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Are we lucky to live in Ireland?

13

Comments

  • #102
    Jimoslimos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,930 ✭✭✭Jimoslimos


    LisaLee wrote: »
    If you have an Irish passport then the world is your oyster.
    Also makes state-sponsored assasinations that little bit easier;)


  • #103
    challengemaster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,930 ✭✭✭✭challengemaster


    Cill Dara Abu wrote: »
    I've never been abroad. I'd love to go to America someday.

    I often get the impression that we are lucky to live here, you see other countrys experiencing extreme weather, poverty, etc...

    Just wondering what are the differences people have noticed in Ireland and any other country in terms of the people, attitudes to alcohol and drugs, weather, standard of living, driving habits and any other random thing.

    Currently being in Texas, I can quite easily say if you ever do get over to America, you won't be long in changing your attitude and learning how much of a shítehole Ireland really is.


  • #104
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Unbelievably lucky. I feel like pulling my hair out reading the BS recession threads sometimes.. People don't have a fuking clue how lucky they are and just because they don't have enough left over for a Saturday night, they think the country is now firmly in the 3rd world.


  • #105
    Lanaier
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 604 ✭✭✭Lanaier


    Yes, I feel Ireland is like The Shire or Hobbiton.

    A small, friendly and ultimately insignificant place that will basically never change.

    I always see myself retiring to Ireland someday.


  • #106
    pauro 76
    Registered Users Posts: 176 ✭✭pauro 76


    I've lived in London for 6 years. Great city but it's beginning to make me increasingly angry, frustrated and paranoid. If someone offered me a job in Ireland tomorrow, I'd seriously think about it, everytime I go home I love it.


  • #107
    Apanachi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 757 ✭✭✭Apanachi


    yep, those of you who are still in ireland are indeed very lucky, never realised how great the place was until I left it, and no, it's not a case of "the grass is always greener" Ireland really is great. I know people talk about the recession and bail out a lot recently, but all those negative people should just go out for a walk in our beautiful countryside and actually open their eyes and see the beauty around them, green fields, sandy beaches, mountains and lakes.

    The Irish people are very friendly and open, I know it can be hard for a lot of non-Irish to get the Irish humour, a lot of people (foreigners in Ireland) I know would say we are a racist bunch, but in general we're not, we Irish just take the piss out of everyone and everything (including ourselves) as someone said to me "Ireland where we're not racist, we're just having the craic,


  • #108
    dpe
    Registered Users Posts: 520 ✭✭✭dpe


    Fratton Fred wrote: »
    Ireland is a nice place to live op, but it is very small and despite all the recent immigration the population is almost entire white Irish Catholics.

    Watching tv and reading t'internet is all well and good, but you do need to leave the island if only to sample other cultures.

    I've settled here and I like it, but even Dublin can feel like a village at times.

    This^ I don't really miss much about the UK and think in general Ireland has a better quality of life than back home (especially London). Even the financial crisis hasn't dented that (yet) as its pretty grim financially over there as well (although at least my flat in London isn't worthless). Politics and knackered banking system aside, the only thing Ireland needs to improve is decent healthcare (I'll never criticise the NHS ever again), and the supermarkets are rubbish.


  • #109
    Lanaier
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 604 ✭✭✭Lanaier


    Daroxtar wrote: »
    The only thing that irks me about here is the fact that we have fairly low quality ex-pats

    Do you mean Irish expats abroad?

    I've never been to Australia but even I'm embarrassed by tales of I've heard of Irish people there.


  • #110
    Cú Giobach
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,772 ✭✭✭Cú Giobach


    Fratton Fred wrote: »
    Ireland is a nice place to live op, but it is very small and despite all the recent immigration the population is almost entire white Irish Catholics.
    Why is it a negative to you that the Irish population is mainly white and Catholic? Would you complain about all the black Muslims in Sudan or all the olive skinned Jews in Israel or is this just more of your anti-Irish bigotry?


  • #111
    Liam Byrne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,163 ✭✭✭✭Liam Byrne


    dpe wrote: »
    the only thing Ireland needs to improve is decent healthcare (I'll never criticise the NHS ever again), and the supermarkets are rubbish.

    You're joking, right ?

    The transport "system" is pathetic.
    Crime and anti-social behaviour are at a level that belies the fact that 20 years ago a single murder would have been news for weeks, and no-one wants to challenge the PC crap that ha led to this
    Communications services are chronic and overpriced.

    Prices are too high, reducing everyone's quality of life, and there are very few truly "public" facilities at which you're not charged a small fortune for parking, food, etc......


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  • #112
    dpe
    Registered Users Posts: 520 ✭✭✭dpe


    Cú Giobach wrote: »
    Why is it a negative to you that the Irish population is mainly white and Catholic? Would you complain about all the black Muslims in Sudan or all the olive skinned Jews in Israel or is this just more of your anti-Irish bigotry?

    Nice partial quote to justify your comment. Sensitive much? In the full context of what he said, he was correct; as Ireland is pretty much a monoculture, you need to travel to see more of other cultures, unlike say, the UK.


  • #113
    dpe
    Registered Users Posts: 520 ✭✭✭dpe


    Liam Byrne wrote: »
    You're joking, right ?

    The transport "system" is pathetic.
    Communications services are chronic and overpriced.

    Prices are too high, reducing everyone's quality of life, and there are very few truly "public" facilities at which you're not charged a small fortune for parking, food, etc......

    Yeah, sorry, don't buy it. The transport system is...no worse than most of the UK outside London. For the population its what I'd expect. I'll agree comms are overpriced, but they're coming down and speeding up. Its no big deal.

    Prices too are coming down, maybe not fast enough, but I've noticed the difference in the three years I've been here. And certain big ticket items (like rent) have dropped massively. The price of cars still annoys the hell out of me (because its a protectionist con more than anything else) , but general prices, not so much anymore.

    Yes prices are still too high for lots of things, but quality of life is about a balance of things, and I happen to think nicer more relaxed people and attitudes, better schools, less overcrowding, less state intrusiveness, make up for some of the downsides of Irish life. I could go back to London tomorrow as I have a place to live over there that's bought and paid for, and I do the kind of job where I could walk into a decent salary back there pretty easily, but I prefer it here.


  • #114
    Cú Giobach
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,772 ✭✭✭Cú Giobach


    dpe wrote: »
    Nice partial quote to justify your comment. Sensetive much? In the full context of what he said, he was correct; as Ireland is pretty much a monoculture, you need to travel to see more of other cultures, unlike say, the UK.
    Unlike parts of the UK yes but not like the world in general.
    It is quite obvious that to see other cultures you have to travel outside your own, whether that is outside of your own tribe, province or country.


  • #115
    DoesNotCompute
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,375 ✭✭✭DoesNotCompute


    El Siglo wrote: »
    As much as this country gets on my nerves and as crap as it is for unemployment, the cost of living, poor governance, quality of life indicators etc... I think I'm genetically predisposed to finding Irish women attractive. For the life of me I can never see myself ending up with someone from a different country no matter where I go. Whenever I'm abroad I light up when I meet an Irish person, and when I'm up North I light up when I meet another Southerner, don't know why it happens but it does. If this didn't happen I wouldn't give two shits about this place and would be off to Oz picking oranges quicker than you can say default. Thank you women of Ireland!;)

    Meh, Irish girls are quite plain and very moany (not in a good way) compared to most girls from other countries IMHO.


  • #116
    goat2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,939 ✭✭✭goat2


    we do live in a beautiful country
    we dont have tsunami,
    we dont have earthquakes,
    we dont have hurricanes,
    we dont have drought,
    it never get very cold here
    we could feed the world with the climate we have,
    the problems we have could be rolled back,
    even though i am out of work, when i watch the world disasters on the news, i know i am still lucky.


  • #117
    Voodoo_rasher
    Registered Users Posts: 521 ✭✭✭Voodoo_rasher


    Irish people don't want to know you if you don't have money. Otherwise you're heartily welcome, and come into the parlour.


  • #118
    Cú Giobach
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,772 ✭✭✭Cú Giobach


    goat2 wrote: »
    we do live in a beautiful country
    we dont have tsunami,
    we dont have earthquakes,
    we dont have hurricanes,
    we dont have drought,
    it never get very cold here
    we could feed the world with the climate we have,
    the problems we have could be rolled back,
    even though i am out of work, when i watch the world disasters on the news, i know i am still lucky.

    The 1755 and 1761 Tsunamis in Ireland
    Earthquakes In Ireland and the UK
    Oídhche na Gaoithe Móire (Night of the big wind)
    Winter of 2010–2011 in Great Britain and Ireland
    Never say never. ;)


  • #119
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Cú Giobach wrote: »
    Why is it a negative to you that the Irish population is mainly white and Catholic? Would you complain about all the black Muslims in Sudan or all the olive skinned Jews in Israel or is this just more of your anti-Irish bigotry?

    Its not a negative, it is an observation. The OP stated they had never been abroad, which everyone should do no matter where they live, just to experience the rich diversity of culture we have in this world.


  • #120
    Clareboy
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 536 ✭✭✭Clareboy


    Johnny D. Mudd wrote: »
    What I enjoy about this country is the laid-back, friendly and level-headedness of the average Irish person. There is little pretence in public, people aren't as quick to dismiss others and are generally happy to share some small talk even with strangers. I have been in Spain quite a few times and though the country is beautiful and the people incredibly gorgeous, there is a lot of snobbishness. I have seen people I know get into confrontations with a Spaniard because of some percieved slight. Same with some Germans too I'm afraid. I don't see this level of snobbishness too much in Ireland.

    Of course I'm not one for generalising and I realise that there are plenty of wonderful Spaniards and Germans out there too.:)

    Not my experience of living in Ireland and I have lived here for most of my life. This country is full of class distinctions and snobbery. In Ireland,one is judged by what type of a house one lives in, by ones job, the area one lives in and the type of car one drives. Ireland is a very closed and conservative society that reeks of middle class values and norms. There is no life here only isolation and exclusion for so many of our people. Personally, I just can't wait to get out of here as often as possible.


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  • #121
    Liam Byrne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,163 ✭✭✭✭Liam Byrne


    dpe wrote: »
    Yeah, sorry, don't buy it. The transport system is...no worse than most of the UK outside London.

    We're not comparing with London. We're asking if we're lucky to live in Ireland.
    dpe wrote: »
    I'll agree comms are overpriced, but they're coming down and speeding up. Its no big deal.

    Speeding up ? Where ? Eircom rang me to offer me their NGB and I told them it wouldn't work.....they said it would. They rang back and said "oops, sorry" so I'm stuck with a 2-meg max, and that's 1.5 miles outside a city. God help anyone who's in the sticks.
    dpe wrote: »
    Prices too are coming down, maybe not fast enough, but I've noticed the difference in the three years I've been here. And certain big ticket items (like rent) have dropped massively.

    Can't say I've noticed; some things have, but day to day stuff is still far too expensive compared to other countries, and any drops have been negated by taxes (aka levies & charges), fuel increases and decreases in wages.
    dpe wrote: »
    The price of cars still annoys the hell out of me (because its a protectionist con more than anything else) , but general prices, not so much anymore.
    dpe wrote: »
    Yes prices are still too high for lots of things, but quality of life is about a balance of things, and I happen to think nicer more relaxed people and attitudes, better schools, less overcrowding, less state intrusiveness, make up for some of the downsides of Irish life. I could go back to London tomorrow as I have a place to live over there that's bought and paid for, and I do the kind of job where I could walk into a decent salary back there pretty easily, but I prefer it here.

    I don't blame you for not wanting to be in the rat-race that is London, but again that's measuring levels of how unlucky we are rather than actually how lucky we are.

    The best bits of Ireland - people helping each other out, leaving doors unlocked as you went out for 5 mins, chilling out somewhere for free, heading to the seaside or forest park without having to fork out €20 in petrol and another €5 for parking - are (generally) all gone, and the worst bits of having to put up with drunken idiots outside a bar or worse - coming back to find your car broken into or keyed, or returning home to find your house broken into - are on the increase, while you then claim from an "insurance" company that will then try to get their payout back over the next 3 years by charging it back in premiums.

    We lost our way during the "Celtic Tiger" years, and it sickens me.


  • #122
    dpe
    Registered Users Posts: 520 ✭✭✭dpe


    Liam Byrne wrote: »
    We're not comparing with London. We're asking if we're lucky to live in Ireland.

    Neither was I - London actually has an excellent transport infrastructure. Way better than the rest of the UK. Ireland's is about the same as anywhere except London, but given the population density that's not actually a bad thing.
    Liam Byrne wrote: »
    Speeding up ? Where ? Eircom rang me to offer me their NGB and I told them it wouldn't work.....they said it would. They rang back and said "oops, sorry" so I'm stuck with a 2-meg max, and that's 1.5 miles outside a city. God help anyone who's in the sticks.

    That's the joy of DSL everywhere. Go to the UK or France (or God forbid, the US) and you'll find a similar problem; I've got friends just outside Bristol and in Derbyshire who get "8 Meg", but really they never get more than 2MB, and probably never will. I know plenty of people in the US who can't get fixed line broadband at all.

    Liam Byrne wrote: »
    Can't say I've noticed; some things have, but day to day stuff is still far too expensive compared to other countries, and any drops have been negated by taxes (aka levies & charges), fuel increases and decreases in wages.

    And yet we still pay less overall tax than most EU countries. Go figure.
    Liam Byrne wrote: »
    I don't blame you for not wanting to be in the rat-race that is London, but again that's measuring levels of how unlucky we are rather than actually how lucky we are.

    Not really. If I want a decent job in most countries I'm probably going to end up in or near the capital city (Germany would be an exception) or a big conurbation. Its not just about London. Paris or Madrid would be as bad or worse. Dublin can be a bit dull compared to those places, but its also way less stressful to live and work in.
    Liam Byrne wrote: »
    The best bits of Ireland - people helping each other out, leaving doors unlocked as you went out for 5 mins, chilling out somewhere for free, heading to the seaside or forest park without having to fork out €20 in petrol and another €5 for parking - are (generally) all gone, and the worst bits of having to put up with drunken idiots outside a bar or worse - coming back to find your car broken into or keyed, or returning home to find your house broken into - are on the increase, while you then claim from an "insurance" company that will then try to get their payout back over the next 3 years by charging it back in premiums.

    You see I still see those things. They were all parts of my youth (in the north of England) that are long gone from the UK, but still persist here. Maybe they're going, but things are still friendlier and more relaxed than in other countries.


  • #123
    Greentopia
    Registered Users Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭Greentopia


    ellieswellies wrote: »
    Having realised this, I did emigrate, mostly for personal reasons (the OH is a yank) but it's turned out to be a big boost for my career too - the standards of my job here are a lot higher than what I worked at back in Ireland. I moved to the States btw, and while it's great for the most part, it's also very strange at times. There's this constant threat of being sued (because of the type of job I'm in), people are all on millions of prescription drugs, and you can't get sh!tfaced in public or cross a road without getting a ticket or something. And the supermarkets are really weird and people take things VERY literally most of the time. What I miss most about home is going for a pint or 10 with my friends and having the craic in general. But life is grand here for the most part. Mind you, I'm glad to be able to call Ireland home and I'm glad I grew up there. The states is grand but it's nice to have the option to leave whenever you want.

    What a downer :D I think I must be missing the alcohol loving Irish gene when I hear people here talk about drink like that. Not judging you for it and don't get me wrong I like a few myself, just not getting rat a*sed in public.

    The prescription drugs thing is weird isn't it? I'm on another American website where I've gotten to "know" a good few people and the number of them on anti-depressants is staggering.
    The litigious nature of the U.S. is another thing that would put me off moving there.

    Seattle (which is where I assume you are) is supposed to me nice though. One of the more progressive parts of the States by all accounts.

    Seattle or Portland Oregon (which I've heard great things about) would be where I'd want to live if I ever did go there.
    Glad things are working out well for ya there anyway.


  • #124
    fat__tony
    Registered Users Posts: 587 ✭✭✭fat__tony


    I consider myself lucky not to live in Ireland.

    In the cold light of day, the country is in economic ruin.

    Ireland is fine to visit but definitely not to live in anymore.

    Canada has a vastly superior quality of living.


  • #125
    AudreyHepburn
    Registered Users Posts: 5,673 ✭✭✭AudreyHepburn


    For all the moaning and complain that goes on I think we are a great little country really.

    Sure times are a bit rough right now but as a nation we've come through a hell of a lot worse (wars, famine, occupation, extreme poverty) and here we are still standing.

    I wouldn't want to be from anywhere else. What I love the most is that no matter where you are in the world you can always pick your own out in the crowd and there is always a great sense of comraderie there.


  • #126
    Greentopia
    Registered Users Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭Greentopia


    DoesNotCompute wrote: »
    Meh, Irish girls are quite plain and very moany (not in a good way) compared to most girls from other countries IMHO.

    I don't think women complain (if that's what you mean by "moan") any less about things than men here tbh, and I think we complain less than the English for example in my experience of both countries.
    And "most girls from other counties" is a rather meaningless phrase. What countries? How many countries have you been to or lived in to compare us with? quantify "most", what does "plain" and "very moany" mean to you?

    See the problems with such generalisations?

    And I won't begin to talk about the shortcomings of Irish men...


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  • #127
    Greentopia
    Registered Users Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭Greentopia


    Voodoo_rasher wrote: »
    Irish people don't want to know you if you don't have money. Otherwise you're heartily welcome, and come into the parlour.

    I don't think like that and I'm Irish, though undoubtedly many do.
    We use money in place of class in this country to judge people.
    I'd be rather the opposite of what you say though, if someone had obvious wealth I'd wonder what they had to do and who they had to step on to get it. Money changes people.

    I have met some honest wealthy people, but they tend not to be the nouveau riche ones who made their money during the so-called celtic tiger.


  • #128
    Doublin
    Registered Users Posts: 238 ✭✭Doublin


    Well I paid €10 for a pouch of tobacco today that has a tax tag from Holland of €3.40... To me it's a small minded, catholic, conservative, utterly corrupt small island. Only the scenery gives it some saving graces..


  • #129
    Zebra3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,946 ✭✭✭✭Zebra3


    saywhatyousee wrote: »
    Im sure the oil money [in Norway] helped that though.

    It has and will continue to do so for generations as the money isn't being pissed away to win the next election as would happen here.

    Denmark and Sweden don't have any oil, but still rank up the very top end of best places to live and least corrupt.

    Sadly Irish people are by and large too stupid to elect decent politicans.

    FF decide that the taxpayer should foot the bill for the actions of corrupt private institutions so the Irish electorate think the best thing to do is get rid of them and vote in FG who have the same policies. :rolleyes:

    Morons. :mad:


  • #130
    The King of Moo
    Registered Users Posts: 8,207 ✭✭✭The King of Moo


    Greentopia wrote: »
    I don't think like that and I'm Irish, though undoubtedly many do.
    We use money in place of class in this country to judge people.
    I'd be rather the opposite of what you say though, if someone had obvious wealth I'd wonder what they had to do and who they had to step on to get it. Money changes people.

    I have met some honest wealthy people, but they tend not to be the nouveau riche ones who made their money during the so-called celtic tiger.

    I think that was a problem that came with the Celtic Tiger, many people became very class conscious, but the only way they could try to determine class was with money. Like you say, there are many honest rich people, and there's honest people across the social spectrum.
    But I saw so many people suddenly become very obvious in the way they deliberately flaunted their wealth, in silly ways like buying property abroad just for the sake of it, and never neglecting to tell you about it.


  • #131
    superbad50
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 375 ✭✭superbad50


    most the women in ireland have hairy armpits. much prefer the foregn women


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  • #132
    goat2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,939 ✭✭✭goat2


    Cú Giobach wrote: »
    The 1755 and 1761 Tsunamis in Ireland
    Earthquakes In Ireland and the UK
    Oídhche na Gaoithe Móire (Night of the big wind)
    Winter of 2010–2011 in Great Britain and Ireland
    Never say never. ;)
    thank you, i found that interesting,


  • #133
    Helix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    Greentopia wrote: »
    the number of them on anti-depressants is staggering.


    crazy isnt it

    in ireland we just commit suicide as men in our 20s instead


  • #134
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Liam Byrne wrote: »
    Speeding up ? Where ? Eircom rang me to offer me their NGB and I told them it wouldn't work.....they said it would. They rang back and said "oops, sorry" so I'm stuck with a 2-meg max, and that's 1.5 miles outside a city. God help anyone who's in the sticks.

    Holy shlt... Really? Stuck with just 2megs broadband on your laptop? God, you live in an absolute shlthole. I don't know what the rest of the world were moaning about.


  • #135
    Greentopia
    Registered Users Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭Greentopia


    Liam Byrne wrote: »
    The best bits of Ireland - people helping each other out, leaving doors unlocked as you went out for 5 mins, chilling out somewhere for free, heading to the seaside or forest park without having to fork out €20 in petrol and another €5 for parking - are (generally) all gone, and the worst bits of having to put up with drunken idiots outside a bar or worse - coming back to find your car broken into or keyed, or returning home to find your house broken into - are on the increase, while you then claim from an "insurance" company that will then try to get their payout back over the next 3 years by charging it back in premiums.

    We lost our way during the "Celtic Tiger" years, and it sickens me.

    Well I think one good thing to have come out of the mess we're in is I find more people have time now to stop and chat or to give something back to their community. I agree we definitely lost something very precious in losing our strong sense of community during the "good" times, and anti-social behaviour, public drunkenness etc makes life unbearable or a lot of people here.

    Some examples:
    Since I moved to Arklow 7 years ago I've had my top window smashed for no reason whatsoever when someone lobbed a full milk bottle through it from the opposite side of the road at 3 o clock in the morning.

    I've been shouted at/intimidated by drunken yobs going home after dark.
    I've had teenagers block my path and intimidate me as I went to the local supermarket in broad daylight.

    My ex has had his car that's parked outside his house bashed and dented numerous times/ found bags of chips smeared on the windscreen.

    A car was set on fire in the car park next door to him one night, just for the hell of it.

    He's been knocked unconscious by a scumbag because he dared to ask him (politely) to move out of his drive-way (and the guy got away with it).

    His (and my former) shop keeper neighbour was brutally murdered last year-got a knife through the heart by scum who robbed his shop.

    I could go on. Nothing like that EVER happened to me or my friends when I lived in Sweden (and Sweden is a very PC place, so it's not PCness that's the underlying problem).
    Can't wait for the day I move out of Arklow to the country away from people tbh.


  • #136
    Clareboy
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 536 ✭✭✭Clareboy


    Neither was I - London actually has an excellent transport infrastructure. Way better than the rest of the UK. Ireland's is about the same as anywhere except London, but given the population density that's not actually a bad thing. ( Quote )

    I have travelled widely throughout the UK using public transport and I have to say that public transport in all parts of the UK is light years ahead of this country. Even on remote Scottish islands, the are excellent and frequent bus, ferry and air connections. There are large parts or Ireland, where public transport is non-existant. There is no comparision between public transport here and in the UK.


  • #137
    beano345
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,105 ✭✭✭beano345


    Liam Byrne wrote: »
    You're joking, right ?

    The transport "system" is pathetic.
    Crime and anti-social behaviour are at a level that belies the fact that 20 years ago a single murder would have been news for weeks, and no-one wants to challenge the PC crap that ha led to this
    Communications services are chronic and overpriced.

    Prices are too high, reducing everyone's quality of life, and there are very few truly "public" facilities at which you're not charged a small fortune for parking, food, etc......

    have to agree,in australia they have public barbeques in the parks and most green areas that are free to use and are looked after.you just could'nt have them here(apart from the weather) they would be absolutely wrecked,have empty beer cans and joint butts all around them.in saying that their is nothing for the young people to do here apart from congregate in gangs, sit on walls or underage drinking.


  • #138
    Greentopia
    Registered Users Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭Greentopia


    The King of Moo wrote: »
    But I saw so many people suddenly become very obvious in the way they deliberately flaunted their wealth, in silly ways like buying property abroad just for the sake of it, and never neglecting to tell you about it.

    I felt more sorry for people like that as they bought into a lie. The whole property mania passed me buy thankfully. Even if I had the money then to buy there's no way I would have. Anyone with half a brain could foresee what was coming down the road. Though I understand the desire to own a home of your own.
    Renting for me has always been the better option for many reasons up til now anyway.


  • #139
    Greentopia
    Registered Users Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭Greentopia


    superbad50 wrote: »
    most the women in ireland have hairy armpits. much prefer the foregn women

    :confused::D


  • #140
    The King of Moo
    Registered Users Posts: 8,207 ✭✭✭The King of Moo


    Clareboy wrote: »
    Neither was I - London actually has an excellent transport infrastructure. Way better than the rest of the UK. Ireland's is about the same as anywhere except London, but given the population density that's not actually a bad thing. ( Quote )

    I have travelled widely throughout the UK using public transport and I have to say that public transport in all parts of the UK is light years ahead of this country. Even on remote Scottish islands, the are excellent and frequent bus, ferry and air connections. There are large parts or Ireland, where public transport is non-existant. There is no comparision between public transport here and in the UK.

    Agreed, I lived in Scotland and was amazed that you could expect buses to be on time, and they even had electronic displays to tell you when the next bus would arrive (though on a weekday you'd never have to wait more than ten minutes).
    Though as a Galwegian who's spent a good bit of time in Dublin, I also think there's a difference between transport in Dublin and the rest of the country, at least in terms of buses. Dublin Bus might not be perfect, but they seem fairly reliable in terms of punctuality and I think some stops have the electronic displays they have in the UK.
    In Galway city the buses are a nightmare. There's one bus that's fairly reliable as it goes to an area that's boomed in population recently and it's a busy route. But with the rest, you can never guess when the buses will show up. You just arrive at the stop and might have to wait an hour for a bus. The timetable seems to be meaningless, and the bus is no use for getting to work in the morning as it might leave before the scheduled time or arrive a lot later.


  • #141
    The King of Moo
    Registered Users Posts: 8,207 ✭✭✭The King of Moo


    Greentopia wrote: »
    I felt more sorry for people like that as they bought into a lie. The whole property mania passed me buy thankfully. Even if I had the money then to buy there's no way I would have. Anyone with half a brain could foresee what was coming down the road. Though I understand the desire to own a home of your own.
    Renting for me has always been the better option for many reasons up til now anyway.

    There still seems to be an incredible pressure on people in this country to buy houses rather than renting. I don't know if it existed before the boom, but I know a few people who got very close to 100% mortgages just out of pressure they felt to own a house, and now they're faced with massive repayments they struggle to pay. It seems to be an Irish thing, most people I know from other countries say they don't find that pressure in their home countries.


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  • #142
    Greentopia
    Registered Users Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭Greentopia


    Helix wrote: »
    crazy isnt it

    in ireland we just commit suicide as men in our 20s instead

    Hard to read tone sometimes on the internets but if it's sarcastic- I know that's the case and not saying it's worse to be on anti-depressants than have young men commit suicide. Of course not.
    Anti-depressants have a place in treating depression-I was on them myself for 6 months when I went through a bad patch- but it does seem like vast numbers of Americans are over-medicated.

    One problem doesn't negate or lessen the reality or seriousness of the other. Obviously both need addressing.


  • #143
    Clareboy
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 536 ✭✭✭Clareboy


    Greentopia wrote: »
    I felt more sorry for people like that as they bought into a lie. The whole property mania passed me buy thankfully. Even if I had the money then to buy there's no way I would have. Anyone with half a brain could foresee what was coming down the road. Though I understand the desire to own a home of your own.
    Renting for me has always been the better option for many reasons up til now anyway.

    The tragedy is that we will all end up paying dearly for the great Irish building and property boom even if we did not actually take part in it.


  • #144
    Nolanger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,556 ✭✭✭Nolanger


    Johnny D. Mudd wrote: »
    I have seen people I know get into confrontations with a Spaniard because of some percieved slight. Same with some Germans too I'm afraid. I don't see this level of snobbishness too much in Ireland.
    Spain/Germany have a proper class system. All we have are scumbags and the middle-class.


  • #145
    Greentopia
    Registered Users Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭Greentopia


    The King of Moo wrote: »
    There still seems to be an incredible pressure on people in this country to buy houses rather than renting. I don't know if it existed before the boom, but I know a few people who got very close to 100% mortgages just out of pressure they felt to own a house, and now they're faced with massive repayments they struggle to pay. It seems to be an Irish thing, most people I know from other countries say they don't find that pressure in their home countries.

    I think it did exist but just way more people could indulge their property owning inclinations when the banks started throwing money at them during the boom.
    A mate of mine has a 100% mortgage on an apartment in the complex here where I'm renting.
    She knows it's worth probably half what she bought it for a few years ago and that coupled with the fact that negative equity means she can't move for god knows how many years so it's a sickener of course, but she sees it as her home and it's a nice apartment so as long as she holds onto her job and keeps up the mortgage payments she's fine.
    That's the only way to keep your sanity in cases like that I'd say, to think of it like that.

    That pressure to own definitely doesn't exist in most other European countries that I know of anyway. Home ownership might be an aspiration for some but it's not the obsession it is here and they're happy to buy when they can put a sizeable downpayment down.
    Indeed that's what banks demand in countries like Germany for example.

    But then you can see why lots of people want to own when you go into the reasons behind it- historical inequities and displacement from the land, lack of security of tenure for renters here, the general sub-par standard of accommodation for rent, rent being in many cases more expensive than mortgages up until now, lack of availability of apartments built for families not just singles, as there are in other European countries, and so on.


  • #146
    Greentopia
    Registered Users Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭Greentopia


    The King of Moo wrote: »
    Agreed, I lived in Scotland and was amazed that you could expect buses to be on time, and they even had electronic displays to tell you when the next bus would arrive (though on a weekday you'd never have to wait more than ten minutes).
    Though as a Galwegian who's spent a good bit of time in Dublin, I also think there's a difference between transport in Dublin and the rest of the country, at least in terms of buses. Dublin Bus might not be perfect, but they seem fairly reliable in terms of punctuality and I think some stops have the electronic displays they have in the UK.
    In Galway city the buses are a nightmare. There's one bus that's fairly reliable as it goes to an area that's boomed in population recently and it's a busy route. But with the rest, you can never guess when the buses will show up. You just arrive at the stop and might have to wait an hour for a bus. The timetable seems to be meaningless, and the bus is no use for getting to work in the morning as it might leave before the scheduled time or arrive a lot later.

    The local bus service here in Wicklow is not much better. The expressway service to and from Dublin that passes through Arklow is ok and that suits me fine going to Dublin or Waterford, punctual enough even though it could be more regular, but try getting back from Wicklow town without having to spend hours killing time there until the next one comes along using the local service. Nightmare.
    Train services are just as bad.


  • #147
    Greentopia
    Registered Users Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭Greentopia


    Clareboy wrote: »
    The tragedy is that we will all end up paying dearly for the great Irish building and property boom even if we did not actually take part in it.

    True. We already are.


  • #148
    softmee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 845 ✭✭✭softmee


    gcgirl wrote: »
    Some times we whinge and moan about Ireland the only thing id like would be cost of living a little bit cheaper and i wish that people who deal with customers on a face to face basis learn some basic proper customer service and smile a bit more

    You should try to live in Poland and pay the same as here for petrol, but earn in a month what average irish person earns in a week. :pac: Yes, you are lucky, i wish i could live the same life in my own country.

    -and its not only this, irish people are very possitive, open and have great sense of humour which my own nation including myself sometimes should learn from you.

    (and the ocean, guiness and sea food)


  • #149
    Zebra3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,946 ✭✭✭✭Zebra3


    Greentopia wrote: »
    Some examples:
    Since I moved to Arklow 7 years ago I've had my top window smashed for no reason whatsoever when someone lobbed a full milk bottle through it from the opposite side of the road at 3 o clock in the morning.

    I've been shouted at/intimidated by drunken yobs going home after dark.
    I've had teenagers block my path and intimidate me as I went to the local supermarket in broad daylight.

    My ex has had his car that's parked outside his house bashed and dented numerous times/ found bags of chips smeared on the windscreen.

    A car was set on fire in the car park next door to him one night, just for the hell of it.

    He's been knocked unconscious by a scumbag because he dared to ask him (politely) to move out of his drive-way (and the guy got away with it).

    His (and my former) shop keeper neighbour was brutally murdered last year-got a knife through the heart by scum who robbed his shop.

    I could go on. Nothing like that EVER happened to me or my friends when I lived in Sweden (and Sweden is a very PC place, so it's not PCness that's the underlying problem).
    Can't wait for the day I move out of Arklow to the country away from people tbh.

    All those events have happened since YOU moved to Arklow?

    Conicidence I think not!!!


  • #150
    Greentopia
    Registered Users Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭Greentopia


    Zebra3 wrote: »
    All those events have happened since YOU moved to Arklow?

    Conicidence I think not!!!

    Hey! what are ya trying to say?! :P


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  • #151
    PseudoFamous
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,514 ✭✭✭PseudoFamous


    Greentopia wrote: »
    Hey! what are ya trying to say?! :P
    Well, despite living in Arklow myself, it's a little bit unfortunate that I can tell exactly where you live by that fairly vague description.

    However, something tells me that you're actually very unlucky in your experience of the town. I know people who've lived there for years and haven't had a bad experience yet.

    Of course, it only takes one scumbag to ruin it for everyone.

    Also, the bus service to Dublin and Waterford is very frequent, at least once an hour in both directions (Just get a connection at Rosslare).


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