UK an Island?

[ATGC]

So, do you guys think UK is an Island or not? An argument came out of this on the IRC, and I want to see Neowin's few as a whole.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/.../United-Kingdom

The United Kingdom comprises the whole of the island of Great Britain?which contains England, Wales, and Scotland?as well as the northern portion of the island of Ireland."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdo...te-Countries-13

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,[11][is a sovereign island country[/quotEdit by Kudos

People seem to be skipping by the replies in the thread, so perhaps you should look at this handy diagram I made.

Edited October 5, 2008 by Kudos

[Mike]

islands do not border countries, the UK bordes Ireland thus the UK is not an island

why did you bold the first quote? Great Britain is an island and that's what it is saying in the first quote, and GB != UK :p

[Alan-]

No, if you look at this picture, you can see that Northern Ireland borders land and therefore isn't an island so the entirety "UK" is not an island. (Dark green == UK) An island is any land that is completely surrounded by water.

[Stephen Veteran]

crap, i clicked the wrong one, i meant to say the UK is NOT an island

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

Great Britain is an Island, The UK is not.

[houlty]

no, i do not believe it to be an island, purely because of northern ireland.

wikipedia shouldnt be trusted.... ever!

[Rockett15]

Great Britain, yes. UK no: borders Ireland

[brentaal]

wikipedia shouldnt be trusted.... ever!

Wikipedia ftw

[mad_onion]

yeah the UK isn't an island country. and Great Britian is the name of the island on which england, scotland and wales are on.

[_bobcat_ Veteran]

I said yeah, forgetting NI and thinking someone thought we are attached to France or something ><

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

I said yeah, forgetting NI and thinking someone thought we are attached to France or something ><

I think the Channel separates you from France. ;)

[Merter]

Of course its a fricking island, whats the argument against? :\

I'll give you a clue.... its completely surrounded by water...

[hotdog666al]

wikipedia shouldnt be trusted.... ever!

You can when the information has a source.

Oh- and we're an island.

[ATGC]

Of course its a fricking island, whats the argument against? :\

I'll give you a clue.... its completely surrounded by water...

see post #2

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

You can when the information has a source.

Oh- and we're an island.

If you are saying The UK=Great Britain the you are an Island. What people se as England in not an Island.

[tsupersonic]

I think it is, but what difference does it really make if it's an island or not?

[what]

UK no.

Great Britain yes.

Sometimes you see them referred to as the 'British Isles' to prevent arguments like this :p

[Lee G. Veteran]

UK no.

Great Britain yes.

Sometimes you see them referred to as the 'British Isles' to prevent arguments like this :p

Yeah, this is correct. Technically the UK is not an island.

[kernatch]

Wikipedia is confusing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_island_countries

It may be the case that the UK has political status as an island country, but isn't one in a strict geographical sense.

[ATGC]

Wikipedia contradicts itself on this page. Someone might like to correct it, either way.

Yeah, I saw that too.

Well, I guess I was right and wrong.

Most people (around the world) view UK (United Kingdom) as a whole region including Scotland, England, Ireland (including North Ireland) and Wales. In this respect, UK is an Island.

But in actuality, United Kingdom only comprises of Scotland, England, North Ireland and Wales. Ireland is separate from United Kingdom. In this respect, it can be considered not an Island due to North Ireland.

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

The UK is a country which is located on the British Isles.

The whole purpose of the term island country is just there to indicate that a country is situated on islands and not on a continent. A country is a country. And obviously the UK refers to the name of the country not an island which is just a piece of land.

[Mike]

Yeah, I saw that too.

Well, I guess I was right and wrong.

Most people (around the world) view UK (United Kingdom) as a whole region including Scotland, England, Ireland (including North Ireland) and Wales. In this respect, UK is an Island.

i am not aware of one person, except possibly you now, that thinks the UK includes Ireland.

[shakey_snake]

Haiti is an island nation, the Dominican republic is an island nation, the Bahamas is an island nation, the UK is an island nation.

However, the term "UK" refers to a political entity, a nation. "island nation" is describing the type of nation.

"the UK" is not a landform. Great Britian is an island.

[Skulltrail-old]

Does it really matter? I honestly don't give a s h i t if its an island or not. I doubt that will affect the nation itself rather the group opposing the thought of it being an island.

[Kudos Veteran]

Does it really matter? I honestly don't give a s h i t if its an island or not. I doubt that will affect the nation itself rather the group opposing the thought of it being an island.

And yet you post in a thread discussing it. *clap clap*

Speaking as an Irishman it damn well matters to me, we are not in the UK. Hint: it's got the word "Kingdom" in it and we don't have a monarchy.

50 of you voted yes!? *claps patronisingly*