Is it true the English are class obsessed and very prejudiced?

Answer 1

No, it used to be that way, but times are changing. Of course you still have your diehards that hang on to the tradition, but these are becoming fewer and fewer as time goes on.

The Lighter Side

I say, Old Chap, fancy asking the jolly old riffraff that question, if I had my way, they would all be bowing and scraping, not to mention tugging their forelocks. I would horse-whip the jolly lot of them.

Another answer

Of course not.

Whilst class was an issue in Victorian times, in modern sociery it is far less important - virtually irrelevant. If you were to ask anyone if they were 'working class' 'middle class' or 'upper class' either they would not have a clue, or would say 'middle class' because they would simply go for the 'happy medium' not really knowing what 'class' meant anyway. Whilst there are exceptions - the far left of politics try to champion the 'working class'(whatever that means) - but these notions are as out of date as Victorian England.

As for prejudice, it is well known that The United Kingdom (which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) is one of the most tolerant nations on earth. Again there are very few exceptions (eg the tiny British National Party - a far-right political party that is racist despite its claims to the contrary) but for the most part in the UK people of all origins and ethnic backgrounds live in reasonable harmony with each other. It is fair to say that, as an example, racism is far less of an issue than it is in parts of Australia (against the aborigines) in parts of the USA (especially the southern states - against African Americans) and in South Africa (both whites against blacks and asians and vice versa). There are laws protecting those on the margins of society - the disabled as an example. In the UK there are more disabled access points (public toilets ('restrooms') building entrances, transport etc) than most other countries in the Western world - certainly in Europe. laws protect against prejudice against diabled, colour, creed, sexuality and so on, but are rarely implimented because it is usually not necessary to implement them.

Immigration is becoming an issue in the UK, however, as more ane seek refuge in the country, whose population is growing without the necessary infrastructure to cope. Whilst historically the UK has welcomed immigrants (far more welcoming, in fact, than , say the USA) with the contemporary security problems regarding terrorism, reform is now necessary in order to maintain security in the country. And let's not forget that the UK has known terrorism since the 1960s with the IRA bombings - and the IRA obtained many of its funds from the ex-pat Irish in the USA. But still the UK has maintained this special relationship with the USA - and rightly so as it is a tolerant and forgiving nation.

I ought to add that prejudice is alive and well in the field of sport... As a Welshman and a rugby football fan, it is well known that the Welsh only support two rugby teams... the Welsh and anyone England is playing. But the prejudice against the English is all in good fun and rather tongue-in-cheek, and is probably the limit to the prejudice in the modern day country.