Watching the English

Kate Fox believes that we live in a 'negative politeness culture' whereas most of the rest of the world lives in a 'positive politeness culture'. The main exceptions being the Japanese who, oddly enough, also seem to share our fascination with bottoms.

What the lovely, if rather skinny, Miss Fox means is that in England it is polite not to talk to strangers, whilst elsewhere it is. The exception to the rule, she says, is when you are at the bar, where talking to strangers is almost compulsory. And that is why the English like pubs.

We think the English like Pubs because Pubs sell beer.