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AIBU?

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Original poster

I really liked my neighbour until she said this

577 replies

neighbourhoodwatch · 18/08/2022 23:00

I've recently moved to a new area and was talking to my neighbour, who I really like.

Somehow the conversation went to GPs and how you can never get appointments and basically have to beg to be seen nowadays.

She was saying how it didn't used for be that way... before...

She then went on to say that it's because of all the immigrants that have come into this country and how our country is too small to hold all these people.

She also talked about the illegals coming in on boats etc and how terrible it is.

I am immigrant. I didn't come on a boat and I have a good job etc. But essentially I came to this country. I've never claimed benefits or anything like that. I'm on a high salary etc and studied here etc etc. So, I'm well established. Essentially whenever people say stuff like that, alarm bells start ringing for me.

Am I seeing it too black and white ? It's just difficult when someone says stuff like this to someone who also came here..... as an immigrant...

OP posts:
RadioRouge · 20/08/2022 05:26

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This is the government laughing their socks off at the determination of some people to point fingers of blame in all the wrong directions.

The neighbour is wrong.

The government is responsible for ensuring that the NHS has enough capacity for our population, whatever that population is.

Freedomfighters · 20/08/2022 09:35

Im fairly certain most people are aware that it's the government that are responsible for this RadioRouge.

RadioRouge · 20/08/2022 11:55

Freedomfighters · 20/08/2022 09:35

Im fairly certain most people are aware that it's the government that are responsible for this RadioRouge.

Then why are people blaming immigration?

Freedomfighters · 20/08/2022 12:02

The government are responsible for immigration policies. It's not about blaming the individuals who want to come here. I think most people understand why they want to do that. It's about a government that allows this to happen with no thought or care about the impact on the existing population.

Bookloverjay · 20/08/2022 18:04

Absolutely agree. Even though they said that bus didn't exist but then ahain they're just fucking total liars.

Tantan21 · 20/08/2022 18:06

I am not an immigrant or an illegal one but there have been hundreds put into my local town recently. All male none female or children. Now of it was a family I would maybe understand somewhat however when it's only makes and they're all young all getting free hotel and gym membership la for 3 months making the older generation feel uncomfortable I would have to say this is an issue in this country with no explanation and it isn't fair. When we say something we're classes as racist ect but the facts are these humans aren't been checked and getting priority is bed those who are born and bred here.huma. Rights and taking the Mick maybe.

Mikki77 · 20/08/2022 18:11

This reply has been deleted

Quotes a deleted quote

Spodocomod0 · 20/08/2022 18:11

My fil thinks this. He's a Tory, and simply cannot accept that it's because they have underfunded the NHS for so long.its ignorance. Be polite when you encounter her, but don't get sucked in to her sad world, it will get to you like it does me.

threatmatrix · 20/08/2022 18:14

If she was racist she wouldn’t of talked to you. She’s just saying what most of us feel at the moment. British people do not mind people from others countries coming here as long as they work etc.

CMZ2018 · 20/08/2022 18:15

She’s spot on

mylifestory · 20/08/2022 18:16

My mum is like this and is .... an Immigrant!

Sventon · 20/08/2022 18:25

I’d feel the same way. What an ignorant sod!

Wheresmywoolyjumpers · 20/08/2022 18:25

I used to find this a lot when I was living overseas - because I am white people did not lump me in with 'immigrants' even thought I was obviously from the UK.

Okaaaay · 20/08/2022 18:29

My parents say utter batshit things like that. They’re Daily Mail readers and have always lived in a part of the country prone to such views and casual racism. I’m sorry your neighbour thinks like that and that it has made you feel bad.

fuzzywuzzywombat · 20/08/2022 18:37

I'm sorry this was said to you. It's awful. I have a street neighbour who is like this. Her daughter has been gravely ill fi years and I did once point out to her our NHS could not survive without " ethnic" workers ( sorry if I'm naieve using that term) she totally ignored this. That's when I realised there was no hope talking to her. Now I engage as little as possible as there is no reasoning.
Going back into history there's very few countries without immigrants of one kind or another and myself I'm proud of an ethnic mix X
I'm not classist either. It doesn't matter if you have a 'good job' or wipe toilets. The world cannot survive without either
Chin up and carry on xxxbig hugs and new friends await you 💐💐💐

JimTheShit · 20/08/2022 18:40

Lots of people are like this. Globally. Not just in the UK. On many polls, people cite immigration as their number 1 priority/concern.
Rather than dismiss everyone as a bigot, it’s worth understanding who they feel this way. Is there no truth to it whatsoever?
The reality is, there is. It’s one of many reasons. And not everyone who acknowledges that fact is a bigot/racist etc.

saraclara · 20/08/2022 18:55

It's complicated. My retirement occupation is helping asylum seekers. I hear some terrible and tragic stories, and of course I want to help them.

My DD is a sister in a hospital, and was involved in recruiting Spanish nurses to fill the many many vacancies in her hospital, pre-Brexit. After the vote, every single one of them went back to Spain.

I am absolutely pro immigration. But niggling at the back of my mind is how hard it is for my kids to have their own home, and how much competition there is for young people to get a roof over their heads. So I imagine that those who don't have my kind of contact with migrants, both documented and otherwise, will have that at the front of their minds rather than niggling behind.

I can say, however, that I've not yet, in the four years that I've been doing this retirement work, found an asylum seeker who is housed in anything other than shitty, shared conditions. So they're not taking up the homes that my daughters need.

Babysitter12 · 20/08/2022 19:01

Well she has a point if over one million are granted visas over the previous year it will put a strain on the services. She and her generations have contributed for centuries so feel they have created and contributed to the society today more than a recent immigrant
ps My parents were immigrants

Bloopercat · 20/08/2022 19:01

I had a similar conversation, neighbor and I got along, and one day he said we "had to do something about the immigrants"
I pointed out that I'm the son of an immigrant (dad was Irish), he said "your type is ok".
Limited conversations from then on, thankfully they moved shortly after

Sue2704 · 20/08/2022 19:07

I don’t have a problem with immigration. I think we should help people who are fleeing for their lives, as well as those who want to come here to join our workforce and hopefully make a better life for their families. I do however have a massive problem with the boatloads of people coming across from France. They are, in my opinion just queue jumpers. They pay people smugglers vast amounts of money - which would surely in the poorer countries buy homes, small businesses etc for their families. They are mostly men - who is looking after their family- and now, if the news services are to be believed, they are coming from safe countries such as Albania. These young fit ambitious men should surely be working to make their homeland a better place.

roxyro · 20/08/2022 19:07

Actually there are many people in this country who are genuinely concerned about mass immigration without controls. They aren’t all racist cunts either. The country can’t sustain the current levels entering this country. It’s the shout of racist to anyone that mentions it that’s wrong. This country was not built by immigrants either.

CosmicCabbage · 20/08/2022 19:07

YANBU. This is probably coming from some social network and this woman has no discriminatory powers to sort fact from 'isms.

TanyaZing · 20/08/2022 19:08

I’m not an immigrant, but I am coloured. It’s not only offensive but flat-out wrong, but so many people believe whatever they read in the news or hear from their friends and are bound to accept it without thinking.

If she’s nice in every other way, it’s probably not her fault that she’s wrong about this. You could point out that if all the immigrants left right now, the NHS would collapse overnight. You could show her that leaked clip of Liz Truss saying that the problem is not the immigrants; even the Tories know that, though they must pander to their supporters to stay in power.

supperlover · 20/08/2022 19:13

If you get an opportunity point out to her that the NHS wouldn't function without immigration! More immigrants working in it than being patients.

anon666 · 20/08/2022 19:17

YANBU - these are the kind of attitudes that bring us down as a country.

She sounds like a Daily Mail or Express reader.

The irony is that all these Tory voters who are terrified of immigration are the same ones moaning and scapegoating immigrants.

Take a look in the mirror - they are the problem themselves voting in a party that is defunding the NHS . 🙄