Why Is Ireland So Small-Minded?

I_AmThe_Walrus

I reside, only temporarily, in Dublin, Ireland. This village is home of the gossip about others, what's happening about others and just pain boring, who died, who moved and generally local crap!

These small-town people are small-minded, arrogant about the nothingness is their lives, unfriendly, unworldly, unsophisticated and judgmental! These are folks who do nothing but frequent local drinking holes, watch Coronation Street; have the same jobs for 40 years and have only family as those in which they can rely. A nation of Heat magazine, having anything else is threatening while being treated with a dose of hostility and the tote 'caveman' mentality over certain important
situations (let's say politics) is conclusively, as far as their ignorance goes, irrelevant to their daily lives.

Absolutely NO intellectual conversation regarding politics, education or anything remotely global. Judgmental at BEST! And, they don't mind handing over a heavy dose of it if they think you don't measure up to THEIR standards! Help! I am drowning in a sea of stupidity. No one hears my screams of help or assistance and that too is as disheartening as the insincere and disingenuous inhabitants of this lowly place in the back-arse of Europe.

Small towns, within reason, can be safe havens from the predatory vultures from within larger and more competitive cities. However, some small towns breed contempt and self-serving 'big-fish'... 'little-fish' attitudes that foster self-fulfilling prophecies that maintain small minds and minimal acceptance of others.

These people are self-centered, self-interested, self-absorbed and their only interests lay in having someone else caring about them and THEIR concerns.... which are circuitous...and revolve again... around themselves!

On one side, you have, excuse my French, "le scumbag", and on the other, a bunch of pre-Madonna wannabee L.A trash full of stigma's, self-righteousness and that God aweful "holier than thou" attitude. And this is Dublin, I dread to see the rest of the country. Where are we headed?

I prefer the older Irish generation. The Celtic Tiger one, is lost in a sea of mediocrity.

cherryghost

Which is why you resort to boards.ie to find that those topics are constantly debated, and yet in your mind you think we don't do anything like that.

bleg

small heads

mehmeh12

OP what are you on about?

caseyann

Em its always been like that! Have you been in cryogenics for centuries,or locked up in own little world.Its called people and its every where,every country every nation in world.
Be thankful Irish still give a damn on the most for others even with their simple bickering.

barakus

soooo..where ya from yerself OP?

TheZohanS

You kinda sound like a fish out of water...


Have you tried the Artic?

Pace2008

"Romantic Ireland's dead and gone, it's with O'Leary in the grave."

People have been spouting this ****e about the decline of society since time immemorial.

plein de force

i bet you're the life and soul of the party OP

Boxoffrogs

I think that you must reside in an alternative Universe. Either that or you're just being a cheeky monkey!

Pace2008

Oh, and what exaclty is this much-vaunted "older Irish generation?" The bunch of curtain-twitching meddlers that turned a blind eye as their kids were beaten and buggered?

caseyann

Pace2008 wrote: »

Oh, and what exaclty is this much-vaunted "older Irish generation?" The bunch of curtain-twitching meddlers that turned a blind eye as their kids were beaten and buggered?

Generalise much pace:rolleyes:

I_AmThe_Walrus

barakus wrote: »

soooo..where ya from yerself OP?

I'm Irish through and through. I am proud to be from this land, but I am not proud of the inhabitants mentality, the politics, the 'begrudging attitude' and the hostility to foreigners regarding that imbecile "get them out of here" line when it is in fact, those very people moving the economy along.

The older generation were brave, courageous and friendly. it seems certain they took that most friendliest people label with them on the boats to the USA. Perhaps, one could argue, that the diaspora are the REAL Irish and not us.

If an invading force somehow took a liking to this land, I wonder how this generation would act?

Pace2008

caseyann wrote: »

Generalise much pace:rolleyes:

I think that would have been better aimed at the OP, who seems to have profiled the populace of an entire city as either shallow, faux-cosmopolitan airheads or feral scumbags.

caseyann

Pace2008 wrote: »

I think that would have been better aimed at the OP, who seems to have profiled the populace of an entire city as either shallow, faux-cosmopolitan airheads or feral scumbags.

You just said the older generation turned a blind eye to their kids been buggered.
I already said as much to the op also.

caseyann

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

I'm Irish through and through. I am proud to be from this land, but I am not proud of the inhabitants mentality, the politics, the 'begrudging attitude' and the hostility to foreigners regarding that imbecile "get them out of here" line when it is in fact, those very people moving the economy along.

The older generation were brave, courageous and friendly. it seems certain they took that most friendliest people label with them on the boats to the USA. Perhaps, one could argue, that the diaspora are the REAL Irish and not us.

If an invading force somehow took a liking to this land, I wonder how this generation would act?

Can i mention something humans have their faults for every generation and society they must live in.Think about it;)

up for anything

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

Judgmental at BEST!

You are.

Pompous at WORST!

Pace2008

caseyann wrote: »

You just said the older generation turned a blind eye to their kids been buggered.
I already said as much to the op also.

I was being hyperbolic in the same fashion as the OP to highlight to absurdity of gross generalisation.

Some people tend to look at the past through rose-tinted glasses but the reality is that every generation has its own unique problems, and faraway hills may not appear so green upon closer inspection.

EDIT: I see you're saying the same thing.

caseyann

Pace2008 wrote: »

I was being hyperbolic in the same fashion as the OP to highlight to absurdity of gross generalisation.

Some people tend to look at the past through rose-tinted glasses but the reality is that every generation has its own unique problems, and faraway hills may not appear so green upon closer inspection.

Ah i see sorry for misunderstanding I wrote same thing lol

lol just saw your edit hahaha

Saermegil

Being from and having lived elsewhere in Europe, I have to say that the Irish, as a rule, are not as modern or sophisticated as some other people - but unfriendly or unwelcoming? Far from it! I really do like them despite their little faults ( and who doesn't have those? )

nmblade

We certainly have problems as a society but to say all Irish people are small-minded is just generalising. But I agree with some of your points and yes we do have problems that are not going to solve themselves overnight.

The solution? Just get on with your life. I've often thought about this and formed the impression that the better informed and enlightened among us just keep tight-lipped and pursue the life they want to lead.

I_AmThe_Walrus

It's harder to "get on" here too. Just look at the inflation over the last couple of years. Why are we paying double the price for cigarettes here than anywhere else? Why are we paying over 100% on food compared to other E.U countries? We don't have a rich culinary history like Italy, so wake up. Why are we exporting our best produce? Why are we living on **** and while being quite contempt with it, paying through the nose?

Why is rent through the roof here? It's not London, Paris or NY so don't treat it as such. What has Dublin to offer to warrant such a steep price in living? Quality of life greater than this IS ELSEWHERE, people.

Trekker09

Ciggies can never be too expensive OP

What drives me mad about Ireland is also what I love about it, but at different times. It can be very parochial and clannish, and I do think that we have an exagerated sense of being the life and soul of the European party. Don't forget OP, you canalways try and do something in and about your community, no matter how large or small.

Terry

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

I reside, only temporarily, in Dublin, Ireland. This village is home of the gossip about others, what's happening about others and just pain boring, who died, who moved and generally local crap!

These small-town people are small-minded, arrogant about the nothingness is their lives, unfriendly, unworldly, unsophisticated and judgmental! These are folks who do nothing but frequent local drinking holes, watch Coronation Street; have the same jobs for 40 years and have only family as those in which they can rely. A nation of Heat magazine, having anything else is threatening while being treated with a dose of hostility and the tote 'caveman' mentality over certain important
situations (let's say politics) is conclusively, as far as their ignorance goes, irrelevant to their daily lives.

Absolutely NO intellectual conversation regarding politics, education or anything remotely global. Judgmental at BEST! And, they don't mind handing over a heavy dose of it if they think you don't measure up to THEIR standards! Help! I am drowning in a sea of stupidity. No one hears my screams of help or assistance and that too is as disheartening as the insincere and disingenuous inhabitants of this lowly place in the back-arse of Europe.

Small towns, within reason, can be safe havens from the predatory vultures from within larger and more competitive cities. However, some small towns breed contempt and self-serving 'big-fish'... 'little-fish' attitudes that foster self-fulfilling prophecies that maintain small minds and minimal acceptance of others.

These people are self-centered, self-interested, self-absorbed and their only interests lay in having someone else caring about them and THEIR concerns.... which are circuitous...and revolve again... around themselves!

On one side, you have, excuse my French, "le scumbag", and on the other, a bunch of pre-Madonna wannabee L.A trash full of stigma's, self-righteousness and that God aweful "holier than thou" attitude. And this is Dublin, I dread to see the rest of the country. Where are we headed?

I prefer the older Irish generation. The Celtic Tiger one, is lost in a sea of mediocrity.

Before Madonna?
I could go on, but pointing out one mistake in a post about sophistication and intelligence is quite enough.

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

It's harder to "get on" here too. Just look at the inflation over the last couple of years. Why are we paying double the price for cigarettes here than anywhere else? Why are we paying over 100% on food compared to other E.U countries? We don't have a rich culinary history like Italy, so wake up. Why are we exporting our best produce? Why are we living on **** and while being quite contempt with it, paying through the nose?

Why is rent through the roof here? It's not London, Paris or NY so don't treat it as such. What has Dublin to offer to warrant such a steep price in living? Quality of life greater than this IS ELSEWHERE, people.

Click here or here.


Oh yeah. I forgot the post colonial mentality bit.
Irish people are, as a rule, bitter towards those with more stuff than them. It stems from landlords and traitors having money while the rest of the country was piss poor.
While we have no experienced this ourselves, the mentality has been passed down through the generations. Except to me. I'm awesome.

I_AmThe_Walrus

nmblade wrote: »

I've often thought about this and formed the impression that the better informed and enlightened among us just keep tight-lipped and pursue the life they want to lead.

Deep post.

Trekker09 wrote: »

It can be very parochial and clannish

Let's talk about backwardness. Just look at the Blasphemy Law...ridiculously insane at best.

IvySlayer

Oh, another thread bitching about Ireland.

STFU and leave the country if you don't like it. Ranting behind your keyboard solves nothing.

Trekker09

IvySlayer wrote: »

Oh, another thread bitching about Ireland.

STFU and leave the country if you don't like it. Ranting behind your keyboard solves nothing.

Err, what's the point in having forums them?

BTW great contribution starting a response with STFU :eek:

Carlos_Ray

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

I reside, only temporarily, in Dublin, Ireland.
.

Thanks for clearing that up. So often people come on Boards.ie talking about Dublin in Gerogia USA.

I_AmThe_Walrus

IvySlayer wrote: »

Oh, another thread bitching about Ireland.

STFU and leave the country if you don't like it. Ranting behind your keyboard solves nothing.

That response doesn't warrant a response for the ignorance of it. A proper reply would be to ask the people why they feel said way.

Carlos_Ray wrote: »

Thanks for clearing that up. So often people come on Boards.ie talking about Dublin in Gerogia USA.

Yes, it's needed.

In fact, someone already asked where I was from. Scroll up.

IvySlayer

Trekker09 wrote: »

Err, what's the point in having forums them?

BTW great contribution starting a response with STFU :eek:

It's not called www.bitchaboutIrelanddespitethatitisagreatcountry.ie

talkingclock

Why?
Limited Gen Pool. Everybody is everyones cousin...

Carlos_Ray

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

That response doesn't warrant a response for the ignorance of it. A proper reply would be to ask the people why they feel said way.



Yes, it's needed.

In fact, someone already asked where I was from. Scroll up.

So? I'm from Paris, FRANCE. I don't go on about it. Neither do I go on about my holidays in Rome, ITALY, or London , ENGLAND. Maybe because I assume that people on boards are comfortable with primary school geography.

I_AmThe_Walrus

IvySlayer wrote: »

It's not called www.bitchaboutIrelanddespitethatitisagreatcountry.ie

Why do you say that? Upon what time, did you reach a factual conclusion where you discovered that Ireland was a great country? Are you a seasoned economist? Politically savvy? Expert on Irish psychoanalyst research?

In what sense?

Terry

talkingclock wrote: »

Why?
Limited Gen Pool. Everybody is everyones cousin...

Do you have any hot female cousins?
If so, my number is available via PM.

Terry

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

Why do you say that? Upon what time, did you reach a factual conclusion where you discovered that Ireland was a great country? Are you a seasoned economist? Politically savvy? Expert on Irish psychoanalyst research?

In what sense?

In what sense?
It's not ****ing Somalia.

IvySlayer

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

Why do you say that? Upon what time, did you reach a factual conclusion where you discovered that Ireland was a great country? Are you a seasoned economist? Politically savvy? Expert on Irish psychoanalyst research?

In what sense?

:pac:

Now I know you're only here to wind us up! Hard luck!

The Waltzing Consumer

Fake rant, I like it.

nmblade

One thing that bugs me about Ireland is this embracing of mediocrity and a built in inferiority complex I've experienced on more than one occasion.

How the hell are we ever going to move forwards as a country and become competitive with the world in all aspects? We need to diverge away from such inwardness, open our eyes to the wider world and address how we can get ourselves out of this current mess. This should ensure that the next time we enter a recession it wont be so severe.

I_AmThe_Walrus

Terry wrote: »

In what sense?
It's not ****ing Somalia.

IvySlayer wrote: »

:pac:

Now I know you're only here to wind us up! Hard luck!

Somalia is the way it is because of corruption. Granted, ours is not as bad, but it exists. I'm not here to act stupid or troll. I am very much interested in learning what his/her views are on why they think we're a great country. It's a worthwhile debate.

I mean, don't we receive a large percentage of our total income from the E.U? Would we be self-sustainable with an equal infrastructure without it?

The Waltzing Consumer

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

Somalia is the way it is because of corruption. Granted, ours is not as bad, but it exists. I'm not here to act stupid or troll. I am very much interested in learning what his/her views are on why they think we're a great country. It's a worthwhile debate.

I mean, don't we receive a large percentage of our total income from the E.U? Would we be self-sustainable with an equal infrastructure without it?

One minute you are moaning about Irish conversations, then cigarette prices, then rent, now it's a debate on why we think we are a great country, now its sustainability and EU membership.

:rolleyes: trolling and stupid

twinQuins

IvySlayer wrote: »

Oh, another thread bitching about Ireland.

Oh, another thread shitter.

STFU and leave the country if you don't like it.

Why don't you make your own thread about how much you love Ireland, then?

Donkey Oaty

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

I mean, don't we receive a large percentage of our total income from the E.U?

No. Ireland is a net contributor by many calculations.

cypharius

Hey, I'm happy here. I've been to many, many countries, and it's all pretty much the same everywhere that's rich.

Don't like it, move to somalia. Visas won't be hard to get.

mikom

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

I reside, only temporarily, in Dublin, Ireland. This village is home of the gossip about others, what's happening about others and just pain boring, who died, who moved and generally local crap!

These small-town people are small-minded, arrogant about the nothingness is their lives, unfriendly, unworldly, unsophisticated and judgmental! These are folks who do nothing but frequent local drinking holes, have the same jobs for 40 years and have only family as those in which they can rely.

Absolutely NO intellectual conversation regarding politics, education or anything remotely global. Judgmental at BEST! And, they don't mind handing over a heavy dose of it if they think you don't measure up to THEIR standards! Help! I am drowning in a sea of stupidity. No one hears my screams of help or assistance and that too is as disheartening as the insincere and disingenuous inhabitants of this lowly place.

Small towns, within reason, can be safe havens from the predatory vultures from within larger and more competitive cities. However, some small towns breed contempt and self-serving 'big-fish'... 'little-fish' attitudes that foster self-fulfilling prophecies that maintain small minds and minimal acceptance of others.

These people are self-centered, self-interested, self-absorbed and their only interests lay in having someone else caring about them and THEIR concerns.... which are circuitous...and revolve again... around themselves!

And this is Dublin, I dread to see the rest of the country. Where are we headed?

Signed Oliver Cromwell.

"Catch my next stop in Drogheda".

epgc3fyqirnbsx

Cheer up OP, it's not a bad life

Jumpy

IvySlayer wrote: »

Oh, another thread bitching about Ireland.

STFU and leave the country if you don't like it. Ranting behind your keyboard solves nothing.

I should have this saved in notepad somewhere. That way I can drag it out whenever I see the "If you dont like it, leave" comments.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=64752477&postcount=14

Unfortunately people are following your advice. The brain drain will pretty much take all the talent out of your country in very short order.

HavingCrack

OP with the exception of the metropoli (think thats the correct plural:D) of the world you'll find most places quite local and parochial and Ireland is no more so than any other. Visit cities like Palermo, Bologna, Santander, Porto, Stuttgart, Eindhoven, San Diego, Durban, Darwin etc etc etc and you'll fidn the exact same sort of mannerisms that you describe. Its only in the London, New Yorks and Sao Paolos of this world you'll find big international scenes and even within those cities a very small segment of them. Visit somewhere like West Brompton in London and see how much more 'exciting' it is.....

Terry

Jumpy wrote: »

I should have this saved in notepad somewhere. That way I can drag it out whenever I see the "If you dont like it, leave" comments.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=64752477&postcount=14

Unfortunately people are following your advice. The brain drain will pretty much take all the talent out of your country in very short order.

Huh?

Jumpy

HavingCrack wrote: »

OP with the exception of the metropoli (think thats the correct plural:D) of the world you'll find most places quite local and parochial and Ireland is no more so than any other. Visit cities like Palermo, Bologna, Santander, Porto, Stuttgart, Eindhoven, San Diego, Durban, Darwin etc etc etc and you'll fidn the exact same sort of mannerisms that you describe. Its only in the London, New Yorks and Sao Paolos of this world you'll find big international scenes and even within those cities a very small segment of them. Visit somewhere like West Brompton in London and see how much more 'exciting' it is.....

Please cross Darwin off that list, its a ****hole, but please dont compare it to rural Ireland.

steddyeddy

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

I reside, only temporarily, in Dublin, Ireland. This village is home of the gossip about others, what's happening about others and just pain boring, who died, who moved and generally local crap!

These small-town people are small-minded, arrogant about the nothingness is their lives, unfriendly, unworldly, unsophisticated and judgmental! These are folks who do nothing but frequent local drinking holes, watch Coronation Street; have the same jobs for 40 years and have only family as those in which they can rely. A nation of Heat magazine, having anything else is threatening while being treated with a dose of hostility and the tote 'caveman' mentality over certain important
situations (let's say politics) is conclusively, as far as their ignorance goes, irrelevant to their daily lives.

Absolutely NO intellectual conversation regarding politics, education or anything remotely global. Judgmental at BEST! And, they don't mind handing over a heavy dose of it if they think you don't measure up to THEIR standards! Help! I am drowning in a sea of stupidity. No one hears my screams of help or assistance and that too is as disheartening as the insincere and disingenuous inhabitants of this lowly place in the back-arse of Europe.

Small towns, within reason, can be safe havens from the predatory vultures from within larger and more competitive cities. However, some small towns breed contempt and self-serving 'big-fish'... 'little-fish' attitudes that foster self-fulfilling prophecies that maintain small minds and minimal acceptance of others.

These people are self-centered, self-interested, self-absorbed and their only interests lay in having someone else caring about them and THEIR concerns.... which are circuitous...and revolve again... around themselves!

On one side, you have, excuse my French, "le scumbag", and on the other, a bunch of pre-Madonna wannabee L.A trash full of stigma's, self-righteousness and that God aweful "holier than thou" attitude. And this is Dublin, I dread to see the rest of the country. Where are we headed?

I prefer the older Irish generation. The Celtic Tiger one, is lost in a sea of mediocrity.

dublin the village?????

strobe

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

I reside, only temporarily, in Dublin, Ireland. This village is home of the gossip about others, what's happening about others and just pain boring, who died, who moved and generally local crap!

These small-town people are small-minded, arrogant about the nothingness is their lives, unfriendly, unworldly, unsophisticated and judgmental! These are folks who do nothing but frequent local drinking holes, watch Coronation Street; have the same jobs for 40 years and have only family as those in which they can rely. A nation of Heat magazine, having anything else is threatening while being treated with a dose of hostility and the tote 'caveman' mentality over certain important
situations (let's say politics) is conclusively, as far as their ignorance goes, irrelevant to their daily lives.

Absolutely NO intellectual conversation regarding politics, education or anything remotely global. Judgmental at BEST! And, they don't mind handing over a heavy dose of it if they think you don't measure up to THEIR standards! Help! I am drowning in a sea of stupidity. No one hears my screams of help or assistance and that too is as disheartening as the insincere and disingenuous inhabitants of this lowly place in the back-arse of Europe.

Small towns, within reason, can be safe havens from the predatory vultures from within larger and more competitive cities. However, some small towns breed contempt and self-serving 'big-fish'... 'little-fish' attitudes that foster self-fulfilling prophecies that maintain small minds and minimal acceptance of others.

These people are self-centered, self-interested, self-absorbed and their only interests lay in having someone else caring about them and THEIR concerns.... which are circuitous...and revolve again... around themselves!

On one side, you have, excuse my French, "le scumbag", and on the other, a bunch of pre-Madonna wannabee L.A trash full of stigma's, self-righteousness and that God aweful "holier than thou" attitude. And this is Dublin, I dread to see the rest of the country. Where are we headed?

I prefer the older Irish generation. The Celtic Tiger one, is lost in a sea of mediocrity.

Strange how most of my friends, work collegues and neighbours are pretty much the exact opposite to what you describe above. Maybe if you find that most of the people you know are assholes it has far more to do with the type of person you are yourself and therefore attract. I often find that certain types of people tend to be drawn to each other. Something to think about.