February 19, 2013

Emma Watson has a problem with English guys and American guys.

"English guys are very well put together.... They dress really well and they are very well mannered. But they are also very restrained. Usually in the whole courting situation, I‘m used to being first of all, ignored for the first two months of the ritual. And then maybe they'll acknowledge my presence."

American guys are "like, 'I like you. You're great. Let's go on a date. Let's do it.' I'm like, 'I'm sorry, what just happened?' This is like a huge culture shock for me. They're very like open and very straight-forward—but they wear flip-flops and I don't know if I like that."

And I'm like, wow, poor Emma Watson. 

78 comments:

rhhardin said...

The first telephone operator.

Jeff with one 'f' said...

Even worse, we sometimes wear shorts!

edutcher said...

I can see her problem with American guys.

The Slob Culture of the last 50 years.

I don't doubt Meade was much more of a gentleman when he did his courting.

Nomennovum said...

The problem is always the guys. Once men realize that women are special snowflakes, entitled to it all, then all will be well. Or not.

Who cares what she thinks?

Anonymous said...

People often mistakenly equate the British accent for intelligence.

Anonymous said...

American guys are fun. You know what they say, once you go Yank you never go back to English wank... or something along those lines.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

People often mistakenly equate the British accent for intelligence.

Piers Morgan has taught us otherwise.

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

Wing-GAR-dee-əm LEV-ee-OH-sah.

DADvocate said...

I don't wear flip flops.

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

I thought Emma Watson was great in the first three Pirates of the Carribean movies.

Synova said...

I don't know. It's sort of an interesting observation, isn't it?

Bob R said...

Althouse is having a Tiger Beat flashback.

Mary Beth said...

bpm4532 said...

People often mistakenly equate the British accent for intelligence.

2/19/13, 10:18 AM


Does she want to make "The Ocean Walker"?

Sorun said...

I think I'll start dressing better.

Thorley Winston said...

People often mistakenly equate the British accent for intelligence.

I’ve heard that it’s usually worth about fifteen imputed IQ points.


Thorley Winston said...

I thought Emma Watson was great in the first three Pirates of the Carribean movies.

I preferred Keira Knightley’s performance in the Harry Potter movies myself.

AllenS said...

Her: "I‘m used to being first of all, ignored for the first two months of the ritual. And then maybe they'll acknowledge my presence."

Him: "Let's do it. What was your name again?"

dreams said...

I became a Emma Watson fan after seeing her in the movie Marilyn. I'm thinking that she might have went on and did it, of course with the right guy.

Astro said...

Bob R said... Althouse is having a Tiger Beat flashback.

+1

ricpic said...

Compromise Emma, go Canadian.

William said...

I watched her grow up. I'd feel kind of creepy watching her in cetain roles. I had the same problem with Drew Barrymore for a while. I'm glad that Drew Barrymore was able to stifle her inner Lohan and turned out so well.....Certain child stars generate a lot of good will and you really hope for the best for them. I know Ms. Watson has been to Brown and Oxford but perhaps she may yet develop into a grounded adult.

Brian Brown said...

Who is this ditzy broad, anyway?

bagoh20 said...

We take off the flip flops, right? So what's the problem? Oh, we don't function so well as a fashion accessory. That is true of us. We are more of a utility tool. So get one of each. The Limey can take you out, and you can keep us handy for when you want something done. C'mon girls, liberation means solving problems for yourself.

Paddy O said...

If LA Story is a good guide, she's going to eventually fall for the funny, outgoing American, especially if he listens to the signs.

John said...

If it's a posh British accent, then it might be worth a couple (only a couple) of points for me, but if it's that godawful youth/street accent, I deduct somewhere around 50 points. Don't even get me started about Australian accents.

politicaltragic said...

Upper-class first-world problems.

bagoh20 said...

What kind of lucky of do you have to be to be able to ignore Emma Watson for a couple months? How does she find such a man? That is one picky circle to be fishing in.

Chef Mojo said...

It would appear that I've totally missed out on Emma Watson's significance to our culture.

Oh well.

traditionalguy said...

American man's first meeting line: Lay down, I think I love you.

English man's first greeting line: Pay attention to how socially important I am.

No wonder Princess Di rode her riding instructor. He paid her emotions some attention.

Sydney said...

She's right about the flip-flops. Nothing worse than a man in flip-flops.

SteveR said...

That's what Hermione does...

G Joubert said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

@Sydney - Depends on where you live. Anywhere inland sure. Wisconsin? Definitely. On the ocean in front of my brother's place in Atlantic Beach, Florida? Not so much.

gadfly said...

Guys just don't walk on the sidewalk with "her highness" on the inside away from the street anymore.

No, I am wrong. The correct statement is that "guys don't walk with gals anymore."

jacksonjay said...


"Leather boots are still in style for manly footwear."

Merle Haggard

mccullough said...

Flip-flops: Emma Watson as Shorts: Althouse.

Anonymous said...

Nomennovum: The problem is always the guys.

Yeah, it's telling that she didn't have anything to say about the women she was dating.

Who cares what she thinks?

You, apparently.

jr565 said...

I'll go on a date with Emma. And, I don't wear flip flops.

Amartel said...

Rorschach post.

Nomennovum said...

Anglelyne,

Thanks for reminding me: The flipside of its always being the guy's fault is "don't judge me!"

Dante said...

And I'm like, wow, poor Emma Watson.

I saw this interview with a woman who dressed up like a man, to experience what it is like to be a male.

A few interesting points she made

A) Women reject easily, and it is very difficult to withstand the rejection.

B) Once women are in the relationship, even when they find out the "guy" is a "woman," nearly half want to continue it.

I'm sure it's somewhere on the internet, and I wish I could find it.

Amartel said...

Well, they all are to a degree but this is one of those that seems like it might have a point but like doesn't really.

Anonymous said...

traditionalguy: English man's first greeting line: Pay attention to how socially important I am.

Maybe the ones in social classes outside my experience. Or on TV period dramas. IME Englishmen are no more likely to be status-conscious douchebags than Americans.

Anonymous said...

Ever occured to her that the English guys ignored her for the first two months because they couldn't stand her? Then they wised up. Like the Americans, they could score for free.

Nomennovum said...

"Ever occured to her that the English guys ignored her for the first two months because they couldn't stand her?

No. Never.

Bruce Hayden said...

It was interesting watching her in the early HP movies, as she progressed from the robes to the jeans and zip up hooded velour jackets that were so popular at the time. Still, they never got nearly as under dressed as most American middle and high schools - staying closer to those private schools still requiring uniforms.

But, I think that she is right about the difference in dating and dress. It isn't US v UK, but rather, US v Europe. My kid spent a recent spring in Europe in college, and was surprised at a number of things. One is that everyone (meaning college aged through their 20s) dressed up to go out. Both sexes, but esp. noticeable I think, are the guys. Most often, tight nice jeans, nice shirts, leather shoes or boots, and often a leather jacket.

First noticed this a couple of years earlier, at summer camp in Colorado. A couple of HS campers right in front of us in chapel were very well dressed. The boy was wearing khakis and a pressed button down shirt, while the rest of the boys were wearing shorts and t-shirts. Turns out they were from Belgium.

Still, Watson somewhat went to Brown, while Ron (Rupert Grint) went to CU Boulder, and my bet is that Brown is still far, far, more formal and dressed up than Boulder. Kid growing up in CO knows a lot of kids at CU, and he was fairly well known, despite having over 20k students on campus. And, popular with the young ladies.

Titus said...

My first intention is "let's do it" and I don't even have to say the words "let's do it"-it's just a look.

I am so American, but I don't wear flip flops.

tits.

LordSomber said...

Dante, what you're describing sounds like Norah Vincent and her book, "Self-Made Man: One Woman's Year Disguised as a Man."

Wince said...

Did you see this Conan interview with Alice Eve?

It's uncanny. Seriously, they must the same publicist who scripted them both.

"Alice Eve explains the difference between American and British men."

sakredkow said...

Emma who? Is she that person that was in those Henry Potter movies?

~~The only thing for sure we knew about Harry Potter was that his name wasn't Harry Potter~~

Wisco Gal said...

nothing wrong with a nice pair of leather flip flops on a man...way better than socks and sneakers with shorts...vomit

the wolf said...

She's in the 1%...of women who can actually make this observation.

Nomennovum said...

"[N]othing wrong with a nice pair of leather flip flops on a man...way better than socks and sneakers with shorts...vomit."

This makes me sad. :(

Socks, sneakers, and shorts define my gym attire to a t. I dress like this 6 days a week for 1 hour a day.

coketown said...

I actually like her. She always comes across as level-headed. But considering she spent her formative years at Hogwarts, her opinion on men may be slightly jaded.

I agree with her about flip-flops. What an obnoxious mode of transportation. Flopflopflopflopflop. Must be an American sneaking up on us!

And I think she's comparing English college students vs. American college students. I've met English guys and they are not well-dressed or well-mannered. They're probably greater slobs than we are. Probably the politeness distribution for English and American men looks similar to the distribution for math scores of men and women. Their very best may be better than ours, but our average is much higher.

Alex said...

What is so HAWT about her?

Revenant said...

It is worth noting that she was describing the American men she met at Brown -- i.e., American college kids -- not American men in general.

Revenant said...

The problem is always the guys. Once men realize that women are special snowflakes, entitled to it all, then all will be well.

Well, yes, that is definitely a problem in modern culture.

On the other hand, Watson's intelligent, beautiful, rich and an internationally famous movie star. Arguably she's got a pretty good claim on "special snowflake" status compared to the average sorority girl. :)

Mark said...

Any guy who ignores Emma Watson for two months is probably more into Daniel Radcliffe. NTTAWWT.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

I agree with her about flip-flops. What an obnoxious mode of transportation. Flopflopflopflopflop.

To all guys and gals who want to wear flip-flops.....please please take a look at your feet first. Do you have long, ragged, yellow toenails that you could use to plane wood with? Cracked callouses and heels that look like you should take a belt sander to them? Do you have feet like a Hobbit and need to shave the tops of your toes and feet? Warped toes. Hammer toes? Bunions the size of walnuts?

If any of these things apply. Spare us and wear some shoes already.

rhhardin said...

I favor off-brand crocs ($8.99 at Kroger).

bgates said...

I thought Emma Watson was great in the first three Pirates of the Carribean movies

I believe you're thinking of Kate Beckinsale.

Men should wear closed-toed shoes.

coketown said...

To all guys and gals who want to wear flip-flops.....please please take a look at your feet first

I have beautiful feet. I could be a foot model. My toes are perfectly straight and proportional; my toenails, exquisitely pedicured. The shape, dimensions, curves--all sublime. God deserves a standing ovation for these feet.

BUT! Like the covered faces of Muslim women, their beauty is forever concealed--and by their mystique is their allure more palpable. Like the delicate stigma of the saffron crocus, my feet are treasures vaguely hidden--and quite pungent if allowed to soak in warm water for thirty minutes.

Hahahaha. I should write for Pottery Barn!

Amartel said...

I thought Emma Watson was great in the first three Pirates of the Carribean movies

I believe you're thinking of Carey Mulligan.

Flip flops at the beach or around the house.

Old RPM Daddy said...

The proper word for flip-flops is "shower shoes," as that's the only place they should be worn.

Thank you.

Smilin' Jack said...

English guys are very well put together.... They dress really well and they are very well mannered. But they are also very restrained.

Everyone who's ever attended an English soccer match can attest to this.

Smilin' Jack said...

And I'm like, wow, poor Emma Watson.

I'm sure there are plenty of English guys who can meet her criteria. For example, I believe Amy Winehouse's ex is now available...unless he's back in prison.

SteveR said...

I should write for Pottery Barn

or J Peterman

dbp said...


G Joubert said...
"Flip-flops or sandals? I suspect she's lumping them together. If it's just flip-flops, then I agree with her."

I never saw the point to shower shoes: Bathing should be done barefoot. Now, Birkenstocks are fine to wear--outside in the summer and all the time at the office, at home or any indoor venue.

mariner said...

Althouse,

I've been reading this blog almost since you started it, and I never would have guessed you were like Emma Watson.


;)

Xmas said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Xmas said...

Really, I think she peaked in "Breaking the Waves". I prefer Rhona Mitra.

ken in tx said...

Shower shoes are for communal showers. You don't want to be walking bare-footed in a soup of other people's dead skin and pee.

ken in tx said...

I think Emma Watson is a delightful young lady.

bagoh20 said...

" You don't want to be walking bare-footed in a soup of other people's dead skin and pee."

If the brochure says we get that, then I want it, or I want a refund for the cruise. I can wait here all day - I'm on vacation.

tiger said...

Oh Professor stop being such a stick-in-the-mud.

She's a young woman talking about dating.

Lighten up because you sound envious.

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Joe Schmoe said...

Good observation, Emma.

Three points for Gryffindor.