US TV host refuses to accept Ireland uses the euro

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

US TV host refuses to accept Ireland uses the euro

Many people might be confused about exactly what the differences are between Great Britain, the United Kingdom and Britain and Ireland, but a US TV presenter just took the confusion to a new level.

Joe Kerner, co-anchor of CNBC’s Squawk Box show, seemed to be genuinely astounded to learn that:

• Ireland uses the euro
• Scotland uses sterling
• Northern Ireland uses sterling
• Ireland is not part of the UK

Martin Shanahan, in charge of Ireland’s foreign investment agency, was the unlucky man caught in the crossfire.

When he corrected Kerner’s assertion that Scotland was “sort of the same, same island” as Ireland, and clarified that Northern Ireland had a different currency to the Republic, the host basically gave up, exclaiming “it is just too confusing”.

If this all seems bit too confusing itself, the segment came in an interview on whether Ireland’s tax policy was behind its tradition of producing good golfers. Right…

[Stressed Out 81]

Simply embarrassing for Americans living abroad. People like this make us all look like idiots on a daily basis, which is one reason I want to move back home. Everyone here must think I'm automatically an idiot as well. lol

[MacUK 983]

My ex's children were genuinely astonished that US dollars weren't the standard currency worldwide.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Simply embarrassing for Americans living abroad. People like this make us all look like idiots on a daily basis, which is one reason I want to move back home. Everyone here must think I'm automatically an idiot as well. lol

One thing (amongst many) I do not miss about living in the UK is overhearing conversations like, "Americans are all soooooooo dumb/fat/loud BLAH BLAH BLAH" to which I'd gently remind my friends/co-workers/FAMILY (ffs) that I was American. The reply was always, "Oh, well, you don't count."

[JohnR! 5,495]

Join the club... I faced the same comments in the UK, although sometimes I wished to direct people to the closest mirror... You venture out of certain parts of central London and you might as well be in one of those southern states...

One thing (amongst many) I do not miss about living in the UK is overhearing conversations like, "Americans are all soooooooo dumb/fat/loud BLAH BLAH BLAH" to which I'd gently remind my friends/co-workers/FAMILY (ffs) that I was American. The reply was always, "Oh, well, you don't count."

[Pooky 3,840]

CNBC - Clearly No Bloomin' Clue.

[Pooky 3,840]

One thing (amongst many) I do not miss about living in the UK is overhearing conversations like, "Americans are all soooooooo dumb/fat/loud BLAH BLAH BLAH" to which I'd gently remind my friends/co-workers/FAMILY (ffs) that I was American. The reply was always, "Oh, well, you don't count."

I'm the Brit and I was pretty disappointed with my countrymen and women when the Other Half encountered this in the UK.

Join the club... I faced the same comments in the UK, although sometimes I wished to direct people to the closest mirror... You venture out of certain parts of central London and you might as well be in one of those southern states...

You think that London was any better?

We found it to be as bad, perhaps even worse.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

You think that London was any better?

We found it to be as bad, perhaps even worse.

Oh yes -- definitely worse in London. Out in Suffolk I was merely a curio, and treated very nicely. In Bristol, where I spent a year doing an MA, most people were unfailingly lovely.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

One thing (amongst many) I do not miss about living in the UK is overhearing conversations like, "Americans are all soooooooo dumb/fat/loud BLAH BLAH BLAH" to which I'd gently remind my friends/co-workers/FAMILY (ffs) that I was American. The reply was always, "Oh, well, you don't count."

It is a stereotype certainly. Not one I agree with. However, like all stereotypes there are grains of truth to it. I was once in an Indian restaurant in munich and two old american guys (i think from Texas) came in and proceeded to have a loud protracted conversation in the bar area, completely ruining the ambiance for everyone actually eating.

One of them ordered a vindaloo for no other reason than that he had "heard of it". I got a kick out of that. I bet he did too.

Edited November 7, 2014 by Hail Ming!