Who hates the Union Flag?

DirtyRaver · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:09

Pardon my stupidity, but how does one tell if it's upside down? looks the same either way to me?

ShaolinDreams · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:10

starfighter said:
i like it, but I can't say no to a dragon being on it.

oww not even a tiny gold dragon?

what about a lion!

Hades · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:10

Doctor_Zhivago said:
The problem isn't with the design of the flag, it's how it's misused as an icon for groups such as Labour party

The labour party doesn't come to mind when I see our flag :confused:

Hades · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:11

DirtyRaver said:
Pardon my stupidity, but how does one tell if it's upside down? looks the same either way to me?

The red diagonal stripes are on the left side of the white band they sit in.

EDIT: Oops, that's a silly comment as it depends which part of the flag you look at lol. Take a look at it and you'll see what I'm trying to get at though

Puzzled · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:14

It's a great flag, gives out a strong image and is unmistakable.

The majority of the flags in that link are completely forgettable but you can always spot the union flag.

BigglesPiP · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:14

DirtyRaver said:
Pardon my stupidity, but how does one tell if it's upside down? looks the same either way to me?

Correct (anticlockwise shift of the diagonal red stripes with pole to the left):

Incorrect (clockwise shift):

Missing.String · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:15

I value it about as much as I do a piece of paper. :/

meghatronic · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:18

Missing.String said:
I value it about as much as I do a piece of paper. :/

Lèse majesté.

Hades · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:18

This thread has just made me realise that I've never made my children (5yrs and 3yrs) aware of our flag. Right, I'm going to do that tomorrow

Missing.String · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:19

meghatronic said:
Lèse majesté.

Hurt majesty? My french is a little lacking after the summer holidays.

clv101 · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:19

BigglesPiP said:
Correct (anticlockwise shift of the diagonal red stripes with pole to the left):

Yeah - look at the top left and quadrant, the diagonal should have thick white at the top.

Hades · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:20

Useful site if you ever want to draw it or understand the dimensions...

http://www.jdawiseman.com/papers/union-jack/union-jack.html

rypt · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:22

Hades said:
I'd change our national anthem though. Jerusalem is much better but probably more suitable for an English anthem than a British one.

I prefer Britannia or Land of Hope and Glory to Jerusalem

What annoys me is how the short version is played at sporting events (say F1) rather than the full version

CliffyBiro · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:28

Gustov said:
The flag itself isn't chavvy.

It's the chavs that go round wearing fake burberry and therefore the flag is associated with 'chavs'

Real designer burberry costs a bomb.

I haven't seen anyone wearing great Britain flags recently either.

I was joking.

Col_M · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:30

I like our flag, I get a rising feeling inside me whenever i see it flying over here, I guess being a Brit abroad makes you even more aware and proud then you otherwise would be. I've even got one over here with me now for emergencies.....

Did you also know that if the jack is upside down on a ship then it's in distress? my old Scout leader was a matelow and he would often tell us that and it stuck. I did always wonder it's usefulness really, considering that you have to be reasonably close to see it and at that distance the flames, ship listing or people running around screaming would probably be the first thing you noticed.

Gustov · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:31

skippi90 said:
I was joking.

No you weren't

rypt · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:32

Col_M said:
Did you also know that if the jack is upside down on a ship then it's in distress? my old Scout leader was a matelow and he would often tell us that and it stuck. I did always wonder it's usefulness really, considering that you have to be reasonably close to see it and at that distance the flames, ship listing or people running around screaming would probably be the first thing you noticed.

Isn't it still treason or similar to fly the flag upside down other than to signify distress?

Hades · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:37

For some reason one of the iconic union flag images for me is that of Gulf War (1991) RAF pilot John Peters who was captured by the Iraqis. He's sitting there, face black and blue, wearing his uniform with a union flag on it.

http://www.gordonpoole.com/?artistID=591

pingwing · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:37

rypt said:
I prefer Britannia or Land of Hope and Glory to Jerusalem

What annoys me is how the short version is played at sporting events (say F1) rather than the full version

I dunno, last weekend hearing the Belgium national anthem for the first time since well the last time the bbc did that gp was quite an eye opener for how awesome an anthem really can be. Also a massive fan of the Italian one, make Ferrari's constant winning over the last few years has been worth it

Hades · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:38

rypt said:
Isn't it still treason or similar to fly the flag upside down other than to signify distress?

I think that's a picture of the queen upside down. e.g. a stamp.