USA get states - UK dont get counties

[StableX]

Why do the USA get a chance to add their geographical location in their country and the brits dont?

it's not a dig, I just wondered as I would like to put my county, like the USA are allowed to put their equivalent.

[Bob Smith]

I thought the US states were more similar to England, Wales and Scotland in the UK, than counties?

[Jakg]

Becky went through this - the US government lists the states as seperate areas, whereas the Counties/Territories are not listed in this manner.

[KeiichiRX7]

Bob's right. The USA is a federation of states (see the historical definition of "state", meaning country). Sadly most of those living within said federation are brainwashed enough to not know the difference. Like the UK being composed of different countries. Within each of these states are counties of thier own.

While on the subject, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales get the choice of thier local flags or the Union Flag on the forum, yet those living in the United States only get the USA flag.

If you want I'll say something to Becky, but really We aren't gettign anythign mroe than you are right now, the USA is just there so people know that "Connecticut" is part of the USA instead of just saying "where the hell is Connecticut!?!"

Edit: Dammit Jack beat me to it, and brought up a point that I didn't

[StableX]

but then again, the USA calls themselves America when in fact they are part of North America!!!

[StableX]

the USA is just there so people know that "Connecticut" is part of the USA instead of just saying "where the hell is Connecticut!?!"

Could just say USA and wonder where in the USA like I do for people thinking where in England!

[KeiichiRX7]

By that logic youre part of Europe.

North America is a continent, "America" is a short name for the "United States of America", referring to the fact that the United States were in fact located in America.

So you want to be displayed like we are displayed now? Be prepared to be listed as "England, UK", "Scotland, UK", "Northern Ireland, UK" and "Wales, UK". That's as deep as the listing of american states goes

Could just say USA and wonder where in the USA like I do for people thinking where in England!

That's the same as saying UK not the same as saying "England"

[Slopi]

yet those living in the United States only get the USA flag.
Each state has it's own flag, you just normally don't ever see those :thumb:

[KeiichiRX7]

I meant on the forum. If i could fly the Texan flag i surely would.

Seriously, you want UK counties, then I want the counties of each of the 50 american states, that way you know that I live in Franklin County, Ohio j/k

[StableX]

By that logic youre part of Europe.

North America is a continent, "America" is a short name for the "United States of America", referring to the fact that the United States were in fact located in America.



Doesn't that say something!!!

[KeiichiRX7]

no, not really.

now if you excuse me, i've gotta get ready to journey to teh far northern reaches of Ohio

[Becky Rose]

As described, those less up may think that the American states are counties, actually they are states, hense the word state, and each of them has many counties. The UK DOES have the same treatment, in the CTRA Wales, Scotland, and Ireland have all managed to attain complete independence from Oliver's Army :D.

I did miss off California from the list initially, but this in no way effected the rest of the world :).

I actually read up on a few countries to be sure I was doing the right thing, a few Canadians asked for their states, but their government web page says that these are terrotories and Australia is regions and terrotories or something like that, although they often have State in the name, it's 1 country.

[StableX]

i've gotta get ready to journey to teh far northern reaches of Ohio

oh, you mean the americas!

[Becky Rose]

Just so as you know, we where thinking of including a flag on the web page side of things and using the American state flags, but there where 2 problems - 1) There's far too many flags to sort out and resize, and 2) Some of you Yanks cant seem to draw in a standard flag proportions! *sigh* Well, I guess it's too much to expect, you never mastered English properly either ;)...

[Shotglass]

did you take into account that germany is made up from states too ? (not that i woud ever _ever_ EVER use the bavarian flag but still)

[Becky Rose]

I didnt think Germany was a proper republic of city-states again?.. Wasn't that all the Napoleonic era?

[Shotglass]

not city states larger federal states (although some of them are indeed cities)
http://www.deutschland.de/rubrik.php?lang=2&category1=5&category2=11

[Becky Rose]

That just goes to show, you learn something new every day.

So how many Germans want to be listed by state rather than as German?

[Christofire]

There's only two isn't there? "Serious and at work" or "Drinking beer and laughing".

I've been to Germany a few times, and it's the only states I've seen the natives in.

[EarlHaz]

did you take into account that germany is made up from states too ? (not that i woud ever _ever_ EVER use the bavarian flag but still)

I quite like the Bavarian flag :smileypul

[niels1]

Even in Holland we have 12 separate states (provences). They also have separate flags, but that is it. Nothing more, the great diffenrence I think with america is the different laws. We just have 1, and all the states have to act by that law.

[Viper93]

A State is run more like a Country would be run in the EU. Geographically each state is roughly the size of the UK so there is a big difference between state and County =)

Each state has their own set of laws and taxes and anything else you can think of is different =) Driver's licensing is one, car registration, road systems. They are all tied in, rather well, but each state maintains their own roads with little federal help.

Like I said each state in the big ole' US of A is run just like a country would be run in the EU and is entirely different than a county, which each state as around 100 or so depending on the state.

[DrDNA]

Well, I guess it's too much to expect, you never mastered English properly either ...

You're one to talk...;)

I think it's silly to include the various American States and skip the Canadian provinces, especially considering that geographically and (depending on the province) culturally they're all quite big and different.

For example, British Columbia is about the size of France, Germany and the Netherlands combined. It's larger than the total area of Washington, Oregon and California. Also, 75% of the province is mountainous (3,280 feet above sea level), 60% is forested, and only about 5% is arable. That's only 1 of 10 provinces (and 3 territories).

Each province also has its own taxes (income tax being quite different depending on where you live), driver's licenses and healthcare systems.

It just seems that with the amount of comments I've seen regarding how geographically ignorant North Americans are that some sort of interest might be shown from Europe regarding the make-up of our countries. IMO, anyone that can't name more than a few Canadian provinces is quite the hypocrite.

[Becky Rose]

Your government web site says 'No'. :D

[dawesdust_12]

DrDNA, I asked Becky about that before we went live, and she said she looked it up on our (igloo living) government website, and said that we are 1 country with provinces and territorys, whereas the USA are States (of confustion) joined in a Union, sorta like the EU, but not really.

[mrodgers]

I did miss off California from the list initially, but this in no way effected the rest of the world :).
Not to worry about that, Becky. Next big earthquake over there and you'll just end up having to delete California... :D

[Slopi]

Not to worry about that, Becky. Next big earthquake over there and you'll just end up having to delete California... :D

If only... :tilt:

[Viper93]

DrDNA, I asked Becky about that before we went live, and she said she looked it up on our (igloo living) government website, and said that we are 1 country with provinces and territorys, whereas the USA are States (of confustion) joined in a Union, sorta like the EU, but not really.

It is like the EU =P Just came about differently, how do you think the idea of the EU came along? =P Someone had to come up of a way to have Europe compete directly with the US =)

[KeiichiRX7]

oh, you mean the americas!

No, dipstick, I mean Ohio.

Again, this is much like the difference between saying the far "reaches of the UK" which is comprised of smaller countried in a federated government, as opposed to saying "the far reaches of England"

[the_angry_angel]

*mumbles something about cornwall having a flag*

I'm sure somerset has one too. It's probably a combine harvester ;)

[Becky Rose]

If you want your freedom Karl, you'll have to employ Mel Gibson.

[james12s]

*mumbles something about cornwall having a flag*

I'm sure somerset has one too. It's probably a combine harvester ;)
lol and guess what song came into my head

[Dajmin]

Laws change between US states, they don't change between UK counties.

They might have amendments though, from back in the day when Dave from that house on the hill kept stealing sheep for his own depraved uses.

And besides, there are only around 50 states, there are well over 80 counties, so it's less hassle :) I'm shocked we got countries at all, rather than just a UK lumping.

[Becky Rose]

If I was English, we probably would have had UK, as all English think England is the UK and UK is England and these satellite countries are just imperial provinces... FREEEEDDDDOOOOMMMM!

Oh, and Manhattan Island is Welsh.

[StableX]

If I was English, we probably would have had UK, as all English think England is the UK and UK is England and these satellite countries are just imperial provinces... FREEEEDDDDOOOOMMMM!

Oh, and Manhattan Island is Welsh.

I am just happy to be British :)