You can’t keep a good Brit down.
The attack on Manchester Arena on Monday night was felt across Britain and around the world. Though the threat level has been raised from “severe” to “critical”, Brits are simply getting on with it.
We have been hurt, but we’re not a nation for self-pity. Steely resolve and stiff upper lips; never yielding, never turning. Our national default is something far more potent, something terrorists can’t understand: taking the piss out of ourselves.
Self-deprecation runs through the core of British society. While we will never hide from terror, we will hide in the aisles of the supermarket if we see someone that we vaguely know, but more importantly, we will own up to our own patheticness. In fact, we revel in it.
The hashtag #BritishThreatLevels wonderfully demonstrates this. Just days after a national tragedy, when times are fraught and tensions are high, we’re doing what we do best: ribbing ourselves for being ourselves. Our brand of Great British panic is something that’s unique to us, and it’s exactly this kind of mentality that will get us through our darkest days.
Here’s a few of the choicest examples.
'I’d Like to Add you to My Professional Network on LinkedIn' #BritishThreatLevels
— James Manning-Monro (@JamesManning) May 24, 2017
"Don't take this the wrong way, but…" #BritishThreatLevels
— David M Barnett (@davidmbarnett) May 24, 2017
#BritishThreatLevels "would you mind sharing this table?"
— Stuart Millar (@stuartmillar159) May 24, 2017
#BritishThreatLevels We've run out of teabags.
— Andrea Mann (@AndreaMann) May 24, 2017
Parcel gets delivered to the neighbour meaning you have to speak to them #BritishThreatLevels
— Claire (@clrthrn) May 24, 2017
The temperature goes below 5°C or above 20°C #BritishThreatLevels
— Ross Lawson (@Ross_Lawson) May 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/MargoJMilne/status/867324687319261184
#BritishThreatLevels "Our Virgin Media Bill seems a bit steep, Ron" pic.twitter.com/uXN0hlvlmo
— Alistair Coleman (@alistaircoleman) May 24, 2017
#BritishThreatLevels Speak to your dad. He just wants a word.
— Cromerty 🎙 Voice Over 💋 (@Cromerty) May 24, 2017
You bump into an acquaintance and it's clear neither of you want to speak but social etiquette dictates you have to #BritishThreatLevels
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) May 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/tomj191/status/867340495449714688
https://twitter.com/13EmmaLouise/status/867342342247895041
