Do you consider yourself european?

Censorsh!t · 07-10-2014 11:26AM #1

Okay, obviously, I know, technically Irish are European. But I always find it very odd when people refer to me as European.

When I was in S. Africa someone was saying how important manners are because they know "Europeans can be very rude". My first thought was "but I'm not European...not in that sense anyway!"

When someone speaks of Europe, I always think Spain, France, Germany, mainland Europe basically. Yet Ireland would never enter my head.

Would you consider yourself European? Do you think Ireland is a 'European' country? In the cultural sense of the word.

Phew...how many times can I say Europe in one post!

Lapin · 07-10-2014 11:28AM

I'm a Galwayman first and foremost.

Then Irish.

European somewhere further down the line.

Rightwing · 07-10-2014 11:29AM

Censorsh!t wrote: »

Okay, obviously, I know, technically Irish are European. But I always find it very odd when people refer to me as European.

When I was in S. Africa someone was saying how important manners are because they know "Europeans can be very rude". My first thought was "but I'm not European...not in that sense anyway!"

When someone speaks of Europe, I always think Spain, France, Germany, mainland Europe basically. Yet Ireland would never enter my head.

Would you consider yourself European? Do you think Ireland is a 'European' country? In the cultural sense of the word.

Phew...how many times can I say Europe in one post!

Absolutely, that's why I drive on motorways. That's where the cash came from.

cloud493 · 07-10-2014 11:29AM

No. But then I suppose physical detachment and being a small island, both in the UK and Ireland, changes your perspective.

wazky · 07-10-2014 11:31AM

Well look at it this way, when you look at the Euro section on Pornhub do you see freckly, redhead'ed Sineads and Deirdres going at it?

bnt · 07-10-2014 11:31AM

I'm "European" in my drinking habits: occasional drinks with food, no drinking to get drunk. The way you do it here in Ireland - explicitly planning to get "locked" - is not "European".

Fat Christy · 07-10-2014 11:31AM

Nope, I'm Irish. I would never refer to myself as being European...

suicide_circus · 07-10-2014 11:32AM

I am the product of a western and a central european so, yes I consider myself European.

fits · 07-10-2014 11:33AM

Yes, very much so. But I work all over Europe which probably contributes to that. I have a very different perspective now, compared to before I left.

sheesh · 07-10-2014 11:33AM

yes

jimgoose · 07-10-2014 11:33AM

Ireland, the UK and the USA, being Common Law jurisdictions have a rather different look-and-feel from the Continong, with their Civil Law jurisdictions based partly on Roman law and the Leges Barbarorum. So no, I don't feel particularly European.

fits · 07-10-2014 11:35AM

bnt wrote: »

I'm "European" in my drinking habits: occasional drinks with food, no drinking to get drunk. The way you do it here in Ireland - explicitly planning to get "locked" - is not "European".

try visiting Nordic countries. They are even worse I would say. Getting drunk rather than socialising is the aim. I think the focus is more on socialising in Ireland.

suicide_circus · 07-10-2014 11:41AM

bnt wrote: »

I'm "European" in my drinking habits: occasional drinks with food, no drinking to get drunk. The way you do it here in Ireland - explicitly planning to get "locked" - is not "European".

*yawn* hair shirts at the ready!

The notion that all continental euopeans confine their boozing to a small glass wine while eating a long languid sumptuous dinner is laughable. Now the irish and british relationship with drink is somewhat questionable but the those on the continent aren't exactly saintly, they just dont stress or beat themselves up about it.

Philo Beddoe · 07-10-2014 11:42AM

Yes, most definitely.

c_man · 07-10-2014 11:42AM

No, not really. Only feel any bit that way when on the continent and think that if anything were to happen it'd be grand since we're all in the EU.

_Kaiser_ · 07-10-2014 11:50AM

Nope not at all.

Consider myself a Dub, then Irish but as far as I'm concerned the EU has been far more trouble for this country (and the other smaller nations) than it's worth.

They should have stopped at the EEC - once they got political aspirations it all went south.

bnt · 07-10-2014 11:52AM

fits wrote: »

try visiting Nordic countries. They are even worse I would say. Getting drunk rather than socialising is the aim. I think the focus is more on socialising in Ireland.

Oh, I know - I saw a few things on trips to Denmark that would curl your hair, and once shared a house with some Swedes here in Dublin. I couldn't even try to compete with that. But that's not what I meant by "European" drinking, which I did see in France, Spain and Portugal. I expect I'd see different drinking if I visited Slovakia ...

whiskeyman · 07-10-2014 11:54AM

Only ever consider myself european either at airports (when you see a 'EU' flag at a passport booth and watch the poor suckers queuing for the longer international booth), or if there's some discount / benefit to be had:
EU medical card, etc...

Lenin Skynard · 07-10-2014 11:55AM

Yes, very much so.

Fuzzytrooper · 07-10-2014 11:59AM

I've had many conversations with my Polish wife on the subject. Definitely wouldn't consider myself European - more loosely affiliated.

jimgoose · 07-10-2014 12:01PM

bnt wrote: »

...But that's not what I meant by "European" drinking, which I did see in France, Spain and Portugal. I expect I'd see different drinking if I visited Slovakia ...

Yes, I've witnessed the phenomenon of "European Drinking" as well - I conclude it's because most of 'em wouldn't spend furkan Christmas! :pac:

Iranoutofideas · 07-10-2014 12:08PM

Not in the slightest. I was over in Germany recently with a friend from the States. He was looking to me for guidance on certain things as I am "European".

I told him I might as well be from the States too as Germany was just as alien to me as to him.

jimgoose · 07-10-2014 12:13PM

Iranoutofideas wrote: »

Not in the slightest. I was over in Germany recently with a friend from the States. He was looking to me for guidance on certain things as I am "European".

I told him I might as well be from the States too as Germany was just as alien to me as to him.

A few years back I spent a couple of days in Dortmund on a bit of a job. It was like something out of Blade Runner. I was extraordinarily happy to be tucking into Shepherd's Pie with Chips'n'Gravy in Heathrow on the way back, served by a stroppy little Indian cutie with a Sarf Landan accent annat innit?!? Congratulations, you're home!

:D

SEPT 23 1989 · 07-10-2014 12:16PM

No I want nothing to do with this European "project"

oceanman · 07-10-2014 12:19PM

No, even though our dumbass leaders sold us out to Europe, I still consider myself Irish.

preston johnny · 07-10-2014 12:19PM

Only when I'm eating my Aldi pizza with french fries, drinking wife beater and a swiss roll for afters and going Dutch on the cost.............oh! And when the Ryder cup is on

Dacelonid · 07-10-2014 12:21PM

fits wrote: »

try visiting Nordic countries. They are even worse I would say. Getting drunk rather than socialising is the aim. I think the focus is more on socialising in Ireland.

Yep, payday in Sweden and Denmark are nuts, from my experience in those countries

jester77 · 07-10-2014 12:21PM

Absolutely.

I have Euros in my wallet, I can travel within Europe without having to show a passport or needing a visa and no need to change currency (mostly), I am free to work anywhere within Europe without any bureaucracy, my driving license is valid within Europe, have european health insurance and so on.

TheBeardedLady · 07-10-2014 12:31PM

Definitely.

Satriale · 07-10-2014 12:36PM

Luke Kelly wrote:

Will German, French or Dutch inscribe the epitaph of Emmet?
When we have sold enough of Ireland to be but strangers in it.
For What Died the Sons of Róisín, was it greed

Never

Censorsh!t · 07-10-2014 12:37PM

jester77 wrote: »

Absolutely.

I have Euros in my wallet, I can travel within Europe without having to show a passport or needing a visa and no need to change currency (mostly), I am free to work anywhere within Europe without any bureaucracy, my driving license is valid within Europe, have european health insurance and so on.

Yes, as I said we are technically European.

But I mean in a cultural way.

Do you consider yourself european?

Do you consider yourself European (culturally!) 101 votes

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