the aussies are right: the brits love to whinge, complain, carp and gripe.

case in point: at tvam this morning, i was outside, and struck up a conversation with an xt660 owner who was appraising my zook. it was one of those british, embarrassed, stumbling conversations, me seeking traction in the conversation but getting nowhere… until…

i asked him how long he’d been in tvam. suddenly we were off on a 15 minute tirade about his assigned observer, problems getting out on observed rides, changing clubs to the london IAM affiliate, and how that was actually too far for him to travel.

as a problem-solver there were several obvious ways to address his issues – change observers, move to a closer-to-home affiliate, be pragmatic rather than aspirational… but he preferred to soldier manfully on through his woe, and seek the complex option which incurred extra hassle that was obvious up-front.

and to tell everyone about it, of course…

i have a theory about all this, and why this is so:

i think it’s a matter of control, or lack of it.

i suggest that if someone feels powerless, or otherwise unwilling to challenge authority, complaint to third parties provides the illusion of control. in reviewing what harm you feel was done to you, you solicit the sympathy of others, and from their involvement you receive some comfort.

the theory in summary:

british people don’t want solutions – they want to be listened to, because something (class? fear of ridicule or authority?) inhibits them from addressing the matter themselves.

moreover: if you point out an obvious solution, they’ll hate you for it – especially if you’re right.

whaddya say? insightful? too crazy? totally off-balance?