I've often been very embarrassed by the remarks and behaviour of British people abroad towards local people. Often downright patronising or downright rude. Here in Spain for example...."if it wasn't for us you'd still be riding donkeys", or "they can all speak English, they just don't want to", and worse, it can be seen and heard in shops and restaurants virtually every day.

In a hotel in West Africa. We were sitting with others waiting for our transport to the airport, new people arrived to stay at the hotel, one woman carrying a fur coat and dripping with jewellery went to the reception desk, banged her hand and demanded to see the manager. The manager came, an African man, Mr Polo. Mr Polo asked if he could help, the woman again demanded to see the manager, he told her he was the manager. The woman was speechless for a moment, then she said, "if I had been told there would be so many black people here I would never have come".

You could have cut the silence in the reception area with a knife. One lady who was sat with us, got up and went to the woman, this lady was on a frequent visit, she used to be a nurse at the clinic in the nearby village and returned often to visit the children she had seen growing up. Very calmly she told the rude woman that she was the most unpleasant person she had ever come across and suggested that in future she took her holidays in England. We all then had to leave so what happened after that I don't know.

Sometimes when abroad people have been, not exactly rude to us, but very offhand, simply because we are British. The British, believe it or not, are not the most popular people around the world, and quite often it isn't difficult to understand why.

I have never knowingly been rude to anyone, other than my immediate family, at least not since becoming an adult. Like sarcasm, which no doubt has it's place somewhere amongst the realms of comedy, I don't see rudeness or sarcasm as anything clever, only with people you know extremely well and who know you well too. Both appear to be signs of insecurity or uncertainty, but that's life and we all have to deal with it in our own ways.

Can of worms open...

I can vouch for that Clumsy ( see my post re Spain this year) I noticed it much more this time and tried at times to pass as South American as i have an accent( unfortunately the Spanish aren't too keen on South Americans either as they can be rude !)
I find some British people abroad quite rude and ignorant .
The story re Africa was horrendous i am surprised that woman got away with it , best she never goes to the Caribbean someone will thump her. ( although they can be very rude there )
Re sarcasm I quite like it in its place which as you say is best with people you know well .
Although sometimes cant resist a little on OFF

I agree JBR! I have no problem with people stating their opinion on Brexit, but verbally attacking another member who has different views is against the rules!You should only attack the post, not the poster!
Look at this:-

"If you didn't vote Brexit because you are stupid, thick, xenophobic and a Little Englander, then the only other reasons I can think of are a vindictiveness towards the young or a selfish willingness to put your principles on independence above other people's well being."

It sounds like another remainer who was obsessed with beating the Brexit vote!.... if you know who I mean!

Julie my biggest fear is that leaving was decided by a democratic vote, so if anybody finds a way not to leave, then we no longer live in a democratic country.... and the government know that!

How about this for a case of rudeness.

My daughter worked on the salad bar in Sainsbury's whilst at uni doing her degree. Dealing with a very difficult customer one day the woman insisted on dealing with a manager she called my daughter a mere shop assistant and that was why my daughter was stood there in an overall and she was in a cashmere coat.!

My daughter came home later quite upset, I was so mad if I could have found that woman I would have stuffed that cashmere coat down her throat!

I've often been very embarrassed by the remarks and behaviour of British people abroad towards local people.