To cringe at the phrase "England isn't England anymore"

[Sounddofsilence]

Said by a friend.

Another one sounded off about Easter Eggs now being called Chocolate Eggs so not to offend people because it was on the news!

Argh!

[sonlypuppyfat]

Things have changed an awful lot in not many years.

[lottielou7]

YANBU - I hate this.

[TheDuchessOfArbroathsHat]

I think YABU to assume your view is the only correct one to be honest. There are an awful lot of people for whom everything HAS changed in what must seem like a very short space of time.
If I were you I'd probably do a little less cringing and a little more trying to understand WHY they feel that way.

[QuiteLikely5]

I've never heard this but things do change don't they? Traditions fall by the way side etc

Why does it annoy you?

[Cerseirys]

Another one sounded off about Easter Eggs now being called Chocolate Eggs so not to offend people because it was on the news!

No, it was in the Star and someone called up Cadburys, who confirmed that the story was a load of crap.

[yorkshapudding]

YANBU. Whenever I have heard this phrase spoken in real life it has been immediately followed by lots of (seemingly Daily Mail inspired) ranting about immigrants coming over here taking our jobs, health tourism etc etc.

[Sounddofsilence]

I think because traditions is something you keep alive yourself and pass down.

When I see fake stories about Easter Eggs having to be called Chocolate Eggs and not being allowed to say Happy Christmas (must be Happy Holidays!) it annoys me. It breeds resentment and can lead to segregation.

[BadDoGooder]

YANBU
Seriously, unless you are over 70 nothing really has changed.
A few things have become more acceptable gradually over time, but they are things that happened anyway, just very quietly.

The only people I have been ever heard utter this sort of phrase have been banging on about gay people being too "open" now, or that immigrants have taken over (they haven't, even in my very immigrant heavy estate!)

What they mean is, people are open now about things that make them uncomfortable, and they don't like it.

[sonlypuppyfat]

Well I'm no where near 70 and I think lots of things have changed

[MyBeloved]

Well lots of things have changed and are still changing....rapidly. England isn't the England I grew up in.

[MagicalMrsMistoffelees]

YANBU

The world is constantly changing, evolving and developing so there is no fixed definition of 'England'. Some people, however, do have a fixed idea of what England should be (or at least what it means to them). That's fair enough but it's just an illusion.

Also, many people, especially as they get older, are increasingly resistant to change, believing it was better before. I guess that's human nature - but it's blinkered.

[Sounddofsilence]

Like what sonlypuppyfat? I'd genuinely be interested to know

[MrsKCastle]

Yanbu. I wouldn't exactly cringe at the phrase, but I wouldn't understand what someone meant by it. Of course there has been changed, there is always change. The world has changed hugely in many ways in my lifetime, and I'm under 40. But change is part of life and it's not always a bad thing. I certainly don't think England has changed beyond all recognition.

[zippey]

I think with aeroplanes and cheap travel, this is not going to stop happening. It's evolution and something which we will have to accept - that the world is changing and those resistant will get left behind!

[WanderingNotLost]

No, it was in the Star and someone called up Cadburys, who confirmed that the story was a load of crap.

Ironically, Cadbury these days is also a load of crap. Possibly because it's no longer English.

[MagicalMrsMistoffelees]

Things have changed and quite right too as we become more enlightened and less ignorant.

Equal marriage rights for all; no death penalty in the UK; no corporal punishment in schools; rise of women's rights within the home and workplace; smoking bans.; Sunday trading; drink driving laws.

Some people will think these few examples will justify their stance that 'England isn't England' any more. But it should be remembered that things have always changed. Life in England wasn't fixed until 1990 when suddenly everything started changing. Society and its rules have constantly evolved ever since people first settled in England.

[imeatingthechocolate]

penny for the guy anyone?

pint of milk?

pound of minced MEAT?

[MelanieCheeks]

I know, can't send kids up chimneys any more, or buy matches off a wee girl in the street. And rickets! Why have we no children with rickets these days!

[MyBeloved]

I'm more thinking along the lines of the fact that the last school I taught in there were 47 different languages spoken and an uncovered face was a rarity.

Womens rights were fought so hard for yet women from the cultures I have worked with are seen as second class citizens and living in England does not change that view.

Rickets is actually making a come back. As is TB.

These are just a few examples.

[EastMidsMummy]

England has changed loads since I was a child in the 70s in terms of everything from racial harmony and terrorism, to women's rights and average earnings.

Thank fuck. It's loads better now.

[imeatingthechocolate]

scarlet fever is coming back too

[LifeofI]

i think England was better when independent shops everywhere rather than chains of tesco's ect.
There are still areas of london which have the traditional feel like hampstead, muswell hill and some parts of hackney/islington

[CantAffordtoLive]

I have not TRFT but I agree. It isn't the England that I grew up in. I lived in the SE for a few years and to stray outside and visit a few 'English' villages was a really lovely experience! It is hard to put into words, but they were peaceful, civilised and friendly and I felt at home. The shops sold goods that appealed to me. Me, and to the majority of other shoppers.

I have now moved away from the SE. I feel very much at home here, I feel I fit in, I don't feel threatened, worried or fearful. A multicultural society is a wonderful thing but not when it is a danger of damaging our own culture. But that is just my opinion.

[CantAffordtoLive]

The sad thing about corporal punishment is that these days we cannot trust those who would deal it out. I grew up with corporal punishment, we had virtually no trouble or disruption in our school. If dinner money went missing no one left until it was found, all possessions were searched. It was always returned or found. I think my generation have grown up with the best morals and the greatest respect.

I do not think I am blinkered as per PP. I sent my kids to school at the beginning of term, within days rubbers, pens etc 'got lost'. One of my kids had his watch stolen when he had to remove it for P.E. The teacher insisted it was misplaced. My son suspected who had taken it, after 3 days of the teachers inaction he confronted the kids mother and ended up getting his watch back. Don't tell me that that is progress. Don't tell me that that is better. Don't tell me that that is honesty. Don't tell me that people have morals like they did in the past. My parents never had to lock their doors. I never leave mine open.

[artlessflirt]

I found the whole hoo ha about chocolate eggs/Easter eggs quite funny because at the end of the day Easter is yet another Christian holiday that has been commercialised and the real meaning of it twisted. It doesn't bother me in the slightest as I'm not religious, but a lot of people fall back on the whole English=being Christian argument when it suits them and gives them an excuse to be outraged.