Well that obviously applies to anywhere in the world, there are plenty of places here I wouldn't live if you paid me. It might surprise some in the UK but muggings, assaults, break ins etc etc happen absolutely everywhere.

Of course it doesn't help when serious incidents aren't even added to the stats. Some will know that we had a bad street fight right outside our house some months ago, although someone was stabbed and a bloke was carrying an axe a cop friend told me there was no incident report even though 2 cop cars attended. The figures look great when you don't add incidents.

And here in the US, mass shootings happen so regularly that they rarely even make the news.

In the UK, I lived for a while in Hull - supposedly one of the worst most crime-ridden places in the UK. Let me tell you, it's nothing on some of the places over here. No meth addicts, no gun running, no gang shootings. But yes, a drunk kid in a hoodie keying a car is something else!

I think Brits are generally only happy when they're miserable so it's best to leave them to it. Just nod and sympathize with the terrible stats rather than trying to argue. Everyone will be happier

Yes I think I agree, there is an element of the British public that only seem happy if they can believe that the UK is the worst place in the world. I think you are either a negative person or a positive person, I like my glass half full

When I had my bag stolen in NYC the cops flat out refused to file a report because I had no ID (which was in my bag). Another lady was there (American) and they were saying she had to go to Washington DC or something ?

I bet in every country they massage the crime figures.

I live in a great part of the UK.
It's not perfect, where is? But it's safe and beautiful.

I can only imagine that some expats have emigrated from rough or industrial areas in the UK to better areas, and when they come back to the UK they visit the rough / industrial areas because that's where their families live.

I travelled up the east coast of Australia several years ago and I have seen quite a bit of the US too.
In both of those countries I came across places where I would happily live, and places that I most definitely wouldn't
Exactly the same as the UK.

Yes, well said Kapri. It just annoys me when someone says that the UK is the pits when it quite clearly isn't. I feel sorry for people if that is truly how they feel as they have obviously missed out on so much.

well have to say having lived here in melbourne for the last 14 months for ME i have to say that here is most definately safer for a tradie and his tools

the way they just leave them on the back of the ute and all over building sites is really really strange for me someone who has worked all over london and kent over the last 20 years ++

would never leave any tools anywhere and am just about getting used to it over here and get some very strange looks when i start locking things up ( old habbits die hard )

I have never seen anyone say the UK is the pits, just their own lives in their own part of the UK is the pits. No different to you saying Australia is shite based on the fact your bit of Australia might be. The economic situation in the UK can't be ignored though not even by the most fervent of UK supporters.

Someone in my office just kind of summed it up. He said the UK is going to the dogs, but so is everywhere, just based on the fact that people don't seem to have any respect anywhere anymore, like blatantly dropping litter.

A good example of the lazy selfish attitude I've noticed is that when I was younger, if someone threw away a cigarette, they stepped on it to put it out. You NEVER see people doing that now, they just throw them away still burning. Which would be how the Kings Cross fire started incidentally.

No, but it can be put into context. 8% unemployment isn't all that bad (certainly better than where I am) so when UK bashers say 'you'll be lucky to find a job' that is patently nonsense. Most people do have jobs.

Everyone I know in the UK is still taking holidays and buying stuff they want. None of them are rich but none are struggling either. Of course there are people who are worse off than they are, but there are an awful lot like them too.

I think what you call 'fervent supporters' are really just people looking for a bit of perspective - as the thread heading indicates.

People have been saying that since time began. It was always better in 'the good old days' although of course, it really wasn't. I actually see a lot of improvements in the UK since I left along with some things that are worse.

Sally ,
you may be meaning well , but you are so wrong ;
come and have a good look instead .

I've got one friend who works for the council who has had to take a drop in pay. I also know some social workers who were made redundant - all now employed again. Otherwise I don't know anyone *personally* who has been affected job wise by the down turn, thank goodness.

I live in the south though and I believe there is a north / south divide.

I think things are up and down price wise. Fuel is astronomical Other things are cheap

Some people on this site don't seem to know the meaning of the word balance - there is good and bad in all countries and some countries will suit families more than others. Certainly I have sometimes seen the UK described in ways that make me laugh because I just don't see it.
Having said that, I also spend a lot of time on the Australia forum and I know people on there can make sweeping generalisations when they are not happy.

I did. Have you been here?

I'm curious as to what I'm wrong about though.

I stated that all my friends and family have jobs and are going on vacations. That's true. One is here with us right now actually. Another just went to Colorado on a biking holiday. My mum is always off on trips and vacations. My brother was unemployed but just got a new job.

I also stated that the unemployment rate is lower in the UK than it is here - that's also true. It's about 2 points lower actually.

Not sure what's factually incorrect about what I wrote.

Edited to add: All the people I know are in the North - Manchester, Leeds and Cumbria.