How Rude!

I was just wandering around the world wide web the other day, as you do, and I came across this little gem in Wikipedia.

Inselaffe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Inselaffen [plural] is a German word meaning "Island Monkeys". It is used, perhaps pejoratively but mostly light heartedly, to describe the people of England, UK. The word is generally used fondly and as part of the friendly and often humorous, competitive banter between the two countries.

The actual meaning behind it refers to the German (and other European countries) stereotypical image of the English as heavy drinking, violent, criminalistic and yobbish. These characteristics of the English are regularly witnessed by Europeans when visiting the UK, while on holiday elsewhere or at football matches, where many Europeans have been victim to the internationally infamous English hooliganism.

German people offer this behaviour as evidence to a tongue in cheek theory that evolution stalled on the island of Great Britain.

Although the phrase is used in reference to the people of the British Isles, the same stereotype mainly refers to the people of the regions Scotland, Ireland and Wales, who, it is considered, have a much more violent and aggressive nature, though still suffering the same commitment to inebriation and constant fight to avoid sobriety.

Well, bugger me, that's a bit rude, isn't it?  I've never in my life heard this word, let alone known anyone to actually use it.  And why would someone think it necessary to write a Wikipedia post about it?  Who's out there looking this stuff up?  That's just down right cheeky.

Apparently, whoever wrote of the "...friendly and often humorous, competitive banter between the two countries..." has quite obviously never been on a package holiday to Majorca, where you have to get up at 4:00 a.m. to put your towels on a sunbed so you can beat the Germans at their own game! [Yes, I did just go there...]

Too late, the German's got there first!

I'm not so sure this is actually a 'tongue in cheek' Wikipedia entry, but seeing as I am, in fact, English I am going to ignore it and reaffirm my commitment to inebriation and avoid that fight with sobriety, .... I'm going to have a drink! 

Cheers!

We're a lovely lot - don't know what they're talking about!

The Two Fingered Salute

Being English I do love a good hand gesture. 

 

Unfortunately most of them don’t translate over the pond.  On a few occasions, I have given other drivers the fist shaking, circled thumb and forefinger sign (known as the ‘tosser’ or ‘wanker’ sign anywhere in Britain).  This rarely gets a reaction from an American driver – they just think you are shaking your fist at them.  I tried to elaborate by sticking my tongue in my cheek at the same time, but that just makes me look strange and feel a bit stupid, if truth be known.

I have now taken to using the middle finger or “flipping the bird” as it’s called.  I have no idea why it’s called the bird – I have done extensive research (i.e. I Googled it) and couldn’t find any answers.  It’s supposed to represent a phallus, so the bird doesn’t make sense to me.  But that gesture is now my go-to hand signal while driving.  Not that I’m driving and flipping people off all the time, but there are moments when you just need to express your opinion or distaste for others' driving habits.

 

People who know I’m English do still get the ‘V’ sign.  It’s so much nicer than that solitary middle finger.  And it has a great history.  Also known as “the two fingered salute,” “The Longbowman Salute,” “The Agincourt Salute,” “the Rods” or a number of other names, it's believed to have originated during the Hundred Years War at the Battle of Agincourt when the longbowmen used the gesture towards the French, showing they still had their bow fingers and could still shoot arrows.  It is said the French would cut those fingers off any captured Brits.   This may not actually be true, but in good English tradition, it sounds brilliant so we’re keeping the story.

Oops Mr. Churchill - wrong way round!

It just feels so nice to shake the good old ‘V’ sign with both hands now and then that I just don’t want to give it up.  So whether anyone understands it or not, I won’t stop!