The UK - The "England vs Scotland" thread

johnnyboy · Mon 29 Nov, 2004 23.33

I'm a little wary of bringing this topic up, in fear that it might upset Gavin Scott, someone for whom I have a lot of respect and liking for.

But, take 'Scotland' as a synonymn for 'Wales' and, to a certain extent, 'Northern Ireland'. I know the British Gov't has done some shitty things, nay evil things, in Northern Ireland, and there's no way I support those 'acts', so please listen to my opinions based on that proviso.

But Britain - England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and to a more independent extent, the Manx, Jersey people and Guernsey people.

As much as it sticks in my teeth that non-Englanders support the opposition in sporting competitions, I believe that the sum of the parts of our islands are greater than the individual parts alone.

As a tiny little island off the coast of possibly the world's smallest continent, our achievements as a people are amazing. Half of the world's most commercially-successful inventions come from here. We are the world's fourth-largest economy, even ahead of China (depending on how that is measured). In terms of racial tolerance, despite the protests of the likes of c@t who seems to ignore wilfully the 20% of the far-right in other countries, we are far more advanced and accepting of other people and cultures in our multi-cultural society than the rest of Europe, let alone the world.

If we ever split up as a collection of people, we'd be far worse off - not necessarily economically, but socially and culturally.

Despite our many faults, I consider my Britishness and Englishness as a fortunate accident of birth. Am I alone?

Martin · Tue 30 Nov, 2004 07.28

Speaking as someone from Scotland, I think we were better off together. Lately I made a poster for a friend who was organising a charity event. It was football related and I produced a poster that also featured when the match would be on tv (ITV) I used the ITV logo without a thought. I then got complaints from this guy who is rotten to the core with intollerance complaining it should have said Scottish TV and not ITV - "I don't want nothin to do with them" :roll:

cat · Tue 30 Nov, 2004 19.17

johnnyboy wrote:In terms of racial tolerance, despite the protests of the likes of c@t who seems to ignore wilfully the 20% of the far-right in other countries, we are far more advanced and accepting of other people and cultures in our multi-cultural society than the rest of Europe, let alone the world.

I am utterly perplexed.

When have I said that?

I'd say that we aren't particularly a welcoming society - compare the likes of the Sun and the Mail to the sort of press comments you get on mainland Europe, for instance; or the fact that we are nothing in terms of immigration compared to the likes of Austria or the Netherlands - but we do reasonably well within our own borders.

Look at Canada, for crying out loud. Everyone is still pissed off at Quebec for Meech Lake, Charlottetown, etc.

Or are you just trying to rile me?

Cheese Head · Tue 30 Nov, 2004 21.30

What?! England has culture?! DID I MISS SOMETHING!!??!!

Dr Lobster* · Tue 30 Nov, 2004 21.39

Cheese Head wrote:What?! England has culture?! DID I MISS SOMETHING!!??!!

you were born 50 years to late

Fireboy · Tue 30 Nov, 2004 22.09

Martin wrote:Speaking as someone from Scotland, I think we were better off together. Lately I made a poster for a friend who was organising a charity event. It was football related and I produced a poster that also featured when the match would be on tv (ITV) I used the ITV logo without a thought. I then got complaints from this guy who is rotten to the core with intollerance complaining it should have said Scottish TV and not ITV - "I don't want nothin to do with them" :roll:

I don't like "ITV" or "ITV1" either - I would certainly have demanded a copy of the Tyne Tees "Dots" logo on it.

Cheese Head · Wed 01 Dec, 2004 19.58

Look at Canada, for crying out loud. Everyone is still pissed off at Quebec for Meech Lake, Charlottetown, etc.

And English people can't get over WWII. Now every one seems to think that every German is an evil Nazi. Psh.

Cheese Head · Wed 01 Dec, 2004 21.01

You're also saying the UK is culturally united... and socially united? I dont mean to sound cocky, but Do you live under a rock?

This country has a huge North/South divide. Every person has to better than the last.

In Castle Donington alone, the community isn't united because if you live on Bosworth road your scum. If you live on the high street, your fucking royalty. Everyone cares too much about such minor details to judge people... a little lame, dont you think?

thats within our shitty village. on a larger scale, if you arn't how people want you to be, you might as well spend most of your time living with your mother (You know, live in eachothers pockets like they do now) Not to mention if you arnt where from people want to to be, you might as well shoot yourself in the foot.

Bang.

Gavin Scott · Thu 02 Dec, 2004 12.23

Cheese Head wrote:You're also saying the UK is culturally united... and socially united? I dont mean to sound cocky, but Do you live under a rock?

This country has a huge North/South divide. Every person has to better than the last.

Yes well its not helped by idiots who say things like "avoid the north" to Aussie backpackers.

I'm quite a fan of the Union at the moment. I just wish we had a more trustworthy UK government.

Dr Lobster* · Thu 02 Dec, 2004 13.02

Gavin Scott wrote:
Cheese Head wrote:You're also saying the UK is culturally united... and socially united? I dont mean to sound cocky, but Do you live under a rock?

This country has a huge North/South divide. Every person has to better than the last.
Yes well its not helped by idiots who say things like "avoid the north" to Aussie backpackers.

I'm quite a fan of the Union at the moment. I just wish we had a more trustworthy UK government.

i must say, the whole david blunkett thing is the most amusing piece of news to come out of number ten for a good while. the irony of the whole situation astonishes me. i bet poor old david never saw any of this coming.

Fireboy · Fri 03 Dec, 2004 01.00

Gavin Scott wrote:
Cheese Head wrote:You're also saying the UK is culturally united... and socially united? I dont mean to sound cocky, but Do you live under a rock?

This country has a huge North/South divide. Every person has to better than the last.
Yes well its not helped by idiots who say things like "avoid the north" to Aussie backpackers.

I wish that the NE-Assembely vote had gone through, defeated on the basis of an extra £2.60 per month of average Council Tax... the idea of being seperate from the South of England appeals to me, since certain charachters seem to think we are foreign anyway.