Help! The differences of Personality between British and Australians?

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Amy E

I am Australian, 21 years old. I have lived in Aus my entire life and agree that, overall, Australians are friendly and socially outgoing compared to the British. I have been to England twice to visit my family and have found the Bristish very reserved ... cold ... almost icy ... and they keep to themselves.
I cannot say weather Aus or British is better/worse ... both are good in their own way. Sometimes Australians are annoying because they are too abrupt and in your face.
peace.

Lana M

From what you have mentioned.. i strongly suggest coming to australia. im australian and ive travelled alot, and i have never met a nationality that are GENERALLY happier, more open, outgoing and friendly than what we australians are. We have a very open and friendly sense of humour and can interact with foreigners great. We are a very multiculteral country and generally very accepting.
I think the brits are very nice people too, although they have many that are very highly strung anfd wont give u the time of day. i would suggest australia. Very local communities, lots of groups and activities to joing, i believe the british have the type of personality you talk about and for u... come to aus :) im postiive ull be happy! :D

Ranjeeh D

As a 'southern British' person and now an Australian I think you are putting people into the wrong boxes.

Its not ethnic background, its the environment people live in. When it is warm and the sun is shining people will be more outgoing, but when its raining and miserable, so will the people. Britain has more dull rainy days than Australia, so there is the answer. However, don't expect a cheery hello from any city inhabitant these days, regardless of where. They are all miserable!

babylou

(4) Fun, outgoing, chatty, bubbly & generally friendly.
(5) British are abit more hard sometimes to get talking to, don't always have the time of day for anyone, they are sociable but they always come across as busy busy.
(6) Well in the southern part eg london, everyone's rushing everywhere! like i said in 5
(7) No
(8) I think you'd be better in austrailia :)

ABCDiamond Britzinoz.com

You mention "especially with the southern British people".

Being a Northern Brit, but having lived in the South of England for many years, I must agree with your conclusion about the Southerners, they are not "generally" as friendly as the Northeners.

But, having lived in Sydney (South) and Brisbane (North), I have found the same here. Very difficult to make friends in Sydney, but easier in Brisbane.

Whether it is like that for everyone I have no idea, but that is what I have found.

But if you are chatty and enjoy making friends, most people will join in eventually.

Global Geezer

I think you are generalising a little bit too much. I am southern British, and whereas I conclude that northern British and Australians are generally pretty friendly and outgoing, I too make an effort to be the same, and have met plenty of people in southern Britain who are extroverted and make everyone feel welcome.

I think Australians come across as cheerful, chatty and open to strangers is due to the climate: warm and hot sunshine are definitely conductive to people being easygoing and joyful. Britain being a bit rainier and colder would curtail this a touch, but warm cafes and pubs in any British city, on a winter's day can be very welcoming, and I wouldn't want to be in Darwin when it gets really humid, and people 'go troppo!'

It could also have something todo with southern British people working hard and living in a fast pace of life. That means we tend to come across as not having much time for people, but it depends where you go. I was strolling around the Harringey 'ladder' on Saturday afternoon, and people were out and about, chatting to their neighbours in their front gardens. Go to somewhere like Bristol or Brighton, and people there are down-to-earth and broad minded too.

To explain the general Australian pre-disposition to cheerful bonhomie, you have to also look at the history. People mostly descended from convicts and imigrants, meaning that communities were close-knit and people looked after eachother. They also had the resources of a whole vast country to exploit, so that probably helped to foster a feeling of abundance and being provided for.

Finally, Australians classed themselves as a 'new world' nation fostering themselves in modern and dynamic ways, which bred a pioneering and go-ahead spirit among them and their collective psyche. What you need to remember though is that Britain also suffers from the colonial guilt born of our forefathers mistreating people in our possessions, so we may be reluctant to be patriotic and celebrate our history; but on the flip side, we are at the forefront of every trend in sociology, economics, art, leisure, sport and technology, which also perpetuates a go-ahead spirit in us.

Generally, Australians are cheerful, extrovert, welcoming, relaxed, forward thinking and broad-minded, but can also be brash and in certain quarters, there is a racism boiling away under the surface. British can be cold, pessimistic, hassled, reserved and narrow-minded in certain quarters, but we can also be cutting edge, creative, world-class, welcoming, jolly, helpful, honest and stylish.

There are bad and good elements in both countries; it just depends on where you go and who you meet.

zucchinisyoucantkeepagoodonedown

Lee, I doubt if even the Brits would argue that Australia is not a better place to live than England!!

It is far better, far less crowded and dreary, and the English are indeed icy cold and unfriendly. (Not the Scots or the Irish though, nor the British Guyanan friend I had in London. Sorry Welsh people, I didn't get to meet you, so can't comment!)

The standard of living is much higher in Aus, the food is infinitely better (except for the curries!), the beer is better, the houses, the rates of pay, etc etc.

Not that I'm putting down the Brits, mind you!! As for why the English are like that, God only knows....

Australians are as diverse as any nation on Earth, but our lifestyle is generally more relaxed (although from what people say, not in Sydney, lol.) Australians generally like to enjoy life, have parties and barbecues, love their sports, drink too much, love the beach and the pool, and are IN GENERAL NOT very interested in politics or anything intellectual. I'm one of the exceptions.

snoopa

hello I'm a English man who went to school in Aus then returned to u.k at 16 ..ive returned twice in the last 10 years for holiday .heres the gen england is grey wet damp cold alot which doesn't inspire much..crime taxes bills traffic don't help hence pissed off u.k ..australians tend to be in a less of a hurry and are more cheerful and layed back nice weather big Sky's cheaper cost of living nicer houses no wonder there a bit more outgoing you answered your own question almost ..australia is multicultural people are not concerned were your from there is no class system either australia is a great place to live,and if the government in the u.k stoped squeezing every penny out of people and the sun was out more often i,am sure more people would smile

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