Where are you from?

[Joe Black]

The facts do point out to a sizeable proportion of reported racial abuse incidents being directed at English folk. This is not a good thing and it is something that most Scots are uncofortable discussing amongst themselves let alone with anyone outside the country. TBH, I find the parallels with where I am living at the moment really creepy.

Travel sometimes gives a different perspective Rantor.

Can't comment on what it's like to be English in Scotland, but certainly would agree with the MSP who said that if there is a problem such things needs to be "nipped in the bud".

I can honestly say that I know very very few people who actually hate the english to any extent worth mentioning. Yeah banter, which usually goes both ways, but actually racial abuse with venom, no.

I don't think you would see your "racial abuse with venom" much amongst the Flemish either - give or take the odd shooting spree or tossing the ethnics into the river sort of thing.

Still one in four, one and three in their largest city, and one in two in some parts of it, vote for their equivalent of the BNP. Yet, to this day, I have still not met one person who says they have voted for them or agrees with their ideas...

[snaw]

Travel sometimes gives a different perspective Rantor.

Can't comment on what it's like to be English in Scotland, but certainly would agree with the MSP who said that if there is a problem such things needs to be "nipped in the bud".

I don't think you would see your "racial abuse with venom" much amongst the Flemish either - give or take the odd shooting spree or tossing the ethnics into the river sort of thing.

Still one in four, one and three in their largest city, and one in two in some parts of it, vote for their equivalent of the BNP. Yet, to this day, I have still not met one person who says they have voted for them or agrees with their ideas...

Well by that same standard every englishman Ive met since living here is a racist, more or less, cause I've been abused for being Scottish ...

Though I hear what you're saying, the path to the extreme has to start somewhere but I don't genuinely believe there is a significant level of serious anti-english bigotry in Scotland, any more than I believe the reverse. I know plenty who'll cheer when Argentina score a goal against England but that doesn't make them a bigot.

[Joe Black]

Well by that same standard every englishman Ive met since living here is a racist, more or less, cause I've been abused for being Scottish...

Though I hear what you're saying, the path to the extreme has to start somewhere but I don't genuinely believe there is a significant level of serious anti-english bigotry in Scotland, any more than I believe the reverse.

As I said I can't comment on Scotland from any personal experience. Perhaps the level of abuse and violence against perceived 'foreigners' is no different in Scotland than in England, or Flanders for that matter.

My concern though is not the few thugs who do such things. It's the point when, as someone wrote in one of the Flemish newspapers recently, it becomes "acceptable and legitimised" by a large section of those people to "hate or discriminate" against others.

The extreme bit is what comes after...

[Jog On]

London innit

[DaveB]

SO where are the options for the assorted Giant Alien Wossnames we have lurking around here?

[snaw]

SO where are the options for the assorted Giant Alien Wossnames we have lurking around here?

I'm pretty sure that's covered in choice #7 ...

[Rantor]

Well by that same standard every englishman Ive met since living here is a racist, more or less, cause I've been abused for being Scottish ....

When I arrived in London (90) I certainly found that to be the case, on and off, though I tended to rise to the bait a bit quicker in those days ("no, I won't be going back to where I came from matey - having too much fun stealing your jobs and shaggin yer women " - all pithy, erudite stuff)

....but I don't genuinely believe there is a significant level of serious anti-english bigotry in Scotland, any more than I believe the reverse...

Really not so sure, I'd prefer to be wrong but it isn't always what I hear. Like I said earlier it ain't so easy to discuss this as it touches on a lot of stuff that people don't like to confront (especially not in front of the neighbours)

[shaunbhoy]

I react much better to a soothing voice and a kind word - preferably from the fairer sex.

You react to what your domineering missus tells you to react to, now get back in the kitchen you great mincing henpecked fop!