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Original poster

Strange comments about the U.K.

321 replies

Lessando · 02/08/2025 14:21

I often just read threads without posting. But I read one thread on here recently that made me think, and I wanted to start a new thread about it.

There was a thread on here a while ago, it was titled "Do you feel lucky in life".

About one hundred posters came on and wrote a similiar thing, they all wrote

"Oh yes I am so lucky to have been born in the U.K." and they wrote things like

"I won the lottery of life by being born in the UK"

I was surprised at the fawning over the top comments, because they are in stark contrast to how I have experienced living in other countries. Living conditions in many other countries seem to me to be a lot better than living conditions in the UK.

I have lived in other countries and right now I am living in the UK for a year . Don't get me wrong , there are things that are nice about the UK.

What I really wanted to discuss is why do some people in the UK seem to think it is the best country in the world.
But, if you go outside of the UK, a lot of media outlets talk about the UK in a very negative way. Do people know this happesn?

So many other countries are doing better economically than the UK is. Living conditions are better. The last EU country that i lived in, i barely saw a homeless person.

In my current city in the UK, homeless people come up to me and ask me for money all the time. Every single day.

I lived in an EU country last year. The media outside of the UK always reports negatively about the UK. They usually say that the UK is a very bad place to live, especially after Brexit.

Im not really saying if I personally think the UK is good or bad, obviously I am just one person.

I more wanted to discuss the discrepancy between many people in the UK thinking it is the best country in the world and they are lucky to live there, and the media outside the UK who report that the UK is a terrible place to live in.
Any thoughts on it?

OP posts:
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5
Bluebellwood129 · 02/08/2025 16:07

ShanghaiDiva · 02/08/2025 16:05

I think we have to be patient and wait for actual facts from the op.

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Wake me up when they arrive. Sigh.....

Ontheedgeofit · 02/08/2025 16:06

Aznavour · 02/08/2025 16:04

Be prepared for a lot of defensive responses. Some people can’t cope with the idea that the UK isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. They are often people who have never lived outside the UK and have no basis for comparison.

IMO there’s much to like and admire about the UK. But the same can be said about many, many countries. I would say that certain aspects of everyday life (e.g. healthcare) are superior in other places. The NHS used to be the envy of the world. Alas, due to lack of appropriate funding, it’s now a system that is really struggling. Similarly, the current state of the educational system in the UK leaves much to be desired. I could go on. But again I think there are wonderful things about the UK as well.

Does anyone know if there has ever been a point in time where the general U.K. public has been happy and proud of the NHS? This is a genuine question from a foreigner…

Has it always been something to moan about? Did your parents moan about it?

Original poster
Lessando · 02/08/2025 16:06

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Are you okay?

Where did it say that it was answering a quesion? It didn't.

That poster wrote something, and I replied to her.

OP posts:
BananaDaiquiri · 02/08/2025 16:06

I don't think that people mean that they are lucky to be born in the UK over Netherlands, Sweden, Australia etc etc.
They mean that they are lucky to be born in the UK over Haiti, Myanmar, North Korea etc etc. Whilst there are many beautiful places in those countries, people think they are lucky to be born in a country where there is somewhat economic stability, hasn't been recent civil war or uprisings and where there are democratic elections. That sort of thing OP. Many other countries in the world also have those things, but there a lot that don't have those things.

5dollah · 02/08/2025 16:06

I'm from Ireland but recently went on holiday in Cambridge. I love Cambridge but was perplexed by how few pedestrian crossings there are on extremely busy roads. Where i live there are loads of pedestrian crossings. Just a general comment on my experience of the UK. I felt I was taking my life in my hands every time I had to rush across the road.

Terrribletwos · 02/08/2025 16:05

Laiste · 02/08/2025 16:02

Christ, what a load of bollocks!

I live in a lovely part of the UK with low crime, clean air and beautiful views. There are some shite parts of the UK but that goes for every country.

Secondly - if the UK is viewed so badly across the world why are we still getting thousands of people risking their lives to get here?!

Lovely for you. Would you accept open borders? Really? Think about it? Where 50 million from south America or Asia come in? Would you be ok with that?

ShanghaiDiva · 02/08/2025 16:05

Bluebellwood129 · 02/08/2025 16:03

You're assuming everyone in the UK is incapable of independent thought.

Which countries have you lived in? What job are you doing in the UK and what area of the country are you living in?

Let's start with the specifics from you so we can engage in meaningful dialogue.

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I think we have to be patient and wait for actual facts from the op.

Wilfulignoranceabounds · 02/08/2025 16:04

uphighonahillside · 02/08/2025 14:46

If your opinion of the UK is so bad, please feel free to leave.

🙄

Aznavour · 02/08/2025 16:04

Be prepared for a lot of defensive responses. Some people can’t cope with the idea that the UK isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. They are often people who have never lived outside the UK and have no basis for comparison.

IMO there’s much to like and admire about the UK. But the same can be said about many, many countries. I would say that certain aspects of everyday life (e.g. healthcare) are superior in other places. The NHS used to be the envy of the world. Alas, due to lack of appropriate funding, it’s now a system that is really struggling. Similarly, the current state of the educational system in the UK leaves much to be desired. I could go on. But again I think there are wonderful things about the UK as well.

ShanghaiDiva · 02/08/2025 16:04

Lessando · 02/08/2025 15:53

I came back.

There are about 60-70 posts asking me different questionS

The posters who want me to answer your question RIGHT NOW. Have patience. You are not the only person who asked me a question.

I am getting through the list of questions and i will get to your question at some point.

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I think that multiple people have asked the same question actually.
its almost as though you don’t want to answer the question…

Bluebellwood129 · 02/08/2025 16:03

Lessando · 02/08/2025 15:46

I have to say - I do think that some of this goes on. From the government.

From the top down.

They tell the citizens of the UK: that they should be grateful to live in such a great country.

It keeps them submissive, and then they don't stand up against certain things. Becaase they are grateful to live in such a great country.

I feel that there is a bit of propoganda going on from the top down.

Edited
Show quote history

You're assuming everyone in the UK is incapable of independent thought.

Which countries have you lived in? What job are you doing in the UK and what area of the country are you living in?

Let's start with the specifics from you so we can engage in meaningful dialogue.

BunnyLake · 02/08/2025 16:02

It’s all relative isn’t it. I’d rather be born and live in the UK than some countries and some countries are better than here. A lot is dependent on how much money you have and the rights of its citizens (particularly, of course, women). There are some countries that I wouldn’t put a big toe on the ground of they disgust me too much.

Laiste · 02/08/2025 16:02

Christ, what a load of bollocks!

I live in a lovely part of the UK with low crime, clean air and beautiful views. There are some shite parts of the UK but that goes for every country.

Secondly - if the UK is viewed so badly across the world why are we still getting thousands of people risking their lives to get here?!

Terrribletwos · 02/08/2025 16:01

Noluthando · 02/08/2025 15:59

This

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This has been the case for many years.
Should we have open borders?

blackbird77 · 02/08/2025 16:00

coxesorangepippin · 02/08/2025 15:41

Blackbirds top ten list would apply to pretty much any Western country, let's face it.

Access to running water???!

Come on

Thats literally my point. I’m comparing it as a country to dissimilar countries in terms of development. Not France or Germany or Canada. Thats why I said any handful of developed developed westernised countries could be considered the best so it’s just splitting hairs or personal preference! There’s a much bigger margin between the standard of life in Bangladesh vs the UK than France vs the UK.

When I think about how lucky I am to live in the UK and get things like “running water” I’m comparing myself to the 85% of the world who live in developing countries and those who may not have access to that.

The UK is probably ONE of the best countries you could be born into. Any similar developed Western country would also.

Terrribletwos · 02/08/2025 16:00

Neemie · 02/08/2025 15:58

I’ve lived in lots of different countries and nowhere has been particularly negative about the UK. It doesn’t get much of a mention. The rare news stories about the UK will probably be written by or be translations of stories written by UK based journalists.

The royals get quite a bit of press in some countries.

Thats interesting. Where are you from?

Ontheedgeofit · 02/08/2025 16:00

How can this be a binary question and answer?

I live in South Africa and my gosh we have problems here but I lived in the Uk for 7 years and didn’t particularly enjoy it. Just never felt like home and your weather is awful.

Can someone tell me where this utopia is because I’m looking to move again…. Somewhere.

Notanartist81 · 02/08/2025 15:59

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Noluthando · 02/08/2025 15:59

Lemniscate8 · 02/08/2025 14:39

Well most of the worlds population dont have clean drinking water and sanitation, so anyone who is born in a country where that is universal has hit the jackpot. Everyone has access to medical assistance and education, not the norm in many places even with sanitation. Safe from war, tornados, volcanos, tsunamis, avalanches, maleria, rabies, earthquakes, etc, it just gets better and better when you factor these things in. We have only ever had one day over 40 C (that will change if we keep abusing the environment) and we rarely have catastrophic flooding or blizzards. Our wildlife is mostly harmless, our infrastructure is reliable, we live in a democracy, we can expect fair treatment and there are places to go to if we dont get it.

Some other european countries make homelessness a criminal offence, so of course you dont see them.

Most people appreciate these things deep down, even if we all grumble about details of day to day life occasionally

This

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 02/08/2025 15:59

Can you give more specific info on the world viewing UK as a terrible place?

Notanartist81 · 02/08/2025 15:59

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Neemie · 02/08/2025 15:58

I’ve lived in lots of different countries and nowhere has been particularly negative about the UK. It doesn’t get much of a mention. The rare news stories about the UK will probably be written by or be translations of stories written by UK based journalists.

The royals get quite a bit of press in some countries.

Original poster
Lessando · 02/08/2025 15:58

BlueOceanFish · 02/08/2025 14:47

I think people like being ‘home’, so I have lived both in Australia and the US and enjoyed the experience (sadly not had chance to live in another European country).

However, after a time I got home sick. I missed my family, friends and certain things that I love about the UK.

Do I think the U.K. is ‘better’ than other countries. No I don’t. I can see where things are very very wrong here - the litter, the way we treat our rivers, the lack of facilities in local communities- to name a few.

But I love my country also - it is familiar to me and it is actually a safe place for my kids. Where I live crime is low, no risk of guns, no risk of war or extreme weather etc.

But I know we are no better than other countries and maybe ‘worse’ in terms of poverty, unemployment and social inequality.

I think rather than putting ourselves or others down we should aspire to do better. To focus on building our communities and improving services to our best ability. Let others countries focus on themselves and we focus on us (if you know what I mean I know we are a global world now).

Yes it is true that people like the feeling of "home" .
People often love a country because of the people that live there.
Aspiring to be better is always good, too.

OP posts:
Notanartist81 · 02/08/2025 15:57

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Terrribletwos · 02/08/2025 15:57

Saladbar · 02/08/2025 15:55

The homelessness in the U.S., Canada etc is significantly worse than the Uk will less social networks. I see more homeless people in Australia. Certain countries in the middle east it’s even worse.
I think it depends where in the UK you go because a lot of the UK homelessness isn’t that big of an issue and certainly less than other western countries and they get a lot more social support too.

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Believe me the homeless is bad here too.

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