'Bart' Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 According to a government report, 9 out of 10 people are happy and 7 out of 10 are optimistic about the future. Just how does our collection of misanthropic sourpusses compare with the "sheeple"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr Parry Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Yes - Happy No - Optimistic Glad it's all over and I can go and live a simply existence not in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moo Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Happy? Absolutely. The country's undergoing a massive bout of normality. It's bloody brilliant. Yeah, it's going to be a bumpy ride, but who gives a monkey's if the end result is not having to take out a bowel-shattering large amount of debt just to buy a bog-ordinary house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impatient_mug Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Happy - Yes. Optimistic - No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bosh Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Yes Happy, Yes Optimistic........ Not optimistic for the country but for family/personal reasons I have found this whole HPC a joyful experience and a source of optimism for the future I have wanted to start a thread before but it would probably be too cheerful for HPC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Authoritarian Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Happy? No. Optimistic? No. I love being miserable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.steve Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 (edited) I answered "yes" to both since I don't want to be detained without charge for 28 days on account of not being "with the programme". I guess, the honest answer to the first is more no than yes; but more yes than no to the second. The opposite of other posts.... I'm not happy (though I'm happier now than I was a year ago) but I'm extremely optimistic that, relative to what I consider important, things can't get worse - so the only way is up. By that I don't mean that the stock markets will go up, or that we will see a consumer heaven... but rather that I expect a new honesty to descend on a people who can no longer kite debts; where it isn't assumed appropriate to abuse those who you perceive to have less access to credit - presuming the ability to borrow somehow makes one superior. I think there is a chance that economic situations will make it worthwhile working - and that criminal activity is not the only way to survive long-term. Optimistic. I expect an economic depression - which is exactly what society needs - I'm optimistic it is a plausible outcome - irrespective of political moves to prevent this. I'm especially optimistic that the US might legislate to appropriately regulate US financial institutions - and, with that, take care of the greatest menace that attacks the free world. I look forward to a future where people invest their savings rather than with eye-watering leverage; where there is a point to working hard and earning money. Edited November 6, 2008 by A.steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Bart' Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 Split about even so far. I voted happy, but not optimistic. I had to think a bit about the "happy" vote though. Although I'm not living the kind of life that people seem to live on TV commercials, I've a lot to be thankful for. Glad it's all over and I can go and live a simply existence not in the UK. It would be interesting to see how the place (UK) strikes you if you come back for a visit. Will you end up feeling like Michael Palin in the very last bit of Michael Palin's "Around the World in 80 Days". It deals with his return to the UK after 3 months of travel. After finding friendliness and hospitality the world over, he comes back to our clapped-out railway system, an unfriendly lorry driver, unsmiling jobsworths, a newspaper vendor who won't be filmed and a Reform Club that refuses to allow filming of the completion of his epic journey. As Palin himself says, "What is happening? This is my home and yet I feel like a stranger in a foreign land. Are these sour and surly faces my countrymen? The generousity, curiousity and helpfulness that I've met in every country in the world seems to have run out here". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guillotine Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I'm an optimistic nihilist. Nothing really matters, and that's very comforting. And yet and yet, I don't think i could live in a bus and stay as cheerful as AcidRob is.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mish Mash Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I'm surprised to see such a clear split between happy/not happy and optimistic/not optimistic. I'd have thought there was a lot less optimism on here than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr Parry Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Split about even so far.I voted happy, but not optimistic. I had to think a bit about the "happy" vote though. Although I'm not living the kind of life that people seem to live on TV commercials, I've a lot to be thankful for. It would be interesting to see how the place (UK) strikes you if you come back for a visit. Will you end up feeling like Michael Palin in the very last bit of Michael Palin's "Around the World in 80 Days". It deals with his return to the UK after 3 months of travel. After finding friendliness and hospitality the world over, he comes back to our clapped-out railway system, an unfriendly lorry driver, unsmiling jobsworths, a newspaper vendor who won't be filmed and a Reform Club that refuses to allow filming of the completion of his epic journey. As Palin himself says, "What is happening? This is my home and yet I feel like a stranger in a foreign land. Are these sour and surly faces my countrymen? The generousity, curiousity and helpfulness that I've met in every country in the world seems to have run out here". This happens to me every year. Not coming back next year. This year has been the worst. I came back, got over-worked again, got sick, got arrested . . . all I will say is the NHS have been brilliant. I am a stranger here now (UK). It's lonely being away from home. But still, not long now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr Parry Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I'm an optimistic nihilist. Nothing really matters, and that's very comforting. And yet and yet, I don't think i could live in a bus and stay as cheerful as AcidRob is.... Yes, done that for years and it gets tough after a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AteMoose Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 twilight zone.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bosh Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Still happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sukuinage Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Happy - yes (it's Friday) Optimistic - yes (tomorrow's Saturday) Wound up beyond belief when slack jaw & his muppets are spouting off - yes Glad I'm not living in the UK at the moment - yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mish Mash Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I am a stranger here now (UK). It's lonely being away from home. I'm starting to feel like that and I've always lived here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr Parry Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I'm starting to feel like that and I've always lived here. Don't despair. Reckon the UK is still a good place to live. It's not that bad and I think (hope) there will be a sea change in attitudes in the near future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 happy and optimistic. the alternative to this state is not so nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Bart' Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 I'm blissful as ever Bart (which includes a few ups and downs). Good man. If things ever started to get you down Durch, we really would be in the soup! Just to go all esoteric on you, I can't help feel that Albion is the centre of the world. That somehow the excesses of the end and the worst must happen here first. You've traveled a bit though haven't you Durch? I've only been abroad once, and that was nearly 30 years ago. I wonder if that might make a difference? Maybe you need to be away from the UK for a decent length of time to be able to see it more clearly. Mr. P certainly fits into that category and he says "Reckon the UK is still a good place to live. It's not that bad and I think (hope) there will be a sea change in attitudes in the near future." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normal Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 No, no, no... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Bart' Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 No, no, no... Nay, nay and thrice nay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotNoodle Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 EEEEEeeeeeeee....... you're oogly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotNoodle Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Happy ? Yes... drinking a glass of wine. Optimistic ? Yes..... there's more wine in the rack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr Parry Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Yes, I only really came to love it when I thought I was never coming back. Suddenly tea and toast, all those hobbit-like pubs and frosty mornings spring into focus. Now that's what I'm talking about, Durch! All those little things that made Britain a great place will come back into 'focus'. Not so sure about the frosty morning though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miserable Barsteward Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Happy.....to have a good moan. Opimistic.....I can continue moaning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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