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Are ye embarrassed?

13

Comments

  • #62
    Pittens
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,404 ✭✭✭Pittens


    Pittens is popping back in to this thread again to point out that I have already linked to statistics showing Ireland to be the second most productive country in the world per capita.


  • #63
    dvpower
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,182 ✭✭✭dvpower


    Kivaro wrote: »
    Ireland is now regarded as being part of PIIGS (along with Italy, Portugal, Spain and Greece

    What's with the PIGS acronym?

    First it was PIGS (portugal, italy, greece, spain).
    Then PIIGGS (portugal, italy, ireland, greece, great britain, spain).
    Now PIIGS (portugal, italy, ireland, greece, spain)

    It just doesn't work if they change it. Couldn't those clever economists come up with something better?


    I saw an angry demonstrator from Greece on the news last night; said she was fed up with everyone calling her a pig (hint: she was a pig).


  • #64
    Ickle Magoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,485 ✭✭✭✭Ickle Magoo


    Pittens wrote: »
    In fact it is more a Protestant thing to not work Sundays. We work on Sundays much more than the Germans. And people work when they have to - shift work, factory work, hospitals, shops.

    Scotland is a predominantly protestant country yet everything is open and running on Sundays. :confused:


  • #65
    caseyann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,938 ✭✭✭caseyann


    schween wrote: »
    << You REALLY like that smiley.:rolleyes:

    I can't comment on how the Irish are compared to other nationalities as I haven't live in enough countries to make a judgment. Living in one other country and saying you lived abroad means very little with all the countries there is.

    But I do see both sides of the argument. I know plenty of hard working Irish people and I know plenty of lazy slobs trying to do the bare minimum.

    Yes and anyone who tries point finger at a whole country because of small few lazy arses i wil roll mine eyes at them to.
    Arent you plain sick of people dirtying irish name in favour of other countries?

    Its a matter of slag off everyone elses country and people so they feel better.


  • #66
    panda100
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,551 ✭✭✭panda100


    InKonspikuou2 wrote: »
    Who gives a fúck about work ethic? Why work your bollix off for some big multinational, retire in your 70's because you can't afford to retire earlier and then die when you can do feck all and still get the same money. I've had jobs since i was 16 but i've never actually worked a hard day in my life. Too much emphasis on working hard. No wonder stress exists.

    Couldnt agree more with this post!
    Its amazing how many people applaud those who work hard when really whats the point of working hard? You only have one life, yet we admire those who live to work instead of working to live.

    I watched as my parents worked punishing hours scrambling for money and status,and I never want to live that life. If that makes me lazy then I am quite proud of that fact. I've worked for big corporations in the past and did the minimum work I could as I just wanted enough money to live on.
    I work with people with disabilities now and work very hard for very little pay, because my work is so rewarding and I really am making a difference in the world.

    I wouldnt call Irish people lazy at all, just indiffernet and bored of the jobs they are made do to put food on their tables.

    Am I am embarrased by that news article? Not in the slightest!


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  • #67
    Angry Troll
    Closed Accounts Posts: 224 ✭✭Angry Troll


    i just remember some guy on newstalk or some other radio station a few years ago calling ireland „the wealthiest nation on earth“…i thought it was hilarious back then and looking back it seems even more laughable…in a way it summarised what was or is wrong with ireland…like megalomania and losing touch with reality after a few good years…
    the rude awakening and the washout ireland experienced with the recession could have been avoided with a little more rationality, realism and intelligent planning during the good years…


  • #68
    Pittens
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,404 ✭✭✭Pittens


    Scotland is a predominantly protestant country yet everything is open and running on Sundays

    It is historically protestant to close down on Sundays. Calvinism was very strong on this, and probably still is outside the big towns.

    Remember this

    Devout Christian Euan Murray remains part of Andy Robinson’s Scotland plans despite ruling himself out of the Six Nations opener with France because it is being played on a Sunday.


  • #69
    panda100
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,551 ✭✭✭panda100


    schween wrote: »
    But I do see both sides of the argument. I know plenty of hard working Irish people and I know plenty of lazy slobs trying to do the bare minimum.

    I don't think its fair to call people lazy slobs just because they make the choice to work the bare minimum. If you decide you want to work crazy hours and not see your family as much so you can gain all the superficial trappings of hard work then that is a lifestyle choice.
    There are others,like myself, who dont care for superfical trappings such as holidays or I-Phones, and choose not to work as hard. It doesnt make me lazy I'm just choosing an alternative lifestyle where I can focus more on life than work.


  • #70
    Kivaro
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,105 ✭✭✭Kivaro


    caseyann wrote: »
    Yes and anyone who tries point finger at a whole country because of small few lazy arses i wil roll mine eyes at them to.
    .

    Hardly a small few.

    Ireland's problems are systematic.
    My original question still stands. Is it not strange that we find ourselves grouped with Southern European countries rather than the countries in Northern Europe? What are the root causes for this alignment (i.e. similarities)?


  • #71
    Pittens
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,404 ✭✭✭Pittens


    Ireland's problems are systematic.

    Pittens is going to point out FOR THE THIRD TIME that Ireland's workforce is the second most productive in the world.


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  • #72
    Samir Green Bellboy
    Posts: 6,645 ✭✭✭ Samir Green Bellboy


    caseyann wrote: »
    I see you put a price on happiness ;) This country even if not rich in economy was something to be alot more proud and happy in then the place it has become.And what ever you want to say what ever.Because i grew up here and witnessed my parents going out working their asses off and all my family who moved abroad worked their asses off to.
    You are not Irish.Irish people don't bad mouth the hard work their families put in for them.Without hard workers money doesn't build a country ;) No matter how many times you want to say it.If not for the Irish slogging their guts out in this country there would be no work for the other nationalities to come in and get. Money may provide growth but if Irish weren't working they wouldn't have stayed would they :rolleyes:

    Oh my God. I don't think I've ever seen anyone drag up such completely irrelevant rubbish trying to make a point. You really are clutching at straws, aren't you? I said myself that I personally prefer to work less and be happy. Yes, it's lovely that Ireland was a great place where everyone was happy and smiley and made each other cups of tea all day. I love hearing old stories from my grandparents. But that has feck all to do with Ireland's economy.

    As for the rest, well, I don't even know what to say. Yes, the rest of the world should be incredibly grateful that the Irish bothered to work in the companies they set up. I mean, many of them could have decided they were too good to work and just stayed at home watching TV all day in their pyjamas........oh WAIT. Yes, that's right, even at the height of Ireland's boom, there were still thousands upon thousands of Irish people who just couldn't be bothered to work at all. What's your excuse for them?


  • #73
    Dubh Geannain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,892 ✭✭✭Dubh Geannain


    gamblitis wrote: »
    More Water!

    Aahhh NUNs!! Reverse...Reverse :eek:


  • #74
    Kivaro
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,105 ✭✭✭Kivaro


    Pittens wrote: »
    Pittens is going to point out FOR THE THIRD TIME that Ireland's workforce is the second most productive in the world.

    Like the poster who repeatedly would say on here that Ireland was the best place to live in the World, based on 'quality of life' published by an Economist magazine. Just because they say it does not necessarily mean that it's true (for the majority of us). Maybe they surveyed the people who do not work, or are the beneficiaries of an over-generous social welfare system, or people serving very light time in prison for serious crimes, or bugus asylum seekers, or the girl (with her child and employed partner) living rent-free in the new 3 bed semi-detached house in the ghost estate, or the best paid public 'servants' in Europe, or maybe they did the survey on a Friday/Saturday night after the pubs closed.


  • #75
    Samir Green Bellboy
    Posts: 6,645 ✭✭✭ Samir Green Bellboy


    Kivaro wrote: »
    Hardly a small few.

    Ireland's problems are systematic.
    My original question still stands. Is it not strange that we find ourselves grouped with Southern European countries rather than the countries in Northern Europe? What are the root causes for this alignment (i.e. similarities)?

    Ireland has always been more culturally similar to countries like Spain and Portugal than Germany or Norway. I guess a lot of it is the Catholic church. I find the Irish temperament and sense of humour to be much more similar to the Mediterranean countries. There has always been a strong link between Ireland and Spain with them sending over all their students every year. Irish people along with Mediterraneans tend to focus on things like family and would tend to put family, friends, happiness ahead of work. Irish people are way more laid back than Germans, for example. There is a 'ah sure, it'll do' attitude towards most things.


  • #76
    Hells Belle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 617 ✭✭✭Hells Belle


    [quote=[Deleted User];64425026]
    As for the rest, well, I don't even know what to say. Yes, the rest of the world should be incredibly grateful that the Irish bothered to work in the companies they set up. I mean, many of them could have decided they were too good to work and just stayed at home watching TV all day in their pyjamas........oh WAIT. Yes, that's right, even at the height of Ireland's boom, there were still thousands upon thousands of Irish people who just couldn't be bothered to work at all. What's your excuse for them?[/QUOTE]

    In fairness that happens everywhere where unemployment benefit is paid. The UK, Australia & the US all have it, you get lazy people everywhere not just Ireland. There isn't any need to get so insulting really. Try replacing Irish with Nigerian, Polish etc - it would sound just a little racist imo.

    Just because Irish people don't generally have 4 jobs like in the US doesn't mean we are lazy, just means that "some" of us value life a bit more. I'd personally prefer a 35 hr week and see my family than a big car and a fancy house.
    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


  • #77
    caseyann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,938 ✭✭✭caseyann


    Pittens wrote: »
    Pittens is going to point out FOR THE THIRD TIME that Ireland's workforce is the second most productive in the world.
    Pittens no one cares about that because,they like to try make like Irish did nothing and we owe everyone else because Irish are lazy drunks and bad workers.


  • #78
    Samir Green Bellboy
    Posts: 6,645 ✭✭✭ Samir Green Bellboy


    Hells Belle wrote: »
    In fairness that happens everywhere where unemployment benefit is paid. The UK, Australia & the US all have it, you get lazy people everywhere not just Ireland. There isn't any need to get so insulting really. Try replacing Irish with Nigerian, Polish etc - it would sound just a little racist imo.

    Just because Irish people don't generally have 4 jobs like in the US doesn't mean we are lazy, just means that "some" of us value life a bit more. I'd personally prefer a 35 hr week and see my family than a big car and a fancy house.

    I know there are lazy people everywhere but the point is, there is no way that Irish people are up there with the most hardworking people in the world. Even when things were great and jobs were plentiful, laziness was very common. Even in the workplace, as I mentioned earlier in the thread.

    I don't see the point in working myself to death either. That would be considered 'lazy' by a lot of people. The American college students I know all study full time, have 2 jobs and do all sorts of sports and volunteering on the side. I'm lazy compared to them. I'm not some waster, as caseyann seems to be trying to imply. I just don't kill myself working. I'm still doing a full time MA course, working part time, doing freelance work on the side and going to the gym twice a week. Hardly bone idle, but I could do more. I don't give 100% to everything like some people would.


  • #79
    arybvtcw0eolkf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 24,608 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    Have we blaimed it on the public service workers yet?.


  • #80
    caseyann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,938 ✭✭✭caseyann


    [quote=[Deleted User];64425026]Oh my God. I don't think I've ever seen anyone drag up such completely irrelevant rubbish trying to make a point. You really are clutching at straws, aren't you? I said myself that I personally prefer to work less and be happy. Yes, it's lovely that Ireland was a great place where everyone was happy and smiley and made each other cups of tea all day. I love hearing old stories from my grandparents. But that has feck all to do with Ireland's economy.

    As for the rest, well, I don't even know what to say. Yes, the rest of the world should be incredibly grateful that the Irish bothered to work in the companies they set up. I mean, many of them could have decided they were too good to work and just stayed at home watching TV all day in their pyjamas........oh WAIT. Yes, that's right, even at the height of Ireland's boom, there were still thousands upon thousands of Irish people who just couldn't be bothered to work at all. What's your excuse for them?[/QUOTE]

    Like your genes been Irish and saying its because you have them that you are lazy?

    Excuse for them i don't need to make excuse for them.There is hundreds of thousands of unemployed in NYC alone and in America upon the millions.And in every other country in world same thing.England same thing.
    Dont tell me they are all wanting to work and have no jobs to go to!
    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


  • #81
    caseyann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,938 ✭✭✭caseyann


    Valerie Harsh Exterminator wrote: »
    Have we blaimed it on the public service workers yet?.

    No just Irish are lazy :eek:


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  • #82
    caseyann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,938 ✭✭✭caseyann


    Hells Belle wrote: »
    In fairness that happens everywhere where unemployment benefit is paid. The UK, Australia & the US all have it, you get lazy people everywhere not just Ireland. There isn't any need to get so insulting really. Try replacing Irish with Nigerian, Polish etc - it would sound just a little racist imo.

    Just because Irish people don't generally have 4 jobs like in the US doesn't mean we are lazy, just means that "some" of us value life a bit more. I'd personally prefer a 35 hr week and see my family than a big car and a fancy house.

    I know i agree with you.
    So if you aren't breaking your back means you are lazy and we didn't make our country what it was during Celtic boom and didn't survive before it.In order for them to want to bring they companies here had to see us as good workers and efficient.


  • #83
    caseyann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,938 ✭✭✭caseyann


    [quote=[Deleted User];64425314]I know there are lazy people everywhere but the point is, there is no way that Irish people are up there with the most hardworking people in the world. Even when things were great and jobs were plentiful, laziness was very common. Even in the workplace, as I mentioned earlier in the thread.

    I don't see the point in working myself to death either. That would be considered 'lazy' by a lot of people. The American college students I know all study full time, have 2 jobs and do all sorts of sports and volunteering on the side. I'm lazy compared to them. I'm not some waster, as caseyann seems to be trying to imply. I just don't kill myself working. I'm still doing a full time MA course, working part time, doing freelance work on the side and going to the gym twice a week. Hardly bone idle, but I could do more. I don't give 100% to everything like some people would.[/QUOTE]

    Most hardworking people in world are the Indian kids and African kids etc.. who are worked to the bone.That's hard work. We are at the level we have to be and quite happy to stay there you have implied in your posts and don't try go back on it.How can you give two different nationalities in a job abroad and why would you take out your Irish one if they constantly said oh no Irish are lazy and we aren't hiring:rolleyes:
    Please you contradict yourself all time.
    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


  • #84
    Samir Green Bellboy
    Posts: 6,645 ✭✭✭ Samir Green Bellboy


    caseyann wrote: »
    Like your genes been Irish and saying its because you have them that you are lazy?

    Excuse for them i don't need to make excuse for them.There is hundreds of thousands of unemployed in NYC alone and in America upon the millions.And in every other country in world same thing.England same thing.
    Dont tell me they are all wanting to work and have no jobs to go to!

    Oh my dear God. That was a tongue in cheek statement. Go back and reread what I actually said.

    As for what the story is everywhere else, I have been to very few countries where people who can't be bothered to work are rewarded with a generous salary, where people actually decide its not worth their while working because they'd lose their dole. The UK is similar in that regard, but the social welfare isn't as generous as it is in Ireland. The system encourages laziness. In America, if you don't work, you're dirt poor.


  • #85
    caseyann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,938 ✭✭✭caseyann


    Ireland distances itself from hardest hit
    EXPERT OPINION: IRELAND HAS distanced itself from the high debt problems of Greece, Portugal and Spain out of “sheer bloody-mindedness” by taking hard measures to correct its fiscal deficit, according to a UK author and expert on the euro.
    David Marsh, author of The Euro: The Politics of the New Global Currency , said the recent stability of Irish sovereign debt spreads showed that the markets believed Ireland’s recovery plan was “credible, will be maintained and will be ultimately successful”.
    Mr Marsh, a former Financial Times journalist, said the plan had distanced Ireland from the heavily indebted southern euro-zone states and aligned it with the more prudent northern euro-zone states such as the Netherlands.
    “This will be the third time over the last 25 years that the Irish have tightened their belts – the country has shown that it is willing to take the medicine and the necessary pain,” he told The Irish Times on a visit to Dublin.
    Ireland has a much better chance of succeeding than Greece, Portugal or, dare I say, Spain
    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2010/0211/1224264200716.html


  • #86
    Samir Green Bellboy
    Posts: 6,645 ✭✭✭ Samir Green Bellboy


    caseyann wrote: »
    Most hardworking people in world are the Indian kids and African kids etc.. who are worked to the bone.That's hard work. We are at the level we have to be and quiet happy to stay there you have implied in your posts and don't try go back on it.How can you give two different nationalities in a job abroad and why would you take out your Irish one if they constantly said oh no Irish are lazy and we aren't hiring:rolleyes:
    Please you contradict yourself all time.

    What level is that? Can you not see everything crashing down around you? You're either taking the p*ss, have no understanding of economics or are stuck in some sort of time warp in the Celtic Tiger years.


  • #87
    caseyann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,938 ✭✭✭caseyann


    [quote=[Deleted User];64425612]Oh my dear God. That was a tongue in cheek statement. Go back and reread what I actually said.

    As for what the story is everywhere else, I have been to very few countries where people who can't be bothered to work are rewarded with a generous salary, where people actually decide its not worth their while working because they'd lose their dole. The UK is similar in that regard, but the social welfare isn't as generous as it is in Ireland. The system encourages laziness. In America, if you don't work, you're dirt poor.[/QUOTE]


    http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/2707/brickwallgraffitigenera.jpg

    I read it my head is sore now and not re reading.
    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


  • #88
    Hells Belle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 617 ✭✭✭Hells Belle


    [quote=[Deleted User];64425314]
    I don't see the point in working myself to death either. That would be considered 'lazy' by a lot of people. The American college students I know all study full time, have 2 jobs and do all sorts of sports and volunteering on the side. I'm lazy compared to them. I'm not some waster, as caseyann seems to be trying to imply. I just don't kill myself working. I'm still doing a full time MA course, working part time, doing freelance work on the side and going to the gym twice a week. Hardly bone idle, but I could do more. I don't give 100% to everything like some people would.[/QUOTE]

    Thats not really a life though is it? I don't believe anyone would choose to live a life like that if it wasn't a necessity, unfortunately in the US it usually is and here it usually isn't, thats not to say there aren't some people who live by the mighty euro - there's plenty. I actually feel sorry for the young Americans tbh. They might have the best gadgets, cars etc but what good is that if you spend your life in drudgery?? I still work but I go home at 4.30 and my life is my own. Id rather my life any day.
    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


  • #89
    Samir Green Bellboy
    Posts: 6,645 ✭✭✭ Samir Green Bellboy


    Hells Belle wrote: »
    Thats not really a life though is it? I don't believe anyone would choose to live a life like that if it wasn't a necessity, unfortunately in the US it usually is and here it usually isn't, thats not to say there aren't some people who live by the mighty euro - there's plenty. I actually feel sorry for the young Americans tbh. They might have the best gadgets, cars etc but what good is that if you spend your life in drudgery?? I still work but I go home at 4.30 and my life is my own. Id rather my life any day.

    I agree. At the same time, you can become very successful there by working hard. Depends what you're priorities are. I'd rather be called lazy (which I was over there, for turning up 5 mins before my shift instead of 30 and leaving on time instead of 'preparing for the next day') than spend my life at work.


  • #90
    Samir Green Bellboy
    Posts: 6,645 ✭✭✭ Samir Green Bellboy


    caseyann wrote: »
    http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/2707/brickwallgraffitigenera.jpg

    I read it my head is sore now and not re reading.

    Perhaps you should go and read a book about history/economics/English then. It's more productive than banging your head against a wall and you might even learn something.


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  • #91
    caseyann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,938 ✭✭✭caseyann


    [quote=[Deleted User];64425646]What level is that? Can you not see everything crashing down around you? You're either taking the p*ss, have no understanding of economics or are stuck in some sort of time warp in the Celtic Tiger years.[/QUOTE]

    And economics is because the people are not working and are lazy?
    Please go away i have clear understanding of economics in order for it to have built in first place meant there had to be workers there making it grow.Reason its on such a down fall now is because of bad decisions not because Irish are lazy>
    And you don't tongue and cheek any statement you made it quite clear you see the Irish as lazy and have said it in few posts taring the whole country with same brush.And quite proudly made it clear only little bit Irish and more English,and now stating that you England doesn't have as many unemployed.Also you forget that alot of them people on social welfare are non nationals here and also alot of them have been laid off due to mistakes of the people in control of the finances of the country.Nothing to do with Irish not working every hour they could.

    I saw an article once of how a certain country had the highest sick leave in EU http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/19/business/worldbusiness/19iht-workcol20.html This may be old i cant find new one.

    Belgian workers take sick leave nearly four times as often as U.S. workers, mostly attributed to Belgian law, which grants full salary the first month and then government-guaranteed 80 percent pay indefinitely. A recent study, noted in a January Wall Street Journal report, found that only 5 percent of Belgian leave-takers were proven malingerers, but that the biggest medical problem now is easily diagnosed “depression” (exacerbated by the worsening economy), leading to free-form medical leave-taking and creative treatments often unchallenged, such as for the man who frolicked on the soccer field, bought an Alfa Romeo, and reconnected with old friends (all of which, said his doctor, lessened his depression).
    http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2009/03/07/news-of-the-weird-55/
    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


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