How others see us. How we see ourselves.

Each quarter, Director magazine - the publication related to the UK's Institute of Directors - includes the "After Hours" supplement. Brimming with charming advice, such as how the weather impacts the British summer social scene or how to cruise Scotland to find the finest whiskies, the latest issue takes a look at British national identity.

Interesting to SwelledHead was the comparison drawn by how the British see themselves and how they're see by others:

The British see themselves as:                Others see the British as:

Rational and fair minded                          Reactionary and slightly bonkers

Passionate                                               Cold and aloof

Adaptable and accommodating                  Quaint and charming

Humorous                                                Funny

Culturally fragmented                               Civilised and cultured

Polite to a fault                                        Polite to a point of rudeness

Ironically amusing                                     Sarcastic and ridiculing

Understated                                              Ambiguous

Is this a fair or accurate assessment? To my mind, on the whole it would seem to be, but as an invented concept, being British - or indeed "Britishness" - is something that is difficult to define or agree upon. It's an elusive notion that alters with whomever you ask. It's definitely there, and it can be a real moneyspinner both at home and overseas. You may know it when you see it, but you'll never pin it down. Perhaps therein lies its allure.