what the appeal?

[alchemi2]

I recently read a newspaper article that stated Britain is now the number 1 place immigrants/refugees want to go.In the same paper in another article it said Britain growing in popularity as major tourist destination.

Hey hey i thought good old Britain Land of milk and honey, but then i actually thought about it for a while and now am wondering whats the appeal?

For clarification purposes i'll point out that the vast majority of people who refer to themselves as British are either English or people born aboard but hold British passports for whatever reason.

The Irish, Scotish or Welsh rarely if ever call themselves British and will generally self destruct if referred to as English.

Anyway onward, is it the weather?

In other countries you have weather Monsoons, Tornados, Hurricanes, Soaring tempretures or freezing conditions, snow metres deep etc.

Here we have drizzle, mist and the occasional bout of lukewarm sunshine. Oh we did have a hurricane once apprently famous due to the weathermen saying in answer to a viewer's question no it will miss us and next morning track of destruction due to it hitting, but mainly it's drizzle.

Social policy?

NHS, social security etc cool.

Thousand homeless, on dole or on waiting lists.

Under funded, under staffed and over burdened.

Sporting prowess?

old glories enough said.

Democracy?

Well we have one, we also got a monarchy and an unelected upper goverment and an elected one.

of course our 3 main political parties are so alike that members of one leave and join another without changing their personal beliefs or policys.

Transport?

Worst public transport in the world, overcrowded, aging, badly maintained. of course private transport.

poor road systems congestion and soon to be toll roads.

Taxes?

Not a chance in hell we tax everything every way possible we even tax tax!

Then it came to me ;D the weather no sorry that's just a British preoccupation we can't pass more than a hour without refering to the weather or watching a report on it just in case somethings happens like drizzle.

I can't help wondering why it is that if we get an inch of snow all hell breaks loose, everything grinds to a halt and yet other countries have feet of snow and no problem with transport. Also how come we have rain constantly and yet two weeks of sunshine brings on a hosepipe ban and threats of drought and yet other countries that bake for more than half the year can be out watering the golf course no problem.

Anyway back to the point. It came to me the wildlife.

Thats got be it, Everywhere else you gotta watch'em the nasty little beasties poison you or just bite bits off, swallow you whole etc but not here well bees sting but thats about it.The most dangerous animal in Britain is the Squirel and that's only if you've got nuts.

That my thought anyway, whats yours?

[Inoculator9]

Britain always struck me as depressing :P Why there instead of... well... here :P

[Andrew]

There vast history of medieval times, and their English. They are good mates. ;)

[Dante]

I suppose some people must just like boredom... Britain, like most countries, is past it's heyday though. We need to split up more. ("Independant Scotland" chanting heard)

And I read once that Britain is third on the list of immigrants and such. After... Erm.... Germany and Austria I think. Or was it Germany and France...

Either way, we weren't at the top.

[Atomic Mitten]

Well I for one totally agree with alchemi2.

He has summed up England perfectly(like the one about squirrels and nuts) think everyone missed the joke there.

But the most dangerous animal/bird/wildlife has to be the pidgeon.Who like Ornithopters can s...t all over you.

Just like the British Government who also like to take what they can out of your hands. ;D

[Cyborg]

When in London, I was extremely amazed how the transport system was endlessly better than here in Bergen.

Bus tickets are 3 times more expensive here too...

[Dunenewt]

Our transport system is absolutley awful

[Cyborg]

And what would be worse than awful?

I need a word to describe our transport system...

[Atomic Mitten]

How about diabolical ! ;)

[Tio_Holtzmann]

you think british trains are good, go to italy. fantastic. i would say we have to thank mussolini for those but that would be tasteless. damn.....

[Caid Ivik]

It seems you never sat in some of slovak Karosa bus liners. That's adventure...

[Dante]

Our transport is rubbish but that's because there's so much of it, whihc could be a good thing. We need more trains, more underground, and less cars. Evil cars...

[bryorama]

Shouldn't this be in politic's, religion, and philosophy? :)

[Andrew]

Shouldn't this be in politic's, religion, and philosophy? :)

No. I find that many threads are started there when they in fact have little to do with it. (to discuss about PRP) PRP has become the new General Board I find.

I would like to visit Britain someday, or maybe Great Britain, or maybe the United Kingdom. I always get them confused.

[Wolf]

I think you British/English/Scots/Welsh/Irish sell yourselves short.

When in England, I was amazed at public transport. London's cabs are infinitely superior to American cabs.

Also, you've got a sense of history. Places, people, things, stories that are thousands of years old. We ooh and ahh at stuff barely 100 years old in America. While Washington is a beautiful city, it was designed that way. London has its own appeal, crafted slwoly over centuries, combined with a sense of history, that makes it just as appealing if not more so.

Castles. You've got 'em. They're just damn cool.

Swords, Knights, Armor. Read the above statement.

Food? Eh... okay, I'll be honest. Someone has to teach the UK how to cook. But, you have Indian food for that.

The UK is a great country. It's a wonder why more people don't visit there more often. America is boring by comparison.

[Acriku]

What would you expect from a new country Wolfwiz?

Perhaps the certain appeal that people pick up on (immigrants) is that is seems off the radar in the UK, atleast from my POV since we have the coast guard patrolling the waters.

[alchemi2]

Shouldn't this be in politic's, religion, and philosophy? :)

I didn't realy think of this as politics or religion just a chatty thing realy about Britain. Hardly philosopy.

just wondered what others saw that we the British miss or take for granted.

Like being able to pick up the spider which is terrorising the household and release it to the wild without dropping down dead.

Or having to down 5 pints in twenty mins cause u cant get another beer as the pubs all shut at 11pm.

Or contemplating the weather, generally drizzle and then spending 20 mins discussing the varity of rain it is.

On that point do other countries do retro forecast eg its Thursday and the weatherman then proceeds to tell you what the weather was like on Wednesday !

or is that just us? ::)

[bryorama]

"Politics" (hint hint) ;)

[Dunenewt]

I think you British/English/Scots/Welsh/Irish sell yourselves short.

Food? Eh... okay, I'll be honest. Someone has to teach the UK how to cook. But, you have Indian food for that.

Chips! :D

[Atomic Mitten]

With salt & vinegar,cornish pasties,meat&potato pies,steak&kidney pies,roast beef and yorkshire pudding,Kendal mint cake,scollops !

Makes you proud to be British huh.Steak and chips,even if they are micro in size.

Reminds me of a joke:

Waiter in an English restaurant asks the customer "how did you find your steak sir "

Customer"well I moved a potato and there it was ! ;D