Why do people in the UK often pretend they're not in Europe?

[NJ5]

KylieDog said:
Because we ruled half the world.

So did Portugal, no one cares about those former glories except people who always drive in reverse :P

@SamuelIRSmith: Those are reasons why the UK is in some ways different, but it doesn't really justify the pretense that the UK isn't part of Europe.

I agree with your general idea though... focusing on the differences in order to justify seeing oneself as separate.

Oh and regarding the island thing... does Ireland call itself separate from Europe as often as the UK does?

kowenicki said:

burgerstein said:
Europe is too exotic to include stuffy olde Britain.

exotic... yeah... thats the word.

What's that supposed to mean?