A solution to the whole Eastern Europe dilemma

[TheAlamo]

I was looking at some maps and I realized there is a quick and easy way to solve the whole "X is in Eastern/Central Europe" issue.

The western extreme of Europe lies at approximately 25 degrees West (Westen extreme of Iceland which is defined as being part of the European continent for the purposes of this thread) while the eastern extreme of Europe lies at approximately 47 degrees East (Westernmost Russia-Kazakhstan border), but we'll round that up to 50 degrees East just to give us a nice round number. Using this, we can draw a line straight down the middle at approximately 12.5 degrees East, with everything to the East of this line being inside Eastern Europe and everything to the West of this line being inside Western Europe.

I have drawn the line thusly on a map:

As you can see, the dividing line runs along the German-Polish border, cuts the Czech Republic roughly in half with Prague being on the Eastern side, and continues on South through Italy.

I believe this deference to simple geography and basic arithmetic can easily solve the whole issue without needing to invoke ethnic identities or painful history.

Please discuss your thoughts.

 

[Kraznaya]

I was looking at some maps and I realized there is a quick and easy way to solve the whole "X is in Eastern/Central Europe" issue.

The western extreme of Europe lies at approximately 25 degrees West (Westen extreme of Iceland which is defined as being part of the European continent for the purposes of this thread) while the eastern extreme of Europe lies at approximately 47 degrees East (Westernmost Russia-Kazakhstan border), but we'll round that up to 50 degrees East just to give us a nice round number. Using this, we can draw a line straight down the middle at approximately 12.5 degrees East, with everything to the East of this line being inside Eastern Europe and everything to the West of this line being inside Western Europe.

I have drawn the line thusly on a map:

I believe this deference to simple geography and basic arithmetic can easily solve the whole issue without needing to invoke ethnic identities or painful history.

Please discuss your thoughts.

I approve. This map has much merit as we can see from the inclusion of much of Naples within the definition. Along with the geographic precision of this elegant solution, we see the cultural implications of the correct labeling of third world hellholes such as Naples along with longtime Eastern European stalwarts such as Poland as we examine the "Eastern Disease of Europe" that plagues the uncivilized countries that lie beyond the red line.

 

[holy king]

are you calling me eastern european?

 

[azzaman333]

Seems fair enough to me.

 

[TheAlamo]

are you calling me eastern european?

Yes, but you and the other Eastern Europeans (ie. Poles, Czechs, etc.) should not feel offended. It is just simple geography.

 

[holy king]

i sure as hell aint no czech or pole.

 

[Lillefix]

i sure as hell aint no czech or pole.

You're Austrian aren't you? An Austrian who lives in eastern Europe.

 

[TheAlamo]

Actually, I have made a modification. I have taken the initial figure of 12.5 degrees East and applied it to a map altered so as to place nations wholly on one side or the other. This is for matters of pure simplification.

Here is the revised map:

Again, this is simple geography. The Czech Republic was a bit questionable, but ultimately a slim majority of the country lies along the Eastern side, including the capital, so it should be geographically placed within Eastern Europe.

 

[Lillefix]

And then back to the starting point...

 

[holy king]

yeeha.

 

[Cheetah]

Sweden is an eastern European hellhole!

Take that you "Norway is the last Soviet state"-bastards!!!

 

[Mise]

The term Eastern Europe is misleading and offensive. I propose the following designations:

 

[TheAlamo]

I disagree Mise, your map is very confusing. I think my system is best thanks to sheer simplicity.

 

[holy king]

yeah, also, finland definitley belongs to western russia.

 

[Shekwan]

I think "Little Russia" would sound better and accurately depict the smaller stature of those countries when compared to their big brother.

 

[RedRalph]

I disagree Mise, your map is very confusing. I think my system is best thanks to sheer simplicity.

It's extremely confusing alright. What's with those blue countries? Oblasts? Republics of the Federation? Krais? Autonomous Okrugs? How exactly are they governed from Moscow?

 

[Mise]

@Shekwan: Yes, you're right, Little Russia seems more appropriate.

 

[RedRalph]

I think "Little Russia" would sound better and accurately depict the smaller stature of those countries when compared to their big brother.

there is already a little Russia. I propose these new name changes

Ireland = drunker Russia
Spain = Western Oblast
Serbia = the Real Russia
Switzerland = least-wartorn Russia
Poland = forever Russia

 

[warpus]

I was looking at some maps and I realized there is a quick and easy way to solve the whole "X is in Eastern/Central Europe" issue.

The western extreme of Europe lies at approximately 25 degrees West (Westen extreme of Iceland which is defined as being part of the European continent for the purposes of this thread) while the eastern extreme of Europe lies at approximately 47 degrees East (Westernmost Russia-Kazakhstan border), but we'll round that up to 50 degrees East just to give us a nice round number. Using this, we can draw a line straight down the middle at approximately 12.5 degrees East, with everything to the East of this line being inside Eastern Europe and everything to the West of this line being inside Western Europe.

I have drawn the line thusly on a map:

As you can see, the dividing line runs along the German-Polish border, cuts the Czech Republic roughly in half with Prague being on the Eastern side, and continues on South through Italy.

I believe this deference to simple geography and basic arithmetic can easily solve the whole issue without needing to invoke ethnic identities or painful history.

Please discuss your thoughts.

Iceland, eh? You forgot about Greenland.

The geographic centre of Europe cuts through France.. YOU FOOL

 

[holy king]

greenland is clearly not part of asiafrica.