Why Do Most (Not All) English People Not Have A Clue About What Goes On In Northern Ireland?

Question

i am originally from england myself and i have lived in northern ireland for 5 years but i have always known the history and what goes on here mainly because i am british and i should know what goes on in another part of britain.. but could any1 suggest why hardly any english know what goes on, i have friends that are in the orange lodge and into bands etc but still say theyre coming to see us in "ireland" and if i visit england they wont take my sterling bank notes

im just curious, any answers will be apprecitated

Answer 1

Most people don't know what happening in there own town is let alone what go's on in another part of the uk. and the news over the last 30 years has always been very one sided. in schools our kids should learn about the the history of the uk, the good bits & bad. and sadly i went to devon on holiday and they would not take Scottish bank notes,

so may be more people need educating. i'm comming to Belfast christmas shopping this year cant wait.

Answer 2

Randolph-Your answer shows your jealousy for anything British, Its so clear.

Lady Moon. You really need to learn more about British feeling not your own.

Northern Lights-Bath is not a country within Uk. You have no idea. Listen to news about Uk not just your local corner.

The question is a good one and other answers here cover it well. English people are more knowledgeable about N. I. when IRA bombs their children in England otherwise they dont want to know.

Answer 3

i;ll be quite honest with you most english people i guess are fed up to the teeth with our troubles and i can't blame them, everyone here is so colloqial scotland has a lot of sectarianism but they seem to get on because they all want to for the greater good of scotland. i know what you mean though, on hols we met a lovely yorkshire couple who first of all(being blunt northeners!) asked us if we supported rangers or celtic which is a very good way round of finding out if you're a prod or a catholic i suppose, then they asked us if we received brirtsh tv and if we had sterling i ask you i didn't know whether to laugh or cry, anyway great people who still persisted in calling us IRISH the whole hols we just gave up in the end!!!

Answer 4

Truthfully, I think it's because N.I. is considered a heap of trash by the Brits, who'd incidentally like to forget about the IRA bombings and all the noise that's been made up there for so long.

The Brits have their caste systems in place, and they always try and keep others beneath them. They figure (in their minds, that is) that by ignoring the lesser folk, they (the lesser folk, that is) will begin to understand their position in the caste system. The Brits have become 'a little tired' (as they like to put it) with N.I.

As a North American, I could never quite figure this out. The Brits are America's poodles whenever we go to war, and have a completely non-dominant economy, even over in Europe. The overpowering stench billowing into the core of London from the Thames (Britain's toiletbowl, as it were) was an experience, let me tell you. And everything around looked like tired and rusty, worn-out relics from the beginnings of the industrial age. This state of affairs is chalked up to "historical preservation" - a fancy term for "we can't afford to renovate and no one is interested in developing here".

Old habits and ways of thinking die hard, I suppose.

ADDENDUM

Truth hurts, xxamylvzbellxx, I know. I'll tell you why I know these things: It's because we are the world's international diplomats. We can never send the Brits in to barter an international peace deal anywhere, since they don't seem to be able to have the influence or social skills to bargain their way out of a wet paper bag.

And just remember this, by the way. Who had to come over and get London to shake hands with N.I.?

That was Billy Clinton, not some "Sir Arthur" or whatever silly names you guys use for the upper caste. Our very own peanut-butter-on-banana eating, receiving-fellatio-in-the-OvalOffice, Billy Boy Clinton had to do your bidding. Otherwise, you'd still be squabbling and fussing like little girls.

ADDENDUM 2

Alan M: What kind of hallucinogens did you take? Did you get them from Amsterdam or did our Canadian friends sell them to you? Swell guys, them Canadians, huh?

Answer 5

For me personally, it's because it's so complicated. Northern Ireland interests me, but I'm just a bit overwhelmed by all of the political goings on. I used to work in an Irish pub - not a theme pub, but one where the Irish guys went - and I was just baffled by all the conversations I heard. The question I ask myself is, can I be friends with an Irish person and not talk about politics?

Answer 6

I know what you mean, Im northern irish originally but have lived in England too, but I find the people most ignorant of the troubles to be Americans. They think its literally about religion, when its actually political for the most part. They assume the people fighting in NI are actual born-again christians vs religious catholics but its not that AT ALL. I mean it hasnt been actually about religious beliefs for centuries, it just so happens that most loyalists are from protestant communities and most republicans are from catholic communities even though the vast majority are not practicing a faith.

Answer 7

I'm Welsh and my fiance is English.  TBH because we don't live in NI we only know what we hear on the news.  I mean, what do you know about Wales?  Probably only what you hear on TV or read in the newspapers.  I don't see that as ignorant.  I'm interested in many other cultures (Indian culture in particular, I spent many years studying classical Indian dance and music).  It depends on what your sphere of interest is.  My mum has read many books about Northern Ireland and is pretty well informed on the matter, but I've always been more interested in Indian Culture myself.

We obviously know all about the Orangemen and the marches and all that and how it causes serious problems when they insist on marching through Catholic areas.  We know about the IRA and how they weren't terribly bothered who they killed (they seemed pretty happy to kill Catholics if they did something the IRA didn't approve of).    We know about the troubles and how many innocent people were murdered by one side or the other, we know all about Bloody Sunday and the anger that caused.

But if anyone seriously thinks that the "majority" of British people support the Orangemen or want NI to remain part of the UK they are deluded.   Most British people are neutral on the matter and I'd say a great many support the Republicans as they understand the grievances they have against the UK Government (support did wane a little with the civillian bombing campaigns such as Warrington and London however).  It may come as some surprise to hear that all UK people are not empire-hungry slaves of the UK Government!  We have minds of our own and we don't always agree with what our Government does!!!

The reason most people fron other countries learn the English language is more to do with the fact that its internationally spoken and if you want to succeed in the Western World you do need to be able to speak English (or French or German).  I don't think that people from other countries are eager to learn about Britain, its more the English language which they want to learn in order to take advantage of opportunities which America/Australia/UK provide.

Answer 8

they probably choose to ignore it, unless you are directly connected it does not effect their day to day existence. i worked with a staunch orangeman in a building site in london and he always called himself british and he used to blow a fuse when the london lads called him paddy. they did not believe he was british.

Answer 9

Because they have better things to be interested about? I mean, yeah ok.. Northern Ireland but do you know about the history of Bath? I bet you don't. Well, isn't bath closer than Northern Ireland? Do you know anything about the underground river on the Fleet street in london? Or about the Crow Legend of the tower of london? What about the Templars. I found that very fascinating. Do you know you can sell stolen goods in London SE1 so long as you do it before dawn?

There are TONS of interesting things to know about this country, and you might just have to come to terms with the fact the Irish aren't THAT important to everyone.

If you are fascinated, then even go and live there, I don't care much. To me they aren't the same people, they have a different history and THEY R the first ones who do not want to be in with us so why should I care, they don't care, let them be.

"Orange and Purple" chap, I'd buy you a pint or two if I could. You said it better than I could say it.

Answer 10

I guess they have no interest in the other parts of Britain.

Ireland, Scotland, wales, islands, Are Beautiful and with Beautiful people.

Answer 11

My brother lived in Belfast for a few years with his three children before he relocated them all to Birmingham. He didn't like it there and said that he didn't feel free to express himself. I went there to visit him and my three nieces and found it a very friendly and interesting place. I'd studied it at school and was expecting something different. I realise that I was quite ignorant about Belfast and know that you only gain knowledge through experience. Dublin's also a lovely city but it's a different kettle of fish of course!

Answer 12

Because NI isn't in the media like it used to be,and nothing is going on like it was,trust me its calmed down loads. I've been going to NI for 30yrs. And if it was as bad now as it used to be, you wouldn't be there.

See you've moved to Ireland and learned a few things,but knew sod all before you went,and think the rest of the UK are as ignorant as you once were.

If you think Britain is ignorant of other countries,one that you obviously seem to know little of,NI being British,do you really think they know much about what goes on,on the mainland,I doubt it.



What is really annoying about what your saying,is Scotland and Wales don't get a mention when you talk about Britain. I could get my husband to tell you all about NI when he served there in the Para's,in the 70's.

I'm not trying to patronise you,I was just a tad annoyed that you think the English are stupid. Also Welly boots has hit the nail on the head,give her the 10points,x.

Answer 13

I had four Lodge members from London here for the Twelfth and they seemed to be knowledgeable about Northern Ireland. Most people, though, are only interested in the things around them and what is important to them such as their family, friends, soccer teams, weather and holidays in warmer climates etc.

I hope you continue to live here and Good Luck.