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Humor is arguably Britain's finest export. It's bold, witty, and full of puns, and can knock you out almost instantly. In fact, hands down the funniest person I know is from Manchester, England. (He also wrote for Bored Panda, so if you've been reading us for long enough, you might even know who I'm talking about.)

So let's take a closer look at the culture that molds it. Spanning across multiple social media platforms, British Memes is an online project that paints a vivid picture of what everyday life looks like in this corner of the world.

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#2

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Edward Monks
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

absolutly, the later the better. Post lunch me doesnt want to be sat working for hours and hours after eating

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English comedian Ricky Gervais, who co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in the hit BBC series The Office, which was on air for two years and adapted for a U.S. series for eight seasons, thinks that a good way to describe British humor is to juxtapose it to its American counterpart.

"It's often dangerous to generalize, but under threat, I would say that Americans are more 'down the line,'" Gervais wrote in TIME. "They don't hide their hopes and fears. They applaud ambition and openly reward success."

"Brits are more comfortable with life's losers. We embrace the underdog until it's no longer the underdog. We like to bring authority down a peg or two. Just for the hell of it," Gervais explained.

"Americans say, 'have a nice day' whether they mean it or not. Brits are terrified to say this. We tell ourselves it's because we don't want to sound insincere but I think it might be for the opposite reason. We don't want to celebrate anything too soon."

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Andi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if British --- crisps not chips - unless its chips not fries .... simple

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Gervais thinks Brits see failure and disappointment lurk around every corner. This is due to their upbringing. While Americans are raised to believe they can be the next president, Brits are told, "It won't happen for you."

The comedian also pointed out that while irony shows up in the smarter US comedies, Americans don't use it as much socially as Brits. "We use it as liberally as prepositions in everyday speech. We tease our friends. We use sarcasm as a shield and a weapon. We avoid sincerity until it’s absolutely necessary," he said. "We mercilessly take the piss out of people we like or dislike basically. And ourselves. This is very important. Our brashness and swagger is laden with equal portions of self-deprecation. This is our license to hand it out."

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El Dee
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

School WAS terrible, it's just that work is even worse lol!

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#12

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Alex Schroeder
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just did, and I'm a dude who wouldn't wear makeup in public for a hundred bucks.

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Solidhog
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You want her to a picture of her nipples while in Boots and then bring it to you? Kinky, but I like your style.

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ToGo
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always wondered about that, do "they" mean the actual nipple or the areola? I tried both for the hell of it and I suit my areola colour better. To be honest, neither are my best 'nude shade'.

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Ruby
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is your lip color is already significantly darker?

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Weed in the Garden
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THAT explains all the security cameras in the cosmetics department....

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Sir Beer Korma
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any tips for getting a couple of lipstick spots off the front of my shirt?

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Bonesko
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*Looks down*Well whatta know?! I never get that shade. I'll have to pick some up

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Downunderdude
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm happy to volunteer to help women pick their perfect lipstick shade. A free service because I'm a nice guy.

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PaxScientia
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Take a pic at home. Compare the color at the store from the pic on your phone. If you're not sure if your phone is showing accurate colors, send the pic to me. I have a color analysis algo I can run it through to verify.

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I I
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

pictures "women taking photos of nipples then running off too Boots"

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Shelby P
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm very confused. Wouldn't nude lipstick be clear so your natural lip color is what you get?

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Reenzy Bennington
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The shade of your nipples is the same shade as your lips, usually. Why do women buy nude lipstick anyway? Just don't wear any.

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AnyOtherName
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Err no it's not? My nipples are dark brown lmao I'm white and pale AF but they're dark as hell

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This, Gervais has found, is sometimes perceived as nasty by the 'recipients' who aren't used to such customs, but he reassured everyone that it isn't. "It’s play fighting," he explained. "It's almost a sign of affection if we like you, and ego bursting if we don't. You just have to know which one it is."

"I never actively try to offend. That's churlish, pointless and frankly too easy. But I believe you should say what you mean. Be honest. No one should ever be offended by truth. That way you'll never have to apologize. I hate it when a comedian says, 'Sorry for what I said.' You shouldn't say it if you didn't mean it and you should never regret anything you meant to do."

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#17

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Another thing that the rest of the world may not know is that in the UK nothing and nobody is off-limits, so you will regularly see politicians being ridiculed and anybody in the public eye, including the Royal Family, is fair game.

No wonder satire is so popular in the UK. As Gervais briefly mentioned, Brits love humbling people when they get too arrogant and there have been many comedy shows dedicated to exactly this type of humor, including Have I Got News For You and Weekly Wipe.

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Daria Z
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do the same on my way back from work, but with a girl :D

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Debbie Barnes
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love island is awful. It's the kind of show that makes having root canal treatment a pleasure. Nothing to do with love and everything to do with getting a job in TV or getting a modelling career off the ground.

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But the UK has also had a number of hit sitcoms where pretty much nothing happens apart from everyday life. There are no knee-slapping moments but a lot of cringey situations when you cannot believe someone has done or said what they have.  

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These sitcoms are subtle but absurdly funny and ones worth watching are Gavin and Tracy, I'm Alan Partridge, and The Royle Family.

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Abby da great
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“Objection, your helmet— homet, excuse me…helnor—” *sits back down*

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Nathaniel
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could they only afford a couple of tins of Heinz Spaghetti for the party?

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Laurence Thomas
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope they have good hygiene standards for preventing covid, otherwise on your last day, you'll be leaving a little hoarse.

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Cat Palmer
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I looked it up (I'm sick and have nothing better to do): they're red spider mites and are considered a pest as they kill plants, so I guess they've been killed off with insecticide. Thanks for occupying my brain with something other than how ill I'm feeling for a few minutes!

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ToGo
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lugging letters and parcels around in the heat for hours (then the snow/rain/ice in winter), worried if Tyson the territorial rottweiler will actually get one of your fingers this time.... No thanks.

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DDmaybeandor
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

British culture. Idk anyone talking about drinking cider, maybe stolen liquor or beer though.

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Deborah Harris
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's stopping her is that the lowest amount you can withdraw at a cashpoint is £5.00 :D

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jon gilbertson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what do you consider snacks? I'm in the Midwest US. we do popcorn, chips (crisps), beef jerky. curious to what other cultures snack on.

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Laura Ketteridge
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew a guy who was always 23 minutes late. We ended up telling his to be places 25 minutes earlier than we were due to start. It made a serious difference, and we could start things on time.

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Note: this post originally had 101 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

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