O/T Is there a more insular country than Ireland?

[rool]

More for the ex pats out there or anyone who has lived out of the England.

I believe there has been a world athletics championships somewhere in the world during the last week. Well, I only have terrestial TV here (all 4 channels) and the only time I saw any of it was when Sonia O'Sullivan came last in her race. This is not unusual of Ireland regarding sporting events, during the special olympics vistually all the reports were about the irish athletes competing with hardly a word about the other nations. Seriously, anything goes here as long as it's about Ireland or an Irish person (I may exaggerate a little but not much).

Are all countries outside the UK so far up their own backsides or is it just that we are scared to celebrate ourselves in England for fear of the PC brigade.

 

[Van der Gully]

I was living in Canada during the 96 Olympics in Atlanta, their TV channels broadcast a reasonable spread of events and even featured races where none of their athletes were involved. In total contrast was the coverage on American TV, they only showed or mentioned heats where they had athletes competing, there was little information on people from any other country.

I have to admit being totally hooked on the recent World athletics and think that the coverage by the BBC was pretty damn good, they balanced things up by having a presenter from the States, and although being slightly biased towards our own athletes gave plenty of information about other competitors.

 

[Marc]

yanks always think they are alone though, does'nt surprise me when they dont talk about other countries because as far as they are concerned there are no other countries!
I got that impression when visiting Boston and some old bint asked me "your from England right? thats near Italy is'nt it?"

 

[bhaexpress]

Totally agree with Crabtree and I live here right now. Most Americans barely know what's happening beyond their city limits let alone the state line.

For example, their four main sports boast champions at a sport that virtually nobody else plays, they being Baseball (rounders), Gridiron (they still call it fiootball even though only two players on a 45 man roster are supposed to kich the ball), Ice Hockey, not really played professionally anywhere else and of course Basketball, a minority sport anywhere else but great if you're physically abnormal.

They're also the most wasteful nation bar none. I just wonder what the hell will happen here when oil starts to run out. It won't hapen in my life time but I wouldn't bet against it happening in my step kid's lives.

 

[Van der Gully]

Fairly true there Crabtree, on cable TV in Canada we had stations from all over the US, one of which was from New York, on their main evening news they rarely featured any stories from overseas, this might add to the averagely poor perception and knowledge of the rest of the World.

Before I get slated for slagging off all Americans, I might add that my current boss is from the States, he is a very intelligent man who is relatively well travelled but who still has a very shady knowledge of the rest of the World, surely that is an indictment on their education system and media as a whole.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

the only time I saw any of it was when Sonia O'Sullivan came last in her race.

Maybe the reason we had so much coverage on the BBC was that British athletes came last in loads of events.

 

[bhaexpress]

Don't get me wrong, I rather like it here but there are more than af ew limitations that a two week stint in DisneyWorld doesn't let you know about.

For example, all kids under 18 have to be either at home or accompanied by an adult after the hour of 11 PM to 7 AM under the rigurously enforced curfew laws in this state and the neighbouring one.

 

[Seagullible]

What gets me about the US is the way they ignore the drug testing if it involves an up and coming athlete. Dunno if anyone else saw Michael Johnson talking about it but there are a few US atheletes who did get caught taking drugs but weren't punished as long as they don't take the dugs now. Really winds me up with the double standards around

 

[Brovion]

Scotland can be very parochial,everything has to be given a tartan angle. When I'm up there if I glance at the Scottish Sun or the Scottish Daily Mail or whatever the stories always seen to go along these lines.

"President Bush, who once visited Scotland, had a meeting yesterday with Colin Powell (who mentioned Scotland in a speech two years ago). They didn't discuss Scotland but instead they talked about the rebuilding of Bosnia which is in Europe, the same continent that Scotland's in."

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Brovian...

That's nothing compared with the story in the Argus a few years back, shortly after the first president of Kenya died.

"Former Sussex agricultural labourer, Jomo Kenyatta, died today..."

 

[Lord Cornwallis]

I think most countries will lean towards their own, but here they can be biased to the point of insult.
The school system is poor at best [I've coached kids here and was gobsmacked at how low the standard of general knowledge was]
The lack of desire to broaded their horizons [adults] is also quite sad, yet they seem to have an opinion on any subject.
America is a vast country, with every thing from deserts to mountains, sandy beaches to great lakes. So they have it all in their own back yard. Yet most can't name the capital of their own state.
If we jump on an aircraft from London and fly say 3 hours, we will probably hit 9 different countries with 9 different cultures and 9 different languages. Get on a plane here for 3 hours, you will hit the same Burger king, the same Holiday Inn, the same toys 'r' us.
There my friends lies the problem.

 

[DTES]

Wales. While at work over summer we're listening to "Real Radio" (sky channel 896 if you really want to check it out). Everything revolves around Wales - and the Welsh. I don't mind the Welsh in general but it is this attitude that pisses me off.

For example, the death of Dr David Kelly is a tragedy, and the enquiry needs to be takes seriously. Why? Because of the weapons dossier, and the governments eagerness to blame someone? No - because he was born in Pontypridd.

The other one that really annoyed me, a few weeks back on GCSE results day (for everyone), they announced proudly on the news: "Welsh students today recieved their GCSEs, and marks were up." No, ALL students did. Did any other station here "English Students got their........." Of course they didn't.

I did however, enjoy the news bulletin "Our boys were humiliated today by England's B team 43-9 in their World Cup warm-up match"