Telling people that their countries are not countries is insulting and just because you say it isn't doesn't make it right.

All of the bodies you cite are ephemeral modern organisational groups who will have a terminology to suit their uses and conveniences. Just because they choose to redefine something for their convenience doesn't make it a fact outside of their organisation.

Your choice of organisations to cite is also very amusing since most of them, except CERN, do have rather dubious reputations in many parts of the World. and I know a great many people, and likely many countries and nations, who would not accept their authority should they try to redefine ideas of nationality and country boundaries. And, frankly, were you really reaching to find something when you included CERN ?

You get an F- for comprehension.

I am not saying it is a religion and I cannot see how anyone who actually reads with an intent to comprehend, rather than get off on deluding themselves they made a clever point, would infer that. I gave an example of not giving in to people who who hold an extreme position.

Go back and do the lesson again and try for a better mark next time.

I didn't forget Northern Ireland but was talking about countries.

Northern Ireland is not a country by itself but is usually referred to as a province or region of the UK. There are many in Northern Ireland who consider themselves to be ethnically Irish and who's family lines and roots in that region pre-date the 'invasions' by the English and the Scottish Protestants. It was mostly these 'immigrants' who were concentrated in this area who forced the country to be partitioned in 1921 when the rest of Eire was given independence and became the Irish Free State. In many sporting and cultural events, many Northern Irish residents compete for Ireland, rather than Great Britain or the UK.

Northern Ireland is a very complex place/issue but, in and of itself, it is not a country

oops, accidentally hit 'submit' before adding that the video was, actually, quite amusing :)

Amusing but most British know that the correct response to 'England? Where's that?" is "Ah. You're an American. You have my fullest sympathies and I hear there are now therapies to help alleviate the symptoms. Just go to your psychiatrist and ask for a prescription of 'Education'. Hopefully, despite the indications, the FDA haven't yet officially banned it " :)

I didn't forget Northern Ireland. However, we were talking about countries and, if you know something about history, you will realise that Northern Ireland is not a country. or a nation.

Well, excuse me for not taking the uneducated opinion of arbitrary people on the Internet seriously.

While it may come as a shock to you, countries existed before the UN and NATO, and will continue to exist after those organisations are long defunct.

Perhaps you need to educate yourself a little bit more before insulting 50+ million people with your rubbish and learn that there are countries outside of the UN that are still considered but their inhabitants, and others, to be countries.

You might (just about - if you are lucky and the Rugby isn't on the TV) survive saying that in a pub in one of the UK's constituent countries, but we natives consider them to be countries, as do most discussions and articles I have ever read about the Acts of Union :)

I would call the UK the nation (as would most Brits) which is comprised of the constituent countries. I don't argue that they are not also nations - they are - but a nation can be seen as a much more nebulous entity, often more to do with cultural identity, than distinct geographic boundaries alone.

You mean like 'How about not practising a non XYZ religion when intolerant XYZ fundamentalists are around?

Why not apply some brain cells? How hard would that be?

She was using legal technology that has capabilities similar to most mobile phones and tablets in use today. Most likely the abusive asses who caused this conflict in the first place (and probably you, yourself) have such technology. Should we all yell, scream and bay like a pack of rabid wolves when someone takes out a cell phone with a camera, or a tablet? That one it has become fashionable for one form of the same technology to be vilified is hardly a trend worth respecting, if only because it is retarded. Go after all cameras in a public place (including the ones you carry) if you really feel that way.

What about the bar itself? Its extremely unlikely that it had no security cameras - did those same idiots, including the one who physically assaulted her, and stole her device (illegally, unlike her) not consider that? What about any other bar, shop, workplace, street, etc that they have walked down? Do they go around with balaclavas and baseball bats smashing the cameras in case they are recorded?

These people, and the people who go off half cocked in support of them and their criminal actions really need to start thinking reasonably and logically.

Oh, and before you mention reports of who hit who first, just remember that had these people not been confrontational then it would have never escalated to that level and you don't know the level of threat that was presented. Additionally, it should be reasonable to assume that she was right in feeling threatened since, were this not the case, this would never have come to pass.

So, how much better do you think some humans will translate if their language skills are not very high? Am I the only one who remembers Chinese to English translations from before the days of ubiquitous MLT (let alone today :) ) ?