Hello again!
I hope you enjoyed Thursday's session about the North-South divide, I hope I wasn't too subjective, the North is not that bad, it's simply that the South is better!
Anyway, as promised, here is some extra information about both areas, separated many centuries ago and not yet truly united....
Parts of the articles are taken from facebook groups called
'1000 reasons why the North is better than the South' http://es-es.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2215192716
and (originally)
'1000 reasons why the South is better than the North' http://es-es.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2214666492.
I don't think the groups use capital letters for North and South but in my capacity as teacher I would like to inform you that in correct English we do!
Part 1:
Why it's better up in the north
USER Adam Drewery said: "Today we have food heaven and hell, jellied eels with creamed potatoes versus roast Lancashire beef, Yorkshire puddings and the North East’s finest crisp spring vegetables."
Steven Torrie said: "We have better mountains and we don’t say ‘barth’ and ‘carsal’.
Tom Wilkinson said: "Mountains, lakes, forests, wildlife, chips and gravy, polite people, largest resource for minerals and coal in the country, Thirlmere reservoir supplies water all the way down to Manchester; you can walk for 10 minutes in one direction and be out in the middle of nowhere, real Cumberland sausages, and on the topic of food, Cumbria supplies the nation with the largest percentage of meat, and it’s damn tasty; soft water so scum doesn’t develop in your kettle; the accent is faster, easier and more to the point ... ’ow’s it garn’ ... can mean several pleasant greetings in different contexts.
"Lots of things to get involved in; water sports, climbing, biking, gill scrambling, scree-running and all really possible if you take that 10-minute walk out one way. I could actually write a thousand reasons here and now, but I’ll save some space for others. Because we are polite."
Isambard Rayner said: "Main reason why North is better... better BEER. It’s cheaper as well."
Andrew Richard Barton said: "We have the best rock climbing in England."
Stacey Redpath said: "We drink Vimto and not Ribena, tea is food and brew is a drink."
And Andrew Donoghue said: "No congestion charges up North."
Some of the favourite features include Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the Sage Gateshead, Fog on the Tyne, Newcastle Brown Ale and the Toon Army.
British cities: Manchester’s comeback
Jul 30th 1998 From The Economist
EVERY now and then Manchester gets a reminder of its little brother status. After two failed bids for the Olympics this decade, Sebastian Coe, Britain’s most famous modern Olympian, remarked that if the United Kingdom really wanted the Olympics, it should recognise that the only place that would be taken seriously internationally was London. Manchester’s bid to become the site for the new European Central Bank was widely derided. Its bid for Britain’s new national stadium was taken more seriously—but London got it all the same. Even Manchester’s most famous sons have a habit of decamping to the south. Noel and Liam Gallagher, the front men for Oasis, one of Britain’s most successful bands, make a lot of their Manchester origins—but live in London these days.
Part 2:
Why it's better down south
THERE are 152 discussion topics on Phil’s site – 1,000 reasons why the South is better than the North.
User Suzie Keller said: "I vote Surrey – low crime rate, beautiful houses and countryside and fabulous education – even the non-fee-paying schools are good and close to London and Brighton. Brilliant."
Ashley Morgan, of the West Midlands, said: "I live up North 10 months of the year (Why did I choose to go to York uni?) and I can tell you they are not nicer.
"Their disingenuous chat is only there to maintain the facade that they may not have as much affluence as the South but they have better people skills."
Another topic, entitled "The South must be better than north … that’s why the capital is here", brought the responses: "Statement I believe cannot be refuted – it’s colder up North" from Claire Wimpory, of the London network, and Robbie Roffe, of Leeds, replied: "Yeah, that’s a point, the North will suffer a lot less from global warming as well, maybe the capital will move up here once London is flooded."
Emilia Grace De Wolf said: "Hampshire – land of the gods. An hour away from London, but in the middle of the countryside, lack of chavs, great education, has Winchester in (recently voted best place to live in the UK on that Channel 4 programme) and it’s on the south coast – smashed on the beach, plus tasty lifeguards. Hampshire, land of the glorious middle classes and place of my dreams/forefathers."
A survey of more than 9,000 British postcodes, by CACI Information Services, shows that average income in Britain last year was £26,200, which is 12.5 per cent higher than in 2000 and an increase of 34 per cent on 1996.
1.5 per cent of all UK households have incomes higher than £100,000, with Thorntonhall, a suburb of Glasgow, topping the poll. In a neighbourhood containing just 333 households, almost one in eight enjoys an income of more than £100,000 a year.
The other wealthiest postcodes (those with the highest percentage of households earning more that £100,000) are all located in London and the South East. In second place is Fleet in Hampshire, followed by Hampstead (London), Effingham (Surrey), Wimbledon (London), Wandsworth (London), Bayswater (London), and Kensington (London).
Life expectancy: north-south lifestyle divide blamed for health inequalities
* Sara Gaines guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 18 June 2008 10.53 BST
There is a clear north-south divide in patterns of binge drinking and unhealthy eating which help explain a growing life expectancy gap, new analysis shows today.
Consultants Local Futures compared life expectancy with data on lifestyle factors associated with poor health and found a clear correlation.
People in the richest parts of England can expect to live up to 10 years longer than those in less affluent areas - and the gap is widening, according to government figures.
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ResponderEliminarWell, as you can see I have wrote a comment about what Felicity had published and when I wanted to enter it, every dissapear !!!!! So tis is my second attempt !!!!
ResponderEliminarI had wrote that It`s amazing the rivalry between North and South. I knew that the English people and the Scottish or the Welsh don`t like each other even more with the Irish but I realy don`t kwon that there werw such differences in England. This remind me that something similar happen in Italy. My father was born in Milan and all his family lived there, they actually don`t like the people of the south, in fact, they hate them!!! And I grow up listening about it. In my country, Argentina, the rivalry is between the people who live in the city of the country, Buenos Aires, and the rest of all. They say that the "Porteños" are very bighead... and it`s true !!!
Hi Felicity!!
ResponderEliminarFinally I was able restart all the passwords and all this stuff. This is my blog: http://bluerussiancat.blogspot.com
I hope you enjoy, and I wrote one entry!!!
Guillen
It’s a bit difficult for me to give a correct opinion if it is better the South or the North. Because I don’t’ know English people enough, so, I never went to England, well, I visited London once but just during a week-end and I had no time to realised how English people was.
ResponderEliminarAnyway, following my “large knowledge” about South European people, so French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish people, of course, I can argue that in every country there are the same characteristics
North is richer than South
People in the North works mote than people in the South, an for this reason they are richer.
People in the North seems more intelligent, with more ideas to develop , harder in front of difficult situations, more omen to the new things.
In the South they are closed to themselves, closed to new ideas or situations, because tradition is so hard for them.
People in the South are lazier and lying, and they try to involve to you every time. They are singing and drinking with their friends, and they passed a lot of time outside. In the North they stay at home and passed more time with the family.
In the South they seem more friendly and happier, but in front of a problem they preferred to ask for help ( or money( that to try to arrange the situation themselves as people try to do in the North.
I suppose that is not their fault, it is a question of weather or a geographic situation
Weather is better in the North, so, is not so hot and dry than in the South.
They are more water and the countryside is richer…. And along the centuries this is like a stone to developed their economy and to do a different way of life.
Anyway, these are just “topics” , and we can find good, friendly, polite, intelligent, worker, amusing people in the South than in the North,
In another way of things, please would you explain to me if I can use with people erbs in singular or in plural Thany you very much
Montserrat.-
I just read the information on North vs. South in England presented by Felicity. I also read the two comments from Carla and Montse. I have to say that I share Carla’s surprise when learning about so much differences in England. In fact, as Carla says we are aware of different personalities and attitudes among English, Welch and Scottish. But I would have never thought there was this apparently clear division line in the very England country.
ResponderEliminarIn my job I had the privilege of closely working with colleagues from many parts of the world. I’m using the word ‘privilege’ in the sense that the opportunity of having close communication with people from many countries is a great experience in learning different ways of thinking, philosophies and attitudes and customs.
And I did some big projects with true English people for long periods of time. I became friend of some of them. Our wives met and they came home. We talk about everything but the separation between North and South never was raised. Is it because of the typical English discretion?
I knew a general rule applying to North and South in every country. The rule says that countries in the north hemisphere show the trend of people in the north are less open, they work harder and so on. People in the south tend to be the opposite BUT the rule also recognizes that those people seem to better know how to enjoy life and eventually be happier.
When turning down to the south hemisphere the rule is right the opposite to the one in the north. Therefore people are happier in the north than in the south and so on.
To end up my comments I’d like to add something to Carla’s comment on Italians. I met once an Italian from the very north. We talked about Italian people and he stated strongly the following: “the only way Italian problems could be solved would be by sinking the south of country in the Mediterranean see for one hour. From Rome to Sicily. And Rome should be sunk five hours at least”
This was just one person’s thinking but may be an indication of a more moderate state of general opinion in the North area of Italy.
I love your comments!
ResponderEliminarHello! first of all, sorry for my lack of class today (it's correct this word to say "campana"?)...I'm still working and today is a day that we could describe as totally crazy!! Anyway, although I couldn't go to class I want to say something about south and north's rivalry. In Spain, the north and south are very different, but I'm surprised by the English case, because south is the "rich part of the country" and the north "the less rich" ... the Spanish's stereotype is the oppositeIn Spain, the north and south are very different, but what I most strongly by the English case is that the south is the "rich" and the north "less rich" ... the stereotype is in Spain the contrary. The truth is that I work with people treated more Dutch, Belgian, German (and I find it much easier to understand English with them) and did not know about this rivalry. I liked the comment about this division in Italy!!! great!!! ... I think Italian and Spanish are much less polite than English... is it because we are on the same part of the world? I normally work with people from Holland, Belgium, Germany (and I find it much easier to understand English with them!!!) and I didn't know nothing about this "territorial english conflict"...it's very interesting!!!... In my opinion, it`s a global separation, in all the world there are a lot of difference between north and south. Nowhere is better than the other...My parents are from the South and I was born in the North and I enjoy the two sides!
ResponderEliminarhttp://uk.encarta.msn.com/encnet/Features/Lists/?article=NorthVSouth
ResponderEliminarThis is on msn today, it's constant and never ending this battle!
Hello to everybody! I am sorry for writing so late. I made a short comment because now I am really tired. I just wanna say, as my colleagues explain there is a similar tendency on other European countries. I did not know about English rivalry and found it nonsense like in Spain, Italy, France ( I strongly recommend you the film "Chez les ch'tis" translated into Spanish as "Bienvenidos al norte" and still on theatres) or Germany. I was living 6 months in Düsseldorf, a city in the north of Germany (my parents met there because my dad was living there during 20 years and my mum during 9 years) and to tell you the truth, they always said people and lifestyle is better in the north. In fact, my only good German friend is from the south (she lives close to Munich) and born as Austrian. Like Austrian she told, she had strong problems in the school: (some) German hate Austrian too much that they justify Holocaust saying Hitler was Austrian. They insulted my friend in the school saying all the worst things come from Austria and I really understand her feelings of sadness and rage. I was just 5 when I arrived to Barcelona and my classmates called me "fascist" just because I came from Getafe, a village on the south of Madrid. I had to learn very early about history, just the same as my German friend, and I have to say I hate when people who criticize other people just judging them because of their origin. That is not fair!!! They are so ignorant!!They just should heard them telling these dummy things.
ResponderEliminarFinally just an anecdote about German rivalry between north and south: When I said to my family I had a friend from "Bayern", they argue: take care, this people is very tribal and fundamentalist. You cannot rely on them. - On the opposite, I was in the weeding of my friend - she has married a Columbian boy- and all the people was really nice and open-minded till... I spoke about my stay in Düsseldorf and why I decided to come back to Spain. My friend's dad said: "All the people beyond the "Donau" (river that crosses the south of Germany and Austria - Vienna- and further southerly) in the south direction are the best people you can deal with. I regret, but I cannot say the same for the Northerners. I you had been here in the south, I am completely sure you had found a home among us." But I was in the north following my family recommendations... And I just want to add in Germany 30 years ago, when my parents were still there north side was richer but now South is more richer than north; they had a lot of strong Companies and a great Tourism industry.
Hugs, Lydia
PS. I read all your comment and what Felicity wrote and found all really interesting.
Lydia, I hope that all that you explained in your comment will gradually dissapearing...is absolutely intolerable, but sadly nowadays still happens...but things are changing...
ResponderEliminarOn the other hand (in a positive thinking), today is Friday...weekend is here...enjoy it! ;-)
Thank you for your comment Sonia! Yeah, I don't lose my faith in a better world. I read it now but my weekend was fantastic. I hope yours too!! See you tomorrow!! Lydia
ResponderEliminarI honestly think Felicity made a very good point when she raised the subject of English North vs. South (ENS). It is extremely interesting to read the comments of some of my classmates. Carla, Montse, Sonia and Lidia explain very serious real experiences all having a common background. This is how deep is in humans the feeling of “I and the others” or “Us and the others”. Tribal mood and aggressiveness.
ResponderEliminarI’m not saying that our class theme (ENS) brought situations so extreme as mentioned by my friends. But ENS had the effect a crack may have on a dam’s wall. I guess you will know what I mean. So ‘our’ class theme spontaneously has been flooded by a much broader and dramatic one. I should say that I’ve been quite touched by Lidia’s experience.
This sort of contempt, superiority feeling, aggressive attitude, all driving to potential violence is in everywhere and at all times. It was 5.000 years ago and still is in very good shape. It is Nort vs. South, rich vs. poor, among different colours, different status, castes, languages, political thinking, religions, nationalities, etc., etc., etc.
We all can realize this sad picture. And I’m sure that the our immediate reaction is an obvious question: why this is as it is?
My personal view is that the question is very difficult to answer. I’m sure there’s no a single answer. Science is just at the very beginning of the research of human behaviour and a huge amount of research on neurosciences will be needed. It will take a very long time to be able to know reliable answers.
Having said that, in a short term perspective, in my opinion Sonia and Lidia said
something very important. Times are changing and ignorance as a cause for the problem. I agree with them very much. In other words education is the only tool we know to lessen the problem.
To end my comments a will translate two points made by two qualified well known persons in this country. The points may be partial answers to the problem. The first is easy to understand and to agree. The second is much more complex. That point is in my humble opinion one of the most fundamental concepts I have ever read as far as human thinking is concerned. It’s up to you anyway to decide whether you like it or not.
• The human specie is intelligent but not rational (Ramon Folch)
• Most of the scientific knowledge has not come into the people’s culture (thinking). Still very few people is using it. Our brain has invented superstition, magic, the revealed truths or common sense which still dictate our human decisions. (Eduard Punset)
I’m enjoying very much this class!