Could be some of us don't identify with a country; we might consider us citizens of the world, human beings, not nationalities?!

Quoting DJ Doena:

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Quoting Evo2Me:

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Could be some of us don't identify with a country; we might consider us citizens of the world, human beings, not nationalities?!

A very StarTrekian answer but sometimes it does actually help to know where someone is coming from.

E.g. pauls42 isn't really talking about a new "Dr. Who" series, just about a new season.

A very subtle distinction.. 

Quoting Evo2Me:

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Could be some of us don't identify with a country; we might consider us citizens of the world, human beings, not nationalities?!

Identifying with a country is one thing - often badly misused...

But IMHO exposing my nationality and therefore informing the world citizens around here what my background is - concerning language and coulture - helps communicating with each other: on one hand everyone can get the information out of my flag that he can clarify anything with a german PM, and on the other hand everyone will not wonder if I react on some topics more sensible than on others (eg. nazi films)...

For me the background is one thing to keep in mind while communicating. Since many aspects of communication can't be used online (any form of body language and the voice itself) it is the more important for me to get any information I can...

Regards, AA

Quoting Evo2Me:

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And one not correctly appreciated for Great Britain's TV fare. While Americans count in 'seasons', the British use 'series' to distinguish, well, series.

We in America tend to think in terms of "seasons" as much for the way the shows are aired and advertized.  Until recent events have started to affect the way networks air programs, the tradition has been to start airing new episodes of new or returning shows in the Fall -- and all the ads refer to the "New Fall Season" premier of [insert a TV show here].  Naturally some of these shows fail and the networks cancel them and replace them with "new" programs -- generally in the Spring, thus the "Second Season."

In the early days of US television, a full "season" of a program was 39 weeks.  That covered a period roughly from September thru May with few reruns.  Over time, monetary constraints trimmed the size of the season down to what it is today, roughly 22-23 episodes.  The initial order for programs was 1/3 of a normal season, or 13 episodes.  That remains true today -- thus the "13-episode" run people talk about.  If a show survives after the initial 13 episodes, the remainder of the "season" includes about 10 more episodes.

I don't know how shows are aired in the UK, but their "series" seems to be roughly 13 episodes.  US cable networks like HBO and Showtime seem to be following the UK size for their programs, by the way.

The main difference between the US and the UK is that for the US, a "series" is a group of seasons (which is in turn a group of episodes) while for the UK, a "series" is a group of episodes.

What, then, do the British call a group of series?

I think the flag would help a non-English poster get an answer to his questions.  When someone starts of with a statement like, "Please excuse my poor English," but doesn't show where he's from, it doesn't help anyone answer him except in English.  But the flag might indicate that he's Italian -- so someone else could answer his question in Italian.  But without the flag, you only have the user name to go by and that often doesn't indicate where he's from.

I've seen many people willing to help the non-English user in his own language when it's clear where that person is from. The flag icon may not be infallible, but it's at least an indication.

I don't want to hide my real name or my flag, because I'm proud of what I am and where I'm coming from and if anybody doesn't like that I see it as their problem and not mine.

Quoting whispering:

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I've noticed that for small errors the english speakers dont want to correct you, which is a shame, as sometimes i realise years after that ive used some word wrong

To be fair... English speakers probably think a small error is just a typo!  God knows I make enough of them!

Does it really matter if you display a flag or not. Many people have a variety of reasons for choosing why they do or don't "fly" the flag in their profile. Personally, I have lived in many countries and have witnessed the broad canvas of peoples languages, behaviours, cultures, customs and attitudes and have come to respect and to be embracing rather than tolerant toward them all regardless of my own.
I am now involved in community broadcasting for a multicultural radio station where we have 52 language groups going to air (not at the same time). As a respect to our hosts, our lingua franca or vehicular language is English, not because its is the official language of our country (Australia), but because it is our medium of exchange so to speak. Our only expectation is to respect each other as individuals and to check political, cultural, religous or social antagonisms at the border and to give each other the opportunity to make a fresh start without this baggage, no matter how it has/was manifested.
The same goal should be embraced in forums such as this. A common meeting place where we can embrace ideas and solutions to problems, to care and share without worrying about where we have come from.
Personally I don't embrace xenophobia or trust overt nationalism and associated symbols... it saddens me when I see it here and in other forums.
So lets get on with it... life's a bitch, lifes too short...
By the way, I am an Australian and never afraid to say hello to a friend or a stranger.. so G'day and goodbye for now.
et tu Brute!