What do my British friends* here think of the comments by “noedg” about the state of the UK? (See the end of his second post and his third and currently last.)
I have my suspicions about comments like this, but I’d like to hear
what you think before I say anything.
He’s what I’d call a Daily Mail or Daily Express reader. He’s
developed a narrow view of life based on where he lives, what his
friends say, and what his preferred news media feeds him. From the
sounds of it, he lives in a fairly rough area, so he’s not going to
see the good there is.
Yes, it’s bad in places, but I can’t think of any country which
doesn’t have poor areas rife with crime and what-have-you. I live in
an area which has some pretty rough patches, but you don’t have far to
go find the nice places and people.
Having said that, even those who govern the UK are adept at running
their country down. It’s really not a bad place to live, in spite of
the tax burden and creaking infrastructure. I can think of many places
that would be a lot worse.
As someone who’s spend a lot of time on both sides of the pond
(London, UK and Seattle and LA in the US) sweeping statements like
that just don’t hold water for me. As Heather says there are good and
bad areas in all countries and although the UK isn’t perfect (the food
is getting better although the weather isn’t!) it’s the place I call
home and still yearn to return to when away.
Hey, you are all invited to come and visit! Just bring a suitcase of
cash, and an umbrella.
Regards,
Tim.
Thanks guys. Coming from you this means a lot. I suspected this about this guy. As you might know, we have the same type here in the U.S. Many of them get their news from a certain source and think the country is in or is going to be in terrible shape. It’s really kind of amazing because I look around myself and I’m in a similar location and things are pretty good. I sometimes am surprised we actually live in the same world!
Life is what you make it. I suspect this fellow won’t be happy anywhere…
