Is Surrey an unfriendly place?

Comedycook · 2023-05-21T13:49:59+00:00

So recently I've had to go to Surrey several times for reasons I won't bore you with. I've been struck at how cold, unfriendly and quite frankly a bit snooty people are. I don't think I'm imagining it...it's hard to explain in real terms but it's just a weird vibe I get. Has anyone else noticed this? Disclaimer....I'm sure not everyone in Surrey is like this...I'm sure there are some lovely people.

SophiaElizabethGrace · 21/05/2023 14:54

You're asking about an entire county which is a bit daft. You need to be more specific about where you were and what happened otherwise it's a pointless question really.

BiggerBoat1 · 21/05/2023 14:57

Surrey is a large and varied County. You've encountered a few "snooty" people and decided to judge everyone. Nice.

Original poster

Comedycook · 21/05/2023 15:02

BiggerBoat1 · 21/05/2023 14:57

Surrey is a large and varied County. You've encountered a few "snooty" people and decided to judge everyone. Nice.

Yes I judged absolutely EVERYONE didn't I? Or did you miss the disclaimer at the end of my post?

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BiggerBoat1 · 21/05/2023 15:05

The whole premise of your post is that it is a general thing across the whole of Surrey. Would you have bothered to start a thread saying "I've met a few unfriendly people in Surrey"? You're clearly trying to imply that Surrey is filled with snooty, unfriendly people. A disclaimer stating that you are prepared to acknowledge that maybe there are a few nice people really doesn't take away from the nasty tone of your question.

OutOfMyPocket · 21/05/2023 15:07

If the replies so far are from people from Surrey then YANBU Plus they can't read!

HavfrueDenizKisi · 21/05/2023 15:07

Couldn't have put it better @BiggerBoat1

I was trying to word something about the bollocks disclaimer at the end of the post too.

Yes OP all of Surrey hate you. (Disclaimer: I'm not from Surrey, nor do I live there).

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 21/05/2023 15:14

I live in Surrey. I moved here because I am cold, unfriendly and a bit snooty and wanted to live with people like me. HTH.

Thea91 · 21/05/2023 15:18

I lived in Surrey for about 4 years moved there from the North. I found everyone really friendly. And would move back in a heartbeat if it wasn't so far from my family .

Original poster

Comedycook · 21/05/2023 15:18

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 21/05/2023 15:14

I live in Surrey. I moved here because I am cold, unfriendly and a bit snooty and wanted to live with people like me. HTH.

I'm sure you fit in brilliantly

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LBOCS2 · 21/05/2023 15:21

Moving from proper London to Surrey-London borders, we have found it bizarrely friendly. People smile at you and say 'morning!' when they pass you on the pavement. Weird.

SheilaFentiman · 21/05/2023 15:22

What was the context?

WakeMeUpBeforeYouGo · 21/05/2023 15:24

LBOCS2 · 21/05/2023 15:21

Moving from proper London to Surrey-London borders, we have found it bizarrely friendly. People smile at you and say 'morning!' when they pass you on the pavement. Weird.

Same here. Friendly people where I live.

WhiteArsenic · 21/05/2023 15:35

Surrey varies from areas of deep poverty to some of the most expensive property in the U.K. , and from London suburbs to deep countryside. It has the M25 and is the most wooded county in England. Likewise, there are some outright thugs here, some aloof snobs, and lots and lots of ordinary people of varying incomes and job types and characteristics.

it is, however, the county about which the most threads on Mumsnet about snobbery are started, I think.

i think OP would need to provide more context. I’ve lived here over 30 years. I’m more friendly some days than others.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 21/05/2023 15:41

Can you tell us which bit of Surrey OP?

Rockbird · 21/05/2023 15:41

Oh look, a 'Surrey is full of snobs' thread. We haven't had one of those in at least a week. 🙄

Newsflash: Surrey is the same as every bloody county in the country. Good, bad, stuck up, down to earth, friendly, miserable. It's just people. Even Weybridge has council flats, I know, it's a shock. This anti Surrey thing is pure prejudice.

DueyCheatemAndHow · 21/05/2023 15:41

Some MNers have a weird obsession with Surrey. Honestly cannot ever imagine visiting anywhere and asking if everyone in the county I visited is the same.

Seeline · 21/05/2023 16:09

So who were you dealing with?
What was the purpose of your interactions?

I have lived on the Surrey border all my life, and worked with the public in Surrey for 10 years and can honestly say I have found it no different to any other part of the country. Like anywhere there are all sorts of people - friendly, shy, rude, helpful, down-to-earth, posh and any other type I've forgotten to mention.

Maybe you were being a bit snooty yourself.

BlackberrySky · 21/05/2023 16:19

Some people in Surrey are incredibly wealthy and look down on people they judge to be common. Now replace Surrey with Yorkshire, Dorset, Kent, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, Buckinghamshire, or any other county that contains pockets of high affluence.... that's about the size of it.

Original poster

Comedycook · 21/05/2023 17:06

I'm in London and I think the difference is wealthy people live cheek by jowl to less wealthy people. They use public transport with them. Surrey feels quite insular, it must be a nightmare without a car so I wonder if people mix less with people from other backgrounds. The thing is, it isn't outright or overt rudeness...it's the kind of rudeness whereby someone won't even acknowledge anothers presence or will use the basic niceties tha society demands ie please or thank you but nothing more.

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CharlottenBurger · 21/05/2023 17:13

Surrey is a big county, or rather, has a lot of communities big and small, as has been pointed out. They might be pissy in Godalming but lovely in Reigate.

CharlottenBurger · 21/05/2023 17:15

DueyCheatemAndHow · 21/05/2023 15:41

Some MNers have a weird obsession with Surrey. Honestly cannot ever imagine visiting anywhere and asking if everyone in the county I visited is the same.

My great-aunt gave herself airs, according to my mum, because she lived in Thornton Heath, which was administratively in Surrey until 1965.

TheDogsMother · 21/05/2023 17:17

I do think Surrey gets a fair amount of bashing unfortunately. I lived in both a major town and then a village and loved it. Made loads of friends and there are nice little communities all over. I do think broadly speaking Surrey people aren't in your face and you do get unfriendly types everywhere so perhaps you've just been unlucky.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 21/05/2023 17:18

CharlottenBurger · 21/05/2023 17:15

My great-aunt gave herself airs, according to my mum, because she lived in Thornton Heath, which was administratively in Surrey until 1965.

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Gave herself airs for living in Thornton Heath? blimey.

Original poster

Comedycook · 21/05/2023 17:18

CharlottenBurger · 21/05/2023 17:15

My great-aunt gave herself airs, according to my mum, because she lived in Thornton Heath, which was administratively in Surrey until 1965.

Show quote history

Thornton heath....yikes! That must have changed....one of the few places in London, I have felt genuinely scared

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Reugny · 21/05/2023 17:20

Comedycook · 21/05/2023 17:06

I'm in London and I think the difference is wealthy people live cheek by jowl to less wealthy people. They use public transport with them. Surrey feels quite insular, it must be a nightmare without a car so I wonder if people mix less with people from other backgrounds. The thing is, it isn't outright or overt rudeness...it's the kind of rudeness whereby someone won't even acknowledge anothers presence or will use the basic niceties tha society demands ie please or thank you but nothing more.

And?

I have had the same in parts of central London and the outskirts of a couple of other cities.