I wish I was born on an island
Willamena
31-05-2005, 17:29
Not just because being at sea level is so good for my health (as recent excusions have proven), but because island people have the most marvelous philosophies and attitude towards life. Well, I may be generalizing here, but it's true of the ones I've met.
Come to Britain some time, and watch us prove you wrong.
SimNewtonia
31-05-2005, 17:41
Come to Britain some time, and watch us prove you wrong.
LOL. Here in Australia, the Tasmanians (the little island at the bottom of Australia) seem to do pretty well. Beautiful too, apparently.
The New Zealanders are a whole different ballgame however... :p
Just kidding. They're nice. But their voices are a little *strange*.
New Watenho
31-05-2005, 17:45
Come to Britain some time, and watch us prove you wrong.
I dunno. We certainly have a very different way of thinking to the rest of Europe, and certain parts of it have everything to do with us having no borders. Apart from Northern Ireland, but you get my meaning. Point is, you have to cross water to get to mainland Britain, which has given us something of an interesting take on things. Jeremy Paxman writes very interestingly about this in his book The English (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140267239/qid=1117557906/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-9431385-1938822).
Grave_n_idle
31-05-2005, 17:51
Not just because being at sea level is so good for my health (as recent excusions have proven), but because island people have the most marvelous philosophies and attitude towards life. Well, I may be generalizing here, but it's true of the ones I've met.
I am an Island People... of course, my 'island' has 60 million people on it...
Willamena
31-05-2005, 17:57
I am an Island People... of course, my 'island' has 60 million people on it...
Do you think of yourself as such, though? Does it help shape your identity?
I think living on an island breeds an island mentality into its citizens. Britain has a habit of not doing what europe wants and doing what we want to do. I think thats a good thing personally.
[NS]New Watenho
31-05-2005, 18:09
Yeah, very much so. In fact, I don't mean to fob you off, but seriously, that there book is about this in great detail, and it's also very funny and a much deeper analysis than anyone at this board - no offence - could provide.
Our geography affect our way of thinking immensely. For starters, Brits call mainland Europe "Europe", as if we were separate from and not part of it. Because we have no land borders we've not had border wars for a VERY long time, and we haven't been invaded for even longer than that. There's a kind of security in being surrounded by water. It also contributed to our development of the world's largest and most powerful navy from the defeat of Spanish Armada to the early 20th century.
Just some random insights on the go :) Had an exam this morning, so incapable of deeper insight right now.
New Watenho']Yeah, very much so. In fact, I don't mean to fob you off, but seriously, that there book is about this in great detail, and it's also very funny and a much deeper analysis than anyone at this board - no offence - could provide.
Our geography affect our way of thinking immensely. For starters, Brits call mainland Europe "Europe", as if we were separate from and not part of it. Because we have no land borders we've not had border wars for a VERY long time, and we haven't been invaded for even longer than that. There's a kind of security in being surrounded by water. It also contributed to our development of the world's largest and most powerful navy from the defeat of Spanish Armada to the early 20th century.
Just some random insights on the go :) Had an exam this morning, so incapable of deeper insight right now.
I have to agree. The fact we haven't been invaded since 1066, we have repelled attempt after attempt and we do consider ourselves to be a bridge between America and Europe but not part of either is quite interesting.
You mean the Paxman book mentioned previously?
[NS]New Watenho
31-05-2005, 18:19
Yes, I do. Have you read it? I read it a few years ago. I thought it was fascinating. A few things I didn't agree with, but I can't remember what now, because I didn't realise the book was quite as important as I now realise it is. I may re-read it when I get home for the summer.