Difficult to make friends in America?
Dec 9th 2012, 9:56 am
#1306
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
Embracing people, agreeing to disagree? Doesn't sound like the America I know. I guess that applies as long as you're not a liberal and don't dare question the status quo. I'm not trying to insult or disrespect you in any way UKWinds. I've just witnessed too many right-wing blowhards who don't seem to be capable of respecting or tolerating any difference of opinion.
The notion of celebrating 'Britishness' - that just seems weird and cheesy to me. We're also a melting pot of a country too and have taken in immigrants of not only different countries, but also radically different faiths. For all the bad press, I think we've done an ok job.
The notion of celebrating 'Britishness' - that just seems weird and cheesy to me. We're also a melting pot of a country too and have taken in immigrants of not only different countries, but also radically different faiths. For all the bad press, I think we've done an ok job.
ETU, the beauty of democracy is the right to freedom of opinion.If some right wing nutty is stopped from expressing their thoughts just because I don't agree with them, then how can any of us be sure that our rights will not be taken away? The BNP or the KKK, and everyone else should be afforded the right to freedom of speech.Doesn't mean we have to support them. The truth is, once more people hear the thoughts of extremist the more people will reject that type of behavior and thinking.
Dec 9th 2012, 10:16 am
#1307
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
There are many different ethnic groups / Americans from other states in Florida in general. The problem is that the population here is so transient and so spread out, that there's no real sense of community in most places. People come here for sunshine, retirees come here to die, Cubans / Latin Americans come to South Florida to escape Castro or whatever. It's an odd mix of people in general and none of them seem to know how to drive without endangering life.
A few friends of mine were comparing notes, and in their opinions the states on the east coast offering the best community feel is in, North Carolina,Connecticut,some of New Jersey,Rhode Island,parts of west coast florida. Of course a community feel can be found some where even if scarcely in most every state but the above states offer several cities to pick from.
Dec 9th 2012, 10:17 am
#1308
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
Hey Ethel? Are you running for mayor?
Dec 9th 2012, 10:22 am
#1310
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Posts: 860
Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
+1.
A few friends of mine were comparing notes, and in their opinions the states on the east coast offering the best community feel is in, North Carolina,Connecticut,some of New Jersey,Rhode Island,parts of west coast florida. Of course a community feel can be found some where even if scarcely in most every state but the above states offer several cities to pick from.
A few friends of mine were comparing notes, and in their opinions the states on the east coast offering the best community feel is in, North Carolina,Connecticut,some of New Jersey,Rhode Island,parts of west coast florida. Of course a community feel can be found some where even if scarcely in most every state but the above states offer several cities to pick from.
I'd love to give another part of the northeast a chance before I decide to piss off home. Maine, New Hampshire are possibilities. Vermont too, if I could get a job there.
Dec 9th 2012, 10:24 am
#1311
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
I'm sure the UK has done better than ok, infact a great job I'm sure. The UK is a wonderful country.
ETU, the beauty of democracy is the right to freedom of opinion.If some right wing nutty is stopped from expressing their thoughts just because I don't agree with them, then how can any of us be sure that our rights will not be taken away? The BNP or the KKK, and everyone else should be afforded the right to freedom of speech.Doesn't mean we have to support them. The truth is, once more people hear the thoughts of extremist the more people will reject that type of behavior and thinking.
ETU, the beauty of democracy is the right to freedom of opinion.If some right wing nutty is stopped from expressing their thoughts just because I don't agree with them, then how can any of us be sure that our rights will not be taken away? The BNP or the KKK, and everyone else should be afforded the right to freedom of speech.Doesn't mean we have to support them. The truth is, once more people hear the thoughts of extremist the more people will reject that type of behavior and thinking.
Both the US and UK have taken in lots of immigrants. I generally think that both have done a pretty good job, in that regard.
Dec 9th 2012, 10:27 am
#1312
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,065
Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
I don't want to stop anyone from airing their views. What I do find hypocritical from the other side is that they're not prepared to just agree to disagree. They have to be right, no compromise, no middle ground. Everything is black or it's white, rather than different shades of grey.
Both the US and UK have taken in lots of immigrants. I generally think that both have done a pretty good job, in that regard.
Both the US and UK have taken in lots of immigrants. I generally think that both have done a pretty good job, in that regard.
Interesting.
You are sounding very presidential recently, if you don't mind me saying so
Dec 9th 2012, 11:14 am
#1313
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,719
Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
Interesting to note that for much of the twentieth century, the UK took in more immigrants from the US than the USA took in from the UK.
Dec 9th 2012, 10:20 pm
#1314
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Location: Maine
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
I thought MA would have the same sense of community I was used to back home, but people there seemed snobby and status oriented. I'm not saying that's ALL of the state, but it's what I experienced.
I'd love to give another part of the northeast a chance before I decide to piss off home. Maine, New Hampshire are possibilities. Vermont too, if I could get a job there.
I'd love to give another part of the northeast a chance before I decide to piss off home. Maine, New Hampshire are possibilities. Vermont too, if I could get a job there.
Dec 10th 2012, 12:38 am
#1315
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Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
We like to visit Burlington in the winter, it is so mild there (the large body of water in Lake Champlain keeps the temperatures comparatively high.)
Dec 10th 2012, 6:36 am
#1316
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Location: Maine
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
Brattleboro is a nice city too. Incredible buildings (many old repurposed mills & factories), at least one very good brewpub, several Indian restaurants and shops selling Indian & south asian tchotchkes (seems to be a significant south asian community there.) LOTS of bookshops also.
We like to visit Burlington in the winter, it is so mild there (the large body of water in Lake Champlain keeps the temperatures comparatively high.)
We like to visit Burlington in the winter, it is so mild there (the large body of water in Lake Champlain keeps the temperatures comparatively high.)
I'm wondering why Ethel moved to Florida in the first place?
Dec 12th 2012, 1:14 am
#1318
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Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
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Dec 12th 2012, 1:20 am
#1319
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,719
Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
I keep trying to get my wife to agree to a transatlantic crossing on the QM or a cruise in the Baltic or similar.. her response is the ferry from New York State to Vermont that we take en route to Boston or Cape Cod is as much cruising as she wants to do. It is spectacular but only takes ten minutes.
Dec 12th 2012, 7:05 am
#1320
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Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
I'd love to cross over to upstate NY, I've heard it's absolutely stunning. Are you near the finger lakes region?
