Article about unhappy Britain
 

Check this out and read the comments from readers in this article. Is it really that bad or just usual moaning Brits?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...rvey-says.html

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

it's in the sun

the comments are by sun readers ,most of whom have probably never been further than thier nearest costa del sol irish bar away from the uk.

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

Also mentioned here

http://www.channel4.com/news/uk-is-w...live-in-europe

and here

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16078953

Doubt i would disagree with 'em either.

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

A pinch of salt required here, I think.

After all, what was the 'sample size' for the survey, which decided Britain is such a crap place? I mean, out of all the 60 odd million people living there, how many of those remember being approached for their opinion?:unsure:

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

Survey is carried out on an annual basis and the UK regularly does very badly in this and similar survey formats when looking at Europe and when compared with the world league of countries for quality of life. Last year it was bottom with Ireland in this one but this year Ireland has done better than the UK.:blink:

Also here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011...pe?INTCMP=SRCH

It appears that "broken Britain" is the #1 issue, followed by cost of living and then crime.

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

The economy has caused a lot of fear concerning jobs, etc.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/j...day-leave.html

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

Most of my friends are really positive about the UK and wouldn't live anywhere else, but I do know some of the negative nellies - including my own mother.

What strikes you when you talk to them is that they can't defend their perception with actual examples. Everything they say is stuff they read in the newspaper or TV. I have one friend on Facebook who intersperses her complaints about the country having gone to the dogs with news bulletins on her trips out, pub lunches, weekends away in Europe etc. etc. She seems to have a far higher quality of life than I do (aka she doesn't work 7 days a week!) and yet she moans incessantly.

It's in the national psyche. America has worse economic problems and a higher unemployment rate, but you would never find Americans bashing their own country the way Brits do.

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

Glad you didn't say Moaning Minnies. :rofl:

And yet there's a perception of British arrogance. :confused:

Funny old world. :unsure:

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

I love England & the English but let's face it - by and large we are a bunch of bloody moaners that like to look on the dark side of things.

Lets be honest if most nationalities won the lottery they'd be whooping it up like mad - we'd more than likely complain about how much we're getting taxed on it and how unfair it all is.

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

I'm confused because it seems to me that the majority of the "results" of this poll are objective rather than subjective so it matters not a fig WHAT the negative UK pollster views are as the issues are, for example:

"Working hours, VAT, holidays, spending on health and education – and hours of sunshine."

"Cost of energy, petrol, food, alcohol, cigarettes, and life expectancy."

plus:

"We may still be enjoying the fourth highest household income in Europe, but the high cost of living means that we’re living to work."

This suggests that the average middle class and working class Brit is being taxed to the limit to pay for all of the ills of the broken society.

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

We were chuckling about that daft survey yesterday, there are some really good comments under it.

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

As of reading, 383 people liked one comment that how could it be that only 300,000 liked living in UK. So far as I'm aware 5% of 60,000,000 is 3,000,000. So much for the value of comments!

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

Yeah I did notice that one was a bit off the mark.

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

If they really want to know how well the UK is doing, they should interview people who have moved back and have lived many years in other countries for a really good comparison, what a bunch of whingers, they don't know what side their bread is buttered.
After visiting us for months at a time, and being here for everyday life, not going on lots of trips, my Mum now really appreciates life in the UK, she can't believe how badly people are treated here with work and health care (well she believes it now)

Re: Article about unhappy Britain
 

To me these surveys can serve only one purpose and that is to ensure that when we consider our return we do it with both eyes open and not because of cheer-leading into it. Those of us who thought that we wanted to return willy-nilly might reconsider when we have honestly thought through our reactions to the changes in the UK we have seen and witnessed first-hand since we left all those decades ago. We also need to consider what we are leaving behind. Facing this reality is painful, particularly if what we currently have doesn't look that great at first or even second glance.

For some, particularly those who miss family and friends, the motives for the return can be obvious but for others who might have alternatives such as moving closer or moving part-time, those alternatives might make better sense IF thorough research suggests it be so.

I know I'm personally very concerned about the UK's broken society and cost of living but then I was when I left for other than economic reasons in 1976 and much is much worse than it was then.

It's important to also remember that neither the UK or the US feature in the big-league of quality of life countries on this planet. BUT most of the big league are leaning towards the centre or left of centre. Let me explain that the previous LABOUR government was actually for the most part practising Thatcherism.