EU Myths

British EU Myths, debunked by a bot (ish).

Mostly automated tweets with an occasional @morpheu5 behind the scenes.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @beatraxa @ChewyBB @B1EMW @Sillyshib OK but it doesn't have anything to do with anything. You can learn a language at any time really. I'll admit it becomes harder with age, but you can be understood. You also forget the people coming to the UK without speaking any English, and still manage to get a job. Says a lot.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @beatraxa @ChewyBB @B1EMW @Sillyshib You don't need 25, you already have one, and you CAN learn another one. Most people in Europe know around 2-3 languages, so there's a chance you can get by with the most common: French, Spanish, German… many from the East know German. South: Spanish, Italian… you're covered.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @beatraxa @ChewyBB @B1EMW @Sillyshib I started English at 11 and Spanish at 25, so there you go.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @ChewyBB @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib And yet there are 3 millions, not 65. Hardly a queue.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@ChewyBB @HenryMarott @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib At any rate, I'm tired, I finished my house chores, this served as a nice distraction but it's the fourth time we go round in circles. I'm onto more interesting endeavours, like making food or clipping my toenails.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @ChewyBB @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib I drive through twice a year. Those people are not from the EU.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @ChewyBB @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib It's not a massive assumption. English is taught in school as a second language from an early age. Sometimes you can choose other languages instead, but English has become a de facto standard. And dare I say, the USA did more for that the the UK ever did, post 1945 in Europe.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @ChewyBB @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib Not really. My Spanish is still average and yet I managed to work and live there, and make friends. You are the only one thinking you NEED to learn the language. I would WANT to learn the language as a courtesy, buy I wouldn't feel compelled to do so.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @ChewyBB @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib Your point would be valid if you had a queue from Caials to Johannesburg eager to get into the UK, but the truth is there isn't. The living standards are lower than in the EU, the cost and stress of living higher, it's harder to make friends. Salaries are about the only plus.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @ChewyBB @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib Truth is: people have choices, and the UK wasn't my first, neither my wife's, but we saw an opportunity, and a lack thereof in Italy, so we jumped. Now we're getting tired of the UK and we're making plans to move out. We haven't decided yet where.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @ChewyBB @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib I can't follow your logic… so, you're saying people all over Europe are learning English. That means English is known all over Europe. So how is that going to disadvantage you from moving to anywhere in Europe? You'd have more than 3M people if everyone wanted to move here!

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@ChewyBB @HenryMarott @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib It may very well do, but language in the brain is so complicated that even language scientist can't figure out how it works. Certainly brain plasticity plays a part. Anyway, I wasn't questioning the statements just saying that if you invoke science you must cite sources.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @ChewyBB @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib So it is in France, Italy, Spain, Germany… all places I regularly visit.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @ChewyBB @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib By your own admission you haven't tried and have no desire to do so, so forgive me if I don't consider this statement very highly.

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @ChewyBB @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib I don't need to speak 25 or whatever number because I know 1. The most common language in Europe, and 2. The most widely spoken language in the World. And I'm rubbish and languages, or I'd speak more! I'm trying to learn German and have no desire to move there either!

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@ChewyBB @HenryMarott @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib Well there. As a scientist myself I must stop you there. It is certainly my experience that it becomes easier, but when you said "it's science" please be prepare to spend a few hours on Google Scholar and cite some sources :)

[EU Myths @eumyths]

@HenryMarott @ChewyBB @B1EMW @beatraxa @Sillyshib You clearly are speaking on prejudice here. I know people across Europe and none of them felt put off for not knowing the language. One of them lives in Belgium and he learned French AND Flemish, another two live in Sweden and they learned Swedish! Go out and see it for yourself.