UK a 3rd world country.
Aug 29th 2012, 1:43 am
#47
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Re: UK a 3rd world country.
From a newsletter I receive.........
I grew up in a generation (I am 67) that used adjectives like First World, Second World, Third World, West and East, North and South, poor, rich, developed, under-developed, developing and more to describe their nations and others. They all have two things in common. First, they are no longer adequate or relevant to describe the world as it is today. Second, they were created by people living in formerly wealthy nations who considered themselves and their ways of life to be superior to others. How did they know they were superior? They knew because they were rich and the others were poor. It was all about money.
Today, many of these "rich" nations are drowning in a sea of debt of their own creation, often dependent on the willingness of the "poor" nations to lend them money so their economies do not collapse, but many still act as if they are superior. They have come up with some new terms. Two popular ones are "emerging economies" (or markets) and "advanced economies" (or markets). These terms will eventually die out too. New categories will be created, but they will be chosen by today's so-called "emerging economies", not just the self-anointed "advanced economies". Perhaps the one thread of continuity with our past will be that the terms chosen will again be all about money. That habit is simply human and knows no national boundaries.
I mention this often in my reports not as an insult to my home nation, the US, or any other formerly "First World" or "Second World" nation. They are all great nations in their own right, but they should no longer consider themselves superior simply on the basis of their past. They also have to come to grips with the present. Many "classes" of humanity understand this shift and have moved globally - the rich in search of comfort or security, the working poor in search of a job, criminals in general, terrorists in general, refugees in general. I think it can be argued that the "criminal class" is the most globalized class on earth as it shows absolutely no respect for national borders and never has.
I grew up in a generation (I am 67) that used adjectives like First World, Second World, Third World, West and East, North and South, poor, rich, developed, under-developed, developing and more to describe their nations and others. They all have two things in common. First, they are no longer adequate or relevant to describe the world as it is today. Second, they were created by people living in formerly wealthy nations who considered themselves and their ways of life to be superior to others. How did they know they were superior? They knew because they were rich and the others were poor. It was all about money.
Today, many of these "rich" nations are drowning in a sea of debt of their own creation, often dependent on the willingness of the "poor" nations to lend them money so their economies do not collapse, but many still act as if they are superior. They have come up with some new terms. Two popular ones are "emerging economies" (or markets) and "advanced economies" (or markets). These terms will eventually die out too. New categories will be created, but they will be chosen by today's so-called "emerging economies", not just the self-anointed "advanced economies". Perhaps the one thread of continuity with our past will be that the terms chosen will again be all about money. That habit is simply human and knows no national boundaries.
I mention this often in my reports not as an insult to my home nation, the US, or any other formerly "First World" or "Second World" nation. They are all great nations in their own right, but they should no longer consider themselves superior simply on the basis of their past. They also have to come to grips with the present. Many "classes" of humanity understand this shift and have moved globally - the rich in search of comfort or security, the working poor in search of a job, criminals in general, terrorists in general, refugees in general. I think it can be argued that the "criminal class" is the most globalized class on earth as it shows absolutely no respect for national borders and never has.
Aug 29th 2012, 2:42 am
#48
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Aug 29th 2012, 7:00 pm
#49
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Aug 29th 2012, 7:05 pm
#50
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Sep 3rd 2012, 12:02 pm
#52
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Re: UK a 3rd world country.
The latest gem is apparently in the UK people wont look you in the eye and would never dare strike up a conversation with a stranger at a bus stop etc. I really must tell all these people that keep talking to us to put their heads down and shut up, didn't they know people only do that in Australia. 
Sep 3rd 2012, 7:22 pm
#53
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Re: UK a 3rd world country.
The latest gem is apparently in the UK people wont look you in the eye and would never dare strike up a conversation with a stranger at a bus stop etc. I really must tell all these people that keep talking to us to put their heads down and shut up, didn't they know people only do that in Australia.
Back in Wales, and everyone gossips so they all talk to you
Sep 3rd 2012, 7:49 pm
#54
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Re: UK a 3rd world country.
Yes obviously it depends where you live and that applies to anywhere in the world. It seems to be OK for people to assume that everywhere in Australia total strangers just start up spontaneous conversations with you (which they dont). We were in our house here for a couple of days and half the neighbours had introduced themselves and one fella that lives just up the road walked past and introduced himself and 5 minutes later invited me down the pub and bought me a pint and introduced me to various other locals.
It seems OK to say that everyone in the UK is almost afaid to talk to strangers for some reason. My point is it seems acceptable to make sweeping innaccurate generalisations about the UK.
It seems OK to say that everyone in the UK is almost afaid to talk to strangers for some reason. My point is it seems acceptable to make sweeping innaccurate generalisations about the UK.
And you know that depends on where you are living - its certainly true around here. I've lived here nearly 7 years, and only recently has one of my neighbours started talking to me. My immediate neighbours i know, but most don't acknowledge you around here.
Back in Wales, and everyone gossips so they all talk to you
Back in Wales, and everyone gossips so they all talk to you
Sep 3rd 2012, 8:01 pm
#55
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Re: UK a 3rd world country.
Yes obviously it depends where you live and that applies to anywhere in the world. It seems to be OK for people to assume that everywhere in Australia total strangers just start up spontaneous conversations with you (which they dont). We were in our house here for a couple of days and half the neighbours had introduced themselves and one fella that lives just up the road walked past and introduced himself and 5 minutes later invited me down the pub and bought me a pint and introduced me to various other locals.
It seems OK to say that everyone in the UK is almost afaid to talk to strangers for some reason. My point is it seems acceptable to make sweeping innaccurate generalisations about the UK.
It seems OK to say that everyone in the UK is almost afaid to talk to strangers for some reason. My point is it seems acceptable to make sweeping innaccurate generalisations about the UK.
Sep 3rd 2012, 8:32 pm
#56
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Re: UK a 3rd world country.
Exactly, as it is for any country in the world and any city in the world.
Sep 4th 2012, 8:01 am
#57
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Re: UK a 3rd world country.
The latest gem is apparently in the UK people wont look you in the eye and would never dare strike up a conversation with a stranger at a bus stop etc. I really must tell all these people that keep talking to us to put their heads down and shut up, didn't they know people only do that in Australia.
Sep 4th 2012, 8:09 am
#58
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Re: UK a 3rd world country.
I have found wherever we are some people are very open, some arent and others just arent approachable at all. Maybe we are just lucky where we are now ? My wife comments on how friendly people are almost everywhere we go, we were told that people in shops would be miserable and unhelpful, well Im not sorry to say we have seen no evidence of that at all. Almost without exception people have been more than happy to go above and beyond to be helpful. I really dont see where the bad reputation comes from to be honest.
Sep 4th 2012, 9:45 pm
#59
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Re: UK a 3rd world country.
We've spoken more to our neighbours here in 4 months than we did in NY over 13 years.
Sep 4th 2012, 11:01 pm
#60
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Re: UK a 3rd world country.
I think it also depends what type of person you are. Some-one has to break the ice first and say hello and it may as well be you.
I am fairly chatty and always speak to the check-out person at the supermarket for example. If you are chatty they are often chatty back.
People who moan and say everyone is unfriendly and no-one says hello, well why don't you say hello first?
I am fairly chatty and always speak to the check-out person at the supermarket for example. If you are chatty they are often chatty back.
People who moan and say everyone is unfriendly and no-one says hello, well why don't you say hello first?