Patriotic Brits

Ater reading some of the comments by people on this page,i would like to ask about how you feel Brits respond to their country. One or tow comments on here seem to come across that they dont like it,such as them asking you why you would move here,but i experienced that in both the USA and my 6 months in Australia,some loved it others just wanted to get out. 6 months in Tyne and Wear have prooved the opposite for me. People here are very very patriotic. Newcastle Utd Tattoos seem to don many arms,but ive got one so i cant complain and while the world cup was on the streets seemed to empty as people rushed into the pubs. Its the same in the beautiful county of Northumberland,each town has thier own festival and the county flags seem to fly everywhere. One other American expat,who lives in Sheffield,said that the North of England,Wales,Scotland and the West Country,like Devon are very patriotic,each showing their traditions with pride,while people in middle England seemed less so. I personally feel its just like evry country with a good selection of mouthy moaners but ive yet to come across a Geordie who is not proud of their country or city? but what are your experiences???

People here are very very patriotic. Newcastle Utd Tattoos seem to don many arms,but ive got one so i cant complain and while the world cup was on the streets seemed to empty as people rushed into the pubs.

Don't confuse football support for patriotism!

(Also, you got a Newcastle United tattoo after being here for less than 6 months???)

Don't confuse football support for patriotism!

This was what I was going to say exactly.  The OP has confused football support with country patriotism.  They aren't the same thing.

Actually, most Geordies I know would rather cecede than actually describe themselves as 'English'.

I have lived in Devon for going on 7 years now, and I haven't seen anything or anyone who is really overly "patriotic" here.  Sure they have their traditional heritage festivals and some places fly the flag of Devonshire.  I grew up in West Virginia, and we had our traditional WVian heritage festivals every year, a lot of places hang the WV state flag year round, and almost the entire state supports Mountaineer football. I have quite a few friends and relatives who sport either the WVU tattoo or just a plain tattoo of WV.  I guess what I am getting at is that I don't think the people here in Devon seem any more "patriotic" or proud of their Devon heritage than my fellow WVians and I are of our WV heritage.

This was what I was going to say exactly.  The OP has confused football support with country patriotism.  They aren't the same thing.

Ditto.

Don't confuse football support for patriotism!

(Also, you got a Newcastle United tattoo after being here for less than 6 months???)

No,ive had that for 5 years. I was never a big american football follower,but i took fascination in english football from a young age. I always liked the toon spirit so ive been a supporter of them for years now. I did have the tattoo done over here though.

Actually, most Geordies I know would rather cecede than actually describe themselves as 'English'.

Yet to experience that! most geordies i know are proud of both. You get extremists everywhere...

I have lived in Devon for going on 7 years now, and I haven't seen anything or anyone who is really overly "patriotic" here.  Sure they have their traditional heritage festivals and some places fly the flag of Devonshire.  I grew up in West Virginia, and we had our traditional WVian heritage festivals every year, a lot of places hang the WV state flag year round, and almost the entire state supports Mountaineer football. I have quite a few friends and relatives who sport either the WVU tattoo or just a plain tattoo of WV.  I guess what I am getting at is that I don't think the people here in Devon seem any more "patriotic" or proud of their Devon heritage than my fellow WVians and I are of our WV heritage.

I agree. Im not talking about the over patriotic bunch whom blind themselves from the rest of the world, the question was have you experienced moaners? a couple of posts here seem to show that but i havent...

I think it depends on whom you hang out with!  The English, from my experience, are rather famous for their ability to whinge.   (I think it was a recent QI where this came up). And well, there's always the observations on the weather.
Also, if you are this enthusiastic in person, I'm sure that people change their habits around you; I know that people are less likely to complain about the rain around me now because, since I grew up in a drought, it makes me slightly happy, so I tend to go "oh,  no! Rain is good!".  Bizarre, but true.

I think it depends on whom you hang out with!  The English, from my experience, are rather famous for their ability to whinge.   (I think it was a recent QI where this came up). And well, there's always the observations on the weather.
Also, if you are this enthusiastic in person, I'm sure that people change their habits around you; I know that people are less likely to complain about the rain around me now because, since I grew up in a drought, it makes me slightly happy, so I tend to go "oh,  no! Rain is good!".  Bizarre, but true.

Its true they do whinge but i still love them! all of my friends are not one of those over patriotic nutcases who think their country is superior,but rather they are proud of it and realise that despite the faults its their country and all countries have problems. I find the rain and fog quite refreshing in some ways. When i was in Australia the sun was unbearable and quite boring. The UK actually has a similar forecast to many parts of europe,its just that the media says otherwise. The fog gives a good atomosphere. I was in Corfe Castle in Dorset and the fog gave the ruins a really cool atmosphere,plus i could hear the steam trains in the distance it was really enchanting. And when it is sunny,sitting on a balcony in the lake district is bliss,but people dont come here for the weather,they come here for the quirkyness that other countries dont have,i would get bored with just sun!!!

Your 100% right though,its opinions. Some like it,some dont. In America there are people who dont like it and people who love it. An Irish man moved to Roselle (my home town in Iowa) and we all went 'why would live here!' so i guess all countries have whingers....

Yet to experience that! most geordies i know are proud of both. You get extremists everywhere...

That was actually a joke...

That was actually a joke...

Oh ok...

Newcastle Utd Tattoos seem to don many arms,but ive got one so i cant complain

This must be some form of Stockholm Syndrome...

If somebody living Green Bay gets a Chicago Bears tattoo, does that make them unpatriotic?  I mean, they've obviously got a death wish, but does it really reach the level of 'not enthusiastically supporting one's country and its way of life?'

And anyhow, how are you defining 'British' patriotism, particularly when you're referring to Welsh, N. Irish or Scots people?

Oh ok...

I was poking fun at the typical Geordie sense of humor. One that I found almost universally was proud of being a Geordie and a 'northener' but very apt to take the piss out of the south and the 'English' in general - in effect, taking the piss out of themselves. Surely you've noted that by now?

Where exactly are you in Newcastle?