Is the term "British" offensive?

[Argus Skyhawk]

In this movie review, the reviewer refers to Ana Friel as British. However, in the comments a reader with the handle Lulu took offense and insisted that Ana Friel is English, not British, and that it is insensitive to refer to an English person as British, even though England is located, you know, in Britain. This view is completely new to me, so I'm curious as to whether it is widely shared. To those of you who live in England, or are from England, are you offended when others refer to you as British?

 

[Roger Wilco]

The other way round it could be considered offensive I guess, like calling any Briton "English". But my guess is, that commenter is just an idiot.

 

[John Clark]

As someone born in England, it isn't offensive to me. Some might feel otherwise.

 

[Pingfah]

We are, by definition, British. So I fail to see how it could be offensive. Anna Friel is British, whichever way you slice it.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

I went to high school with a guy from Ireland. His first day one of the teachers said, "So, you're from the United Kingdom?" He stood up, pointed his finger and said, "It's not very fucking united, is it!!!"

Some people don't like being classified certain ways, even if it is technically true.

 

[Pingfah]

Well, if he was from Ireland then he isn't from the United Kingdom

 

[K'Ehleyr]

But there are divides. The Welsh hate the English and the Scots, The Irish hate the English and the Welsh, The Scots hate everyone and the English refuse to get involved as we know we are superior anyway. That's why the United Kingdom is ironic

Pingfah Northern Ireland is still technically part of the UK, as much as some of them disapprove.

 

[gwud]

I'm English and wouldn't take offence at being called English, British or from the United Kingdom.

 

[Omnius]

I could understand it if they'd called someone from Scotland English.
What has always ticked me off is when people refer to my country as "Holland". There is no such country! Holland is just an area consisting of two provinces.
I am a Netherlander!

 

[ManOnTheWave]

Well, if he was from Ireland then he isn't from the United Kingdom

Northern.

And I guess I've made my own feax pas by not identifying him as such.

What has always ticked me off is when people refer to my country as "Holland". There is no such country! Holland is just an area consisting of two provinces.
I am a Netherlander!

When I was in school, they taught us the country was called "Holland." I guess I learn something every day.

 

[Ethros]

Of course not. And anyone who is is probably some BNP voting fuckwit


Actually that reminds me of a call I once took at work, an elderly female customer had a question about something or other, and when I'd dealt with it she said some like "oh one other thing, on the website, where you type your adrress in, there's a pulldown menu for "Country", and England isn't on it! I had to put "United Kingdom!" down instead. Now I'm sorry but I don't live in the United Kingdom, I live in England! How dare they force this on us. This is one of those Europe EU things isn't it?!..." on and on

Gods... I wanted to go to this womans house and strangle the last inch of soulless life out of her. Stupid racist fucking clueless retard

 

[Pingfah]

Pingfah Northern Ireland is still technically part of the UK, as much as some of them disapprove.

I'm aware. Northern Ireland is a completely different country to Ireland though as I am sure you also know. The majority of the Northern Irish are quite happy to be a part of the UK though.

Well, if he was from Ireland then he isn't from the United Kingdom

Northern.

And I guess I've made my own feax pas by not identifying him as such.

Indeed, although only the Irish care, and they really do care if history is anything to go by

 

[RandyS]

Nowdays, EVERYTHING is offensive in one way or another.

Stupid, stupid humans..........

 

[Roger Wilco]

I am a Netherlander!

Not Dutch?

 

[trekkiedane]

Nowdays, EVERYTHING is offensive in one way or another.

Stupid, stupid humans..........

HEY!

What happened to post not poster?

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Pingfah Northern Ireland is still technically part of the UK, as much as some of them disapprove.

I'm aware. Northern Ireland is a completely different country to Ireland though as I am sure you also know. The majority of the Northern Irish are quite happy to be a part of the UK though.

Well, if he was from Ireland then he isn't from the United Kingdom

Northern.

And I guess I've made my own feax pas by not identifying him as such.

Indeed, although only the Irish care, and they really do care if history is anything to go by

But the Southern Irish seem the happiest.
I am still confounded by the bad feelings of some from the individual countries that make up the UK/GB. History has a lot to answer for.
But in reply to the OP ~ It shouldn't be offensive.

 

[Pingfah]

^ Yeah, I think more is made of it than is necessary though. For the most part I think we all get along OK. If any one country was the most restless I'd say it was the Scottish, I have plenty of Welsh people in my family and quite a few friends from NI, and i've never encountered any real resistance to the idea of being a part of the UK.

 

[Jan]

"Some people are offense kleptomaniacs. Any time they find an offense that's not nailed down, they take it."

First seen on the alt.Callahans newsgroup.

Jan

 

[Omnius]

I am a Netherlander!

Not Dutch?

Netherlander is closer to our native expression.
Dutch is a word made up by the English (not blaming the Scots, Welsh here).

 

[Goliath]

Here's a (hopefully) more serious question:

Is the term "Brit" offensive? Do British people object to being called "Brits"?

I always discourage my students from using that term, and I flag it if I find it in their written work. Even if it's not offensive, I think it's too colloquial for an academic paper.

To me it seems like calling Americans "Yanks," Germans "Krauts," or Irish people "Micks."

Or should I lighten up?