add a smilie in the end

You're not "having a go", but you are making excuses. It's one thing to cause offence by accident, and quite another to use a style repeatedly when one already knows and admits it causes offence.

Yes I noticed that on a few beaches when I was living in Spain.
I was quite traumatised for a while after a 70+ old couple stripped one day when we were down having a swim.