Ukrainian in Great Britain on the Hypocrisy and Excessive Politeness of Locals

A Ukrainian named Max, who has been living in Great Britain for three years, shared his observations about the peculiarities of communication with the British. He expressed his impressions of the local culture on TikTok, where he talked about how difficult it is to get used to the manner of communication that prevails in British society.

This is reported by Finway

Differences in Communication Between Ukrainians and Britons

Max noted that in Britain, unlike in Ukraine, even those who have no genuine interest in the conversation partner always exchange pleasantries. According to him, every morning at work, colleagues invariably greet each other with phrases like, “Good morning. How are you? All good?” However, in most cases, these questions are not aimed at genuinely finding out about the real state of affairs.

“And this is the British hypocrisy. I understand that it’s culture. But I still can’t get used to it.”

Max emphasized that for Ukrainians, such questions signify a real interest in the conversation partner, while in Britain, it is more of a formality that is observed even by those who do not like each other.

Over time, according to Max, he himself began to use similar phrases in communication, although he does not invest them with genuine meaning. In his opinion, Ukrainians will always remain more straightforward and reserved to the British, as it is characteristic of the national culture to openly express their feelings and thoughts.

Ukrainians’ Opinions Online

Max’s words sparked an active discussion among Ukrainians on social media. Many commentators agreed with his observations about the hypocritical manifestations of politeness in the daily lives of the British, calling it “very unpleasant.” Some users shared their own experiences working in British teams, noting that they try to maintain sincerity in relationships and even encourage open dialogue with colleagues. At the same time, some admitted that such a cultural environment causes them a certain discomfort and is perceived as a “culture of hypocrisy.”

• “Yes, it’s very unpleasant.”
• “It’s a bit annoying.”
• “I feel the same pain. Culture of hypocrisy. The same situation in our office.”