Is The United Kingdom Bad?

anastrophe · Post by **anastrophe** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:45 pm

i'd say so.

anastrophe · Post by **anastrophe** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:58 pm

by the way, lest intentions be misunderstood, I'M KIDDING.

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:39 pm

I was wondering about that!

anastrophe wrote: by the way, lest intentions be misunderstood, I'M KIDDING.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 3:00 am

Don't worry nobody takes americans seriously anyway

Who cares what a bunch of foreigners think anyway

"we arra people"

From "Thoughts of a drunk in glasgow" by I ispissed

Suresh Gupta · Post by **Suresh Gupta** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 2:58 am

anastrophe wrote: by the way, lest intentions be misunderstood, I'M KIDDING.

OK you were kidding. But what is your honest opinion about UK?

Suresh Gupta · Post by **Suresh Gupta** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 3:01 am

gmc wrote: Don't worry nobody takes americans seriously anyway

Who cares what a bunch of foreigners think anyway

From "Thoughts of a drunk in glasgow" by I ispissed

But UK has taken Americans very seriously in Iraq war. Don't you agree?

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 4:25 am

But UK has taken Americans very seriously in Iraq war. Don't you agree?

Not quite sure what you mean. Many in the UK are nervous about where this could lead, the anti war protests were the largest the UK has seen for decades. As a people we don't like being lied to or being misled, our own next election could be quite interesting.

I'd be curious about your opinions of the UK. I used to work in london with a fairly racially mixed staff, I was the odd one out cos nobody could understand a word I said till I modified the accent. Because you had to make more effort to understand each other we ended up getting along very well eventually. The differences became the subject of humour rather than causing friction, we would make jokes about token cockneys etc.

Suresh Gupta · Post by **Suresh Gupta** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 6:32 am

gmc wrote: Not quite sure what you mean. Many in the UK are nervous about where this could lead, the anti war protests were the largest the UK has seen for decades. As a people we don't like being lied to or being misled, our own next election could be quite interesting.

I'd be curious about your opinions of the UK. I used to work in london with a fairly racially mixed staff, I was the odd one out cos nobody could understand a word I said till I modified the accent. Because you had to make more effort to understand each other we ended up getting along very well eventually. The differences became the subject of humour rather than causing friction, we would make jokes about token cockneys etc.

In your post you said that nobody takes americans seriously. I simply brought to your attention to what UK did in Iraq was only taking Americans seriously.

I will have no hesitation to agree that as a people you don't like being lied to or being misled. There is enough proof of that in anti-war protests in UK. And if people are having such opinion then coming election would certainly be quite interesting.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 6:51 am

In your post you said that nobody takes americans seriously. I simply brought to your attention to what UK did in Iraq was only taking Americans seriously.

I was being facetious. One of the biggest cultural differences is humour, we have a long tradition of taking the piss out of all and sundry the high and the mighty which in posts like this does not always come across the the way intended-hence the

A Karenina · Post by **A Karenina** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 7:19 am

Any country that gives the world something as yummy as fish and chips can't be all bad.

anastrophe · Post by **anastrophe** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:59 am

A Karenina wrote: Any country that gives the world something as yummy as fish and chips can't be all bad. :Dand as i've suggested before, i shall always be indebted to the british isles for elizabeth hurley and emma thompson. :yh_bigsmi

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 10:21 am

Suresh Gupta wrote: OK you were kidding. But what is your honest opinion about UK?

I love the UK.

Politics divide people - but I see that as an un-important subset when weighed against heritage and common bonds.

I kind of understand the disliking of Americans. There are a lot of Americans that make me embarrassed. But, I think each country has groups of people that make one sigh in despair.

I also understand the intense dislike of our politics. Sorry, but I can't help that. We don't like all of our political choices either! As I've said in earlier posts, America is damned if we do and damned if we don't.

Many of us feel that we can never do right on the world stage. One group demands that we get involved. Another group demands that we get out. This is true for every single situation. The common thread is that everyone wants our money. This is one component of the argument that tends to make me cynical about world politics.

Ooops! I wandered off the topic! The end.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 12:43 pm

I kind of understand the disliking of Americans. There are a lot of Americans that make me embarrassed. But, I think each country has groups of people that make one sigh in despair.

I also understand the intense dislike of our politics.

Disliking the politics of a country doesn't mean you dislike the people, it seems americans can't appreciate that and take any criticisms being personally aimed at them. I bet you don't like all your countrymen either.

If you think our press don't like the americans then you should see what they say about europeans. For example one of the tabloids recently had the headline "up yours Delors" with the appropriate two fingers. As you may guess they are opposed to eec membership. The french don't take it seriously or assume we hate them all. We still drink thei wine and drive their cars. Actually french beer is good as well but maybe that is just in contrasdt to crappy scottish beer.

We hate and despise the French, the Germans, italians you name it we hate them all. They hate us you know, we go to their countries and expect them to speak english, the italians hate the dutch-don't know why but they seem to. It's great fun at the borders, the french decide to stop german cars for random searches, the italians stop the french and the germans. Nobody likes the swiss because they always stay neutral and have no sense of humour and they kept all hitlers money. If you can't take the piss out of other nationalities then why bother having them?

Suresh Gupta · Post by **Suresh Gupta** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 5:21 am

Redwhiteblue wrote: I would say our leaders are completely out of touch with what people expect of them. There are so many things wrong with this country and it does seem to be getting worse.

If I had the opportunity to emigrate, I would do. Especially to someplace where house prices are reasonable, and the weather isn't so gloomy.

:-6

I think 'being out of touch with what people expect of them' is a trait of political leadership. I can say this for our leaders also. But are your leaders responsible for gloomy weather also?

Suresh Gupta · Post by **Suresh Gupta** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 5:29 am

gmc wrote: Disliking the ......people............ hate and despise .......them all. They hate us.......Nobody likes...........

Only dislike, hate, despise. No love. Are the people really so bad?

Suresh Gupta · Post by **Suresh Gupta** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 5:44 am

Tombstone wrote: I love the UK.

Very nice.

Politics divide people...........

It is unnatural. It should unite people.

I kind of understand the disliking of Americans. There are a lot of Americans that make me embarrassed. But, I think each country has groups of people that make one sigh in despair.

Every society has good and bad people.

I also understand the intense dislike of our politics. Sorry, but I can't help that. We don't like all of our political choices either! As I've said in earlier posts, America is damned if we do and damned if we don't.

Many of us feel that we can never do right on the world stage. One group demands that we get involved. Another group demands that we get out. This is true for every single situation. The common thread is that everyone wants our money. This is one component of the argument that tends to make me cynical about world politics.

If politics is used to rule by dividing people then it is disliked. But if politics is used to serve the people and to unite them then people will love it. It is unfortunate that good politics has become hard to come by.

I am sorry I can not agree with you that everyone wants your money. Your government might be using it to gain entry in other nations' internal politics. People grab every chance of pocketing easy money but when unwrtitten conditions come out in the open then they start abusing the giver. There is a saying that don't give money to someone who is not worthy as any sin committed by it will go in your account.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 5:44 am

No Way. Don't say bad things about my neighbours. :guitarist

Suresh Gupta · Post by **Suresh Gupta** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 5:47 am

capt_buzzard wrote: No Way. Don't say bad things about my neighbours. :guitarist

A very nice stand.

A Karenina · Post by **A Karenina** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 9:47 am

gmc wrote: We hate and despise the French, the Germans, italians you name it we hate them all. They hate us you know, we go to their countries and expect them to speak english, the italians hate the dutch-don't know why but they seem to. It's great fun at the borders, the french decide to stop german cars for random searches, the italians stop the french and the germans. Nobody likes the swiss because they always stay neutral and have no sense of humour and they kept all hitlers money. If you can't take the piss out of other nationalities then why bother having them?
Oh my freaking god!!! I am laughing so hard at this! :wah: Thanks, gmc!

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 10:55 am

Suresh Gupta wrote:

I am sorry I can not agree with you that everyone wants your money. Your government might be using it to gain entry in other nations' internal politics. People grab every chance of pocketing easy money but when unwrtitten conditions come out in the open then they start abusing the giver. There is a saying that don't give money to someone who is not worthy as any sin committed by it will go in your account.

Agreed. I was overstating the point. (As usual!) Like any stereotype, it does tend to be true for a large sample of situations.

I like your quote though about money. Good to think about.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:15 am

European Language Directive

The European Union commissioners have announced that agreement has been reached to adopt English as the preferred language for communications, rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, Her Majesty's Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a five-year phased plan for what will be known as EuroEnglish (Euro for short).

In the first year, "s" will be used instead of the soft "c". Sertainly, sivil servants will reseive this news with joy. Also, the hard "c" will be replaced with "k". Not only will this klear up konfusion, but typewriters kan have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced by "f". This will make words like "fotograf" 20 per sent shorter.

In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters, which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horible mes of silent "e"s in the languag is disgrasful, and they would go.

By the fourth year, peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" and "w" by "v".

During ze fifz year, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou", and similar changes vud of kors be aplid to ozer kombinations of leters.

After zis fifz yer, ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl. Zer wil be no mor trubls or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech ozer.

Ze drem vil finali kum tru.

No it's not for real.

In the beginning, God created the earth. On the second day, while he was making his countries, God discovered a small island off a continent heÃ¢â‚¬â„¢d decided to christen Ã¢â‚¬ËœEuropeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“I know,Ã¢â‚¬ thought God, Ã¢â‚¬Å“I shall make this land an area of outstanding natural beauty. I shall bless it with lochs and glens, crystal-clear waters and rivers teeming with wild salmon. I will name this country Ã¢â‚¬ËœScotlandÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ and shall bestow upon the nation my favourite drink Ã¢â‚¬ËœwhiskyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢, the water of life. I shall bequeath major reserves of gas and oil to bring its people great wealth and Aberdeen-Angus cattle so that they need never go hungry.Ã¢â‚¬

When heÃ¢â‚¬â„¢d finished his work, one of the angels turned to God and said,

Ã¢â‚¬Å“Hang on a minute. Why should Scotland be blessed with all these natural treasures? ArenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t we making life too easy for its people; shouldnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t they have something to test them?Ã¢â‚¬

And God replied, Ã¢â‚¬Å“You havenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t seen who their neighbours are yet.Ã¢â‚¬

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmc

Disliking the ......people............ hate and despise .......them all. They hate us.......Nobody likes...........

Only dislike, hate, despise. No love. Are the people really so bad?

It's bad enough trying to explain irony to americans, please reassure me you got the joke.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:25 am

Uk - A - Ok

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 2:43 pm

gmc wrote: Not quite sure what you mean. Many in the UK are nervous about where this could lead, the anti war protests were the largest the UK has seen for decades. As a people we don't like being lied to or being misled, our own next election could be quite interesting.

I'd be curious about your opinions of the UK. I used to work in london with a fairly racially mixed staff, I was the odd one out cos nobody could understand a word I said till I modified the accent. Because you had to make more effort to understand each other we ended up getting along very well eventually. The differences became the subject of humour rather than causing friction, we would make jokes about token cockneys etc.

100,500 in Dublin marched against the Iraq invasion, but I think many of them were Scots,English and Welsh on a day trip.

Suresh Gupta · Post by **Suresh Gupta** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 9:14 pm

gmc wrote: ......... please reassure me you got the joke.

Yes I got the joke. I was only carrying discussion forward.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 5:31 am

The United Kingdom, for Music,bangers & mash,pork pies, the local pubs,the concert halls, BBC, ITV, fish n' chips, the seaside, butlins + many many many more. That's what I like about the UK. Even some politicians are Ok.

A Karenina · Post by **A Karenina** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:22 am

capt_buzzard wrote: The United Kingdom, for Music,bangers & mash,pork pies, the local pubs,the concert halls, BBC, ITV, fish n' chips, the seaside, butlins + many many many more. That's what I like about the UK. Even some politicians are Ok.
What are butlins?

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:42 am

Yes I got the joke. I was only carrying discussion forward.

One thing forums like this makes you appreciate is how much we pick up from body language. as in sometimes a comment intended as humourous gets taken literally.

What are butlins?

Started by Jimmy Butlin they were holiday camps where working people could go and stay for holidays, activities laid on for kids entertainment for adults in the evenings. accomodation and food all included. especially popular pre ww2 and post ww2 have died away in popularity as package holidays abroad became popular and much cheaper, nowadays it's cheaper to go to spain than to a holiday camp. There used to be a trddition where factories would close for annual holidays

I've never actually been to one.

http://www.butlinsmemories.com/faq.htm

A Karenina · Post by **A Karenina** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 10:02 am

Thanks, gmc. They had a butlin in the movie Tommy. (Gee, that was relevant!)

I often envy how close you are to other countries, the ease with which you can go see the beautiful places in the world. Not that the US isn't gorgeous, because it is.

(dreamy sigh) One day I will go, too...

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 11:44 am

Tombstone wrote: I love the UK.

Politics divide people - but I see that as an un-important subset when weighed against heritage and common bonds.

I kind of understand the disliking of Americans. There are a lot of Americans that make me embarrassed. But, I think each country has groups of people that make one sigh in despair.

I also understand the intense dislike of our politics. Sorry, but I can't help that. We don't like all of our political choices either! As I've said in earlier posts, America is damned if we do and damned if we don't.

Many of us feel that we can never do right on the world stage. One group demands that we get involved. Another group demands that we get out. This is true for every single situation. The common thread is that everyone wants our money. This is one component of the argument that tends to make me cynical about world politics.

Ooops! I wandered off the topic! The end. Right on T. Politics do divide people.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 11:52 am

gmc wrote: One thing forums like this makes you appreciate is how much we pick up from body language. as in sometimes a comment intended as humourous gets taken literally.

Started by Jimmy Butlin they were holiday camps where working people could go and stay for holidays, activities laid on for kids entertainment for adults in the evenings. accomodation and food all included. especially popular pre ww2 and post ww2 have died away in popularity as package holidays abroad became popular and much cheaper, nowadays it's cheaper to go to spain than to a holiday camp. There used to be a trddition where factories would close for annual holidays

I've never actually been to one.

http://www.butlinsmemories.com/faq.htm

You can have Spain,not my cup of tea. Its a treat to go to the English Countryside. But then I'm the oldfashioned type.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 12:17 pm

I often envy how close you are to other countries, the ease with which you can go see the beautiful places in the world. Not that the US isn't gorgeous, because it is.

(dreamy sigh) One day I will go, too...

Not as close as you think, I live in Scotland-now there is a ferry link if i want to take my car to tour round europe but it's pretty expensive so unless it's for two or three weeks it seems like a very expensive holiday. Prior to that I had to drive to hull or dover, Hull is most of a days drive, dover you could do in a day but you are easily talking 14 15 hours drive and being totally knackered or overnight accomodation. Currently I can fly to the states cheaper than I can take a car on holiday. But that I am saving till I can afford a month or so to spend some time there. I like touring around and seeing the country rather than visit just the cities.

There are more budget carriers now so weekend packages in paris or rome are now making their appearance. Except I would go to places like that to explore the history of the place-I have to humour my wife, I can spend hours in museums and looking round ruins etc, this drives her up the wall and we fall out.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 12:22 pm

You did not mention Ireland, Dublin city has its nice spots too. :-5 :-5 :guitarist

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:16 am

You did not mention Ireland, Dublin city has its nice spots too.

Very true. I,m looking forward to a week touring round the south and visiting Dublin. although i have been told by dunliners to be very sure to lock my car and leave nothing in it worth nicking if at all possible. sounds like every big city.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 3:34 am

We do have muli & underground parking. :wah: Just for you. www.dublintourist.com

A Karenina · Post by **A Karenina** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 8:00 am

gmc, what does your wife like to do on holiday?

I like to see the museums, the art, and definitely historical sites. But I also like to go to quiet places, sit and have tea (or coffee) - I get to really talk to people that way.

Maybe we should make a new thread. This one is about the UK after all

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 10:06 am

we met when we both joined the same mountaineering club. Holidays are spent hillwalking, mountain biking, touring around for which incidentally scotland is ideal-I've never got fed up yet, wet,cold and miserable but not bored. she likes the historical bits as well just not to my tolerance level.

The alps are criss crossed by footpaths where people used to cross in summer, off pists ski routes are fantastic mountain bike routes. Bit the whole thing is very civilised with pubs at the top of the hills.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:48 pm

When Queen Elizabeth. The Queen Mother died, the Republic of Ireland came to a standstill. All you may have been led to believe about Leftist Republican groups. English people I know here could not believe the tribute that was paid to the Royal Family that day. Irish people of all political creeds and colours lined the road to the British Embassy to pay their respects.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:12 pm

Imagine me, an American, going to the UK to visit. The impression I have is that I would be laughed at. I'd be told how stupid the American people are for electing Bush. How wrong the war is, how dumb our moral values are and I would be scorned for just about everything we say or do.

Actually ou would be made welcome but if politics came up don't be surprised if you find a people that like debate and are relatively well informed about other countries. A large number will have been to the states. If you are paranoid about it most people will be polite and not talk about things that make you uncomfortable. But if somebody asks what the *&^& is going on in america most will be surprised if you take offence. If you can't handle somebody disagreeing with you then have a problem.

You need to try and understand that most make a distinction between the policies of a country and it's people. We don't think much of french politicians and the eec that does not mean we are hostile to french people or germans or swiss whatever.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 3:05 pm

ShadowBox wrote: Imagine me, an American, going to the UK to visit. The impression I have is that I would be laughed at. I'd be told how stupid the American people are for electing Bush. How wrong the war is, how dumb our moral values are and I would be scorned for just about everything we say or do.

Doesn't sound like a very pleasant experience to me. Is the United Kingdom bad? Only if you are an American.

All the obnoxious Yanks that I've met here have seemed to be pretty reasonable

people. Whether you visit or not,and how you get on if you do, depends entirely

on how stupid you really are.

I suppose I should put a "smiley" after that.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 3:08 pm

ShadowBox wrote: Unfortunately, we in American seem to think we are the government. Our foreign aid comes out of our pockets. We elect the leaders down to the sherrif and if enough of us are unhappy, we can remove them from office at any time.

same for us in the Yook - except many in "Europe" who we can't

elect or get rid of .

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 7:52 pm

I appreciate you taking the time to explain that to me. Are you quite certain I would not be laughed at? Could you test that in a pub somewhere?

Why would we laugh at you? you need to get over this idea that the world is out to get you.

Be as smug as you like, but my US dollars will stay in the US because I really don't think you like us very much. I suspect 59 million of my neighbors might do the same this year. Course maybe you'll get lucky and end up with our lower half normally called "Hollywood." Please take them, pretty please.

The way the dollar is going it will be too expensive for you anyway. If you go around expecting people to be hostile then you tend to find what you expect.

Quick anecdote-friend of my wife's visiting from england (she's english by the way) having heard how hostile the scots were to the english was worried about beimg attacked. In an crowded Edinburgh pub where it was three deep at the bar when the australian barmaid could not understand his london accent his assumption was that she was trying to wind him up. Despite pointing out a) the pub was noisy b) she was australian c) he had a strange accent he was still convinced it was deliberate provocation. I felt like hitting him myself, it's one of the few occasions I have wnated to get out a pub as quickly as possible.

Nobody cares enough to pick on americans unless they provoke it, even then you would have to be pretty offensive to annoy people to that extent. Unless you go in to a pub looking for a fight you will be perfectly safe.

Question... you may not like the Queen, but how would you feel is we started calling her an idot twenty or thirty times a day?

Let me guess -- you would eventually find that offensive.

You might add that her sponging greek immigrant husband isn't up to much either. (that's a good one of you want to annoy people going on about immigrants) It's a free country mate say what you like. You are at perfect liberty to take the piss out of any of our institutions we do it all the time but nobody gets accused of being unpatriotic. The repetition would get a bit irritating and rather pointless.

If I came to america would people expect me to be wearing a kilt and carry bagpipes? People are pretty much the same the world over

Unfortunately, we in American seem to think we are the government. Our foreign aid comes out of our pockets. We elect the leaders down to the sherrif and if enough of us are unhappy, we can remove them from office at any time. Case in point - Gray Davis, Govenor of California.

Joking aside why are americans so fond of conspiracy theories and so apparently paranoid that they need weapons to defend their freedom from their government? A lot of current us sci fi revolves round secret agencies beyond anybody's control or post apocalyptic almost fascist type regimes. You do seem convinced everybody is out to get you which id maybe why you still think Saddam was behind the terrorists despite all the evudence to the contrary.

Bothwell · Post by **Bothwell** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 8:40 am

Slagging off our heads of state and political masters is a centuries old tradition here. In fact if you look at some of the cartoons from 19th century pamphlets they are absolutely savage on the monarchy in particular.

It is a shame but most people who don't travel have to rely on the mass media to get an impression of the inhabitants of other countries. I am lucky enough to have travelled frequently to the USA and other countries, so am in a position to judge for myself, however if I had to make a judgment on the American TV I have watched I suspect I would be far from the truth. By the same token I dont think many of us Brits would really be like the UK shows that are syndiacted in the USA, although GMC sounds like you may have a Monarch of the Glen thing going for you

Whoever said "travel Broadens the Mind" was spot on in my view.

beautyful · Post by **beautyful** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 3:15 am

yay, a fellow Englander!!!!!

Bothwell · Post by **Bothwell** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 2:16 am

Why on earth would any self respecting brit want to go back to France.

Let me explain, France is where the French live, it is seperated from us by the English channel. We live in Great Britain which is a different country to France, here endeth the lesson.