The same can be said for England vs UK (or London vs England for that matter). I say that as an expat in London…

Fun fact: there's a program in Japan that interviews and follows foreigners. One of the first questions is "where do you come from". Most Americans answer with a state name.

I've watched some YouTubers do that. For the people that say "United States," a common very follow-up question is "where in the United states"?

That tracks with my own personal experience internationally: if I just say "the US," people ask for more specifics. So I now just respond with more specificity to start.

Here's the thing: when I answer to such a question that I'm French, I also do get the followup question "where in France?". (although if the question is "where do you come from" rather than "where are you from", I now answer that I come from Japan, which gets WTF looks and different followup questions (but I only do that outside Japan, where I live))

This isn't an experience unique to people from the US (see other comments). Would you consider saying "State Name, USA"?

My mistake, I see now the person I responded to may have meant that Americans say just the state. In the videos I've watched, and at least for myself, I usually hear it like you suggested: state + USA.

Indeed, that's what I meant. And for less known states, that's usually followed by an awkward silence until they do say US.

I suppose it's because the main issue is whether or not HN is "Silicon Valley", and so if you're in the UK (for example) you are not Silicon Valley regardless of if you are in NI, Scotland, Wales, or England.

I don't see how this poll determines this. I'm in LA but not silicon valley and had to pick California.

In that case, may the poll should have been binary ? edit: typo

Actually, that's probably the reason - the poll was by binarynate not uknate.

Then make your own poll that is split up how you like it. I see no problem splitting up large countries in polls like this. If only this poll did more of it. I'm not sure you have the knowledge to speak for "the rest of us" about how polls should be split up.