question to UK foreigners

I hate typical UK self deprecation. there is "culture" all over this island (which is anything but godforsaken). please refrain.

  On 4/20/2011 at 12:15 PM, chenGOD said:

  On 4/19/2011 at 3:47 PM, Obel said:

 

 

No credit card either, going to get one though but I'll cut it up so I don't use it and it improves my credit rating.

 

You have to use your credit card to improve your credit rating....

Apparently not. I'm told this by a banker....................................................

  On 4/20/2011 at 12:36 PM, BCM said:

I hate typical UK self deprecation. there is "culture" all over this island (which is anything but godforsaken). please refrain.

I agree, the only thing I don't like about London is how expensive it is. Otherwise it's a glorious little city and there are some amazing places in the UK.

the only two things i dont like about london are how its expensive, and how when you go there as a traveller, 90 percent of its inhabitants are absolute cunts to you. ive been told this changes abit once youve been there for a few months but really, i was astounded at how rude and miserable everyone was.

beautiful amount of things to be getting upto, thats what i loved about it.

  On 4/20/2011 at 12:45 PM, messiaen said:

the only two things i dont like about london are how its expensive, and how when you go there as a traveller, 90 percent of its inhabitants are absolute cunts to you. ive been told this changes abit once youve been there for a few months but really, i was astounded at how rude and miserable everyone was.

 

 

beautiful amount of things to be getting upto, thats what i loved about it.

Actually you're right, most people I encounter on a day to day basis are nobs. Strangers in public that is. At client site everybody is cool.

This is noticably different in Manchester when I go up there, people in general are nicer.

I've got to be honest, I've only lived in London just shy of 5 years but I do tend to hold outsiders in just a wee bit of contempt.

It's not because they're from out of town - it's more to do with the fact that they move too slowly, tend to congregate in large groups on the pavement/tube and generally clog the place up. But if somebody asks me for directions or whatever I try to be as friendly and helpful as I can.

Maybe it's a bit cold here, but that's the way I like it to be honest... I don't want strangers giving me platitudes and sticking their noses in my business.

so long as you don't get in my way during rush hour I'm very friendly.

btw if you're coming to london - stay off the streets/public transport on weekdays between 7am - 9am and 5pm - 7pm. as iain said, there is nothing more irritating to a londoner than being slowed down by bumbling tourists not knowing what the hell they're doing and thinking it's hilarious.

  On 4/18/2011 at 9:30 PM, Dan C said:

The best thing to do in London is get pissed with the Cs

I'd fly over just to beat the fuck out of your for watching jersey shore.

  On 4/20/2011 at 1:55 PM, BCM said:

btw if you're coming to london - stay off the streets/public transport on weekdays between 7am - 9am and 5pm - 7pm. as iain said, there is nothing more irritating to a londoner than being slowed down by bumbling tourists not knowing what the hell they're doing and thinking it's hilarious.

lol, it's so true.

I wish I wasn't such a moody commuter

  On 4/20/2011 at 1:55 PM, BCM said:

btw if you're coming to london - stay off the streets/public transport on weekdays between 7am - 9am and 5pm - 7pm. as iain said, there is nothing more irritating to a londoner than being slowed down by bumbling tourists not knowing what the hell they're doing and thinking it's hilarious.

I think apart from public transport at these times London is fantastic, if you fall into one of these rush hours you'd be forgiven for thinking everyone is a clammy furious bastard

i have nearly been in quite a few fights on the tube... i turn into a right cunt once i step onto the platform.

i wasnt talking about a tube, im thankly not retarded and after the first time i got a rollicking for blocking the escalator, i didnt do it again, i was more talking about the clubbing/partying, i like to get out my nut and chat to strangers, its how i know most of my friends in fact, most places in the country people will happily chat back, realising after a few mins that this is either a person that they are probably not going to get along with, or possibly that they definetely will, down in london the blanket response when trying to start conversation was a haughty ' excuse me, do i know you? why are you talking to me'. was pretty upsetting and left a sour taste in my mouth. its happened all three weekends ive spent down there too.

  On 4/20/2011 at 2:44 PM, messiaen said:

i wasnt talking about a tube, im thankly not retarded and after the first time i got a rollicking for blocking the escalator, i didnt do it again, i was more talking about the clubbing/partying, i like to get out my nut and chat to strangers, its how i know most of my friends in fact, most places in the country people will happily chat back, realising after a few mins that this is either a person that they are probably not going to get along with, or possibly that they definetely will, down in london the blanket response when trying to start conversation was a haughty ' excuse me, do i know you? why are you talking to me'. was pretty upsetting and left a sour taste in my mouth. its happened all three weekends ive spent down there too.

maybe you're just coming across as a pilled up idiot?

lol but yeah, people are much more insular in london and generally like to hang out with who they hang out with and that's that. it's not that easy to make new friends i don't think. most people already have a group of friends and don't want/need any more. if you're a newcomer to the city (not you personally messiaen it's ok, don't freak out and be insulted) i guess you either hang with your housemates or workmates, or like, just stay in.

It's partly that there's just a lot more visible dodgy people about in London than other UK cities, which tends to engender a certain mindset amongst the normals. I got chased by a man in a wheelchair shouting cunt the other day. I was quite tempted just to run round the back and push him into traffic, but resisted.

I think out in the streets people seem a little bit more standoffish but at gigs I've found it no different to anywhere else in the country.

  On 4/20/2011 at 12:15 PM, chenGOD said:

You have to use your credit card to improve your credit rating....

My understanding was that by simply paying bills on time your credit improves. Is that incorrect?

I dunno what you guys are talking about in terms of rude Londoners. Both times I was over there I found everyone I ran into was quite friendly and helpful. Maybe it's cus I'm Canadian?

who knows, maybe i was just coming across as a pilled up idiot. i only compare it to glasgow, leeds, and bristol, where ive found everyone to be chatty as fuck.

  On 4/20/2011 at 4:52 PM, acidphakist said:

  On 4/20/2011 at 12:15 PM, chenGOD said:

You have to use your credit card to improve your credit rating....

 

My understanding was that by simply paying bills on time your credit improves. Is that incorrect?

no thats correct, but it doesn't affect credit nearly as much as paying monthly CC fees/bills. paying loans helps too, if you are a student or bought a house.

trust me, i hate the credit system to the point of ripping my own hair out and flinging my shit like an animal, but thats how it works. gotta do the drugs before you can deal.

with my CC i pretty much just buy groceries and the occasional impulse buy (like this month, I bought a couple of posters and maybe a video game)...pay it off at the end of the month, always.

i heard it helps to have a very small amount left on the card to generate interest...but i dont know if thats true and Id feel asinine for trying that.

Can't you pay groceries etc with a debit card in the US?

The only occasions I might use a credit card is online shops that don't do paypal or debit cards. Online payment using debit cards is a bit rare though, but it's an option on Steam and I hope to see it get more popular in the future.

  On 4/20/2011 at 5:52 PM, Ego said:

 

 

The only occasions I might use a credit card is online shops that don't do paypal or debit cards. Online payment using debit cards is a bit rare though, but it's an option on Steam and I hope to see it get more popular in the future.

Definitely will. I buy stuff online using a debit card all the time.

Rather than being rude, commuting in London requires a kind of social empathy. About 20 million people are moving about the city everyday and the unwritten rules allow everyone to get on with their journey with a minimum of fuss. Its a thing of beauty =)

Ive never had a problem with chatting to people at clubs. As a smoker its were I spend most of my night, missing artists cause im talking to someone or other. Maybe youre going to the wrong clubs messiaen. I see youve been to Fabric a few times, I find it to be full of part timers and work nights out by media companies.

  On 4/20/2011 at 4:39 PM, Lady kakapo said:

I got chased by a man in a wheelchair shouting cunt the other day. I was quite tempted just to run round the back and push him into traffic, but resisted.

Sorry about that, I was having a bad day.

  On 4/20/2011 at 7:02 PM, kakapo said:

  On 4/20/2011 at 4:39 PM, Lady kakapo said:

I got chased by a man in a wheelchair shouting cunt the other day. I was quite tempted just to run round the back and push him into traffic, but resisted.

 

Sorry about that, I was having a bad day.

lol