Quote Originally Posted by Jock Scot View Post
To us old codgers we live in Britain, Great Britain as we used to be known(Great meaning, the whole Island mass of Britain, not the modern usage and meaning of great meaning, "super" or "wonderful"). Don't forget the Battle of Britain, the British Army and the British fleet! Not this new fangled idea of the UK!
I see what you mean Jock but the term is very much generalized... even by Gordon Brown and most other politicians!
To me Britain is an island. The UK is a union of countries - including one outside the island of Britain so it could be seen as exclusive to make no reference to the entire kingdom.
I appreciate that the term "British" can be used to describe a citizen of the UK - or of course if people would rather reference to themselves as Scottish, English, Welsh, Northern Irish or even Irish I think that would be fair enough - as these are still countries.

EDIT - thanks for the input Urchurdan!
and I can accept that people tend to generalize when speaking of the UK. Sadly many of those overseas could just as easily refer to it as "England"!