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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think people genuinely hate England?

999 replies

beautifulblue · 08/07/2018 22:48

Is anyone else sick of seeing the anger/hatred towards England in the World Cup? This 'anyone but england' mentality from almost every other country is disheartening honestly. I've seen every excuse under the sun, we haven't played a proper team yet, 200,000 signatures to re-play the Colombia match because apparently that wasn't fair, blaming a few rowdy fans for not wanting England to win. I'm especially surprised by the amount of Scottish/Irish/Welsh people who seem to feel like this (on social media) i know we'd so be routing for our neighbours if it was the other way round! So... AIBU to think everyone just friggin hates England?!

OP posts:
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5
Lweji · 09/07/2018 05:23

we have so much that is the envy of the world

This attitude probably sums it up.

It's kind of difficult to feel kind towards the English national football team when fans declare they hate my own national team. Just saying.

downthestrada · 09/07/2018 06:21

Football aside, do people really think British colonialism was that long ago? The majority of Britain’s colonies in Africa and the Caribbean didn’t gain independence until the 60s. Hong Kong wasn’t handed over until 1997. Right or wrong, it wasn’t something that disappeared centuries ago. It affected people that are still alive today.

This. I always hear people saying it was ages ago and yet my grandparents were part of it and my parents grew up during it. And, they are all still affected by it. People here in the U.K. are so detached from the colonialism that other people living in the U.K. have experienced. It’s shocking that there are people going about thinking it’s in the very distant past. We did learn about it in school, so I’m not sure what’s going on.

postcardsfrom · 09/07/2018 06:31

The England team seem to have realised what the rest of us already know, if you put your egos aside, act with humility, support your team mates, play together and put you heart and soul into the game - each and every game- you can get much further than you’re ‘supposed’ to. Other smaller countries have been doing this for years. I don’t actually mind this England team, just because of that...

DeltaG · 09/07/2018 06:33

I don't think Hong Kong is a good example to use when talking about the evils of British (not English) colonialism! They didn't want to be separated!

DeltaG · 09/07/2018 06:34

Totally agree @postcardsfrom

Fatted · 09/07/2018 06:39

Oh God, another one of these threads.

First off, there is a difference between hating England, hating the English (the people) and moaning about the football team.

In answer to your questions about the football. The team have played an easy run, that's not being anti-English. It's a statement of fact! If you knew the first bloody thing about football you would know that supporting your nearest neighboring rivals is just not the done thing. Get over yourselves.

mathanxiety · 09/07/2018 06:40

That's a bit of a climbdown from implying that half the rest of the world was champing at the bit...

mathanxiety · 09/07/2018 06:40

(that was to nNina)

AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 09/07/2018 06:45

'Many Brits do not show respect for others and yet constantly demand it in return.'

This from much earlier in the thread - it's part of the attitude towards the Brexit process and before that to the EU which a lot of Europeans find baffling. There's a tendency to demand special treatment and expect everyone else to fall into line because Britain. And I think that at the core of that is a 'because England'.

Essentially, Britain/England has still retained its colonial hubris. Germany, to name one country, has thoroughly turned away from its shameful past, educates its children in the evils of Nazism (my dc2 will be visiting a concentration camp with school next year at the age of 11!), the effects of the lessons learned are far-reaching - one thing I have noticed is that the justice system here is much more built on rehabilitation, moderation and compassion than the UK's much more punishment-focused one.In 2006 there was a huge debate in the German media about whether it was permissible for German fans to hang up flags and whether it was OK - 60 years after the end of the war - to be proud of being German. I can't imagine this level of self-questioning and soul-searching in England.

drearydeardre · 09/07/2018 06:47

honestly I am amazed that you still live in England if you hate it so much
just a point about 'English colonialism' - it was not just the English involved - so too were the rest of Britain - that is why it was called the British Empire
one of the reasons why Scotland joined with England (and Wales) via the act of Union was so they could benefit from the largesse of the Empire. Hmm
A few drunken footie fans kick off over a hot weekend - and that represents 50 million English people. For goodness sake it is time some of you got a sense of perspective and stop being unpatriotic (if indeed you are English) and downright nasty about a whole race of people.

BatShitBuns · 09/07/2018 06:49

I'm English and I never support the English football team.

I love living here, I love lots of things about my country, but I don't like our football culture.

BatShitBuns · 09/07/2018 06:50

For goodness sake it is time some of you got a sense of perspective and stop being unpatriotic (if indeed you are English) and downright nasty about a whole race of people.

1 - no one is required to be "patriotic" in order to be worthy of living in a certain country and

2- being English is not a race Confused

BatShitBuns · 09/07/2018 06:51

Love it I am so lucky to live in an area that is still predominately English

Wow.

OkMaybeNot · 09/07/2018 06:55

Well some fans have absolutely disgraced us, so I'm not surprised we've made a bad enough impression for there to be a bit of an anti-sentiment.

But I can't say I've seen much first hand.

nNina22 · 09/07/2018 06:55

mathanxiety how is it a climb down?

DeltaG · 09/07/2018 06:56

@AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight

Of course that kind of questioning goes on - many people are wary of flying the Cross of St. George for fear that it may be perceived as jingoistic or racist. Recall all the fuss over Thornberry's comments.

The Germans aren't more culturally enlightened than the rest of us.

SharronNeedles · 09/07/2018 06:57

When I worked abroad, I was approached by a Scottish family who, when they saw my name badge said 'England' (they all said where we were from) they threw out some quite uncomfortable insults until I refused to serve them anymore. When they heard my northern accent, the dad said "oh, your northern, you must hate the English as much as we do!" And continued to slag off England and the English.

Daisydukes79 · 09/07/2018 06:57

I am Scottish, have lived in England for almost 6 years. I have, in the past, supported ABE in tournaments like this. This year, however, I really hope England do well. Don't know if that's due to living here and having a child who technically could play for England when he is older (lol), seeing that the majority of people here are, well, lovely and have been welcoming, or that the squad this year seem genuinely heads screwed on and concentrating on the task in hand. Reading the stories about the people wrecking ikea, ambulance cars etc gives a hugely inaccurate description of English people, as these idiots are really in the minority. But then, Sue and Dave have a friends and family BBQ to celebrate doesn't sell newspapers.

chocatoo · 09/07/2018 07:02

I think that other nations legitimately hate the horrible drunk English people who behave appallingly at football matches ot on holiday in places where they congregate. To be honest I feel ashamed of those people too. However I hope that other nations realise that they are only a part of our country. At the moment I am bursting with pride about the part that British divers are playing in the rescue of the young Thai footballers and hope that the rest of the world sees them as representing a better side of our country: the kind of Brits to be proud of.

flamingomonkey · 09/07/2018 07:04

Rugby is the worst for these attitudes. I haven't seen much this time except for Maradona. I really love the petition for a replay of the Colombia match. Do people actually believe that will work?

somewhereovertherain · 09/07/2018 07:04

Ross kemp on social media pretty much sums up my thoughts on football and England.

Football does seem to bring out the worst in the English.

Go 🇭🇷

WTFdidwedo · 09/07/2018 07:05

chocatoo
But instead of the British divers in Thailand being splashed all over the news and celebrated, the British media have chosen to bang on about England beating some rather insignificant teams...

nNina22 · 09/07/2018 07:06

I love the Scots, Irish and Welsh and visit their countries several times a year.

Igneococcus · 09/07/2018 07:06

If it's any consolation OP, I'm a German living in Scotland and I'm absolutely rooting for England to win the World Cup.
I travel to England for work frequently and I have never had any bad experiences with English people, jokes when they hear my accent yes, but never in a bad spirit.

StoorieHoose · 09/07/2018 07:07

I think a lot of the Anyone But England comes from the ‘oh if England weren’t in it of course I would support Scotland/WalesN Ireland’ bugger off with your condescending pat on the head for your smaller neighbours! Patronising to the extreme

For the record I don’t know anyone who hates the English. The ‘british’ media have a lot to answer for.