Should Greenland be considered a continent?
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It could be the eigth continent. Who's in favor of nominating Greenland as the eight continent? Who is against? Please explain your answer.
Dassault Papillon:
I'm against.
We don't NEED another continent. This makes it change for change's sake, which I'm not a fan of.
It doesn't have the population to demand it. It's geographical location is not distinct enough, and its political status is not disputed.
Good topic though, if I may be so bold as to highjack it... If Greenland should NOT be considered the eighth continent, what should be? (You have to pick one)
For mine, I think I'd nominate the Middle East as a new continent. Among other things It'd sort out the question once and for all over whether Turkey is part of Europe or Asia!
Greenland can't be scientifically classified as a continent. It is 90% ice, and apart of the North American Teutonic plate.
nzlockie:
Population doesn't matter, as Antarctica's continental status proves. It is an island in the North Atlantic/Arctic, the biggest island in the world. It is not connected to any continent, so it cannot honestly be considered part of North America. It is owned by Denmark, so the Danish people would probably enjoy the ego boost of owning a continent, albeit the eighth and smallest continent.
In size, it's bigger than Mexico (if I recall correctly), so that's a start.
To answer your other question:
1. Central America
2. India
3. Russia (definitely big enough, and Europe's no more continent-ish than Russia)
Blackflag:
Antarctica is primarily ice. I don't see how that is relevant.
Dassault Papillon:
Antarctica is primarily land
the biggest island in the world.
No it isn't
For mine, I think I'd nominate the Middle East as a new continent. Among other things It'd sort out the question once and for all over whether Turkey is part of Europe or Asia!
Europe and Asia aren't actually continents. Eurasia is a continent. Europe just denotes the land of the white christians.
Blackflag:
So you're saying that "Europe" is more of a designation of an area with a specific ethnic and racial demographic?
Dassault Papillon:
Yes, it is a made up continent. Kind of the same thing as making Greenland a continent.
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admin |
Dec 14 2014 12:00 PM Dassault Papillon:
Wow. For once somebody makes a popular, somewhat scientific thread, and doesn't put it in the science subforum.
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admin |
Dec 14 2014 12:02 PM Blackflag:
Teutonic plate? Wasn't that some sort of armor worn half a millennium ago?
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admin:
What's your opinion on the topic?
Blackflag:
So if it was done once, why not again?
By
admin |
Dec 14 2014 12:06 PM Dassault Papillon:
I don't particularly care. I've always thought the idea of a "continent" is particularly arbitrary and is just another tool people use to impose barriers on each other, to the exclusion of those from other "continents", and alternately to promote friendship within the same continent. It has very little real basis. On the other hand I would support Greenlanders' right to self-determination on the issue.
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admin:
I agree. I don't particularly care.
On the other hand I would support Greenlanders' right to self-determination on the issue
Good debate topic which divides many people.
I feel like INAB is trying to shoot down objections without actually providing reasons on why Greenland
should
be a continent
Blackflag:
Because it'd be cool to add an eighth continent.
Europe and Asia are continents. You can contest their right to be if you like, but they are both accepted continents.
@Imnotabench - I get that you don't HAVE to have a big population to be a continent - I was just saying that if Greenland had a population of, say, 1 billion people, that would add more weight to the argument that they should be made distinct from Europe.
I was also adding in the idea of ethnic diversity there, as in they don't have the KIND of population to demand it. Had their population been small but very distinctive from the rest of the world, then, again, that would add more weight to the argument.
I just don't really see any good reason to add an eighth continent. I'm not sure what would be cool about it.