Planning on moving back to Edinburgh. DCs have English accents. Will they get the shit kicked out of them?

[SpawnChorus]

We lived up there for about 8 years and loved it, but were often surprised at the anti-English 'jokes' etc. Being old enough and ugly enough to look after ourselves this obviously didn't bother us, but I am wondering if DD (nearly three) and DS (18 months) are going to have a rough time when they start school.

Saltire looks out her window into the Hampshire rain!

I think for me the most obvious difference is the institutionalised anti-English feeling* in sport, for example. In England when I was growing up, if England didn't get into the football World Cup for example but Scotland did then everyone would just support Scotland instead. The idea of that happening in reverse is completely ludicrous.

*I do understand the historical reasons why it is this way round

Tamum - the "anti English" feleings yout alk about in sport aren't about hating England or the people in it, its about the annoying Media which covers all things English and forgets that other nations make up the UK.

My parents are English and they went to live in Aberdeen which meant I had to go to school there.

I won't lie to you SpawnChorus. I hated it. There's an assumption that the English are fair game for any sort of 'jokes', predjudice and taunting - or worse.

As a small child I learned pretty quickly (5/6) that I had to adopt a different accent in order to fit in at school. I became almost bi-lingual talking broad Aberdonian at school (almost like a different language) and English RP at home.

It gave me years of identity crisis and psychological shit to deal with after I left home. I moved away as soon as I could and have been left with a nasty feeling about Aberdeen and the open dislike and agression they show (teachers, pupils, parents and everybody) towards the English.

spider - Aberdonians are like that about everyone, even Scots

There was a small lad during the world cup who got the shit kicked out of him for wearing an England shirt in Edinburgh. He wa 8 or something. Does anyone else remember this news story?

Saltire they are NOT like that about everyone. In fact they're not like that about anyone other than the English.

They are generally pretty miserable and spiteful I suppose, or they were in my day anyway.

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That's the minority though. it's like someone saying "All Scots are bigots". No we're not, there is (embarassingly) a minority in some areas of the West Coast who are, but not everyone is

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But it works both ways. I find myself talking in adifferent accent whilst down here, because of the abuse I get - from adults.

I got comments when I worked in Aberdeen for being a southerner ie from Glasgow. THere was a big anti-Glasgow/Edinburgh feeling there. Similarly for those in Aberdeenshire/Kincardineshire there was an anti-Aberdeen feeling. I couldn't understand a word anyone was saying to be fair. Furry boots and queans and loons - was all new to me!

The thing with Aberdonians is that they don't speak properly, so they can't understnad anyone else, even folk frae Dundee or Elgin or Inverness. Thats why it's called The Furry Boot City

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X post bobsmum, we're on the smae wavlength!

Pruners - yes really. I think it's becasue they are so far south they are almost French!

aweberrrdeen

I grew up in Fife and had a few English friends...can't really remember them getting a beating for it

Mind you, kids will pick on anything to make fun off. If it wasn't their accent it would be something else.

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Saltire, I think that's the way it's rationalised by nice people, and I can completely see the point about the media, it infuriates me too, but that's not what it's about for many people. It is definitely hating the English in general (not individuals, I appreciate). Plus of course the thread is about children, who just experience it as anti-English feeling since they don't generally give a stuff about the media

oh god, pruners ds has the most gorgeous accent. he is so adorable i could just eat him

When Ds1 was born in Elgin the midwife on the ward said to me "did you have a Qunie or a looney". I was most indignant that she had called DS a loonie and said "Neither I had a boy, thanks for asking"
In southern Scotland the words aren't used

My two older children were both born in Scotland and we lived there for the first few years of their lives. Clearly, not all of them but on the whole they were miserable, jealous, maudlin, had terrible diets, had drink problems, I could go on but you probably get my point.

I spent quite a number of years of my life living amongst these people and having my DS1 called "the incomer" and being excluded at primary school. It wasn't until I returned to England that I realised how awful and abusive it all was. Not to mention cold, wet and midgey.

Swedes - I am shocked and saddened that you had this experience! What part of Scotland did you live in? I hope I speak for many of us Scots when I say that I would never treat anyone like this - especially a child! I also have to say that my diet is quite good, I am happy most of the time and I only have the occassional tipple....(oh ok maybe a bottle or so!)

swedes, you know we are not all like that

i have a fantastic diet, so do my children

i fear this thread is going to turn