Comments on: London’s dirty secret

By: Gabrielle

Gabrielle — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:02:12 +0000

I’ve found that Americans are more PC, as Expat Mum rightly points out, and over the top about it too – but they are more direct. People sometimes tell me to tone it down in bisuiness meetings here, but I don’t and I get the results I want as the Brits, while maybe a bit offended, just pass it off as ‘that brash American’ but definitely rise to the occasion.

By: fishwithoutbicycle

fishwithoutbicycle — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:41:07 +0000

I think Trixie has a point about the bridges. If you ever look at the Gothamist news maps there’s often a ‘jumper up’ on the GWB.

By: Sven

Sven — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:51:43 +0000

Never fear! This Morning did a suicide special over breakfast yesterday. Phil and Fern have saved us from suffering another delayed train ever again. God bless daytime tv.

By: Brooklyn

Brooklyn — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:35:50 +0000

Rectitude by the NY Post, who would’ve thunk it?

By: werde

werde — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:21:35 +0000

it’s true – an inlaw works for the LIRR and i was fascinated by the frequency he describes of “jumpers.” it’s never covered in our press.

By: Brooklyn

Brooklyn — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:41:06 +0000

26 suicides, really? I don’t remember reading about more than one per year. Considering the delicate sensibilities of Australia’s outpost of tabloid journalism in NYC, Murdoch’s NY Post, I would have thought the subject would have been covered.

By: Brit' Gal Sarah

Brit' Gal Sarah — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:06:32 +0000

I always feel so sorry for the poor driver, I don’t think the jumper ever considers that impact their actions will have on a fellow human – very sad.

By: Expat Mum

Expat Mum — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:25:08 +0000

Can’t get that edit button to work.

By: Expat Mum

Expat Mum — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:23:57 +0000

Altho’ I agree with you about the Brits (being “fine” etc), I haven’t always found Americans to be particularly direct. Perhaps it’s New York versus the mid-west but I sometimes come out of meetings not having a clue what was either on the agenda or decided. In London I was used to hearing “That’ not right and let me tell you why”, where here it’s more like “I don’t quite see where you’re coming from”.
American people never die – they “pass away”; addicts are often ‘self-medicating”, complete arseholes have “low self esteem” or “issues” and if you’ve had too much at a party, you can now say you’ve been “over-poured”.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:47:42 +0000

As I said yesterday, I was told the only reason it’s ‘person under a train’ is that so no one blames TFL.

Ignorance is bliss in my opinion. I’d much rather take the ‘typical!’ British response on messed up transport than learn point-blank of the demise of some pooor depressed soul.

Good to meet you in person finally!