| Our country is really in the gutter 20:55 - Jul 31 with 7793 views | TresBonne |
Just seen it's kicked off at Downing Street tonight too.
Honestly, when will it end. I don't have kids yet but am planning on it in 5-6 years time, and it just makes me wonder - is it actually worth bringing children up in this nation any more?
I log into my social feed on X or Facebook, which I want to use for just looking at football related goodness, and it's constant 'stabbing here' this, 'riot here' that. I even saw one in Christchurch park from today. A sleepy, Suffolk town like Ipswich is not even safe any more.
Large groups of just pure hatred, anger and a lot more, from all walks of life, nationalities, positions on the political spectrum having it out with police and rioting. Constant stabbings and just more horrible things in the news.
It makes me wonder how many common sense, kind, nice, middle-ground people we are leaving in the world. It seems to just be heading in a complete split of opinion all over the place.
Call this the 'positive news story thread' or something.
We were once the greatest nation in the world. Now, we're in disarray. Upsetting.
Social media is playing a huge part in all of this too, a massive problem.
If someone can link me some good news stories they've seen from this week, I'd genuinely appreciate it and it might cheer me up a bit. I haven't read anything in what seems like forever that really makes me smile. [Post edited 31 Jul 2024 21:00]
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| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:08 - Jul 31 with 4709 views | Mullet |
I think the idea “we were once the greatest nation on earth” is a problem in itself. We seem to have a generation who fetishise the World War era despite not fighting in it, benefiting from the good which came after and wanting to deny that to the next generation.
Before that we were arguably the most successful but at huge cost to many other places and peoples, the effects of both are still being felt today in some ripple effect.
Every decade has had social unrest of some sort, whether or not today is much different to say Moseley and the BUF or the NF is probably down to the reporting. We can choose to watch it in real time and focus on the videos of scumbags causing chaos. But I doubt anyone has watched the locals repairing the wall of that mosque in Southport today on repeat, from multiple angles like they did that bloke getting a brick in the bonce and balls.
Media exposure is probably a bigger factor in why it feels worse to me.
Letting the Tories get away with what they’ve left and forgetting it will be even more damaging in a few years time. Maybe as a nation we need to focus on the real divisions and bridging those, not the dog whistling and populist projects of the grifters who thrive on it.
Edit forgot the link [Post edited 31 Jul 2024 21:27]
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| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:16 - Jul 31 with 4591 views | NedPlimpton |
Out of interest, what would you say is the greatest nation in the world now? What would you like to aspire to? |  | | |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:26 - Jul 31 with 4455 views | Zx1988 |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:16 - Jul 31 by NedPlimpton |
Out of interest, what would you say is the greatest nation in the world now? What would you like to aspire to? |
Any of the Scandinavian nations?
They fly under the radar, and do very nicely for their citizens. |  |
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| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:28 - Jul 31 with 4415 views | redrickstuhaart |
Small groups of angry people have been energised and reassured by public figures saying its okay. | | | |
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| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:28 - Jul 31 with 4425 views | BloomBlue |
Media makes it worse. For example I saw my knives being used in the 60 & 70s (and probably 80s) than now. Even at football matches regular usage of knives, ok maybe the stanley knife didn't go deep enough to kill but it was used frequently.
But media broadcast it immediately now.
Many years ago I was told a story from a old boy in a pub in Stowmarket. In the late 50s Stowmarket and Combs boys got into a big fight, one boy was hit with a brick and killed. This old boy made the point that story probably only made it as far as Ipswich, not the rest of the uk, even though someone had been killed. He continued (and I was talking to him in the 80s), if that happened today it would be on the BBC national news that evening.
Whereas NOW in 2024 if that happened, it would be on X etc within seconds with videos from all angles.
But his point still stands, technology and media gives instant news of things happening across the world now, which makes it seem worse. |  | | |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:33 - Jul 31 with 4345 views | reusersfreekicks |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:28 - Jul 31 by BloomBlue |
Media makes it worse. For example I saw my knives being used in the 60 & 70s (and probably 80s) than now. Even at football matches regular usage of knives, ok maybe the stanley knife didn't go deep enough to kill but it was used frequently.
But media broadcast it immediately now.
Many years ago I was told a story from a old boy in a pub in Stowmarket. In the late 50s Stowmarket and Combs boys got into a big fight, one boy was hit with a brick and killed. This old boy made the point that story probably only made it as far as Ipswich, not the rest of the uk, even though someone had been killed. He continued (and I was talking to him in the 80s), if that happened today it would be on the BBC national news that evening.
Whereas NOW in 2024 if that happened, it would be on X etc within seconds with videos from all angles.
But his point still stands, technology and media gives instant news of things happening across the world now, which makes it seem worse. |
Your knives? |  | | |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:44 - Jul 31 with 4226 views | BloomBlue |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:33 - Jul 31 by reusersfreekicks |
Your knives? |
*more
Sorry | | | |
| Lola Anderson's story.... on 21:46 - Jul 31 with 4202 views | Illinoisblue |
See also this great piece from our Something:
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| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:47 - Jul 31 with 4174 views | Bigalhunter |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:28 - Jul 31 by BloomBlue |
Media makes it worse. For example I saw my knives being used in the 60 & 70s (and probably 80s) than now. Even at football matches regular usage of knives, ok maybe the stanley knife didn't go deep enough to kill but it was used frequently.
But media broadcast it immediately now.
Many years ago I was told a story from a old boy in a pub in Stowmarket. In the late 50s Stowmarket and Combs boys got into a big fight, one boy was hit with a brick and killed. This old boy made the point that story probably only made it as far as Ipswich, not the rest of the uk, even though someone had been killed. He continued (and I was talking to him in the 80s), if that happened today it would be on the BBC national news that evening.
Whereas NOW in 2024 if that happened, it would be on X etc within seconds with videos from all angles.
But his point still stands, technology and media gives instant news of things happening across the world now, which makes it seem worse. |
Explain exactly what knives you were supplying… |  |
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| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:55 - Jul 31 with 4068 views | Swansea_Blue |
“I log into my social feed on X or Facebook”. That’s the problem. Go outside, walk around your neighbourhood and speak to people and you’ll find 99.9% of people are great. The news, and social media especially, amplifies the bad.
(And don’t leave those kids too long. Once you’ve got them, you wonder why you waited so long. And the you start thinking about grandkids and you wish you’d be younger to enjoy them). |  |
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| Lola Anderson's story.... on 22:02 - Jul 31 with 4016 views | BlueBadger |
Was called out to an elderly person today.
They didn't want any more treatment, had had enough and just wanted to stop with the blood tests, the horrible medications, the endless night time disturbances for observations and he wanted to see their grandkids and their dogs.
I managed to round up a sympathetic consultant who sat down with them, agreed to switch to comfort care after gave one of the best, most sensitive chats with a desperately sick person I've ever seen.
Meantime, I managed to organise getting the dogs in to visit(most hospitals have a pet visiting policy, if you look hard enough) and supported the ward in getting them out for an hour in the sun with the grandkids.
When we get back to the ward, the nurse in charge reported that they hadn't seen them smile for a fortnight.
It's the little things sometimes. |  |
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| Our country is really in the gutter on 22:05 - Jul 31 with 3967 views | Europablue |
Add machette fight on Southend Sea Front, and youth bus surfing in Brighton with a huge knife.
It's astounding that we are seeing scenes like these so soon after a new government has been elected. The honeymoon is well and truly over.
There are huge underlying problems in our country and no politicians are willing to grab the nettle. It is just about having the political will to punish bad behaviour and crucially to give young people something they would be scared to lose. When people got married and had kids from a fairly young age, they had that, now people are children with no responsibilities forever.
I would say this though. If good people like you don't have kids then the world will never get better. If you and many others just like you bring up well-mannered and caring children then we will make a better place to live in.
Even now there are pockets of England that are still very pleasant, and it is definitely a good place to live if you can make a life for yourself outside of the madness of the cities. | | | |
| Well played. (n/t) on 22:08 - Jul 31 with 3934 views | Bloots |
| Lola Anderson's story.... on 22:02 - Jul 31 by BlueBadger |
Was called out to an elderly person today.
They didn't want any more treatment, had had enough and just wanted to stop with the blood tests, the horrible medications, the endless night time disturbances for observations and he wanted to see their grandkids and their dogs.
I managed to round up a sympathetic consultant who sat down with them, agreed to switch to comfort care after gave one of the best, most sensitive chats with a desperately sick person I've ever seen.
Meantime, I managed to organise getting the dogs in to visit(most hospitals have a pet visiting policy, if you look hard enough) and supported the ward in getting them out for an hour in the sun with the grandkids.
When we get back to the ward, the nurse in charge reported that they hadn't seen them smile for a fortnight.
It's the little things sometimes. |
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| "He's been a really positive influence on my life, I think he's a great man" - TWTD User (May 2025) |
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| Our country is really in the gutter on 22:12 - Jul 31 with 3898 views | Europablue |
The catalyst may not be legitimate, but the experiences that led them to those conclusions are based on real things.
The government of the day always tries to deflect away from the underlying social problem and calls the people hateful or bigoted. They may well be directing their anger in an unwarranted and frankly scary direction, but the anger is really justified.
What on earth was the Conservative government doing being so soft on crime? We have no hope with Labour in charge. The existing parties do not work. We need the real concerns of the people to be addressed even if they are not expressed eloquently. | | | |
| Well played. (n/t) on 22:14 - Jul 31 with 3875 views | BlueBadger |
| Well played. (n/t) on 22:08 - Jul 31 by Bloots |
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I sometimes argue to my newer colleagues that our job is to secure the best outcomes for patients not 'make them better'. I properly put my money where my mouth was today. | |
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| Our country is really in the gutter on 22:15 - Jul 31 with 3852 views | reusersfreekicks |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 22:12 - Jul 31 by Europablue |
The catalyst may not be legitimate, but the experiences that led them to those conclusions are based on real things.
The government of the day always tries to deflect away from the underlying social problem and calls the people hateful or bigoted. They may well be directing their anger in an unwarranted and frankly scary direction, but the anger is really justified.
What on earth was the Conservative government doing being so soft on crime? We have no hope with Labour in charge. The existing parties do not work. We need the real concerns of the people to be addressed even if they are not expressed eloquently. |
Do you live abroad?
If so thank feck for that.
Go rationalise racist violence somewhere else [Post edited 31 Jul 2024 22:22]
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| Our country is really in the gutter on 22:15 - Jul 31 with 3851 views | Europablue |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:26 - Jul 31 by Zx1988 |
Any of the Scandinavian nations?
They fly under the radar, and do very nicely for their citizens. |
Norway or Denmark, yes, but Sweden has been destroyed by tolerance. | | | |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 22:18 - Jul 31 with 3808 views | Europablue |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 21:28 - Jul 31 by redrickstuhaart |
Small groups of angry people have been energised and reassured by public figures saying its okay. |
The anger is legitimate, but the way the anger is being directed is not. There is obviously a pattern, it's not a one-off tragic event. The lack of control is the scary part.
Imagine actually having to live in deprived areas where people carry knives regularly. It's very easy for us to condemn people from the comfort of our office chairs. | | | |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 22:21 - Jul 31 with 3774 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 22:15 - Jul 31 by Europablue |
Norway or Denmark, yes, but Sweden has been destroyed by tolerance. |
It most definitely hasn’t. When were you last there? The better half lived there for a while and has friends there who we still visit. It’s not close to being destroyed. It’s a fantastic country and I’d move there in a shot (although my Swedish is non-existent compared to my wife’s).
Focus on the negative and all you’ll see is negative. | |
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| Our country is really in the gutter on 22:22 - Jul 31 with 3759 views | Mullet |
| Our country is really in the gutter on 22:12 - Jul 31 by Europablue |
The catalyst may not be legitimate, but the experiences that led them to those conclusions are based on real things.
The government of the day always tries to deflect away from the underlying social problem and calls the people hateful or bigoted. They may well be directing their anger in an unwarranted and frankly scary direction, but the anger is really justified.
What on earth was the Conservative government doing being so soft on crime? We have no hope with Labour in charge. The existing parties do not work. We need the real concerns of the people to be addressed even if they are not expressed eloquently. |
Can you direct me to the new government calling anyone hateful or bigoted?
There was literally a riot attacking police, organised by Neo Nazis using duff information and lies to stir up racial tensions and violence. Whilst using the horrific and shocking deaths of kids as an excuse.
How are you justifying that “anger” exactly? | |
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| Well played. (n/t) on 22:23 - Jul 31 with 3742 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Well played. (n/t) on 22:14 - Jul 31 by BlueBadger |
I sometimes argue to my newer colleagues that our job is to secure the best outcomes for patients not 'make them better'. I properly put my money where my mouth was today. |
It’s a hard thing to deal with when someone wants to just give up. I don’t envy you having to deal with that. | |
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