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Comment by jamiethompson | Hacker News Reader

I understand what you're saying, but it's not just pedantry.

You do have to be specific about what you mean when you say "Ireland" in any context where it is important that you are understood.

"Ireland" can quite correctly either mean the island of Ireland or the country called Ireland (aka The Republic of Ireland). In a political or business context you are likely to be specifically referencing one or the other.

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I think in this context (cables landing on an Island called Ireland) we're ok to use simple terms and be understood.

That wasn't the question ksec asked though was it.

"Off Topic: Is the short form (Republic of Ireland) ROI used often?"

But also no. Cables landing in ROI would be under completely different regulatory control to cables landing in NI which would be under United Kingdom regulatory control.

In the context of Internet connections "Ireland" is precise enough, since either normal meaning works.

Since they're geopolitically separate and have their own infrastructures, the distinction is quite apt for understanding the "who" of who is impacted when the specific cables are cut.

In other words, based on your assumption that "Ireland" is precise enough and since Belfast (NI) has it's own IX, that would mean that you would have dichotomy where "Ireland" could connect to the internet and "Ireland" could not, yeah?

Agree, it's like saying Europe. If you ask a geologist, it will include Russia. If you ask Macron, it will not!

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