10. Resist Our Own Stereotypes
Wikimedia CommonsWe're very much aware of the stereotypical figure of the average Briton. To our brothers and sisters overseas, it is expected that we drink more tea than we breathe air, absolutely despise the thought of uncleanliness, and nervously bumble our way through everyday conversations as if we're constantly at risk of being grilled by Malcolm Tucker. And even though we are well aware of these stereotypes, we love to indulge in them ourselves. A British home doesn't seem complete without the requisite bumper box of Yorkshire Teabags, we accommodate at least one "Keep Calm and..." trinket somewhere in our inventory, and we love to flaunt the phrase "so very British" in conversation whenever talk turns to the weather. Aware as we are that stereotypes aren't a particularly flattering means of characterisation, rather than subvert them actively, we'd much rather stick the kettle on, roll out the Rich Teas and settle on the sofa in front of Wallace & Gromit.
9. Order Food Without Asking What A Companion Is Having
Screen GemsFor some reason, making independent decisions seems like a fearsome challenge to many of us, and such a case is never more amplified than when surrounded by companions who are undertaking a very simple task: ordering a meal. As with choosing a seat when faced with a variety of options, when scanning a menu (filled with either an agonisingly varied selection of personal favourites, or a list of names which we can barely even pronounce), it's always a struggle to independently make an individual choices before the serving party swoops over to the table to demand we make a definitive, irrevocable choice. In order to help the procedure along, a commonly-used tactic is to ask what a more assertive companion is having. If they project a sense of having a sincere faith in a certain meal or foodstuff, then following suit seems like the safest method to go for. This is why most group meals out result in a minimum of food-swapping, or just an order of fish-and-chips all round.