Why do so many posters on here seem to be struggling to accept that the U.K. doesn’t just include England?

[Rhine]

And that we have different rules regarding Covid?

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve seen so many comments from posters asking rather aggressively why others posters are still meeting up, going for meals, to the pub, for drinks, to the gym etc ‘when we are in lockdown’? Well actually no, England is in lockdown. I’m in Wales and we are not in lockdown. Scotland is not in lockdown. I believe Northern Ireland wasn’t but is about to go back into it. The U.K. doesn’t begin and end at the borders of England...

I’ve just seen one thread where a poster continually pointed out she was in Scotland but that didn’t stop the ‘ we are in lockdown’ remarks.

Please educate yourselves. It’s annoying.

of things outwith the South of England.

Oo you said outwith I'll wait for you to be pulled up on it

Every day, when I wake up, I thank the Lord I'm Welsh. (Stereophonics)

It doesn't actually matter if you mention that you are not in England.

The best example of that was the poster in Aus who was told "that's irrelevant" when she said that it was perfectly within the rules to be going out for a drink where she lives. Apparently as there's a pandemic she was out of order.

@cozycat1

Sorry OP you've just shown off equal ignorance. "Scotland is not lockdown" Well parts of Scotland are actually in lockdown. We have a different tier system to England. eg I am in Level 4 area. no gyms, pubs, restaurants, non essential shops open. Its even against the law to travel outside your own local authority area. No households to meet inside other's homes. etc etc and it will be like this until at least 11th December. Different rules for different levels.

There hopefully I have educated you a bit.

Scotland is not in national lockdown like England.

Some parts of England aren't in lockdown either? I don't get what the point is, last thing we need at a time like this is more lines drawn in the sand.

@Mrsjayy

of things outwith the South of England.

Oo you said outwith I'll wait for you to be pulled up on it

why would you be pulled up on this, everyone says outwith?

If you're in a group when the majority is from/belongs to one group, then people will, unless you state otherwise, assume you are part of that group, and that's not unreasonable.

I belong to other internet forums, one of which is majority US, another is majority another country. If I am given an example of something which is different here, then I will normally start with "I am from UK/England, so x is different here".
There have been occasions where I haven't, usually because I haven't realised there is a difference, occasionally I've done it to make a point that not everywhere is the same.

I remember once posting on a thread somewhere and someone said "I know you are Scottish because you used the word outwith"

The important part of Scotland is in lockdown..........

Sorry I couldn't resist but I have definitely noticed a dislike for the Glasgow area on here

@NiceandCalm

As a child/teen I struggled to know the difference between England, Britain, Great Britain, UK (United Kingdom). I thought it was all one and the same thing. I think a lot of people still do.

I'll probably be shot but I think if you come from Wales, Scotland or Ireland - just bloody say so, if it's relevant. If different rules/laws apply then it's very important. Be proud of where you come from.

You're obviously still struggling to tell the difference if you're including Ireland in the UK...

It's bloody annoying when British (usually english) posters assume Ireland is part of the UK.

It's also annoying when British (usually english) news people lay claim to our sports people and actors.

SciFi I don't live in Scotland any more but there have been some things I didn't realise were only generally used in Scotland.

Outwith is one of them. A few others as well when I have used a word and people have looked at me very strangely.

N.Ireland is generally just seen as a backwards annoyance, with the troubles, abortion, same-sex marriage, brexit etc. There seems to be general surprise that's its still there and part of the UK.

@RaspberryCoulis

It's not just a UK issue either - I lived in Spain for a year and their national news would regularly talk about "the Prime Minister of England" or "Queen Elizabeth II of England" or "The English film star, Richard Burton" or whatever.

I was teaching and my first lesson was to whip out a map and teach my students the difference between terms like Great Britain, the British Isles, Scotland, England...

(I am Scottish, btw).

It's mainly an issue on school threads - on one you have someone posting about school entry requirements or catchments without making it clear where they are - and as the systems are so different in different parts of the UK it really is very relevant.

But on the other, lots of posters write about their Y6 or Y14 child and I genuinely have no idea how old that is. Would be so much easier if they just said their age.

But on the other, lots of posters write about their Y6 or Y14 child and I genuinely have no idea how old that is. Would be so much easier if they just said their age.

I suggested that in a post once and had the head bitten off me as apparently Y? is the most sensible way to refer to a child when discussing non-school related issues.

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

British Airways forgot this yesterday when wishing the English rugby team good luck in their game against Wales.

but BA sponsor the England rugby team, so it is natural that they should wish them success in competitions.

I can cope with ages for R to Y6 but as we start in Scotland with S1 - S6 for secondary after Y7 I get a bit mixed up with age and there's the summer birthday confusion to add in.

Ages would be helpful.

Yes they do but they also have a number of sites in Wales and confining their good wishes to occasions when England are playing a non home nation would have been wise.

i don't think the poster above was making any assumptions about where Ireland is, or what jurisdiction, or which part of it...

@LoveandHateWhatABeautifulComb

I can tell you in Ireland UK/Britain/England are used interchangeably when the speaker means England or UK

They're not, unless by dimwits that can't tell the difference. No-one I know confuses Scotland with England, for example.

Not what was said.

What you quoted was that 'Britain' or 'UK' or 'England' is used interchangeably to mean either Britain or UK or England. When Scotland, Wales and N Ireland are being referred to they are distinctly defined.

I don't get what some of the above posts are saying.

Some English people use the word England when they are referring to the UK collectively.

This is something I definitely have personal experience of and really they just make themselves look ignorant.

I doubt Scottish people would do that (Or Welsh or NI)

I do on occasions refer to England as Englandshire .......

@alexdgr8

i don't think the poster above was making any assumptions about where Ireland is, or what jurisdiction, or which part of it...

I'm not so sure about that. Everything in the previous paragraph was about their confusion as a child regarding the difference between England, Britain, Great Britain, UK (United Kingdom). Why suddenly introduce Ireland into the equation? It makes no sense. It's not as if they would be the first (usually english) poster on mn to refer to NI as Ireland.

@DraftDodger

Some parts of England aren't in lockdown either? I don't get what the point is, last thing we need at a time like this is more lines drawn in the sand.

I thought the whole of England was in lockdown?

@strictlybakeoff it isn’t just people in your country that don’t benefit by decisions the government makes, and it isn’t just people in your country that didn’t vote this party in. You seem to be tarring the whole of England with the same brush.

@StealthPolarBear the whole of England is currently in lockdown 2.0. Until the return of next weeks tier system - medium, high and very high. On tenterhooks to see what the new tiers will be called!

Yes so not sure what draft meant.
New tiers are still called medium, high and very high as far as I'm aware.

@StealthPolarBear

Yes so not sure what draft meant. New tiers are still called medium, high and very high as far as I'm aware.

There’s rumour of a fourth tier - very very high perhaps!