thenexttodie wrote:(I only meet British people when I am vacationing in warmer climate and have always thought of them as being nice, almost to a fault, and are always trying to cheer others up.)
They're being polite because they don't know you that well.
With my closest friends, my subculture is purely banter - the most egregious insults, demeaning, mocking, and general no holds barred sarcastic banter - the wittier, and more cutting the better. Drawing oohs and winces from others is basically how you keep score.
Really, only close friends though, and they already know I love them and would be there for them whatever the cost.