BRONXSBURNING
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Short term pessimist, Long term optimist.
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Registered on: April 2015
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Post by BRONXSBURNING on Apr 26, 2015 0:45:51 GMT
I'm from the United States, so please don't take this offensively, but why do people refer to themselves as being from the UK? I thought the UK was a collections of countries, so why don't people just say that they are Welsh, Scottish, English? Another questions, what are people from Northern Ireland called? I've heard Irish, but is that right?
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double_s92
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head toilet cleaner
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Post by double_s92 on Apr 26, 2015 3:15:08 GMT
Personally it gets the job done, if someone wants to know exactly where I'm from then I'll say England.
Similar to the way you just said your from the United States, North? South? West? East? As far as I'm aware they are as different.
Or just plain lazyness lol
And yeah they are still Irish.
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NovaSt4r
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Post by NovaSt4r on Apr 26, 2015 8:56:29 GMT
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Post by cameronman1329 on Apr 26, 2015 11:42:25 GMT
I usually refer myself from being from England, if I go abroad and people ask where I'm from I say England, never understood why people say they're from UK as their first choice, would've thought you'd say the individual country, e.g. England, Scotland, Wales
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Post by Renegade1911 on Apr 26, 2015 13:09:20 GMT
Americans also do say they're American more often than actually naming the state (Texan, Californian, Georgian etc.) they're from, do they not?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2015 13:41:18 GMT
I'm from the United States, so please don't take this offensively, but why do people refer to themselves as being from the UK? I thought the UK was a collections of countries, so why don't people just say that they are Welsh, Scottish, English? Another questions, what are people from Northern Ireland called? I've heard Irish, but is that right? Technically, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign nation made up of four states. I am from Scotland for instance which isn't technically a sovereign nation anymore but it has its own laws, flag, even historically its own language. It's kind of like the States in the US. They have their own laws, customs, flags etc. But are all part of one nation. The difference with the UK is that, historically, England, Scotland and Wales used to be independent nations which is why such patriotism still survives in these countries today despite the fact all of the citizens of England, Scotland and Wales are technically from the same country. Northern Ireland is politically sensitive, because there has been a lot of bloodshed and deaths from the largely catholic Irish Republican side of NI who want Ireland to be one united country as it was before the UK occupied it in the 19th centure and the largely protestant Unionist side who want Northern Ireland to remain a part of the UK. Thus, whether someone in Northern Ireland considers themselves Irish or British is often a sensitive subject. Me? I just say I'm Scottish and leave it at that.
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BRONXSBURNING
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Short term pessimist, Long term optimist.
Posts: 64
Registered on: April 2015
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Post by BRONXSBURNING on Apr 26, 2015 16:22:29 GMT
I'm from the United States, so please don't take this offensively, but why do people refer to themselves as being from the UK? I thought the UK was a collections of countries, so why don't people just say that they are Welsh, Scottish, English? Another questions, what are people from Northern Ireland called? I've heard Irish, but is that right? Technically, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign nation made up of four states. I am from Scotland for instance which isn't technically a sovereign nation anymore but it has its own laws, flag, even historically its own language. It's kind of like the States in the US. They have their own laws, customs, flags etc. But are all part of one nation. The difference with the UK is that, historically, England, Scotland and Wales used to be independent nations which is why such patriotism still survives in these countries today despite the fact all of the citizens of England, Scotland and Wales are technically from the same country. Northern Ireland is politically sensitive, because there has been a lot of bloodshed and deaths from the largely catholic Irish Republican side of NI who want Ireland to be one united country as it was before the UK occupied it in the 19th centure and the largely protestant Unionist side who want Northern Ireland to remain a part of the UK. Thus, whether someone in Northern Ireland considers themselves Irish or British is often a sensitive subject. Me? I just say I'm Scottish and leave it at that. Wow, I never thought of it like that before. The UK has always been an odd thing for me to think of, thanks for clarifying that. One question though, why isn't their a UK national soccer (or Football) team?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2015 16:29:08 GMT
Because the very first international football teams were England and Scotland before the world governing body of football, FIFA, existed. So when football became a bit more organised and FIFA was formed, the individual countries of the UK already had well established football teams and so we have special FIFA exception to continue having separate teams. We did field a UK team at the 2012 Olympics which I believe was the first time a UK national team has ever played in official competition
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Post by KoBo_043 on Apr 26, 2015 16:41:48 GMT
I'm not from the UK, but the question does apply a little bit. I'm from The Netherlands, but a lot of Dutch people say they're from Holland. But Holland actually is a province of The Netherlands. Since The Netherlands is such a small country, it's not quite the same as the different states in the USA, but the idea is the same. I guess because most foreign people only know Amsterdam, which is in the province of Holland, Holland is easier. Slightly offtopic, I remember a short skit on German television where people were asked who would win the WorldCup. Holland or The Netherlands. Opinions were divided to say the least
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BRONXSBURNING
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Short term pessimist, Long term optimist.
Posts: 64
Registered on: April 2015
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Post by BRONXSBURNING on Apr 26, 2015 17:31:48 GMT
Because the very first international football teams were England and Scotland before the world governing body of football, FIFA, existed. So when football became a bit more organised and FIFA was formed, the individual countries of the UK already had well established football teams and so we have special FIFA exception to continue having separate teams. We did field a UK team at the 2012 Olympics which I believe was the first time a UK national team has ever played in official competition I don't know about you, but a UK football team would be sick!
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Post by aidyhawse on Apr 26, 2015 19:16:09 GMT
Northern Ireland is politically sensitive, because there has been a lot of bloodshed and deaths from the largely catholic Irish Republican side of NI who want Ireland to be one united country as it was before the UK occupied it in the 19th centure and the largely protestant Unionist side who want Northern Ireland to remain a part of the UK. Thus, whether someone in Northern Ireland considers themselves Irish or British is often a sensitive subject. As marklyell said NI is sensitive, but compared to yesteryear, it is relatively calm. I am from NI, I refer to myself being Irish, but there is a lot of situations where I do refer to myself as being Northern Irish. It is just down to the individual person on what they refer to as their nationality.
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Post by cameronman1329 on Apr 27, 2015 12:15:00 GMT
Because the very first international football teams were England and Scotland before the world governing body of football, FIFA, existed. So when football became a bit more organised and FIFA was formed, the individual countries of the UK already had well established football teams and so we have special FIFA exception to continue having separate teams. We did field a UK team at the 2012 Olympics which I believe was the first time a UK national team has ever played in official competition I don't know about you, but a UK football team would be sick! Not really imo, other than Bale, Kane and Rooney the UK doesn't have many world class players. It would be slightly better, but I can only see Ramsey and Bale getting into a UK team that aren't from England, and even then it would still probably get knocked out in group stages xD
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Post by Trowa on Apr 27, 2015 12:57:42 GMT
Americans also do say they're American more often than actually naming the state (Texan, Californian, Georgian etc.) they're from, do they not? I say Im from Kansas City. Rarely do I find a need to say Im American. I also find that the USA is too vast and my city is large enough that its simpler and more specific to just say my City. People from smaller towns tend to say the state in my experience.
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Post by Hale on Apr 27, 2015 13:53:55 GMT
Usually with Americans I find they say City + state when asked. I.e. I'm from Des Moines, Iowa. Must be due to the size of the country.
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BRONXSBURNING
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Short term pessimist, Long term optimist.
Posts: 64
Registered on: April 2015
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Post by BRONXSBURNING on Apr 27, 2015 14:12:25 GMT
Usually with Americans I find they say City + state when asked. I.e. I'm from Des Moines, Iowa. Must be due to the size of the country. If it's another American, then yes I'll say that. But if it is someone from another country i'll say American and maybe I'll say I'm from New York.
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