England team/commercialism/world cup hype

[samd]

Am sick of it, every two years the papers harp on about how good our side is and then inevitably when they fail to live up to expectations the press will go after them.

It would be great if we all just were able to shrug our shoulders and just hope for the best and go in as under dogs and not slef-proclaimed favourites.

No wonder other countries think we are arrogant.

And now my next gripe....the commercialism of it all.

Loads of adverts all jumping on the england band wagon to sell their stuff.

World cup mars bars, world cup pizzas, world cup beer.....christs sake where does it all end?

Not just that but all these cheap plastic england flags with companies names plastered over them. They don't look patriotic, they loom cheap and tatty.

I don't need to have a cheap tatty flag sticking out of my car to show my nationalism.

I'd prefer a good simple normal uncommercialised england flag with a simple flag pole of sorts.

[ambersalamander]

I hope you meant "nationality" rather than "nationlism"!

Seriously, I agree. It's all very well really wanting your team to win, but the press are just stupid about it.

I've managed to ignore most of it so far.

[samd]

ambersalamander said:

I hope you meant "nationality" rather than "nationlism"!

Nothing wrong with nationalism in my eyes as long as it doesn't include hatred towards other nationalities.

There has to be differential between those of us who are proud to be English and want toe right to express that and those who are just racists and nazis.

[ambersalamander]

Oh right... I thought nationalism meant you believed your country ought to operate separately from the rest of the world and that nations shouldn't work together

[samd]

ambersalamander said:

Oh right... I thought nationalism meant you believed your country ought to operate separately from the rest of the world and that nations shouldn't work together

I very much like other countries especially our other European friends ;D

[medibot]

Like the Germans

Seriously though, i nearly fell over when i realised i was now selling "Believe" bars at work. They look suspiciously like Mars Bars but who i am i to fault the corporate machine and it's brilliant ideas...

[ambersalamander]

*apostrophe alert* ;D

[medibot]

Feck off. ;D

[coops]

ambersalamander said:

Oh right... I thought nationalism meant you believed your country ought to operate separately from the rest of the world and that nations shouldn't work together

That's one definition and usually the one most people think of, but nationalism can also be defined as being devoted to the interests and culture of your nation which, as long as you aren't xenophobic as well, seems okay to me.

[ambersalamander]

Excellent.

You keep your nationalism then, Scottycakes

[samd]

ambersalamander said:

Excellent.

You keep your nationalism then, Scottycakes

Don't worry I wil.....seig heil!!

Oops...did I say that out loud? ;D

[ojiveojive]

samd: wasn't Peter Swales the one time chairman of Manchester City?