WHAT!?
Mark Geary writes:
An ad in this month’s Royal Auto Club Victoria (Australia) magazine….
Sponsored Link
Everything. As It Happens.
WHAT!?
Mark Geary writes:
An ad in this month’s Royal Auto Club Victoria (Australia) magazine….
Flamin Gollaaaaaas!
*cough*
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles
There should also be a line under Northern Ireland as ‘Great Britain’ comprises the nations of England, Scotland and Wales only.
And of course ‘Isle of Man’ is not included either.
British Isles would be more accurate.
No, it wouldn’t. It was coined with specifically political intentions in the 16th Century. The political landscape has changed. The term is about as relevant as New Amsterdam or Rhodesia.
Why are so many Irish people so craven? The UK govt doesn’t even use the term. A host of international geographical & media outlets advise against the term. Yet, you’ll always find some Irishman to express support.
What would you call the group of Islands then?
I don’t need to call the group of islands anything and even if I did there are all sorts of terms available (Britain & Ireland,…) that don’t involve kowtowing to Elizabethan imperialism.
Anyway the term is usually (though not always) taken to include the Channel Islands which is not part of the geographical archipelago. So aside from anything else, the term is ambiguous as well as offensive.
What collective name do you have for Australia & New Zealand?
Australia & New Zealand – The Antipodies
We could be the Propodies.
The Irish Isles
But “British Isles” really should be seen as a geographical term. Just as the “Irish Sea” is labelled as being Irish, despite the fact that it finds itself touching several other countries. If you look at it from this view, it may sit a little better.
The Irish Sea is also named from the perspective of the powerful country. The ‘Irish’ part is what differentiates it from any other sea surrounding the island of Britain.
Anyway, there is a big difference between a sea (population 0) and an island (population 6.4million).
As I have explained above, it is accepted that the term was coined by John Dee, with political motivations. It was part of a campaign to justify & legitimise the Tudor conquests. The reason it remains in use at all, is largely British nationalism. There has been a war between editors on Wikipedia for years whereby Irish editors try to remove it or at least restrict the term to ‘arguably’ necessary uses. Instead they are outvoted by British editors and the term is shoe-horned into a huge number of articles involving Ireland.
Also, the area covered by this ‘geographic’ term is pretty ambiguous. It often includes areas politically linked with the UK but not geographically linked such as the Channel Islands.
The Irish Sea is also named from the perspective of the powerful country. The ‘Irish’ part is what differentiates it from any other sea surrounding the island of Britain.
Anyway, there is a big difference between a sea (population 0) and an island (population 6.4million).
As I have explained above, it is accepted that the term was coined by John Dee, with political motivations. It was part of a campaign to justify & legitimise the Tudor conquests. The reason it remains in use at all, is largely British nationalism. As an example, there has been a war between editors on Wikipedia for years whereby Irish editors try to remove it or at least restrict the term to ‘arguably’ necessary uses. Instead they are outvoted by British editors and the term is shoe-horned into a huge number of articles involving Ireland.
Also, the area covered by this ‘geographic’ term is pretty ambiguous. It often includes areas politically linked with the UK but not geographically linked such as the Channel Islands.
No, it would not. It was coined with specifically political intentions in the 16th Century. The political landscape has changed. The term is about as relevant now as New Amsterdam or Rhodesia.
Why are so many Irish people so craven? The UK govt doesn’t even use the term. A host of international geographical & media outlets advise against the term. Yet, you’ll always find some Irishman to express support.
Deranged isn’t the half of it
You’re a halfwit
Oh dont start
No, it would not. It was coined with specifically political intentions in the 16th Century. The political landscape has changed. The term is about as relevant now as New Amsterdam or Rhodesia.
Why are so many Irish people so craven? The UK govt doesn’t even use the term. A host of international geographical & media outlets advise against the term. Yet, you’ll always find some Irishman to express support.
Cluster how many pseudonyms are you using?!
I tried to reply on my PC – didn’t work
Gave it a go on the ipad – didn’t work
Then tried my mobile – didn’t work
Those related names are all whatever name I saved way back when on each device.
I did once, years ago now, have another unrelated name on Broadsheet, which I ditched after giving up personal information about myself. Later I adopted cluster and retreated back into internet anonymity, safe until somebody hacks into Broadsheet & doxxes us all
Don’t flatter yourself
No one cares who you are
I thought it was a pretty good post all three times.
:) Thank you, C
No outrage at Bono claiming the Beatles as Irish yesterday?
Bono is at base level annoyance
We should be claiming Liverpool, not just the Beatles. An Irish Hoome Rule MP was elected there, back in 1895:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_Scotland_%28UK_Parliament_constituency%29
Someone wrote a long and silly article on the Graunid yesterday. I skimmed over it and it was as pointless and woeful as you’d expect.
Ah yes but this the nation whose politician called us failed potato farmers and thinks that our national symbol is a shamrock etc etc. So… lets not hope for any kind of cultural accuracy here.
Another shrimp on the barbie, anyone?
Geographically speaking, this is correct.
How? 50% of the places mentioned are in Britain.