this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2024
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[–] SnowmenMelt 2 points 4 months ago (2 children)

The British isles consists of both Ireland and the United Kingdom.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago (2 children)

It's kind of a shitty name to insist upon given our history with Ireland though, isn't it? Like, regardless of what it was called, we can call the archipelago "the British and Irish Isles" or something if we want to.

Personally I reckon we should call it Maughold's Isles. "British and Irish Isles" is fine, if a little wordy. "Islands of the North Atlantic" is one I see floated every so often, but it's miserably generic and even longer. So I suggest we use the patron saint of the Isle of Man. It's in between Britain and Ireland and technically not part of the UK. Maughold himself was a pirate who tried to play a practical joke on St Patrick, so he's a bit of a scoundrel, and it's exactly the kind of silly trivia that we like so much here

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

As a Manxman I approve 👍 I'm actually surprised how much of the Island is still there.

[–] Squizzy 1 points 4 months ago

Good man yourself

[–] insaneinthemembrane -1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

As an Irish person, geographically, it does. Politically it does not. Given this is a geographical map, rather than political, it's appropriate.

I wouldn't want to see the typical map if great Britain and Northern Ireland with ROI missing. I zoomed in to see my town, which luckily is above water.

[–] insaneinthemembrane 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Geographically, it's latitude and longitude. Naming is political, not geography.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Geography also describes features, like islands. These islands are named the British isles.

Youre talking about coordinates for location, not geography.

Naming can be political, but is not inherently so.

[–] insaneinthemembrane 1 points 4 months ago

Naming is ownership, unless it is describing geography like islands.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It does, especially given the name predates the country by 2-3 thousand years; it's not exactly optimal but in reality "These Islands" is the only alternative and something is needed to refer to them from outside the islands.

[–] Squizzy 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Except it was a politicised term used by an occupying force to strengthen their claim over our lands. Apologies if the suffering of our people, decimation of our language and culture and not to mention crippling genocide should be tolerated by use because "British and Irish and isles" is too wordy for you.

Ill take south eastern icelandic archipelago if you would prefer.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

It wasn't, however the association with Great Britain is undeniable, especially when Lesser Britain doesn't even refer to Ireland any more (in Roman times it did), but Brittany, however "British Isles" was in use by the Greeks (at least Prettanic Isles) before even that - well before the union of England and Scotland, never mind Ireland's conquest.

Personally I'm happy with Atlantic Isles/Islands/Archipelago as I agree the term isn't great due to the implicit association, but it's not like it was something just made up by colonists.

[–] Squizzy 2 points 4 months ago

I didnt say it was created by colonists, it was however pushed as a term to be used to strengthen the view in eyebof the public, this was a specific policy noted by Churchill.