Strange comments about the U.K.

[Lessando]

I often just read threads without posting. But I read one thread on here recently that made me think, and I wanted to start a new thread about it.

There was a thread on here a while ago, it was titled "Do you feel lucky in life".

About one hundred posters came on and wrote a similiar thing, they all wrote

"Oh yes I am so lucky to have been born in the U.K." and they wrote things like

"I won the lottery of life by being born in the UK"

I was surprised at the fawning over the top comments, because they are in stark contrast to how I have experienced living in other countries. Living conditions in many other countries seem to me to be a lot better than living conditions in the UK.

I have lived in other countries and right now I am living in the UK for a year . Don't get me wrong , there are things that are nice about the UK.

What I really wanted to discuss is why do some people in the UK seem to think it is the best country in the world.
But, if you go outside of the UK, a lot of media outlets talk about the UK in a very negative way. Do people know this happesn?

So many other countries are doing better economically than the UK is. Living conditions are better. The last EU country that i lived in, i barely saw a homeless person.

In my current city in the UK, homeless people come up to me and ask me for money all the time. Every single day.

I lived in an EU country last year. The media outside of the UK always reports negatively about the UK. They usually say that the UK is a very bad place to live, especially after Brexit.

Im not really saying if I personally think the UK is good or bad, obviously I am just one person.

I more wanted to discuss the discrepancy between many people in the UK thinking it is the best country in the world and they are lucky to live there, and the media outside the UK who report that the UK is a terrible place to live in.
Any thoughts on it?

Where in the Eu didn't you see homeless?

Yep

This. Most recent visits were to big cities in France, Germany, Holland and Belgium. Far more people begging on the streets than our home city in the UK.

I have to say - I do think that some of this goes on. From the government.

From the top down.

They tell the citizens of the UK: that they should be grateful to live in such a great country.

It keeps them submissive, and then they don't stand up against certain things. Becaase they are grateful to live in such a great country.

I feel that there is a bit of propoganda going on from the top down.

Agree. I have lived in three countries in mainland Europe and have seen homelsssness, drug issues,etc. Where is this utopia?

I am already back. I already wrote that.

Are you reading the thread?

Waiting to find out where you didn’t see any homeless people?

Which international news media, precisely?

Trump supporting media in the US, for instance, denigrate the UK, but less right wing media there give a much more balanced view.

Im live in the uk born in the uk and hate the uk its become a laughing stock tbh.
I spend most my time out the uk.

Unfortunately its true and it’s sad because its a beautiful place but since Brexit its gone downhill so much. I can confirm all people visiting from abroad mention about the homeless people. They are so many. Growing up in a different country I think Ive only seen 1-2 homeless people in my life. The crime rates are very high and they continue to rise. Its becoming very expensive even for middle class people. There are a lot of issues but I think its still worth a visit for a holiday. We also have issue with people stealing telephones on bikes and I know it puts tourists off

So where in the eu you didn't find homeless?

But you say I just think its strange how if you go outside of the UK , a lot of people say that the UK is an absolutely terrible place to live, and that they feel sorry for the people who live there.

But they don’t live here, so who are they to say it’s so bad?

What do you think about being asked if you want a receipt @Lessando ?

I came back.

There are about 60-70 posts asking me different questionS

The posters who want me to answer your question RIGHT NOW. Have patience. You are not the only person who asked me a question.

I am getting through the list of questions and i will get to your question at some point.

I live outside the UK and feel very lucky to be from there and to have passed on Uk citizenship to my children. I notice the opposite that the Uk media puts the UK down so, so much that a lot of people there moan about it (my grandparents worst of all lol because of the media they consume) and yet it is a fantastic place with a lot going for it.
I lived in Canada briefly and it’s beautiful but I much preferred the Uk. Canada has a lot of the same issues, less social support and less friendly people (yes really, the stereotypes about Canadians being so friendly and Brits not being are the opposite way around in my view).

The Uk has a lot going for it! As for how other countries view it however I am afraid that the UK is spoken about little in other countries and less in their media. It’s a UK thing to be interested in other countries news from what I’ve seen. Any of the countries I’ve lived in very very rarely comment on anything to do with the UK unless something big like the Queen dying or a Royal Wedding. The Uk are good at caring about world politics.

Ok great. When you have the time
What country are you living in.
Take your time.

I think all people mean is they are lucky to have been born in a first world country. Also speaking English is handy globally.

Brits are very good at criticising themselves so I think v few people are blind to the issues here, which have become a lot worse in the last twenty years.

The homelessness in the U.S., Canada etc is significantly worse than the Uk will less social networks. I see more homeless people in Australia. Certain countries in the middle east it’s even worse.
I think it depends where in the UK you go because a lot of the UK homelessness isn’t that big of an issue and certainly less than other western countries and they get a lot more social support too.

Believe me the homeless is bad here too.

Yes it is true that people like the feeling of "home" .
People often love a country because of the people that live there.
Aspiring to be better is always good, too.

I’ve lived in lots of different countries and nowhere has been particularly negative about the UK. It doesn’t get much of a mention. The rare news stories about the UK will probably be written by or be translations of stories written by UK based journalists.

The royals get quite a bit of press in some countries.