Why are people from the South of England not as friendly?

Question

I'm a notherner living in Portsmouth and we have been here for 8 years..we have noticed that people here aren't as friendly as apposed to people up North.

Not everyone but 90%...is it because they don't like outsiders?

Answer 1

They think their all that.

Answer 2

Its not the South... its Portsmouth... there are two specific and distinct towns (I have lived in both, was born in one) that have a very peculiar feeling to them... Portsmouth and Plymouth... whaddya think it is that makes them like that?

Barrack towns to the nth degree but without the inherent transience of an "army town" whereby the family moves every so and so years, it is more a dormitory thing, where the matriarch is left to "deal with it" while the fella is away for years at a time, over the decades this has developed into what they both are today. Quite unlike any other cities I have ever come across. Very, very tight, closed and almost paranoid communities... borne out over the last 50 odd years... almost feudal in outlook, feral in nature... it really is quite extraordinary... I do have a vague fondness for both though.

Both great for a day out... looking at historic stuff etc, but to live there, very odd. If you are "one of them" (which I am on occasion when I return to the maternal home) then you are accepted and they really are the strongest, sweetest bunch of people you will ever meet... its almost like they're pirates or something... reckon its in the water!

Answer 3

OMG I have to say totally disagree - you go up North and everyone just shouts abuse at each other down south at least they are polite if maybe a little reserved at times x

Answer 4

we are not unfriendly. maybe we are more reserved than northerners as we dont go to each others houses all day. i have loads of friends and if i go to a bar or pub i chat to strangers.  what do you want from us? should i knock on your door waving a cup of tea at you? what should we be doing? when i worked in a pub, all i ever heard from northerners was moans about flat beer or the beer is too dear.  oh yes and in the fish and chip shop- "why cant i get cod roe down 'ere? where's me mushy peas?" and "everything is twice the price down 'ere because its put  up for the northerners. you lot pay less. "  . is it any surprise that we could be called unfriendly?

try meeting us halfway. try being nice and you might see some friendliness. sorry , dont take that personally. i mean northerners in general when they are here on holiday.

Answer 5

Im Friendly!!

portsmouth may just be a unfriendly place its not fair to call the whole of the south that!

come to brighton were friendly:D:D:D

Answer 6

A large slice of the people in Portsmouth come from Glasgow who even living in England keep up a wall of hostility towards the English. Strangely it's not reciprocated.

Everytime I visited Portsmouth I noticed this vague aggression, and it was only when I caught a group of these "locals" talking rather drunkenly in a pub I realised they were immigrant Scots.

OLGA

Answer 7

probley just too cold to be nice living over there....

Answer 8

I confess that i have found people diffident wherever i have been, right across the country, until you get to know them, whether it be south, north east or west.

Answer 9

And we have negative inaccurate stereotypes of northerners to.

Answer 10

Don't forget that a fair proportion of the people in the south moved here from the north, like you.  We are used to people from all backgrounds so we don't necessarily have the idea of 'outsiders' in our towns and cities.  Different levels of social interaction are probably not because of your origins. We are just traditionally a bit more insular - not unfriendly so much as respectful of personal space.

Answer 11

I think we have all just ruined this stereotype - there are a lot of people from different regions all taking time out to answer this question! Well done we've all proved that this is not a regional thing more of an individual thing!

Answer 12

i dont think you should generalise souther people just because some you're living near arent, im in the south and out neighbourhoods pretty nice

Answer 13

thats a bit rude

many people from the south a very polite and are very friendly with people

Answer 14

Some southerns are alright but the others are ignorant. Northerns are more friendly

Answer 15

It's down to the individuals not the area or people from that area.

I'm from Liverpool and people always say how friendly we all are, maybe because you're from the North originally you're used to people being overly friendly, and when people are just average on the friendly scale it's strange for you.

=]

Answer 16

I find this quite a lot. Its not a 100% thing but generally people in the South aren't as friendly...

I don't know why...

Answer 17

I think you'll find it's the same throughout the UK....

Answer 18

thats a bit rude, i'm from the South and i think i'm friendly

Answer 19

I am from the South and am very outgoing and friendly, however I do have to agree with this comment on part.

I have come across quite a few people, and sadly to say they are of the older generation whom I find completely rude.

I accept that some of us are fairly reserved, thats probably because if we speak out then the we get pummelled with the old ladys handbags for being heard!!

I have spent some time working in the North and I must say that the guys there are very friendly and bubbly and really know how to have a good time!!

Answer 20

So you're saying that the whole ENTIRE South of England is unfriendly, based on living in ONE place?

I happen to live in the South and think that it is a very friendly place however we are quite reserved which could be interpreted as being unfriendly.

Answer 21

Honest to God, its all the living inner city, where strangers keep coming and going, passing through. Its harder to cultivate friendships and they eventually withdraw, becoming more introvert. Even a smile is regarded as virtual assault..

Answer 22

Sorry but you should try us in Devon and Cornwall. Yes we wonder about outsiders coming in but we do not reject them provided they agree to abide by the local customs.

For instance, incomers by the round at the local pub when they visit for the first time, eat dumplings, learn to drink cider, eat scones, cream and jam in the right order and take not the micky out of our pure dialect.

Enjoy

Answer 23

You should try London-they r soo unfriendly

Answer 24

Portsmouth is a grey and unwelcoming place, move to Plymouth