White south Africans (138)
And an outsider's opinion of your own country is always welcome; it's nice to be open-minded enough to find out how you come across to people who are not originally from here.
HOWEVER: at least have the experience of having lived in that country before you give your opinion. That's my take on it anyway.
The Irish - and I shall get shot down for this - are always fighting something. If it's not the British and the famine years, or blow-ins, or immigrants taking jobs (that the Irish won't do), when they eventually run out of things to complain about, they start to fight themselves. Cork vs Dubs, you name it, they'll have something to say.
It's not the country that's the problem - Ireland is beautiful and serene and tranquil in her own right. It's the people. Ireland is not as friendly as you would like to think - it's only friendly when you are a visitor and they know you will be leaving soon. This you can only understand if you are not Irish.
Look, I'll shut up now, because having a fair and reasonable debate on here is not possible. I didn't come to this conclusion without due cause.
HOWEVER: at least have the experience of having lived in that country before you give your opinion. That's my take on it anyway.
The Irish - and I shall get shot down for this - are always fighting something. If it's not the British and the famine years, or blow-ins, or immigrants taking jobs (that the Irish won't do), when they eventually run out of things to complain about, they start to fight themselves. Cork vs Dubs, you name it, they'll have something to say.
It's not the country that's the problem - Ireland is beautiful and serene and tranquil in her own right. It's the people. Ireland is not as friendly as you would like to think - it's only friendly when you are a visitor and they know you will be leaving soon. This you can only understand if you are not Irish.
Look, I'll shut up now, because having a fair and reasonable debate on here is not possible. I didn't come to this conclusion without due cause.
modermen: White south Africans, whats their future? will they be able to stay there?or can the coincide with their native neighbours or will they leave en masse? or will we have to assimilate them into our culture.
They left on mass in the early to late 90's. And their population is shrinking by something like .5% every 5 years. So they make up about 8% of the population now.....it's quite easy to do the maths.
henonpause: And an outsider's opinion of your own country is always welcome; it's nice to be open-minded enough to find out how you come across to people who are not originally from here.
HOWEVER: at least have the experience of having lived in that country before you give your opinion. That's my take on it anyway.
The Irish - and I shall get shot down for this - are always fighting something. If it's not the British and the famine years, or blow-ins, or immigrants taking jobs (that the Irish won't do), when they eventually run out of things to complain about, they start to fight themselves. Cork vs Dubs, you name it, they'll have something to say.
It's not the country that's the problem - Ireland is beautiful and serene and tranquil in her own right. It's the people. Ireland is not as friendly as you would like to think - it's only friendly when you are a visitor and they know you will be leaving soon. This you can only understand if you are not Irish.
Look, I'll shut up now, because having a fair and reasonable debate on here is not possible. I didn't come to this conclusion without due cause.
HOWEVER: at least have the experience of having lived in that country before you give your opinion. That's my take on it anyway.
The Irish - and I shall get shot down for this - are always fighting something. If it's not the British and the famine years, or blow-ins, or immigrants taking jobs (that the Irish won't do), when they eventually run out of things to complain about, they start to fight themselves. Cork vs Dubs, you name it, they'll have something to say.
It's not the country that's the problem - Ireland is beautiful and serene and tranquil in her own right. It's the people. Ireland is not as friendly as you would like to think - it's only friendly when you are a visitor and they know you will be leaving soon. This you can only understand if you are not Irish.
Look, I'll shut up now, because having a fair and reasonable debate on here is not possible. I didn't come to this conclusion without due cause.
I hope you continue to post here.
Your posts are interesting and while some will slam you for it I hope you ignore them. It should be possible to have a fair debate and if we work hard maybe we can have one and to hell with the begrudgers.
LadyDiz2: Thank you Hen, beautifully written and so true. I've travelled extensively yet there is no place like SA - Africa bites deep and stays with you in the rhythm of your heartbeat and in the warmth of the blood running through your veins. And even though circumstances may force some of us to leave, we never lose the hunger to return.
Sure ye can NEVER wash that african dust off ye feet
henonpause: lol, perhaps I make light of the kind of banter that does, in fact, characterise the craic of an Irishman; please don't misunderstand me - I like Ireland, I like the people, I wouldn't be here otherwise. However, in 16 years I have made three good friends, one is French, one is English and only one is Irish. They all love my accent, love listening to me, blah blah, but every now and again you get some langer who reminds you that you don't belong here, and it's not a nice feeling to be constantly reminded.
I am curious about other nationalities; I want to know what they eat, what they do at Christmas, I love learning and hearing about new things. Sometimes I feel that the Irish may (and it's an opinion, mind) be suspicious or threatened in some way by people they can't box. And it's a shame, because we are all in this world trying to make our way to the finish line. It would be nice if we would be kinder to others, rather than being judgemental.
That's all I'm saying really.
To put it further into perspective: I went to a fancy dress party once - you had to come as a singer or a band. My ex and I went as Gladys Knight and the Pip (not pips, there was only one, lol). We put on our clothes, and blackened ourselves with stage make up, for a laugh because no one would know it was us. But in the end we came home early because the make up was so good you couldn't tell we were white. No one would serve me at the bar - I was sober. They served left and right of me, and I was left standing. I went to the loo, and women were whispering about me, until I showed them my white arms - at which point I was suddenly the best thing ever, so funny, brilliant, wonderful. I found out that night what it is like to be a black person here, and it was very unpleasant.
It certainly changed my perspective, and gave me new insight into what other nationalities could be struggling with.
I just wish people would be comfortable enough in themselves to open themselves up to new things, new people,new cultures. We have so much to learn from each other.
you can't judge a country just from the hand full of irish people u have met, it is impossible! most irish people are good honest people, we are known world wide as nice people.I am curious about other nationalities; I want to know what they eat, what they do at Christmas, I love learning and hearing about new things. Sometimes I feel that the Irish may (and it's an opinion, mind) be suspicious or threatened in some way by people they can't box. And it's a shame, because we are all in this world trying to make our way to the finish line. It would be nice if we would be kinder to others, rather than being judgemental.
That's all I'm saying really.
To put it further into perspective: I went to a fancy dress party once - you had to come as a singer or a band. My ex and I went as Gladys Knight and the Pip (not pips, there was only one, lol). We put on our clothes, and blackened ourselves with stage make up, for a laugh because no one would know it was us. But in the end we came home early because the make up was so good you couldn't tell we were white. No one would serve me at the bar - I was sober. They served left and right of me, and I was left standing. I went to the loo, and women were whispering about me, until I showed them my white arms - at which point I was suddenly the best thing ever, so funny, brilliant, wonderful. I found out that night what it is like to be a black person here, and it was very unpleasant.
It certainly changed my perspective, and gave me new insight into what other nationalities could be struggling with.
I just wish people would be comfortable enough in themselves to open themselves up to new things, new people,new cultures. We have so much to learn from each other.
pedro27: i never said the irish are perfect or better than other natinalitys, i said 'most' are good people. lets say 5million irish well most are good people from that figure of 5 mil
Depends what you mean by good. Our murder rate is 1.2 which is higher than Germany, France, Spain and most other EU countries. Its the same as the UK's. We have one of the highest drug problems and during the boom and still now most people have an "I'm all right jack" attitude when it comes to paying a little more tax to help those in need.
So we are not the nice friendly people you are trying to portray....we are no more friendly and maybe a little less than our European cousins.
sofarsogood74: Depends what you mean by good. Our murder rate is 1.2 which is higher than Germany, France, Spain and most other EU countries. Its the same as the UK's. We have one of the highest drug problems and during the boom and still now most people have an "I'm all right jack" attitude when it comes to paying a little more tax to help those in need.
So we are not the nice friendly people you are trying to portray....we are no more friendly and maybe a little less than our European cousins.
So we are not the nice friendly people you are trying to portray....we are no more friendly and maybe a little less than our European cousins.
Sigh
my knight in shining armour coming to my rescue with stats.... Don't forget - we also have the 2nd highest suicide rate in Europe, a sign of depression and certainly a lack of mental health support.
henonpause: Sigh my knight in shining armour coming to my rescue with stats....
Don't forget - we also have the 2nd highest suicide rate in Europe, a sign of depression and certainly a lack of mental health support.
Don't forget - we also have the 2nd highest suicide rate in Europe, a sign of depression and certainly a lack of mental health support.
Thats very true. And a lot of the depression and stress is brought on by financial difficulties and banks hounding people for money they don't have day after day.
And what does our government do?It relaxes the regulations on how many times a back can contact a person about outstanding loan payments while cutting HSE funds to deal with people in psychosocial stress.
henonpause: Sigh my knight in shining armour coming to my rescue with stats....
Don't forget - we also have the 2nd highest suicide rate in Europe, a sign of depression and certainly a lack of mental health support.
Don't forget - we also have the 2nd highest suicide rate in Europe, a sign of depression and certainly a lack of mental health support.
stigma stops some seeking help, reduce the stigma and more would have time to heal, world wide
pedro27: stigma stops some seeking help, reduce the stigma and more would have time to heal, world wide
henonpause: lol, perhaps I make light of the kind of banter that does, in fact, characterise the craic of an Irishman; please don't misunderstand me - I like Ireland, I like the people, I wouldn't be here otherwise. However, in 16 years I have made three good friends, one is French, one is English and only one is Irish. They all love my accent, love listening to me, blah blah, but every now and again you get some langer who reminds you that you don't belong here, and it's not a nice feeling to be constantly reminded.
I am curious about other nationalities; I want to know what they eat, what they do at Christmas, I love learning and hearing about new things. Sometimes I feel that the Irish may (and it's an opinion, mind) be suspicious or threatened in some way by people they can't box. And it's a shame, because we are all in this world trying to make our way to the finish line. It would be nice if we would be kinder to others, rather than being judgemental.
That's all I'm saying really.
To put it further into perspective: I went to a fancy dress party once - you had to come as a singer or a band. My ex and I went as Gladys Knight and the Pip (not pips, there was only one, lol). We put on our clothes, and blackened ourselves with stage make up, for a laugh because no one would know it was us. But in the end we came home early because the make up was so good you couldn't tell we were white. No one would serve me at the bar - I was sober. They served left and right of me, and I was left standing. I went to the loo, and women were whispering about me, until I showed them my white arms - at which point I was suddenly the best thing ever, so funny, brilliant, wonderful. I found out that night what it is like to be a black person here, and it was very unpleasant.
It certainly changed my perspective, and gave me new insight into what other nationalities could be struggling with.
I just wish people would be comfortable enough in themselves to open themselves up to new things, new people,new cultures. We have so much to learn from each other.
I am curious about other nationalities; I want to know what they eat, what they do at Christmas, I love learning and hearing about new things. Sometimes I feel that the Irish may (and it's an opinion, mind) be suspicious or threatened in some way by people they can't box. And it's a shame, because we are all in this world trying to make our way to the finish line. It would be nice if we would be kinder to others, rather than being judgemental.
That's all I'm saying really.
To put it further into perspective: I went to a fancy dress party once - you had to come as a singer or a band. My ex and I went as Gladys Knight and the Pip (not pips, there was only one, lol). We put on our clothes, and blackened ourselves with stage make up, for a laugh because no one would know it was us. But in the end we came home early because the make up was so good you couldn't tell we were white. No one would serve me at the bar - I was sober. They served left and right of me, and I was left standing. I went to the loo, and women were whispering about me, until I showed them my white arms - at which point I was suddenly the best thing ever, so funny, brilliant, wonderful. I found out that night what it is like to be a black person here, and it was very unpleasant.
It certainly changed my perspective, and gave me new insight into what other nationalities could be struggling with.
I just wish people would be comfortable enough in themselves to open themselves up to new things, new people,new cultures. We have so much to learn from each other.
sweeper: jaysus henonpause iam sure you have more then one irish friend
Ah jaysis sweeper... did she miss out on ya there?
sweeper: jaysus henonpause iam sure you have more then one irish friend
lol awww sweeps my man.... sure, how could I forget about you, and Molls, and you do such great cartwheels, too :-)
MADDOG69: Maybe that's the prevalent view in the townships?
It's not just the townships anymore. Since the ANC came to power many areas that were middle-class white areas have turned into black ghettos. Crime is through the roof and it's not safe there, especially if you are white.
It's the same in many area of the US. You'll be shot on sight if you are white... by kids. Parts of Europe the same. That last time I was in Paris there were signs up, "hunt the whites". Can you imagine signs up in Dublin saying "hunt the blacks"?
henonpause: All blacks want to kill all whites in South Africa...
Who are you quoting there? Not me, that's for sure. Here's what I said - "...You know they just might want to kill you because you are white". I'm sure you didn't mean to deliberately misquote me so I'm glad to be able to correct your error
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We dare not have an opinion on Ireland, we are not entitled to it, we are not Irish, we have no say, we are blow-ins, remember? Not aimed at you, of courses, but the minute we open our mouths we get shut down.
However, the Irish can take the mickey out of themselves any time they like; just don't let any outsider have an opinion. Heaven help us.
I have Irish roots, an Irish passport, an Irish father, brothers and sisters. I have Irish family in this town. First cousins, uncles, aunts. I have worked and paid my taxes here for sixteen years. But I have learnt to shut the hell up because it's like farting against thunder.
No offence.