What s wromg with the UK?

In my town, there are many community groups and there are many selfish people still stripping the shelves. We’re the usual mixture of good and bad as other countries. In Italy there are volunteers going into infected peoples homes to treat them, take them to hospital ( if there’s a bed). Enough of this xenophobic English exceptionalism. I saw videos of English yobs in Spain ignoring the lock down- just wait until that bites here, we won’t compare well with many of our European neighbours.

We’re the usual mixture of good and bad as other countries.

Of course we are. But we can't see that. We much prefer to bash ourselves constantly, concentrate on the bad, and imagine that the rest of the world is oh, so much better.

We are no better no worse than other countries, but yes some just love to bash our country while extolling all others. It's amazing that anybody wants to come here we're just so dreadful!
suziewoozie are you 100% certain the yobs in Spain were English only, no Scots, Irish, Welsh? Or are you doing what so many people both foreign and domestic do and using English when you mean British? Certainly the Scots were still filling their pubs, and the Irish in America congregated for St Patrick's Day in huge numbers, so every bit as stupid.
Where I'd agree we were very lax was in letting planeloads of people arrive at the London airports from the worst affected parts of Italy, Italians and other nationalities and just asked them to self isolate for 14 days. Of course every last one was conscientious and did just that. Just like those Italians who when they heard of the lockdown immediately fled to the south to family and friends and took the virus with them.

For all the stringent measures in Spain and Italy, people are not following them. Yes there are an element of very selfish people. There always will be as they were in the past. Whilst Britain harks back to the past, even in WW2 there was profiteering and a black market, looters etc. The majority of people are probably kind and OK and perhaps more news stories on this might help change behaviour. As a fellow colleague recently told me who worked with the press and media. Bad news sells papers promotes clicks on social media. Good news doesn't. If the Govt could do one thing I would lock down partisan press, scaremongers on social media and arguing scientists with big egos who were previously unheard of. (BtW I work with scientists and they scabble amongst themselves and question everything) These fuel panic and undermine the Govt message to the extent people will not believe or listen to government advice or act on it

Tooting ?? Good post.

Maggiemaybe I agree, Britain bashing is a full time occupation for some ( perhaps it’s well paid.)

Bashing Brits is the main pastime of the vicious and disappointed who are still smarting over the Brexit result and the General Election. They focus entirely on the negativity seeming to revel in it.

A man nearby put out a thread about helping those in need and within an hour had 800 responses! The Brit badgers must surround themselves with the mean and the selfish.

Many other countries have also had problems with self isolating. It was the start of the problem in Italy and nationals from other countries are finding the same thing happening.

We could do with more positive news of the vast number surviving. Tom Hanks seems to be on the mend.

So many experts pushing their contradictory theories and that’s all they are - theories!

There may well be Brit badgers but it was supposed to be bathers obviously ?

It’s done it again! Seriously GN admin! Get some professionals in to sort things out. There must be hundreds kicking their heels.

I check what I’ve written (thank you Miss Horner 5H ) but it changes when I press post.

What s wromg with the UK?

Do you live in France Dinahmo?

I hope you weren't near those women I mentioned on another thread, people thronging a street market in a small own near Paris the other day, buying fresh produce. One woman stopped to speak to another, heads together talking, then wandered on. The woman (stallholder perhaps?) then coughed many times into the fur collar of her coat. Ugh! They were both standing just behind the reporter.

small town

Callistemon

Yes I do. And no I wasn't because I live in the Dordogne. As they keep telling us on the British news, the UK is 2 weeks behind Italy and France in the progress of the virus. A woman coughing into her fur collar doesn't compare with all the people that were out and about yesterday, as I've posted today elsewhere.

Italy and France have more stringent measures in place and they haven't done much to slow the rate. My fear is that in the UK the death rate will ultimately be higher because not enough is being done now to prevent the movement of people.

Anyone out and about should be more responsible, they are idiots, I agree and could pass it on without suffering themselves.
But selling food on a stall when you have a terrible cough is really irresponsible if not criminal.
Especially when Macron had brought in lockdown hasn't he?

There were lots of people out and about in the French town, shopping.

I wonder if other countries are suffering from the amount of vandalism that we seem to be being plagued with. Six ambulances in Essex (?) had their tyres slashed and reports this evening of a 'place' full of food ready for distribution to food banks has been stolen, plus health workers in Dundee and Middlesex hospitals have come out from their long shifts to find their cars vandalised and are now using taxis!! What on earth is wrong with people, are they mental or just plain wicked?!!

You are allowed to go food shopping Callistemon. You have to go alone and carry your self-declaration with the box ticked for essential shopping. The gendarmes are everywhere and fines are being given out.

Why has the U.K. not closed it’s borders when it has a Brexitty government who want to take control of borders? Ironically, some EU countries have managed to close its borders.

Ok, that is fine. I give in! ?
All those in France who are happy for people to go out in close proximity, put their heads together and chat, buy produce from someone who has a bad cough amaze me.

Like the equally stupid people here.

No gendarmes in sight. Just the reporter with all this going on behind him.

Callistemon When did you see this incident? Macron's restrictions to movement started last Tuesday at noon which is when the self certifying came into effect. People were out on the streets not following the rules although the police arrested and fined a number of people. As the number of cases and deaths have increased, the French are now following the new rules.

I daresay you didn't see my other post - people at Margate sitting on benches along the seafront, eating ice creams with no distance between them. Cars parked along the road to Snowdon car parks. A spokesman said they'd never seen so many people in one day before. Traffic jams into and out of Richmond Park. Children having riding lessons in Richmond Park. Far too many people in, I guess, Hyde Park, not leaving the suggested 2 metres between each other.

The reason I and I suspect other expats post on here is because we are worried about our homeland. Although we live abroad we are still English/Scottish/British whatever and hate to see what is happening in the UK.

Having just watched today's PM statement, I must say I'm impressed.

I've been waiting for some kind of lockdown, common sense and reason for the last few weeks.

I've never voted Conservative but 'Well done Boris!'

At last. Apparently following pressure from his cabinet, Tory back benchers and the opposition. Lets hope that people take note.

Changed his mind about his "herd immunity" then? Shame he didn't do it sooner, the idiot!
And how telling he says they can now get on with Brexit negotiations. The world is in turmoil and Boris still rates Brexit as important?

Dinahmo

I know full well what is going on here, you don't need to tell me.

The report from the French town was live yesterday on TV here. I think the reporter was unaware of what was going on right behind him.
And obviously the strict rules are being flouted there too.

Markets are closed down now.