What do you look like? Pt III

[Burgey]

Originally Posted by Goughy

Not sure if this is the right thread, but Im going to try and take this as a compliment. The people I work with are the academic elite (not that Im saying I am) and very professional. Ive just found out today that a group of my female co-workers call me 'MAB'. It stands for Manly and British. That has to be a compliment right? Im trying to figure out if there can be a bad meaning to it.

Obviously Im married so Im not interested in anyone but Id love to know if that is insulting or a compliment.

"Manly and British" - gotta be an oxymoron, surely....

[Goughy]

Originally Posted by Burgey

"Manly and British" - gotta be an oxymoron, surely....

Well Im British in accent only now.

[Top_Cat]

Originally Posted by Goughy

Not sure if this is the right thread, but Im going to try and take this as a compliment. The people I work with are the academic elite (not that Im saying I am) and very professional. Ive just found out today that a group of my female co-workers call me 'MAB'. It stands for Manly and British. That has to be a compliment right? Im trying to figure out if there can be a bad meaning to it.

Obviously Im married so Im not interested in anyone but Id love to know if that is insulting or a compliment.

Hmmmmm........ in any other context, perhaps. But in working with academic types, it does sound like a way to be insulting in a nice way. If you're smart, you're a rival. So the way to affect others' perceptions of your intelligence would be to make sure people focus in on your machismo than your brains. Depends on the context. Toughy.

[ripper868]

Manly and British....prob my two most hated sporting teams, definetly an insult.

[Johnners]

If it's an extremely professional work enviroment, I'd take a guess at it being a snide insult. But it really all depends on your relationship with those using it imo.

[silentstriker]

Originally Posted by Top_Cat

Hmmmmm........ in any other context, perhaps. But in working with academic types, it does sound like a way to be insulting in a nice way. If you're smart, you're a rival. So the way to affect others' perceptions of your intelligence would be to make sure people focus in on your machismo than your brains. Depends on the context. Toughy.

No way - that's over thinking it way too much. It's definitely a compliment.

[Top_Cat]

Originally Posted by silentstriker

No way - that's over thinking it way too much. It's definitely a compliment.

Well, considering he's a good-looking rugby type, I'm tempted to agree with you in general. Just allowing for the possibility in bitchy work environments.

[Goughy]

Originally Posted by Top_Cat

Hmmmmm........ in any other context, perhaps. But in working with academic types, it does sound like a way to be insulting in a nice way. If you're smart, you're a rival. So the way to affect others' perceptions of your intelligence would be to make sure people focus in on your machismo than your brains. Depends on the context. Toughy.

Yeah, there is certainly that aspect. Id rather focus on my capabilities than my build and personality (which is certainly different to many of the guys I work with). There are times when it would be easier to get professional recognition if I was 5'7" and weighed 70 kg.

Originally Posted by Clapo

If it's an extremely professional work enviroment, I'd take a guess at it being a snide insult. But it really all depends on your relationship with those using it imo.

It comes from a core of women approx 22-35 and seems to be used in a social environment. IMO, its a tough one. Ive been assured it isnt bad, but I doubt they would claim otherwise.

I dont help my case by having my life outside work revolve around sport, drinking and the gym but that is who I am.

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Originally Posted by ripper868

Manly and British....prob my two most hated sporting teams, definetly an insult.

[BoyBrumby]

Originally Posted by Goughy

Not sure if this is the right thread, but Im going to try and take this as a compliment. The people I work with are the academic elite (not that Im saying I am) and very professional. Ive just found out today that a group of my female co-workers call me 'MAB'. It stands for Manly and British. That has to be a compliment right? Im trying to figure out if there can be a bad meaning to it.

Obviously Im married so Im not interested in anyone but Id love to know if that is insulting or a compliment.

Compliment for mine.

Think we're viewed still as effete, snippy, slightly chippy arseholes* (or assholes stateside, I suppose) and a lot of the academics who've crossed over into popular culture (Dawkins, Starkey, Schama, etc) do little to rebutt this.

You being obviously heterosexual and speaking with a Yorkshire accent is probably a novelty for them.

* see below...

Originally Posted by Burgey

"Manly and British" - gotta be an oxymoron, surely....

[vogue]

I was going to put my female two pence in here... but reading through it seems as if most of CW's male experts on the female psyche have already answered your question...so I shall remain silent...

[Langeveldt]

Yeah compliment for mine, after all, if it wasn't for British men, there wouldn't be any bitchy American secretaries..

[silentstriker]

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby

Compliment for mine.

Think we're viewed still as effete, snippy, slightly chippy arseholes* (or assholes stateside, I suppose) and a lot of the academics who've crossed over into popular culture (Dawkins, Starkey, Schama, etc) do little to rebutt this.

You being obviously heterosexual and speaking with a Yorkshire accent is probably a novelty for them.

* see below...

Dawkins is the man. Take it back!

I'm not sure of that stereotype actually, most people in my experience view the British more as uptight and condescending. Not sure about the snippy, effete thing, but I wouldn't be surprised if the stereotypes vary depending on the which region you're in - the deep south and the northeast have very little in common.

[BoyBrumby]

Originally Posted by silentstriker

Dawkins is the man. Take it back!

I'm not sure of that stereotype actually, most people in my experience view the British more as uptight and condescending. Not sure about the snippy, effete thing, but I wouldn't be surprised if the stereotypes vary depending on the which region you're in - the deep south and the northeast have very little in common.

Yeah, dealing with the broadest of brushes, obv. I mean football hooliganism is also known as The English Disease and you're probably more likely to be stabbed by a grubby chav than assailed by a chinless wonder, but I think the uptightness feeds into our reputation for being effete. Because, unlike the latin nations, we aren't constantly pinching women's arses we're somehow viewed as less straight by them.

Dunno if you saw Dawkins's series on God (or lack thereof), but he definitely came across as chippy for mine. Very hectoring of his subjects when all he really needed to do was give them enough rope to hang themselves.

[silentstriker]

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby

Dunno if you saw Dawkins's series on God (or lack thereof), but he definitely came across as chippy for mine. Very hectoring of his subjects when all he really needed to do was give them enough rope to hang themselves.

Which one is that?

This here is pretty much Standard Dawkins, I've found.