A question for the Brits

[DREDIOCK]

Not meant to sound derogatory.

Are all Brits birdwatchers?

By "bird" I mean the type with feathers that flies and not a female human.

Amusing that just about every Brit I've run across IRL is a birdwatcher or at least has an in depth knowledge of birds.

Often leads to Amusing and interesting conversations.

Also. What is with the word "Quite" you all seem to enjoy using so much?

While I'd noticed it I never really gave it much thought until recently I was watching a show on TV that had all Brits on it and without exeption they all used the word "quite" over and over.
In the last 15 min of the show I kept count and the word "quite" was used no less then 37 times by only 6 different people.
 Examples.
Quite hot.
Feels quite good.
quite uncomfortable.
It looks quite nice
Why is everything described with the word "Quite"?

Just curious

[Curval]

Are you sure you mean Brits?  Perhaps all these people were actually from Oregon and you just couldn't distinguish the accent?  As I understand it all OREGONIANS are bird watchers of the varierty you mention.

[Siaf__csf]

Jolly good old chap, carry on!

[Jackal1]

Originally posted by DREDIOCK
I was watching a show on TV that had all Brits on it and without exeption they all used the word "quite" over and over.
In the last 15 min of the show I kept count and the word "quite" was used no less then 37 times by only 6 different people.
 

  Hope you kept them nitro tabs handy. That much excitiement could do a person in. Quite.

[Furball]

We all quite enjoy watching birds, it is quite fun really.  i use quite big binoculars to quietly sneak up on them, can get quite close.  I guess the quite frequent use of the word 'quite' is due to the fact that us brits (quite generally) do not like to offend, and 'quite' is not really a definate answer. Quite like sitting on the fence.

[Scaevola]

Originally posted by Furball
We all quite enjoy watching birds, it is quite fun really.  i use quite big binoculars to quietly sneak up on them, can get quite close.  I guess the quite frequent use of the word 'quite' is due to the fact that us brits (quite generally) do not like to offend, and 'quite' is not really a definate answer. Quite like sitting on the fence.

I quite agree...

now I can't quite remember what was I was going to say next, now that's quite foolish of me. Althgought I'm quite sure it'll come to me in time.

[Octavius]

'Quite' has lost all meaning.

[Holden McGroin]

Originally posted by Curval
Are you sure you mean Brits?  Perhaps all these people were actually from Oregon and you just couldn't distinguish the accent?  As I understand it all OREGONIANS are bird watchers of the varierty you mention.

As many Oregonians do in my area, I do most of my bird watching with a Remington 12 Ga.

[mechanic]

we invented the language, we can say quite what we like!

yes alot of us go bird watching, or they did in previous generations.

My generation likes narcotics and playstations more, i would bet quite a substantial ammount of money on that fact.

quite doesnt even look like a propa word now does it??   is that what you meant oct?

[cpxxx]

Actually the correct term for birdwatchers is 'twitchers'.  No idea why.

The Brits or more specifically the English like to collect lists and watch things.  That's why there are more trainspotters, planespotters and birdwatchers ie birdspotters per head of population than anywhere in the world.  Quite a lot of them in fact.   I can understand planespotters and to some extent birdwatchers but what is it with trainspotters................ ....

It's supposedly a kind of autism. I've even heard of a spotter who travels miles to get photos of radio antennae. .