What's so GREAT about Britian?

[scratchnsniff]

Nobody gets that lucky scratch! They do have a better planning system than Ireland.Which is another way of saying :they have a planning system.You were in SW and Wales,imagine what towns like Marloes,St.Davids,Saundersfoot,etc. would look like if they were in Kerry as opposed to Dyfed.There are rare exceptions like Kilkenny city but most Irish towns could be summed up in that well worn phrase from the Rough Guide series;'there is nothing to detain the casual visitor in ---'

I'm afraid in Kerry if it isn't a bungalow and oblong, the planning dept will prob have a fit. As we are making comparisons though i would say that on the whole we have more community involvement here than in Britain, their the communitys have suffered due to far more movement of people within the country, we tend towards a larger percentage of people who have been in the same place for generations. HAVE to be careful with this due to the large amount of Brit haters on this site, Im not saying they are less friendly just that their community's are not as interwove , as i say only my perception though and I am not saying the difference is massive..

[essexboy]

The beer is better, cheaper and there is a wider choice of brews. Unlike Irish pubs which offer the same combination of icy American rubbish eg Miller. The only difference is the brand of stout on offer - and No, I don't touch the black stuff.

More seriously, medical treatment is free at point of delivery and whatever problems the NHS has are nothing compared to those in Irish hospitals.

And if the UK (not Britain) is so bad why are residents of the Republic flocking to the North to shop, and for dental treatment? [Of course, Calamity Coughlan claims they are going for alcohol but we will exclude no-brainers from the count.]

[mutley]

The title was only used in toungue and cheek, Unionists profess their Britishness not their United Kingdomness and it British soldiers not United kingdom soldiers that people want out,

Those statistics refer to the UK and Britian, the point being Is that I can't understand why anyone would take such pride in a Country or Kingdom or Isles such as it, or want to be part of it
To many people who profess their Britishness look accross the water with rose tinted spectacles on

[mutley]

The beer is better, cheaper and there is a wider choice of brews. Unlike Irish pubs which offer the same combination of icy American rubbish eg Miller. The only difference is the brand of stout on offer - and No, I don't touch the black stuff.

More seriously, medical treatment is free at point of delivery and whatever problems the NHS has are nothing compared to those in Irish hospitals.

And if the UK (not Britain) is so bad why are residents of the Republic flocking to the North to shop, and for dental treatment? [Of course, Calamity Coughlan claims they are going for alcohol but we will exclude no-brainers from the count.]

Because its cheaper, the UK economic crises and slashing of interest rates has devalued the pound

[Big Bobo]

After 3 decades of Thatcher, Major and Blair it shouldn't suprise anyone to see British society in tatters. Once proud communities have been left to rot as the individual reigns supreme.

[democrat]

Not surprisingly, people such as Joel and Bobby Sands are taking the opportunity to display their thin Paddy skins on behalf of dear aul Oirland. Is it not possible to discuss any topic on this site without resorting to reflex anti-british views?

[joel]

Not surprisingly, people such as Joel and Bobby Sands are taking the opportunity to display their thin Paddy skins on behalf of dear aul Oirland. Is it not possible to discuss any topic on this site without resorting to reflex anti-british views?

What anti-British views have I expressed? Get off your knees, stop genuflecting - and grow a pair.

[pete2]

Had read in the broadsheets that the 'Great' in GB was to distinguish the larger island landmass from the smaller land mass of Brittany. The 'Britons' being the indigenous Welsh (as we now know them), all others being immigrants. The Britons having migrated to populate the island from the areas we now refer to as France and Spain.

Regarding the supposed "confusion" between britain and "uk" which was remarked on, I believe its deliberate on the part of posters. The "uk" is an idea, a political construct, not unlike the USSR, USA, or Gross Deutschland. It is only alive in the minds of people and entirely variable. The issue of this islands geography and proximity to the island of britain and its inhabitants is whats real and static. That posters of a certain political outlook will emphasize land over imagined political systems should not be unexpected.

[bugibba]

After 3 decades of Thatcher, Major and Blair it shouldn't suprise anyone to see British society in tatters. Once proud communities have been left to rot as the individual reigns supreme.

Perhaps those "proud communities" were built on sand to begin with.

[scratchnsniff]

Oh dear it seems that we are incapable of making comparisons without it being stereotypes and agendas to the fore.
As it happens their are some lovely parts of Britain which i would happily live in, their are also parts i would no doubt avoid. It goes without saying this is true of Ireland and the world. The British are on the whole very welcoming and apear to like the Irish ,though some do still think we all ride Donkeys and drink and dance at the drop of a hat. (for this you may partially blame the adverts we send out to attract them here)
I have to say I quite loved the south west, beautiful country with lovely villages and they do a cream on scones with jam to die for. (i had a luvy moment)
I also like France and Germany, But its harder to get their with cycles and kit.
I sometimes wonder about some of the anti brits on this site- not the troles their just pointless, but the otherwise Intelligent ones, How can they live next door to a place visit it no doubt, yet cling to so many stupid fixed knee jerk beliefs, Incomprehensible and a little pathetic.

Oh if anyone knows if the cream they use (clotted!) is available here let us know.