How can you hate a whole country?

[Moonhawk]

Just overheard somebody mouthing off (with real venom in their voice) about how they "fking hate this country and they'd emigrate to Australia" if they had a chance.

I often wonder what goes through the mind of such people. This country is so diverse with big cities, small villages, coastal towns, culturally diverse areas, areas that are less so, warmer areas, colder areas etc.

If you don't like where you currently live - there are plenty of places you could move to. Don't like the hustle and bustle, move to the country. Hate greenery and the periodic smell of cow st, move to the city. Hate southerners, move north. Hate northerners, move south.

How can somebody possibly hate a whole country (when they have probably lived or visited less than 1% of it) and why do they think becoming an immigrant in another country will suddenly make things so much better.

This country has it's good and bad - much like any other country does. Is this all just a case of "the grass is always greener"?

Edited by Moonhawk on Friday 15th September 18:58

[bitchstewie]

I think a lot of people seem to like being angry at something, and in some cases anything.

You see it on here all the time.

[spud989]

In my experience, those sorts of people themselves are normally the reason the country's in the mire

[Doofus]

Have you considered that it may have been hyperbole, and they didn't mean it literally?

[h0b0]

Moonhawk said:

This country is so diverse with big cities, small villages, coastal towns, culturally diverse areas, areas that are less so, warmer areas, colder areas etc.

Applying this logic, tell me how you feel about the US.........

The amount of Xenophobic BS that is posted on here by people basing the opinion on a 1980's episode of "Dukes of Hazard" is shocking.

[King Herald]

Moonhawk said:

Just overheard somebody mouthing off (with real venom in their voice) about how they "fking hate this country and they'd emigrate to Australia" is they had a chance.
"?

What they mean is they hate THEIR attempt at life in this country.

[LimaDelta]

King Herald said:

Moonhawk said:

Just overheard somebody mouthing off (with real venom in their voice) about how they "fking hate this country and they'd emigrate to Australia" is they had a chance.
"?

What they mean is they hate THEIR attempt at life in this country.

Exactly this.

[anonymous-user]

I empathise and I think what they mean is they hate how it feels to live in this country and what it's become, not that it's ever been much different. We are expected to work harder, for longer as we appear to be getting worse off. No pay rises for most, poorer public services, rising crime, inflation and generally a balls ache to get ahead. Add to that the disingenuous clowns in government and Jeremy Corbin who seems hell bent on making it worse for everyone and you can come to the same conclusion - anywhere must be better than this overcrowded st hole.

Currently sitting on a packed commuter train.

[0a]

No doubt after a few weeks they would declare they hate Australia as well. As others have said - their problem.

[deckster]

wormus said:

I empathise and I think what they mean is they hate how it feels to live in this country and what it's become, not that it's ever been much different. We are expected to work harder, for longer as we appear to be getting worse off. No pay rises for most, poorer public services, rising crime, inflation and generally a balls ache to get ahead. Add to that the disingenuous clowns in government and Jeremy Corbin who seems hell bent on making it worse for everyone and you can come to the same conclusion - anywhere must be better than this overcrowded st hole.

Currently sitting on a packed commuter train.

Which shows a very narrow-minded viewpoint, as with a few very minor edits that little rantette could have been written in pretty much any country in the world.

If your life sucks, then you need to look closer to home than blaming 'the country'.

[ambuletz]

[OldGermanHeaps]

Because the weather is st for 90% of the time?

[anonymous-user]

deckster said:

Which shows a very narrow-minded viewpoint, as with a few very minor edits that little rantette could have been written in pretty much any country in the world.

If your life sucks, then you need to look closer to home than blaming 'the country'.

My life is fine thanks, but I can see other people's points of view, unlike you it would seem. All the points I wrote are shared by many people I think. Anyway, it's my country too and I'll say what I like about it.

I do agree though, it seems to be a global issue.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 15th September 19:21

[Yipper]

The grass is always greener somewhere else...

[kambites]

It's possible to dislike a country as an abstract concept or political entity without hating all elements of it.

In this case though, I suspect hyperbole or extreme ignorance. For every person who lives somewhere "better" than the UK, by almost any metric, there are ten who live somewhere far, far worse.

[bearman68]

Weather's crap.
This must be what they mean, as I can see very little that is uniquely bad to the UK, and quite a lot that is very good.

I mean,just think we have a generally non corrupt government and tax collection system, and a free press. An opportunity to work and earn according to our own talents. Some very pretty, (if not dramatic) countryside, and the occasional iconic city.

But hey, I'm an eternal optimist.

[Countdown]

wormus said:

I empathise and I think what they mean is they hate how it feels to live in this country and what it's become, not that it's ever been much different. We are expected to work harder, for longer as we appear to be getting worse off. No pay rises for most, poorer public services, rising crime, inflation and generally a balls ache to get ahead. Add to that the disingenuous clowns in government and Jeremy Corbin who seems hell bent on making it worse for everyone and you can come to the same conclusion - anywhere must be better than this overcrowded st hole.

Currently sitting on a packed commuter train.

It's funny/strange how different people can look at the same thing and have such different views. Now, at the risk of turning this into a "Four Yorkshiremen Chateau de Chasselet" competition I remember

My dad / grandad having to walk 6 miles to work
My dad regularly working 16 hour shifts
Outside toilets and ice on the insides of bedroom windows
One car shared between 3 families
Me and my siblings walking a mile to school in all weathers
Maybe one holiday abroad every 3/4 years if we were lucky.

I work in an office (when I'm not WFH). My kids get driven to and from school (same school that i went to). Schools and hospitals are far more modern and well equipped than they were a generation ago. Crime is at all-time lows, inflation has been at low levels for ages, modern housing is far better than it used to be. In fact I can't think of a single "Quality of Life" measure that is worse now than it was in the 70's.

All countries have their ups and downs. However, from my point of view, there are very few countries I'd rather be in than the UK.

[ashleyman]

Perhaps I'm just getting old or reading more about issues but I never used to think there were so many problems. My biggest problem was my train not coming on time meaning I was late for work.

Everywhere I look now there seems to be more injustice than ever. People complaining about inequality or accusing others of being greedy or selfish or whatever it is.

Even things like the NHS, Police etc... There seems to be problems everywhere. Can't even get a pothole fixed without it being a huge issue or budgets being a problem. Issue with a neighbour? Speak to Police who say speak to council who say speak to Police. Nobody wants to take charge and do anything. Then we have Brexit and all those other issues, it's just insane how all of this is going on and just a few years ago I was totally clueless.

Perhaps I'm odd, perhaps I don't know what I'm talking about but I can sympathise with people who say they 'hate this country'. I don't hate it, I'm sure there's issue everywhere but right now it just feels like there is relentless pressure and problems wherever people turn.

I've recently been travelling for work and have spent a lot of time in USA and it just feels completely different. Thats where I'd go if I felt that way and wanted to act on my feelings..

[98elise]

deckster said:

wormus said:

I empathise and I think what they mean is they hate how it feels to live in this country and what it's become, not that it's ever been much different. We are expected to work harder, for longer as we appear to be getting worse off. No pay rises for most, poorer public services, rising crime, inflation and generally a balls ache to get ahead. Add to that the disingenuous clowns in government and Jeremy Corbin who seems hell bent on making it worse for everyone and you can come to the same conclusion - anywhere must be better than this overcrowded st hole.

Currently sitting on a packed commuter train.

Which shows a very narrow-minded viewpoint, as with a few very minor edits that little rantette could have been written in pretty much any country in the world.

If your life sucks, then you need to look closer to home than blaming 'the country'.

I agree with wormus. There is a lot to dislike about living here, and it does seem to be getting worse. I have mates and family who are now in Australia and NZ. They will never come back.

Life may not be greener, but I'd like to give it a try in the next few years.

[caelite]

wormus said:

I empathise and I think what they mean is they hate how it feels to live in this country and what it's become, not that it's ever been much different. We are expected to work harder, for longer as we appear to be getting worse off. No pay rises for most, poorer public services, rising crime, inflation and generally a balls ache to get ahead. Add to that the disingenuous clowns in government and Jeremy Corbin who seems hell bent on making it worse for everyone and you can come to the same conclusion - anywhere must be better than this overcrowded st hole.

Currently sitting on a packed commuter train.

At least Corbyn is striving for change, with seemingly positive intentions. Currently Mays Tories seem content with just letting things continue to decline until people become disheartened enough to turn away from their various electronic screens and try and do something about it. Which is also very likely to be to the detriment of everyone at some point. Neither option is ideal, personally I can't even begin to conjure up what a realistic solution to the countries current slump would be, but I think it lies with neither the 'Everythings fine, strong and stable' or the 'Everythings fked, 'free' st for everyone' parties in there current forms.

I will admit also. of being of the mindset that the UK is possibly not the best 1st world country to be living in, particularly for the young. Even my boomer generation grandfather who is very much the British patriot has admitted that the UK is not the young go getter country that it once was.