am i the only one who hopes

[sifi]

I commonly get misperceived as pretentious.

[King Blue]

It's not a matter of "single minded" patriotism - but once you've started me, there's no stopping my defence of Wales against English people with their sense of superiority, their sneering, their dismissive attitudes and their disrespect.

"the ability to allow you not to be proud" makes no sense to me, sorry. I don't believe that is an English trait anyway, unless you mean the self-effacement which allegedly used to be a stereotype of Englishness.

[worm]

I know I can hardly talk, but phrases like "I am Indo-centric in my spiritual philosophies, favouring nirvana over heaven .... " don't make you seem shallow. They make you sound like the male equivalent of Eddy of Ab Fab.

[oafc0000]

in the same way I like Yorkshire folk.

[oafc0000]

I know I can hardly talk, but phrases like "I am Indo-centric in my spiritual philosophies, favouring nirvana over heaven .... " don't make you seem shallow. They make you sound like the male equivalent of Eddy of Ab Fab.

[Peevis]

Are you going to talk about human nature in your explanation of the "obvious" ???

I don't believe I know who was responsible for the cultural destruction in what became the US, but I gather the English (oh sorry, the "British") were among the first who cleared and colonised the country, so what the hell are you on about?!

Yes, very good, but utter Bollox... incidentally if you want to look at a proper example of Welsh settlement overseas, you should be talking about Patagonia, where Welsh settlers went and lived happily alongside native Argentines and Spanish. Or maybe Hughesovska (sp?) in Russia, where Welsh miners went to set up a mining colony WITH the Russians contributing knowledge and expertise.

F**k this, I'm getting lunch. If you want to come back with some facts, evidence, or reasonable argument feel free, I'll be waiting...!

[King Blue]

Go visit Elland Road...that will soon change your opinion

Edited August 5, 2008 by King Blue

[sifi]

Makes perfect sense to me and is absolutely true.

How is that pretentious? It's surely genuine.

[King Blue]

OK.

Well nine of the thirteen original US state Governors came from Scots heritage. Nixon was of Scottish heritage too by the way.

The examples you give are commendable, and heart warming, but the fact remains you are not comparing like with like. Are you suggesting the Welsh were considering the cultural destruction and annexation of Russia? Or is it that a small group of them went over there and made a success. And the Spannish had long since wiped out all the natives of South America long before some Welshers introduced them to Rugger!

As soon as someone gets the upper hand and an opportunity to rule and assimilate, they do. This is my contention. And i don't see your examples proving the Welsh are any different to anyone else. Your examples were not opportunities to do that.

[worm]

I didn't say it sounded pretentious. I said it sounded like something that Eddy off Ab Fab would say.

[sifi]

Natural selection is a pretty ancient theory. It's still alive but has undergone vast change.

Edited August 5, 2008 by sifimaster

[oafc0000]

I have mate,went with my team Leyton Orient last season.Had to get a bus escort because Leeds fans kicked the shit out of some Swansea fans(Who are pretty nasty themselves.) Great atmosphere and they robbed us of three points,but no nonsense afterwards.Their fans were pretty good actually,most of them said well played and we deserved the game,even if some morons were celebrating a cheated draw against the ten men of Leyton ****ing Orient .

Millwall are much worse,and they come from London,the city I love. Everywhere has shit coming out of the gutter somewhere. Keep your eyes elsewhere!

[Peevis]

Natural selection is a pretty ancient theory. It's still alive but has undergone vast change.

[worm]

150 years ago or there abouts. It's a fact though.

Edited August 5, 2008 by worm

[worm]

The theory is, as it always has been.

Edited August 5, 2008 by worm

[Peevis]

No it isn't.

[worm]

Oh yes it is!

Natural selection. Simple, beautiful, and correct.

As it was when it was written down 150 years ago.

Edited August 5, 2008 by worm

[sifi]

Absolute rot.

The theory is, as it always has been.

All that has happened is the genetics has proven it beyond reasonable doubt.

Edited August 5, 2008 by sifimaster

[Peevis]

Oh dear me.

I take it that you're quite religious about it then?

[King Blue]

Better smell than what? It depends upon your culture. For instance, the amount of smells that exist in a culture, the types of smells that exist within a culture and so on. Evolution is the adaption to culture. Genetics are no less susceptible.

[sifi]

Better smell than what?

[sifi]

(According to Dawkins last night.)

Edited August 5, 2008 by sifimaster

[worm]

Not at all.

If a bus is red, I call it a red bus. That's all.

[Peevis]

This is what I thought. But I'm interested to understand to what extent genetic code is re-written by the selfish gene thing to dictate people's characteristics and to what extent that is dicated by culture.

For example, take sprinters. The last white individual to win Gold at 100 meters who was white was Alan Wells. Scottish I think, but by the by. Is it not the case that people of afro-carribean descent have a skill or an ability to run quickly - and is that skill at a genetic level, or is it due to culture?

I'm not even sure if that idea is rascist. I get the feeling it might be. If it is then clearly it's an area I need educating in - because I'm only recently getting into evolutionary theory - having been a bit blinkered in the past, so to speak

[worm]

Scientists would argue nature,sociologists culture.