Often, during times of upsetting national news, British social media finds some bleak humour or common theme to rally around. The hours after Saturday night’s attack on London Bridge and Borough Market have been no exception.

Woman on CNN talking about London's streets being eerily quiet. Mate, it's Sunday. They're not cowering in fear, they're having a lie in. — Scottieboy (@merseytart) June 4, 2017

"London should not be cowed" mate the Chicken Cottage by Borough station is already open stop worrying — ⭐fervor w measure⭐ (@setalyas) June 4, 2017

The nation is not for reeling

One headline in particular provoked British ire, from the New York Times, which stated that “Terrorist attacks in the heart of London leave 6 dead in a nation still reeling”



This sort of hyped-up headline does the terrorists' job for them. UK isn't "reeling" @nytimes pic.twitter.com/KKesMHHIFY — Robert Harris (@Robert___Harris) June 4, 2017

For a start, the word ‘reeling’ has a very different and meaning distinctive to the British Isles, with the ‘reel’ being a common folk dance in both Scotland and Ireland.

If London is reeling it means there must be an Irish dance festival in Trafalgar square again ;) 💃 — Mary Branscombe (@marypcbuk) June 4, 2017

Reeling: a form of dancing. We dance on, unbowed and with customary sangfroid. — Graeme Plunkett (@gplunkett58) June 4, 2017

Other social media users just showed the New York Times that they were getting on with their day, and that London, targeted many times by terrorists over the years, was keeping calm and carrying on.

View of London from the South. No one in this beautiful old city is #reeling. pic.twitter.com/DMFJTHnEtT — Sarah Churchwell (@sarahchurchwell) June 4, 2017

been for a bike ride, now preparing Sunday lunch #reeling wheeling and peeling — Jill Twin (@JustJillyDilly) June 4, 2017

Going to IKEA for meatballs and maybe a rug. #reeling — Marcus Milburn (@omen121) June 4, 2017

As one person put it



Nothing makes Brits more resolutely determined to 'get on with things' than hysterical commentators trying to suggest we're reeling. — Jojo Moyes (@jojomoyes) June 4, 2017

Here’s what actually makes the British reel

As with the #BritishThreatLevels hashtag after the Manchester Arena bombing, social media conversation soon moved on to what really does make the British reel

People pronouncing it scone, when it is actually pronounced scone. #ThingsThatLeaveBritainReeling — Jerknalist (@Prince_Albert37) June 4, 2017

Knowing you're walking in the wrong direction & having to tut & check your watch/phone before changing course #ThingsThatLeaveBritainReeling — Craig. (@ContrarianCraig) June 4, 2017

Toasters that aren't big enough to fit in the whole slice of toast. What is the point? #ThingsThatLeaveBritainReeling pic.twitter.com/qj8OsaI2B1 — Charles Rothwell (@charlierothers) June 4, 2017

The price hike over this little chap 🐸 #ThingsThatLeaveBritainReeling pic.twitter.com/e8hpH8wffW — Kirsty (@MissHartx3) June 4, 2017

Not catching someone's name and having to spend the next three decades avoiding introducing them to anyone #ThingsThatLeaveBritainReeling — Sarah Crook (@SarahRoseCrook) June 4, 2017

Bake Off being sold to C4 #ThingsThatLeaveBritainReeling — Caroline Hills (@CazG1) June 4, 2017

When people make tea in the microwave #ThingsThatLeaveBritainReeling pic.twitter.com/M8006Sq8mr — Emily Rose✨ (@emilyrosehip) June 4, 2017

The real no go zones of London

A common trope in overseas commentary of Britain from the right has been that there are so-called “no go zones” in cities, due to apparent radicalisation of the local community. Twitter spent some time today discussing the real no go zones of London.

Love this. Only time Borough Market is a no-gone zone is Thursday evening after work, when you can't move for the suits spilling out of pubs https://t.co/BuqHBfJScl — Stephanie Boland (@stephanieboland) June 4, 2017

Actual places Londoners are reluctant to enter:

Covent Garden street performer hell

Madam Tussauds

Breakfast club queue

Changing at Bank — Stephanie Boland (@stephanieboland) June 4, 2017

Angus Steakhouse Leicester Square — stefanie marsh (@MarshStefanie) June 4, 2017

Ripley's Believe it or Not

Clapham High Street after 9pm on a Saturday

Primack Oxford Street — Lara O'Reilly (@larakiara) June 4, 2017

And finally there were those just laughing about some of the consequences of the attack not quite having the intended effect.

Trying to bring about Sharia by causing a lock-in at the Vauxhall Tavern. Uh-huh. — Ben Hammersley (@benhammersley) June 4, 2017

A pint of London Pride

Meanwhile, a man who was pictured holding tightly to a half-full pint glass of beer as he fled the London Bridge attack has become an unlikely hero.

People fleeing #LondonBridge but the bloke on the right isn't spilling a drop. God Bless the Brits! pic.twitter.com/ceeaH0XxeX — Howard Mannella (@hmannella) June 3, 2017

His actions prompted a twinge of pride in Londoners, who identified with the desire to hang on to a pint at all costs.