4 ms·
In Europe people generally use “Europe” and the EU interchangeably. I’m not sure many people would include Russia in Europe in normal speech, unless they were
by saaaaaam 28d ago
In Europe people generally use “Europe” and the EU interchangeably.
I’m not sure many people would include Russia in Europe in normal speech, unless they were a geographer in which case Russia is partly “Europe” in some cases I think.
Even when the UK was part of the EU if someone in the UK said “Europe” they meant continental Europe and someone in continental Europe would be unlikely to mean the UK if they said Europe unless they were using “Europe” as a shorthand for the EU. When the UK was in the EU a United States American saying Europe would probably not not be including the UK in their mental model of Europe and, indeed [0], might not be very clear on what the UK actually is, because that’s confusing for the countries they agglomerate into “England” which might also include Ireland. A United States American saying “Europe” most likely means “Paris” and then maybe France, Italy, Spain or Greece but probably not Germany which is definitely the EU and everything that is wrong with the EU. But maybe Switzerland, because that very European.
As a European I’m not even sure where Serbia is, or if it’s even a real country [1]. I thought it was capital of Albania [2] . Or possibly a region of North Macedonia [3]
[0] only some of what I have said should be taken even part way seriously. Very little in fact
[1] Obviously being satirical here
[2,3] Also real countries, also European, but not necessarily “Europe” and definitely not EU. Yet.
- ZenoArrow 28d ago> In Europe people generally use “Europe” and the EU interchangeably. In Europe some people generally and incorrectly use "Europe" and the EU interchangeably. Europe existed far before the EU and will continue to exist after the EU finally comes to an end.
- PaulDavisThe1st 28d ago> Europe existed far before the EU and will continue to exist after the EU finally comes to an end. First clause: indisputable. Second clause: maybe, maybe not. Europe hasn't always existed as a concept, and its longevity is unknown.
- ZenoArrow 27d ago> Europe hasn't always existed as a concept, and its longevity is unknown. Europe is the name of a continent. What reason(s) would there be to change the name of a continent? In contrast, the EU is a trading block, set up to foster greater pan-European trading relations. It's not the only pan-European institution. For example, the Council of Europe ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Europe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Europe ) is a separate pan-European institution, set up in 1946 which was before the EU or any of the predecessors of the EU, and amongst other projects was behind the formation of the European Court of Human Rights. I bring this up to highlight that we do not need the EU in order to have collaboration between European countries.
- PaulDavisThe1st 27d agoDo you think the Egyptians called it Europe? When do you think people began calling "America" "America", and why? Or referring to the largest continent as "Africa" ? I understand what your point was. I was thinking long term and noting that the future is uncertain, at best.
- ZenoArrow 25d ago> Do you think the Egyptians called it Europe? You haven't given any dates, but if you're talking about ancient Egypt, i.e. the Egypt before 0AD, then yes. The term "Europa" was used to refer to the continent around this time by the Greeks, and I don't see why Egyptian people wouldn't have picked up on a useful term they didn't have before.
- grey-area 28d agoI’m sure many thought the same about the United States of America when it was founded.
- saaaaaam 28d agoI guess the difference is the founding of the EU didn’t require multiple genocidal slaughters. Oh, wait.
- saaaaaam 28d agoI think you maybe missed my footnotes. Even if you did/did not, vernacular evolves. So at the time that you fervently hope the EU comes to its (clearly deserved, Mr Putin) end, I imagine people will be able to adapt their wrong speak and clearly incorrect thinking to ensure they adhere to the newspeak.
- ZenoArrow 27d ago> at the time that you fervently hope the EU comes to its (clearly deserved, Mr Putin) end I find it funny you think the only reason people would want the end of the EU is if they're a Russian agent. The EU has very little to do with defence. Perhaps your argument would hold more weight if talking about NATO, but even then it's not necessary for countries to be members of NATO in order to collaborate on protection when their collective security interests align.
- Aeolun 27d agoThis only matters to people outside the EU. Since most of Europe is in or deliberately out. It’s hard to care too much about that.
- 9763268964 28d ago[flagged]
- saaaaaam 28d agoOK! Your generalisation definitely beats mine.
- einpoklum 28d ago> In Europe people generally use “Europe” and the EU interchangeably. I guess you don't wander out of your office in Brussels much.
- saaaaaam 28d agoOh sweetheart. The real looney Eurocrats like us don’t even leave Strasbourg. Brussels is filthy.
- Lumich 27d ago« As a European I’m » – So what country do you hail from? I understand it's not Serbia. Just so this wild nonsense and wannabe satire can have proper geographic attribution. (Because despite there being a strong indidivual factor, the systems governing some countries do breed certain mental dispositions.)