A nation of "west Brits"?

Seedy Arling · 08-05-2013 03:39PM

I like my toast done on one side.

Does this make me a West Brit?

Hunterbiker · 08-05-2013 03:41PM

ScumLord wrote: »

I think the term is plastic paddy.

I am, I go to the UK regularly and while on the surface we appear the same underneath it all we're have some fundamental differences.

I disagree.

I am from the UK now living in Ireland.
It's so similar it's scary...

It's like the elephant in the room at times to be honest

BraziliaNZ · 08-05-2013 03:49PM

Yeah I don't find many cultural differences between us, apart from the royalty thing and really posh people.

I always thought Plastic Paddy was 2nd Gen Irish over here, no?

Fromthetrees · 08-05-2013 03:54PM

Nearly all of us are a bit 'West Brit' and/or 'East American', we're a small island country sitting between two countries with world dominant cultures that we share a language with. We have hundreds of years worth of emigration and immigration between us (Ireland) and them (UK and US) which only cements this.

You could get the most die hard Gaelgoir GAA head but will still in all likelihood watch mainly US films or listen to mainly British music or read mainly British authors.

There is no doubting that since the advent of television and now the internet that Irish people have moved even more into the Anglosphere.

If the above isn't in any way true please explain David Norris or Kevin Myers (Brits) and Jedward or Miriam O'Callaghan (US).

Hunterbiker · 08-05-2013 03:55PM

You still find the odd title and posh person here and there's even provision for it for things like the granting of Arms and such.

Google Chief Herald Ireland

08-05-2013 03:56PM

I am more of a southern northy.

yourdeadwright · 08-05-2013 04:00PM

The Brits are East Irish and the American's and West Irish, how you like those apples !!!!!!!!!!!

Madam · 08-05-2013 04:07PM

Hunterbiker wrote: »

I disagree.

I am from the UK now living in Ireland.
It's so similar it's scary...

It's like the elephant in the room at times to be honest

By scumlords reckoning your a plastic Brit!;)

Honestly, we have far more in common with British people than we think. We eat the same food, wear the same kind of clothes, watch the same telly programmes(almost), share a religion(paper wall between us and the CoE), - I could go on but you all know of these things anyway:rolleyes:

starviewadams · 08-05-2013 04:07PM

Just be thankful that Bertie still isn't Taoiseach,he'd probably make today a day of national mourning in honour of Alex Ferguson's retirement.

At least this senator is earning his €65k: http://www.labour.ie/press/2013/05/08/harte-pays-tribute-to-sir-alex-ferguson/

seamus · 08-05-2013 04:15PM

seven_eleven wrote: »

I genuinely only started hearing this "west brit" term when I came to boards several years ago. Is it just a boards thing, or a Dublin thing, or what?

It's a moron thing.

Apparently in order to be a "true Irishman" you have to believe that this country is the shining pearl of all humanity, that everyone who ever died in the name of Irish unity is a hero, that all British people are evil landlord types and that british media should be shunned in favour of drinkin' pints down the local while the young lads and assies whip up an aul ceili and you discuss plans for murdering protestants.

If you don't, you must be a west brit, can't be a really Irish, oh no.

gobnaitolunacy · 08-05-2013 04:26PM

Meh, don't follow soccer.
He's just a barely intelligible Scot who's retiring, big deal.

rubadub · 08-05-2013 04:26PM

Do any other countries have derogatory terms like this? like Indians calling people "East Pakis" or Canadians calling them "North Yanks"

I am from the UK now living in Ireland.
It's so similar it's scary...

It's like the elephant in the room at times to be honest

I would expect many neighbouring countries to have lots of similarities, esp. if the majority of them are speaking the same language and with lots of emigration between the 2. It'd be far more strange & 'scary' if they didn't.

IM0 · 08-05-2013 04:28PM

take the badger out of yer arse, fml

ScumLord · 08-05-2013 04:33PM

Hunterbiker wrote: »

I disagree.

I am from the UK now living in Ireland.
It's so similar it's scary...

It's like the elephant in the room at times to be honest

It may be because the UK is similar to us that the differences stand out to me, when I go to a very different culture it's usually the similarities that stand out more.

There seems to be a better awareness of the public needs in the UK. The way they act on the road is hugely different to us. We fight for our place on the road here, in the UK each driver seems more concerned with the overall flow of the traffic. To the extent you'd see a young lad in a souped up civic letting an artic truck out ahead of him in heavy traffic. Here that driver would make a point to get ahead of the truck, possibly blocking everything for miles.

When you go into a crowded place like a coffee shop in London order seems to materialise out of nowhere, people form cews and everybody is served as quickly as possible.

They have civic pride over there, they might think they don't but Ireland is really a bit like the wild west compared to parts of the UK. Maybe it comes from the history of Empire verses conquered but despite Ireland following British culture we are different.

08-05-2013 04:39PM

ScumLord wrote: »

The way they act on the road is hugely different to us. We fight for our place on the road here, in the UK each driver seems more concerned with the overall flow of the traffic. To the extent you'd see a young lad in a souped up civic letting an artic truck out ahead of him in heavy traffic. Here that driver would make a point to get ahead of the truck, possibly blocking everything for miles.

You obviously haven't done much driving in the UK and especially around London. Driving in Ireland is a very relaxing experience compare to the UK. Drivers are much much more aggressive, more likely to force you over to get passed, drive faster, have no time whatsoever for people dawdling i.e. the lights go orange before green over there, if you aren't moving on orange prepare to be deafened by the horn of the car behind you.

I would go so far as to say things are completely opposite and in Ireland the young lad would have much better chance of letting out the truck than over there.

ScumLord · 08-05-2013 04:43PM

Braelyn Small Gutter wrote: »

You obviously haven't done much driving in the UK and especially around London.

I go to England at least twice a year working.

I don't see anywhere near the aggression and complete disregard for the rules over there. Over here if I stop for the yellow box half of the time someone will see that as an excuse for them to park themselves across the road trying to get into that yellow box. Then waving at you like you let them out.

The civic driver was an example of what I saw in the UK.

BraziliaNZ · 08-05-2013 04:45PM

ScumLord wrote: »

I go to England at least twice a year working.

I don't see anywhere near the aggression and complete disregard for the rules over there. Over here if I stop for the yellow box half of the time someone will see that as an excuse for them to park themselves across the road trying to get into that yellow box. Then waving at you like you let them out.

The civic driver was an example of what I saw in the UK.

Civic pride is right, people seem to take more interest in old shops and pubs closing down, protest to keep them open, do more stuff in the community, have more fairs and street parties etc. Ireland is a bit like the Wild West compared to here sometimes. I know there are serious problems in the UK too but these little things really stand out to me.

stoneill · 08-05-2013 04:51PM

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

Remember when Nelson Mandela was released? A nation of North South Africans that day!

I watched Cool Runnings on telly and enjoyed it.
Does that make me an East West Indian?

08-05-2013 04:51PM

ScumLord wrote: »

I go to England at least twice a year working.

I don't see anywhere near the aggression and complete disregard for the rules over there. Over here if I stop for the yellow box half of the time someone will see that as an excuse for them to park themselves across the road trying to get into that yellow box. Then waving at you like you let them out.

The civic driver was an example of what I saw in the UK.

Well I lived in London for a year and dove nearly everyday and found the total opposite in general. They are much more aggressive drivers, especially on roundabouts and motorways. Fixed speed cameras just means everyone floors it between them and sticks the breaks for them etc, I have many many examples.

The yellow box is a poor example really as you have no choice or you will get a fine in the post as I found out over there, through no fault of my own I might add, I had space the far side but a driver in the inside lane who was slightly ahead of me did not and forced his way across into my lane leaving me in the yellow box.

Madam · 08-05-2013 04:54PM

ScumLord wrote: »

It may be because the UK is similar to us that the differences stand out to me, when I go to a very different culture it's usually the similarities that stand out more.

There seems to be a better awareness of the public needs in the UK. The way they act on the road is hugely different to us. We fight for our place on the road here, in the UK each driver seems more concerned with the overall flow of the traffic. To the extent you'd see a young lad in a souped up civic letting an artic truck out ahead of him in heavy traffic. Here that driver would make a point to get ahead of the truck, possibly blocking everything for miles.

When you go into a crowded place like a coffee shop in London order seems to materialise out of nowhere, people form cews and everybody is served as quickly as possible.

Is this the 'alternative Britain' cos its not the one I live in!

They have civic pride over there, they might think they don't but Ireland is really a bit like the wild west compared to parts of the UK. Maybe it comes from the history of Empire verses conquered but despite Ireland following British culture we are different.

Is this the 'alternative Britain' cos its not the one I live in!

stoneill · 08-05-2013 04:55PM

rubadub wrote: »

Do any other countries have derogatory terms like this? like Indians calling people "East Pakis" or Canadians calling them "North Yanks"
.

Canada calls the USA "Mexico touchers".

08-05-2013 05:05PM

rubadub wrote: »

Do any other countries have derogatory terms like this? like Indians calling people "East Pakis" or Canadians calling them "North Yanks"

I know some people from the north of Italy who call the south of Italy "north Africa"

Rezident · 08-05-2013 05:08PM

'West Brit' is such a lazy, foolish term when used to refer to the Irish. I instantly lose respect for anyone who tries to use it as if it is a meaningful description of anyone apart from the Welsh, who probably aren't too keen on it either.

Latchy · 08-05-2013 05:20PM

Back in the 70s/80s ' East Coast Brits ' was a common term used by some non Dublin based people to describe People living on the east coast of Ireland ( simply because they could pick up BBC/ITV channels ) ...not that anybody living in the East Coast of Ireland gave a shyte .

ScumLord · 08-05-2013 05:22PM

Braelyn Small Gutter wrote: »

Well I lived in London for a year and dove nearly everyday and found the total opposite in general.

I haven't done any driving in London, it's mostly on the motorway and mostly in the midlands. London would be understandable because it's a large city.

Madam · 08-05-2013 05:23PM

Latchy wrote: »

Back in the 70s/80s ' East Coast Brits ' was a common term used by some non Dublin based people to describe People living on the east coast of Ireland ( simply because they could pick up BBC/ITV channels ) ...not that anybody living in the East Coast of Ireland gave a shyte .

I come from Donegal(only 8 miles from the border) - we could get BBC and ITV in 70s and 80s, I'm sure as god not an 'East Coast Brit':)

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater · 08-05-2013 05:27PM

Seaneh wrote: »

He's definitely not.

Go East and North a bit, think vikings and blond girls with big boobs and long legs, yeah, statoil and all that, that's him.

Roscommon town?

Latchy · 08-05-2013 05:31PM

Madam wrote: »

I come from Donegal(only 8 miles from the border) - we could get BBC and ITV in 70s and 80s, I'm sure as god not an 'East Coast Brit':)

Of course not ,you would have to live on the East Coast of Ireland to have that silly term labelled at you now wouldn't you ?

Madam · 08-05-2013 05:35PM

Latchy wrote: »

Of course not ,you would have to live on the East Coast of Ireland to have that silly term labelled at you now wouldn't you ?

But.... I'm from East Donegal(which had a coast the last time I looked) - does that count?:)

Latchy · 08-05-2013 05:41PM

Madam wrote: »

But.... I'm from East Donegal(which had a coast the last time I looked) - does that count?:)

Well I was thinking more East Coast ie, Wexford, Wicklow, Dublin, Dundalk region but will count you in to

A nation of "west Brits"?

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