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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think we live in the continent of Europe?

65 replies

reastie · 18/09/2011 18:08

DH and I are currently arguing. Please help me. I keep telling him we live in the continent of Europe. He tells me Europe isn't a continent and we live on an Island (britain) not a continent Confused . I keep saying everyone lives on some continent (eg Asia etc) but he can't understand this. He's trying to be all clever but I'm sure I'm right Wink . I know this is a dull question but mn to the rescue.....please

OP posts:
TheFeministsWife · 18/09/2011 18:10

I'm pretty sure Britain is it's own continent, but I'm happy to be corrected.

BatsUpMeNightie · 18/09/2011 18:11

Well Europe is a continent of which we are a notional part but the fact remains that the UK is an island. Not everyone lives on a continent of which, as far as I am aware, there are seven. Europe, Asia, America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica and oh - errr, that's it - some people split the Americas.

Shallishanti · 18/09/2011 18:11

my german friend always used to laugh at english people for this- as she said, 'what continent do you think you belong to- africa? asia?'

Vallhala · 18/09/2011 18:11

You might.

I live in England. :)

I'm not British, I'm English and I shall never be "European". :o

TheVermiciousKnid · 18/09/2011 18:12

Yep, you are right. Grin Britain is part of Europe. What confuses him is probably that most of the rest of Europe is generally referred to as 'the continent'. Every country 'belongs' to a continent, even if it is an island. :)

stripygiraffe · 18/09/2011 18:13

You are right OP. Everything is part of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia (or Oceania), North America, South America or Antarctica. Britain is part of Europe.

LineRunner · 18/09/2011 18:14

Not exactly Geography 101, this, is it?

OP is your OH trying to make a political point rather than one that relies on knowledge of physical geography?

southeastastra · 18/09/2011 18:15

yes of course we are europeans Grin

clam · 18/09/2011 18:16

We are, geographically, on the European continental shelf. But then we drive "to" the continent on holiday. Or at least, that's how my parents always phrased it in the 70s.
(which might well mean it's bollocks)

slavetofilofax · 18/09/2011 18:16

Europe is a continent, and we are an island within it.

BatsUpMeNightie · 18/09/2011 18:17

Yes slavetofilofax - but an island can and does exist as a separate entity to a continent. Politically we are in Europe but at the stroke of a pen someone could end that tomorrow.

clam · 18/09/2011 18:18

I don't fell European in the slightest. I'm British, through and through. Well, English, actually, but I always feel a bit Daily Mail stating it.

Laquitar · 18/09/2011 18:18

Malta and Cyprus are islands too.

clam · 18/09/2011 18:18

That'll of course mean FEEL not fell. Blush

Original poster
reastie · 18/09/2011 18:19

linerunner dh asked me 'what's the difference between an Island and a continent?' to which I replied we live on an Island but we are part of the continent Europe Hmm . He can't seem to get that and says we're not in Europe, but my opinion is the same as slaveto . Gosh we have such exciting lives to arugue over such matters Blush

OP posts:
LetThereBeRock · 18/09/2011 18:20

YANBU. We are European,presuming that we're talking about a born and bred British person,whether people like it or not. It frustrates me when people say 'In Europe...' This is Europe! I do know that they mean mainland or continental Europe,but it still annoys me.

I think of myself as Scottish,British and European.

puzzlesum · 18/09/2011 18:21

Continent.

'He tells me Europe isn't a continent' - err, WTF does he think it is, then? He may dispute whether the UK is part of the landmass of continental Europe, but that's a rather different thing.

HeavyHeidi · 18/09/2011 18:23

Ask your DH if Japan is Asia.

SarahStratton · 18/09/2011 18:24

We live on an island, but the island is part of Continental Europe. Our island sits on the European Continental shelf, and was once part of the mainland. It probably will be part of the mainland again at some point in time. You could walk to France once.

I, however, live in England.

Ask him what he thinks of the Isles of Wight or Man.

GnomeDePlume · 18/09/2011 18:24

I'm afraid you islanders are going to have to get used to the fact that if the Dutch keep draining land then one day there is going to be a very tall bloke dressed in klompen on your door step asking 'Mag ik een kopje zuiker van u lenen alstublieft?' (can I borrow a cup of sugar please?).

At that point Britain will properly join Europe!

Original poster
reastie · 18/09/2011 18:24

Good one heavy will do that now..hang on

OP posts:
LineRunner · 18/09/2011 18:24

reastie I'd just leave him to it. Maybe buy him a book on geography for Christmas or something. That and a gag.

I think he's being 'politically stupid' tbh.

ToriaPumpkinPasty · 18/09/2011 18:25

The difference between an island and a continent is surely that a continent does not have to be an island. Europe, Asia and Africa are basically one giant island but three continents.

Original poster
reastie · 18/09/2011 18:25

risght heavy dh just says 'japan is an island not a continent' and 'I don't know' when asked this. Methinks his argument is running low Grin

OP posts:
LCarbury · 18/09/2011 18:26

I knew the British Isles were on the same continental shelf as Europe but I didn't know all the of different ways of defining continent that were in that Wikipedia article. You are right, OP, I can understand your DH thinking only in terms of contiguous landmass but surely he couldn't have thought you were arguing against him on that basis, unless he thought you were arguing the Channel Tunnel is some form of land connection?