Do Europeans hate the Brits?

[Floofydawg]

We're in Spain at the minute and have encountered some pretty hostile behaviour. Not so much from the Spanish, as we speak the language, but from other Europeans. We've been coming here many years and I've never before encountered such hostility. It got me thinking, do many Europeans dislike the Brits?

I don't think you have to "claim" anything. You just apply for the passport of your choice. Or both!

A child in NI is automatically born as a UK citizen, with Irish eligibility. To fully qualify as an Irish citizen then you do need to apply for an Irish passport as far as I know. I’ve just finished the process with 20yo DD and it was very confusing and lengthy with a huge amount of documentation needed, including UK birth certificate.

It absolutely doesn't fit with the terms of the GFA which states they can be Irish, British or both. Unfortunately the british government have refused to honour this. There have been several court cases.

People born in NI are automatically Irish too. The passport thing doesn't really matter - it's evidence of citizenship but not the only evidence. You can't have a passport unless you're already a citizen, but you can be a citizen without having a passport (same as any other country). My DC were born in NI and applying for their Irish passports was zero hassle and not hugely different to applying south of the border.

I haven't done it yet - I will get round to it! - but three of my family have so far. It seemed quite lengthy!

(I'm a mean mum though - I let them get on with it, including the 20 year old!)

I'm Australian have have been mistaken for a Brit in the US, Spain and France. As soon as they realise that I'm not a Brit like so many other the change in attitude is very noticeable.

Ok. I guess I give up. We have Scots, Welsh, Irish and now an Aussie telling us how people are rude to them in Europe until they realise they're not English. I guess the English are hated everywhere then, and I'm apparently delusional for not seeing it.

Here's the thing. Nobody I think has said that "people are rude to them in Europe". It's just noticeable that their manner becomes more friendly when they find out we're Irish, Scottish or Welsh. I don't know why?

I have not said anywhere that "the English are hated everywhere"?? I don't think anyone else has either?

Which is ignorant really because all the home nations took an active part in the Empire, including atrocities. All reaped the rewards.

In my experience OP no, never encountered any hostility at all.

I’m an expat and travel a lot, all over the world. Have never encountered any hostility due to my nationality at all. The only time it’s ever been mentioned at all is in polite small talk “where are you from?” “The UK,” “Ooh lovely, I visited UK place name and loved it.” OR when people are admiring my accent 😂 It seems that English accents are quite popular! (Either thay or people just lie and pretend they love it, but it gets commented on a lot, and always in a positive way!).

It s not the british. It is the english yes it is a generalisation but you ve got to admit that the english are the only people who are arrogant - still today.
their “greatness” is evident in everything from sporting events to art to tv shows etc. Even english people renovating chateaux in france bring english labour and english fabrics.
the english colonial past is still too present in the arrogance demonstrated.
everyone tries to say hello in the local language except for the americans and the english. The entitlement is annoying.
we re a franco irish british family but do make a point of saying we re irish when they hear us speaking english.

we do have a few english friends though but most have dual nationalities or have loved and travelled abroad so not your average brexiter.

having said that i do love the countryside / pubs / art and food scene / london.

Well it's literally in the title of the thread which then goes on (repeatedly) to say that people from the other nations don't experience the same once people realise they're NOT English.
I mean, no, I haven't experienced that, but maybe I'm just oblivious and people generally really do dislike me abroad. Just because of where I was born. Quite depressing really.

I'm not sure that's actually the case...it wasn't a few years ago at least.

I've linked an old article, very out of date, but gives the gist of the problem (subsequently the immigration rules were changed temporarily to make this case go away).

amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/14/uk-court-rules-against-derry-woman-in-irish-identity-case

Jesus. This is sounding pretty bloody racist.
FWIW I didn't vote Brexit, none of my friends or family voted Brexit, and I speak another European language well, 2 others passably. But yeah sure, call all English "arrogant" and that we don't even say hello in the local language. I reckon that says more about you than "the English" if I'm honest.

It s not the british. It is the english yes it is a generalisation but you ve got to admit that the english are the only people who are arrogant - still today.

So says the person of partial French background?

And with the clear implication that the English deserve it. Charming.

I don't think people actively dislike English people though? They just seem to be that bit more welcoming of the other home nations?

As for being disliked because of where you were born - I lived in London late 80s/early 90s. You were often regarded as suspicious because you were Irish. We missed out on the "no dogs, no Irish" but I think only just.

When Ian Gow was murdered in July 1990, the atmosphere in the office was as if I'd pulled the trigger. And I had a line manager who used to rant to my and other Irish people's faces about "the dirty Irish".

True though.

The Scots in particular, although online lore loves to pretend otherwise...

I’ve had many Europeans over the years say to me, “ah we like you because you aren’t English”

its not right, but it’s been said a lot.

Very true. The Scots were disproportionately represented and played a huge role.

And I'm Scottish.

So many Jamaicans with Scottish surnames.

Racist shite

We were prolific slave owners.

France had an empire. Vietnam and the French Caribbean and lots of Africa: North and Wesf Africa. The Belgians had the Congo. The German’s Namibia. The Dutch had bits of the Caribbean and so did the Danes. Spain had lots of South America along with Portugal. Are we now all happy that many European nations went gold digging? We were not alone just arguably more successful. Russia had a great many countries in its empire and is busy trying to get one back. Not liking the Brits/English is nothing to do with this. It’s about behaviour, attitudes, Brexit and too many in the same place at the same time.