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Original poster

Why are Brits not like the French

167 replies

Worker29 · 01/12/2018 23:23

BBC News - France fuel protests: Tear gas fired in clashes in Paris
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46411699
There are riots. About fuel taxes.
Brexit has caused no such demonstrations.
Why?

OP posts:
Maryjoyce · 02/12/2018 07:50

Seem to forget we had fuel protests nit that many years ago it nearly stopped the country

LynetteScavo · 02/12/2018 07:51

What were the riots in the UK in 2011 even about? Was it just random rioting?

I think Brits are more into peaceful protests when they have a political point to make.

The French have always liked a riot, and French police always come down pretty hard, not always with the best ending...tear gas is just another day in Paris even without rioting.

Lindy2 · 02/12/2018 07:55

Probably because most people know that riot is not a good way to protest.
Blockading vehicles on roads resulting in a number of injuries and deaths is also not a good way to protest.
Do you think going out to have a fight on the street about Brexit is sensible and will change any decisions made? I hope you are not really that niave.

LynetteScavo · 02/12/2018 07:56

From the link:

We saw groups of people both from the anarchist far left and from the nationalist far right. They were tooled up and ready for a fight.
The vast majority of "gilets jaunes" (yellow vests) who came to Paris to protest were not in that category. There were many who were happy to look on, jeering police and providing moral encouragement to the front lines.
And then there were the crowds who hung back - genuinely wanting nothing to do with the trouble. Inevitably even these people agreed it was the police who had started it all, by wanton use of tear gas.

This.

Windgate · 02/12/2018 07:56

The fuel protests/riots are affecting more of France than just Paris. Having got caught up in a sudden road blockade yesterday afternoon I for one am glad the UK/Ireland are not more like the French.
Whilst there were some older people and women present the vast majority were men, wearing hoodies, balaclavas, scarves across their faces, many also had gas masks on. They were using wooden pallets and iron drain covers as weapons and to intimidate the occupants of cars, coaches, lorries etc. They were also setting the carriage way on fire. Very scary.

Before any one comments I am well aware of the UK's history of violent disorder.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 02/12/2018 07:57

We could do with some violent protests about Universal Credit, though!

speakout · 02/12/2018 08:00

SchadenfreudePersonified

Why do you want violence?

People will get hurt. Is that desirable?

ivykaty44 · 02/12/2018 08:01

The fuel protests in 2001 were by the tanker drivers and petrol shortages were what was about to bring the country to a standstill

Unions in UK are a dirty word

They aren’t in France & that is the main difference

Xenia · 02/12/2018 08:02

We are a bit calmer. They had a revolution and got rid of their Kings and we didn't (other than briefly). Riots tend not to do too much good. Peaceful protest is allowed of course.

(Someone above suggesting Brexit won't happen is probably wrong however. We have served the art 50 notice and therefore leave in March 2019.Whatever we think of it (I voted remain) we will be out by April. The uncertainty is over whether we leave with the draft agreement we currently have or we crash out, in my view.)

SchadenfreudePersonified · 02/12/2018 08:04

People ARE getting hurt Speakout.

People are suffering and people are even dying.

Is that desirable?

UC doesn't work. the government knows it doesn't work and they don't care.

The report into poverty is being ignored by the government.

I don't really want violence anywhere - I don't want ANYONE hurt.

But if there is going to be loud protests with a potential for violence, let them be about something which is brutal beyond belief and needs to be stopped.

ivykaty44 · 02/12/2018 08:06

If we were calmer then why have we had several riots in London over the last 50 years?

Ali1cedowntherabbithole · 02/12/2018 08:07

La France. The country of liberal values. Unless you are a Muslim woman.

Not sure about their amazing low tax economy either, but willing to be corrected.

GaryBaldbiscuit · 02/12/2018 08:07

the french police are more antagonistic.
there would never be a peaceful protest in france

Babymamamama · 02/12/2018 08:08

I had a look on the news yesterday and DP and I commented that it just looks like it's a bunch of anarchists who enjoy a bit of mayhem with some criminals thrown in for good measure (given the amount of looting going on). What part of this do you admire OP? Oh and we did have UK riots when a man died being chased by the police a few years ago. Started in Tottenham and spilled out.

LizzieSiddal · 02/12/2018 08:11

Xenia I don’t believe those are the only two options (current deal or no deal). Cross party MPs are saying they will block No deal and want an extension to article 50. Even TM has said there are now 3 options, including “No Brexit”.

onedayiwillmissthis · 02/12/2018 08:13

Riots in the UK generally seem to be for selfish reasons...greedy troublemakers just lashing out and having their 'fun'.

Injustice and loss of democracy are met with apathy.

Xenia · 02/12/2018 08:16

(On Brexit, if all 28 Eu member states agree to extend the notice in my view it can be extended or withdrawn but I am pretty sure they will not agree to that so I don't regard it as a realistic option. UK cannot just demand it and the other 27 then have to agree. Anyway we shall see fairly soon).

ivykaty44 · 02/12/2018 08:17

Onedaywiilmissthis which riots have been started for selfish reasons?

ZenNudist · 02/12/2018 08:20

We aren't that calm. 2011 riots show we are a short step from anarchy.

The French love a strike too.

Childrenofthesun · 02/12/2018 08:21

Why do you want violence?

People will get hurt. Is that desirable?

Some people are actual dying because of the universal credit system - mainly extremely vulnerable people with mental health difficulties. I'd say that's worse than a few people being hurt in a protest.

Fatasfook · 02/12/2018 08:23

Apathy. We are conditioned to believe that we are well looked after, calm down and carry on, that someone else will take care of things for us. Also,when we do have protests, the news never reports it.

ZenNudist · 02/12/2018 08:24

@ivykaty44 the 2011 riots started as a protest against the police brutality and the death of a man (i think he was black) in custody. A load of scrotes jumped on the bandwagon and started looting for personal gain. They realised that the police were too busy to stop them or get them.

Scary stuff.

ivykaty44 · 02/12/2018 08:25

With UC and Brexit coming to a head next spring we’ll see what happens

ivykaty44 · 02/12/2018 08:26

Zen yes, I know why it started

LittleLionMansMummy · 02/12/2018 08:27

The British do protest though - a million took to the streets against the Iraq War, several hundred thousand against Trump's visit, 700,000 in October for a People Vote. Our police facilitate peaceful protest and generally their tactics are a world away from their French counterparts. The Met recently had to sell its water cannon at a £300k loss - even when it was bought, every one said it was a waste of money. We've had flash points throughout history, largely as a result of ingrained social injustice and poverty that result in rioting. But our protests are well organised, respectful and family oriented - and anything but apathetic.

There are many things I like and admire about the French way of life. Violent protest and inflammatory policing tactics are not two of them.