A question for Scots.
richard cranium
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The Scottish actress Elaine C. Smith was interviewed and she mentioned that when she was in England she palpable felt she was in a different Country.
Of course technically she is correct, but for someone as Cosmopolitan and for one who spends a great deal of time in London I found it a strange thing to say.
Her rampant Socialist, Republican and SNP outlook may have something to do with her feeling but I've never have that feeling when in England.
OK, the Policemen have silly hats and shopkeepers scowl and tut-tut at my Scottish banknotes but I don't feel any different or unwelcome than when I'm in Scotland.
A different Country or just the same Country ?
Of course technically she is correct, but for someone as Cosmopolitan and for one who spends a great deal of time in London I found it a strange thing to say.
Her rampant Socialist, Republican and SNP outlook may have something to do with her feeling but I've never have that feeling when in England.
OK, the Policemen have silly hats and shopkeepers scowl and tut-tut at my Scottish banknotes but I don't feel any different or unwelcome than when I'm in Scotland.
A different Country or just the same Country ?
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We're not all like that It depends on where you go. Tiny, insular villages will be unfriendly if you're not a local, and London can be very unfriendly, for example. And how do you mean 'take the p*ss' - like poke fun, or make life difficult?
I'm an English girl living in Scotland and it makes me sad when Scots say the English are unfriendly or unwelcoming and so forth. I've met many unfriendly people in both countries, and met an equal number of friendly people in both countries.
And the reverse doesn't happen?
You're right, I shouldn't generalise the English, the majority of my friends are English, I've edited my last post
And my life was made very difficult at one point, it was quite a lot more than just poking fun.
I never claimed that.
I haven't had much trouble in Scotland for being English (and I live in Glasgow, it's the one place where you'd expect trouble!) but I think it's because I know how to conduct myself as an English person here - e.g. unless you can easily defend yourself against an angry Glaswegian, stay away from the centre on Scotland v England days, or indeed any high-profile sporting event involving Scotland And always, always keep out of the east end...
Thanks And it's such a shame your life was made difficult. Where abouts were you?
I was originally in a small town near Dumfries when I lived in Scotland and I'm now in Basingstoke.
I don't think saying something feels like a different country is a negative view at all though! I like different countries.
I've been made to feel equally at home and unwelcome on both sides of the border - but by and large the weather's better down here (as are the job opportunities), which is why I stay.
(Sorry, I just take any opportunity to say that.)
Not Ecclefechan lol other side of Dumfries in Dalbeattie.
I'm all for it, as the French say 'Vive le difference'. I'll continue to enjoy visiting Scotland and I'll enjoy the things that make it different from England and the things that we have in common.
Not something, everything.
Cant abide the woman, never have. Epitome of a 'professional Glaswegian'. Course, unfunny and with a massive Glesga-socialist chip on her shoulder.
One thing i did find different (and better) was the summers, bbqs would begin at 1pm and last till 3am, chilling in the garden in bikins lol, in scotland your lucky if you can have a bbq at all
yep, pretty much killed any sympathy with your argument there
When I have visited England though I was made to feel really welcome.
I never considered myself foreign when in England and had a great time with the people I knew there. Yes, there were some anti-Scots jokes made at me but nothing malicious. The reverse situation happens with some of my English friends up here. It has never become vindictive or offensive.
Unfortunately, no matter where you are in the UK there are going to be idiots who take it too far and make people from somewhere different feel awkward. i think this would occur almost irrespective of where that person has come from.
Of course, within the UK we have differences both between the states and within them. But I would say though (as much as some people may hate to admit it) I feel the English, Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish are far more similar than we give ourselves credit for.
One of the biggest differences I've noticed is more use of red brick in England compared with grey concrete render or pale sandstone in Scotland which makes everything look drab imo. That's probably why I like the red sandstone tenements so much in Glasgow as even on the dreichest day, they're still a splash of colour on an otherwise grey backdrop.
I've never been made to feel unwelcome in England by anyone who realised that I was Scottish, but I am sadly aware that many Scots do harbour an bizarre and totally unfounded resentment towards the English.
Ironically, that resentment can quickly turn to idol worship if the Englishman happens to be a football player and scoring lots of goals for their team of choice!
It's probably different for everyone and every different part of the country, and the length of time you spend there etc. I don't feel greatly qualified to comment because a week or so is as long as I have ever spent in England, and also on those occasions I've been mainly too young to comment on such things and also mainly confined to seaside towns and beaches and touristy places.
Why do you think anyone would have trouble because of his nationality in a major city? Isn't it rather the remote villages where people look askance at anything or anyone they are not familiar with?
Try finding a Welsh person in North Wales all brummies and scousers.