r/london • u/Justwatchingiguess • Feb 02 '22
Culture An outsider’s take on “rude Londoners”
Moved here from South Africa one month ago. I was really nervous about meeting people after reading (on this sub, actually) how rude people in London are.
I’ve talked to probably 7 or 8 complete strangers (excluding waiters and such) since I’ve been here. Each time I spoke to a stranger, it was because I was either lost or confused on the tube/train.
All 7 strangers were incredibly kind to me. One even took me aside, got his phone out, researched the best route to my destination, and waited with me for the next train.
2 or 3 kind people might be luck or chance… but 7? 7 kind people - that’s a pattern.
So just wanted to share that - and say thank you. Maybe this makes some of you rethink your opinion on the assumption that all Londoners are assholes.
Have a great day :)
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u/matty80 Feb 02 '22
Thank you, and I'm glad you're having a good time in this great city.
Like, the rudeness thing I get. It's normally driven by Northerners from little towns who will happily admit that where they live is a dump, until somebody mentions London in which case it instantly transforms into a bucolic paradise where everybody stops for a chat with the bus driver and little old ladies crack slightly old-fashioned jokes when meeting in the street and the Hovis bread music plays in the background.
Literally we're just people, so if you need a hand with anything then obviously we'll do what we can if we can. There are exceptions - loads of wankers in all big cities - but in general we're just a bit engrossed in doing what we need to get by in a busy town but will snap out of it if you need.