Software corporates' unfortunate nationalism

I wrote this a few months ago, before I moved to the Netherlands.

Zune has just assured me that GB (my computer setting) is not part of the UK (my live email setting). Doh – they’re the same country! Technically, the di&#fb00;erence is Northern Ireland. But then, I’m signing in with a .IE mail address. So what’s happening: is Microso&#fb05; taking sides in that old con&#fb02;ict? That’s how it seems.

I really don’t like the way they force nationalism (small ‘N’) on people, their presumption that if you live in ‘X’, you’re X-ian. Frankly, it’s insulting, and ignorant of history. Europeans move around among each others’ countries, we always have done. Sometimes as individuals, sometimes as armies. Whatever your opinion of the history, pretending it doesn’t happen is denying plain old fact.

Another thing that annoys me is if I sign in with French credentials, everything’s in French. Fair enough. But how the **** do I correct their nationalistic presumption that because I live in France I must be &#fb02;uent in French? Control Panel may be set to my mother tongue, but half the content still appears in French. Why doesn’t zune consult the settings on the computer? I’m living in France, I pay French tax, fair enough. But I’m forced to log in with a French account. Why? What’s wrong with British? Or Belgian? Or, the ideal, not bothering with the nation thing at all? What’s wrong with my choice of language for the user interface? Pleeeeeze, let me use my own damned language.

I really don’t like the nasty little nationalism of American companies. It’s not just Microso&#fb05;. Apple re&#fb02;ect the same nasty politics. Adobe too. This unpleasant nationalism is ignorant, insulting and dangerous. In fact, I think it’d quite disgusting, given what nationalist ideologies did to Europe in the 20th century. For God’s sake, Microso&#fb05;, give up the politics, let people decide who they are for themselves, stop imposing the wrong culture on them. Be reasonable, not nationalist.