The North/South divide?

[hutchy27]

Damn you bloody southern fairies ! I joke
We have our greg's cheese and onion pasties and our geordie accents.
You closed most of your roads after a bit of light snow, while us northerners battle the storms as we traveled to get ourselves a nice pastie.

I'm from the North-east of England.
But in the North we see Southerners (mainly Londoners to be honest) as posh smug people and violent gang members.
We didn't have any riots up here as well so don't class us as violent thugs!

 

[kromify]

This is really fascinating. As a history nerd, I'd love to learn more about why the UK is set up like this. Does it have to do with the North's proximity to Scotland? I've been told that I would be looked down upon in England because I have red hair, due to it being "Scottish looking" despite the fact that I have absolutely no Scottish lineage.

maybe up north they would, crazy backward people that they are ;-D

Scot-, Irish- and Welsh-folk all are likely to have red hair. Red-heads sometimes are found to be less attractive but it's not much to do with "Scottishness." In the northern climes with not much sun there is no selection for dark skin and hair to protect us, so paler complexions can just drift into the population. Because red is rare it can be considered attractive (although mostly on females) which would begin selecting for that gene.

our geordie accents.

damn northie! *shakes fist* ;-)

 

[Verlander]

It's a chip on the northern shoulder that I had to suffer for 4 years. Ironically I come from both the south and the area of highest poverty in the UK, and was being ripped by northeners who owned a car or even a house. Go figure

 

[poleboy]

I think I remember something about geography saying there's usually a divide on rich and poor with North and South in most countries.

It's mostly an east/west thing here, but I guess it depends what animal your country is shaped like.

 

[Daveman]

As somebody from Brighton I can tell you that, in my eyes, everyone north of London is a Northerner. The midlands doesn't even exist to me.

Now at uni in Durham... it's cold. Northerners think I'm gay, but by gay I think they mean "owns a coat".

Had a very awkward moment in a taxi on the way home when the northern taxi driver started speaking to me and even when I'm sober I find northern accents fairly incomprehensible so I just nodded... now I think about it he may have been asking me my address. Fortunately I had a northern mate with me to answer him.

Margaret Thatcher was your fault.

Not our "fault"... our "plan".

Kidding of course, fuck the Tories.

 

[Ordinaryundone]

Well, you see, about the mid-1800s or so there was this big thing called The American Civil War which....OH, you mean North/South England.

All I know about the difference is that most of the funny accents are located in Southern England (Barth. Lol). And that supposedly the South is better off economically, though in lieu of recent developments I'm not so sure how true that is anymore.

As far as America goes, my memory is a little hazy but I'm PRETTY sure the South is a land of milk, honey, and rich tradition which was unfairly persecuted by a totalitarian government who infringed on the individual rights of states to bring them under heel. Or something to that effect, I may have had some slightly biased teachers >_>

 

[Micalas]

gravy and....chips?! what madness is this?!

I'm not even British and I know that salt and malt vinegar is how you are supposed to enjoy your chips.

 

[Jodah]

Wow, sounds like English people are stuck up!(Not all I realize) At least here in the US our North vs South divide has a reason (Civil War).

 

[BlackStar42]

Basically, people in the South are richer, live longer, and speak proper English, in comparison to the North. *smug face*

Seriously, though, there is a large cultural and economic divide between North and South in England. The dividing line is generally agreed to go from the mouth of the River Severn in the West, to The Wash in the East. The South East of England is the most populous and affluent region of the UK, whereas the North East and North West are amongst the most deprived.

There are numerous cultural differences as well, such as the simplistic divide between accents in the North and South (for instance, 'bath' is pronounced with a short 'a' sound by Northerners, but with a long 'a' sound by Southerners, so it sounds like 'barth'). Really, the insult probably comes from the stereotypes we have of each other; Northerners think of Southerners as posh and soft, while they are hard-working and proud of it, whereas Southerners think of Northerners as uncultured and backward (if we're talking about insults, anyway).

My view of the divide is that I was born in the right part of Britain, and no-one's going to put me down because of it. However, being born on the South Coast probably skewed that opinion a bit, as I tend to think of anywhere north of Oxford as 'Northern', including the Midlands. It's a great way to annoy someone from Birmingham, at least, if you call them Northern.

That line can't be right. The Midlands is NOT Northern! We're in the MIDDLE! Hence the name. We get the worst of both worlds, plus shitty accents. I'd say the line starts just south of Stoke-on-Trent.

 

[Techno Squidgy]

We northerners speak proper english, not your 'baaarrrth' as you lot say.
I moved south though and the constant immersion of bad english is corrupting my accent.

Woah there northern monkey... It is we who speak properly, and act civil! Down in the south west, where the real ales are found, the scrumpy tastes as good as the cream teas, and the cyder flows like the River Plym.

In response to the topic though, I am surprised you hadn't heard all the banter being passed between the N and S! Its common place all over the country! I am in the military, and where you are from is the first thing people will banter you about! It sets the tone, and works as an easy ice breaker! Its even seen in British films (see lock stock and 2 smoking barrels for the Northern Monkeys/Southern Fairies quote.) But as I said, it is all banter, done in jest, and is just part of the British way of particularly cruel humour. You'd just better get used to it, because it won't, and shouldn't stop! It part of who we are!

Try it yourself, make fun of the northerners for anything you can! The fish and chips banter is always good for a laugh. Traditional chips in the south have salt and vinegar, where as up north they go for gravy (Or mushy peas in Yorkshire!) Try and be creative and hint at this! The amount of joke arguments about this I have had is astonishing, but always good for a giggle...!

Happy bantering... And don't let the side down!

This lad knows what he's talking about!
If you really want to experience the north/south banter head over to Britfa.gs
It's pretty much 4chan but British and it's excellent.

 

[applesandoranges]

edit

 

[kromify]

We northerners speak proper english, not your 'baaarrrth' as you lot say.
I moved south though and the constant immersion of bad english is corrupting my accent.

Woah there northern monkey... It is we who speak properly, and act civil! Down in the south west, where the real ales are found, the scrumpy tastes as good as the cream teas, and the cyder flows like the River Plym.

Tears of Patriotism are spring to my eyes! I want to leap to my feet chanting Rule Britannia and waving the Union Jack!


Also Bath to rhyme with Math just sounds American. Wait... no one says Marth, do they?

 

[Melon Hunter]

Basically, people in the South are richer, live longer, and speak proper English, in comparison to the North. *smug face*

Seriously, though, there is a large cultural and economic divide between North and South in England. The dividing line is generally agreed to go from the mouth of the River Severn in the West, to The Wash in the East. The South East of England is the most populous and affluent region of the UK, whereas the North East and North West are amongst the most deprived.

There are numerous cultural differences as well, such as the simplistic divide between accents in the North and South (for instance, 'bath' is pronounced with a short 'a' sound by Northerners, but with a long 'a' sound by Southerners, so it sounds like 'barth'). Really, the insult probably comes from the stereotypes we have of each other; Northerners think of Southerners as posh and soft, while they are hard-working and proud of it, whereas Southerners think of Northerners as uncultured and backward (if we're talking about insults, anyway).

My view of the divide is that I was born in the right part of Britain, and no-one's going to put me down because of it. However, being born on the South Coast probably skewed that opinion a bit, as I tend to think of anywhere north of Oxford as 'Northern', including the Midlands. It's a great way to annoy someone from Birmingham, at least, if you call them Northern.

That line can't be right. The Midlands is NOT Northern! We're in the MIDDLE! Hence the name. We get the worst of both worlds, plus shitty accents. I'd say the line starts just south of Stoke-on-Trent.

Face it, you just don't want to get lumped in with the rest of the salad dodgers!

I think that line was based on a purely economic basis, and even then is a bit misleading because I think there are many parts of the 'North' that are better off than Devon and Cornwall. Still, like I said, I'm from the South Coast, so to me, the Midlands are most definitely Northern. Sheffield is Northern, Manchester is very Northern, and Newcastle is so far away it may as well be in a magical kingdom of Northernness where everyone owns a whippet and the word 'the' doesn't exist.

 

[imnot]

the dutch watch from overseas.
we are amused.

we cry a little on the inside too, knowing we still have so many more ethnic groups to gripe at before we turn on ourselves.

You dang dutch! always spying on us poking fun!

Basically the north is generally poorer.
Also I hear most the women up there are actually men.
That may not be true.

 

[kromify]

I'm from the South Coast, so to me, the Midlands are most definitely Northern. Sheffield is Northern, Manchester is very Northern, and Newcastle is so far away it may as well be in a magical kingdom of Northernness where everyone owns a whippet and the word 'the' doesn't exist.

Heh! Can I buy you a cream tea?

 

[kromify]

I am so enjoying the northism going on...

 

[BlackStar42]

I'm from the South Coast, so to me, the Midlands are most definitely Northern. Sheffield is Northern, Manchester is very Northern, and Newcastle is so far away it may as well be in a magical kingdom of Northernness where everyone owns a whippet and the word 'the' doesn't exist.

Heh! Can I buy you a cream tea?

Seconded. And then off to t'pub.

 

[Dystopia]

I'm a Northern lass through and through. Born in the midlands, lived down south til I was 10, lived in Yorkshire til I was 18, Manchester til I was 22, and finally back to Yorkshire, so this is definitely an informed decision.

The people are friendlier, the food is better (chips and gravy fyi), the accents are more welcoming and the environment/climate/countryside is just...nicer. I am a blatant Yorkshire-ist.

The Bolton accent is hilarious. When my grandma went to hospital, she went in thambulance...

 

[emeraldrafael]

intensive purposes

You mean "intents and purposes". Sorry, but that really bothers me.

Oh, thanks. I've always heard it as intensive purposes. If intents and purposes is the way to say it, then thats how I will from now on.

While I have your attention I'd like to point out that most Northern states had already outlawed slavery before the Federal government did. This was not so much due to altruism on their part as it was the idea that power corrupts and an economic system that gives people total power over the lives of other humans (even "inferior" ones) would inevitably lead to a corrupt society. In fact, before the rise of cotton plantations this was a view shared by most American intellectuals, even the slave-owning ones, who recognized slavery as a problem but argued that it should be allowed to die on it's own.

Alright. Im only saying,t he north didnt have much of a high ground in thsi saying they were staunchly against slavery and thats what this war was about. Though while looking into it for numbers to use, I did see that some of states of the north did officially have slaves up until within 20 years of the Civil war's start (including the bleeding Kansas and john brown raids of the 1850s, cause I like to think of those as part of the civil war, though war was officially declared till 1861).

Also, I believe the exact words of the Emancipation Proclamation were something along the lines that slavery was outlawed in all territories currently in rebellion. So it didn't try to apply to the rest of the world because that would be silly, but yeah it really was more a symbolic resolution than a law. Still, it served the very important function of keeping Europeans out of the conflict.

Like I said, I thought it might have said that, wasnt too sure. I just knew about the territories thing for certain. And yeah, it was more symbolic. Though it didnt totally keep them out. I know france sent some troops to both sides of the field, and although foggy, I think maybe russia sent a ship (though I could be completely wrong on that, so i wouldnt quote me). And Britain especially with the Trent affairs.

Britain passively supported the Confederacy throughout the war because they liked to buy Southern cotton to feed the large British textile industry (remember the Industrial Revolution is in full swing by this time) but it was politically impossible for them to take direct action once Lincoln made the war about slavery.

Yeah. I used the battle of Antietam as my main paper for college history, and the civil war for two advanced history classes in high school, so I read and found out about Britain and their policies. One could actually say that the wars turning point and end was sealed at Antietam, but that would be a stretch when you look at gettysburg. Though Antietam gave lincoln his chance to make the war about slavery, and gettysburg finalized it.