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What the fuKk happened to Great Britain ?

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  • Registered Users Posts: 13,144 ✭✭✭✭cj maxx


    The biggest threat to the UK is not Irish, Scottish or Welsh nationalism. It is English nationalistic politicians.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,027 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    What is so wrong with France that thousands are willing to risk drowning or suffocation to get to the hell hole that is England?
    It's actually somewhat puzzling especially given the uncertainty around Brexit. Never mind their social welfare system which isn't exactly generous. I would imagine at least some of that is a meme that has spread through those groups that Britain is some promised land that will treat them better. A lemming like rush to the coast. Groups of people will often act in such a manner. Enough in the group go Direction A and the rest will follow. They already have when the migration hit first in Germany. That was the promised land and they marched through other nations to get to it. Then it was Sweden and they had to go through even more countries to get to there. If a couple of daft Labour politicians have their way and reverse the 2004 jui solis referendum Ireland with one of the most generous social welfare payments in the EU will be firmly in their sights.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • Registered Users Posts: 13,251 ✭✭✭✭kowloon


    They're still the sixth-largest economy in the World (India passed them) and they're likely to stay in that position for several more weeks.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,587 ✭✭✭Feisar


    Wibbs wrote: »
    True and you see that in the siting of towns. Go around Europe and you see a lot of towns that were built on top of defensible hills and this went on for centuries, because of the back and forth of various armies and nutters de jour, whereas in Britain(and here) you don't see that to nearly the same degree. You do see it in the iron age and onwards up to much later when the Normans first show up, but pretty soon they know they have their heels on the locals, don't fear invasion because of the English channel moat and so relax the kaks. Whereas in somewhere like Poland... Christ Felicks we're being invaded!! What day is it? Tuesday. That'll be the bastard Franks again. Get me sabre and wings out of the press, I'll be late for tea.

    Jaysus is there no topic you don't have some knowledge on?

    First they came for the socialists...



  • Registered Users Posts: 13,251 ✭✭✭✭kowloon


    Feisar wrote: »
    Jaysus is there no topic you don't have some knowledge on?

    You still think the Wibbs collective is one person?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 20,317 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    Wibbs wrote: »
    It's actually somewhat puzzling especially given the uncertainty around Brexit. Never mind their social welfare system which isn't exactly generous. I would imagine at least some of that is a meme that has spread through those groups that Britain is some promised land that will treat them better. A lemming like rush to the coast. Groups of people will often act in such a manner. Enough in the group go Direction A and the rest will follow. They already have when the migration hit first in Germany. That was the promised land and they marched through other nations to get to it. Then it was Sweden and they had to go through even more countries to get to there. If a couple of daft Labour politicians have their way and reverse the 2004 jui solis referendum Ireland with one of the most generous social welfare payments in the EU will be firmly in their sights.

    The explanation is the "black economy". Rich countries are willing to turn a blind eye to all sorts of exploitation of incomers in employment and accommodation. That is because their "native" populations are not willing to do the menial work. Ireland used to be a supply of such labour in the past to places like England and America. Those countries have to get their cheap labour elsewhere now.


  • Registered Users Posts: 20,317 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    kowloon wrote: »
    You still think the Wibbs collective is one person?

    I had to look that up.

    TOP DEFINITION
    Wibbs
    One of the fattest multi-celled organisms on the planet. Wibbs is noted for his friendly nature, up to 4 meter size, and paddle-like flippers. The name 'wibbs' comes from the Taíno, a pre-Columbian people of the Caribbean, meaning "breast". Put simply, he is a dollop.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,027 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    Bollocks! :eek:

    tape-over-webcam-macbook-pro-610x359.jpg

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,027 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    The explanation is the "black economy". Rich countries are willing to turn a blind eye to all sorts of exploitation of incomers in employment and accommodation. That is because their "native" populations are not willing to do the menial work. Ireland used to be a supply of such labour in the past to places like England and America. Those countries have to get their cheap labour elsewhere now.
    True enough D, but surely France operates the same kinda thing, or Spain, so why are so many aiming for the UK?

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Wibbs wrote: »
    It's actually somewhat puzzling especially given the uncertainty around Brexit. Never mind their social welfare system which isn't exactly generous. I would imagine at least some of that is a meme that has spread through those groups that Britain is some promised land that will treat them better. A lemming like rush to the coast. Groups of people will often act in such a manner. Enough in the group go Direction A and the rest will follow. They already have when the migration hit first in Germany. That was the promised land and they marched through other nations to get to it. Then it was Sweden and they had to go through even more countries to get to there. If a couple of daft Labour politicians have their way and reverse the 2004 jui solis referendum Ireland with one of the most generous social welfare payments in the EU will be firmly in their sights.

    If they’re illegal, then social welfare is irrelevant.

    It is seen as significantly less racist, a softer touch, (the action of the French police today would give an indication as to why) and of course there is no national ID card in place.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 715 ✭✭✭Stihl waters


    Aegir wrote: »
    If they’re illegal, then social welfare is irrelevant.

    It is seen as significantly less racist, a softer touch, (the action of the French police today would give an indication as to why) and of course there is no national ID card in place.

    Probably an image worth cultivating, no room at the inn for illegals and no soft touch for anyone thinking they'll have a free ride


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,443 ✭✭✭FGR


    kowloon wrote: »
    You still think the Wibbs collective is one person?

    I thought Wibbs was a priest who's fond of a few drinks and lives on an island off the west coast.

    So now consider my mind blown! :pac:

    I agree with many here - as time progressed and the EU continued to expand I'd say many of those in the UK's upper classes felt their position was diminishing at an alarming rate. Their idea of identity is the same as a corporate CEO who is hailed as a hero amongst his company - only to become old, retire, and eventually blend in with everyone else without any of the praise or worship he once received.

    That isn't something they wanted - so they wound up their spin machines and here we are today.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,412 ✭✭✭Markcheese


    Wibbs wrote: »
    True enough D, but surely France operates the same kinda thing, or Spain, so why are so many aiming for the UK?

    There's a huge number heading for France as a destination though , the jungle camps around calais are the smaller number that often have connections in britain , especially since it's not easy or quick to get across .

    Slava ukraini 🇺🇦



  • Registered Users Posts: 71,799 ✭✭✭✭Ted_YNWA


    Markcheese wrote: »
    There's a huge number heading for France as a destination though , the jungle camps around calais are the smaller number that often have connections in britain , especially since it's not easy or quick to get across .

    Thread is about "What happened to Great Britain". Feel free to start a "What happened to France" thread


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,027 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    I see the age old Franco-Anglo antagonism is still going on. :D

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,038 ✭✭✭rapul


    Why do Irish people think Britain is 'finished' when it's like the 6th largest economy, a nuclear power, powerful navy etc?

    Because its falling apart more and more everyday


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 84 ✭✭LineConsole


    I moved to England around 6 years ago from Ireland and have seen a visible decline in this short space of time. It’s been like watching a car crash in slow motion. Brexit, May, Boris, Corbyn, BLM the bungling of COVID. Politically it’s an absolute mess eclipsed only by the larger mess that’s been going on in the US.

    The English invented Political correct culture, and the Americans perfected it. Now it’s being reimported and it’s stifling the debates that are sorely needed if there is any hope to stop the decline.

    Like all great civilisations, the culture eventually stagnates and withers. Britain wants to be a lion on the world stage, but is too afraid to offend anyone. Instead it’s whimpering off into obscurity like a maimed dog.

    I suspect that the Tories and their pals have sold out the British people a long time ago and are just managing the delivery of UK’s assets through stealth, pumping their offshore accounts full of cash while throwing an occasional platitude to Joe public.

    There is no viable opposition here because Labour and the Libdems have become ‘woke’ progressives. Labour doesn’t try to improve rights for workers and you have intellectual midgets like Dianne Abbot running the party into the ground. The Libdems are neither liberal, nor democratic (see attempt to overthrow results of referendum and ousting a former leader for being a Christian). It’s all about ticking those boxes on woke hot topics that affect absolutely nobody in the real world. In fact they alienate almost everybody.

    Meanwhile, the real issues that need attention, like housing, income disparity between North and South, illegal migrants arriving in their droves, impoverished black kids having their youth, and lives, stolen by drug cartels, all too common instances of Islamic terrorism, an overcrowded and underfunded NHS, the real impact of Brexit which is about to bite just weeks from now. None of these things get talked about.

    Everyone’s too busy arguing about gender, or how COVID is racist, or cultural appropriation, or how BAME people are underrepresented in lobster pot fishing in the outer Hebrides, or any other such contrived thought experiment. The outrage machine keeps driving clicks and the ad revenue keeps flowing, while society tears itself apart.

    A house divided upon itself cannot stand, and we are witnessing the collapse.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,748 ✭✭✭ExMachina1000


    I moved to England around 6 years ago from Ireland and have seen a visible decline in this short space of time. It’s been like watching a car crash in slow motion. Brexit, May, Boris, Corbyn, BLM the bungling of COVID. Politically it’s an absolute mess eclipsed only by the larger mess that’s been going on in the US.

    The English invented Political correct culture, and the Americans perfected it. Now it’s being reimported and it’s stifling the debates that are sorely needed if there is any hope to stop the decline.

    Like all great civilisations, the culture eventually stagnates and withers. Britain wants to be a lion on the world stage, but is too afraid to offend anyone. Instead it’s whimpering off into obscurity like a maimed dog.

    I suspect that the Tories and their pals have sold out the British people a long time ago and are just managing the delivery of UK’s assets through stealth, pumping their offshore accounts full of cash while throwing an occasional platitude to Joe public.

    There is no viable opposition here because Labour and the Libdems have become ‘woke’ progressives. Labour doesn’t try to improve rights for workers and you have intellectual midgets like Dianne Abbot runing the party into the ground. The Libdems are neither liberal, nor democratic (see attempt to overthrow results of referendum and ousting a former leader for being a Christian). It’s all about ticking those boxes on woke hot topics that effect absolutely nobody in the real world. In fact they alienate almost everybody.

    Meanwhile, the real issues that need attention, like housing, income disparity between North and South, illegal migrants arriving in their droves, impoverished black kids having their youth, and lives, stolen by drug cartels, all too common instances of Islamic terrorism, an overcrowded and underfunded NHS, the real impact of Brexit which is about to bite just weeks from now. None of these things get talked about.

    Everyone’s too busy arguing about gender, or how COVID is racist, or cultural appropriation, or how BAME people are underrepresented in lobster pot fishing in the outer Hebrides, or any other such contrived thought experiment. The outrage machine keeps driving clicks and the ad revenue keeps flowing, while society tears itself apart.

    A house divided upon itself cannot stand, and we are witnessing the collapse.

    Another example of failed multiculturalism?
    No common goal or purpose. No national pride. Society falling apart


  • Registered Users Posts: 583 ✭✭✭Sonic the Shaghog


    FunLover18 wrote: »
    I watched Children of Men over the weekend, set in 2027 the UK has become a police state as the British Army rounds up and imprisons or executes immigrants. It won't happen but it's kinda scary how close this is to becoming a reality when you consider the Home Office ran campaigns telling people to report illegals immigrants, what happened the Windrush generation, and when you see boats carrying news reporters following and harassing boats full of asylum seekers.

    Jaysus imagine that asking the public to report illegal immigrants. Not only that but boats following those poor poor people crossing the channel as they are fleeing warn torn France, France I tell you, the modern incarnation of Nazi Germany that people need to flee there for the UK


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 84 ✭✭LineConsole


    Another example of failed multiculturalism?
    No common goal or purpose. No national pride. Society falling apart

    Especially when you have progressive activists trying to hammer a wedge between people by making an issue out of every possible human distinction they can find, and when they run out of categories they just make them up, and the useful idiots continue to jump on the bandwagon.
    Eager for more of the instant sense moral superiority it gives them.

    The idea of a cohesive united society of equals is being sold down the river for a culture of grievance, blame and confusion.

    On one hand we have the tories incapable of dealing with the above because they are completely out of their depth. So they’re hedging their bets and turning back to good old insular politics and taking care of their rich chums. And on the other hand we have the left stirring the progressive pot and using these made up issues to plough through their opponents.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 84 ✭✭LineConsole


    I’m not completely pessimistic for the UK. There have been some glimmers of light, even from the government over past year. Rishi Sunak has arguably saved millions of jobs from going to the wall. Pritti Patel (As unlikable as she is) has stood up and pointed to the elephant in the room regarding illegal migrant crossings (we are facilitating human trafficking organisations), and promised to do something about it. Eu residents were, eventually given their settled/pre-settled status to remain in the UK after Brexit. Cummings has got the boot and a Covid Vaccine is around the corner.

    Also, more and more I notice people taking a stand against this toxic wave of identity politics and that voice is growing louder. Turns out most people hate puritanical ideologies.

    The answer is not populism (as we saw with Trump, UKIP and Brexit). The answer is addressing real societal issues head on and with the courage (Or dare I say balls) to do the right thing even if it’s uncomfortable and makes some progressives squirm.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,412 ✭✭✭Markcheese


    There's a big push at the moment to do a trade tie up with britain ,nz , Australia and canada , CANZUK,(or something , )
    I think the former colonies like the idea of a trading club .. and britain seems to think it's a way to get the empire to pay for an increased uk military ,
    If it took off it could even include south africa and a few other former colonies , but I don't think it'd be so much britain calling the shots even though they would be the largest population and economy ...

    Slava ukraini 🇺🇦



  • Registered Users Posts: 20,317 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    There is nothing new under the sun. Plagues and pandemics, wars both military and trade, mass migration, economic booms and busts, catastrophic accidents and fires, terrorism. In GB and around the world. People shouldn't get too tied up in the present. There is BBC radio programme, The Long View, which does a good job at putting things in perspective. One thing is for sure, we are a lot luckier to be alive today in GB and Ireland than at any time in the past.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pmw2


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,632 ✭✭✭I see sheep


    I moved to England around 6 years ago from Ireland and have seen a visible decline in this short space of time.

    I also moved to England about 6 years ago, I disagree with nearly all of what you're saying though.
    Britain wants to be a lion on the world stage, but is too afraid to offend anyone. Instead it’s whimpering off into obscurity like a maimed dog.

    I would certainly prefer id the UK didn't waste trillions on Trident and other military nonsense.
    It will be much better for the country if it does 'wimper off into obscurity' if that means no pointless wars and waste on money that could be spent for good.
    Not sure how a country could 'offend someone'? And is your logic the UK would be better if it 'offended' people?
    You've lost me there.


    Meanwhile, the real issues that need attention, like housing, income disparity between North and South, illegal migrants arriving in their droves, impoverished black kids having their youth, and lives, stolen by drug cartels, all too common instances of Islamic terrorism, an overcrowded and underfunded NHS, the real impact of Brexit which is about to bite just weeks from now. None of these things get talked about.

    Everyone’s too busy arguing about gender, or how COVID is racist, or cultural appropriation, or how BAME people are underrepresented in lobster pot fishing in the outer Hebrides, or any other such contrived thought experiment. The outrage machine keeps driving clicks and the ad revenue keeps flowing, while society tears itself apart.


    What a load of tripe. UK has lots of problems and most are directly caused by the Tory bastards who are running he country.

    It's clear from your babble it's all an anti immigration rant.

    Which was the same **** we heard that prompted Brexit! Are still this nonsense is being used.

    "impoverished black kids having their youth, and lives, stolen by drug cartels"

    They're having their youth & lives stolen by an useless right wing scumbag government that had to be pressured by a footballer to keep kids from starving.


  • Registered Users Posts: 16,338 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    But no one used or uses the term “Great British Empire”!!!

    It was just called the “British Empire”. By everyone. You’ve just decided to change the name of the Empire for some reason!

    It's actually.
    Oh Great, British Empire!

    Punctuation matters people! :D

    But that said, I'd agree with your own etymology of the term Great Britain ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 84 ✭✭LineConsole


    I also moved to England about 6 years ago, I disagree with nearly all of what you're saying though.



    I would certainly prefer id the UK didn't waste trillions on Trident and other military nonsense.
    It will be much better for the country if it does 'wimper off into obscurity' if that means no pointless wars and waste on money that could be spent for good.
    Not sure how a country could 'offend someone'? And is your logic the UK would be better if it 'offended' people?
    You've lost me there.





    What a load of tripe. UK has lots of problems and most are directly caused by the Tory bastards who are running he country.

    It's clear from your babble it's all an anti immigration rant.

    Which was the same **** we heard that prompted Brexit! Are still this nonsense is being used.

    "impoverished black kids having their youth, and lives, stolen by drug cartels"

    They're having their youth & lives stolen by an useless right wing scumbag government that had to be pressured by a footballer to keep kids from starving.

    I am not anti-immigrant. I am an immigrant. What did I say that was anti-immigrant? If it's so clear please point it out to us.
    What I am is anti-people being smuggled across the channel and drowning in the process. What I am ‘Anti’ is imported woke/progressive issues taking up all of the supposed oppositions time instead of them actually trying to force the Tories (who are bstards I agree) to address real issues.

    As for black kids and drug cartels - Are you denying the existence of county lines drug gangs and how they are affecting black teens from poorer backgrounds? If BLM really matters to the left, they should be pushing for more stop and search in London and commuter towns. Instead of crying racism every time the government tries to crack down, they should be encouraging the Tories to do what is needed to systematically dismantle these gangs. It's not Boris Johnson putting a knife in a teenager’s hand and telling him to stab someone in order to be initiated into their gang. It's Criminals and the reason the police cannot get tough on these criminals is because of the permanently offended middle class crying racism.

    The real racism is allowing these things to continue and denying their existence. Fingers in ears.

    FYI I voted Labour (reluctantly), I Voted Remain, I would never vote Tory.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,632 ✭✭✭I see sheep


    I am not anti-immigrant. I am an immigrant. I am anti people being smuggled across the channel and drowning in the process.


    Are you denying the existence of county lines drug gangs and how they are affecting black teens from poorer backgrounds?

    The only way to stop people selling drugs is to stop demand for drugs (which is very difficult but should be aimed for) or else make it all legal (which I would be in favour of).

    Yeah you've said you are an immigrant. That doesn't mean anything. Remember the Irish man on a vox pop down in Ruislip that said he was voting Brexit because there was 'too many foreigners'. :o

    I can only base it off your comments in this tread.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 84 ✭✭LineConsole


    The only way to stop people selling drugs is to stop demand for drugs (which is very difficult but should be aimed for) or else make it all legal (which I would be in favour of).

    Yeah you've said you are an immigrant. That doesn't mean anything. Remember the Irish man on a vox pop down in Ruislip that said he was voting Brexit because there was 'too many foreigners'. :o

    I can only base it off your comments in this tread.


    I would also be in favour of the legalisation of drugs TBH. If anything I am a liberal (in the classic meaning of the word). I know there are a lot of hypocrites that are either English brexiteers that live abroad, or immigrant brexiteers living in England.


    I love the UK, I've had more success over here in a few years than I had in my entire life in Ireland (Which I also love). That's why I get so upset that these issues are going on and so annoyed when I see how pathetic the opposition is over here.



    I've witnessed, as I am sure you have, the Torys and the populist politics that drives them, seemingly intent on running this country into the ground. Brexit is an absolute disaster.



    There have been a lot of open goals for labour over the past few years that they completely missed because they were too busy accusing each other of antisemitism or working on their next tweet about the latest woke talking point.


    I would like to see someone, anyone in government directly confronting real issues, instead of ignoring them or kicking the can down the road. Meanwhile people are still drowning in dingies, black kids are still getting stabbed, hard workers still can't afford to buy their first house after working for 25+ years etc.


    The Tories have come out over the past few years with some empty promisies to address the above, but nothing significant has materialised. Like Bojo and his 350 Million a week, soundbites are all that matters.


    The only exception is COVID, as an issue there was no way for the tories to avoid it and while they've been a shambles in messaging and the ever changing tier system, at least the furlough scheme was a good move and a vaccine is around the corner.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,632 ✭✭✭I see sheep


    I've had more success over here in a few years than I had in my entire life in Ireland (Which I also love).

    Me too on both of those things.

    Hopefully Brexit isn't as bad as we fear it will be.

    At least we can move back to Ireland or elsewhere in the EU if it all goes to pot, good luck with it.


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  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,537 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Hopefully Brexit isn't as bad as we fear it will be.





    DLml86r.png


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