I would argue that British human nature has changed in the last 50 years, and more broadly English-speaking culture. It has become mercenary because of the economic model imposed on people. Manufacturing was destroyed and replaced with casino economics. Now our culture is dysfunctional to the point we have a Prime Minister going round car plants begging the workers to be more like Germans, a people who did not dismantle their manufacturing base in the 1980s and still have old-fashioned values and respect. You can't get that back when it's gone, as the British are slowly discovering.

I know. But the OP (last seen in the Sahara by a group of Bedouins who say he appeared to be running ) asked if the UK.etc.,.

I'm saying compared to the rest of the First World, it's the same. Variant differences in individual countries, but the same malaise.

If these really are THE END TIMES how much longer have we got ?

People everywhere have changed, we saw it in Australia and we see it here. The vast majority of people are fundamentally good and will do what they can to help friends and strangers alike.There almost seems to be a belief that the British are somehow worse that other nationalities and this appears to be nonsense. Most people we come into contact with seem to be good honest friendly people, we found the same in Australia although we did find in Australia there was more of a tendency to keep up with the Jones's.

1666th post!

London's not burning yet, though.

Got kinda scorched in 2011 though.

People everywhere have changed, we saw it in Britain and we see it here. The vast majority of people are fundamentally good and will do what they can to help friends and strangers alike.There almost seems to be a belief that the Australians are somehow worse that other nationalities and this appears to be nonsense. Most people we come into contact with seem to be good honest friendly people, we found the same in Britain although we did find in Britain there was more of a tendency to keep up with the Jones's.

I mean,

And maybe this thread isn't a Monument to vanity yet

TheEmperorisNaked - must admit I like your sense of humor. Rather sharp but to the point. Comment about OP being seen in Sahara brought smile to my face.

Thank-you. But not for this. For being so remarkably kind and posting just before opening up about your own trauma.
So damn kind.

You'll be OK fulwood. You will. But it will take time. Time IS a healer.

Chin up my friend.

ONS report on UK population growth. Good thing or bad? I can see both sides of the argument, but personally I think it's unsustainable. A massive strain on already stretched services. A town the size of Luton every six months. A new Birmingham every two years.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/poli...in-Europe.html

Totally unsustainable. The Birmingham example is mind-blowing. Because the economic model is essentially Ponzi and requires constant growth to stop it collapsing, there is nothing that can or will be done about this. This is why I have said Britain will look like Taiwan or HK in the not too distant future with everyone in tower blocks, etc.

Well it seems we are to go on for another 27 pages; and counting.

Just to be clear: I have absolutely no illusions. NONE.

What disgusts me is the need to show the UK in the worst possible light. It is all very well to criticise those who have a more positive outlook, but given that we are British, talking about Britain, I feel somewhat more of a rapport with those who don't feel the obsessive need to ensure their Mother country is not looked on in any positive way.

The only counter to those who are more positive is to accuse them of naivety or honeymoon phases- or rose tints. That is how far the need to trash goes.
It is incomprehensible to the doomgloomers that anyone can have a positive view, or even experience a decent life in the UK.
It doesn't matter if so many live happily there; they HAVE to be wrong!

That is why I have such utter contempt for you people. You simply don't give up! Leave no turn unstoned. That has way more with justifying your own location than the UK.

Well OK. No time for specifics now, but it seems we have only just got started.

So be it.

(And try and allow time for responses before you deny a modus operandii that is so blatantly transparent).

Always worth a read..........

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/good-news/

The argument is that we need more people to increase the tax revenue to help fund the aging population, but the increased population also grow old, so who funds them. A Ponzi scheme indeed. And as the population grows resources become more scarce and, and therefore more expensive. i.e. housing, energy, food.

Are we growing more food? Serious question.