Was life in Britain better twenty years ago?

[So]

?

[Countdown]

Yes and no.

[AdeTuono]

Some bits were, some bits weren't.

[Thankyou4calling]

My life definitely was.

[GT03ROB]

I was living in India then & I live in a 'stan now so no idea.

[anonymous-user]

Elaborate on “better”.

[Eric Mc]

Exactly. "Better" is in the eye of the beholder (as is the opposite - "worse").

I don't like the current massive uncertainty - but that's not unique to the UK.

[JulianPH]

I think it depends upon were exactly in Britain you live.

20 years ago when I was in London life there certainly seemed better than London today, particularly with regard to crime and safety.

Now days I live in a rural village where life hasn't really changed much for the last 40 years, let alone 20.

We have lost the village shop and butcher, which is a shame, but being 5 minutes away from a thriving market town (that wasn't anywhere near as thriving 20 years ago) does make up for that.

So some things are better and some things are worse and where you live is likely to have an impact on this.

One thing I think most people would agree on though is that as an island we are more densely populated now than we have ever been and that is putting great stress on housing, healthcare, schooling and many other important infrastructure.

Also, we appear to have an ever increasing section of society that is basically lawless, which with a corresponding decrease in the ratio of numbers of police to members of the public is only going to continue to get worse.

Let's also not forget the rise of the terminally offended amongst us.

Those things were certainly better 20 years ago (or at least it feels like it).

[Mothersruin]

I think society was closer, more coherent and harmonised than it is now.

Blair has plenty to be guilty of but I see his legacy of identity politics, unchecked immigration and multiculturalism has irreversibly damaged the fundamentals of the country.

[croyde]

London, where I have lived since 1962, and the South East is crammed now compared to 20 years ago.

Driving anywhere is a chore, no trains at weekends due to constant works and 'upgrading', anything worth doing involves queuing thus makes it not worth doing.

There are a few enclaves that I know that are quiet and peaceful but you have to get up early.

[Eric Mc]

Mothersruin said:

I think society was closer, more coherent and harmonised than it is now.

Blair has plenty to be guilty of but I see his legacy of identity politics, unchecked immigration and multiculturalism has irreversibly damaged the fundamentals of the country.

And I see a lot of those things that you see as negatives as positives. So, this is almost a pointless topic in that people view the world in different ways and "better" or "worse" can be completely different to different people.

Britain has changed and will soon not be "Britain" in what many would consider to be its "normal" state. Of course, what Britain is and meant has never been a static thing. It has evolved and changed constantly since the whole "Britain" concept came into being.

I fully expect that the United Kingdom will exist in name only in less than ten years.

[Mothersruin]

Eric Mc said:

Mothersruin said:

I think society was closer, more coherent and harmonised than it is now.

Blair has plenty to be guilty of but I see his legacy of identity politics, unchecked immigration and multiculturalism has irreversibly damaged the fundamentals of the country.

And I see a lot of those things that you see as negatives as positives. So, this is almost a pointless topic in that people view the world in different ways and "better" or "worse" can be completely different to different people.

Britain has changed and will soon not be "Britain" in what many would consider to be its "normal" state. Of course, what Britain is and meant has never been a static thing. It has evolved and changed constantly since the whole "Britain" concept came into being.

I fully expect that the United Kingdom will exist in name only in less than ten years.

Interesting that you see the gradual break down of society as a positive.

Never had you down as a closet anarchist Eric.

[Countdown]

Eric Mc said:

And I see a lot of those things that you see as negatives as positives. So, this is almost a pointless topic in that people view the world in different ways and "better" or "worse" can be completely different to different people.

Britain has changed and will soon not be "Britain" in what many would consider to be its "normal" state. Of course, what Britain is and meant has never been a static thing. It has evolved and changed constantly since the whole "Britain" concept came into being.

I fully expect that the United Kingdom will exist in name only in less than ten years.

I agree.

Another thing is that miserable people will always be miserable (and usually be blaming somebody else for their problems). I think life in the UK is great, but then I thought it was great 20 years ago. It’s a different “great” but it’s still pretty good.

Are there any things that grind my gears? Yes, loads but there will be something that irritates me wherever I go (so it isn’t unique to the UK).

[Phil Dicky]

I was 12 months away from becoming a Dad 20 years ago..... so no defo better now.

[Robin Hood]

Much better 20 years ago, I was only 55!

[louiebaby]

The music certainly was.

[Piersman2]

Can't select both answers, so can't respond to poll options.

[bony_13]

Can't believe I'm the first to respond with:

'Nostalgia isn't what it used to be'.

PH Standards are slipping.

[Eric Mc]

Mothersruin said:

Interesting that you see the gradual break down of society as a positive.

Never had you down as a closet anarchist Eric.

What break down?

Change happens all the time. You see it as a break down. On the whole, I don't - some change is for the good, some is not.

[Billiewhiz]

Yes! I was 20 yrs younger.