May 24: Scottish Round-up

At the end of a horrible 24 hours consolidating Test/Development servers here are a couple of Scottish links. I've been holding back this blog because of a cow but I'm still waiting to get my camera back from my daughter. All will become clear later.

First, in a comment to an earlier blog, Joel Garry pointed out this San Diego/Edinburgh link, complete with animal references!

Next, Tom Kyte sent me this link. Apparently you only need to be able to speak in a funny accent to become one of us. If you are planning on making the leap, do bear in mind that We Do Not Use Keys or Washing Facilities. We Do Eat Deep-fried Mars Bars, apparently. On a more serious note, I'm happy to say the survey results reflect my personal experience. Scotland has long-standing immigrant communities, particularly from the Indian sub-continent, Italy (and most places probably). When I hear a broad Scottish accent coming from any colour face, I must admit I tend to think 'Scottish' before I think Indian or whatever. That's not to say that Scotland isn't a racist country - I'm sure you can find those attitudes in most countries - but that's not the way I see things. If you read that article, the joke is how negative our views are towards the English in comparison. However, we're only little (even with the added height from the enormous chips on our shoulders) and they're big enough to take it ;-)

Let's face it, I'm going to have to listen to football commentators assume I care as much about England as they do for the next month and a bit. I'm looking forward to that!
Posted by Doug Burns Comments: (7) Trackbacks: (0)

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#1 - Noons said:
2006-05-26 04:00 - (Reply)

"'ve been holding back this blog because of a cow but I'm still waiting to get my camera back from my daughter. All will become clear later."



I'm almost afraid to ask, but...
What happened to the cow?

#2 - Doug Burns said:
2006-05-26 06:40 - (Reply)

Still waiting ;-)

#3 - Thomas Presslie said:
2006-05-27 09:15 - (Reply)

Since you're rounding the Scottish thing up, I thought I'd mention the recent poll in England which showed that 70% of English do not want a Scottish MP or Scottish Prime Minister next time round (The current top three jobs all belong to Scots). I think people forget the Thatcher years and the ruling over Scotland before devolution which seemed to go on for ever. So to all those 70% of English folk - so what, tough!

So, will I support England in the World Cup? Yes, is the short answer, but of course most of my support will go to countries closer to home and blood(I am 50% Swedish, 12% Dutch, 6% German and the rest is pure Scottish)

#4 - Thomas Presslie said:
2006-05-28 07:55 - (Reply)

Did anyone read yesterdays Sun? They mentioned the results of a recent poll about Scottish support for England in the World Cup. Apparently 78% of Scots said 'No way!' to supporting England at the World Cup. I think the number would have been higher if the tables were turned and it was the Scots in the World Cup ;-)

#5 - Doug Burns said:
2006-05-28 09:23 - (Reply)

"Did anyone read yesterdays Sun? They mentioned the results of a recent poll about Scottish support for England in the World Cup. Apparently 78% of Scots said 'No way!' to supporting England at the World Cup."

Now you're just tempting me into comment, aren't you?!

Whilst I've got a bit better over the years, I'm still waiting for my television set not to be full of people saying 'We', when they actually mean England, rather than Britain. That simple step would make a lot of difference.

The more that English people start to see past the end of their nose, the more I'll start to see past the end of mine.

Some of my best friends are English ;-) That doesn't mean I have to support their football team and I don't expect them to support mine.

(Of course, perhaps I should limit my glee at their misfortunes a little, but pride comes before a fall and all that ...)

#6 - Anonymous 2006-05-29 23:19 - (Reply)

Right, Doug - lets get one thing clear once and for all - your quote here:

"Whilst I've got a bit better over the years, I'm still waiting for my television set not to be full of people saying 'We', when they actually mean England, rather than Britain. That simple step would make a lot of difference."

The people you refer to here are NOT English, but the denizens of the Home Counties, or more probably Islington. All the irritation and disgust that we share on listening / watching the London-based media is also shared by the people who live in the strange parts of 'England' north of Watford. The London-based 'English' have as little in common with the Scots as they do with the good people of Geordie Land, for example. Homo Londinium have in fact hijacked the term 'English'. Anyway, give them a couple more decades and they will all be flooded out...

(Apologies to our foreign readers if the local references here are somewhat overbearing!)

#7 - Doug Burns said:
2006-05-29 23:24 - (Reply)

Peter,

1) Nice to have you back ;-)

2) You're right of course and that's why I'm able to form an unholy alliance with my many English friends, most of whom come from somewhere north of Watford. In fact, I have one or two English friends who are far more scathing about the English media than I can ever manage.

Which just makes it all the more ridiculous that 'the media' assume we want to hear this xenophobic rubbish, no?

All I ask is a little humility and I'll respond like a puppy dog ... really ;-)


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