4 ms·

Only the ones who are bad at geography :)

by tailspin2019 2y ago

stuaxo 2y ago
I wonder what the distribution is by leave / remain vote.
SideburnsOfDoom 2y ago
It depends on if your definition of "Europe" is purely geographic or it has a political dimension (EU vs not). In the context of building safety regulation and the UK's laxness at that, the political interpretation is definitely valid. "Geography" would be more valid if this was about rock formations or trade routes. If someone says "when it comes to building codes, the UK is no longer in Europe", then everyone knows exactly what is meant. Performative misunderstanding isn't helpful.
- tailspin2019 2y ago
  Respectfully, I disagree that the definition of "Europe" depends. The UK is in Europe. The fact that we know what they mean by saying the UK is no longer in Europe does not make that statement any more correct. I often see comments from people outside of Europe who think that the UK "left Europe" (not realising the distinction between Europe and the EU). I don't blame them, but I think it's worth pointing out.
  - SideburnsOfDoom 2y ago
    > not realising the distinction between Europe and the EU Respectfully, I disagree that they are not realising that. They are just using language differently, i.e. "Europe" in a political / legislative context can mean "the EU", i.e. a political / legislative boundary not a geographic one. You can say" they're wrong" if you like, but use of language is more commonly viewed as descriptive not prescriptive: "how language is actually being written and spoken rather than trying to identify a correct way" tl;DR People know what they're saying and you understand it, so what's the issue? what I said in the 1st comment.
  - tuukkah 2y ago
    People in the EU and in the UK also say that the UK left Europe. What people say is often not meant literally; that's just not how language works.
- xdennis 2y ago
  > If someone says "when it comes to building codes, the UK is no longer in Europe", then everyone knows exactly what is meant. Performative misunderstanding isn't helpful. People can work around a lot of mistakes, it doesn't mean it's correct. If I tell you my brother speaks Mexican, you know very well I mean Spanish. Does that mean I shouldn't be corrected?
  - SideburnsOfDoom 2y ago
    It depends. if the phrase "he/she speaks Mexican" to refer to the Mexican dialect of Spanish is in common use, then the descriptivist position is that no, there is nothing to correct.

Only the ones who are bad at geography :)

I wonder what the distribution is by leave / remain vote.

It depends on if your definition of "Europe" is purely geographic or it has a political dimension (EU vs not). In the context of building safety regulation and the UK's laxness at that, the political interpretation is definitely valid. "Geography" would be more valid if this was about rock formations or trade routes. If someone says "when it comes to building codes, the UK is no longer in Europe", then everyone knows exactly what is meant. Performative misunderstanding isn't helpful.

tailspin2019 2y ago
Respectfully, I disagree that the definition of "Europe" depends. The UK is in Europe. The fact that we know what they mean by saying the UK is no longer in Europe does not make that statement any more correct. I often see comments from people outside of Europe who think that the UK "left Europe" (not realising the distinction between Europe and the EU). I don't blame them, but I think it's worth pointing out.
- SideburnsOfDoom 2y ago
  > not realising the distinction between Europe and the EU Respectfully, I disagree that they are not realising that. They are just using language differently, i.e. "Europe" in a political / legislative context can mean "the EU", i.e. a political / legislative boundary not a geographic one. You can say" they're wrong" if you like, but use of language is more commonly viewed as descriptive not prescriptive: "how language is actually being written and spoken rather than trying to identify a correct way" tl;DR People know what they're saying and you understand it, so what's the issue? what I said in the 1st comment.
- tuukkah 2y ago
  People in the EU and in the UK also say that the UK left Europe. What people say is often not meant literally; that's just not how language works.
xdennis 2y ago
> If someone says "when it comes to building codes, the UK is no longer in Europe", then everyone knows exactly what is meant. Performative misunderstanding isn't helpful. People can work around a lot of mistakes, it doesn't mean it's correct. If I tell you my brother speaks Mexican, you know very well I mean Spanish. Does that mean I shouldn't be corrected?
- SideburnsOfDoom 2y ago
  It depends. if the phrase "he/she speaks Mexican" to refer to the Mexican dialect of Spanish is in common use, then the descriptivist position is that no, there is nothing to correct.