....and none more so than your good self eh ?




Ain't this thread good fun ?

Especially for those who are not obsessed with a holier than thou outlook.

Shock, horror,

"Drunk people across all age groups behaving badly",
....... just as they do in any other country,
The only difference being that Brits are more open about it.

In my 8 years in Spain I have never seen Spanish men fighting, swaggering down the street with blood pouring out of their head, being sick or abusing other nationalities

I have seen British men do that on a regular basis in the South of Spain, and every weekend when I lived in the UK

Of course

You know, I think you have a point.

Nowhere else on any other forums do I come across this narrow minded, holier than thou attitude as I see on expat forums.

I wonder, do most of them suddenly feel superior to ordinary Brits back home once they've settled in Spain ?

On second thoughts don't reply to that, as judging by this thread the answer is all to obvious.

...but there again you do lead a very sheltered lifestyle Cman.

I suggest you watch a few episodes of Costa del Crime.
I don't know if they can't find enough drunken Brits to fill in the timescale in what is meant to be a prog mainly about Brits on the CDS,
but it's truly amazing how many Spanish the cops haul in under exactly the circumstances you describe.

I have - but then I was in Spain twice as long as you and I had a bar.

The only people who started fights (which were mercifully few and far between) in my bar were Spanish and (funnily enough) Irish. I've seen fights and the police called on more than one occasion in a Spanish bar just around the corner as well - again between Spanish - that would have been drug fuelled as well as alcohol.

So where in the UK did you see men fighting every weekend??
Was it every Saturday,or Saturday and Sunday?Did they do matinees?
What a load of rubbish.

With all due respect Dick - and do I have respect for your views -

But there is a certain broad-mindedness that only comes from leaving the comfort of your bubble, which some people adopt, and others don't. For those that still live in their bubbles, those broader views often appear to be a sort of arrogance - especially when those views contradict what they want to believe.

I just got back from Germany, where I previously lived for nearly 2 decades, and the same thing applies there. Much of the same old German mentality exists in the neighbourhood 'character'. Although it's different, and arguably, not quite as pronounced as what I sense from British equivalents.

I reckon that has much to do with exposure. The Germans have always had a direct exposure to 'something different' than most Brits (they are surrounded and connected to countries with very different cultures in every direction and live with it daily), and I can only suspect have necessarily adopted a bit more tolerance to it. Yet I clearly sense a remarkably different mindset between Germans living in Germany than those living abroad. Just like Brits.

However, one interesting observation is that in my neighbourhood (Mallorca), there is almost nothing that could be clearly defined as a "German expat" community. There are areas that could be defined as German-dominant, but that distinction is a bit foggy. You find Germans almost everywhere here. They tend to speak Spanish, and exhibit at least some degree of integration.

Yet there are very clearly pronounced "British Expat" communities. You find only a smattering of Brits outside of them. Brits demonstrably do exhibit a preference for all things British, tend not to learn the local language, and tend to stay within the British communities. It suggests, at least, a certain level of self-imposed isolation. Of course, not all Brits fit into that mold. There are plenty of exceptions. But they soon become 'outsiders'. Like me, I reckon.

So, do those expats that have left their bubble feel they are superior? No, I believe many just have adopted a broader view, and those views are often uncomfortable for those who don't.

More arrogance from you.

Most who have contributed to this thread have lived overseas for several years....many disagree with you......you are not always right although you seem to think you are.

Try going into any Northern City after 10pm on a Friday/Saturday night

I was in my 20s when I lived in the UK. I went out most weekends. Violence was seen everywhere on every night out.

Not so much in London though, although in London groups of men weren't even allowed in clubs on a Friday/Saturday night. Wasn't much fun for my football team

The world has changed. Whilst we cannot insert old fashioned values there is an argument for that to happen.

In my days and for my stag night it was the Conservative Club in the heartland of a socialist Welsh mining community!

If today one boards an Easyjet from Bristol to Alicante one witnesses on a Friday night either a stag do or hen do. The flight is let us say busy. Not being a particularly good flier I tend to avoid Friday night from Bristol.

They are obviously out for a good time but then my knowledge ends for I do not live in Benidorm. But seeing them five days later on the return flight they seemingly have had let us say more than a good time.

I live in a town with large ex-pats enclave. One sees at 9.30 in the morning pints of beer and cigarettes being consumed and at some pace.

However much I dislike that approach I have two opportunities to either join or to stay away. I should not stand in judgment unless I become involved for I too have my failings and one of those is perhaps red wine but at home!!!

I made a mistake in coming here for I really believe that life is richer if one tries to integrate and I do not mean 100% fluent in the Spanish language.We elected for a town on the Costas with a large English ex pats basis. Big mistake.

With respect we all make choices some good some bad but when the latter and it has an impact upon society then we sometimes let our country down.

I was fortunate to live for almost eighteen years in France albeit in a country environment. In our village of 1200 people only three spoke English.

In all of that time I saw let us say a handful of problems. All at Cherbourg and when the overnight ferry docked. Quickly to bars and then Gendarmes.

But I suppose when I was young I was guilty of some misdemeanour's? So long ago can no longer remember!

[QUOTE=cricketman;11705363]Try going into any Northern City after 10pm on a Friday/Saturday night

I was in my 20s when I lived in the UK. I went out most weekends. Violence was seen everywhere on every night out.

Not so much in London though, although in London groups of men weren't even allowed in clubs on a Friday/Saturday night. Wasn't much fun for my football team[/

So you lived in all the northern cities and London.
Do you know there is a punch up in every city in the world every night,not just the UK. My point is you must have been so unlucky to witness one every weekend or your a bullsh##er trying to prove a point by making things up.
I don't think your unlucky.

[QUOTE=shirley and anthony hide;11705402] I've gone out in maybe 10 different Northern Cities. A very similar experience

I have no idea how old you are, but have you never gone out in the UK or Spain over the past 20 years? Do you not see things yourselves?

I have a young family now and never go out, but 5-10 years ago I went out all the time in the UK and Spain. The culture is like chalk and cheese. The UK is very agressive and filled with testosterone, Spain is relaxed. The only violence I have seen in Spain has been between Brits. During my time in Barcelona the people puking all over the streets every night were British and American, certainly not young Catalans

As an "adopted" Brit, I just wanted to say the posts on this thread are priceless! Please carry on