Hi,

Plenty of my students from a variety of countries tell me the same thing, that it's not a taboo with them. What country are you from?

Clive

Hi,

Well, I admit that I've been away for a long time. But I notice that Nona has not answered your question. Nona, do you have anything to add on this topic?

Bokeh, what kind of questions, if any, would you consider usually inappropriate?

How about questions about money? eg How much do you make? eg That's a nice ring, how much did you pay for it?

Clive

I'd say we were separate from Europe until we joined the 'common market' in 1973, which involved some economic/trade connection. I was born before that...I remember it causing some kerfuffle at the time and it wasn't a popular decision. Even that wasn't a membership in the same way as EU membership.

Of course, before we were really a cohesive nation we were owned (or bits of us) by lots of other countries at times.

It's getting harder to define Europe with the expansion of the EU. There are countries that are now politically Europe but possibly pushing it a bit to say they are geographically Europe. Likewise, not all geographically European countries are members of the EU, so they don't form part of the modern political entity. Some of the territories of some members of the EU are not members of the EU (for example Greenland).

I don't really care whether people wish to feel part of Europe, politically, geographically, or any other way or not, it makes no difference to me. Am I not allowed the same right to my opinion without being called scared, imperialistic and *shudder* conservative? It's true that many British people feel the way I do, and not just the old codgers implied. It's also true that many people feel the way Bokeh feels, and not just the youngsters. I think a lot of us have a conflicted dual opinion on this - we are but at the same time we aren't quite!

That's why I left this thread before, and am leaving it again, not because I was asked my age. By the way, my usual answer to that is 'as old as my tongue but older than my teeth'

Nona The Brit wrote:

It's getting harder to define Europe with the expansion of the EU. There are countries that are now politically Europe but possibly pushing it a bit to say they are geographically Europe. Likewise, not all geographically European countries are members of the EU, so they don't form part of the modern political entity. Some of the territories of some members of the EU are not members of the EU (for example Greenland).