A quick question on Britspeak

[ffutures]

Prompted by yet another story in which a British character refers to the USA as "The Colonies" without appearing to intend it as sarcasm or an insult.

[Poll #1468439]

Comments

[ggreig]

This. I'd be very wary of using it because it could be taken as sarcastic or insulting. As a Scot at a Scottish university, I didn't take kindly to English students who referred to Scots as "ethnic". Sometimes it may have been meant to be light-hearted, but it was patronising and offensive. At other times there was no doubt it was meant to be offensive.

While it's not a direct parallel, I wouldn't want to offend US people by referring to the USA as The Colonies. Maybe if I was very sure it wouldn't be taken ill, and that they could comfortably respond with something similar about us. Very sure.

(When playing a role in a role-playing game, quite possibly - but not in real life.)