The more this thread goes on, the more English I feel. Regarding being European, we, English / British, are absolutely nothing like any other European nationality I have ever met
The more this thread goes on, the more English I feel. Regarding being European, we, English / British, are absolutely nothing like any other European nationality I have ever met
The more this thread goes on, the more English I feel. Regarding being European, we, English / British, are absolutely nothing like any other European nationality I have ever met
Absolutely nothing like the Welsh, Scots or Irish?
English. I used to say British pretty much because I'd not really thought about it, but I went out with a Norwegian for a while and it brought home to me that I'm English. Identify as a SE Londoner at least as much as English. Only care about football internationally so support England.
Don't feel any particular pride one way or the other - nor should I. People who have done great/terrible things should be proud/ashamed. I don't get to claim these things by association. This cuts both ways - I don't feel pride in the bravery of veterans or shame about slavers as neither is something I've personally done or been connected to. (As far as I know I'm not related to either).
Not convinced by the "we're nothing like other Europeans" line - in what way? We drink more? We're more mean-spirited? More up for a fight? More likely to call out racists? More socially awkward? More religious? I've seen all of these displayed by English people in Europe. I may even have done one or two of them. Europe's a big place with a lot of different cultures.
The more this thread goes on, the more English I feel. Regarding being European, we, English / British, are absolutely nothing like any other European nationality I have ever met
Absolutely nothing like the Welsh, Scots or Irish?
Nope, nothing like em. If you look at the home nations there are obviously differences, but because the Scots, Welsh and Irish are basically wannabe English, none of us are like the continental Europeans, in my humble lived experience
The more this thread goes on, the more English I feel. Regarding being European, we, English / British, are absolutely nothing like any other European nationality I have ever met
I'm sure the other European/rest of the world countries would say similar 'we [insert country] are absolutely nothing like any other nationality I have ever met'.
The more this thread goes on, the more English I feel. Regarding being European, we, English / British, are absolutely nothing like any other European nationality I have ever met
I'm sure the other European/rest of the world countries would say similar 'we [insert country] are absolutely nothing like any other nationality I have ever met'.
We all like to feel unique!
I'm sure they would too. We are different to them as well as they are to us, from all of our perspectives. The Dutch say the same as we do about the French, the French say the same as we do and the Dutch and they tend o think we're a certain way. All in my lived experience
The more this thread goes on, the more English I feel. Regarding being European, we, English / British, are absolutely nothing like any other European nationality I have ever met
I'm sure the other European/rest of the world countries would say similar 'we [insert country] are absolutely nothing like any other nationality I have ever met'.
We all like to feel unique!
I'm sure they would too. We are different to them as well as they are to us, from all of our perspectives. The Dutch say the same as we do about the French, the French say the same as we do and the Dutch and they tend o think we're a certain way. All in my lived experience
So that's something we have in common with other Europeans then.
The more this thread goes on, the more English I feel. Regarding being European, we, English / British, are absolutely nothing like any other European nationality I have ever met
Absolutely nothing like the Welsh, Scots or Irish?
Nope, nothing like em. If you look at the home nations there are obviously differences, but because the Scots, Welsh and Irish are basically wannabe English, none of us are like the continental Europeans, in my humble lived experience
I have a belief that foreigners don't actually hate the British from observations and talking to people, but they do hate the English. Why? Because they have a impression that we have a view (unfair IMO) that those who are not born British are outsiders, We expect foreigners to speak English when in their countries, we get drunk and act without respect to other cultures, We are arrogant and ignorant and despite the atrocities of our empire, we are proud of it and some of us even think it still exists.
I think there are English people who think and act in this way, but most don't. But it is why we are deeply unpopular abroad. The other thing about the English, that I do think is true, is that we don't care.
Surprising how many Ecosse and Cymru stickers I see here on the back of holiday and expats' cars, rather than GB. Is there such thing as English stickers?
You see Kernow stickers on cars down here in Cornwall.
Even my French girlfriend's got one on the back of her car in Marseille.
The more this thread goes on, the more English I feel. Regarding being European, we, English / British, are absolutely nothing like any other European nationality I have ever met
Absolutely nothing like the Welsh, Scots or Irish?
Nope, nothing like em. If you look at the home nations there are obviously differences, but because the Scots, Welsh and Irish are basically wannabe English, none of us are like the continental Europeans, in my humble lived experience
If it helps, I can safely say that, with certain exceptions, the Irish are not wannabe English. Even Ian Paisley, FWIW, described himself as an Irish man and a Unionist, like Edward Carson.
I have a belief that foreigners don't actually hate the British from observations and talking to people, but they do hate the English. Why? Because they have a impression that we have a view (unfair IMO) that those who are not born British are outsiders, We expect foreigners to speak English when in their countries, we get drunk and act without respect to other cultures, We are arrogant and ignorant and despite the atrocities of our empire, we are proud of it and some of us even think it still exists.
I think there are English people who think and act in this way, but most don't. But it is why we are deeply unpopular abroad. The other thing about the English, that I do think is true, is that we don't care.
I agree in part of what you say, but I have normally been well received when abroad.
The more this thread goes on, the more English I feel. Regarding being European, we, English / British, are absolutely nothing like any other European nationality I have ever met
Absolutely nothing like the Welsh, Scots or Irish?
Nope, nothing like em. If you look at the home nations there are obviously differences, but because the Scots, Welsh and Irish are basically wannabe English, none of us are like the continental Europeans, in my humble lived experience
If it helps, I can safely say that, with certain exceptions, the Irish are not wannabe English. Even Ian Paisley, FWIW, described himself as an Irish man and a Unionist, like Edward Carson.
I'll be honest mate, I only say that as a joke because I've had the following said to me, on 2 different occasions, by 2 different Irishmen - "There are 2 types of people in this world. The Irish and those who want to be Irish"
English apart from when it comes to the Olympics, Lions at rugby and of course it goes without saying Eurovision!!!
However, I am of Hungarian descent (both parents came to this country in 1956 following the Hungarian uprising), so have a soft spot for them. Interestingly, from the moment my father came to this country he supported England in every sporting event including when his fatherland played England at football which is not the norm e.g. when India or Pakistan play cricket British Asians tend to support their country of descent.
My parents never taught me Hungarian because they wanted me to be English too (which is sad in some ways) but this reflects their attitude to their country of birth and the regime in situ when they were forced to leave. I have been to Hungary three or four times and my father, in the 60 years between coming here and passing away, only went back half a dozen times to see relatives.
I have a belief that foreigners don't actually hate the British from observations and talking to people, but they do hate the English. Why? Because they have a impression that we have a view (unfair IMO) that those who are not born British are outsiders, We expect foreigners to speak English when in their countries, we get drunk and act without respect to other cultures, We are arrogant and ignorant and despite the atrocities of our empire, we are proud of it and some of us even think it still exists.
I think there are English people who think and act in this way, but most don't. But it is why we are deeply unpopular abroad. The other thing about the English, that I do think is true, is that we don't care.
I agree in part of what you say, but I have normally been well received when abroad.
Deeply unpopular abroad? I think not.
Yes, I think it is a bit about the you are fine but your mates aren't syndrome.There are stereotypes that are fed to Europeans and it doesn't help when they see Brexit news and some of our fellow Englishman disrespecting their country like some of ours do. But they are not all of us and that is what stereotypes never address. A good gauge of our popularity is the Eurovision song contest. If we had Queen singing Bohemian Rhapsody in it we would finish near the bottom! These things underline what people think about us.
It is a litmus test of what people think of us. Yes it is a petty example as it doesn't matter, but it is an opportunity for the view of us from others to come out. If you can't see that I would throw the what a load of bollocks back to you. It is a poll from Europe that confirms they don't like us. Most people draw the conclusion from it that we are not liked. You probably think our songs are relatively worse than Dim, dimmy dum, sing a lovely song. Mind you a few of our songs have been, but surely not all.
I am English, British and European. If proof was needed, watch me when England are playing, watch me at the Olympics, watch me when the Ryder Cup is on. You can be all three.
Comments
sport wise, I fucking hate England but will support the British and Irish lions as well as the GB Olympic team.
with boxing and motorsport it depends if I like them or not rather than blindly supporting GB
Don't feel any particular pride one way or the other - nor should I. People who have done great/terrible things should be proud/ashamed. I don't get to claim these things by association. This cuts both ways - I don't feel pride in the bravery of veterans or shame about slavers as neither is something I've personally done or been connected to. (As far as I know I'm not related to either).
Not convinced by the "we're nothing like other Europeans" line - in what way? We drink more? We're more mean-spirited? More up for a fight? More likely to call out racists? More socially awkward? More religious?
I've seen all of these displayed by English people in Europe. I may even have done one or two of them. Europe's a big place with a lot of different cultures.
We all like to feel unique!
People tend to queue up to knock the Brits, English, Southerners, Londoners so I hope no one's offended
Mmmmmmmmm ok so
I think there are English people who think and act in this way, but most don't. But it is why we are deeply unpopular abroad. The other thing about the English, that I do think is true, is that we don't care.
Even my French girlfriend's got one on the back of her car in Marseille.
Deeply unpopular abroad? I think not.
However, I am of Hungarian descent (both parents came to this country in 1956 following the Hungarian uprising), so have a soft spot for them. Interestingly, from the moment my father came to this country he supported England in every sporting event including when his fatherland played England at football which is not the norm e.g. when India or Pakistan play cricket British Asians tend to support their country of descent.
My parents never taught me Hungarian because they wanted me to be English too (which is sad in some ways) but this reflects their attitude to their country of birth and the regime in situ when they were forced to leave. I have been to Hungary three or four times and my father, in the 60 years between coming here and passing away, only went back half a dozen times to see relatives.
A good gauge of our popularity is the Eurovision song contest. If we had Queen singing Bohemian Rhapsody in it we would finish near the bottom! These things underline what people think about us.
What a load of bollocks.