Brits? English? UK? My head hurts

[Ed]

When is it "The British ..."? as opposed to"The English ..."?

Is the distinction sort of going away? AmI the only one who cares?

[a_unique_person]

Originally posted by Ed
When is it "The British ..."? as opposed to"The English ..."?

Is the distinction sort of going away? AmI the only one who cares?

I had this problem when we were thinking of working in England/Britain/UK. Just try finding the Embassy/Consulate in the phone book.

[Jon_in_london]

The UK= United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Great Britain= England, Wales and Scotland.

So British = someone from the UK while English= someone from England.

[Jon_in_london]

Originally posted by Ed


Is the distinction sort of going away?

Go up to a Scot and insist that he is English (make sure you have good hospital cover first though).

No, the distinction is getting more distinct of late....... lots of people care.

[Mendor]

Originally posted by Ed
When is it "The British ..."? as opposed to"The English ..."?

Is the distinction sort of going away? AmI the only one who cares? *flexes fingers*

It's "The British" when you're talking collectively about all the citizens of this sceptred isle (plus the northern bit of the unsceptred isle to our west). It's "The English" when you're talking specifically about folk from England, the southern bit of Britain.

The distinction certainly is not going away. For a demonstration of this, choose any Glasgow pub, enter, and loudly refer to the locals as English. They shall be happy to correct your mistake.

"British" is almost always safe. "English" can raise the heckles of the Celtic members of the UK.

edited for spelling

[Jon_in_london]

Originally posted by Mendor
[BThe distinction certainly is not going away. For a demonstration of this, choose any Glasgow pub, enter, and loudly refer to the locals as English. They shall be happy to correct your mistake.
[/B]

Shouldnt that come with a health-warning ;) :p

Also, in same pub, refer loudly to the happy day on Colloden's field when all the Scots became civillised Englishmen. :D

[Mendor]

Originally posted by Jon_in_london
Also, in same pub, refer loudly to the happy day on Colloden's field when all the Scots became civillised Englishmen. :D Well, the English banned the bagpipes, so every cloud has a silver lining. ;)

Note to fellow Scots: I'm joking, I'm joking. Bagpipes are fine, stirring, melodious instruments. Just don't expect me to stand anywhere near someone learning to play them.

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Mendor
Well, the English banned the bagpipes, so every cloud has a silver lining. ;)

Q: How do you get two bagpipers to play in tune?
A: Shoot one of them

Q: Why do bagpipers march as they play?
A: To get away from the noise.

Q: What is perfect pitch?
A: When you throw the accordion into the rubbish bin and it lands on top of the bagpipes

[Ed]

Originally posted by Jon_in_london



Also, in same pub, refer loudly to the happy day on Colloden's field when all the Scots became civillised Englishmen. :D

I am not a woo-woo. I am not a creduloid.

However, I was never sadder or felt weirder than when I walked that battlefield on an overcast, blustery, autumn day.

[Jon_in_london]

Originally posted by Ed


I am not a woo-woo. I am not a creduloid.

However, I was never sadder or felt weirder than when I walked that battlefield on an overcast, blustery, autumn day.

Its strange how battlefield can do that... I remember when touring Isandlwana and Rorkes drift..... very strange feeling.....

[Hypocolius]

Originally posted by Jon_in_london
The UK= United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Great Britain= England, Wales and Scotland.

So British = someone from the UK while English= someone from England.

Not forgetting the British Isles which includes Ireland (that one gets right my my Father-in-laws nose!)

[Hypocolius]

Originally posted by Jon_in_london


Its strange how battlefield can do that... I remember when touring Isandlwana and Rorkes drift..... very strange feeling.....

Yeah, Isandhlwana especially with all those white cairns.....

[WildCat]

But why can't the Scots play tennis? :wink:

[Jon_in_london]

Originally posted by WildCat
But why can't the Scots play tennis? :wink:

I dont know. Why cant the scots play tennis?

:confused:

[UKBoy1977]

I would assume due to the crappy weather up there that no-one really gets outside and plays it much.

[Jaggy Bunnet]

Originally posted by UKBoy1977
I would assume due to the crappy weather up there that no-one really gets outside and plays it much.

So what's the excuse for Englands complete and utter failure to produce a championship winning tennis player in the last 25 years? Given that your population is 10 times bigger, does that mean your weather is 10 times worse?

[Jon_in_london]

Originally posted by Jaggy Bunnet


So what's the excuse for Englands complete and utter failure to produce a championship winning tennis player in the last 25 years? Given that your population is 10 times bigger, does that mean your weather is 10 times worse?

Hey Henman won something! once....

[Craig]

Originally posted by UKBoy1977
I would assume due to the crappy weather up there that no-one really gets outside and plays it much.

Out...side?