No Americans

[Rich]

Wow this word just flows off the lips of Colin and Rich way to easily.


Part of your daily vocabulary I would wager.

Not part of my vocalb., why would it be, I'm not American

 

[Rich]

Even this Yank knows that Northern Ireland is not on the same island as Great Britian. Look at your map.

It's part of the British Isles, which is of course Great Britain

 

[chergh]

And Ireland too surely

I think Rabbie is right Rich, Great Britain is Scotland, England and Wales, Northern Ireland forms part of the united Kingdon.

 

[statsman]

And the Isle of Man

 

[Galaxiom]

The Isle of Man is not even part of the United Kingdom let alone GB.

Great Britain is the largest island in the British Isles.

 

[Thales750]

I'd worry about the Spanish taking over the U.S. if I were you

There's nothing to worry about, that's a done deal.

 

[Thales750]

Re: Yes Americans

Depends - it seems it's ok to swear foul language on these forums without a problem. I never use foul language. And copying an American word in everyday use doesn't seem bad to me.

Col

Actually it's not in everyday use, and certainly not in polite company.

 

[Thales750]

Reminds me of a professor in college when I submitted a 65 page paper. It came back with a big red "F" in marker on each of the 65 pages. The problem? In one sentence I properly used the word "niggardly" and the professor was black. It did not matter that I in no sense racist or that the term is perfectly proper. An appeal to the dean got nowhere. So, I took an incomplete on the class and waited three semesters until it was taught by a different professor (it was a required class). Some people have buttons that will be pushed for the stupidest reasons and there is no arguing with them.

The real lesson there was to learn to debate more effectively.

 

[Galaxiom]

In Aus we have a television program called "Spicks and Specks". Nobody I know is offended by these words.

The BeeGees has a song called Spics and Specs.

 

[Galaxiom]

Obviously there is some kind of cultural cringe over particlular words. My advice is "get over it."

In the US "fanny" is apparantly a polite euphamism for buttocks. In aus it unambiguously means ******. Sure sounds odd when the squaky clean little girls in a US sitcom start talking about their fannies. Should we get offended?

 

[Pauldohert]

In Aus we have a television program called "Spicks and Specks". Nobody I know is offended by these words.

The BeeGees has a song called Spics and Specs.

Its usually correct to assume anything widely acceptable in Australia - is extremely racist any where else.

The aussie use of the word wog - gets me everytime.

What does spicks and specks mean? Either of them?

 

[oumahexi]

Its usually correct to assume anything widely acceptable in Australia - is extremely racist any where else.

The aussie use of the word wog - gets me everytime.

What does spicks and specks mean? Either of them?

In the case of the Bee Gees' song it means tiny (spicks and specs of girls in my mind) no idea what the Ausie TV Show is about though, could be that it's much the same, just little snips of things ?

 

[Galaxiom]

Few from other cultures have a clue about Aus attitudes because they take themselves far too seriously. Self deprecation is a time honoured traditon in the convict colony.

We have people from many cultures here. Many Australians are proudly of "wog" origin. (We love short words and they don't come much shorter than wog.)

Essentially "spics and specs" means the "bits and pieces".

The BeeGees song refered to the "spics and specs of the girls on my mind".

Spicks and Specks is a popular music trivia show.

 

[Alc]

Few from other cultures have a clue about Aus attitudes because they take themselves far too seriously. Self deprecation is a time honoured traditon in the convict colony.

And yet of the dozens and dozens of Australians I've met and worked with, I could count on one hand those who were anything but overly defensive if anyone even suggested that the country wasn't perfect.

Perhaps it's like the way some black people say how they can use 'the N word' but if non-black people do it's offensive?

 

[Rich]

I think Rabbie is right Rich, Great Britain is Scotland, England and Wales, Northern Ireland forms part of the united Kingdon.

Yes it used to be part of GreatBritain

 

[ChipperT]

Ok, let me see if I can explain this:

England is a country.
Northern Ireland is a country.
Scotland is a country.
Wales is a country.

England, Scotland and Wales make up Great Britain and are all on one island.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make up the United Kingdom.

The proper term is "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"

There is no king in this kingdom at the moment but Queendom just doesn't sound the same.

No one really cares anway.

Did I get all that right?

 

[Pauldohert]

Few from other cultures have a clue about Aus attitudes because they take themselves far too seriously. Self deprecation is a time honoured traditon in the convict colony.

We have people from many cultures here. Many Australians are proudly of "wog" origin. (We love short words and they don't come much shorter than wog.)

Essentially "spics and specs" means the "bits and pieces".

The BeeGees song refered to the "spics and specs of the girls on my mind".

Spicks and Specks is a popular music trivia show.

You haven't got self depreciation down to a fine art like the UK has.

Things are too awesome. (i did try and write an explanation of what I meant - but that terminology probably sums it up).


I have never heard spicks - specks obviously.

 

[Rich]

Ok, let me see if I can explain this:

England is a country.
Northern Ireland is a country.
Scotland is a country.
Wales is a country.

England, Scotland and Wales make up Great Britain and are all on one island.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make up the United Kingdom.

The proper term is "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"

There is no king in this kingdom at the moment but Queendom just doesn't sound the same.

No one really cares anway.

Did I get all that right?

A kingdom is a sovereign state instituting a monarchy, or having a monarch as its head.A kingdom is a sovereign state instituting a monarchy, or having a monarch as its head.

 

[Brianwarnock]

Ok, let me see if I can explain this:

England is a country.
Northern Ireland is a country.
Scotland is a country.
Wales is a country.

England, Scotland and Wales make up Great Britain and are all on one island.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make up the United Kingdom.

The proper term is "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"

There is no king in this kingdom at the moment but Queendom just doesn't sound the same.

No one really cares anway.

Did I get all that right?

Yes I posted a link that explained all of this on another thread recently, but the pedants complained because the kids that had set up the info started with
"Great Britain is a country made up of the three countries of..."

Just to complete the education The British Isles is merely a geographical area.

Brian

 

[Brianwarnock]

Yes it used to be part of GreatBritain

No part of Ireland has ever been part of Great Britain, the UK yes but GB no.

Brian