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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think the anyone but England mentality is cringe?

600 replies

SolitaryMind · 10/12/2022 21:22

I’m Scottish, I was brought up to be anti English, SNP mad household, despite having English grandparents. I’ve always thought it made no sense, England is part of the UK like we are. I now have an English dp who is step- parent to my child, I support England in football as does my dc, every match my social media is filled with support for any country playing against England, I don’t get it! Can someone explain the logic to me, I can’t be the only one surely!

OP posts:
NooNakedJacuzziness · 12/12/2022 12:55

I've learned a lot from this thread and can see the other side's point of view more now. I think if you're English born and bred you don't understand the coverage the other nations see. To a lesser degree it's like when London gets extremes of weather it's all you hear about across England as though London is the centre of the universe.

Thesenderofthiscard · 12/12/2022 13:19

This kind of England centric bias is why you have many in the other nations striving for separation and independence, we don’t think you lot understand or really care what goes on outside of English regions and cities.

tocahairchop · 12/12/2022 13:51

@NooNakedJacuzziness yes! As I was driving to work today through thick ice and snow...and -13 degrees Radio one were reporting disruption due to the weather...in South East England 😳😂

Thesenderofthiscard · 12/12/2022 14:18

‘@NooNakedJacuzziness yes! As I was driving to work today through thick ice and snow...and -13 degrees Radio one were reporting disruption due to the weather...in South East England 😳😂’

my dad who lives in N.I. rang to find out if we were ‘safe’ in the South East because of all the news! Was embarrassed to tell him we’d had a couple of inches of snow and it was around -1…
it’s -8’where he is and they’ve had a ton of snow… not that you would know it from the U.K. news reports

30swith3 · 13/12/2022 16:11

Sounds like people need to blame the media rather than tarring all English with the same brush. Negativity towards a nation because of a stereotypes or assumptions is blatant prejudice. Sooner people realise a lot of issues come from media the better.

Thesenderofthiscard · 13/12/2022 16:15

‘Negativity towards a nation because of a stereotypes or assumptions is blatant prejudice.’

Aw, poor wee England. Said nobody never!

MarshaBradyo · 13/12/2022 16:37

Thesenderofthiscard · 13/12/2022 16:15

‘Negativity towards a nation because of a stereotypes or assumptions is blatant prejudice.’

Aw, poor wee England. Said nobody never!

Why would you care or think that other people are impacted but not those in England?

Sakura7 · 13/12/2022 17:42

30swith3 · 13/12/2022 16:11

Sounds like people need to blame the media rather than tarring all English with the same brush. Negativity towards a nation because of a stereotypes or assumptions is blatant prejudice. Sooner people realise a lot of issues come from media the better.

So hang on, a Scottish person not supporting England in a football tournament (a completely normal thing amongst neighbouring countries) is "tarring all English with the same brush?"

What does that even mean? Why are you so desperate for people from other countries to support your team?

30swith3 · 13/12/2022 18:10

What is your reply even about? Aggressive much. Read the entire thread, a lot saying their negativity towards england comes from english centric media coverage. Then blame the media not the average english joe. I don’t need other countries to support us, I don’t get the blatant need to do the opposite and will happily support a home country. Take your negativity elsewhere, I’m not here for it.

30swith3 · 13/12/2022 18:13

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

30swith3 · 13/12/2022 18:14

Thesenderofthiscard · 13/12/2022 16:15

‘Negativity towards a nation because of a stereotypes or assumptions is blatant prejudice.’

Aw, poor wee England. Said nobody never!

Strange negative reply.

Nogbreaks · 13/12/2022 18:14

‘I think football has a tendency to kick common sense out of the window ⚽’

Oh it’s not just football! Rugby, cricket, anything really. Why a country would expect others to support their sports teams is beyond me.

tigger1001 · 13/12/2022 19:01

30swith3 · 13/12/2022 16:11

Sounds like people need to blame the media rather than tarring all English with the same brush. Negativity towards a nation because of a stereotypes or assumptions is blatant prejudice. Sooner people realise a lot of issues come from media the better.

I agree with your first sentence- it does stem from the media.

However the stereotype part - that's very much not against only the English. There are many stereotypes for all the home nations.

Have lost count how often I've had "och aye the nooo" said to me followed by laughter. Or ask if we all wear kilts, drink whiskey etc. or my favourite is always "oh do you know Betty smith, am sure they live in Edinburgh?" Well I don't live there, and while we may be small we aren't that small we know everyone. Which is often met with a puzzled look and "oh?" It also doesn't rain all the time (although granted we aren't strangers to rain - but it's a large geographical area so has a range of different weather)

Can think of a number stereotypes that have been said to welsh and Irish friends too. None that are flattering either.

30swith3 · 13/12/2022 19:08

tigger1001 · 13/12/2022 19:01

I agree with your first sentence- it does stem from the media.

However the stereotype part - that's very much not against only the English. There are many stereotypes for all the home nations.

Have lost count how often I've had "och aye the nooo" said to me followed by laughter. Or ask if we all wear kilts, drink whiskey etc. or my favourite is always "oh do you know Betty smith, am sure they live in Edinburgh?" Well I don't live there, and while we may be small we aren't that small we know everyone. Which is often met with a puzzled look and "oh?" It also doesn't rain all the time (although granted we aren't strangers to rain - but it's a large geographical area so has a range of different weather)

Can think of a number stereotypes that have been said to welsh and Irish friends too. None that are flattering either.

Who said stereotypes were just against the English? My statement said nations, ‘negativity towards a nation because of stereotypes or assumptions is blatant prejudice’. A nation, any nation.

tigger1001 · 13/12/2022 20:18

"Who said stereotypes were just against the English? My statement said nations, ‘negativity towards a nation because of stereotypes or assumptions is blatant prejudice’. A nation, any nation."

Well, the sentence immediately before that was talking about English.....

I just find it ironic, as I have heard some quite frankly awful stereotypes against the other home nations. And not just in the media either. But it's ignored when people then get offended when others chose to support abe, all the while ignoring the very stereotypes thrown about that make some Scottish/Welsh/Irish feel that way.

You don't need to look very hard to see the negativity to other nations, there are good examples on this thread.

Nogbreaks · 13/12/2022 20:41

Anyone but England is here to stay for all the reasons mentioned on this thread. Best just ignore it and not get offended …

30swith3 · 13/12/2022 21:05

tigger1001 · 13/12/2022 20:18

"Who said stereotypes were just against the English? My statement said nations, ‘negativity towards a nation because of stereotypes or assumptions is blatant prejudice’. A nation, any nation."

Well, the sentence immediately before that was talking about English.....

I just find it ironic, as I have heard some quite frankly awful stereotypes against the other home nations. And not just in the media either. But it's ignored when people then get offended when others chose to support abe, all the while ignoring the very stereotypes thrown about that make some Scottish/Welsh/Irish feel that way.

You don't need to look very hard to see the negativity to other nations, there are good examples on this thread.

So my statement doesn’t apply to any other other nation? You’re choosing to ignore my statement is factually correct & can apply anyone. Prejudice is prejudice. You’re also trying to put words is my mouth, appear to accuse me of being the guilty party of stereotypes you’ve mentioned & accuse me of ignoring when other people say them? Do we know eachother? I don’t agree with any of it, so not sure how I’m being ironic. Odd. Goodbye.

schoolsoutforever · 13/12/2022 21:18

I totally understand what you mean and I agree. I am Scottish and grew up with the ‘support anyone but England’ mentality along with other anti English feelings, ingrained into the culture. I find it incredibly tiresome. Nationhood seems increasingly irrelevant to me now when we’re all suffering with this appalling gov. Sometimes I feel very angry with the SNP because we’d be more likely a better gov if they didn’t exist. I’d go a far as to say I detest the Scottish Nationalists and I’m fully Scottish and fond of Scotland. I detest the way everything is reduced to a simple question of border. To me a person struggling in Glasgow has more in common with one struggling in Liverpool or Portsmouth than the difference in their place of birth. But Sturgeon and co are dogged in their pursuit of an elusive goal that obsesses them. To my mind benign nationalism just doesn’t exist and all nationalism is one of form of hatred or another. In some ways I think it is sometimes seen as ok to hate the English but (strange news) not all English people are the same.

gawditswindy · 13/12/2022 21:34

Do you not understand that you can choose not to support a sporting team without hating the nation they represent?

I'm finding the bandying about of the term racism a little inappropriate too. Real racism is a little more damaging than hoping one sports team beats another.

30swith3 · 13/12/2022 21:40

schoolsoutforever · 13/12/2022 21:18

I totally understand what you mean and I agree. I am Scottish and grew up with the ‘support anyone but England’ mentality along with other anti English feelings, ingrained into the culture. I find it incredibly tiresome. Nationhood seems increasingly irrelevant to me now when we’re all suffering with this appalling gov. Sometimes I feel very angry with the SNP because we’d be more likely a better gov if they didn’t exist. I’d go a far as to say I detest the Scottish Nationalists and I’m fully Scottish and fond of Scotland. I detest the way everything is reduced to a simple question of border. To me a person struggling in Glasgow has more in common with one struggling in Liverpool or Portsmouth than the difference in their place of birth. But Sturgeon and co are dogged in their pursuit of an elusive goal that obsesses them. To my mind benign nationalism just doesn’t exist and all nationalism is one of form of hatred or another. In some ways I think it is sometimes seen as ok to hate the English but (strange news) not all English people are the same.

Mic drop 👏🏼

Nogbreaks · 13/12/2022 21:46

‘Do you not understand that you can choose not to support a sporting team without hating the nation they represent?’

Exactly.

ToffeeEl · 13/12/2022 21:46

The media is annoying and biased but that's just how it goes. I have seen prejudice against wales (and other Celtic nations) my entire life, in person to my face directly, in passing when people don't realise I'm welsh and an incredible amount online.
It's not been a 'stereotype' it's experience.

I know it's not all English, but a lot of this thread ignoring that behaviour or diminishing it acts as support for it.

Have a look in the mirror before pointing the finger eh?

tigger1001 · 14/12/2022 06:34

" my statement doesn’t apply to any other other nation? You’re choosing to ignore my statement is factually correct & can apply anyone. Prejudice is prejudice. You’re also trying to put words is my mouth, appear to accuse me of being the guilty party of stereotypes you’ve mentioned & accuse me of ignoring when other people say them? Do we know eachother? I don’t agree with any of it, so not sure how I’m being ironic. Odd. Goodbye."

You are ignoring the cause of the ill feeling though. It won't be fixed by ignoring it. Just look at some of the comments on this thread.

tigger1001 · 14/12/2022 06:53

ToffeeEl · 13/12/2022 21:46

The media is annoying and biased but that's just how it goes. I have seen prejudice against wales (and other Celtic nations) my entire life, in person to my face directly, in passing when people don't realise I'm welsh and an incredible amount online.
It's not been a 'stereotype' it's experience.

I know it's not all English, but a lot of this thread ignoring that behaviour or diminishing it acts as support for it.

Have a look in the mirror before pointing the finger eh?

Absolutely agree with this.

Seymour5 · 14/12/2022 09:14

Well said @schoolsoutforever. I’m also Scottish, I think I’ve said before there’s no difference between my life in the North of England, to other family members in Scotland.