Page 4 | Friend giving safety tips for London?

breezeofqinter · 2024-08-02T15:24:39+00:00

Maybe I sound horrible but me and a friend are visiting our mutual friend in London tomorrow, she’s lived there for maybe a year. Shes just text us to give us safety tips. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve been to London, I even work from the London office occasionally. I know she means well but aibu to find it a bit patronising?

MikeRafone · 02/08/2024 21:11

what were the safety tips?

NarnianQueen · 02/08/2024 20:57

What are the tips?

And where are you from? Does she think a small town or village lifestyle means you won't understand the big bad city?!

Differentstarts · 02/08/2024 20:54

Yabu she's clearly anxious about going and is trying to be helpful

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 02/08/2024 20:50

Loving the country mice references on this thread!

My guess is that she or someone close to her has had recent experience, so its at the forefront of her mind. All about her, nothing about you.

As it happens, I will be giving similar tips when I bring my Girl Guides to London, but they really are country mice!

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 02/08/2024 20:48

Depends on what the tips are?

Also is your other friend as frequent a London traveller as you? Maybe it’s more aimed at them but she just sent it to the group.

I would probably roll my eyes and laugh, but you’re being a bit precious about it, as I’m sure she means well.

Chika89 · 02/08/2024 20:45

I think that’s lovely. London is a dive. She clearly cares about you

Y0URSELF · 02/08/2024 20:44

WhatFlavourIsIt · 02/08/2024 16:34

When my 17-year-old gives me driving advice, I give him the side eye and say,' Thanks I'll bear that in mind' my inside voice is saying go fuck yourself '. It works pretty well

Excellent advice 😂

Sugarlily · 02/08/2024 20:43

That’s in response to the rioting far right loons. Not normal going about your business

AgentProvocateur · 02/08/2024 20:40

Emiratis are being warned about crowded areas in the U.K. by their government.

EI12 · 02/08/2024 20:32

Love London, no need for scaremongering with' safety tips'. The only place where they will rob you is Harvey Nicks and Selfridges and Liberty, but it is all legal and on a voluntary basis.

MyBirthdayMonth · 02/08/2024 20:32

DreamTheMoors · 02/08/2024 19:51

Laughing at somebody else is uncool no matter where one lives.
Stop trying to justify it.

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WTF? If we can't laugh at other people's absurdities, what can we laugh at?

Penguinmouse · 02/08/2024 20:30

A friend who has a similar aged toddler to me made a fuss of coming to London with her then six month old “in case people touch her on the tube” which pissed me off, as someone with a baby in London where nobody has tried to “touch my baby” on the tube. I think it’s just yokels being over prepared.

1AngelicFruitCake · 02/08/2024 20:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Sorry to derail but no one else seems to have picked up on this comment that I find crass and deeply offensive.

whynotwhatknot · 02/08/2024 20:28

stand on the right

Atethehalloweenchocs · 02/08/2024 20:24

I have a friend who used to live in the suburbs - I always lived in city centres. Then circumstances changed and she moved into the centre of a big city, and I relocated to a country town. She now talks to me like I am the country mouse - it is hilarious. Especially since I was born and brought up in London. I have no idea why she feels the need to do it, but it has been relentless.

User236792 · 02/08/2024 20:23

lol at “wear a money belt” and “don’t wear anything too flashy” 😆😆 you know millions of us just live here normally, right?

Pebbles16 · 02/08/2024 20:21

NC1258 · 02/08/2024 19:31

I grew up in London. Safety tips have always been necessary...more seem necessary every decade! My cousin visited the central more touristy areas with me a few weeks back. She's been before but it's been awhile. So I gently reminded her to dress understated, no gold jewellery, no phones out anymore than necessary, use a crossbody bag with your hand over it due to pick pockets etc. I doubt she was offended. It's what we do for people we care about surely?

You are entirely mad (sorry for being a bit rude).
Are you confusing London for the favelas?
We can all go about our every day lives in the capital without such mad measures. The only thing I do on this list is keep my phone in my pocket but very many don't... keep it in my pocket because wandering around glued to your phone ANYWHERE is bloody dangerous.

Sugarlily · 02/08/2024 20:10

Street crime hasn’t gotten worse - it’s gotten better. Unless you have a source for that?

Qanat53 · 02/08/2024 20:03

Street crime has gotten worse. There are new types of crime & criminals and tell my friends, even those in London what I see happening now, that wasn’t happening 1-2 yrs ago. Just spreading the word.
you are being overly sensitive

Snorrrring · 02/08/2024 20:02

NC1258 · 02/08/2024 19:31

I grew up in London. Safety tips have always been necessary...more seem necessary every decade! My cousin visited the central more touristy areas with me a few weeks back. She's been before but it's been awhile. So I gently reminded her to dress understated, no gold jewellery, no phones out anymore than necessary, use a crossbody bag with your hand over it due to pick pockets etc. I doubt she was offended. It's what we do for people we care about surely?

Those reminders do not sound gentle - you sound a bit OTT. Dress understated? I doubt she was offended - but I think she might consider you to be a bit bonkers.

Epicaricacy · 02/08/2024 19:59

DreamTheMoors · 02/08/2024 19:51

Laughing at somebody else is uncool no matter where one lives.
Stop trying to justify it.

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don't try to reverse it. Throw patronising comments at someone, they are entitled to laugh!

Tulipsareredvioletsarebue · 02/08/2024 19:57

NC1258 · 02/08/2024 19:31

I grew up in London. Safety tips have always been necessary...more seem necessary every decade! My cousin visited the central more touristy areas with me a few weeks back. She's been before but it's been awhile. So I gently reminded her to dress understated, no gold jewellery, no phones out anymore than necessary, use a crossbody bag with your hand over it due to pick pockets etc. I doubt she was offended. It's what we do for people we care about surely?

Oh dear...
Maybe she was not offended but thought you were totally bonkers.

Tulipsareredvioletsarebue · 02/08/2024 19:56

I mean, depends on the 'tips'...

DreadPirateRobots · 02/08/2024 19:54

NC1258 · 02/08/2024 19:31

I grew up in London. Safety tips have always been necessary...more seem necessary every decade! My cousin visited the central more touristy areas with me a few weeks back. She's been before but it's been awhile. So I gently reminded her to dress understated, no gold jewellery, no phones out anymore than necessary, use a crossbody bag with your hand over it due to pick pockets etc. I doubt she was offended. It's what we do for people we care about surely?

😅😅 are you for real

Sugarlily · 02/08/2024 19:52

So I gently reminded her to dress understated, no gold jewellery, no phones out anymore than necessary, use a crossbody bag with your hand over it due to pick pockets etc

you what what? Dress understated? Unless she’s usually wearing diamond encrusted gold clothes I’m sure she’s fine in whatever she wants to wear. I’ve never owned a cross body bag. I use my phone all the time. I’ve lived in London all my life. Including living it up in some pretty rough areas at all hours of the night. I have never experienced an on street crime.