“Fatty fatty toad-boy”? Please. There’s nothing quaint or charming about remaining stuck on intellectual ground that’s landscaped with playsets, especially when it comes from a writer for The New Yorker. If you’re going to lionise the English, they deserve better because love 'em or hate 'em, they have better to offer. It’s time to move on and climb out of the short pants, “Giles”. Oh, and turn off the TV while you’re at it. “Culture Desk”, my aching…
I think people in North America are more inclined to take physical action against verbal abuse, so we have less of an inclination to sharpen our tongues.