Disappointed with UK. Are you?

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Ms Dee

First of its not Racism at all. I have been to other countries and some people have been friendly and some have not. I dont think just because you had a few unpleasant experiences you should write off a whole county that is insane. I have had family come to the UK and they have never been upset. Also what on earth do you want the Government to do?? People are individuals and can really do as they please.

chickadee

If our country is so bad, why do thousand of foreign people want to stay here?

Quattro formaggi

Don't forget that London is a capital city and thus a melting pot of all creeds & cultures, so it is unlikely that the behaviour you experienced is racist, more a typical city attitude. The same could be said of Liverppol or any other major conurbation.

I recently visited China on a stopover travelling to Australia and found the Chinese people I encountered as unfriendly, rude and ill-mannered. However I would never use the term racist as it is all too commonly used for inacceptance and lack of understanding of cultural differences.

Remember to be friendly to people and they will often reciprocate. If you are so keen to label people as racist because they will not help you out, maybe you should look at yourself a little closer before passing judgement on others!

No we are SICK TO DEATH of being called racists of people like you.

You seem very angry.... but please dont bandy the racism card around the UK.... things are bad enough as it is here, you should read the news.

A Bloke

No, Love the UK - We have a little thing called freedom, which allows us to decide whether we want to be helpful or not, rude or not, polite or not, basically within reason, do what you want. The next person you asked may have carried one of your cases for you. It's great to be different and not always follow the man in front. It also allows you to come in to our Country, complain about our citizens and allow you to leave merrily on your way, with out stringing you up for slighting our Country. So, you have your choice. You are quite welcome to stay and enjoy the hospitality offered by some, and ignore the ignorance offered by others, or you can p *** off somewhere else if you don't like it.

PhoenixRights

Here's a tip. Don't come visiting a country then slate it on a web site visited by the Inhabitants of that country. Your question has got my back up. For all the problems we have in this country (and I think I've mentioned politics before!!) I'm still proud to be British. One guy not helping you, wow! Did you ask him nicely, or did you expect help cause you looked like you needed it? Be warm and open to any nationality in any country and you'll get a warm and friendly response. Oh, and don't be so judgemental of a country you've hardly visited. Stay longer and see more before writing anywhere off.

CLIVE H

Do not judge UK by London. I am a Londoner and can tell you honestly that the man who failed to assist you is in no way a typical Londoner.

While it is true London can be a lonely place and sometimes seem unfriendly, once you get to know us things will be fine.

â™¥lois câ™¥ â˜ºâ™¥â™¥â™¥â˜º

yo dead... its a big city dude!! i live in nyc and if you open a door for someone they look at you like if your going to kill them or something. most big citys are like that kiddo paris, berlin, LA etc get use to it

snetterton

Commuters at Liverpool Street and other stations do not have time to stop and help people who are getting in their way with huge luggage. If you cannot manage your luggage, then carry less or better still, pay someone to be your servant.

I travel in London every day and am sick and tired of the selfish tourists who get in everyone's way and think they are the most important people in the world.

It's high time we forced tourists to pay a daily visitor tax like they do in holiday and ski resorts.

At least the revenue would help offset the huge aggravation these idiots cause us Londoners.

So if you don't like it in our amazing city, please go home.

Ollie

Hi,come to the north we are known has being the friendliest.We welcome all.You were unlucky maybe the guy had got out of the wrong side of bed surely not everyone in your country is happy go lucky.We brits are one of the most tolerant in the world.Its up to you wether to recommend your friends not to come here im sure they like us have minds of there own & I think you have a attitude problem.I find warm & friendly people in my own country so thanks I will turn your offer down of going East im going West.

jamjan100

Thailand is Warm and Friendly....'Cos they are after your money!

Mark C

No....you will find that there are some right ignorant, unfriendly people in this country, it's just bad luck that you asked a right *** for help.

There are both good and bad people in this country....but there are several people who fit somewhere inbetween good and bad, and that goes for all areas of the UK, so don't think it's just in London.

Keira H

It depends entirely where you go! I don't like to see my country dissed like this - you should go to Wales where you'd receive a real welcome in the hillsides!

Saying that, I now live in London and have found the majority of people are friendly and polite.

I welcome meeting new people from different cultures and will always try to help where I can.

May I suggest though, and don't take this the wrong way, that maybe you should visit a country on a holiday first before you move there full time?

If for example, I was moving to Singapore, I'd visit there first to check it was the right place for me!

Simply_Me

i'm not originally from this country but i noticed that as well that some of them are like that, but generally they aren't. it's just a matter that this days there too many people coming in UK and with regards of the situition this days,so i understand that otheres have this little feelings of you know...but i can't blame them why. so being a visitor to their country just be patient, and enjoy your holiday. anyway they are not going to stop you enjoying your holiday...have a nice day!

Bunny Laverne

I don't think one guy not opening a gate for you can be construed as racist!!
People can be friendly- but are you friendly 24/7? probably not, so you can't expect others to be all the time.
I, for instance, will always help anyone who asks for directions, but I get irritated when people are stood in the middle of busy pavements or push onto tube trains when people are trying to get off.
I understand you may be feeling a little disappointed with the country, but are you not being a little hasty by assuming that the whole of the UK is disappointing on one guy not opening a gate???? Surely that in itself could be considered to erring on the side of racism in itself?

Kat

I am sorry you have had some bad experiences but this happens everywhere. The guy you talk about does sound particularly ignorant - he's probably like that with everyone, you just had the misfortune to meet him! London is not a very friendly place anyway - I am not friendly to people I don't know because I am a naturally un-trusting person, but not all people are bad.

El Cid

As you can see, there are many in the UK who are xenophobic and do not take kindly to criticisms from foreigners. But before you judge us too hastily, the UK is probably not worse than other European countries. In fact you may find that we are slightly better, although recent events may have caused some to be more hostile than usual.
Without knowing the circumstances of your encounter, such as how you asked the 'guy', what he was doing when asked, etc., it is difficult to condemn him or you. Don't forget we tend to use 'please' a lot. There are some very, very helpful people living here and I hope you will meet some of them. They will go out of their way to help you, much more so, even than in Sg. One's impression will inevitably be coloured by one's personal encounter and unless you meet some friendly Brits, you will go back thinking that we are all like that guy. That would be unfortunate. What you say about the east is unfortunately not always true either. I have been there and have met with some very rude people in Beijing, Bangkok, Malaysia, Sg, etc. But I would be wrong to tar the rest with the same brush. As they, 'You meet all sorts', and one has sometimes to take it on the chin and move on. Tidak apa, lah!

xhuxu

I lived in Wales for 4 years so I know how you feel. This type of attitude is everywhere. However, there are also some very nice people living in the UK. I have travelled all over the UK, Manchester, Bristol, Bath, Liverpool, Blackpool, Coventry, London (every 2nd or 3rd Weekend),Yorkshire, Oxford...you name it I made it my point to travel the country and the one thing I have noticed is that there are good and bad apples no matter where you go. So please do not let your bad experiences determine how your life will be there otherwise you will end up being very bitter about the whole time there and unable to appreciate the friends that you will make and the interesting things you will see and the fantastic places that you will go. I almost fell into this rut and had to get myself out of it like in my third year...it can be damaging. Take life as it comes and enjoy your stay. By the way, I find one thing about people in the UK, they are more independent...their idea is do your own thing...just get on with it....this is their culture...so when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Good Luck and enjoy your stay :-)

Ken B

This from a singaporean - you got to be joking.

Rob E

1 incident between October 06 and Feb 07 isn't that bad, is it? Maybe he just got fired, is struggling with life, we'll never know. Start looking for the good things around London, its culture, racial mix, architecture, museums, other people, whatever you like here.

And spend more time with locals - remember, like most huge cities, it has a transient population that often doesn't provide the best mix for an introduction to its people at their best.

Go visit some lesser known UK cities, Salisbury, Lichfield, Wakefield or small rural villages and towns. They and their people are nothing like they are in London.

driverfus

we are not all bad

Stammerman!

If that person was an employee at Liverpool Street station then he was a bad worker and you should have complained. Most companies want their staff to give good service and they can only know about faults like this if they are reported.

That said the problem with London (especially if you come from an over regulated place like Singapore) is that people from all over the world come here to work and live here that it not as easy to control as a smaller city.

Network Rail operates Liverpool Street Station: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_Rail

ginnikins

I'm FROM the UK and I got so fed up with high costs and "living to work" rather than "working to live" that I now live abroad. Currently in Central America and loving it.
However, that said, Britain will always be my home. Don't worry about grumpy responses (they only add weight to your point, incidentally!) - it's like your own family. You can say what you like about them, but you don't like it if someone else criticises them! I think that sometimes people can forget what it's like being a stranger in a strange land, so try not to let rude and miserable officials ruin your stay. Talk to the people on the street and you'll often find them friendly and welcoming.
I hope that you do find many positives during the rest of your stay...

adam s

what happened to you wasnt that bad, look at this poor guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-Izfjhrtr0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hghxol-e_B8

sylvie c

Hey I am British born and bred and I sorry that this country is so full of manner less shits now.....but they may not have originated from the UK in the first place London is a large melting pot of Cultures from all over the world
Try the outskirt towns and villages ...... you may be surprised

bert

If you don't like the people or the country,get back from whence you came,and bloody good riddance!

Feinschmecker

It's the same the world over: you get, to a very large extent, what you give.

Let's run this again.

1. You come to the UK dragging two big suitcases. That is not wise -- why take so much? Unless you're rich enough to employ servants, the rule worldwide is do not take more luggage than you can comfortably carry leaving one hand free at all times.

2. You come to London, a capital city bustling with busy people from all over the world and you expect people to stop and help you on demand. You're not going to find that in many capital cities. In fact the only big city where I'm aware of that happening routinely is Glasgow, in Scotland -- and that's not a capital city. I've been in Singapore and found it characterised by a singular lack of people available to give help. Far fewer people available at the airport, for example, to handle enquiries than you would find in the UK ( but a very much nicer airport than any in the UK! ).

3. You've generalised about the UK from your experience in London. There are four COUNTRIES in the UK, all of them very different from each other.

Dump your suitcases in left luggage somewhere. Get out and about with a small backpack. Talk to ordinary people without demanding anythng of them. Doesn't matter what country you're in, you'll find a lot of nice people and a few nasty people.

Carl N

Go home and stop whining

Petra

I't's not the tourists who get in peoples way it's the so called big shot buisness men who barge around train and tube stations knocking everyone around,The Big cities are just filled with money obbsessed w****** You need to go somewhere smaller for a more friendly English welcome. Don't judge all British by your bad experiences the majority of us are nice!

debra

shutup

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