What's with Boards and Ireland-bashing?

TheIrishGrover

Y'know what annoys me? It's these types of threads: Why is Ireland so homophobic, why is Ireland so small-minded, why is Ireland a nation of begrudgers, etc etc etc. It always goes: I've been to XYZ on holidays and Ireland seems so small minded in comparrison. Or: I saw these scumbags harassing someone another country, why are all Irish people so racist?

Ireland has racists? Of course it does. Tell me France, or England, or the US doesn't have race prolems. Try being Irish in England in the 80s and 90s.
Ireland has homophobes? Of course it does. Tell me the US and half of eastern Europe doesn't have a problem with homosexuals. Try holding a Gay Pride parade in Eastern Europe.
Ireland has problems with corruption? Hmm, I wonder are there any other countries in Europe with corruption issues.
Everybody goes on about how the US applauds people who do well. Bull. I have friends who are just as envious of lotto winners and sports stars and actors as the next guy.... and, shock, horror, they are American.

Every country has the same problems because people are people the world over. You are going to get your racists, your homophobes, your bitter begrudgers, your corrupt in every country in the world. It's time we stopped thinking we are the small, bitter, racists homophobes that the rest of the world seems not to be. Because it's not true

Hogzy

tl:dr

kfallon

Ireland is great, I love our little country

NothingMan

Racist.

Abrasax

Eh?

Eastern Europeans don't have problems with homosexuals, OP.

mathie

You know what really grinds my gears...

Sea Sharp

That's ironically a very begrudging OP.

Biggins

mathie wrote: »

You know what really grinds my gears...

Castrol GTX ?

Riamfada

Yes but Ireland is collectively shit. Yes we have racists but so does everyone else but when its coupled with general organised shitness that seeps through everyday life people become more pessiminstic about the little things.

Sinfonia

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

Ireland has racists? Of course it does.
Ireland has homophobes? Of course it does.
Ireland has problems with corruption? Hmm, I wonder are there any other countries in Europe with corruption issues.

So what you're saying is that Ireland deserves to be bashed as much as any other country. Fair enough, the people creating the threads you dislike are doing their part.

Hasmunch

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

It's time we stopped thinking we are the small, bitter, racists homophobes that the rest of the world seems not to be. Because it's not true

Irish people complain to irish people about Irish small, bitter, racists homophobes.

American people complain to American people about American small, bitter, racists homophobes.

British people complain to British people about Britishsmall, bitter, racists homophobes.
etc....

You are always going to get first hand accounts from the country you are living in. Plus people like to complain a lot

dlofnep

Ireland is lovely.

AnonoBoy

I loves Ireland me.

I just hates some of the people there within.

upmeath

Can't we all just get along?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnOyMSEWNTs

mike65

What the OP expecting for fupps sake? Good news is no news. After Hours would die pretty quickly if there were no threads trashing the country as based on everyday experiences.

Oh there's a thought...

orourkeda

Grimes wrote: »

Yes but Ireland is collectively shit. Yes we have racists but so does everyone else but when its coupled with general organised shitness that seeps through everyday life people become more pessiminstic about the little things.

Why dont you leave then?

Yakult

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

why is Ireland so small-minded,

You know, Boards doesnt really speak for the rest of Ireland like you're pretty much saying (maybe you just mean the community on here, but you refere to us as a nation so I assume you mean everyone).
Most people I know love this country and so do I but like every other country it has its faults.

losthorizon

Hasmunch wrote: »

You are always going to get first hand accounts from the country you are living in. Plus people like to complain a lot

No, they don't. They love to argue.

jester77

Sure if we didn't complain about ourselves we'd be xenophobic... oh wait

Dermo

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

Tell me France, or England, or the US doesn't have race prolems.

France, or England, or the US doesn't have race prolems

mikemac

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

Y'know what annoys me? It's these types of threads: Why is Ireland so homophobic, why is Ireland so small-minded,

Boards is in no way representative of Ireland, and that's probably a good thing.

So don't get angry over threads you read here.

Brendog

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

Y'know what annoys me?

Y'Know what really grinds my gears?

saywhatyousee

i agree op.
i think sometimes people go out of there way to make ireland look bad

Terry

Pay no mind. They're usually started by first year college students, who are basically know-nothing know-it-alls.

TheIrishGrover

feelingstressed wrote: »

Boards is in no way representative of Ireland, and that's probably a good thing.

So don't get angry over threads you read here.

Ah no, not angry. I just saw yet another thread and thought to myself: Ah, here we go, another one. My post sounded harsher than it was meant to. It wasn't meant to be harsh at all. All I was trying to say was that Ireland has it's problems the exact same as every other country out there and we should try to remember that. That's all.

enniscorthy

TIOCFAIDH ÁR LÁ

mike65

Boards day is already here.

Morlar

Terry wrote: »

Pay no mind. They're usually started by first year college students, who are basically know-nothing know-it-alls.

I was just going to say I blame all those smarmy sociology students.

I have lived /worked /travelled in other countries and Ireland (despite it's problems) is not so bad as some people seem to think.

changes

I think ireland is a kipp and a badly run one at that.

I don't understand this idea that you have to love and be proud of ireland just because you happen to be born here.

I remember falling out with someone one night because i didn't like gaelic football and another time for saying i didn't support the IRA... so i wasn't really an irishman in their eyes.

Its people that matter not this rain soaked sod we all live on.

Kasabian

I think you'll find a lot of the begrudgers in this country have not experienced life outside these shores.

*Travel broadens the mind, sweeps away stereotypes and can make you appreciate what you have at home.


Travel is not 2 weeks in a drunken haze in some sunshine escape hole.

southsiderosie

I think it's normal to compare your country to other countries and think "why can't we have that"? But I think there are a lot of people who romanticize what goes on in other countries. At the end of the day, people in Ireland are pretty well off compared to people in most other parts of the world (and certainly compared to earlier generations in Ireland), you live in a democracy, you have an unbelievably rich literary history, and are generally seen as some of the friendliest people in the Western World (if prone to drinking too much). If not for the ****e food and weather, Ireland would be about as good as one could hope to get these days.

tl; dr: chill out, you're grand.

wandatowell

ya Ireland is crap and so is the rest of the world.

Thank god for boards though.

The post kinda reminds me of the Bill Hicks joke about the political party idea he had "The People Who Hate People Party"

I_AmThe_Walrus

enniscorthy wrote: »

TIOCFAIDH ÁR LÁ

You know what rattles my can...

Tracksuit wearing teenagers shouting above phrase like it means something to them. I'm all for a United Ireland but only if it can be achieved through peace and love and void of religion and politics.

Celly Smunt

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

You know what rattles my can...

Tracksuit wearing teenagers shouting above phrase like it means something to them. I'm all for a United Ireland but only if it can be achieved through peace and love and void of religion and politics.

ya know what rattles my cage? people who think all republicans are tracksuit wearing scumbags and also people who call tracksuit wearers scumbags who don't even know the person,get off the high pony.

Diabhal Beag

We are a nation of begrudgers. That answers the question.

I_AmThe_Walrus

pmcmahon wrote: »

ya know what rattles my cage? people who think all republicans are tracksuit wearing scumbags and also people who call tracksuit wearers scumbags who don't even know the person,get off the high pony.

You know what really jerks my flute?
Members on boards.ie called pmcmahon defending tracksuit wearing scumbags and also people who call tracksuit wearers scumbags who don't even know the person, get off the high pony.

Celly Smunt

I_AmThe_Walrus wrote: »

You know what really jerks my flute?
Members on boards.ie called pmcmahon defending tracksuit wearing scumbags and also people who call tracksuit wearers scumbags who don't even know the person, get off the high pony.

worst.comeback.ever.

I_AmThe_Walrus

pmcmahon wrote: »

worst.comeback.ever.

game you lost.

Donkey Oaty

Lads, lads....we've all had a drink....what was the question again?

parker kent

Abrasax wrote: »

Eh?

Eastern Europeans don't have problems with homosexuals, OP.

I think there is a pretty well known dislike of homosexuals in plenty of areas in Eastern Europe. It is getting better but they are not exactly the most gay-friendly of regions. A quick google search or a chat with people from Eastern Europe will confirm that.

The OP does have bad timing though, the first ever gay pride march in Eastern Europe happened the other day in Warsaw. It does confirm some of what the OP says though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10670489

Several thousand people have attended a European-wide gay rights parade in the Polish capital Warsaw.

It was the first time the annual EuroPride march was being held in Central or Eastern Europe.

Several small counter-demonstrations were also held and some people hurled eggs and abuse at those in the parade.

A BBC correspondent says gay people in staunchly Roman Catholic Poland find it hard to be open about their sexuality.

Church leaders and politicians regularly speak out against homosexuality, Adam Easton reports from Warsaw.

EuroPride's organisers say they want to fight discrimination against homosexuality and promote a debate about legalising same-sex relationships in Poland.

Vuvuzelas and drums
The colourful parade began to the sound of pounding drums and vuvuzelas, our correspondent says.

Floats covered in rainbow flags and balloons carried politicians from Poland and across Europe.

One person was dressed in a devil mask and horns - a cheeky reference, perhaps, to the controversy this year's EuroPride has caused in Poland, our correspondent says.

"We feel like they are 20 years behind the Netherlands," said Ad Bakker, a 39-year-old from Holland who travelled to Warsaw to show solidarity with Polish friends.

"But the atmosphere is good and we hope that EuroPride will help," he told the Associated Press news agency.

A Polish friend of his, Sebastian Blaszczyk, 36, said the situation was improving every year but Poland still had far to go in accepting gay people.

While EuroPride's organisers had hoped a minimum of 20,000 people from across Europe would join the event, police estimates put the figure at several thousand.

By comparison, more than a million people attended a gay pride march in Madrid three years ago, our correspondent adds.

Warsaw's authorities were given a petition with more than 50,000 signatures from anti-gay groups demanding the cancellation of the event.

British solidarity
In a recent survey, almost two-thirds of respondents said homosexual couples should not be open about their sexuality.

It is extremely rare to see gay couples holding hands even in Warsaw, Poland's most cosmopolitan city, our correspondent says.

Those who do face verbal or physical violence, such as Ryszard Giersz, 25, from a small town near the German border.

He won a small amount of damages in court last year after neighbours repeatedly verbally abused him and threw tomatoes and stones at him.

The UK's ruling Conservative Party sent its most senior openly gay member to the event.

Nick Herbert told the BBC his presence at the parade illustrated Britain's support for human rights.

"Equality, respect for human rights, is fundamental for the ethos of the European Union and I think it's entirely appropriate and right that the British Government should be represented here by me and the ambassador in saying that we stand full square behind these values," he said.

Mr Herbert said his party and its coalition partner the Liberal Democrats had a "really ambitious programme of reform and entrenching equality for LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] people"

Abrasax

parker kent wrote: »

I think there is a pretty well known dislike of homosexuals in plenty of areas in Eastern Europe. It is getting better but they are not exactly the most gay-friendly of regions. A quick google search or a chat with people from Eastern Europe will confirm that.

The OP does have bad timing though, the first ever gay pride march in Eastern Europe happened the other day in Warsaw. It does confirm some of what the OP says though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10670489

I know all that.

I was just complying with the OP's request.

parker kent

Abrasax wrote: »

I know all that.

I was just complying with the OP's request.

Ahhhh that makes sense...earth to parker kent, come in parker

I'll sit in the shame corner for a while

Pauleta

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

Ireland has racists? Of course it does. Tell me France, or England, or the US doesn't have race prolems. Try being Irish in England in the 80s and 90s.

Just because other countries are worse doesnt mean we shouldnt do everything in our power to stop it going on here.

Ireland has homophobes? Of course it does. Tell me the US and half of eastern Europe doesn't have a problem with homosexuals. Try holding a Gay Pride parade in Eastern Europe.

Same as above

Ireland has problems with corruption? Hmm, I wonder are there any other countries in Europe with corruption issues.

Again the same

yoshytoshy

Irelands so great ,we pay sheisters to sh1t on it daily.

These paticular sheisters happen to sh1t at the dail.

Mayo Exile

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

Lads, lads....we've all had a drink....what was the question again?

More drink.............

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

enniscorthy wrote: »

TIOCFAIDH ÁR LÁ

It's been and gone, my friend. We ****ed it up.

Kasabian wrote: »

I think you'll find a lot of the begrudgers in this country have not experienced life outside these shores.

*Travel broadens the mind, sweeps away stereotypes and can make you appreciate what you have at home.


Travel is not 2 weeks in a drunken haze in some sunshine escape hole.

Extremely true.

Ireland really is NOT as open-minded as most people believe it is. That said, it is probable a good deal LESS homophobic than a lot of coutries and about the same on racisim.

And yes, I know where Fr Ted Crilly International Airport is, I have used it, it wasn't all that great either, as airports go.

coc.k_sh!t_

i like ireland, it the people the attitudes and the sheer scumbaggery that i hate with a passion. The irish couln't organise a shlt in a toilet, never mind a piss up in a brewery and forget about a state.

Then the friggin drinking culture that goes on, what an embarrasment.

i cant stand the Shinner culture here, refusing to be friends with Britain because of 800 years of opression yada yada. So boring and played out at this stage, will they ever let go. And they're all the same SF,FF FG and Labour. It's no wonder the world is laughing at us. what a mess
This crowd are also an embarrasment

I can't wait to finish college then i'm on the first flight out of her. I will disown ireland and poulation of assholes and chancers. Good riddence i i'll never come back.

Killer Pigeon

Ireland is a kip. That's why I'm moving to Antarctica.

R P McMurphy

Hasmunch wrote: »

Irish people complain to irish people about Irish small, bitter, racists homophobes.

American people complain to American people about American small, bitter, racists homophobes.

British people complain to British people about Britishsmall, bitter, racists homophobes.
etc....

You are always going to get first hand accounts from the country you are living in. Plus people like to complain a lot

added to that it is ok when Irish people complain about Irish things, but when someone else soes it there is a problem straight away.

Yahew

When you live somewhere you notice the problems. In the UK I have been on trains that stop for 2 hours because of signalling problems, problems which should really be solved in 2011, wouldn't you think. The Irish train service seems good. But I use it off-peak when I come home. The new motorways seem good. The Hotels are well run. Pubs serve better alcohol and the food is pretty good in most. Things are getting cheaper.

Thats my rosy eyed view of Ireland, as someone who is now a tourist in Ireland, when I go there. ( Well, come here, as I am in Ireland now for a week).

All holidays make places seem brilliant. Its the rush hour, the normal grind, that kills the soul.

pragmatic1

I love our little country but theres always room to improve. Having said that, we've come a long way.