AIBU to wonder if anti-English feeling is mostly about sport

I’m British. If it’s white Scottish I’d never tick it,despise having lived here all my life. I don’t see myself as Scottish. I don’t have that inferiority complex that most Scot’s do. I dislike bag pipes, I like English people. I tick the ‘white - other’ if white British isn’t an option.

You have to wonder why we get the option on forms to tick “white Scottish” if Scotland isn’t a country.

Never seen one that said “white Uk”.

White British is the option I’ve seen in England.

White British is the option I’ve seen in England.

I have complained about the lack of white British. It's sometimes there. If it isn't I tick "white other" and add white British.

I have complained about the lack of white British. It's sometimes there. If it isn't I tick "white other" and add white British.

Fair to say:

"Country" is a somewhat colloquial term. "State" or "sovereign state" are more legally precise terms, and country is generally used as a synonym thereof.

The UK is undeniably a sovereign state, and the home nations are defintively not.

England and Scotland were sovereign states for centuries, and Wales was briefly, too (NI never has been).

Pick up a map of the world, which shows its countries, and it will almost certainly show the UK by its borders, but not the constituent nations. Ditto, pick up any encyclopedia, or read Parliament publications, which will confirm that the UK is indeed a country. There are only relatively few international contexts (e.g. certain sporting evenets) where the 4 nations rather than the UK are treated as countries - and that's usually because of the historic British role in the establishment of the sport.

Can the home nations be called "countries" too? Sure, but they aren't countries in the ordinary sense of the world, particularly outside of the UK.

If the USA rebranded to UCA - making no constitutional changes but just using a different word - would you view it as 1 country or 50 countries?

Because that's basically the difference. Brits (and a few other states) use the term "constituents country" to identify its historic geographic regions, where other countries use different words (state, province or territory) to mean functionally similar things.

In any event, the UK is a country within any typical usage of the word.

This isn't a reflection of my personal, political beliefs - I support Welsh independence - but just of the present legal/linguistic reality.

You have to wonder why we get the option on forms to tick “white Scottish” if Scotland isn’t a country.

Never seen one that said “white Uk”.

No. It is not. The UK is a voluntary (🤔) political union of 4 Nations.

Of course the UK is a country.

Never against Scotland, but otherwise I would. Just the same as DH who roots for Scotland, except when they play England. I’m Scots, he’s English. We were both cheering on Josh Kerr, a Scot, who won for Great Britain recently in the 1500 metres in the Ultimate Championships.

My DNA is mainly Scottish, highlander DGF, but also Irish and English. Add a bit of Welsh for some of my DGC. Better together IMO.

When they play against the Scots? What country btw. The UK isn’t a country. It’s a union of four.

Disagreeing is OK isn't a concept you understand. You're completely wrong about the UK not being a country.

But here's a few other things you're wrong about too.

Scottish separatism is a deluded concept based on emotions including illogical inferiority complexes, sentimental nonsense and narrow minded racism.

The SNP has no interest in running Scotland well. Scottish education for example has plummeted down the Pisa ratings but it's more important for Swinney to parade round making ridiculous gestures about Celtic nations.

I disagree. Try to understand that concept. Disagreeing is ok.

The UK is a country.

It is recognized as such by international law.

The EU is a political union. It used to be composed of 28 member countries.

Now its composed of 27, because one country left. Any ideas which one?

England, Wales and Scotland are termed "constituent countries" but are essentially the equivalent of a US state or a Canadian Province/Territory. The UK is akin to the USA or Canada.

In fact, that slightly overstates England et al's legal legal status - constitutionally speaking, US states are more like true countries.

No it isnt. Scotland, England and Wales are countries. NI could be considered part of one of a separate one. UK is a political union.

Oh, like the United States of America?

Or the United Arab Emirates?

Or the United Republic of Tanzania?

Do you have a source for your claim?

The clue is in the "no, you do not, because of course the UK is a country".

It isn’t. The clue is in the name.

Of course the UK is a country.

When they play against the Scots? What country btw. The UK isn’t a country. It’s a union of four.

There are many Tory, Labour and Lib Dem voters who would vote yes in a referendum.

Oh ha ha. There really isn't.

Why not? What a weird question. England is a constituent part of my country.

The central issue is that Westminster is despised. Being in England and the biggest spoke in the wheel to Celtic self-determination we regard English politicians in a negative light. That reflects elsewhere 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️