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Smithington
Joined: 14 Dec 2011
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 Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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| KimchiNinja wrote: |
| Well, the West in general is in a state of decline. US/UK/AU/CN all hit their peak decades ago, they are now in the decline phase where they are starting to rot. |
Utter nonsense. Statistics suggest otherwise. Western countries are still at the very top of all the indexes where you'd want your country to rank well. http://www.businessinsider.com/top-countries-on-oecd-better-life-index-2013-5?op=1
If, on the other hand, you want to see Korea at the top of any lists you'd have to look at suicide rates, dissatisfaction with life, and pedestrian deaths.
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aq8knyus
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Location: London
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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The British urge to hate and trash their own country is the reason why the empire was so successful.
If you asked a frenchman living in the Loire Valley to move to a disease ridden swamp on the other side of the world populated with natives who wanted to kill you, they would say no. Ask the same question to someone from Glasgow or Leeds and they would jump at the chance.
That being said by no measure is Britain declining, changing yes, but not declining. I suspect it is that change which has so many expats worried.
I do not dispute that life in a poor inner city might be difficult, but it is the same anywhere.
I grew up poor in a small little market town and whilst it was difficult financially, it was nothing short of idyllic. |
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basic69isokay
Joined: 28 Sep 2014
Location: korea
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 10:42 pm Post subject: |
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If we're honest we'll say, "Student debt" or "F*cked credit score" but most people say
"I just wanted to travel" hahah, and if that were true, then yea a little crazy.
But most people have good reasons to be here (or not be back home) |
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Lucas
Joined: 11 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
If we're honest we'll say, "Student debt" or "F*cked credit score" but most people say
"I just wanted to travel" hahah, and if that were true, then yea a little crazy.
But most people have good reasons to be here (or not be back home) |
What's a credit score? |
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KimchiNinja
Joined: 01 May 2012
Location: Gangnam
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Smithington wrote: |
| KimchiNinja wrote: |
| Well, the West in general is in a state of decline. US/UK/AU/CN all hit their peak decades ago, they are now in the decline phase where they are starting to rot. |
Utter nonsense. |
Thanks Smithington for sharing your generally non-insightful backwards-looking thoughts. |
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Lucas
Joined: 11 Sep 2012
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aq8knyus
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Location: London
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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| basic69isokay wrote: |
If we're honest we'll say, "Student debt" or "F*cked credit score" but most people say
"I just wanted to travel" hahah, and if that were true, then yea a little crazy.
But most people have good reasons to be here (or not be back home) |
Student debt isn't really an issue for Brits though, I mean it is a headache for the government, but a small proportionate monthly payment for someone earning over 21,000 is hardly a big deal.
It is certainly not enough of a concern to make someone go to Korea. |
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basic69isokay
Joined: 28 Sep 2014
Location: korea
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 12:01 am Post subject: |
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| aq8knyus wrote: |
| basic69isokay wrote: |
If we're honest we'll say, "Student debt" or "F*cked credit score" but most people say
"I just wanted to travel" hahah, and if that were true, then yea a little crazy.
But most people have good reasons to be here (or not be back home) |
Student debt isn't really an issue for Brits though, I mean it is a headache for the government, but a small proportionate monthly payment for someone earning over 21,000 is hardly a big deal.
It is certainly not enough of a concern to make someone go to Korea. |
Maybe not for Brits, but many Americans and Canadians have over 100K USD and no mercy at all from the government. Can't even declare bankruptcy. They'll garnish your wages, take your retirement pay even.
Most people here don't like to talk about it, but MANY MANY are here to payoff student loans. Don't think Filipinos or Thais know that. |
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aq8knyus
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Location: London
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 12:01 am Post subject: |
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At least in Britain we have some insight into the terrible things that go on in those places.
Pity the country where such things are hidden and not reported. |
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aq8knyus
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Location: London
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 12:02 am Post subject: |
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| basic69isokay wrote: |
| aq8knyus wrote: |
| basic69isokay wrote: |
If we're honest we'll say, "Student debt" or "F*cked credit score" but most people say
"I just wanted to travel" hahah, and if that were true, then yea a little crazy.
But most people have good reasons to be here (or not be back home) |
Student debt isn't really an issue for Brits though, I mean it is a headache for the government, but a small proportionate monthly payment for someone earning over 21,000 is hardly a big deal.
It is certainly not enough of a concern to make someone go to Korea. |
Maybe not for Brits, but many Americans and Canadians have over 100K USD and no mercy at all from the government. Can't even declare bankruptcy. They'll garnish your wages, take your retirement pay even.
Most people here don't like to talk about it, but MANY MANY are here to payoff student loans. Don't think Filipinos or Thais know that. |
Sorry, yes, for N.Americans it can be tough. |
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KimchiNinja
Joined: 01 May 2012
Location: Gangnam
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 12:15 am Post subject: |
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| basic69isokay wrote: |
| ...many Americans and Canadians have over 100K USD and no mercy at all from the government. Can't even declare bankruptcy. They'll garnish your wages, take your retirement pay even. |
Yup, enslaving people to debt is a classic move. The longer it takes for them to pay it back, and the more interest/fees that add up along the way, the better. Investors love it...
Student-Loan Securities Stay Hot
http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323293704578334542910674174 |
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Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 3:48 am Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
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| It really is grim up north |
'Up North' would also include the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, Chester, York, Harrogate, Whitby, Chatsworth, Castle Howard etc.. etc..Just that one area of the UK has got a lot more going for it than most countries, inc Korea |
Granted those are picturesque places to visit, but very few Britons live the James herriot lifestyle.
Unless you are very rich then the reality for most brits is that of a hostile/ ugly urban estate, struggling to meet bills.
Real life does not revolve around watching corrie, devoting your life to a football team, or spending your meagre disposable income down the pub every other day. Its a pathetic existence. |
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aq8knyus
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Location: London
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 4:21 am Post subject: |
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| Chaparrastique wrote: |
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Quote: |
| It really is grim up north |
'Up North' would also include the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, Chester, York, Harrogate, Whitby, Chatsworth, Castle Howard etc.. etc..Just that one area of the UK has got a lot more going for it than most countries, inc Korea |
Granted those are picturesque places to visit, but very few Britons live the James herriot lifestyle.
Unless you are very rich then the reality for most brits is that of a hostile/ ugly urban estate, struggling to meet bills.
Real life does not revolve around watching corrie, devoting your life to a football team, or spending your meagre disposable income down the pub every other day. Its a pathetic existence. |
Poor people in the US, Korea or Australia live similarly bleak existences albeit with better weather.
Plus isn't the whole work - watch tv - follow your sports team/hobby - weekend booze up ritual basically the same for most people?
| Chaparrastique wrote: |
| struggling to meet bills. |
You should get yourself down the Citizens Advice Bureau and ask them to negotiate a more affordable payment plan. Alternatively switch to a meter, we switched to one and it was far less burdensome than a quarterly bill. Plus it is always fun to buy electricity and gas at the corner shop. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 4:28 am Post subject: |
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| basic69isokay wrote: |
Maybe not for Brits, but many Americans and Canadians have over 100K USD and no mercy at all from the government. Can't even declare bankruptcy. They'll garnish your wages, take your retirement pay even.
Most people here don't like to talk about it, but MANY MANY are here to payoff student loans. Don't think Filipinos or Thais know that. |
Americans yes, Canadians no. Canadians only accumulate $100,000 plus in student loans if they attend grad school for a professional degree (MBA, JD), and it's actually pretty easy for them to discharge their student loan debt. |
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basic69isokay
Joined: 28 Sep 2014
Location: korea
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 4:42 am Post subject: |
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Oh really? I didn't know that. Good for Canadians!
But the point is that the whole reason why we're here is actually quite complicated. Much more than just a SE Asian saying " you're a Westerner, why don't you go home to your mansion like I see on desperate housewives"
NAh it aint like that |
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