The British Isles or Islands of the North Atlantic?

darkman2

Its a term that inevitably raises eyebrows in Irish circles - 'the British Isles' - and most find it objectionable at best. This is because the term inextricably carries political overtones perhaps best avoided in this part of the world. The British themselves dont see it that way of course. They proudly parade the term as much as possible and will say its only a geographical term. They are right but subconciously the term itself harks back to a time of Empire and a pretentiousness on their part that Irish people have no problem being taken under their umbrella in a geographical sense. The Irish Government does not recognise the term. A new term has emerged in recent years though that is increasingly becoming seen as the right compromise. 'IONA' is an acronym for 'Islands of the North Atlantic' and is seen as neutral term acceptable to everyone.


What do you think?

InFront

I have no problems with the term British Isles; I don't find geography particularly offensive!

AlmightyCushion

I honestly couldn't care, although I do find the term Islands of the North Atlantic a bit of a mouthful and can sound more than a little rediculous. So british isles for me.

JIZZLORD

i couldnt care less!

brianthebard

Atlantic archipelago ftw!!!srsly, there was a sh1tstorm of a thread on this before.

darkman2

I should have put an option for 'neither' in the poll - if any mods feel like editing it:o


It is not a big deal - the name IMO but I think alot just wont use 'British Isles'. You wont hear Brian Cowen saying it tomorrow thats for sure.

Holsten

I dislike The British Isles.

The British and Irish Isles or Islands of the North Atlantic would be my preference.

magick

Ireland isnt part of Britian so how about British and Irish Isles.

hussey

British isles, not exactly a big deal to me.

Dublin1600

darkman2 wrote: »

I should have put an option for 'neither' in the poll - if any mods feel like editing it:.

How about adding the option, "darkman2 needs to get out more and get laid." I'd vote for that.

eggplantman

sorry,dont care for british

Dafonz

never refer to it as anything but wouldn't say british isles thats for sure.

the islands of north atlanthic sound better but i wont be saying that anytime soon.

TheBigLebowski

Wouldn't islands of the north atlantic include iceland, greenland etc?

I always use the term the british isles without hesitation just like when I use the Irish sea even though it goes between ireland and some other countries...

SoupyNorman

British Isles is purely a geographical term.


Incidently...

The largest River in The British Isles Is?

Lirange

Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong

ronbyrne2005

I think this topic has been done to death here and on other Irish forums. More important topics to be worried about, if you don't like the geographical term don't use it, majority of people outside of Ireland call these islands the "british isles" so no matter what we called them here in IReland we are'nt gonna change everyone else in the world's usage of the term.

Xavi6

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

I think this topic has been done to death here and on other Irish forums. More important topics to be worried about, if you don't like the geographical term don't use it, majority of people outside of Ireland call these islands the "british isles" so no matter what we called them here in IReland we are'nt gonna change everyone else in the world's usage of the term.

Does not compute

Pride Fighter

It comes from the Roman word for the celtic people who lived in modern day England and Wales. The people of the far north were called Picts and the people of this island were known as Scots:eek:. It is a very old term for this group of islands and although I dislike the Brits as much as the next man the term should not change. There is a theory that after the Saxon invasion of Britain in the 6th century a lot of the people of Britain emigrated to North-West France to an area we now know as Brittany (little Britain, not the show).

Thats some useless information for you.

JupiterKid

I would suggest neither. I don't mind the term British Isles but can understand those of a more nationalistic leaning having issue with it.

How about WEI - Western European Isles? It's much clearer than IONA which could technically include such places as Iceland, The Azores, Madiera, the Faroes and Greenland.

With WEI (Western European Isles) it's pretty clear that it's referring to the major islands off the west coast of Europe - namely, us and Great Britain.

hussey

Xavi6 wrote: »

Does not compute

Phf .. never hear of http://www.irishinfertilitysupportforums.ie/

ejmaztec

Biffo's Bananaland Collective - nothing British there!

Ponster

I gave up caring after the 1,000,000 post in AH on this exact topic.

tolosenc

I think an awful lot of Irish people need to get past the idea that the world revolves around a tiny island off the coast of Europe.

pickarooney

Why group them at all? It's not like there's a collective name for Australia + New Zealand.

Sam Vimes

i just call them both britain. God save lizzy and all that

thelordofcheese

Pride Fighter wrote: »

I dislike the Brits as much as the next man

So, not at all then.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Surely the North Atlantic Isles refers to Iceland and Greenland?

Collie D

obl wrote: »

I think an awful lot of Irish people need to get past the idea that the world revolves around a tiny island off the coast of Europe.

This is a mostly Irish forum so it's not the world he's talking about. Independent nation, not a part of Europe although judging by your sig you probably don't understand that.

pickarooney wrote: »

Why group them at all? .

+1

Or...who cares?

djpbarry

pickarooney wrote: »

Why group them at all? It's not like there's a collective name for Australia + New Zealand.

There's a NEW Zealand?!? :eek:

Not sure what the big objection to "British Isles" is; might as well be all the one country. Sure don't we copy everything they do, read all their newspapers, watch their TV programmes, follow their football, shop in their shops...

Steve_o

I don't find the term British Isles offensive... its only a name!! IONA is stupid, If that were the case, we'd be the ROI in the IONA in the EU... too many letters tbh!

Cunny-Funt

djpbarry wrote: »

might as well be all the one country. Sure don't we copy everything they do, read all their newspapers, watch their TV programmes, follow their football, shop in their shops...

By your logic everyone is american then.

InFront wrote: »

I have no problems with the term British Isles; I don't find geography particularly offensive!

Havnt seen you since the last time this thread topic popped up lol. Are you even Irish?

I don't find it offensive, just has too much imperialism about it.

It implies "the islands of Britain". Despite it being a geographical term.

The fact that its not recognized by our government shows how this is a valid issue.

But I find many boardsies roll their eyes and almost intentionally go for the opposite of any option that might be seen as 'pro irish' for fear of being seen as a "Ra head".

Which sucks

djpbarry

Cunny-Funt wrote: »

By your logic everyone is american then.

Good point.

Cunny-Funt wrote: »

It implies "the islands of Britain". Despite it being a geographical term.

Does India own the Indian Ocean? Does the name imply that they own it?

Zzippy

pickarooney wrote: »

Why group them at all? It's not like there's a collective name for Australia + New Zealand.

Actually........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasia

Geopolitically, Australasia is sometimes used as a term for New Zealand and Australia together, in the absence of another word limited to those two countries. Sometimes Papua New Guinea is encompassed by the term. There are many organizations whose names are prefixed with "(Royal) Australasian Society" that are limited to just New Zealand and Australia.

ejmaztec

When I attended a Catholic school in England, a long long long time ago, a teacher asked us whether any of us had been abroad during the summer. I said yes, and that I'd been to Ireland.

The teacher and most of my fellow students laughed "Ireland? That's not abroad." Spain, France etc., were abroad, along with every other country on the face of the earth, but not Ireland.

That smacked to me of a refusal to accept that Ireland was no longer part of the UK, even though the vast majority of the other students were Irish themselves, or were children of Irish immigrants.

I met old duffers in the UK 20 years ago who still regarded Ireland as a colony.

If that attitude prevails, Ireland will never be anything else other than part of the British Isles to people in the UK.

The main stumbling block however, in my opinion, seems to be that Irish text-books still refer to the British Isles. Interested parties here can moan all they like, but when the Irish government hasn't bothered itself with removing the reference, then blame them rather than stirring up old hatred.

mike65

I saw the topic line on the front page and knew, just knew who had started it!

Mike.

JC 2K3

Britain: A Geographical Region.
Great Britain: A country.

The French don't have a problem calling their most north-westernly province "Britanny", or "La Bretagne".

taidghbaby

i would like to add a meaningful contribution to this discussion but i have more important things to be thinking about.....like what to have for breakfast!!

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

taidghbaby wrote: »

i would like to add a meaningful contribution to this discussion but i have more important things to be thinking about.....like what to have for breakfast!!

I had a banana and nutella toasted sandwich. I know they don't sound great, but a German friend made me try one and my God.... fully recommended.

djpbarry

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

I had a banana and nutella toasted sandwich. I know they don't sound great, but a German friend made me try one and my God.... fully recommended.

Substitute nutella with honey and you have yourself the ultimate cure for a hangover.

5starpool

ejmaztec wrote: »

When I attended a Catholic school in England, a long long long time ago, a teacher asked us whether any of us had been abroad during the summer. I said yes, and that I'd been to Ireland.

The teacher and most of my fellow students laughed "Ireland? That's not abroad." Spain, France etc., were abroad, along with every other country on the face of the earth, but not Ireland.

That smacked to me of a refusal to accept that Ireland was no longer part of the UK, even though the vast majority of the other students were Irish themselves, or were children of Irish immigrants.

I met old duffers in the UK 20 years ago who still regarded Ireland as a colony.

If that attitude prevails, Ireland will never be anything else other than part of the British Isles to people in the UK.

The main stumbling block however, in my opinion, seems to be that Irish text-books still refer to the British Isles. Interested parties here can moan all they like, but when the Irish government hasn't bothered itself with removing the reference, then blame them rather than stirring up old hatred.

Maybe because most of the people there had a strong association with Ireland they didn't recognise it as being abroad in the same way that continetal Europe is. My parents don't really regard going to england to visit relatives etc as going abroad, so it works both ways really a bit.

As for the OP, I used to care but then I grew up.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

djpbarry wrote: »

Substitute nutella with honey and you have yourself the ultimate cure for a hangover.

I never really get hangovers (drink a lot of water when out) but the honey substitution is a nice idea. Will try that some mornign this week and let you know...

Earthhorse

bravestarr082 wrote: »

The largest River in The British Isles Is?

The Broad Majestic Shannon.

Or was my answer supposed to be in bold?

pickarooney wrote: »

Why group them at all? It's not like there's a collective name for Australia + New Zealand.

Someone's already pointed out that there is (even though they're over 1,000 miles apart) but I agree. I never have cause to use the term and I don't really see why anyone else would either.

ejmaztec

5starpool wrote: »

Maybe because most of the people there had a strong association with Ireland they didn't recognise it as being abroad in the same way that continetal Europe is. My parents don't really regard going to england to visit relatives etc as going abroad, so it works both ways really a bit.

As for the OP, I used to care but then I grew up.

Yes, possibly, but it won't make much difference either way when the Russians move in. I suppose they'll give it a new catchy title, "Radiation Atoll", or something. :eek:

biko

I prefer "Green and Pleasant Isles".

hot2def

pickarooney wrote: »

Why group them at all? It's not like there's a collective name for Australia + New Zealand.

Australasia, occasionally including Papua New Guinea

ejmaztec

Taking a cue from the Pacific, it could be called the "Irish Rim" - good for sex tourism, or as an ice-breaker when someone asks you where you're from. :P

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

ejmaztec wrote: »

I met old duffers in the UK 20 years ago who still regarded Ireland as a colony.

If that attitude prevails, Ireland will never be anything else other than part of the British Isles to people in the UK.

Only in your mind and theirs.

ejmaztec wrote: »

The main stumbling block however, in my opinion, seems to be that Irish text-books still refer to the British Isles. Interested parties here can moan all they like, but when the Irish government hasn't bothered itself with removing the reference, then blame them rather than stirring up old hatred.

The Irish Govt. hasn't bothered itself doing a LOT of things, let's be honest. If they were going to tackle national education, I'd prefer they started with revamping the Irish language.

Fratton Fred

ejmaztec wrote: »

When I attended a Catholic school in England, a long long long time ago, a teacher asked us whether any of us had been abroad during the summer. I said yes, and that I'd been to Ireland.

The teacher and most of my fellow students laughed "Ireland? That's not abroad." Spain, France etc., were abroad, along with every other country on the face of the earth, but not Ireland.

That smacked to me of a refusal to accept that Ireland was no longer part of the UK, even though the vast majority of the other students were Irish themselves, or were children of Irish immigrants.

I met old duffers in the UK 20 years ago who still regarded Ireland as a colony.

If that attitude prevails, Ireland will never be anything else other than part of the British Isles to people in the UK.

did you specify which bit of Ireland you went to, not all of it is abroad you know (puts on tin hat, ducks and covers)

How about the "Isles of Alderney, England, Guernsey, Jersey, Man, Northern ireland, Republic of Ireland, Sark, Scotland and Wales". that's nice and catchy and shouldn't upset any tree hugging lefties too much.

dlofnep

I don't refer to them as the British Isles. I refer to Ireland and Britain as seperate Islands, which they are. British Isles in today's age implies ownership, which is false. I would have gone with the "neither" option.

hot2def

to me, nothing says "insecure former colony" like bickering over meaningless geographical terms

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Fratton Fred wrote: »

did you specify which bit of Ireland you went to, not all of it is abroad you know (puts on tin hat, ducks and covers)

How about the "Isles of Alderney, England, Guernsey, Jersey, Man, Northern ireland, Republic of Ireland, Sark, Scotland and Wales". that's nice and catchy and shouldn't upset any tree hugging lefties too much.

I think you'll find it's the neo-cons that give a ****. Certainly not the 'tree-huggers'.

And what about the Shelands/Orkneys/Scilly Isles/Rockall*/Isle of Wight

*Puts on tin hat, ducks, covers and digs trench