Paris, anyone?

[MrGongGong]

organising a petition to parliament seems a more adult form of protest to me

I'm sure it does seem like that, but its about as effective as a chocolate teapot.

[ahinton]

I'm sure it does seem like that, but its about as effective as a chocolate teapot.

Perhaps Mr P. G. Tipps, self-evidently an authority on tea, likes chocolate with his...

[P. G. Tipps]

It certainly doesn't involve leaving your armchair, which no doubt makes it more attractive to those of a certain age.

We are not all eternal students ... and I'm deeply offended by your blatant ageism and stereotypical connection with those of a natural, sedentary disposition.

[Richard Barrett]

We are not all eternal students

... more's the pity.

[Flosshilde]

I thought we are all studying at the University of Life?

I wonder if Mr Tipps thinks that the demonstrators in Tianemen Square were juvenile, or those in Tahrir Square, or people who demonstrated against racial discrimination in the USA? Most of these actions came after people had exhausted the 'democratic' route (if such a route was available to them).

And I do wonder what issues keep him awake at night?

[Beef Oven!]

I'm sure it does seem like that, but its about as effective as a chocolate teapot.

Depends what you want to use the chocolate teapot for.

[Beef Oven!]

I don't know about proud, but, having lived in various countries on the continent for most of the past twenty years, I increasingly find it one of the aspects of the old country that I miss the most. When I see little Englanders complaining about being "swamped" and suchlike nonsense I can't help thinking that if they actually had a little more experience of other places they might realise what a valuable and attractive aspect of British society this really is.

Maybe some of them have more experience than you of other places, and living in them, but just see the world differently. So maybe cut the patronising 'Englanders' crap out.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

pot kettle tea chocolate &c

'little Englanders' is a recognisable identity and not at all the same as 'Englanders' ... i see the first as Cpt Mainwaring and the second as what that nasty U Boat Cpt referred to as his enemy

can we all cut out the personalisation of the discussion please? if making your case without personal attacks is not your thing the mayor of Rotterdam has some useful advice

[Beef Oven!]

pot kettle tea chocolate &c

'little Englanders' is a recognisable identity and not at all the same as 'Englanders' ... i see the first as Cpt Mainwaring and the second as what that nasty U Boat Cpt referred to as his enemy

can we all cut out the personalisation of the discussion please? if making your case without personal attacks is not your thing the mayor of Rotterdam has some useful advice

It's already personalised by posters talking about 20 years of living abroad and previous posts about having to explain, as some kind of representative, how Cameron et al govern us. I made no attack, just wanted to point out that assumptions about 'Englanders' and how much experience they might have, could be wrong.

Many Englanders speak more languages than their critics, and many have more experience of living abroad. Just wanted give a bit of balance, or it all gets a bit arrogant.

What's an 'Englander' anyway?

[french frank]

What's an 'Englander' anyway?

I would understand it to have the special meaning of those who live in 'Little England', and see it as a country which doesn't form part of any sort of wider global community, and who want life to continue with as little cultural change as possible. Hence an Englander is not the same as an English person which is simply a statement of nationality without those specific connotations.

[Beef Oven!]

I would understand it to have the special meaning of those who live in 'Little England', and see it as a country which doesn't form part of any sort of wider global community, and who want life to continue with as little cultural change as possible. Hence an Englander is not the same as an English person which is simply a statement of nationality without those specific connotations.

I think I am an Englander then. Can't see what's wrong with that and it doesn't mean that we Englanders don't have at least a good a grasp of the things that sexy cosmopolitans know about. We may know more, too. Whilst remaining Englanders, of course.

[P. G. Tipps]

I thought we are all studying at the University of Life?

Are you sure we're not the lecturers ... ?

And I do wonder what issues keep him awake at night?

Mind your own business, you nosy parker ...

[Cornet IV]

I think I am an Englander then. Can't see what's wrong with that and it doesn't mean that we Englanders don't have at least a good a grasp of the things that sexy cosmopolitans know about. We may know more, too. Whilst remaining Englanders, of course.

Bon!

Donc je suis un Englander aussi. However, not so sure about the grasp on the sexy things any more.

[Beef Oven!]

Bon!

Donc je suis un Englander aussi. However, not so sure about the grasp on the sexy things any more.

Maybe because we're not French?

[Richard Barrett]

those who live in 'Little England'

I realise now I should have capitalised the L in "little" to make it more clear what I was saying (but I thought it was clear enough), which was, needless to say, not a reference to any member(s) of this forum but more generally to those who bemoan the multicultural aspect of contemporary Britain - there are many things wrong with the country but this I think is emphatically not one of them. Spending most of my time as I currently do in a much more monocultural place has put this in an even sharper perspective for me than previously.