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Jonjo Shelvey in Dubai
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Your original comment was replying to me so I'll come back on this. I haven't been to Dubai but I have lived abroad, I've travelled extensively and have seen a lot of the world. There is so much to love about various parts of the world but Dubai is one that just doesn't do it for me. I get its deeply personal but even the tourism adverts for Dubai just don't attract me, friends who have been there, loved it and told me about their trips put me off. Nothing I look for in a place to visit or live is central to way of life there. I accept some people love it but I just cant get my head around it.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
I don't disagree with any of that, and of course we all know the UK has its good points. I didn't even mean my list as 'Dubai is better' as what's good for one person might not be good for another, so it's all subjective. I just listed some positives to counter against the usual 'oh it's soulless, i'd never move there' comments, which typically tend to come from people who've never even spent much time here.killerandflash said:
London and the UK are of course not perfect, but I'd counter withChris_from_Sidcup said:
Aside from the obvious tax-free earnings:cantersaddick said:Obviously there is the tax factor. But of all the wonderful, beautiful places in the world you could move to (or go on holiday to) I just cannot get my head around Dubai.
Soulless, artificial, bunch of high rises built from the desert, they have to create fake rain to maintain life there, everything is just extravagance and excess. Gotta be at least 100 places I'd consider moving to before Dubai
Safety
Education for kids
Weather
Cleanliness
Healthcare
Job opportunities
Countless great restaurants
Beaches
General standard of living
It's obviously not a place for everyone and it's easy to dismiss it as soulless but there's many plus points as mentioned above. It's a very vibrant city that prioritises success and well-being, and things like fitness and wellness are massive here, which i see as a good thing.
And yes there's a lot of rich people here but it's definitely not all extravagance and excess, the vast majority of expats live a perfectly normal day to day life here. We don't all drive around in Ferrari's and party at beach clubs every day.
It's like someone from Dubai generalising against living in London because of street crime, gangs and the threat of getting stabbed walking home after dark. Yes it happens, but it's not applicable to everyone, everywhere in London.
Democracy
"Individualism"
History
Culture
Pubs
Music
Countryside - woodland, rolling fields, rivers
Sport, and I don't just mean the big events that the Middle Eastern countries like to host, but sport at all levels, and the support that follows it.
The UAE's weather is far too hot in summer too.
I standby there being 100 places I'd rather move than Dubai.3 -
""Where I grew up, in Harold Hill, it was rough and it still is now. I used to live in a little council flat, next to the shops, and there was always trouble, people getting stabbed. One Christmas I was in the pub with my dad and I looked across and there was a bullet hole in the television. I said: 'Can we go, dad?' My dad still lives in the same place, my mum and my sister live in Brentwood, further out. My sister was pregnant and I didn't want her baby growing up in the same area, so I bought her a house.""
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/20/jonjo-shelvey-swansea-city-interview
Hmm. The good old days eh?14 -
I read Factfulness recently (link below only £3.50) and its great for this stuff. Debunking myths about the "good old days". Points out things like crime in London is lower than 20/30 years ago and violent crime massively down. 24hr news cycles and negative news sells, politicians hone in on it and suddenly you have an accepted narrative based purely on a myth.SELR_addicks said:""Where I grew up, in Harold Hill, it was rough and it still is now. I used to live in a little council flat, next to the shops, and there was always trouble, people getting stabbed. One Christmas I was in the pub with my dad and I looked across and there was a bullet hole in the television. I said: 'Can we go, dad?' My dad still lives in the same place, my mum and my sister live in Brentwood, further out. My sister was pregnant and I didn't want her baby growing up in the same area, so I bought her a house.""
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/20/jonjo-shelvey-swansea-city-interview
Hmm. The good old days eh?
https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/factfulness-book-hans-rosling-9781473637498?sku=GOR010148908&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19891791290&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIBkVMhld2TWjqMoeSxpjktw1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt5Si45CpkAMVAJhQBh1k1RbGEAQYASABEgKaNfD_BwE12 -
That can't be true as someone on this forum wears a watch in London and gets their phone out.CAFCsayer said:
That's not true to be fair... had 2 mates have their phone nicked and a mate his watch this year in the city. Not a big fan of Dubai at all, but London is most definitely going down hill.YannTheMann said:Lame comment from Jonjo considering he conceded him and his family live in the North East, so he's essentially doing as the flag shaggers do and regurgitating bollocks he's seen on the internet as opposed to lived experiences, same for the posters on his nodding along like a Churchill insurance dog. Those of us who live and work in the city don't share these experiences or we'd be long gone by now, what a boring, untruthful rhetoric10 -
No one is denying the phone snatching happens. but the portrayal of London as some kind of wild west is very much inaccurate and should be challenged.O-Randy-Hunt said:
That can't be true as someone on this forum wears a watch in London and gets their phone out.CAFCsayer said:
That's not true to be fair... had 2 mates have their phone nicked and a mate his watch this year in the city. Not a big fan of Dubai at all, but London is most definitely going down hill.YannTheMann said:Lame comment from Jonjo considering he conceded him and his family live in the North East, so he's essentially doing as the flag shaggers do and regurgitating bollocks he's seen on the internet as opposed to lived experiences, same for the posters on his nodding along like a Churchill insurance dog. Those of us who live and work in the city don't share these experiences or we'd be long gone by now, what a boring, untruthful rhetoric12 -
Jonjo will have millions in the bank and being a young dad with the finances to buy high end watches, he will probably be more aware/connected to the story of Blue Stevens, the young dad murdered for his watch in Knightsbridge, compared to the more common story of commuters who work and move about the city in safe times of the day in an office/commuter environment.Besides, he clarifies he’s not well educated on the matter and he’s right that his family will be safer in Dubai.Some people might be more risk tolerant in their lives, but other people’s safety appetites are won’t be, dismissing them will not change that.4
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Got to feel for the poor sods who couldn't receive the warning email about thefts because their laptops and phones had already been nicked.5
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I wish him and his family all the very best2
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Funny, I am sure he went to Turkey...
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Can only speak as find. Lived in a outer London Borough all my life. Always enjoyed going into town for all the different things you can do.cantersaddick said:
No one is denying the phone snatching happens. but the portrayal of London as some kind of wild west is very much inaccurate and should be challenged.O-Randy-Hunt said:
That can't be true as someone on this forum wears a watch in London and gets their phone out.CAFCsayer said:
That's not true to be fair... had 2 mates have their phone nicked and a mate his watch this year in the city. Not a big fan of Dubai at all, but London is most definitely going down hill.YannTheMann said:Lame comment from Jonjo considering he conceded him and his family live in the North East, so he's essentially doing as the flag shaggers do and regurgitating bollocks he's seen on the internet as opposed to lived experiences, same for the posters on his nodding along like a Churchill insurance dog. Those of us who live and work in the city don't share these experiences or we'd be long gone by now, what a boring, untruthful rhetoric
Recently started a job just off Oxford Street (previously worked in London in either the City or Docklands). A truly eye opening experience, awful place it has become and it appears no one cares enough in power to do anything about it. The Wild West is IMO a very accurate description of that part of town.11 - Sponsored links:
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What I will say is whilst this absolutely does not make the lack of response or the theft acceptable. Some people don't know what's good for them or how to help themselves (not talking about you) how often up town do you see someone walking along with a decent looking handbag draped over a shoulder and their phone open held in front who may as well be a beacon to these shitheads. London has always been spicy, maybe not Bond street or Oxford Street and you have to take sensible precautions around not making yourself a target regardless of how bad its gotJohnnyH2 said:
Can only speak as find. Lived in a outer London Borough all my life. Always enjoyed going into town for all the different things you can do.cantersaddick said:
No one is denying the phone snatching happens. but the portrayal of London as some kind of wild west is very much inaccurate and should be challenged.O-Randy-Hunt said:
That can't be true as someone on this forum wears a watch in London and gets their phone out.CAFCsayer said:
That's not true to be fair... had 2 mates have their phone nicked and a mate his watch this year in the city. Not a big fan of Dubai at all, but London is most definitely going down hill.YannTheMann said:Lame comment from Jonjo considering he conceded him and his family live in the North East, so he's essentially doing as the flag shaggers do and regurgitating bollocks he's seen on the internet as opposed to lived experiences, same for the posters on his nodding along like a Churchill insurance dog. Those of us who live and work in the city don't share these experiences or we'd be long gone by now, what a boring, untruthful rhetoric
Recently started a job just off Oxford Street (previously worked in London in either the City or Docklands). A truly eye opening experience, awful place it has become and it appears no one cares enough in power to do anything about it. The Wild West is IMO a very accurate description of that part of town.7 -
You can't reason with some people mate. If you are up the tottenham court road end you would have seen this which will stop the balaclava little sweethearts from robbing anyone up.JohnnyH2 said:
Can only speak as find. Lived in a outer London Borough all my life. Always enjoyed going into town for all the different things you can do.cantersaddick said:
No one is denying the phone snatching happens. but the portrayal of London as some kind of wild west is very much inaccurate and should be challenged.O-Randy-Hunt said:
That can't be true as someone on this forum wears a watch in London and gets their phone out.CAFCsayer said:
That's not true to be fair... had 2 mates have their phone nicked and a mate his watch this year in the city. Not a big fan of Dubai at all, but London is most definitely going down hill.YannTheMann said:Lame comment from Jonjo considering he conceded him and his family live in the North East, so he's essentially doing as the flag shaggers do and regurgitating bollocks he's seen on the internet as opposed to lived experiences, same for the posters on his nodding along like a Churchill insurance dog. Those of us who live and work in the city don't share these experiences or we'd be long gone by now, what a boring, untruthful rhetoric
Recently started a job just off Oxford Street (previously worked in London in either the City or Docklands). A truly eye opening experience, awful place it has become and it appears no one cares enough in power to do anything about it. The Wild West is IMO a very accurate description of that part of town.
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O-Randy-Hunt said:
You can't reason with some people mate. If you are up the tottenham court road end you would have seen this which will stop the balaclava little sweethearts from robbing anyone up.JohnnyH2 said:
Can only speak as find. Lived in a outer London Borough all my life. Always enjoyed going into town for all the different things you can do.cantersaddick said:
No one is denying the phone snatching happens. but the portrayal of London as some kind of wild west is very much inaccurate and should be challenged.O-Randy-Hunt said:
That can't be true as someone on this forum wears a watch in London and gets their phone out.CAFCsayer said:
That's not true to be fair... had 2 mates have their phone nicked and a mate his watch this year in the city. Not a big fan of Dubai at all, but London is most definitely going down hill.YannTheMann said:Lame comment from Jonjo considering he conceded him and his family live in the North East, so he's essentially doing as the flag shaggers do and regurgitating bollocks he's seen on the internet as opposed to lived experiences, same for the posters on his nodding along like a Churchill insurance dog. Those of us who live and work in the city don't share these experiences or we'd be long gone by now, what a boring, untruthful rhetoric
Recently started a job just off Oxford Street (previously worked in London in either the City or Docklands). A truly eye opening experience, awful place it has become and it appears no one cares enough in power to do anything about it. The Wild West is IMO a very accurate description of that part of town.
Personally would prefer to see a policeman with a taser and hefty baton standing on each corner.3 -
People could just not walk around looking at their phones. Far harder to take it from your pocket.
Regarding Dubai and education, how many people do you know who stay out there when their baby reaches school age? Likewise if they get seriously ill?
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In the 80s and 90s I got a glass in the face. Then my tooth knocked out. 4 mates got stabbed. One lost an ear. One lost an eye. Another mate got his arm shot off with a sawn off. London was basically still recovering from the war infrastructure wise and most of it was a shit tip. I still loved it though.If nowadays in this beautiful city all people are worried about is the theft of a dog shit baby’s dummy of a phone people can’t live without it’s massively better surely.8
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Fuck me, who did you hang about with when you were younger, Turkish and Brick Top?Greenhithe said:In the 80s and 90s I got a glass in the face. Then my tooth knocked out. 4 mates got stabbed. One lost an ear. One lost an eye. Another mate got his arm shot off with a sawn off. London was basically still recovering from the war infrastructure wise and most of it was a shit tip. I still loved it though.If nowadays in this beautiful city all people are worried about is the theft of a dog shit baby’s dummy of a phone people can’t live without it’s massively better surely.14 -
On your first point, why shouldn't they?Friend Or Defoe said:People could just not walk around looking at their phones. Far harder to take it from your pocket.
Regarding Dubai and education, how many people do you know who stay out there when their baby reaches school age? Likewise if they get seriously ill?
On your second point, plenty...
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Classic victim blaming 👍 when it nearly happened to me on kensington high street. I was walking from one place to another about 100 yards and had my phone out for about 20 seconds to message the Mrs. I'll remember your advice next time.Friend Or Defoe said:People could just not walk around looking at their phones. Far harder to take it from your pocket.
Regarding Dubai and education, how many people do you know who stay out there when their baby reaches school age? Likewise if they get seriously ill?10 -
Go to TCR 4 days a week and thankfully have managed to avoid these plague of phone snatchers by using common sense and looking around me, revolutionary concept I know maybe one of these days it'll catch onO-Randy-Hunt said:
You can't reason with some people mate. If you are up the tottenham court road end you would have seen this which will stop the balaclava little sweethearts from robbing anyone up.JohnnyH2 said:
Can only speak as find. Lived in a outer London Borough all my life. Always enjoyed going into town for all the different things you can do.cantersaddick said:
No one is denying the phone snatching happens. but the portrayal of London as some kind of wild west is very much inaccurate and should be challenged.O-Randy-Hunt said:
That can't be true as someone on this forum wears a watch in London and gets their phone out.CAFCsayer said:
That's not true to be fair... had 2 mates have their phone nicked and a mate his watch this year in the city. Not a big fan of Dubai at all, but London is most definitely going down hill.YannTheMann said:Lame comment from Jonjo considering he conceded him and his family live in the North East, so he's essentially doing as the flag shaggers do and regurgitating bollocks he's seen on the internet as opposed to lived experiences, same for the posters on his nodding along like a Churchill insurance dog. Those of us who live and work in the city don't share these experiences or we'd be long gone by now, what a boring, untruthful rhetoric
Recently started a job just off Oxford Street (previously worked in London in either the City or Docklands). A truly eye opening experience, awful place it has become and it appears no one cares enough in power to do anything about it. The Wild West is IMO a very accurate description of that part of town.3 -
Incredible take.YannTheMann said:Lame comment from Jonjo considering he conceded him and his family live in the North East, so he's essentially doing as the flag shaggers do and regurgitating bollocks he's seen on the internet as opposed to lived experiences, same for the posters on his nodding along like a Churchill insurance dog. Those of us who live and work in the city don't share these experiences or we'd be long gone by now, what a boring, untruthful rhetoric4 - Sponsored links:
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You should also be able to walk down that dark alley on your own and ignore people's advice!0
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I can only think those people who believe London is a safe environment can’t go up there much.14
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People should be able to wear their Rolexes, carry Mulberry handbags, and have their fancy telephones out anywhere without fear. That is a given.
If the answer to the fear is more law enforcement then OK. The police, the legal system, prisons, the Education Service for prevention, cameras, street lighting, accident and emergency provision all have to be paid for.
That means taxation of some kind, and given the state of public services at the moment it means we who can afford it all pay in more.
London is not a special case with regard to buying more resources for the greater good.
I know nothing about the tax system in Dubai, maybe free oil from out of the ground pays for everything.3 -
I think it's the opposite to be honest. My wife's from a small town and when we visit, they're full of stores they've read in the paper / Facebook and they seem to think we're living in a war zone.Plaaayer said:I can only think those people who believe London is a safe environment can’t go up there much.Funnily enough when on holiday we met someone from my wife's part of the world who had left years ago, now living abroad and hasn't gone back since. She was under the impression that it's now been taken over by a certain demographic of people which I can say for certain it hasn't been - It's one of the least diverse places I've seen.
It's all perceptions and many people these days get their perceptions from social media, negative news generates clicks.15 -
Don't go up there much tells me everything about the vicinity in which you live to London. I live, work and play in the city and largely people don't even look at each other let alone the mass attackings/muggings I'm led to believe are going down on here, not trying to diminish and say these awful crimes don't happen, just not with the regularity that people who objectively don't live or come here often seem to thinkPlaaayer said:I can only think those people who believe London is a safe environment can’t go up there much.8 -
You know London isn't just restricted to the City right?3
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My experiences going into Whitechapel, Stratford, Shepherd's Bush, Paddington, Charlton, Woolwich etc have been ones where I've left with my phone, my watch, and not been on edge at all, despite the idea that I'm going to experience something, that's only beaten by downtown Gaza.Plaaayer said:You know London isn't just restricted to the City right?11 -
Which suburb is that is particularly unsafe then and a cause for concern?2
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No ones nicking your Casio and 8210 mateRothko said:
My experiences going into Whitechapel, Stratford, Shepherd's Bush, Paddington, Charlton, Woolwich etc have been ones where I've left with my phone, my watch, and not been on edge at all that I'm going to experience that is supposed to be one, that's only beaten by downtown Gaza.Plaaayer said:You know London isn't just restricted to the City right?7 -
Maybe someone for their second hand store in Hoxton, but no, my iPhone and Apple Watch Ultra stayed safely with me. Cause a lot of this stuff about London, is frankly bollocksPlaaayer said:
No ones nicking your Casio and 8210 mateRothko said:
My experiences going into Whitechapel, Stratford, Shepherd's Bush, Paddington, Charlton, Woolwich etc have been ones where I've left with my phone, my watch, and not been on edge at all that I'm going to experience that is supposed to be one, that's only beaten by downtown Gaza.Plaaayer said:You know London isn't just restricted to the City right?14
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