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AIBU?

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Original poster

London bashing

390 replies

CruCru · 02/05/2012 19:51

Recently there seems to have been a spate of London bashing from friends and acquaintances who live elsewhere. I'm surprised that people think it is okay to totally slate the place that someone else lives just because it happens to be the capital.

I think London is awesome, possibly the bright centre of the universe but wouldn't dream of telling someone how ghastly, say, Lancashire is (I have never been to Lancashire, I am sure it is very nice, it is just an example).

AIBU?

OP posts:
thefurryone · 03/05/2012 11:41

I think London is awesome, possibly the bright centre of the universe

You need to get out more, seriously the world is massive there are many places that are amazing, if you think London is the best that the entire universe has to offer then that's really quite sad.

FWIW I used to live in London and think it's quite nice, there are things about it I miss and things about it I don't. I like that I now live in a city that is closer to both sea and countryside, giving me the best of many worlds, and now that there are children on the scene I really appreciate being able to live in the vicinity of a good school rather than in it to be in which a chance of them getting a place.

PooPooInMyToes · 03/05/2012 11:45

Oh my. This just reminded me. Years ago i had a boyfriend who was from a smaller town out of London. One day he said to me . . .

"we've got a coloured person AND a gaaay bloke in my town!!!!"

. . . said completely out of the blue with amazed face.

Now Im sure that not everyone out of London would be so amazed but it surprises me all these years later.

NovackNGood · 03/05/2012 11:48

I love London and having lived all over the UK the South was definitely a lot better than north of Hadrians wall. I'm a bit sad I'm missing the olympic build up but then I was not at all sad that two months ago I was able to walk into my local FNAC and spend a relaxing hour buying my tickets for the Opening and Closing ceremonies and the swimming and beach volleyball events at the games.

startail · 03/05/2012 12:06

I agree that going anywhere in the school holidays is mad except that's when the DCs are climbing the walls and want somewhere to go.Grin

PooPooInMyToes · 03/05/2012 12:09

Whats FNAC?

PoppyWearer · 03/05/2012 12:19

FNAC is a French/Belgian shop.

NicholasTeakozy · 03/05/2012 12:19

CruCru cheers for keeping the word Londonist going. :o

AmberLeaf · 03/05/2012 12:27

I'm sure that there are some Londoners that use that vile expression too

Not in the last 20+ years, not openly and not in my ear shot, its just not something you would expect to hear in London

London is not a wonderful haven of tolerance, nowhere is

Actually London is a wonderful haven of tolerance, especially compared to other places with less diversity and especially after living in places with a high number of openly racist intolerant people

Stephen Lawrence anybody?

WOW, yes Stephen was murdered 19 yrs ago by racist thugs who in no way represent Londoners as a whole and who were condemned for their actions by Londoners both black and white

YonWhaleFish · 03/05/2012 12:48

I don't like the fast, stressed pace of London, or the ignorance in the streets and on the tube. I don't like the focus on London in the media - as if nowhere else counts. I don't like the prices.

I do like the touristy stuff and art galleries and atmosphere.

I've only visited, and I've not met a Londoner yet, it's been all manner of people from all over the world instead.

harrietlichman · 03/05/2012 12:50

I love London! (But I am from Dudley so everywhere looks ace to me!)

fascicle · 03/05/2012 12:59

Nobody can dislike or generalise about an entire city, surely? When I visit London, the things I love are the parks, the architecture, the culture, the vibrancy, the bustle. I was less appreciative when I lived in London (somewhere Jo Brand wouldn't want to live!), probably because I took it for granted, and maybe some of the things that appeal as a visitor would be less attractive as a London dweller.

PooPooInMyToes · 03/05/2012 13:02

Amberleaf. Here here.

OrmIrian · 03/05/2012 13:11

"I find that Londoners tend to slag off rural life in a defensive action against rural dwellers slagging off 'dirty' London."

And vice versa!

It's all so bloody silly! Live where you live and leave everyone else alone.

IME when people say they 'hate' somewhere it's usually insecurity or jealousy. if somewhere makes you feel nervous or inadequate you might react with hostility. And then the people who live in that place get prickly and defensive because they think someone attacking the place they choose to live is to attack them. It's the equivalent of saying 'Fuck me! That house you live in is minging!' or 'Why do you wear that horrible coat?' You just don't say it!

Anyway, try living where I live Grin Everyone is rude about this place.... and I don't care cos I like it.... I am a little odd though.

OrmIrian · 03/05/2012 13:14

"Perhaps people London-bash because it gets the immense bulk of public money spent on it - in health, transport, and infrastructure and housing, and general investment, while the rest of the country is basically left to go suck!"

Yes, that does tend to rankle a little Hmm But what the hell. It's still a choice that everyone can make for themselves.

CoryTunt · 03/05/2012 13:21

I have found that many Londoners believe it's the be all and end all of the world. Things do indeed work outside of "the city".

I lived there in the West End until I was 18 then moved to Bath for university. Now I live in the countryside and am positively smug about it. The REAL money is in the countryside.

I also disagree with London hosting the olympics when so many poorer cities could have done with the economy boost. London has visitors all years round (for whatever reason).

margoandjerry · 03/05/2012 13:22

"Perhaps people London-bash because it gets the immense bulk of public money spent on it - in health, transport, and infrastructure and housing, and general investment, while the rest of the country is basically left to go suck!"

well, statistically that is not true on a per capita basis. More people live here (Greater London) than in Scotland, Wales and N Ireland put together. That's why it dominates - because it's massive - not because it's deemed to be better.

Does anyone really truly think London has better health services than anywhere else in the country? Because if they do, they might want to read up on some of the reports on London hospitals recently Sad.

margoandjerry · 03/05/2012 13:25

I am in two minds about the Olympics but I think it's the case that London is contributing more to it than the rest of the country and will also pay for it when it's here in terms of problems getting around. We've been told we can't have our street re-tarmacked as promised "because of the Olympics" so it's not something Londoners will actually get to enjoy any more than anyone else. And we are also paying for Crossrail through a levy on London business rates. I'm not aware of that happening with other local infrastructure projects although I could be wrong.

NovackNGood · 03/05/2012 14:03

Olympics should be in a Capital city and with the UK being so small it makes sense for it to be the National capital. Nobody in london is I am sure complaining that not one of the Glasgow Commonwealth games will be in London or were they for the Manchester games.

Scholes34 · 03/05/2012 14:11

I think London is awesome, possibly the bright centre of the universe

It is when you live there, but when you move away you see the light of day. I loved my 12 years there, especially the time pre-children, but am now much happier away from the capital.

Shame the vast majority of the journos live there as most of them seem to write about their lives there, especially in the Times. Perhaps they should get out (of London) more.

Youattheback · 03/05/2012 14:37

The one thing that always gobsmacks me about Londoners is that they are seemingly perfectly happy to live in a crappy little terrace or flat with no parking, no decent garden, high crime rate and noise on a busy road AND pay the sort of money that no one outside London in their right minds would ever pay!

And you Londonistas reckon us bumpkins are the thick ones! Grin

ifeelloved · 03/05/2012 14:39

Once again sweeping generalisation.

Can you imagine if I said anything about all welsh people or all northerners?

margoandjerry · 03/05/2012 14:42

It's true you do pay a high price to live in London. And I don't really use it like I should (art galleries go to hell - I've got a sofa to sit on Grin).

But I like it. Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner.

Youattheback · 03/05/2012 14:43

Plenty have, ifeelloved. We're all racist and homophobic outside Lahndahn, doncha know! Grin

And um, how is it a generalisation to mention house prices? The rest of the ocuntry DOES think you're all insane. I mean really, why would anyone sane pay 900K for a two up two down? Confused

takeonboard · 03/05/2012 15:29

Property prices are based 100% on supply and demand.

If hardly anyone wants to live there its cheap and if lots of people want to live there it costs more. When you include all the people who move to London from overseas its a very popoular place not just nationally but internationally hence the high prices.

Or in 3 simple words....location, location, location Grin

CremeEggThief · 03/05/2012 16:03

I wouldn't say I hate London, but I definitely think it's over-rated. It's great for a weekend, maybe a long one.
I would also say I feel I'm a much nicer person since I don't live there any more, but that's not to say there aren't plenty of kind and helpful people living in London.

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