What do we want to argue about next?

[Noggin]

This isn't me being an Admin here, just me being me.

Why the hell do you lot watch the news all the time, it baffles me. Today I've watched a prog about 80s women going wrestling, no not 80 years old, 1980s. I watched some cycling and a bit of lord of the rings. I've spannered MTBs, cooked food for the boy and had a bath

The world doesn't need to be horrific, it doesn't need to affect you. Does it?

If any of this shit happens that you're all predicting anywhere near me I may then worry, but for now, life's way too short.

I don't/can't. I mean, I physically could, but it messes with my head far too much. I will have to learn about French politics in the next couple of years and watch French news (for an application for nationality) and I am so wanting to put it off. But 'need' to apply for nationality, so will have to watch news

For a long time now (years) I've dipped in and out of news threads on here/elsewhere to get basic info. If something 'big' pops up and I don't see it here, I generally hear about it from another English in resort. But my mental health has been clinging on by a thread the last few years, so I don't need to add all that shit!!

This isn't me being an Admin here, just me being me.
...
Why the hell do you lot watch the news all the time, it baffles me.

Nationalism will find it's way back here. Nationalism and Patriotism are not dirty words in my book.

Nationalism is not always good. A basic belief is good. The way Trump, Brexit, Marine Le Penn shout about it it is more like facisim/Nazism. It's horrific

As I replied to Weeksy - I HAVE to apply for nationality here for the simple reason that if Marine Le Penn's party get in, I could be kicked out of the country, even with an EU passport. Ok, very very unlikely, but the last thing I need is some extreme right politicians to make a ruling in 10 or 20 years when I won't be in a position to move anywhere. Many people have a fear of this kind of Nationalism. Anyone that doesn't understand that has never been affected by it. Sadly many of my friends have, in various ways and it is horrific

[Mr. Dazzle]

I don't lie awake at night worrying about Trump or Israel or anything else in the news Weeksy you might, if you were to read about it, but I don't.

Some people want to know whats going on outside, some don't. Just because you find it stress inducing or whatever doesn't mean everyone does.

And it DOES effect you whether you choose to ignore it or not.

It makes me laugh when people say "it doesn't effect me so I'm not gonna worry about it". If someone breaks into your house, murders all your family and takes all your stuff it doesn't effect ME, but I'm still more than happy to pay for the police.

[Screwdriver]

Nationalism is not always good. A basic belief is good. The way Trump, Brexit, Marine Le Penn shout about it it is more like facisim/Nazism. It's horrific

Chocolate isn't always good, water isn't always good...

Like I said, Nationalism and Patriotism are not dirty words. They used to mean something positive. A love for your country or (as in your case), your chosen country.

All over the world we are seeing the gradual destruction of national identity by the simple process of open border policies. Either you are happy with that scenario or you're not. I'm not happy seeing this country turning into an Islamic state but that might just be me. <dunno>

What happened in America is quite extraordinary because of the enormous number of undocumented migrants. That's not just a euphemism for "illegal alien" by the way, many countries simply refuse to disclose their criminal records to the US government. Similarly, without border checks, I don't have to speak out loud the situation in Sweden for example do it?

It's not too much to ask that we should have a secure border and if someone wants to come and live here, they should go through an entry process is it?

Or is that too shouty?

[Noggin]

Nationalism is not always good. A basic belief is good. The way Trump, Brexit, Marine Le Penn shout about it it is more like facisim/Nazism. It's horrific

Chocolate isn't always good, water isn't always good...

Like I said, Nationalism and Patriotism are not dirty words. They used to mean something positive. A love for your country or (as in your case), your chosen country.

All over the world we are seeing the gradual destruction of national identity by the simple process of open border policies. Either you are happy with that scenario or you're not. I'm not happy seeing this country turning into an Islamic state but that might just be me. <dunno>

What happened in America is quite extraordinary because of the enormous number of undocumented migrants. That's not just a euphemism for "illegal alien" by the way, many countries simply refuse to disclose their criminal records to the US government. Similarly, without border checks, I don't have to speak out loud the situation in Sweden for example do it?

It's not too much to ask that we should have a secure border and if someone wants to come and live here, they should go through an entry process is it?

Or is that too shouty?

I kinda have to be ok with that scenario. Without open borders I wouldn't be where I am - the happiest I've ever been.

Yes there should be controls. Like here, for nationality you have to prove integration and language skills. My understanding is that for residency you now have to prove a level of language too. Maybe this reduces the erosion of national identity.

But, since the uk has reduced the open border policy there doesn't seem to be less rhetoric about immigrants, despite many 'going home' after 2016 - so as there is now a closed border, was that really the issue?

However I was lucky and came to France prior to the language requirement, or I'd never have been able to pass the test (I am now fluent, so could pass the nationality test tomorrow).


I don't actually think borders are the issue. Illegal immigrants really aren't the major issue. But no one that thinks they are will be persuaded otherwise. So I don't try

[Yorick]

All over the world we are seeing the gradual destruction of national identity by the simple process of open border policies. Either you are happy with that scenario or you're not.

So according to you, the whole world is miserable ?

The only miserable place is in your head

[Cousin Jack]

IMO the issue is not immigrants, it is immigrants who want to import their culture and way of life with them, and who have no intention of becoming 'integrated'.

When I worked in Paris I had to accept that France was France, if I tried to speak French (badly) many people would help me with their English. But that was them being friendly, I had zero rights, and if I refused to attempt it they would just stick to French, even if sometimes they had near perfect English.

[Taipan]

I get in at 6 pretty much on the dot and always used to sit down and watch the news, but i don't any more. If I hear about something going on i'll go and read up about it. I do sometimes put GB News on in the morning, but that's because I like Ellie and Isabel.

[Timmy]

I kinda have to be ok with that scenario. Without open borders I wouldn't be where I am - the happiest I've ever been.

I get from the tone of your posts about France that you are settled there. Genuine question, why not become a citizen of the country? I don't see anything wrong with a country saying that if you've been there for 5-10-15 yrs that if you 're not a citizen you have no right to stay. Also, being able to speak the language should be a fundamental requirement for moving to a different country.

But, since the uk has reduced the open border policy there doesn't seem to be less rhetoric about immigrants, despite many 'going home' after 2016 - so as there is now a closed border, was that really the issue?

Immigration in the UK is higher than ever. In 2022/2023 the UK accepted 1.4 million legals. It's a major issue if you want the essence of a country to remain imo. It's not immigration that I am personnally against, it's the scale of it.

As for not watching the news and ignoring it all, that's all well and good until you can't ignore it anymore.

[weeksy]

Does the essence of the country need to remain? It's a big wide world, shouldn't we share it?

If the essence of the UK is football, beer, fighting and slapping your bird about, who the fuck wants to keep it.

English Gentleman are very few and far between and English values don't seem to exist

[Mr. Dazzle]

They never have, it's an illusion. A long running one to be fair.

English values also include women and the working classes not having a vote. You just have to (arbitrarily) choose which part of English history you want to say is the fixed point of values.

Even the word "English" ultimately derives from "people of Angle (as in, Germanic) origin".

[Rockburner]

.... I don't see anything wrong with a country saying that if you've been there for 5-10-15 yrs that if you 're not a citizen you have no right to stay.

So - just to find the "line" here, lets take an example: you'd be ok with a foreign national who's lived in this country for over 50 years; contributed (via tax/NI etc) financially to the country; contributed via jobs (working for UK companies) to the social cohesion of the country; contributed socially (by being part of the local community eg running local events etc); being summarily thrown out simply because that person never had the need in the past to change their citizenship because in the past the requirement was not there?

Or is there a cut off where a person's contributions to a country outweigh their "unnaturalism" ??

As I say - just trying to find the delineation point.

[Screwdriver]

Does the essence of the country need to remain? It's a big wide world, shouldn't we share it?

Explains your lack of interest in politics.

If the essence of the UK is football, beer, fighting and slapping your bird about, who the fuck wants to keep it.

It isn't. Football hooliganism is tribalism and that is a worldwide phenomena. Not merely restricted to sport, also applies to religion.

English Gentleman are very few and far between and English values don't seem to exist

Sad but true. I blame the education system.

[Screwdriver]

As I say - just trying to find the delineation point.

You would be better off starting at the other end of this imaginary "line" where large groups of military age men illegally enter the country.

[weeksy]

Does the essence of the country need to remain? It's a big wide world, shouldn't we share it?

Explains your lack of interest in politics.

If the essence of the UK is football, beer, fighting and slapping your bird about, who the fuck wants to keep it.

It isn't. Football hooliganism is tribalism and that is a worldwide phenomena. Not merely restricted to sport, also applies to religion.

English Gentleman are very few and far between and English values don't seem to exist

Sad but true. I blame the education system.

I blame parents, school isn't where your kids should learn values, they're there to be educated. Being a parent is the first step and many many parents in this country fail massively at this.

[weeksy]

As I say - just trying to find the delineation point.

You would be better off starting at the other end of this imaginary "line" where large groups of military age men illegally enter the country.

Lol when did this happen and why

[Timmy]

.... I don't see anything wrong with a country saying that if you've been there for 5-10-15 yrs that if you 're not a citizen you have no right to stay.

So - just to find the "line" here, lets take an example: you'd be ok with a foreign national who's lived in this country for over 50 years; contributed (via tax/NI etc) financially to the country; contributed via jobs (working for UK companies) to the social cohesion of the country; contributed socially (by being part of the local community eg running local events etc); being summarily thrown out simply because that person never had the need in the past to change their citizenship because in the past the requirement was not there?

Or is there a cut off where a person's contributions to a country outweigh their "unnaturalism" ??

As I say - just trying to find the delineation point.

Well, personally, if a requirement for citizenship wasn't required on their arrival, then I would say it's a tad unfair just to boot them out. If a requirement to remain was introduced, there should be a grace period whereby they are required to pass the citizenship standard/test. If they don't, then yes, they should be removed.

[Timmy]

Does the essence of the country need to remain? It's a big wide world, shouldn't we share it?

Yes it does need to remain. Share by all means by integrating into the country you want to stay in, but don't try and make it into the place you have just come from.

[Screwdriver]

I blame parents, school isn't where your kids should learn values, they're there to be educated. Being a parent is the first step and many many parents in this country fail massively at this.

Also true.

Sadly.

[Screwdriver]

As I say - just trying to find the delineation point.

You would be better off starting at the other end of this imaginary "line" where large groups of military age men illegally enter the country.

Lol when did this happen and why

Ohh, let me take a flying guess. Let's say, several hundred times in the past 24 hours....

Are you kidding?

[weeksy]

You would be better off starting at the other end of this imaginary "line" where large groups of military age men illegally enter the country.

Lol when did this happen and why

Ohh, let me take a flying guess. Let's say, several hundred times in the past 24 hours....

Are you kidding?

Go on, i've no idea what you're on about