What exactly is a "Brit"?

[Documad]

Some of you English people don't like being called English people. But would a Scot call herself a Brit? Would a Welshman? (My Welsh grandpa certainly wouldn't!)

I have a lot more questions before my next trip but I'm starting with the basics.

[Tzar]

a pom is a brit

[Medellia]

I think a Brit is anyone from Great Britain, which is more than just England. So a Scot or Welshman might not like being called a Brit, but they still would be one.

I guess they might be offended by it because when most people say "British" they are reffering to the English specifically. But Brit should be all encompassing. Or something.

[mickill]

Brit! (http://www.bondmovies.net/girls/britt-ekland1.jpg)

[Documad]

She is apparently the only one of Rod's old girlfriends who hates him.


But why do English people want to be called Brits instead of English?

When I say "British history" I mean the history of Great Britain. When I say "English history" I mean more specifically the history of England.

[ToucanSpam]

'Brit' includes Welsh, Scottish, and English.


Filthy tea drinkers. :mad:

[Documad]

a pom is a brit
I asked about that before. Is a Scot a pom? Are all English people poms?

[Tzar]

I asked about that before. Is a Scot a pom? Are all English people poms?
nah, only brits are poms.

[Bob]

as an american travelling in england (or wherever you're going) i would, as a rule, refrain from calling anyone a brit, a pom, a limey, or any other slang you may pick up from the board, just to be on the safe side. i'd probably just call them...well, i'd call them by their name, probably. you never know what's going to offend someone and people are jumpy enough about american tourists in the first place

not that i'm saying you're a typical obnoxious american tourist or anything, i remember you saying from an earlier thread that you try your hardest to represent us as best you can (thankyouthankyouthankyou) i'm just, uh, trying to be funny or something

[Tzar]

as an american travelling in england (or wherever you're going) i would, as a rule, refrain from calling anyone a brit, a pom, a limey, or any other slang you may pick up from the board, just to be on the safe side. i'd probably just call them...well, i'd call them by their name, probably. you never know what's going to offend someone and people are jumpy enough about american tourists in the first place
i second this. australia is the same way; if we hear a yank copying our slang or call us convicts or something, we get shitty. but if poms did the same; it'd be alright, kinda, cause we can just call them a pom and continue drinking. (y)

[Documad]

I've found that the most effective technique when travelling in foreign countries is to make fun of my fellow Americans. People say you should pretend to be Canadian, but I've never had to resort to that. Saying I worked on Kerry's campaign seems to be even better.

I have found in past trips that people who live in England mostly ignore me, except for old people who adore me. And cabbies like to laugh at how I pronounce proper names like "Cheyne".

[ToucanSpam]

Sewing a Canadian badge on your backpack is one of the best things to do when backpacking through Europe, they say.

[Lindsey_1535]

Do people just like carry around a flag to pretend to be Canadian or something? Or wear Roots perhaps?

[Documad]

I could totally pass for Canadian.

I've watched both hockey and curling in person.

[Bob]

Do people just like carry around a flag to pretend to be Canadian or something? Or wear Roots perhaps?

i don't know, but i bet saying "eh" and "aboot" alot is a dead giveaway that you're faking it

i imagine as long as you're not being a total douchebag and getting mad that nobody speaks english (probably not a problem in great britain), and basically refrain from acting like the country is just a big playground for you, people OUGHT to be generally warm. no colder than they are to anyone else anyway. if you're not doing anything wrong and they're just being jerks because you're an american, then they're no better than obnoxious americans in my book. AND I'M QUICK TO TELL THEM THIS AT FIRST OPPORTUNITY!

i don't understand why i'm not well-received abroad :confused:

yep, this is me trying to be funny again. i'll stop for today

[Freebasser]

Great Britain = England, Wales, Scotland
UK = Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Brits therefore, are either Scottish, Welsh or English, though some Scotsmen and Welshmen may not want to be associated with England and vice versa and choose to be known by their own nationalities instead.

That's mainly drunk pensioners who think that though.

[ToucanSpam]

I could totally pass for Canadian.

I've watched both hockey and curling in person.
Psh, you wouldnt make it pass the 3rd end, hoser! :D


I think anyone could pass for Canadian, we're a melting pot of cultures.

I feel better going places knowing there's fellow Cape Bretoners....not that I don't love all Canadians...

[ToucanSpam]

Great Britain = England, Wales, Scotland
UK = Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Brits therefore, are either Scottish, Welsh or English, though some Scotsmen and Welshmen may not want to be associated with England and vice versa and choose to be known by their own nationalities instead.

That's mainly drunk pensioners who think that though.
I learned this the 5th time you explained it.

[Documad]

Great Britain = England, Wales, Scotland
UK = Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Brits therefore, are either Scottish, Welsh or English, though some Scotsmen and Welshmen may not want to be associated with England and vice versa and choose to be known by their own nationalities instead.

That's mainly drunk pensioners who think that though.
I get the geography part, but would you rather be called British, or English? And if you don't want to be called English, why?

Because sometimes I want to talk only about English people.


Also, isn't it arrogant that only people from the US are Americans?

[DroppinScience]

So a pom, that means "Prisoner of Mother England," right?

As for hearing about Americans pretending to be Canadian while overseas... I think it'd be hilarious if Canadians travelled overseas and pretended to be Americans. Not just any American, but the all-out obnoxious ugly American.

I wonder if it'd work or they'd go: "Um, nice try, Molson Canadian. You're far too polite to pull if off."

:p

[DroppinScience]

Also, isn't it arrogant that only people from the US are Americans?

Nah. Anyone from the Americas would just be called a North American, or a South American. Saying "American" about a non-US citizen would be far too confusing. ;)

[ToucanSpam]

So a pom, that means "Prisoner of Mother England," right?

As for hearing about Americans pretending to be Canadian while overseas... I think it'd be hilarious if Canadians travelled overseas and pretended to be Americans. Not just any American, but the all-out obnoxious ugly American.

I wonder if it'd work or they'd go: "Um, nice try, Molson Canadian. You're far too polite to pull if off."

:p
*murders*

Pretending to be Canadian is the safest way to go. :D


*stuffs Bert's carcass into a woodchipper*

[Documad]

I will say it one more time. I met a rude rich Canadian couple in NZ. They were the ickiest people I met on my trip. (That's at odds with my normal experience though.)

[DroppinScience]

I will say it one more time. I met a rude rich Canadian couple in NZ. They were the ickiest people I met on my trip. (That's at odds with my normal experience though.)

They were from Alberta, weren't they? Yeah, I know. We're a bunch of jerks. :p

[DroppinScience]

*murders*

Pretending to be Canadian is the safest way to go. :D


*stuffs Bert's carcass into a woodchipper*

Well, duh. It wouldn't be hard to pretend to be Canadian, since I am one. :rolleyes:

Can't you just indulge in the hilarity of a Canadian going out of his way to be American, while the American tourist would go out of his way to be Canadian. It's called paradox! :D

[Medellia]

Is it just me, or has Spammy been ultra-violent lately? :confused:

[Freebasser]

I'd rather be called British, purely because the three nations are recognised as one country, and because when you start getting people saying "I hate the Welsh" or "I want to be seperate from the Scottish" it won't be long before you have another holocaust on your hands.

A lot of this English/Welsh/Scottish nationality comes from sport and during international football season the flag of St. George starts appearing everywhere, which is becoming increasingly seen as a sign of racism (most notably employed by "white van man" - your friendly neighbourhood dodgy builder with the "fuck the welsh" tattoos for example)

In some parts of the country it is becoming the norm that the flag of St. George is seen as a sign of racism because it breeds anti-Welsh/Scottish as well as anti-Islamic tendencies. It's been banned in many places such as on taxis because it's seen as a sign of imtimidation and exclusion towards anyone who isn't white English. The Union Jack is preferred every time.

It's still ok for the Welsh and Scottish flags to fly in their respective countries for some reason, I don't know why.

[Freebasser]

Also, isn't it arrogant that only people from the US are Americans?

Surely you should be known as United Statesians?

[Documad]

Thanks Freebasser. That makes a lot of sense.

I think that the people who are the craziest about maintaining a separate identity are the ones who left the home country and moved to the US--or the ones whose parents did.

[Freebasser]

It's also worth mentioning that many Northern Irish folk prefer to also be called British (and according to Wikipedia, even though they are not classed as part of Britain they are still technically British), but a large percentage won't accept being called anything other than Irish.

[Freebasser]

So a pom, that means "Prisoner of Mother England," right?

Old wives tale.

[thegoodmrbrodie!]

we are such an apathetic nation that i dont think that many people would care what you call them, but those who do care will probably stab you. i think for the perfect definition of a "brit" you should travel to the south of spain. i'd rather be called mark. thanks.

[Beckalina]

I don't mind being called a 'brit' I am one after all.

[ms.peachy]

as an american travelling in england (or wherever you're going) i would, as a rule, refrain from calling anyone a brit, a pom, a limey, or any other slang you may pick up from the board

'Brit' is perfectly accpetable; I don't know anyone here who would find it offensive to be called a Brit by a Yank.

[discopants]

Did you know you can't put down "English" on the census. Takin the piss man.

[Tzar]

Is it just me, or has Spammy been ultra-violent lately? :confused:
the whole *murders* thing, yeah?

pfft... he can't even hold a candle to me. rookie :rolleyes:

[guerillaGardner]

Being Scottish I am actually British but if asked to choose between the two as to how I identify myself I'd choose Scottish. Right now I am fine saying I am both.

As Bob suggested earlier in the thread don't use racial nicknames like Jock, Taffy, Paddy, Mick. I had an English guy call me jock while asking for directions. I was ready to rip his eyes out. To me it's equivalent to using the word nigger to a black guy.

In Northern Ireland the divide is between Republicans who identify with Eire and Loyalists who are pro-British. There are certain areas in Northern Ireland where you most certainly wouldn't wear a Union Jack.

In short, I would say that you can call anyone here British but there's no harm in referring to people by their nationality if you can recognise the accents.

As Freebasser points out there does seem to be a connotation as regards the English flag but somehow not the Welsh or Scottish. I'm not sure why. It doesn't really make sense.

[guerillaGardner]

Did you know you can't put down "English" on the census. Takin the piss man.

As far as I can remember you can't put Scottish either.

[TonsOfFun]

Apart from in Football, you wouldn't see Union Jacks at a so-called Home International. IE England vs. Scotland and neither would have Union Jacks. But generally because of football outside of football a lot would not like carrying a St George Flag around but probably would be happy with a Union Jack. Cus English are twats abroad, I've been one unfortunatly and they keeping going getting sun burnt and fowling sacred sites. But the British are a higher class :D

And, if you go around with a candaian flag on ya, wouldn't people confuse for porn stars on tour?

[voltanapricot]

Some of you English people don't like being called English people.
I don't like being called British. I'm half Irish, but I was brought up in England, therefore, English.

[boys_beastie]

'Brit' includes Welsh, Scottish, and English.


Filthy tea drinkers. :mad:

toothless hockey player

[mp-seventythree]

I'm part English, part Northern Irish and part German.....you can call me Mutt

[ToucanSpam]

Is it just me, or has Spammy been ultra-violent lately? :confused:
I don't mind a little but of the ultra-violence, here and there.


Right, right.

[CJM]

Sewing a Canadian badge on your backpack is one of the best things to do when backpacking through Europe, they say.


i would get pretty pissed if i met someone doing that if i was on a trip. canada's reputation was paid for in blood, and i feel it disrespectful for a person from another country do that to get better service, or whatever happens when that's done.

[faz]

I don't mind being called Scottish or British. How every what I do mind is when people call me English because they are not aware that Scotland is in fact a country and not a place inside England