Tag: Britishness

Britishness under the AI microscope

Published on by Maciej ModzelewskiLeave a comment

‘How very British to count days or lamp posts’ might seem like such an innocent statement that no one would suspect it to be a practical joke—yet that is exactly what it was, and it was played on none other than Google’s AI. No wonder it fell for it and produced some rather bizarre cultural insights:

The idea of counting days or lamp posts, while not exclusively British, can be seen as a quirky, slightly obsessive, and perhaps endearing trait associated with British culture. This can be linked to a love of routine, attention to detail, and a certain dry humor.

Here’s why this might be considered “very British”:

Emphasis on Routine and Order:
A structured approach to life, including counting things, can be seen as a way to impose order and predictability in a potentially chaotic world.

Love of Detail:
British culture often appreciates the subtle nuances and details of everyday life, and counting things like lamp posts could be a way of engaging with these details.

Dry Humor:
A self-deprecating and understated sense of humor is also a British trait. Counting lamp posts could be seen as a form of dry, slightly absurd humor, where the activity itself is the joke.

Regional Differences:
Some areas of the UK might have more of a tradition of counting lamp posts than others, possibly influenced by local infrastructure or community practices.

Historical Context:
Historically, lamp posts were essential for navigation and safety in towns and cities, and counting them might have had a practical purpose in the past.

In essence, while not a universally accepted British custom, the idea of counting lamp posts can be seen as a humorous and slightly quirky expression of a few common British traits.

More words to ponder at maciejmodzelewski.com

an oil painting showing a busy street in a Scottish city

Journal (The power to cause harm)

Published on by Maciej Modzelewski1 Comment

Does Suella Braverman—by claiming that multiculturalism has failed—suggest that we should all subscribe to some manufactured by the likes of her image of Britishness? Because even if I tried to fit that delusion, I have a really hard time guessing what that actually is I was supposed to become since, after seventeen years here, in the UK—in Scotland, to be more precise—I’d say there’s no such thing as British, at least where I live, and if you ask any random Aberdonian on the street who they are, you’ll most likely hear Scottish. I’m pretty certain the same applies to Wales and Northern Ireland, although the situation in the latter is way more complex. Even in England, people are still likely to call themselves English first rather than British (a lot depends on how you phrase the question).

Coming from a country that went through half a century of totalitarianism, I always feel an unpleasant shiver running down my spine when I hear a politician, especially a representative of the government who controls the security services and the police, utter such bold statements. They should know better that such words have the power to cause harm, which is why I’m horrified that she says them so casually, or in fact, uses them at all.

There is a saying in my native language that overzealousness is worse than fascism, and I’m afraid it fits this situation perfectly. I will keep Braverman’s words in mind next time I watch V for Vendetta, which has been my tradition every fifth of November for quite a few years now.