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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think we're so lucky to live in this area (UK)

73 replies

fifi669 · 22/12/2013 23:19

DP and I were just talking about where in the world we'd rather live. Although we all like to moan about high bills etc. we came to the conclusion we've done ok!

Lack of natural predators or other dangerous/deadly animals and insects, no civil war, no weird dictators (thinking North Korea rather than some political statement), no volcanoes, tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis or other major natural disasters in this area to write home about. Not too hot, not too cold...

Feeling bloody lucky. Esp as I'm in glorious Cornwall :)

OP posts:

Beastofburden · 23/12/2013 12:16

What is interesting is how much of what we value could be copied elsewhere for not much money. We are for instance fairly free from corruption, the police is fairly reliable and honest, the courts are fairly apolitical. We have good tolerance for other faiths and customs, good treatment of women, etc.

Other things we have like healthcare might be too expensive for other places, but much of what we have is free. It's a sad commentary on how much suffering across the world is self inflicted, not by the people immediately suffering, but by the political elites in that country.

mijas99 · 23/12/2013 12:27

Beastofburden - the UK is a very stable country partly because of the class system, which actually means that the UK is one of the most difficult countries to succced from, if you are born into a working class family (UNESCO says something to that extent)

The rich generations of the families in the UK, you can call them the upper class if you like, have been rich for hundreds of years. They have made the laws that you are following. If you keep following the laws that they set, then you are complicent in the status quo. Look at the Tory cabinet, all born millionnaires, educated at Eton etc. They set the laws to make sure that the conditions continue to favour them and their friends, and that their wealth is protected.

In countries that have a less stable class system, people revolt and won't take what the government or their leader says, if something is justly unfair. The UK working class are placated with benefits payments and the BBC ;)

Beastofburden · 23/12/2013 12:32

Hmmmm.... I was from a working class family, went to comprehensive school, then to Oxford among hordes of old Etonians, including my tutorial partner. I don't think it is quite as bad as all that.

I would say things are pretty rigid elsewhere. Being female is kind of game over in many places.

A lot of what is good here comes from it being essentially a secular state.

BiscuitsAreMyDownfall · 23/12/2013 12:36

I agree OP.

Even though Id love to visit the rest of the world, I dont think Id ever live anywhere else. There's only Canada Id even consider TBH.

YANBU

hyperspacebug · 23/12/2013 12:39

Like US, UK is really bad with class segregation. UK poor live in ghettos, go to rough local comprehensives (I went to one) and you're more likely to be stuck in same class. My first impression of UK was how run-down it was (it was Manchester). In Germany/Holland/Finland even 'ghettos' look nicer and less littered and you can expect to get good education for your children, even when I was a child of lowly immigrant, so I felt West Europe was more socially mobile (even though UK is known to be less racist)

OrangeFizz99 · 23/12/2013 12:44

I have lived in Italy quite a lot during my life and it is one fucked up place.

Having just come back from one of those stints I currently think the UK could not BE more amazing.

WithRedWine · 23/12/2013 12:50

I'm alright, jack,' seems to be the consensus on this thread. Never mind that our peace & security is so often at the expense of that elsewhere. Nevermind that free at the pointvof use healthcare & education are both going the way of the dodo. Such smugness & complacency.

bakingaddict · 23/12/2013 12:51

I'm from a working class family but went to university at the time when it was free and you could get a grant and now would have what people would class as a middle class life.

I think social mobility is a little harder now what with tuition fees and loans burdening graduates but it's still not impossible.

My MIL is originally from S.E. Asia and there is a lot less mobility in that part of the world. While they don't have a class system as such there is a heavy distinction between if you are professional class or not and with school and university fees running into 1000's each year, especially as the professional class will mostly educate their children overseas only the wealthy of her country can access higher education. I think while it's not perfect we have a fairer system in this country

printedslippers · 23/12/2013 12:56

Yes, hyperspace I feel frustrated with the lack of social mobility here, although my own experience is very different from the statistical analyses you read from the Joseph Rowntree/Sutton Trust reports. I grew up in a poor area/badly performing comp in London but many of us (including me) went to good universities and have high-level jobs. I know that there is less social mobility in the provincial/seaside towns in the UK though.

persimmon · 23/12/2013 13:07

I totally agree. Mild climate, generally non-lethal and frequently beautiful geography, democracy with the harmless glamour of a constitutional monarchy, fascinating history..

There are crappy bits for sure (all in it together..?) but compared to most other places it's pretty fab.

mijas99 · 23/12/2013 13:10

Beastofburden, of course there are lots of exceptions. I myself went to a very good uni and was (and still am) the only person in my extended family to have gone to university

I compare UK to the rest of Europe really, it is completely subjective to say which country is better to live in. And it depends on your own circumstances of course.

Rhubarbgarden · 23/12/2013 13:11

I used to travel to the Middle East and Africa regularly with my work, and it made me eternally grateful that I live in Western Europe, especially as a woman.

Beastofburden · 23/12/2013 13:14

True, of course.

red wine i thought this thread was about being grateful for what we have, rather than being smug or saying that we are better than other places. Being grateful is nice and we ought to do it from time to time.

autumnsmum · 23/12/2013 13:15

It's nice to see a thread stating we have much to be thankful for in the uk .i love our amazing history

Helpyourself · 23/12/2013 13:16

Yeah but the weather really is shit.

mijas99 · 23/12/2013 13:23

autumnsmum, what country doesnt have amazing history?

Comments like that leave my flabergasted

The same with geography. Most countries have wonderful scenary too, if you know where to go. Obviously Milton Keynes isnt so pleasant. I'm from Lincolnshire, the countryside there is drab and brown. Not inspiring at all

By all means, like the country you live in. The grass is often not greener on the other side, but let's be a bit more specific about what is great about the UK! For most people, the obvious thing would be because you have lots of wonderful family and friends there - and you know the culture. That is what makes me feel proud of the UK - and also proud of Spain

BabyMummy29 · 23/12/2013 13:23

Compared to some countries we are lucky, but I hate the political correctness and bowing to other peoples' beliefs etc that goes on here.

Also the blame culture that is creeping in makes me angry and the fact that a lot of parents take no responsibility for their offspring.

Beastofburden · 23/12/2013 13:26

We have amazing history and so do other places... It's not a competition, just a place to say what do we love about the UK. If we do, of course :)

autumnsmum · 23/12/2013 13:32

Sorry if I offended obviously everywhere has a great history I just mentioned the uk history as the the thread is about it

MagnifyingGlassSearch · 23/12/2013 13:57

mijas99 Asturias is wonderful, I lived there for a while

SilverApples · 23/12/2013 13:59

I love living here, and I have lived abroad and worked with immigrant communities here. It's not perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than the majority of other countries IMO.

valiumredhead · 23/12/2013 14:18

I've lived all over and much prefer the UK.

FraidyCat · 23/12/2013 16:10

I grew up elsewhere, moved to UK (London) at 22. UK has a lot going for it, but the climate is depressing. I find the low grey skies oppressive, was used to blue sky and sunshine on my skin, without necessarily being uncomfortably hot. Everytime I go back I think I should retire there, though my family there all think I'm mad as they think UK is better in so many respects.

(Not going to say where there is.)

Another thing that struck me is that, by the standards of the suburbs I grew up in, nearly all UK housing looks like slums. To me a proper house was a bungalow surrounded on four side by landscaped gardens which probably contained a swimming pool. Terraced housing could look OK, if properly and consistently maintained, but seldom does. If I were Prime Minister for a day I would legislate so that owners would have the power to form a management company/trust which could set and enforce collective standards regarding exterior appearance/usage/maintenance.

I think once you've lived in more than one country, nowhere will ever be perfect, everywhere will be inferior in one or more ways.

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