It's an odd thing, why does one person see a lovely village with an idyllic lifestyle and another see a horrible place with hoodies and crime everywhere ?
Having spent a couple of years on these forums I am constantly amazed at some of the things I read and wonder if especially in relation to the UK if they are talking about a different country altogether.
I do understand that immigrants and would be immigrants prefer to see things in a certain way to 'justify' the move but to what extent do they believe some of what they say ?
I saw the other day when someone said 'there is nowhere in Australia where crime is as bad as the UK', now obviously this isn't accurate but does the poster believe it or is it a coping mechanism ?
I was in the UK late last year and fully expected to see gangs on every corner and be unable to walk the streets without fearing for my life, I was almost disappointed to find this wasn't the case.

depends on the area, innit!

Well yes obviously it depends on the area but it always seems to be Australia/UK not Birmingham/Brisbane or wherever. Just broad sweeping generalisations.

I am amazed at some of the crap ex pats tell themselves about the UK, you name it I have heard it. Personally I think the sweeping generalizations make them sound stupid.

I agree, many of the things they say are just ridiculous and as you say just make them seem like fools. I honestlybwas fully expecting to see see gangs on virtually every corner, everyone out of work and if I got away with being stabbed only twice in the 3 week trip I could count myself as being very lucky

Sam as anywhere though. Compare crime in the Yorkshire Dales to crime at 126th and Lexington in the Bronx and I know which one would come out on top.

It's not just British expats who are negative. We have a friend staying with us at the moment and it's like having a little black cloud move into the house. Oy!

Figures compiled from reports released by the European Commission and United Nations show:

*The UK has the second highest overall crime rate in the EU.
*It has a higher homicide rate than most of our western European neighbours, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
*The UK has the fifth highest robbery rate in the EU.
*It has the fourth highest burglary rate and the highest absolute number of burglaries in the EU, with double the number of offences than recorded in Germany and France.
*Britain being named as the most violent country in the EU is the most shocking. The analysis is based on the number of crimes per 100,000 residents.
In the UK, there are 2,034 offences per 100,000 people, way ahead of second-placed Austria with a rate of 1,677.

I think when you don't like a place & are planning to move away it is only natural to focus on the negative things, often to an irrational extent, as a coping mechanism type of thing. Strangely the reverse psychology also seems to apply, i.e. the phenomenon you describe. Perhaps something to do with trying to compensate for insecurities resulting from being in a new place, not neccessarily consciously. It might be a stage of culture shock, before you eventually come to the view that everywhere has different good & bad points!

Yes it's an odd thing that's for sure. What is even more intriguing is when an ex pat will make excuses for every bit of bad news regarding their new home but will twist any good news about their old home to give it a negative slant.

An interesting set of facts, I'm sure the Daily Mail would have made them look different though
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/ja...owest-12-years

I think the UK has a serious self esteem problem! Probably the only country in the world that joins in bad mouthing itself! You never hear an Aussie saying anything bad about their own country & wo-betide anyone who dares to even slightly have a gumble about Oz....

I think if we were to gagg the UK press of any bad news or it be law that at least 80% of what they print had to have a positive angle, then you'd see a different country!

You should hear some of the comments we have had about moving back to UK... " thats a bit crazy" said x1 person another "you must be mad"
However what i notice is, the moment you say "we are moving back to the country" they all reference back to the programme, "Escape to the country!" & then that quiets them & seems to meet a seal of approval! I think it is peoples perspection of the Uk in general that is the problem. Not saying its perfect but then where is? Least with the UK, it is (unfairly) painted in a bad light, so anything else is a bonus! rather than this unrealistic propaganda that Australia is where you should move to if you want a better life for you & your kids.....

I think you are absolutely spot on, I always put the self effacing nature of the British down to being secure about their respective countries and not feeling the need to slap themselves on the back at every opportunity whether it be warranted or not. The problem is they go too far the other way. I ignore the Daily Mail rubbish and see what is really there, not some over sensationalised headline.
The one I really love is when someone say 'if you are lucky enough to have a job in the UK' I have heard that a few times. I guess they mean lucky like the 93% who DO have jobs compared to the 95% here
I like patriotism in moderation, when it is due and worthy not just endless tub thumping. Somewhere between here and the UK would be perfect.

Or the 91% here!

America is in a far worse state financially - and if you watch the news, it may be about to get a whole lost worse - and yet Americans would never bash themselves or their country the way the Brits do. I've noticed with my friend that it's almost knee-jerk - he doesn't even realize he's doing it.

A lot depends on what you are doing and where you are doing it!

I used to live in Surrey - a quiet village 5 miles from anywhere, nothing ever happened really. If I was out and about at my local towns during the day, life was relatively quiet and peaceful - no-one really interfered with my business. If I went to the same town at 9.30pm on a Friday night, to nip into Sainsbury's or something - it was a completely different animal.

If I had lived close to that town centre and people were making their way home over a weekend, via kicking my front fence, keying my car or throwing up on my doorstep, and running off with my wheelie bin, I would have a different impression of exactly the same place.

You can often exchange a few miles and no public transport for some peace - or you exchange convenience and proximity to "stuff" and thereby tons of other humans - and you sometimes pay a price.

You can put list's, facts, figures etc out there all you like but I can tell you that where we live is a nice area, I walk our dog all times of day and night on my own, leave my front and back doors open when I want to and feel safe...so really unless you live in a bad area (and most countries have bad areas) then facts and figures are just for someone to have a job collecting this data and for saddo's to read them AND in all honesty a lot of countries would not publish true figures who would....except us....lol

Yes, I agree it very much depends on the area where you live whether you have a higher risk of being mugged, your house broken into, assaulted by hoodies, have your bins emptied regularly or enjoy good social services. So, it's important to do good research before returnnig to the U.K.