Mr Russell wrote:
As an Englander I don't care if Scotland is separate or not.
I treat the rivalry between England and Scotland as being on a jokey level like the rivalry between North and South England.
That's a slightly odd thing, though.
I also see it as a silly, mostly imaginary divide. But, in reality, I know that the divide does exist, and though I do not care, some people
really care. I don't get cabs from the train station in Lancaster unless someone is with me or if I absolutely can't manage my bags. The reason is the drivers hear my accent and straight away change. They
always say they hate Londoners (because as soon as they hear that you sound vaguely southern you are obviously a Londoner) that southerners are rude, obnoxious, rich prats... (completely missing the irony of the YOU'RE REALLY UNFRIENDLY rant they are barking at me), and it can be a bit in your face when you are travelling alone.
My mother's ex, the evil one, was Scottish. He hated the English and England, as he never tired of telling
everyone. Most people don't care, but those that do seem to
really care to a scary level.
(I know that there will obviously be Englishers/Southerners that feel equally stupidly about their Northern-dwelling counterparts, I've not seen it as because they've no reason to say these things to me
, but I wondered if Scots/Northerners here ever get told how much they are hated by folks from the south or people from England?)