Hi guys,

Still in UK, can't believe how tense and aggresive UK socity is. Saw three incidents today where young guys harrassed others. 2 Yobbos cycled into a shop and out, as a joke!! Where's all that come from? (In 'Bath' city, not 'run down'....). Hypertension or what.....!

My question, is Canada really 'that safe' - generally yob free?
I saw one incident on my five trips to Calgary, on the C - Train, teenagers jammed the auto doors, everytime the train stopped. A passenger 'told them off' politely, and they stopped. (UK, same thing? start a fight / abuse match at this point.)


Found Calgary fine otherwise, very easy going, I guess even in rush hour. Of course Calgary is getting much busier, with people coming in. How do people feel who live there? Or any other Canadain city? I liked when you pass in close proximity, folk are at ease

The general 'lack' of crime is a pull factor for lots of Brits and others I think. (Obviously many things are considered when moving countries.)

All The Best. Live today, enjoy the moment. HL.

I can't speak for the UK since I left in 1962 and the most time I spent there was some six months in 1999. This was in one of my childhood areas (East London, West Ham, Stepney, Whitechapel etc.) where I felt completely safe and at home.

I would say that Canada is, overall, a pretty civilised place. There is the clear absence of that obscene gun culture that prevails in the US. Big cities here have their gangs (both the home grown and imported variety) thus there are certain neighourhoods to avoid at all costs.

There'll always be a certain element of Yob Culture in the bigger towns and cities - out here in the boonies the kids are well-behaved and polite! Quite a shock - I hadn't heard courtesy from a kid for years back the UK.

I am very big on respect and must say Canada is one of the only places I have been and NOT seen disrespect from young people - it's like a breath of fresh air.

I would tend to agree. Methinks in the big cities the kids have this pack mentality: Strength and Bravado in numbers, but well behaved if on their own.

On the other hand I am often offered a seat on a city bus. Most times I decline since I sit on my butt 7 hours a day at work. I am 63 and, being almost bald, I must look even older. Possibly decrepit? This amuses me at times especlally when a young girl gets up.

I'm sitting here trying to plan a holiday to England this summer - you're doing a great job of putting me off! Especially when working out how much it's gonna cost!!

Maybe I should switch to Hawaii............

If you do make sure that you go to the "Big Island".

Too polite! I had some young store clerk call me ma'am the other day... I wanted to wring his neck! :curse:

The truth hurts ma'am???

Our experience at a theme park last summer enforces your point.

We have two young children, 9 and 7 and as we were queuing a group of teenagers were kidding with each other and one of them said "sh*t". His friend, noticing our kids, nudged him and told him to apologise, which he did.

Hubby and I were gobsmacked as kids (and adults) in the UK think nothing of swearing within the earshot of little kids and generally use much stronger language!

Not as much as your shins will when I next see you!

You men and your obsession with 'big' things!

Well you know. When you don't have them, you want them.

I have never once felt intimidated or unsafe here in Calgary, although I am aware that crime in the city is still high.

One silly observation I have found is that people dont seem to "suss" each other out here. There are no sideways glances or funny stares on public transport. If you stare at someone they seem to look away instantly. Not like London UK on the tube where everyone is staring at each other sometimes with the strangest expressions.

I think the youth seem a little happier here too, a little less angry at the world. Although I am sure they have the same problems.

Interesting thread, enjoyed reading through the responses thus far. I'm just curious, does the education system in the UK have obligatory MRE (Moral Religious Education) courses between the ages of 12-16?

I was educated in Canada and MRE (amongst the other typical required subjects such as Math, English, French & P.E) was required every school term in high school (ages 12-17). I think myself & classmates shrugged it off as irelevant when taking it, but in hindsight, it taught us alot about cause & effect and basic moral principals and right/wrong making us look a bit deeper into WHY we judged things right & wrong.

May have nothing to do with it, probably just the water is different *lol*