Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Libya

31 replies

vj32 · 24/02/2011 18:10

AIBU to think that these British people living/working in Libya are making a fuss? Yes it is dangerous. But that is why western people working in countries like Libya receive such high wages - it is danger money. And, surprise surprise, it is now dangerous. I just don't really get it. I realise its scary. But surely they knew it was a dangerous place to go in the first place.

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 24/02/2011 18:12

Your point is?

When they went there it wasn't as bad as it is now was it. So initially no problems, now the shit is hitting the fan it has become dangerous so they want out.

Hardly surprising is it?

boobjob · 24/02/2011 18:13

YABU - so it's ok for them to ummm die?

BarbaraBar · 24/02/2011 18:13

I'm waiting for the "do they pay taxes here?" stuff to start... Hmm

Original poster
vj32 · 24/02/2011 18:15

There just loads of people on TV complaining about why the British govt didn't get the out fast enough. Most of the British people working there are paid huge wages by oil companies to be there. I think they should take some responsibility and be a bit grateful to the people that had to go get them, thats all. Maybe they are and that bit just isn't newsworthy enough.

OP posts:
captainbarnacle · 24/02/2011 18:15

Oh yes. Let's let everyone who earns above average wage get killed, shall we Hmm After all, they deserve it.

FFS.

earwicga · 24/02/2011 18:17

YABU

Would you say the same thing about voluntary workers?

Not very nice.

boobjob · 24/02/2011 18:18

oh and what about members of the Armed Forces?

YABVU

Original poster
vj32 · 24/02/2011 18:25

What about the people that have to go get them though?

You don't think they should be at all grateful that they are being saved from a dangerous situation they knowingly and for huge personal profit got themselves into?

OP posts:
NoSuchThingAsSociety · 24/02/2011 18:26

As I mentioned on a related thread yesterday, work is most certainly under way to get these people out (I have been involved in some of the planning).

Yes, they have been a little bit naive and precious in their complaints but no, it's not the case that they had this coming to them.

One might as well say the same about Kenneth Bigley.

Ridiculous.

captainbarnacle · 24/02/2011 18:29

Where have you read/seen that they are not grateful? I am sure people complain about NHS waiting lists and reading books in schools etc - but that doesn't mean they're not grateful.

In times of crisis there are no other options but for evacuations to be organised on a national govt level. BP for instance part funded a couple of flights this morning, but they were also chartered by the UK govt.

The problem is the people working in compounds in the desert. They cannot get to an airport. They are in grave danger surrounded by mercenaries and fully armed soldiers.

They are still UK citizens/passport holders and are entitled to support. If they don't complain, then noone will know they are there!

OH works thousands of miles away (not M East but other dangerous places) and I would hope the UK govt would help him if there would serious unrest. And no, we're not rolling in it (rented house etc). But if he was stuck, I would be on the phone and the tv complaining until something was done!

You are making crass assumptions.

Original poster
vj32 · 24/02/2011 18:33

I'm not saying they had it coming to them, I'm saying many people seem to have been naive about the possible dangers, and perhaps the media are playing up complaints.

It would be nice to see people coming home grateful to the people who risked their safety to get them home rather than just complaining it took so long. But as I said, that may be about the media editing of the story.

OP posts:
xstitch · 24/02/2011 18:34

captain I did wonder if the oil companies were contributing to getting people out, I'm glad you said that, saved me trying to find out.

I imagine it would be terrifying being stuck out there. Not least because I would think that the troubles would make communication difficult.

NotSoPukeyMummy · 24/02/2011 18:34

I think it was only a few months ago, if I remember rightly, that Libya was being touted as one of the hot new tourism destinations for 2011. (Don't quote me on that but I'm sure it was.)

So....YABU. Libya was not considered unsafe until a few weeks ago.

And, um, don't we need oil for stuff? Someone has to go and find it/get it out of the ground! Or don't you drive a car OP?

How do you know they are paid "huge wages" anyway? I know someone who was an expat in oil and he got a decent wage but not high.

signet · 24/02/2011 18:36

YABVU I'm sure they are incredibly grateful. Why would you ever think that people deserve this? The government relies on lots of these people - in particular the oil workers to provide a steady supply of oil to the British public. You'd soon complain if you had no oil, petrol etc. We should be thankful that there are people who are willing to work in these situations to provide for us and I think it's a bit of a myth that everyone who is an expat is rolling in it. Imagine if you went away on holiday and got stuck in a dangerous situation through no fault of your own...wouldn't you be thankful for the British government intervening to get you out?

Horrible to suggest they are making a fuss. I'm sure that a lot of these people have come back to the UK leaving homes, possessions and goodness knows what behind with little hope of being able to recover it sometime soon. Be thankful that it's not you.

Original poster
vj32 · 24/02/2011 18:40

But I would never have got myself into that situation in the first place. And Libya has long been known to be run by a crazy dictator who has (allegedly - not sure about the proof) supported acts of terrorism. Same with Egypt. Although it is a holiday destination for lots of people there are also warnings about bombings/civil unrest in the country, and have been for years. If you go to these places you accept the risk.

As I have said before - I'm not saying they should be left - I'm just saying that people shouldn't be shocked this has happened.

OP posts:
Bucharest · 24/02/2011 18:41

My friends in Tripoli aren't complaining about anything. They are quietly sitting in their flat following the Foreign Office's instructions to stay put and not panic.

Obviously their families are a bit worried. Is that allowed? Hmm

beatenbyayellowteacup · 24/02/2011 18:48

YABU.

I cycle to work, yes I know there are risks.

I fell off and had concussion. Should people not have felt sorry for me? I took the risk.

Damn, I should have taken the bus. I knew it!

earwicga · 24/02/2011 18:48

I think EVERYBODY has been caught on the hop with this vj32. It is not reasonable to think that two weeks ago the overthrow of Gadaffi was even possible. You are overthinking this.

JumpOnIt · 24/02/2011 18:52

I would worry that something like this has obviously bothered you enough to warrant a post! You must have something more immediate and pressing to think about. One would hope.

captainbarnacle · 24/02/2011 18:53

But I would never have got myself into that situation in the first place

Well that's great for you. For some people, working in dangerous places/ oil fields is their job. It's what they do best. We can't all be pen pushers.

Plus alot of people I have heard on the radio have been teachers in Libya who can't wait to return. Would you save teachers, and not oil workers? After all, they are all stupid for going out there Hmm

The world is bigger than the UK you know. Who would have thought Tunisa and Egypt would have fallen so quickly? None of the pundits were predicting that on New Year's Eve.

Libya is a huge country! www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12568976

NotSoPukeyMummy · 24/02/2011 18:56

OP, by your logic we should only get oil from completely stable countries. Because someone has to go and find/get that oil for us.

So you don't drive a car then?

I expect that many of the Brits working in Libya are just doing what they can to pay the bills and keep a roof over their families' heads. It's not like jobs are readily available at the moment.

beatenbyayellowteacup · 24/02/2011 18:59

Not just drive a car. Use anything plastic, including toothbrushes, credit cards etc, or use a bus that drives smoothly on asphalt etc.

Our lives are incredibly dependent on oil.

earwicga · 24/02/2011 19:10

Bucharest - I hope things turn out for your friends.

MollieO · 24/02/2011 19:13

I doubt that the 50 teachers stuck in Tripoli are on stunningly high wages.

VivaLeBeaver · 24/02/2011 19:16

My DH spent 2 months out there recently as part of his job. He didn't get paid danger money at all. He got paid his usual "being away from home working all hours of the day, 7 days a week" rate but this is no different than if he'd been in France.