Whingy Returning Emigrants

dodderangler

MrAbyss wrote: »

Yet more of this drivel in today's IT. Between this and the endless fawning over Greta Thunbergs latests Veruca Salt type meltdown I am really starting to wonder who this rag represents and how long before they have PayPal Donate button so as to stay afloat like the equally cringy Guardian.

Wait. Greta is still being relevant now??
Man the world really is fûcked if we’re making her relevant.

nkl12xtw5goz70

moycullen14 wrote: »

One thing that I really didn't appreciate - and this thread bears it out - is how sensitive and aggressive people can be to any suggestion that things are somehow better abroad.

I think it's more that O'Connor takes a simplistic black-and-white stance, representing everything in New York as dynamic, exciting, and wonderful, and everything in Belfast as drab, boring, and unimpressive.

For instance, she mentions meeting poets as a benefit of living in New York. But Northern Ireland has produced many impressive poets over the years, including Michael Longley, Paul Muldoon, Derek Mahon, Frank Ormsby, Tom Paulin, Ciaran Carson, Medbh McGuckian, and of course Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney. If one wants to find working poets in Northern Ireland, it's not hard.

I just don't accept that there's nothing to do in Belfast. No, it's not New York, but you'll still find numerous events in the evenings and weekends to suit almost any taste. If she were to stop crying and moping around, and take advantage of what is all around her, she might find that Northern Ireland is not such a horrible fate. Life is what you make it.

BENDYBINN

June Cold Fighter wrote: »

I think it's more that O'Connor takes a simplistic black-and-white stance, representing everything in New York as dynamic, exciting, and wonderful, and everything in Belfast as drab, boring, and unimpressive.

For instance, she mentions meeting poets as a benefit of living in New York. But Northern Ireland has produced many impressive poets over the years, including Michael Longley, Paul Muldoon, Derek Mahon, Frank Ormsby, Tom Paulin, Ciaran Carson, Medbh McGuckian, and of course Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney. If one wants to find working poets in Northern Ireland, it's not hard.

I just don't accept that there's nothing to do in Belfast. No, it's not New York, but you'll still find numerous events in the evenings and weekends to suit almost any taste. If she were to stop crying and moping around, and take advantage of what is all around her, she might find that Northern Ireland is not such a horrible fate. Life is what you make it.

Bit like sayin prison is not so bad....sure make the most of it!!!

PostWoke

dodderangler wrote: »

Wait. Greta is still being relevant now??
Man the world really is fûcked if we’re making her relevant.

Yeah why would we make someone from the generation likely to be most affected relevant? Truly the end times!!! :pac:

normanoffside

June Cold Fighter wrote: »

For instance, she mentions meeting poets as a benefit of living in New York. But Northern Ireland has produced many impressive poets over the years, including Michael Longley, Paul Muldoon, Derek Mahon, Frank Ormsby, Tom Paulin, Ciaran Carson, Medbh McGuckian, and of course Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney. If one wants to find working poets in Northern Ireland, it's not hard.

When she was in new Your, she missed the same Northern Irish poets

https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/photos/a.102107073196735/513699518704153/

If I returned home, I'd have a very hard time. That's on me. Easy go, not so easy come back. Socially I'd be lost.

dodderangler

PostWoke wrote: »

Yeah why would we make someone from the generation likely to be most affected relevant? Truly the end times!!! :pac:

Because she’s a tool and hasn’t a clue?!!!!

Deebles McBeebles

Jesus, who brought Greta Thunberg into this? At least most of the hatred toward the girl is imprisoned in CA, where it can be avoided.

partyguinness

moycullen14 wrote: »

She has my sympathy, anyway. The best cure is to accept that Dublin/Cork/Belfast is never going to be like London/New York and to realise that home has lots of advantages - learn to appreciate them and not be constantly comparing and contrasting. You're back - make the most of it.

I think the nub of her sadness is that she simply was not ready to come back and the shock is hitting her hard.

I wouldn't wish Belfast on my worst enemy...:pac:

Personally, I don't get why she doesn't just leave again. If Irish cities don't fit her particular interests (understandable) It's relatively cheap to live in Mainland Europe and fly back once a month. I know a variety of people who do similar. I didn't particularly like NY.. Berlin, Barcelona, or Munich would be far better in my book. For all the things she said she missed and more besides.

And I'd agree with others that Belfast is... <shudders>

marieholmfan

Belfast is **** though.

June Cold Fighter wrote: »

I think it's more that O'Connor takes a simplistic black-and-white stance, representing everything in New York as dynamic, exciting, and wonderful, and everything in Belfast as drab, boring, and unimpressive.

For instance, she mentions meeting poets as a benefit of living in New York. But Northern Ireland has produced many impressive poets over the years, including Michael Longley, Paul Muldoon, Derek Mahon, Frank Ormsby, Tom Paulin, Ciaran Carson, Medbh McGuckian, and of course Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney. If one wants to find working poets in Northern Ireland, it's not hard.

I just don't accept that there's nothing to do in Belfast. No, it's not New York, but you'll still find numerous events in the evenings and weekends to suit almost any taste. If she were to stop crying and moping around, and take advantage of what is all around her, she might find that Northern Ireland is not such a horrible fate. Life is what you make it.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Deleted User wrote: »

I've lived 11 years in Xi'an, and I'm a University lecturer. Networking is an essential part of life here.

Schmoozing happens everywhere. I’ve known plenty of social butterflies in my life. It’s simply not possibly to know that many people as well as you claim to. Nobody has that much head space or free time. Totally unrealistic. Even a tenth of the figure you gave would be stretching believability.

PostWoke

dodderangler wrote: »

Because she’s a tool and hasn’t a clue?!!!!

As opposed to you, the hard man bullying a young teenager? :pac:

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

Schmoozing happens everywhere. I’ve known plenty of social butterflies in my life. It’s simply not possibly to know that many people as well as you claim to. Nobody has that much head space or free time. Totally unrealistic. Even a tenth of the figure you gave would be stretching believability.

As well as I claim to? I said that I knew them well enough to meet for dinner or a coffee. I'm not suggesting that I'm "buddies" with all of them. Foreigners, especially those of us who live here long term, and speak reasonable Chinese, tend to be popular... and as such, knowing many people goes with the territory. Most Chinese want the chance to practice their English, chat with a foreigner or use us for business promotion. Dunno why this is so difficult for you to accept.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Deleted User wrote: »

As well as I claim to? I said that I knew them well enough to meet for dinner or a coffee. I'm not suggesting that I'm "buddies" with all of them. Foreigners, especially those of us who live here long term, and speak reasonable Chinese, tend to be popular... and as such, knowing many people goes with the territory. Most Chinese want the chance to practice their English, chat with a foreigner or use us for business promotion. Dunno why this is so difficult for you to accept.

Oh, I know you did. Getting to know somebody well enough to meet them for dinner or tea takes a decent level of effort. Total and complete rubbish that you know 3000 people that well. It’s just not possible at all. At least make some effort to cite a reasonable figure.

Oh and let me remind you that your first post said you had a “friend circle” of 3,000. I don’t think I’d count people who want to use me for business promotion as friends. Even if I did, still a ridiculous figure.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

Oh, I know you did. Getting to know somebody well enough to meet them for dinner or tea takes a decent level of effort.

Okay, I tried to be nice about this but I've had enough. It's pretty obvious that you're very settled in Ireland with it's rather limited population, and blind to the aspect that your options are limited due to that culture.

First, I live in a city with twice as many people as Ireland. I'm not limited to encountering a small number of people. In terms or options to meet people, it blows Ireland out of the water. I've lived in Dublin before, and my circle of friends was tiny in comparison to now. My university alone has a faculty and student population of 23k people.

Second, I work 16 hours a week as a lecturer, and have more time than most to socialise, should I choose to do so. Plus the culture here is vastly different to Irish culture, so there is a difference in the way relationships are formed and maintained. However,you're unable to see anything except Irish/western culture as being the only possible way of living.

Third, I've said twice, to meet someone for coffee or dinner. You keep returning to the idea of my needing to know people well to do that. I don't. Once more, it's an example of the difference between Irish culture VS external cultures, but you've latched on to it to make your point. I don't need to know someone very well to meet them for coffee or dinner. Eating in China is a very social affair, with groups of people eating out being very common. Yesterday, I had hotpot with 9 people. That's not uncommon. Due to the low cost of eating at restaurants, many people eat outside daily as opposed to the more expensive lifestyle of Ireland, where people tend to reserve eating out to dates or special occasions.

Getting to know someone well does take a decent amount of time (not really effort though), but I never claimed them to be my bosom buddies.

Total and complete rubbish that you know 3000 people that well. It’s just not possible at all. At least make some effort to cite a reasonable figure.

I remember what it's like to be a westerner living in a western city. You're just another person relying on your own attributes to be popular. Here its different. Simply as a foreigner, I gain greater popularity. As a Lecturer, and former English teacher, I gain more popularity. Knowing Chinese when most foreigners don't, and most Chinese have extremely poor English, adds even more popularity. But you're incapable of understanding any of that because you've firmly got your perception fixed on your own experiences. Understandable but your attitude to others lives is flawed.

Oh and let me remind you that your first post said you had a “friend circle” of 3,000. I don’t think I’d count people who want to use me for business promotion as friends. Even if I did, still a ridiculous figure.

Are they best friends? Nope. I have three of those. Are they friends I would seek out to tell my innermost thoughts? Nope, I'd have about 7 others I'd consider for that. Are they people I would meet often during a single week? Nope, I have about 40 people in total who I meet regularly for dinners. But those on my friends circle are people I know, and can meet for a coffee or dinner.. we won't be very familiar with each other but I'll know reasonably well who they are and what they want with me.

Friends, acquaintances, colleagues, etc. The fact that you're making such a big deal of this suggests that you only know a very limited number of people, and can't fathom having an active social life in a major city.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Yeah, living in a huge city doesn’t suddenly imbue somebody with extra, unrealistic resources re: time, inclination, time. If you had said 300, even that would have been hard to believe. Let me break it to you - we all have friends, acquaintances and colleagues.

I have lived outside Ireland by the way.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

Yeah, living in a huge city doesn’t suddenly imbue somebody with extra, unrealistic resources re: time, inclination, time. If you had said 300, even that would have been hard to believe. Let me break it to you - we all have friends, acquaintances and colleagues.

I have lived outside Ireland by the way.

Forget it. You're missing the point completely, and unwilling to consider anything beyond your own experience.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Deleted User wrote: »

Forget it. You're missing the point completely, and unwilling to consider anything beyond your own experience.

Nah, it’s just that obvious bullshit is obvious. It’s not possible to know that many people that well. No matter where you live. I’m not the only one who found it ridiculous either and it would be a bit silly of you to speculate on the lives of those who expressed incredulity at your claim and those who thanked the posts expressing incredulity. And there is large diverse city close to Ireland that I bet half this thread has lived in at one stage. London would have half the population of your city. Does that mean that anyone there long-term will know 1500 people well enough to dine with at a moment’s notice?

cj maxx

[Deleted User] wrote: »

If I returned home, I'd have a very hard time. That's on me. Easy go, not so easy come back. Socially I'd be lost.

I did after 9 years. Yeah it was tough. But I knew what I was coming back to. Same shyte as when I left except people thought they were financial wizards
I missed some things about NY but I got on with it.
Moaning little girl. What did she expect ?

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

Nah, it’s just that obvious bullshit is obvious. It’s not possible to know that many people that well. No matter where you live. I’m not the only one who found it ridiculous either and it would be a bit silly of you to speculate on the lives of those who expressed incredulity at your claim and those who thanked the posts expressing incredulity. And there is large diverse city close to Ireland that I bet half this thread has lived in at one stage. London would have half the population of your city. Does that mean that anyone there long-term will know 1500 people well enough to dine with at a moment’s notice?

A few people liked your posts, hardly an overwhelming gesture of disbelief. And you tend to twist the statements to suggest something more than what I originally said. As I said, the culture here regarding socializing is different than in the west. But enough, we're going nowhere with this.

Arghus

I read the article and I usually try to at least be fair to things and see what the author has to say, I don't like to come to snap judgments - and it really annoys me when people do it.

One look at her and I could already tell she's a pain in the hole.

The quality of the article is terrible for something published on The Irish Times site. It reads like a particularly self absorbed facebook post.

Plumbthedepths

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

Nah, it’s just that obvious bullshit is obvious. It’s not possible to know that many people that well. No matter where you live. I’m not the only one who found it ridiculous either and it would be a bit silly of you to speculate on the lives of those who expressed incredulity at your claim and those who thanked the posts expressing incredulity. And there is large diverse city close to Ireland that I bet half this thread has lived in at one stage. London would have half the population of your city. Does that mean that anyone there long-term will know 1500 people well enough to dine with at a moment’s notice?

Ah shure doesn't the lad on the Nescafé ad claim we meet 80,000 people in our lives. Maybe the poster is the same lad......just sayin.

Mango Joe

Jesus, talk about an extreme case of coming out of a myopic, narcissistic, immature bubble in a very public way.

I'm really struggling to believe that these "celebrities, diplomats, poets, artists, wealthy publishers, all-round interesting human beings" weren't running from Little Miss Christmas while coming out in a scaly rash.

There should be some sort of rule against assholes like this flying back into the Country they turned their back on just to cynically abuse our State subsidised educational systems.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

Ah shure doesn't the lad on the Nescafé ad claim we meet 80,000 people in our lives. Maybe the poster is the same lad......just sayin.

I’m so glad I barely watch ads anymore. :pac:

Deebles McBeebles

Not sure if its been brought up here yet but she was on Voice of Ireland apparently.

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/corkman/news/nollaig-vocal-after-voice-vote-27092636.html

BENDYBINN

Deebles McBeebles wrote: »

Not sure if its been brought up here yet but she was on Voice of Ireland apparently.

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/corkman/news/nollaig-vocal-after-voice-vote-27092636.html

Wow, She’s gorgeous!

Homelander

lol @ "I have 3,000 friends I'd go for coffee with now and again"

o1s1n

Deleted User wrote: »

Forget it. You're missing the point completely, and unwilling to consider anything beyond your own experience.

If you wanted to see each of those 3000 friends once a year, you'd have to meet 8.2 of them a day.

Are you going out to dinner/coffee with over 8 people a day?

Even if somehow you are, could you really consider a person you only met once a year anything more than a casual acquaintance at best?

If you dropped a zero and said 300, that means you would have to hang out with a different person almost every day. And that's a tenth of your original number.

batman_oh

o1s1n wrote: »

If you wanted to see each of those 3000 friends once a year, you'd have to meet 8.2 of them a day.

Are you going out to dinner/coffee with over 8 people a day?

Even if somehow you are, could you really consider a person you only met once a year anything more than a casual acquaintance at best?

If you dropped a zero and said 300, that means you would have to hang out with a different person almost every day. And that's a tenth of your original number.

But he's an Academic and everybody there loves him. I would assume he meets 10 people for coffee 5 times a day at least! The bars are open until the next day too so no doubt there's a lot of midweek 24 hour drinking going on.
Ireland is terrible because he'd never have 3000+ friends here