oldscalloway Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Noticed Para Handy wrote in May about how people on the mainland of Scotland have no idea where Shetland is situated. I find this all the time in Glasgow. There there seems a nearly universal lack of knowledge of the geography of Scotland. When asked where your accent is from, and you reply Shetland, this almost always brings on questions about friends they had from Mull or Stornoway etc etc. A next door neighbour from Sky or a relative from Lewis. These are not isolated cases, but at least 90% of people you meet. I always find this strange because the BBC weather map every news time clearly shows the basic layout of Scotland. (Now they have stopped using the Moray Firth Box.) And they have also been plenty of news stories from Shetland ie the Braer, lost boats etc, which usually show maps. So, is there a cure for this lack of knowledge? Is our geography teachers letting down the nation? Should we be worried? Probably not. Its always good for a laugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fjool Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 I'm pretty sure that if I asked people where Grantham is, they'd get it mostly wrong too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medziotojas Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Annoying but trivial things - Room 101 stuff People who complain about others' lack of geographical knowledge as regards Shetland's location (population - 22,000), when they couldn't point out Lithuania on a map (population 3.5 million)! ...or even Surrey, or Northampton for that matter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VR665 Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Spoke to a lady South last week who, after asking where Shetland was went on to ask if she'd need a Visa to visit! I can understand how some folk wouldn't know where Shetland is exactly but to ask that and knowing that it's "still part of the UK you know"! That said, cost of getting to and from Shetland.....a Visa CARD is a must! Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasmie Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Oh poopity-poop, I though we were the centre of the universe, God's own etc.. (only kidding, don't panic..WE ARE) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 I'm pretty sure that if I asked people where Grantham is, they'd get it mostly wrong too Lincolnshire, England....but....ahem, don't ask me to find Lincolnshire on a map, I could be gone for some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Spoke to a lady South last week who, after asking where Shetland was went on to ask if she'd need a Visa to visit! Only the Forvik bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeemsie1989 Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Of course we're the centre of the universe!! Anywhere that gets its own little box on the waether must be a godly place!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJ of Hildisvik Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 The best one to ask people is where are nearest train station is , you get some weird looks when you tell them it's in Bergen, thats in Norway for those of you who are Geographically unsure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ertieiddabanks Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 I'm pretty sure that if I asked people where Grantham is, they'd get it mostly wrong too Lived there for 5 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fjool Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 ^ You know I'm regretting that statement, right? Seems that everyone does know where it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 I remember being amazed by a child in Oxford who did indeed know where Shetland was "oh that's in Scotland" unfortunately "Scotland's near France isn't it?" was her follow up, the frustration of being a Shetland bairn on holiday in England.How about Sheppey, another sheepy, boggy isle, with a population of about 36,000 everyone know where that one is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Para Handy Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 ^ You know I'm regretting that statement, right? Seems that everyone does know where it is! Your vindicated Fjool I have never heard of Grantham until you posted it had to look it up on Google maps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted September 6, 2008 Report Share Posted September 6, 2008 Anywhere that gets its own little box on the waether must be a godly place!!! I always thought they put us in that little box because we got all the ungodly weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strawb Posted September 6, 2008 Report Share Posted September 6, 2008 At the risk of being redirected swiftly to the drunk zone, is it not a tad conceited to expect everyone to know where we are?!?! Does it really mak much odds??? (Though I have to point out to Medziotojas, not only can I point out Lithuania, I can hum the anthem decently on a good night too !!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.