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23 Sep 2003
p. Every now and again, you stumble upon a genuine gem on the web. Sometimes you find that the gem has been sitting under your nose for some time. Yesterday, I came across a particularly good one, courtesy of "dvd's(fuddland)":http://www.fuddland.org.uk/blog/ temporary page while his hosting move goes ahead. The page is an "online guide to pub etiquette":http://www.sirc.org/publik/ptpintro.html produced by the Social Issues Research Centre, and is primarily an informative research document aimed at tourists to Britain. It's detailed, funny and mostly very accurate, and should probably be handed out at Passport Contol to visitors to avoid embarrassing errors. However, it's also a great read for Brits--the combination of thinking, "Oh, that's so true", getting worked up over statements you don't agree with[1], and just chuckling about things you hadn't realised about pubs until they are pointed out, is irresistable.
p. I'm amazed I haven't come across it before. For one thing, I've actually "linked":http://www.rousette.org.uk/mt-static/blog/archives/000273.html to another of their "social reports":http://www.sirc.org/publik/whitevanman.html on the phenomenon of 'white van man'. But even more shamefully, I cycle right past their offices every day on the way to work.
p. I can't help thinking that conducting research on social etiquette in pubs is to the sociologist what sitting in a deckchair on a tropical beach counting some animal or other is to biologists--the Holy Grail.
fn1. The section on pub types worried me slightly as there were no warnings about avoiding pubs where customers come crashing through the windows mid-fight.
2
Thanks for the link - it's a very entertaining read.
Considering how unrepresentative of the rest of the country Oxford is, it's surprisingly accurate!
by pete @ 24/09/2003 7:09 am • Permalink •
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glad everyone's enjoying the article -- shamefully, i didn't note down how i came across it so i couldn't give proper credit.
wish this dns transfer would hurry up though!
4
"Gaze-avoidance techniques" - now, which learning establishment taught those? Priceless!
by Mr.D. @ 24/09/2003 11:09 am • Permalink •
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akin to those people who make nature documentaries -- the urge to rescue the baby whatever being mauled by the adult someother must be great, but you they can't interfere.
similarly, the researchers must have been chomping at the bit wanting to help the tourists waiting around for their table service. or perhaps they were just having a good laugh at the tourists' expense. 
what'll really confuse them is that more and more pubs are now offering table service!
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I love the idea of researchers sat watching tourists in pubs, timing how long it takes them to storm out in disgust at not getting table service.
7
Fascinating stuff. I've never visited the UK, but I'd like to go sometime. If and when I do, I'll have to pop into a few pubs. I don't drink, so I suppose I'll be drinking tea most of the time, but it sounds like the atmosphere would be worth seeing.
Nathan- The vehicle used in the OKC bombing was a Ryder truck.
8
Great wasn't it? But I should stress again that the kudos should go to dvd for the original link.
I also love the nature documentary parallels. I'm sure that the temptation to provide a breathless, sotto voce David Attenborough style narration must have been immense:
"And now, we can see the alpha male demonstrating his attractiveness to the gathered females by relating the humorous story of his night out foraging on curry. To the untrained eye, it might appear that the females are impressed by his narrative skills, but if we look carefully, we can see them looking to see where the nearest exit is when his attention is elsewhere."
9
And where do you drink? And now for something completely different: The Social Issues Research Center in Oxford, UK has released an absolutely marvelous online guide to British pub etiqu...
by All Things Distributed @ 24/09/2003 11:10 pm • Permalink •
10
Hmm, I am keen to have such a report about german tourists and towels. Goooooogle ...
Having been a foreigner in the UK, I can only say that it takes a serious effort to get into the british way of socialising.
I still remember a lesson by my good friend Stephen, he just came by and I said: 'Hey Stephen, do you want a cup of tea?'
He smiled. I stopped and listened. He told me the proper ... around the corner way to do such things:
'Hello Stephen, I was just about to make myself a cup of tea. Would you mind to join in?'
German bluntness meets british politeness.
Cheers orangeguru
by orangeguru @ 25/09/2003 8:09 am • Permalink •
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Did you ever see a Channel 4 documentary a few months back called 'The Truth About Gay Sex'? It had a hilarious nature-documentary-style segment on Hampstead Heath at night.
"Sssh!" said the presenter. "Listen!" There was a distant clapping noise. "That," he said, in his best David Attenborough voice, "is the sound of someone enjoying a good spanking!"
12
bitweever: My bad. Thanks for the correction.
At least that goes to show how strong the prejudice is against white vans (especially Ford Econolines) around here.
by Nathan Ladd @ 25/09/2003 5:10 pm • Permalink •
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caitlin: no, I didn't, but it sounds hilarious!
14
Just found the kind comments about 'Passport to the Pub' - I will pass them on to the author, Kate Fox, who will be very pleased. Sadly, we have to do some less 'ideal' research from time to time to earn a living.
by Peter Marsh @ 15/10/2003 8:10 am • Permalink •
1
That's a brilliant article! As a German I have always been baffled by British pub etiquette. I forwarded the link to a friend of mine from Britain who is an English teacher in Germany, and she was delighted to have it all summed up so neatly (especially the parts about "never jump the queue" and "never forget to say please").----- I just checked out the link to the White Van Man report. Absolutely amazing! I've never heard of this as being any sort of social phenomenon before, but the same type of unofficial stereotype exists here in the states. Moreso when the white van in question is a Ford Econoline, of the type used in the Oklahoma City bombing.
The first stereotype I've ever developed dealing with WVM happened shortly after I met my wife. At the time she was a terrible driver, but WVM was even worse. During the first week we spent together she almost collided with a WVM no less than five times! At least three of those times were the fault of the WVM.
Of course, I've teased her incessantly about white vans ever since. She'll absolutely love this article!
by Nathan Ladd @ 23/09/2003 8:10 pm • Permalink •