To be confused by the facts surrounding what is is to be British, Scottish, Welsh, Irish or 'from the UK'.

[owlelf]

Apologies in advance to anyone upset my ignorance but I am genuinely confused by the what is the most correct and least offensive way to explain how Britain and the UK are comprised, what the correct nationalities are and how the various flags should be used to represent us?

Am I correct in thinking Britain = England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and The United Kingdom = England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

I would describe myself as British, living in the UK and the flag I most identify with is the Union Jack. However, I'm only just beginning to realise that the term 'British' is not a way that many people in some parts Britain would like to describe themselves, and I now realise that loads of people in Scotland don't identify with the Union Jack.

Ds was asking me recently what 'our' flag was. I told him it was the Union Jack, but his grandpa has confused the issue by insisting that our flag is the St George's Cross.

Sporting events seem to muddy the water further- sometimes we compete separately as England Ireland Scotland and Northern Ireland, at other times we compete all together as the UK.

AIBU to be confused??

Ah, I thought you were referencing something I'd said. Ooops. I was re-reading what I'd written trying to see what on earth I'd said about stories. Well I agree there Bennifer is talking absolute bollocks and I haven't a clue what their on about.

Its so confusiing im still confused The UK and Britain seem to be the same but we are british not Ukish ? I consider myself scottish for day to day but Brittish as well god it is confusing

I don't think I raised oppression as an issue.

I admit I was being a bit provocative, but what I was referring to the idea that there a lot of national myths surrounding the each of the different nations, and by this I can refer to things like King Arthur, St David talking to pigeons, Kenneth McAlpin that form part of the national stories (Geoffrey of Monmouth is a good source, including stories of Trojan warriers coming to Britain). Included in these national myths is the idea that the english came and pushed the celts to the corners, but I think the genetic evidence is that the anglo saxons interbred with the celts.

However, we share an awful lot of history stretching back centuries, where our institution are interwoven, we've been a United Kingdom for 300 years, and had a shared Monarch for 400. I just think our differences are so small that they oly really come out in Rugby games

And all mythical and historical characters shall henceforth be played by Mel Gibson and Russell Crowe.

Bennifer you are talking bollocks. Utter bollocks.

Nice reasoned argument there Dublin! By the way, if you read my posts, I wasn't didn't mention the Republic of Ireland

im Scottish if i have to refer to myself on forms and such like as British then i do but first and foremost im Scottish

Bennifer, our differences come out in lots of ways. I find the English attitude to work bizarre. It's all taken so seriously. The work itself and the whole idea of a career. In Scotland, you'd be laughed at for being so uptight about the whole thing. You go to your job, suffer through it and leave at the end of the day. Chatting about it, apart from the whinge about all the bams, is not done very much. Here in London, it's all very serious and important.

The English get heavily offended by things we just don't in Scotland.

I do find the English more open-minded about a lot of things, this is not a wholesale slagging.

Yellow, I said I'm being a little provocatively, but you could make that sort of argument about people from devon compared to Londoners, are about people from different classes. Or you could say that Gordon Brown was English because he seemed quite uptight about work. I think the differences melt away under a little scrutiny

Well if you "admit" you are being a little provocative then expect people to have something to say about that. It makes no difference that you didn't mention Ireland, you are still talking crap.

One can be provocative while still making a valid point, even if it is a little broad brushed. Telling me I'm talking bollocks is a silly response. What next? I smell of wee?

Bennifer - I'm not talking about individuals, I'm talking about cultures. People take things more seriously in England in my experience. I don't know anything about Devon.

I am not the only person who has said you are talking bollocks. Making "broad brush" statements is exactly the opposite of what this whole thread is about, people are asking specific questions and others are trying to give specific responses.

I am decidedly Scottish in identity, but always out down British for nationality becauses that's just a fact isn't it?

Whether DP is Scottish depends who you ask - he was brought up here but born in Leeds to an Englishwoman and a Welshman educated in England! He says it depends who's winning the rugby

Oh and yelloweraincoat: I am an adopted Edinburger who spends a lot of time in London. In my experience we take our jobs vair seriously & then get pissed afterwards and have a good moan. (I spend half my life in London and tbh that's one area I don't spot the difference in FS - work hard, get pissed, rant like a loony )

If it helps OP.

I am...

Cornish

Part of Britain i.e. British passport.

European i.e. EU passport.

But first, last and always Cornish.

QueenofPlaids, not saying the Scots don't work hard, saying that it's not taken as seriously, in that no-one wants to sit around discussing career progression.

Maybe that's just in the north...you know, actual Scotland ;)

Well, crikey it turns out that bennifer was being deliberately provocative, so not to worry that they had us going there. I'll repeat in reply to the recent comment about It all being about mythology that in my view the differences are more than those displayed at rugby matches. They extend to the legal and educational systems, the religious traditions and those were examples I had specifically chosen to exclude the effect of the more recent difference in government.

Born in England, to Irish dad and English mum.

Have Scottish ancestry on my mum's side.

I always put Ethnic Origin as White Irish or White European if Irish isn't an option.

Feel more affinity with the Irish, Scots and Welsh than the English, and feel more Irish than English, although my Scottish-raised Canadian-born BF (who identifies as Scottish) swears blind that I'm English. Am hoping to move to Scotland at some point.

Am tempted to get both an Irish And British passport, as I am legally entitled to both.

I'm off to bed now but there's very little in the responses that have convinced me that the differences between the english, scots and welsh are anything more than superficial, and that's why the OP is not unreasonable to be confused. If the differences in the nationalities are most obvious at rugby games, it becomes very little different from the differences between Manchester United and Liverpool.

I can appreciate the history and the battles that took place centuries ago, the language differences in parts of wales, for example, and so I'm not entirely unsympathetic to the nationalist claims.

I can't get beyond the idea that the British identity is far more inclusive. If you live in the UK, and have a passport you're British. But being english, or scots, you're always going to face the problems associated with immigration, i.e. can a first generation asian living in Glasgow be Scottish? If so, what does it mean to be scottish, or welsh or english?

Oh dear, I'm so sorry that I haven't convinced you

Will probably get over it though.

Not quite sure what your mega-patronising faux-authoritive tone is about.

Sorry if it offends you, you've obviously got a lot invested in it emotionally. I just happen to a view point that is different from yours. Is it really so bad?

Your tone is pretty grating, yes. And your admission that you're basically trolling.

I was once told that thoe from the republic of Ireland find 'Eire' offensive. Is this true?

Never met anyone who was offended by the term. It's more old-fashioned than anything. It pre-dates the term Republic of Ireland (I think!). It's still on out stamps.

Get when people tell me I am from 'Southern Ireland' which technically I am, as I am from Cork. but still.

Being provocative on aibu is hardly trolling. I appreciate that saying that I don't agree with something that people cherish is likely to be provocative.

Again, I'm off to bed now finally. It's a topic that stirs emotions, but I'll go now having refrained from making it personal