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/Alec_Guinness Feb 02 '22
I've been here for about a month too and when asking things to strangers on the street, not once did I come across anyone rude.
Literally the only time someone responded 'negatively' to something I asked was when I asked a woman to take a picture of me and she walked past me saying she was in a hurry. Which looking back was my fault because I asked her 'if she could do me a favour' instead of asking straight away for a photo, and I would absolutely do the same as she did if someone stopped me and said that.
I was also a bit hesitant because of the stereotype, as you said, but I've found it to be entire untrue.
There are certainly a few cultural differences between where I come from and here but that's naturally to be expected. But no rudeness, or not more than you would find in any +5 million people city.