Modern life in the UK!

wire-screw · 23 Oct 2013 at 18:58

Any one else think it's a bit crap!!!?

For me the real depressing thing about modern living is the common attitude to the quality of our food and items we buy from large retailers. Yes there are exceptions but I would much rather everything be real rather than a meal produced in it's millions with chemicals!

BTW it's the Christmas decorations in Oxford street that got me thinking of this, so this can be a place for scrooges too! Don't get me wrong I love the idea of Christmas but retailers manage to wreck it with the scramble for the money...

Steve2000 · 23 Oct 2013 at 19:13

We have running water at least.

Glanza · 23 Oct 2013 at 19:18

Christmas decorations already!?

Art · 23 Oct 2013 at 19:19

GSWAudio said:
Yes there are exceptions but I would much rather everything be real rather than a meal produced in it's millions with chemicals!

Cook your own food? I know people complain about not having enough time but to be honest when I'm in that kind of mood I've no trouble making something from scratch.

BTW it's the Christmas decorations in Oxford street that got me thinking of this, so this can be a place for scrooges too! Don't get me wrong I love the idea of Christmas but retailers manage to wreck it with the scramble for the money...

Got to admit that this does annoy me. There's an ad on at the moment which starts with "We all wish that the Christmas season could start a little sooner..." which infuriates me. There was Christmas stuff in the shops in early September here.

wire-screw · 23 Oct 2013 at 19:35

Steve2000 said:
We have running water at least.

True!

Giggz said:
Christmas decorations already!?

Yep in John Lewis too, I couldn't stand being in Oxford any longer than I had to be so left quickly before looking anywhere else.

Art said:
Cook your own food? I know people complain about not having enough time but to be honest when I'm in that kind of mood I've no trouble making something from scratch.

Got to admit that this does annoy me. There's an ad on at the moment which starts with "We all wish that the Christmas season could start a little sooner..." which infuriates me. There was Christmas stuff in the shops in early September here.

I try to however I still find it quite expensive to cook real good stuff well - especially with living in the city.

No1newts · 23 Oct 2013 at 19:37

Overall life is good, could it be better? Yes! Are there better places in the world? Yes. But you could be a lot worse off than you are OP.

Jez · 23 Oct 2013 at 19:39

No1newts said:
Overall life is good, could it be better? Yes! Are there better places in the world? Yes. But you could be a lot worse off than you are OP.

Not many places in the world are, on balance, better than the UK, its only our climate which lets us down

Glanza · 23 Oct 2013 at 19:41

Jez said:
Not many places in the world are, on balance, better than the UK, its only our climate which lets us down

I don't mind our climate, granted I do prefer the winter months

Jez · 23 Oct 2013 at 19:43

See i am a bit of a sun worshiper. I love the UK and would struggle to live anywhere else to the standard to which i do here, but i really do hate our dark winters and consistent bad weather

Schlong&Stable · 23 Oct 2013 at 19:44

GSWAudio said:
Any one else think it's a bit crap!!!?

Well, it's much the same across the modern world. You could move somewhere else, like say Sweden, Japan, Australia or Canada, and that might make life more interesting. But people in those countries are thinking the exact same thing about THEIR countries.

So what does it all come down to? Well, we're all alienated from one another, there is no longer a sense of nation, community or even family. We've abandoned spirituality and invested ourselves entirely in materialism, which can never satisfy the basic human need to feel part of something. In short, we're all living isolated lives. We're alone in the midst of a sea of humanity. And that is equally true for those of who are 'happily' married with children and so forth. Their deeper needs are not cared for, so they'll never reach true harmony.

Add to this we've suppressed all our basic urges and instincts: We can't be violent, we can't hate, we tied ourselves in knots with laws and taxes and everything that suppresses our inner-man. We've jailed ourselves within a gilded cage of our making.

But, for the low-low price of £9.99, I can sell you my e-book which will tell you how to reach nirvana!

No1newts · 23 Oct 2013 at 19:58

Thompson_NCL said:
Well, it's much the same across the modern world. You could move somewhere else, like say Sweden, Japan, Australia or Canada, and that might make life more interesting. But people in those countries are thinking the exact same thing about THEIR countries.

So what does it all come down to? Well, we're all alienated from one another, there is no longer a sense of nation, community or even family. We've abandoned spirituality and invested ourselves entirely in materialism, which can never satisfy the basic human need to feel part of something. In short, we're all living isolated lives. We're alone in the midst of a sea of humanity. And that is equally true for those of who are 'happily' married with children and so forth. Their deeper needs are not cared for, so they'll never reach true harmony.

Add to this we've suppressed all our basic urges and instincts: We can't be violent, we can't hate, we tied ourselves in knots with laws and taxes and everything that suppresses our inner-man. We've jailed ourselves within a gilded cage of our making.

But, for the low-low price of £9.99, I can sell you my e-book which will tell you how to reach nirvana!

Have a +1 good sir!

wire-screw · 23 Oct 2013 at 20:05

Thompson_NCL said:
Well, it's much the same across the modern world. You could move somewhere else, like say Sweden, Japan, Australia or Canada, and that might make life more interesting. But people in those countries are thinking the exact same thing about THEIR countries.

So what does it all come down to? Well, we're all alienated from one another, there is no longer a sense of nation, community or even family. We've abandoned spirituality and invested ourselves entirely in materialism, which can never satisfy the basic human need to feel part of something. In short, we're all living isolated lives. We're alone in the midst of a sea of humanity. And that is equally true for those of who are 'happily' married with children and so forth. Their deeper needs are not cared for, so they'll never reach true harmony.

Add to this we've suppressed all our basic urges and instincts: We can't be violent, we can't hate, we tied ourselves in knots with laws and taxes and everything that suppresses our inner-man. We've jailed ourselves within a gilded cage of our making.

But, for the low-low price of £9.99, I can sell you my e-book which will tell you how to reach nirvana!

Love that for the truth and the jokes!

Krisali · 23 Oct 2013 at 20:25

Yup, Christmas is on the way so supermarkets festively increase their prices. Modern Life is back to front

Jono8 · 23 Oct 2013 at 20:26

It's alright. Pretty good compared with most of the world.

Pawnless Endgame · 23 Oct 2013 at 21:18

Lartyconshayo · 23 Oct 2013 at 21:40

As with most things it's about perspective. I try to metaphorically stop and smell the roses every day. I am lucky that my office is right by the sea so I take a leisurely stroll every lunchtime and look out at all the islands and the waves etc...

Really in the grand scheme of things we're a long time dead. No point in wasting the precious moments we are here moping about it.

Easier said than done of course.

Devrij · 23 Oct 2013 at 21:52

djferrick said:
As with most things it's about perspective. I try to metaphorically stop and smell the roses every day. I am lucky that my office is right by the sea so I take a leisurely stroll every lunchtime and look out at all the islands and the waves etc...

Really in the grand scheme of things we're a long time dead. No point in wasting the precious moments we are here moping about it.

Easier said than done of course.

Amen. Sometimes, if there's a really special sunrise, I'll park up on the moors and watch for a while. Even if I'm running a bit late for work. I get a particular nourishment from seeing the valley lit up in gold and red, feeling a cold wind rushing up the hills, and that is something you can't buy. We need more than gaudy lights and decorations, but that doesn't mean we can't still find it all around us. An honest answer instead of a joke, a moment of vulnerability. All things you can produce yourself.

elmarko · 23 Oct 2013 at 21:59

If you can step back from life & get some perspective, really we should be pretty happy overall.

Unfortunately we compare ourselves against our peers (which is natural, but not great) & get upset over the most minor of things.

Personally, I don't give a **** about 99% of the things which bother the people I know.

I have my health, my youth, my family, shelter, food & warmth.

That's already ahead of a vast majority of the planet, which makes the smaller things seem insignificant (well to me anyway).

I don't blame people for really worrying over stuff which really doesn't matter, changing your perspective isn't something which comes quickly or easily - but saying I do sometimes find myself thinking "Really?... you are depressed about that....?....." to people I know....

wire-screw · 23 Oct 2013 at 22:12

Devrij said:
Amen. Sometimes, if there's a really special sunrise, I'll park up on the moors and watch for a while. Even if I'm running a bit late for work. I get a particular nourishment from seeing the valley lit up in gold and red, feeling a cold wind rushing up the hills, and that is something you can't buy. We need more than gaudy lights and decorations, but that doesn't mean we can't still find it all around us. An honest answer instead of a joke, a moment of vulnerability. All things you can produce yourself.

djferrick said:
As with most things it's about perspective. I try to metaphorically stop and smell the roses every day. I am lucky that my office is right by the sea so I take a leisurely stroll every lunchtime and look out at all the islands and the waves etc...

Really in the grand scheme of things we're a long time dead. No point in wasting the precious moments we are here moping about it.

Easier said than done of course.

Both sound great, I get this sought of 'enlightenment' through listening to music. It really lets me think.

Edinho · 23 Oct 2013 at 22:39

GSWAudio said:
Any one else think it's a bit crap!!!?

For me the real depressing thing about modern living is the common attitude to the quality of our food and items we buy from large retailers. Yes there are exceptions but I would much rather everything be real rather than a meal produced in it's millions with chemicals!

BTW it's the Christmas decorations in Oxford street that got me thinking of this, so this can be a place for scrooges too! Don't get me wrong I love the idea of Christmas but retailers manage to wreck it with the scramble for the money...

Do something about it then.

Now is the best time we've ever had for food. Just about everything is available compared to the 70's.

The only thing I hate about the way we currently live is the amount of people that think life is easier for everyone but themselves. Work hard? Why should I? Just give me it. This applys to work, family, education, self worth - why should I earn it?