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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Londoners are v unfriendly

181 replies

maggieryan · 19/08/2017 14:55

I've moved over from Ireland to London. Big move and im very happy with my decision BUT finding people so unfriendly. Walk into a.shop and try to have a bit of chit chat and nothing., I tried talking to neighbours and barely any response.. Taximen barely speak where as in Dublin you cant shut them up.im not unlikable, plenty of friends and loads of family but maybe im just used to Dublin. Im only finding my feet so I probably need to give it time??

OP posts:
cuirderussie · 20/08/2017 13:31

Dubliner here, frequent London visitor. I don't find it unfriendly as such, just a big crowded frenetic city where people are protective of their space. But I've had loads of friendly chats with randoms, kindness from strangers, helpfulness. Nothing like the hatchet faced Parisians!

RidingWindhorses · 20/08/2017 13:33

Oh God I have. I got a UKIP rant all the way to Waterloo, he carried on ranting once I'd got out and the clock was still running!

RidingWindhorses · 20/08/2017 13:34

was a reply to I have never been in London taxi where a driver has behaved like this^

mirialis · 20/08/2017 17:15

Wow - you are very lucky if you've not ever had a black cabbie give you a massive long UKIP rant.

Still use them over Uber personally (had one gem of a cabbie recently drop me at a pub at midnight and I left my purse behind - I was sober as coming from work but it had just slipped out of my pocket as I got out of the car - and he came back and found me 40 minutes later with it and refused to take any cash... don't think you'd get an Uber driver doing that)... but of course you get some racist/sexist chat from the odd black cabbie. Never given me any shit for disagreeing with them - they don't get a tip though.

5rivers7hills · 20/08/2017 17:46

I have never been in London taxi where a driver has behaved like this

I've had several black cab journeys where you get a good old UKIP rant. Also anti-cyclist rant.

surferjet · 20/08/2017 18:33

Don't use black cabs then.
Get an uber or the night bus.
No one's forcing you to use black cabs!

mirialis · 20/08/2017 19:52

No one's forcing you to use black cabs!

Sure, and I've already said that I choose them over Uber.

Still get a UKIP rant out of them, though and I'm surprised that other regular London black cab users have not had this experience.

Davros · 20/08/2017 21:31

I've never had a Ukip rant form a black cabbie but I have had one very recently come back to find DH who left his phone in his cab. I've also had them help with luggage, shopping, wait to make sure I'm in etc

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 20/08/2017 22:30

I live in N London use a black cab at least once a week for the past 3y and not once, not even during brexit, have I ever had a racist, ukip rant...cyclist rant sure, other driver rant sure but not a racist one.

And I've had someone amazingly helpful and kind Uber drivers. As far as I'm concerned they both have their place in london

JessieMcJessie · 20/08/2017 23:34

surferjet

  1. So just because they were accused means they were all guilty eh? Dangerous thinking there.
2. 32 is a tiny tiny percentage of all the uber drivers in London.
surferjet · 21/08/2017 08:07

JessieMcJessie

Would you have this attitude if the accusations were against black cab drivers? Hmmm...
You seem extremely keen to paint uber drivers as above reproach, despite the evidence.
Well you carry on sweetie. Most women I know in RL would never get in an uber. What you do is entirely up to you.

RidingWindhorses · 21/08/2017 14:38

Don't use black cabs then

A bit OTT. The odd UKIP rant doesn't put me off black cabs. I've had far worse from mini cab drivers.

I've only had one Uber ride so I can't comment - my complaint with Uber is that you have to wait too long for them, it's often quicker to get a black cab and they aren't necessarily cheaper.

Bunbunbunny · 21/08/2017 14:54

Surprised by the UKIP rants, life long londener and I've never had one! I always chat to the drivers, uber black cab Addison Lee all the same really. London is friendly just need to find the right places to go for a chat, might take a bit of time but it is a friendly place

JessieMcJessie · 21/08/2017 16:46

surferjet

JessieMcJessie

Would you have this attitude if the accusations were against black cab drivers? Hmmm...

Yes, of course.

sillywitch · 21/08/2017 16:58

I get a mini cab to the airport from Greater London every summer for the past five years. With the exception of the year, I have had the 'UKIP' convo from the driver (so fours different drivers). Awkward to say the least as I am not British.

sillywitch · 21/08/2017 17:01

I lived in Dublin and yes, everyone was very friendly on the street, shops etc. I worked in an office with about 40 people and different groups in the business had cliquey drinks after work and in the year I worked there was never invited (I was permanent, not a temp). They were nice enough and do think it was exception to the rule.

cuirderussie · 21/08/2017 19:55

Sillywitch no, not exceptional I reckon - friendliness in Ireland can be quite superficial and newcomers often find it hard to break into established cliques. I'm a Dubliner and I don't find them particularly friendly.

Achoopichu · 21/08/2017 20:04

Well whenever I've been to London and asked for directions I've never found a Londoner - just tourists Grin

And they never seem to know directions as they only know their own tube in

Can understand the tube - better not to catch anyone's eye

I think I it's just the volume of tourists - Londoners are very sociable with ppl they know?

On a train I've talked to posh Londoners who were absolutely lovely.

I think on balance they're ok

Achoopichu · 21/08/2017 20:05

In the north,where it's not quite so busy, it's easier to form a bond at a bus stop etc Grin

Boulshired · 21/08/2017 21:17

In my northern hometown if at a bus stop there is usually a 90% chance I went to school with someone they know. People leave not many come in.

BoysofMelody · 21/08/2017 22:11

Liverpool is a very chatty city, as is Glasgow, but with the weegies seem to do it out of nosiness and to show off their patter rather than a genuine desire to be friendly.

5rivers7hills · 21/08/2017 22:17

Most women I know in RL would never get in an ube

Conversely I don't know any women who have issues with getting an uber.

Seriously, if you want to rape women there are MUCH easier and safer ways to go about it than becoming an uber driver!

We generally "share my ride" so that you can see where you friend is on their journey home and who has picked them up. If anything happened it would be pretty easy to find the perpetrator.

5rivers7hills · 21/08/2017 22:19

Although I did have a pretty strang uber ride home where the driver was telling me about the big conspiracy and how Russia is the only good super power and how it's all just propaganda and lies. Was interesting but also slightly scary at he same time!

5rivers7hills · 21/08/2017 22:20

You can't beat a black cab sometimes tho - step out onto the street, straight into a cab and off your go.

mirialis · 21/08/2017 22:39

Liverpool is a very chatty city, as is Glasgow, but with the weegies seem to do it out of nosiness and to show off their patter rather than a genuine desire to be friendly

ha ha more of this sort of intercity chat please, rather than lazy slagging off of Londoners.

I have actually worked in both Liverpool and Glasgow and found them both very friendly to me as a Londoner in contrast to Mancs. Didn't know the Glaswegians were just doing it to show off their patter... wow, mind changed.