As a Teacher of English you would expect me to be very well read, I even taught A Level English Literature (albeit briefly). I studied A Level Lit myself including metaphysical poetry that I still don’t fully understand. I must have convinced my exam marker I knew what was going on though as I did better than expected! However the reality is somewhat different. Yes I love reading, Yes I couldn’t go on holiday without a book or five but my reading list would probably disappoint many academics. I am more Sophie Kinsella than Emily Bronte. However I have claimed to have read more high brow books than is actually true. From the fun infographic below it seems many have claimed to have read or watched Shakespeare when they haven’t! I do enjoy watching Shakespeare but reading it is a real challenge, that is what York Notes was for during my studies!
Yet it seems that I am not alone with more than one in ten Brits (14 percent) claiming they have visited a place they have never been to. Or enjoyed a book they’ve never read, or eaten food they secretly can’t stand, in a bid to appear more “cultured” according to a new study.*
MSC Cruises commissioned researchers to carry out the study* into cultural experiences, which reveals the hilarious exaggerations Britons tell to appear more interesting, better-travelled and more worldly wise. According to the survey*, 21 percent have even fibbed about where they have been in the world – with New Zealand, New York, Australia and Rome emerging as popular places people wish they had visited, but haven’t.
Meanwhile four in ten Brits claimed to have watched a film they’ve never seen, while around one in five have overplayed their interest in politics in a bid to impress their peers.
A further 35 percent claim they would consider a Caribbean Cruise in a bid to appear more cultured. However I actually think travelling is a great way to become more cultured and there are places and cities I would love to visit and it seems daft that in my 4th decade I haven’t got there yet.
One Response
This is so weird! I would never claim to have read anything or been anywhere that I haven’t! I’m amazed that the average Brit has four theatre trips a year as the theatre is so expensive! I don’t usually go at all (even though I would love to), but having a daughter in panto means I do get my four (or even five or six) trips a year!