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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why Brits aren't protesting in the streets?

243 replies

ponderingpaula · 17/10/2022 07:38

I used to live in the U.K. and I can't for the life of me work out why the British people aren't protesting the government, given how utterly shafted you have all been by them, and how things have been getting worse and worse over the last few years.

Working people needing food banks and "warm houses" because the costs of living is so outrageous, the nhs is utterly broken unless it's an emergency and even then people have to wait hours for an ambulance, social care virtually doesn't exist now, transport is crap and constantly striking, there have been so many lies it's impossible to count, multiple leaders over a short time, u turn after u turn, prioritising the ultra rich, I mean this is just off the top of my head...

In any other country on earth people would take to the streets to protest or even riot... why don't Brits?

OP posts:
OhmygodDont · 17/10/2022 07:41

Because everyone’s at work trying to cover the bills. Because we moan and tut we don’t riot really and when we do it’s when it’s warm.

Nowheretoogo · 17/10/2022 07:42

Because we are British,we just take it and carry on unfortunately.

MarshaBradyo · 17/10/2022 07:43

Far easier to post about it on SM than protest.

sashagabadon · 17/10/2022 07:43

Because majority of people are getting on ok. Most people might donate to food banks but don’t need them. The weather at least down south is currently mild so no need for heating yet and we all got £67 off our leccy bill!

MissisBoote · 17/10/2022 07:44

People have been protesting. The Enough is Enough campaign has been organising protests. It's just that the media doesn't cover them.

AnApparitionQuipped · 17/10/2022 07:45

Because it wouldn't make the slightest difference to the government's policies. All it would do would cause disruption and hassle for ordinary folk trying to live their daily lives. while the rich carry on in their protective bubble - see 'Insulate Britain'.

Mamamia7962 · 17/10/2022 07:48

Why does this bother you so much if you're not even living in the UK?

mrshoho · 17/10/2022 07:50

Because we're slogging away working to pay the bills. We're looking after our kids and helping them get on at school /college. Some of us are caring for family. After doing all that we're too tired to take to the streets. Actually there are regular demonstrations but thankfully they don't end in riots so barely get a mention. When the health workers and education sectors go out on strike I expect you'll hear more.

HMSSophia · 17/10/2022 07:51

Mamamia7962 · 17/10/2022 07:48

Why does this bother you so much if you're not even living in the UK?

Because she's curious? Because it's an interesting question? Because people can and do care about things other than those which directly affects them?

NightmareSlashDelightful · 17/10/2022 07:51

Not everything has to be protested in the streets.

CharIotte · 17/10/2022 07:52

OhmygodDont · 17/10/2022 07:41

Because everyone’s at work trying to cover the bills. Because we moan and tut we don’t riot really and when we do it’s when it’s warm.

😂👍

girlmom21 · 17/10/2022 07:56

Because we're all just fed up of all of it and don't see a light at the end of the tunnel.

MarshaBradyo · 17/10/2022 07:57

sashagabadon · 17/10/2022 07:43

Because majority of people are getting on ok. Most people might donate to food banks but don’t need them. The weather at least down south is currently mild so no need for heating yet and we all got £67 off our leccy bill!

And this.

MayThe4th · 17/10/2022 07:57

People always talk about how in other countries people don’t stand for anything and protest in their droves.

But what good does protesting actually do? When has real change ever been brought about through protesting?

Protests are essentially just a way for people to voice their dissatisfaction, protests aren’t going to bring about change, just as they don’t bring about change anywhere else, and being a country prone to riots as happens in some countries is hardly an accolade to aspire to.

Luxurysleuth007 · 17/10/2022 07:59

Because

  1. it’s autumn and chilly

  2. too many average Joes are addicted to their phones or tablets to grasp the bigger far reaching implications all of this has for them

  3. the media control the narrative

  4. ‘compared to what’s happening over in Ukraine, we have it easy’

  5. ‘what exactly would change?’

  6. we’re not cohesive as a society, there’s too many social groups and tribes that don’t mix together, what X wants is irrelevant to Y and Z who think they’re better than X

  7. ‘Labours just as bad’

  8. Things may be tight at the moment but no enough people are feeling the real financial pinch yet, once this bites protesting will be more palatable

  9. There’s no specific cause for all of this, just a pile of shoddy decisions made by many (including the leave voters), the war in Ukraine and Covid. It’s been a fairly gradual slide in what’s actually acceptable to the vast majority so more are seemingly happy enough with less. It’s only when you stop and think how shockingly bad food prices, energy bills, NHS wait times and services, public transport, the economy, the pound and sham of a government have all become that you realise just how terribly weak our Nation is now.

RedToothBrush · 17/10/2022 07:59

MarshaBradyo · 17/10/2022 07:43

Far easier to post about it on SM than protest.

Normally protests are indicative of high unemployment rates though and that's something we don't have. Revolutions are typical if it reaches 25% If you have no job you have nothing to lose so may as well protest.

That said I do think we are reaching a crisis point. If people have jobs but still can't feed, get access to healthcare, house their family or keep warm then they also have nothing left to lose...

toffeechai · 17/10/2022 07:59

MayThe4th · 17/10/2022 07:57

People always talk about how in other countries people don’t stand for anything and protest in their droves.

But what good does protesting actually do? When has real change ever been brought about through protesting?

Protests are essentially just a way for people to voice their dissatisfaction, protests aren’t going to bring about change, just as they don’t bring about change anywhere else, and being a country prone to riots as happens in some countries is hardly an accolade to aspire to.

This. Protesting is largely pointless. It only gets positive attention from people who already agree and won’t convince those who don’t.

user53852098 · 17/10/2022 08:00

I have better things to do with my time

DailyMailHater · 17/10/2022 08:02

Because I can’t afford to lose a days wages to protest…..ends are just meeting as it is the slightest drop and the scales will top the wrong way for us and it is a hole I don’t want to get in.

spent 10 years in massive debt, due to being scammed by a family member we have worked our backsides off to get back and just as we got even and could see the light to actually being back in a position where we could have “spare” money each month (not a lot but some) this crisis hit and it is scaring the crap out of me….so extra job taken on (I now have a full time and part time job!) just to get us through

I can’t do anything to rock the boat….I know that is maybe selfish but I just need to get my head down and keep going my mental health can’t take anymore.

Maireas · 17/10/2022 08:02

Where do you live?
Are the people there all protesting in the streets? (apologies if you live in Iran - those brave women are).

MayThe4th · 17/10/2022 08:03

And it’s worth going to have a look at food bank usage across Europe to see that most other European countries have far higher food bank usage than in the UK, and while no country should be in a position where people have to make use of food banks, it is naive to think that protests are going to mean that food banks will no longer exist.

user53852098 · 17/10/2022 08:04

Another poster wanting protests so they can watch it on the telly at home, MN is full of them

suzyscat · 17/10/2022 08:04

YANBU The outpouring of righteousness an emotion online over the centre parcs fiasco (which was awful and did need addressing) or holly and Phil skipping the queue has both made think wow, if only the public would build this kind of momentous outrage over issues that are intentionally making our lives worse. The NHS, misuse of government contracts over covid, the dismantling of our rights.

I guess everyone is too busy trying to see a GP or find enough money to eat and heat and those with a bit more money are still comfortable enough not to worry so much.

arethereanyleftatall · 17/10/2022 08:05

Maybe don't believe everything you read in the papers op.

MrsDoyle351 · 17/10/2022 08:05

I have been on a march in our local town recently - Enough is Enough - there were around 300 people on it. Not reported in the news as PP said, but there were marches on the same day all over UK