TimR

Where do you live in Canada? I spent a lot of time in the maritimes growing up- they are so similar to New England.

BristolUK

This is a movie forum. As is common with themed forums, there are 'off topic' threads. This one is about why people leave the UK. It's already set up to be negative.

If there was a thread here about what people liked about the UK, then I'd be saying something positive.

It's not rocket science is it?

Here's something positive about the UK.

The NHS. Low cost of prescriptions - free for those in need. A decent Social Security system. Schools that supply paper, pens etc. Employment rights. Sick Pay schemes. Annual Leave allowances. Efficient government departments - oh yes they are. Pubs. Footie. Hardly any bloody snow. People don't say 'awesome' for something that's not bad.

BristolUK

I think in the whole thread I have made mention of three cases and one night of violence on New Year's Eve. From memory those are: the disabled woman in a wheelchair beaten up and pissed on while the assault was filmed; the guy killed for complaining about a car being damaged; the guy killed after an argument about a chocolate wrapper.

That's hardly "every item of bad news" I have found in the six months it's been going. What has been consistent about these three stories is the nastiness involved in all three and the fact that two of the three victims were killed for raising an objection to the killer's anti-social behaviour.

While others have been talking about crime rates, I have been talking about unsocial behaviour and events that had a uniqueness when compared to incidents of the past. The incidents I have mentioned are consistent with my view, hence their inclusion.

As stated in my other post above, the thread is set up to be negative and is about why people leave the UK, with crime and unsocial behaviour being prominent. Let's have a thread about why people would stay, or having left the UK they returned or can see advantages in returning. Then I could elaborate on the many positives.

BristolUK

I moved over in 2004, initially living with my wife and family in Longueuil, Quebec. In 2005 we moved to Moncton, NB.

I have certainly been struck by the autumn colours and wonder why the region hasn't been marketed for holidays in the same way 'New England In The Fall' has.

TimR

I have very good memories of Quebec. Many years ago I was lost - really lost - in French speaking Quebec, outside Montreal, on the way to a conference. I knew a few very basic French words, and that was it. That was in the day before cell phones.

I stopped the car and asked a man walking by, and thirty minutes later I was in the middle of a crowd of locals helping me to find my way out in my broken French and their boken English. I have never forgotten that - their kindness and generosity - and of course, at the end was that beautiful city Montreal.

I agree completely. The ties between New England and the maritimes are closer than the ties between NE and most of the rest of the United States: landscape, weather, food, politics, temperament, history, architecture, traditions are all so close. I think it goes back to the very close ties to Britain.

I think Halifax is probably the most under-rated beautiful medium/small city in North America.

Mark O

Sounds like a good idea to start a new thread about the positive aspects of Britain......I can certainly think of a few things, okay It's time I started a new thread!

Mark

DB7

I think it's your failure to reason cause and effect, and to latch on to tabloid sensationalism that makes you look out of touch.

We now have 24hr drinking and as a result anti-social behaviour, binge-drinking and drink-fuelled violence has spiralled during the evenings. It was a policy worth trying but it's not had the desired effect and should probably be repealed but the government is weak and don't want to be seen so (same goes for the ID Card farce).

BristolUK

Cause and effect is an entirely different matter. I don't pretend to be an expert, I just see minor incidents escalating into something major more often than used to be the case.

Just like someone else, you are making an uninformed judgement about me - this time my reading habits. I don't touch 'tabloids' - I have been a Guardian reader for over 30 years.

Steve Crook

All British newspapers are now at the level of what we used to call "tabloids".

Steve

BristolUK

I doubt that very much. Take a look at the front page of today's Guardian and tell me how much of it is on the front page of the Sun....or even in it come to that.

Then do a comparison of how much of the Sun is taken up with celeb stories and tell me the Guardian has the same celeb content.

Then tell me that as much space is taken up in the Guardian as the Sun by photos.

They are as far apart as they have ever been.

DB7

Did anybody catch Last Orders on BBC2 last night? It was kind of sad to see an old institution like the Working Men's Club clearly heading into extinction and friends squabbling amongst themselves over its decline; but that barely nobody was under 40 gave a hint as to reasons for its predicament. I'm not totally surprised, as a kid I tried to take up snooker at my local club but instead was greeted by a clique of elderly snobbery.

The subsequent racism wasn't that surprising, I'd imagine this is why they selected Bradford and I'm not sure how many people have Union Jacks in their living rooms.

Steve Crook

Then compare the Guardian nowadays to what it used to be like.
They've both gone a long way downhill. The Sun was further down the hill when they started and it remains further down the hill

Steve

Steve Crook

Not yet

Steve

DB7

BBC Iplayer.

kelp

DB7 I watched it, and thought it so sad, especially the gentleman at the end reminissing about what it used to be like in old Bradford. It must be very difficult to come to terms with what has happened in a city like that. As a child I remember visiting Low Moor and it was a nice friendly place, a safe place, with real nice people.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU MAY GET IT!