Are we lucky to live in Ireland?

The King of Moo

Daroxtar wrote: »

So you don't think we've experienced much change of attitude in the last 16 years? Seriously?

Outwardly, definitely, and it's only going to continue changing.
But look at things like the fact that very few politicians will even mention the issue of abortion, or some of the reaction to the David Norris "controversy". Or the racism in this country (though the racists are more than matched by welcoming Irish people, it's still very common to see/hear casual and sometimes not-so-casual racism).
Things have definitely progressed, but I think there's still a large portion of the population that is fundamentally conservative and who will automatically fall back on the old way of doing things when push comes to shove. They just don't have much of an outlet anymore.

beano345

Daroxtar wrote: »

Fúck Scandanavia. 6 months of subzero temperatures, 6 months of constant darkness, Devil worshipers, Death Metal, Vikings, ridiculously high taxes , Shroomed off their tits Reindeers and every lame ass matt cooper/joe duffy contributor saying "Oh, we should look at the Scandanavian way of doing things".
NO!!!
Fúck Scandanavia

Ireland is fúcking lovely.:)

f**k scandanavia

some of the most down to earth,intelligent honest people i have ever met in my life.theres a reason why most of them are atheist

Daroxtar

Fair enough, but politicians are usually consevrative middle aged people and the dont like to stir things too much. Ireland has a large young population and the mindset amongst the under 40s is incredibly different to that of many of the over 40s. In another 10 years things will be unrecognisable here to what they were like 10 years ago.

Cill Dara Abu

Daroxtar wrote: »

Fair enough, but politicians are usually consevrative middle aged people and the dont like to stir things too much. Ireland has a large young population and the mindset amongst the under 40s is incredibly different to that of many of the over 40s. In another 10 years things will be unrecognisable here to what they were like 10 years ago.

In what way?

beano345

every scandanavian i ever talked to could'nt believe the levels of political corruption here and that was nearly 8 years ago.it just doesn't happen there they don't let it

Daroxtar

beano345 wrote: »

f**k scandanavia

some of the most down to earth,intelligent honest people i have ever met in my life.theres a reason why most of them are atheist

Or satanist.....:)

beano345

thats the black metal for you:D too many dark hours

El Siglo

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!;)

The King of Moo

Daroxtar wrote: »

Fair enough, but politicians are usually consevrative middle aged people and the dont like to stir things too much. Ireland has a large young population and the mindset amongst the under 40s is incredibly different to that of many of the over 40s. In another 10 years things will be unrecognisable here to what they were like 10 years ago.

I agree, though I think it may take a little longer.
Some of the over-40s of today were relatively progressive in their youth, and some of today's under-40s will have to become conservative 40-something politicians.
And the brown envelopes will probably knock the idealism out of some of them.

PseudoFamous

beano345 wrote: »

every scandanavian i ever talked to could'nt believe the levels of political corruption here and that was nearly 8 years ago.it just doesn't happen there they don't let it

Maybe their politicians are just better at concealing it, and they're actually far worse than our cowboys

beano345

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!;)

im the opposite as much as i love been born here for the sense of humour and craic i never see myself settling here with an irish girl.

beano345

PseudoFamous wrote: »

Maybe their polititians are just better at concealing it, and they're actually far worse than our cowboys

well they have'nt called in the IMF yet

Daroxtar

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

In what way?

Our mentality as a nation has shifted seismically away from being ruled by the god squad. We've also experienced our first proper cycle of affluence which changes peoples mindsets and lifestyles. We've changed, and will continue to do so

El Siglo

beano345 wrote: »

im the opposite as much as i love been born here for the sense of humour and craic i never see myself settling here with an irish girl.

Jedem das seine!;)

Greentopia

The King of Moo wrote: »

Our general infrastructure has improved, but there's little things like not building services when building the motorway network, or building a national stadium that's too small that are just ridiculous.

Yep, we just don't seem to be able to plan and build large infrastructural projects here like they do elsewhere in Europe, and when we do attempt it-like the national stadium we invariably get it wrong somehow, or we go way over budget.
The lack of motorway services in ridiculous. Apart from the service areas where you can stop for something to eat, ever seen the phone boxes they have for drivers to call free of charge in case of emergency every hundred yards or so. That's good thinking.

The King of Moo wrote: »

Which is all to do with the *adopts Roy Keane voice* acceptance of mediocrity and lack of planning and organisation which is part of our culture, the "ah shure 'til be grand" attitude. Also, compared to other countries like America or France, we're very accepting of corruption and poor planning, or at least not very willing to take action against what we don't like.

That drives me nuts. One of the worst aspects of this country IMO, and the results are evident everywhere and in so many aspects of Irish life from planning to the leaders we elect.
I never understand why we seem to always settle for second best in terms of the people who govern us, social policy, infrastructure, public transport etc.

And you only have to look at how our beautiful countryside has been destroyed in places by ribbon development and ugly McMansionsto see the effects of bad planning.

The King of Moo wrote: »

Lots of people still seem to have an inferiority complex about the country too, and be very concerned about how we're seen by the "big" countries like America and the U.K, and too concerned about how we look to them, not embarrassing ourselves.

Very much so. We still only seem to appreciate Irish achievement (especially in the arts) when it's gotten the seal of approval from the U.K. or the U.S.
Doesn't say much for our self-image or confidence as a people when we still feel we need to do that.

/rant

beano345

El Siglo wrote: »

Jedem das seine!;)

every pot has a lid;)

PseudoFamous

beano345 wrote: »

well they have'nt called in the IMF yet

I'm afraid that the IMF being here is not a direct result of political corruption, and is actually due mostly to the nation as a whole's stupidity.

El Siglo

beano345 wrote: »

every pot has a lid;)

And every sink has a plug!:D

Wompa1

Just spent the last 2 weekends going around the West Coast. The ruins of the Marconi Wireless station, Sky Road, Alcock and Brown crash landing site in Clifden. Kilronan castle and Lough Key Forest Park in Roscommon. Glencar waterfall in Leitrim.Went through Sligo and Mayo...and have been to Strandhill and the likes of Westport House a few times.

To Hell or to Connaught....I'll take Connaught please. We are so lucky and I'm somebody who is completely discourage by society here but what a beautiful country

Daroxtar

PseudoFamous wrote: »

I'm afraid that the IMF being here is not a direct result of political corruption, and is actually due mostly to the nation as a whole's stupidity.

Mostly due to the actions of our former taoiseach and minister for finance guaranteeing foreign investors. Don't ever confuse the actions of those fúckwits for that of the nation as a whole, WE didn't do that

beano345

PseudoFamous wrote: »

I'm afraid that the IMF being here is not a direct result of political corruption, and is actually due mostly to the nation as a whole's stupidity.

speak for yourself.i worked hard all threw out the boom......im not paying for their mistakes

saywhatyousee

beano345 wrote: »

well they have'nt called in the IMF yet

Sweden had a banking crisis in 1992 caused by a housing bubble just like Ireland

Cill Dara Abu

Wompa1 wrote: »

Just spent the last 2 weekends going around the West Coast. The ruins of the Marconi Wireless station, Sky Road, Alcock and Brown crash landing site in Clifden. Kilronan castle and Lough Key Forest Park in Roscommon. Glencar waterfall in Leitrim.Went through Sligo and Mayo...and have been to Strandhill and the likes of Westport House a few times.

To Hell or to Connaught....I'll take Connaught please. We are so lucky and I'm somebody who is completely discourage by society here but what a beautiful country

In a Larry Murphy kind of way?

Kidding! what you mean?

Einhard

beano345 wrote: »

every scandanavian i ever talked to could'nt believe the levels of political corruption here and that was nearly 8 years ago.it just doesn't happen there they don't let it

Do you talk to Scandinavians knowledgeable about Irish public life a lot then? Just wonderin'...

beano345

Einhard wrote: »

Do you talk to Scandinavians knowledgeable about Irish public life a lot then? Just wonderin'...

yea im still in touch with them and they can't believe whats going on here

Cill Dara Abu

I like the Irish weather except all that snow in december and january, that was scary, dont think I could get used to a hot climate, i'm happy with our 1 week of sunshine every year, too much of a good thing and all that...

PseudoFamous

Daroxtar wrote: »

Don't ever confuse the actions of those fúckwits for that of the nation as a whole, WE didn't do that

I suppose that the taoiseach and ministers single handedly fueled the need for developments in places such as Courtown and Arklow for holiday homes, and this was of no fault of the completely innocent nation.

How many people do you know who have more than one house and are trying to offload the second? I see plenty of them, as I live in Arklow.

Wompa1

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

In a Larry Murphy kind of way?

Kidding! what you mean?

Where I live, Galway city. Unemployment has been pretty big for a long time, not just from the recession. There seems to be an attitude of I couldn't find a job IF I looked for one. It's an artsy type of town in which the unemployed are actually the elitist group. Also in Ireland, yes the politicians are corrupt but it seems like it's nearly bred into people here...everybody is trying to get their piece...I know Phd students on funding going off to conferences with expenses in the thousands but only showing up for a half day of the week long conference, back in my hometown the council would give planning permission to FF heads only back in the day. I know people who are trying to get on disability benefits that shouldn't be applicable.

The country is in a complete tailspin and the amount of 2011 cars I've seen has been staggering. The recession has meant people have had less money..but they still spend more than they have. Then there's the lack of manners on some people..I get that back in the day not many people worked in the service sector in Ireland growing up but it doesn't take much effort to be polite. anyway turning into a rant...lets just say the scenery is amazing here

Greentopia

Daroxtar wrote: »

Fúck Scandanavia. 6 months of subzero temperatures, 6 months of constant darkness, Devil worshipers, Death Metal, Vikings, ridiculously high taxes , Shroomed off their tits Reindeers and every lame ass matt cooper/joe duffy contributor saying "Oh, we should look at the Scandanavian way of doing things".
NO!!!
Fúck Scandanavia

Ireland is fúcking lovely.:)

I missed that! and what's wrong with reindeers?! apart from being rather ugly mo fo's up close

Subzero temps. don't last for 6 months unless you live in the far north of Sweden/Norway or Finland and the weather is not too bad as long as you wrap up well. You get used to it after a while.

Devil worshipers...meh, so they like to burn down few churches now and then, big deal :pac:

Vikings...yes, tall handsome Vikings :cool:

Darkness...where I was- in Gothenburg there was only an hour less daylight in winter than here in winter.
Makes summer all the nicer when it arrives too.

And high taxes pay for the cradle to grave welfare states that ensures that everyone has a decent standard of living.
They see it as the price that must be paid for high standard public and social services and don't complain (usually) about paying them.
Life is much easier for the everyday Joe there than here because of it. Go there and see for yourself

Helix

anyone still in ireland out of their own choice is either very naive or has never left the country imo

Greentopia

beano345 wrote: »

f**k scandanavia

some of the most down to earth,intelligent honest people i have ever met in my life.theres a reason why most of them are atheist

Yep! couldn't agree more. I met some wonderful people from there too.
They see religion as something that is a part of childhood but when we cease to be children we should put away the things of childhood and grow out of it.
Around 75/85% of Swedes are atheist.

They made me think a lot about how I felt about religion. I left here a lapsed Catholic/agnostic and came back an atheist. My mother was not pleased

enfant terrible

Helix wrote: »

anyone still in ireland out of their own choice is either very naive or has never left the country imo

What if you have a good job and like living here surrounded by your family and friends.

PseudoFamous

Greentopia wrote: »

Around 75/85% of Swedes are atheist.

Just getting up to some pedantic antics here, but most Swedes don't see themselves as athiest, despite not believing in God, and identify themselves as being part of the Church of Sweden. Church of Sweden comprises of 71ish% of the population.

Much like Ireland, actually

Greentopia

PseudoFamous wrote: »

Maybe their politicians are just better at concealing it, and they're actually far worse than our cowboys

They're not. They are less corrupt. I lived there for years and saw how the political system works.
All international indicators and studies show that they consistently come tops in the least corrupt countries on earth. I think Finland holds the title at the moment, or did last year anyway.

enfant terrible

Greentopia wrote: »

Yep! couldn't agree more. I met some wonderful people from there too.
They see religion as something that is a part of childhood but when we cease to be children we should put away the things of childhood and grow out of it.
Around 75/85% of Swedes are atheist.

They made me think a lot about how I felt about religion. I left here a lapsed Catholic/agnostic and came back an atheist. My mother was not pleased

Your the definition of a sheep.

Thank god you never met any scientologists.

beano345

PseudoFamous wrote: »

Just getting up to some pedantic antics here, but most Swedes don't see themselves as athiest, despite not believing in God, and identify themselves as being part of the Church of Sweden. Church of Sweden comprises of 71ish% of the population.

Much like Ireland, actually

yeah but how many irish people actually believe in that even though they class themselves as catholic. figures for this are very miscontrued due to the census here

Greentopia

PseudoFamous wrote: »

Just getting up to some pedantic antics here, but most Swedes don't see themselves as athiest, despite not believing in God, and identify themselves as being part of the Church of Sweden. Church of Sweden comprises of 71ish% of the population.

Much like Ireland, actually

Yes, true and I take your point, but if they were asked about their belief in a god my figures would stand.
I knew lots of friends there who left the church though as they resented paying tithes to it so that figure may drop in future as it is in neighbouring Finland.

Greentopia

enfant terrible wrote: »

Your the definition of a sheep.

Thank god you never met any scientologists.

Lol, how do you make that out?

sdanseo

kfallon wrote: »

Yes - we have a great little country, wouldn't swap it for anything

Anything except €2,000,000 and a Lamborghini. I'd be happy with that.

Oh, and a choc Ice.

Helix

enfant terrible wrote: »

What if you have a good job and like living here surrounded by your family and friends.

then i'd still think you're crazy and holding your life back something fierce

K-9

We are about Peru levels at this stage, aiming for Haiti now though.

chucken1

Helix wrote: »

anyone still in ireland out of their own choice is either very naive or has never left the country imo

Do you think everyone should run off then?

I am not naive or little travelled,Ireland is my home and I love it.
I didnt run at the last resession, I wont do it this time either.

I find it interesting if you are in Canada that you're posting on Boards.ie

enfant terrible

Helix wrote: »

then i'd still think you're crazy and holding your life back something fierce

I'll stay with my family and friends and a job i love thanks.

How often do you see your family?

LisaLee

We're pretty fortunate for such a small country in the grand scheme of things.

If you have an Irish passport then the world is your oyster.

I would regard myself as lucky to be an Irish citizen.

Helix

chucken1 wrote: »

Do you think everyone should run off then?

I am not naive or little travelled,Ireland is my home and I love it.
I didnt run at the last resession, I wont do it this time either.

I find it interesting if you are in Canada that you're posting on Boards.ie

the recession has got nothing to do with it to be honest

and boards is an internet site that covers loads of topics im interested in, why wouldnt i use it? i use american sites too and i dont live there either. do you only use irish websites?

Helix

enfant terrible wrote: »

I'll stay with my family and friends and a job i love thanks.

How often do you see your family?

twice a year maybe

guitarzero

If you're looking to get the lash I'd probably book a holiday.

I've never been to America but I have been in some states.

chucken1

Helix wrote: »

anyone still in ireland out of their own choice is either very naive or has never left the country imo

You said 'Anyone who stays etc.. Im trying to point out that other people have stayed!!
Not out of naivity but This is home and its a great country.

ellieswellies

I used to think that your quality of life was mostly defined by where you live, but having travelled a good bit I think it depends more on who you're surrounded with. Having people to have the craic with makes anywhere more bearable, unless of course you live in a place where people are dropping bombs on you or you have to walk miles in the blistering heat to get water, and whatnot.

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.