Badly dressed and over weight English people

[Claustrophobiclown]

My sister, who has lived in Australia for years, was in England recently for an extended holiday. She was shocked at how many overweight, badly dressed and heavily tattooed people there were wandering around. I never really thought about it before, but looking at it afresh through her eyes I could see where she was coming from. I don't remember people looking like that when we were growing up, but we seem to have evolved into a race of very heavy and unhealthy looking people with absolutely no dress sense. Am I just misremembering my youth when I recall most people being a healthy weight and people generally dressing ok?

I’m not English, but what’s wrong with being heavily tattooed?

Its a talking point, like many things in life. This is a discussion forum, people make threads about all sorts of observations they have on people, life, circumstances etc etc

Assuming this is serious…I see the exact opposite! We were an unhealthy bunch of scruffs when I was a teen in the 90s. I’m always amazed by how many young people today look like they’ve walked straight out of a magazine (or Instagram). So many perfectly styled youths with incredible figures. I think older women also look a lot younger than women of the same age 20 years ago. Plus, exercise standards have changed - when I was a teen, we were told that women shouldn’t do press ups as it put too much pressure on their wombs (yes, really!). These days, hard-core fitness is the norm, and I often see well-muscled women strolling about.

Yes I referenced that. But the OP isnt talking about Australians or whether they're bigger or smaller, she was just talking about the British. And its true unfortunately.

Haven't tattoos been made compulsory by law?

@ghostyslovesheets - unlike punks they look like they are entirely dressed by sports discounters and it's not that young!

Tsk task indeed.
Whereas me, I'm a regular Beau Brummell.

Slander!

🥱

Of course they're not. It's the usual MN "everything here is shit" chorus.

I have also been to a number of European cities, stayed in the not posh parts to save money and seen a LOT of poverty, beggars, people with terrible teeth and clothes.

Against the punks or the sports discounters?

I love a sock with a pool slide. The wearer says LA style but in Britain it says, I am recently out of detention

Even 9 years ago 70% of Australians were overweight
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/29/australian-and-new-zealander-adults-are-fat-and-getting-fatter

So I doubt it I'd any different to home for your friend.

The op is framing it as the friend from Australia has come over and is aghast at the state of the UK people as she is so unused to such disgusting sights as those bastard badly dressed fat British people.

My friend lived there for a bit and spoke of 'bogans' which is kind of the Aussie version of a chav. Well, more a redneck. Tattoos, pick up trucks, and excessive beer consumption.

Does your sister live on a sheep farm and only see ranchers or whatever they call then. I imagine her wearing a home made gingham dress and a big apron, leather sandals and a head scarf.

Shes making it up. I've seen Outback Truckers and I can confirm that most Aussies are overweight and badly-dressed. Loads of them have tattoos and far too many of them wear flip-flops!

Even if your sister looks attractive it doesn't stop her from being ugly inside.

Depends where you are maybe. My friend visits me in London from Yorkshire and he comments how slim and well-dressed everyone is here.

My Australian friend has just come back from visiting her mum there and was complaining to me about ‘bogans’ which I believe is a perjorative phrase.

Ultimately people’s looks should not matter that much to others.

I read it differently, I read it that she was shocked at the deterioration over here because OP mentions how it used to be when they were growing up, not in comparison to Australia and that its better there.

Sister might have held the UK up as maintaining the last bit of decorum and then comes over to find its just as much as a walking jumble sale over here as it is where she now lives.

Plenty of overweight, tatted up and badly dressed bogans in Australia.

Lol as much as I love Aussies they’re not known for being particularly formal folks. I have cousins out there that will literally go out in a vest, board shorts and bare feet

I doubt they’re all swanning round the picture of chic tailoring 24/7 and good on em. No need to be so hoity toity.

Your sister needs to stop being a judgemental tit.

Sorry but I agree with the overweight and badly dressed. Tattoos, not so much. But people seem to have stopped making any effort whatsoever after covid.

It's like ugly modern architecture, ugliness of any kind affects people, some more so than others. Some are oblivious. When people see colorized historical videos or photos they often comment on how much better people dressed in the past and how there are almost no overweight people. The only exception in terms of dress was among the very poorest, when you go back to pre-WW2 eras particularly.