Please vote in the poll! And I am especially interested in opinion of members from countries which are often mentioned in such context. :)
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Please vote in the poll! And I am especially interested in opinion of members from countries which are often mentioned in such context. :)
Yes, it's an evil Turkish word used to put down the local Slavic population.
I want to be honest. I feel insulted when Croatia is mentioned in context with the ''balkans'' and I don't actually find those ''region'' nearly as bad as the name itself.
I don't feel comfortable to be classified in balkans group, and I'm sure there are others who feel the same.
Personally, i'm not offended by it
The term historically used was Haemus Peninsula, a Greek word named after a Thracian. It was named after the same mountains that the Balkans are named after, but the word Balkan is of Turkish etymology. I prefer Haemus to Balkan, but I would rather have another term not named after the mountains. Something like Cisdanubia, but I don't like that name either cause it has 'cis' in it and it means that the term isn't unique to that region since a Transdanubia also exists. Haemus is an okay name though. But I feel like it should be a term used exclusively for the Eastern -Balkans whereas Adriatic/Dinaric should be used exclusively for the Western Balkans.
The term 'Danubia' or 'Ister/Isterland' (historic name of the Danube River) would be ideal.
I don't like using Southeast Europe because it is 'prefix + word'. It's the same issue I have with 'Cisdanubia' (and why I prefer Danubia/Ister/Isterland).
Anyways, I don't find the word 'Balkan' derogatory, but I'm not from the Balkans so that's why :p
You find it insulting because you're taught to distance yourself from the Balkans in favor of central Europe (Austria, Hungary). The name itself 'Balkans' is irrelevant. The word could be Widget or Lalaland. It doesn't matter. What matters is the antagonism behind the word.
I like it
But Dalmatia isn't similar to Austria or Hungary. Dalmatia is 100% southeastern Europe, and still people there have no balkan identity. It's seen as strange.
I think you're wrong. Not only Croats find it insulting. Many Slovenes, Greeks, Romanians and even Serbs do too. Word itself has mostly negative conotations, who on earth want to be part of that ? :eek:
Slovenes aren't balkanci so its just stupid to call them that...
About this thread, to be honest I dont feel anythin about this because I know that area of Croatia never belonged to that "Balkan" invention, whatever that invention may be, never before 1918 and entering into Yugoslavia, so honestly, I dont have anythin against ppl who like term Balkans etc, long life to them and everythin best, only dont include me into that, that's all.
And one thing is sure as Hell; I won't accept "Balkan thing" only because someone's view me or Croats like that because of Yugoslavia, no way, forget about it.
My ancestors didnt die in vain fighting Turks so that turkish foot never enter my city in Dalmatia (and never did entered) OR ANY MAJOR COASTAL CITIES IN DALMATIA (and coastal cities and coast are everythin in dalmatia) so that I would now have to accept someone call me "Balkanian", I would rather DIE than accept that.
And I dont care if someone will call me "Balkanian", or any Croat, I just know we will never accept it, never..., we were never part of that (whatever THAT IS) until 1918, and never will be, nevermind what anyone's think.
Balkan is a regional term, not administrative. You don't have to be under Ottomans to be included in Balkans. Administrative word for European part of Ottomans was Rumeli.
I didn't say Croatia is similar to Austria or Hungry. Austria and Hungry isn't even similar to each other. It's a question of a perception being taught.
Balkan is perceived to be bad. This comes from centuries of being part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire had expansionist interests in the Balkans that was met with resistance at different times by different groups (Turks, later Serbians, etc.) Centuries of antagonism creates a dislike for other groups.
A geographical term has the negative connotation that people are willing to give it. It's not the word itself but the cultural baggage people have with that word. Hence why I said the word itself doesn't matter. What matters is the antagonism some people may have for that term and it's an antagonism that doesn't come from a void.Quote:
I think you're wrong. Not only Croats find it insulting. Many Slovenes, Greeks, Romanians and even Serbs do too. Word itself has mostly negative conotations, who on earth want to be part of that ? :eek:
Isn't it due to lack of kinship with other Balkanites that you feel this way? The Balkans are a very diverse region with a very turbulent history. It's 'Europe's Caucasus' in that regard.
Croatia is at the fringe of what is considered Balkan. Serbia for instance is at the center of it, and they embrace the term more readily, I assume.
And btw, I will repeat again here, WITH RAGE this time; WHO IS THAT who have the NERVE to call me, or any Croat "a Balkanian", who? Some fucking English? Or French?
Or Czech? Who?
Where THE FUCK WERE YOU when Ottomans attacked Europe? Area of Croatia never fell to Ottomans, we resisted (with help of Hungarians, Serbs and Italians) AND WE NEVER FELL, never, we were the the WALL for them, who threatened not only south-eastern Europe, but ENTIRE EUROPE.
AND NOW, some fucking DEGENERATE WESTERN EUROPEAN OR EASTERN OR NORTHERN have BALLS to call me or my people "Balkanian"? You fucking trash, you were trading goods with Ottomans, YES YOU ENGLISH AND FRENCH, you traded with Ottomans while we fought them, the only ones who ever helped us WERE SPANIARDS AND ITALIANS, and we never forget that, never.
All of you others are fucking hypocrites, while we were defending this constinent YOU WERE RAPING AND KILLING NATIVES ACROSS AMERICAS, and trading with Ottomans, so dont you come to me calling me a fucking "Balkanian", hypocrite trash.
I have more honour in MY BLOOD defending this continent and this culture than all FUCKING NORTH EUROPEANS COMBINED HERE.
And we Croats should stick on this matter with Romanians, Hungarians, even Serbs, Italians ofcourse etc... WE DEFENDED THIS CONTINENT, we spilled our blood, means our ancestors, FOR WHAT????
SO THAT ANGLO-SAXON TRASH may call me "A BALKANIAN"? piece of shits, you never were good for anythin else but slaughtering ppl around world who defended themselves with spears against you, "FUCKING BRAVE" falks, no question about it.
And this Polish guy "Rethel" calling me and many other countries here "JUST BALKANS", who is calling me like that? A member from nation who was ravaged by Germans and Russians in every conflict of that two powers like Poland doesnt even exist, wiped you out in 1 day.
We Croats had wars with Serbs, yes, but I have more respect for Serbs (and I think Albanians also will think this, maybe not sayin it, but think it, AT LEAST SERBS HAD BALLS TO FIGHT) than for some fucking North European gays crawling around here thinking they're somethin or someone for this continent, you are fucking disgrace of this continent, back then when Europe was threatened, and now, ESPECIALLY NOW.
I'm tired of giving excuses to this fucking shits from North every time every day on this forum, not me personally giving excuses, but many of Greeks, Albanians, Romanians, Serbs, even Hungarians etc...
TO WHOM ARE WE GIVING EXCUSES? FUCKING PIGS WHO NEVER FELT ANYTHING TO DEFEND THIS CONTINENT WHILE OUR ANCESTORS WERE DYING IN THOUSANDS so that they can rape and murder every native known to man in Americas and across ASIA?
So that we all White people of today have to wear "WHITE BURDEN" because of their fucking fault?
FUCK THEM and their "Nordish supremacy", I can clean my shoes with their "honour" in history, HONOUR THEY NEVER HAD.
Northern part of Croatia is similar with Austria and Hungary.
Completely wrong. There is basically no difference between eastern Austria and western Hungary.Quote:
Austria and Hungry isn't even similar to each other.
That's true.Quote:
It's a question of a perception being taught.
Yes, true, but not completely. Even inhabitants of so-called ''Balkans'' perceive it badly. Not themself, but that name. There is absolutely nothing positive associated with term balkans, sadly.Quote:
Balkan is perceived to be bad. This comes from centuries of being part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire had expansionist interests in the Balkans that was met with resistance at different times by different groups (Turks, later Serbians, etc.) Centuries of antagonism creates a dislike for other groups.
There are antagonisms in many other parts of Europe, and their regional names don't carry such baggage. There is no justification to keep it, especially because Ottomans are long gone.Quote:
A geographical term has the negative connotation that people are willing to give it. It's not the word itself but the cultural baggage people have with that word. Hence why I said the word itself doesn't matter. What matters is the antagonism some people may have for that term and it's an antagonism that doesn't come from a void.
But ofcourse, if somebody identifies with it, be my guest :). Just don't expect us others to do the same.
to me that was exotic word, back then when I was a kid, I still correlate this word with this band
https://youtu.be/J6y_AMq9PNY