Nobody knows where that is , so I say UK , followed by an attempt to describe the location of Yorkshire if asked further.
Shows how sad it is when according to some reports even Qatar is hitting back at us now after the criticism's on their hosting the the WC. Qatar lampoons English critics after Euro 2020 final crowd chaos (msn.com)
I'm in a slightly different boat in that I only have to introduce myself to people from Ireland or the USA. The former know where Yorkshire is and the latter mostly have little understanding of what constitutes England, Ireland or anything else outside the US.
I use the descriptor of "Yorkshire , as in the pudding , if it gets that in depth" With my accent , no idea why either Scottish or Australian
I'm always worried that I'm being too optimistic, but I agree. I was discussing this with a friend the other day - I have a feeling that history will see the hundred year period from ~1945-2045ish as a single period in which the UK - or more likely, its constituent countries individually - come to terms with the end of the empire and finally start reckoning with the consequences of it. We're seeing the death throes of the old way of things now, and there's nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal, but it hopefully means that most of us will still be there to see what we become afterwards.
It's sad to hear that's how people see us. However, it's difficult to imagine anyone from the good old US of A being in a position to preach to us on morality issues.....?!
Our country is unfortunately an embarassment. The violence and behaviour of fans in London this weekend was a disgrace. They'd be mental to let us host the World Cup after that, so the idiots have cost us it. It's not even just violence: it's the booing of national anthems and the knee, the laser pen, the racist abuse. We look like the worst kind of thugs. The recist idiots are getting bolder and bolder, and I think a certain political event from a few years ago has played a part in that by encouraging this ridiculous national supremacy viewpoint. Obviously that wasn't the intent of the rational brexit voters but in my opinion it's a side effect. The weak leadership from Boris and Patel on the taking the knee issue again is part of the overall picture. The team said again and again that it was nothing to do with the BLM organisation, but Patel undermined the message anyway. What happened to Rashford, Sancho and Sake wasn't because of her, but this tacitly approved recist behaviour so she's part of the problem. Likewise the Daily Mail and Sun, on this issue and the slating of Sterling and co over the years. It seems like the newspapers might at least have seen the light on this. Social media has played a big part in dividing us. I'd shut down Twitter and Facebook today. But the violence and racism doesn't all come from social media. England is a mess and I've got no idea how we sort it. I've ended up ranting here but honestly I'm so depressed by everything that's gone on. from such a wave of positivity to just a nightmare. Imagine how gutted the players are right now. I'd want nothing to do with England if I was Rashford.
At least they're preaching at us rather than shooting, for a change... I must admit, I'm not particularly patriotic and wouldn't say I'm proud to be English/British.
The World is changing , and its time to.move with it. The uptick in nationalism.globally isnt helpful , but hopefully thats just the older folks in all countries wanting to hang on to something. The youth of today are more integrated than ever before by the internet and pre-covid travel around the world. Hopefully the current clowns around the world holding political office , dont destroy it before the internet generation have a a chance.
As I posted a few of the countries on that list need to be having a look in the mirror. However England is the current whipping boy , it will be somewhere else next week
I am not big on the nationalism myself , but I am pretty happy to be where I am from , maybe thats because I am from Yorkshire though.
I feel the banking crash created a huge shock through the country, then came the Olympics in 2012 and something quite wonderful happened. That's what pride should look like. The Olympic greeters were a joy, images shared across social media of amazing acts of kindness and assistance. Hope shone. Team GB reacted. The country felt united, it looked outward, it welcomed all and it shyly celebrated. But it was a blip as the trend seemed to be of decline amid austerity, division of haves and have nots. Then 2016. And since then I don't recognise the country anymore. Glimpses and reports of acts are bad enough. But the reaction of government and its supporters are even worse.
Tbh I don’t think we are THAT different to other countries , majority have their racists( particularly Germany) and hooligan problems , ours just get more media attention. It’s just that for many it’s fashionable to kick the English ( themselves) for some reason and it’s not likely to get better if the decent folk don’t own their nationality because that then only leaves the scummers. I like to think if I’m in foreign parts and meeting folks they go away thinking they aren’t all bad then.