To be irritated by the UK-centric assumptions on here

[saraclara]

Many posters here seem blissfully ignorant of the fact that the internet is a worldwide thing. Yes, this site is based in the UK, but that should be as far as it goes. Clearly there's somewhat of a UK focus which is fine up to a point. But...

Every second thread seems to end up with someone in the covid police trying to threadjack it because a hapless poster from a country that's not in lockdown, posts about being on holiday/vacation or visiting relatives, or doing something else that's not allowed here at the moment. Why do the threadjackers assume that everyone on here is British?

Seriously, the insularity here is really weird. I've not seen it on any other forum. I belong to two based in the US, but no-one assumes that posters on them must all be American.

I guess you don't use reddit then? Everyone assumes your murican on there unless you state otherwise.

Did I miss something?

GreenlandTheMovie Mon 15-Feb-21 14:40:51
saraclara How many people refer to lazy Brits, out of interest? And I don't think posting using my usual language on US based sites, means I assume that everyone will understand that when I say biscuit, I mean cookie.

"Why don't you count them, as its a topic you're obviously interested in?"

@GreenlandTheMovie you mentioned lazy brits first, why say the OP is interested in that topic?

I agree OP and would go further than to say that it is UK centric. It is very much English centric, to the point that posters have been called liars and trolls because the mention that the kids are off school or whatever. Even when pointed out in the OP that they are in Scotland, Wales, Canada or wherever people still come on and try and catch the OP out by questioning them.

saraclara I'm not saying they have to 'think' of anyone. Just not work on the assumption that everyone is English.

I'm not English.

Were you assuming that I was?

I would say it’s English centric not UK centric.

Or even Lodoncentric!!

There was a Thread here the other day where posters didn't know the difference between and English soldier and a British soldier! Still shocked!!

However yeah, the Covid Police should just bloody FUCK OFF!!! Every bloody thread ....

@42goingon90

Americans are definitely the worst for not realising they are not the only country.

This. I have left various interest based or support type groups online because they are always American focused. So then any recommendations or whatever just end up being pointless.

This is a predominantly UK website I would expect if I went to a site like this but from a UK company it would be full of Americans.

Yanbu, I find it quite annoying too.

I also rather cringe when people start whole threads to say things like "It's Mum not Mom" and so on. Or take the piss out of posters who might post "I was after going to the shops" or "I put my towels in the hot press". Just makes them look ill informed - so that's embarrassing.

How many people refer to lazy Brits, out of interest?
Priti Patel
Dominic Raab
Liz Truss
Kwasi Kwarteng
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britannia_Unchained
The British are among the worst idlers in the world. We work among the lowest hours, we retire early and our productivity is poor. Whereas Indian children aspire to be doctors or businessmen, the British are more interested in football and pop music.

**The British are among the worst idlers in the world. We work among the lowest hours, we retire early and our productivity is poor. Whereas Indian children aspire to be doctors or businessmen, the British are more interested in football and pop music.

Lol have you ever worked in the Middle East?!

ALL the other internet forums I'm on assume everyone is American or ought to be.

Most of the English speaking net is so very US centric that it really made me grin to read your claim not to have seen this sort of insularity anywhere other than MN, tbh.

I have to admit I like that this place is not US-as-default. I'm sure it can be very annoying. But I'm used to everyone online assuming I'm a USian man because most sites I use are mostly American and mostly male, and I don't find saying "I'm female" or "I'm British" to be such a hardship. And there are plenty of US centric parenting sites out there, what's wrong with this one not being?

I like it personally, it's the only site I use that doesn't constantly assume I'm American. It's pretty frustrating to be asked what state I'm in when discussing anything or to have abuse hurled at me for letting my cats go outside. It's a UK based site so it's going to be more UK based.

Every second thread seems to end up with someone in the covid police trying to threadjack it

On this point I do completely agree though, it's usually such an unnecessary pile on, made worse by the fact that people don't read the updates by the OP. Usually they clarify they aren't in the UK in a response early on but it's too late by then.

I think there should be a bit more benefit of the doubt given to posters otherwise you end up with waffly posts that try to clarify everything and then all the responses end up having a go at the OP for including unneccesary info or accusing them of being racist, ageist, sexist when really they are just trying to avoid being asked the same question time and time again then accused of dripfeeding if people read the responses.

I think it's reasonable to assume that a poster is in the UK given no other evidence. If they talk about, say, going out to dinner I'll ask where they are so that I have the necessary context. That's not being unreasonable, it's seeking to understand fully so that I can give a sensible answer.

@toconclude

ALL the other internet forums I'm on assume everyone is American or ought to be.

This.

I post frequently on sites that are based in the US. I know where it is relevant to tell people I am not based in the US if they can't tell from my spelling.

Why are you lecturing people about something so insignificant? It's a UK based site with mostly UK based users. People are going to get into the habit of assuming that most threads are started by someone from the UK, it harms absolutely no one and nobody cares.

It's not British, it's English. The number of people on here that I've seen get the hump about something someone else has posted that is "wrong", when it transpires said person is in the Uk but not in England.

I suspect the site is so popular with Americans precisely because it is British.....

@ZaraW
Not my words - those of
Priti Patel (Home Secretary)
Dominic Raab (Foreign Secretary)
Liz Truss (women and equalities minister)
Kwazi Kwarteng (Business Secretary)
Chris Skidmore (Universities minister)

Yeh it can be annoying. But it's a UK site. I know I've posted things only to have the details ripped apart and served back to me as ''proof'' I'm lying! But i'm not in the uK.

I find it annoying when people think its exactly the same as where they live.

The most notable on this at the moment is restrictions, the amount of time I have seen the words well why didn't you meet up with people in the summer.

Because might not live in the south and were still lockdown living with restrictions.

Well why are you on Summer holiday schools don't break up for another 2 weeks
Because they might live in Scotland

@saraclara
Every second thread seems to end up with someone in the covid police trying to threadjack it because a hapless poster from a country that's not in lockdown, posts about being on holiday/vacation or visiting relatives, or doing something else that's not allowed here at the moment. Why do the threadjackers assume that everyone on here is British?
I think that happens because there is a large cohort of irritating twats on here. They don't notice anything apart from "Breaking the Rules" they roam the site looking for rule breakers. They have no critical thinking abilities at all. They must squeal with delight when they find a rule breaker, they get so excited that their common sense disappears. Bollocking a stranger is much more important than giving advice or help,

@42goingon90

Americans are definitely the worst for not realising they are not the only country.

Americans use the word ''American'' interchangeably with person!

eg, You were so brave, you stood up in front of 20 million Americans and told them why you'd failed and vowed to get up and try again''. (example).

In my country, they would just use people there.

That's just an observation before somebody says I'm being anti-American.

Some forums are very international and I wouldn’t even know where they were based. Mumsnet is very much a U.K. website. All the information pages and product recommendations are for U.K. products. Competitions and product tests are for U.K. readers. I suspect an overwhelming large proportion of users are in the U.K. It’s really not weird or parochial for users to assume this to be the case.

Maybe people not in the U.K. could just state they're not in the U.K. when writing a thread? Otherwise the assumption will be made that they're from here, where the site is based.

But it's pretty active when the UKers are asleep

It's not that active. And why would you also assume the majority of people who post during the night aren't British or living here. I post during the night quite often when I can't sleep, which is much of the time.