Page 1 of North/South divide. Where do you stand?

Having moved around the country, I have noticed a quite ironic trend:
Wherever the least desirable places tend to be (for me, these are Northern areas like Lancashire, Yorkshire and Tyneside!) people seem most proud of their "identity".

I live in the south west now, and prefer it greatly. Especially to Birmingham where I was at University. However, people here do not seem to have such burning pride at being southern. Or perhaps they are just quietly smug at the fact.

What do you think?
Thanks
signed: Devil`s Advocate.

Flame war time again? Damn, my asbestos pants are in the wash!

I don`t think it`s ironic, more cause and effect; what you call "identity" evolves as a kind of defense mechanism against precisely the sort of attitudes you describe. If someone thought you were undesirable because of where you came from, would you just sit back and say "well, blimey, you got a point there guv"? I would hope not!

I`m a Geordie. The fact that the majority of Southerners think Newcastle is a backward s***hole populated by Viz characters makes me all the more proud of my "identity". So there ;-)

Mike

What the hell`s wrong with Lancashire? There are some very pleasant places in Lancashire, just don`t go to Blackburn or Burnley! I have to admit though that Greater Manchester is a right mess.

I`m a northerner, I live near Liverpool, but I don`t `feel` northern I feel English (not British). I take pride in England rather than the north of England, so you can see there that I`m not defiant in my northern identity.

<OB>

tpr007

what exactly makes the south more `desirable` then the places you`ve mentioned? Perhaps it`s the lower crime rate, cheap houses, safe streets or the cleaner air London is so famous for!

Personally I can`t see what they`ve got to be smug about! I for one am just glad that pricks like you live far away in the south.

Thats what i think!
Thanks
signed: r8sso

ps. can`t believe Wearside didn`t make it onto your less desirable places!

Don`t get me started on geographical stereotypes...

I`m an exiled Southerner supposedly living up Norf (in the Southerners` eyes) and down South (drinking shandy, naturally, from my Northern friends). Actually, I`m an inbetweenie - a "professional Midlander" from that area of the country that no-one knows much about but oddly referred to as the "the East Midlands" - Nottingham.

I s`pose I do have some misguided pride in my Southern roots although have to go at great lengths to explain that I was born on the "wrong side of the tracks" in St Albans, and not with a silver spoon in my gob.

However, Nottingham people are very proud of their city, but don`t go on and on about it - Yorkshire rolls off the tongue much better than Nottinghamshire at cricket matches, dontcha think !

We are who we are because of both genetic and environmental/social factors, with each factor influencing each other. Being a follower of "social psychology" I`m more inclined to believe that our environment models a lot of our beliefs : thus if we are brought up to respect our "territory" (something very evolutionary about that) then so be it.

I`m proud to be a Nottingham resident with a strange Southern accent ;-)

"I`m a Geordie. The fact that the majority of Southerners think Newcastle is a backward s***hole populated by Viz characters makes me all the more proud of my "identity". So there ;-)"

It also keeps them from coming up there too. Clean and splendid with no Southerners, just the way I like it. :D

tpr007, are you still here? Shall I get your coat?

:p

I can`t believe you started this thread?...I`m lost for words?..undesirable?..

have you ever been to Northumbria?...have you seen how beautiful the countryside is?...Do you include Scotland in your catalogue of bile and hate?..have you ever visited the hilghlands?...

Its Christmas for gods sake...peace and goodwill to all men!. WTF have you ignited a flame war about North vs South?...

Idiot

haway the lads

I dont really see the point in dividing one single country into north and south. I mean, if you are going to try and p*** people off you should at least pick on whole countrys.

I was born in Dundee and live just south of Edinburgh.

So there.

Hmm. Erm. Heh.

"can`t believe Wearside didn`t make it onto your less desirable places!"

I`m not surprised! The place is a backwards hellhole packed to bursting point with gormless "Plastic Geordies" whose wives are all ugly and thick as p*gsh*t.

My "two pence" - the south is OK - although Essex is the worst place I have ever lived in my life. I live in Manchester now, so I should know.