Things those in England and beyond believe Scotland (light hearted).

[Cryofthecurlew]

Ive moved from England to Scotland and love it here it never ceases to amaze me how little others know or understand about Scotland here are some examples.

1. I think many think Scotland isn't much bigger than the Isle of Wight . E.G. A coupe of friends have come to stay: "I love the programme Shetland can we go to Shetland for the day?" "err no because it 450+ miles away" (I live in Dumfries and Galloway). Friends looks totally stunned. Another can we "pop" into Edinburgh to see the Castle? Again "not really its a 2 3/4 hour drive" Again friends looked totally stunned. One said does the Edinburgh Festival affect your parking? See previous comment.
2. On the other hand we may be the size of the Isle of Wight in many peoples eyes but our distance from the rest of England is huge. One friend happily drove to right down into Cornwall approx 300 miles but said she said as she didn't like "long distance driving' I live just over 300 miles from her she would come to see me on the train which involved 4 changes and someone driving her to a station and me picking her up and took well over 8 hours (we are just over 5 hours by car).

When I drive back to England many say how many stops do you take? Reply 'usually only 1" "Gosh you drive ALL that way and only stop once?" Same friend drove to London 157 miles does stoop at all fair enough but it only double the distance.

1. A very common heard comment: "Of course the Scots hate the English dont you find that difficult?" I have never met such a friendly bunch as the Scots in fact when I go back to England I now wonder what the hell is wrong with everyone because where I live you would always stop and talk to someone you meet. Even in a big city like Glasgow `I find many people smile and acknowledge you when you walk by them.
2. "Nicola Sturgeon is so awful I regularly hear this. I have no views either way and I don't constantly hear my Scottish friends say this even if they dont support independence so I always ask why they don't like her. Nobody seems to be able to explain why they say she's awful.
3. Finally why didn't you move to the Lake District or the Yorkshire Dales its sooo beautiful there? I have lived in many places and know both the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District I agree the scenery is beautiful but I think many Scotland is as beautiful if not more beautiful including where I live and its not heaving in tourists!!

Nichola Sturgeon is awful and wants to split the UK and thinks men can become women. I rest my case.

@endofdaysarehere I get "you don't sound Glaswegian" all the time! I think their knowledge of Glaswegiam accents may come from Rab C Nesbitt!

I live in England and whenever I say I'm going back up, they'll say "oh my god it'll be freeeezing" when in reality it's much the same. You'd think I was going to the Arctic!

I don't hate the English at all - what I dislike and struggle to understand is why they have voted in Conservative governments for the past decade. Their greater numbers have ensured that all the countries of the UK have been subjected to their policies, despite not voting for them.

Given the differences in our political leanings, we would be much better as friendly neighbours, not bedfellows.

I genuinely cried in Dec 2019 when the English gave Johnson a 80 seat majority - it seemed so obvious that not voting for the tories gave us all a chance at avoiding brexit and the rise in the corruption. But they did and it makes the continuation of union untenable.

Im surprised at all the distance comments-you must know some pretty stupid people. Have they never even glanced at Google maps and seen how big Scotland is?

Mind you being welsh I've had similar comments. Whenever I've travelled to London for the day my colleagues living there act as if I've done some mighty trek requiring visas and passports rather than a very straightforward, no change train journey. Ironically at least one of them that's actually shorter than the time commutes from Brighton daily which is a longer train journey than mine, yet if I say I'm not doing an overnighter they are amazed.

And I've never met a nicer bunch of people than Highlanders

@anothername007

The Scottish do hate the English. Not on a one to one level but on a nation to nation. The most confusing Scottish to English thing I find is how posh Scottish sound English and my OH can tell they they're Scottish! (OH is Scottish)

A nation to nation level? What does that even mean? How can one nation hate another when each consists of millions on individuals.

My favourite pastime is to teach my willing English colleague “Scottish” like chucking a sausage up a close, going for a dook etc.

A nation hates another if on average people hate or have negative opinions about the other , especially if that is tolerated by systems

The BBC calling Andy Murray British ( hero) and then calling Salmond Scottish ( evil ) would be an example

Not sure how generally true it is but that's how one nation could be said uk hate the other

That their is different accents and there Is actual places where people live between Edinburgh and "the Highlands "

My favourite pastime is to teach my willing English colleague “Scottish” like chucking a sausage up a close, going for a dook etc

See, I like that, I have a french friend and love hearing her use really Scottish slang in her beautiful accent!!

I do understand thd nation to nation thing though. Many Scottish people, not me, take pleasure in ABE, anyone but England in sports competitions. I would support Wales and Ireland over England I'd admit, but I much prefer an underdog every time!

God sake! There

CailleachGranda

“ItsCanardBruv
Everyone who lives north of Inverness is thick, racist, uneducated and never been south of Inverness.

Who thinks that?”

People who live south of Inverness 🤣

Interestingly I've only heard good things said about Queen Nicola from my English friends & family (but then they were comparing her to Boris!)

People really do believe it always rain up here, despite the east coast being drier than many parts of England.

If you ever read trip advisor then American and Australian visitors in particular think they can drive round the country and do sightseeing in under 48 hours.

I have a southern English Aunt and Uncle who were absolutely convinced that Scotland was some kind of third world backwater, and were rather put out to actually visit and discover that not only did we have all the modern amenities they did, but houses were considerably less expensive (at least in the part of Scotland where I live!). It always makes me laugh when southerners say Birmingham is the 'midlands' and Manchester in the North - I mean have they even looked at a map?!

I also have family in North East England who apparently also must be living in poverty according to the southern relatives, and who also laugh at southern geographic definitions, so I don't think it's as simple as England vs Scotland, more like South East England vs everywhere else in my experience!

Didn’t take you long to start slagging off the English alongside your Scottish neighbours did it OP? (light hearted).

@anothername007

The Scottish do hate the English. Not on a one to one level but on a nation to nation. The most confusing Scottish to English thing I find is how posh Scottish sound English and my OH can tell they they're Scottish! (OH is Scottish)

I am so fed up of hearing this, that the Scots hate the English. Unfortunately so many ignorant people spout this nonsense which only succeeds in damaging relations between the two nations.

In any country there will be an element of hate but, generally in Scotland, this DOES NOT EXIST.

Some of us may want independence as we believe we should have the ability to govern our own nation.
Some of us don't want independence because we believe the union is better but Scots do not simply hate the English.

And you talk of the most confusing thing? I think the most confusing thing I've seen here recently is the second part of your post. I cannot understand what point you are making here at all and have no idea what you mean.

Was this thread created by some bot aligned to the SNP wet dream of another referendum, campaign?
The cringe factor is very high with this one.

The National anthem is pretty anti -english - and the version of history which is spouted everywhere is anti english. What they ignore is that Scotland was v divided and Scots fought on both sides, and we were very split on religion. Protestants in the south, Catholics mostly in the Highlands, we weren't a united country and still aren't in my view.

Scotland does not have a national anthem

Flower of Scotland is sung at events where a national anthem would be appropriate

Oh yes.... the geography of Scotland, I work in a very remote part of Scotland for a large company (6000+ employees), we have sites in Wales, South & East coast of England plus HQ in Greater London, a site in NW England and a small number of very scattered sites in Scotland.

Many people within the business who need to travel to many sites have no idea of the geography, they decide they shall pop up for a day or two to visit the sites in NW England and the Scottish sites..... I've given up explaining that it'll take a bit more time, I just let them work it out for themselves now!

Then get the "I didn't realise how far away all the sites are...." 🙄🙄🙄

My ExMiL said You must get snowed in all the time. Erm no, I've never been snowed in in my entire life.

When I lived in England, his family said I wouldn't get a job as a teacher because of my "broad Scottish accent" so the kids wouldn't understand me.

As for midgies, I've never encountered any in 60 years.

@Polyanthus2

The National anthem is pretty anti -english - and the version of history which is spouted everywhere is anti english. What they ignore is that Scotland was v divided and Scots fought on both sides, and we were very split on religion. Protestants in the south, Catholics mostly in the Highlands, we weren't a united country and still aren't in my view.

This is not true. I teach the Jacobite every year. I would send you some Education Scotland resources if I could be bothered.

Lived there for 4 years but it was 20 years ago. The only thing people ever consistently thought was that it was much colder and snowed a lot. It was rainier and a couple of degrees colder at times. Never noticed shorter or longer days, I was in the central belt. It does take longer to get to (up the east coast) and around the country as the road network is still A road heavy and the motorway stops at Glasgow. So it is a bit crap in that regard.

Definitely do hate NS but don't hate English and object to anyone saying all Scots do - what rubbish
Oh and dont want independence either!!