NationStates Jolt Archive


The laziness of the British

The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 10:44
Apparently Britain is facing the heaviest snow it has seen for years. It is enough to shutdown every single school in Birmingham and enough to cancel all my lectures and seminars for today. How deep is the snow? Two inches maybe, if that. Here's a photo I just took.

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/7663/snowem9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Please do not quote this post or remove the tags if you feel compelled to do so.
UN Protectorates
08-02-2007, 10:50
Does this mean Ruffy will believe in god now?
The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 10:56
Does this mean Ruffy will believe in god now?I doubt it. It was probably snowing somewhere else when he made that promise. He probably should have stipulated that he wanted it to snow in his locale.

Off topic in one post? Impressive.
New Burmesia
08-02-2007, 10:56
I can't imagine many countries that grind to a halt because of 2cm of snow.
Cabra West
08-02-2007, 10:57
They kept giving out weather warnings here in Ireland as well, over an predicted 10 cm of snow. Only about 4 cm of that actually showed up, and only in parts of the country.
There's no snow at all here, except a few white spots on the green, and yet they keep telling people not to leave their houses unless it's really urgently necessary... ridiculous. But somehow cute. ;)
LiberationFrequency
08-02-2007, 11:00
Everything always used to stop down because the snow, its a tradition. Even when if it dosen't snow, we should just stop working on some random days in winter.
No paradise
08-02-2007, 11:02
At the top of the hill where I live its about 3". What pisses me off is the fact that I got to school only to find out it was closed. Some little ****wit didn't get the message out erly enough:mad: .
Extreme Ironing
08-02-2007, 11:03
We've got a few inches here also, and I've had one of my lectures cancelled. I'm not sure it laziness so much as wanting to have a day off.
The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 11:04
Everything always used to stop down because the snow, its a tradition. Even when if it dosen't snow, we should just stop working on some random days in winter.Yeah, I hear that the first week in janurary is lost to people skipping work. And these Brits always complaining that the Poles, or whatever immigrant it's in vogue to blame at the moment, are stealing their jobs. Maybe if they actually showed up for work every one in a while they wouldn't have to worry. :rolleyes:
The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 11:06
We've got a few inches here also, and I've had one of my lectures cancelled. I'm not sure it laziness so much as wanting to have a day off.Same difference? :p
Risottia
08-02-2007, 11:08
Apparently Britain is facing the heaviest snow it has seen for years. It is enough to shutdown every single school in Birmingham and enough to cancel all my lectures and seminars for today. How deep is the snow? Two inches maybe, if that. Here's a photo I just took.



Damn Brits. They get snow, and we in Lombardy don't. *sheer jealousy* *bloody envy*
Fachistos
08-02-2007, 11:19
Here we have 2-4 inches of snow, the temperature has been on both sides of -20 °C the last couple of days (-4 Farenheits for ye yanks, right?). The long-distance trains have been a bit late, but other than that, everything's pretty normal. The electricity use is record high, though.
The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 11:20
Here we have 2-4 inches of snow, the temperature has been on both sides of -20 °C the last couple of days (-4 Farenheits for ye yanks, right?). The long-distance trains have been a bit late, but other than that, everything's pretty normal. The electricity use is record high, though.-20C Where the fuck do you live? I would spontaneously commit suicide if it were ever that cold. I hates the evil winter.
I V Stalin
08-02-2007, 11:28
I hate snow. Everyone always goes on about how it'd be great if it snowed, and there's me thinking 'Oh, yeah, it'll be great. It'll be bloody freezing, everybody will be slipping over on the roads, and in a couple of days time it'll all be grey slush'. Great.

Edit: And the BBC has this as their top story: 'Heavy snow causes travel problems'. Apparently the deepest snow in the country is 4 inches in Worcester. Ok, so maybe there's some localised travel problems, but seeing as how all major roads will have been gritted, I don't see the problem.

You know what their second and third stories are? 'Ex-terror plot suspect speaks out' (about how Britain is now a 'police state for Muslims', and 'New hope as N Korea talks resume'. Don't you think that the possibility of averting nuclear armageddon is slightly more important than some local travel problems?
The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 11:30
I hate snow. Everyone always goes on about how it'd be great if it snowed, and there's me thinking 'Oh, yeah, it'll be great. It'll be bloody freezing, everybody will be slipping over on the roads, and in a couple of days time it'll all be grey slush'. Great.You must still be unemployed to have an attitude like that...
Rubiconic Crossings
08-02-2007, 11:33
Its pretty pants really.

They've been out gritting the roads and deicing the railtracks and still the country grinds to a halt.

Pathetic.

Makes me wonder how we survived the 70's and 80's....
I V Stalin
08-02-2007, 11:33
You must still be unemployed to have an attitude like that...
Well, I am. But I've hated snow for a lot longer than just six months.
The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 11:35
Its pretty pants really.

They've been out gritting the roads and deicing the railtracks and still the country grinds to a halt.

Pathetic.

Makes me wonder how we survived the 70's and 80's....O, I think we've improved since the 70s. We work 5 days a week instead of 3, or at least we pretend to.
Forsakia
08-02-2007, 11:36
Yeah, I hear that the first week in janurary is lost to people skipping work. And these Brits always complaining that the Poles, or whatever immigrant it's in vogue to blame at the moment, are stealing their jobs. Maybe if they actually showed up for work every one in a while they wouldn't have to worry. :rolleyes:

It's not that they're stealing our jobs, it's that they're actually doing them, before they turned up we could get away with being lazy, now they're over here working hard we're being shown up;)
Rubiconic Crossings
08-02-2007, 11:38
O, I think we've improved since the 70s. We work 5 days a week instead of 3, or at least we pretend to.

LOL!

Work? I had 2 interviews canceled today...just because of a few fekkn snowflakes.

grrrr
Compulsive Depression
08-02-2007, 11:43
Please do not quote this post

That is getting sigged :)

Don't you think that the possibility of averting nuclear armageddon is slightly more important than some local travel problems?

On the bright side, the nuke-throwing would melt the snow. In the short term.

It looks very pretty here. I'm not going out today, so it's fine with me ;)

Do home-workers get snow days?
Infinite Revolution
08-02-2007, 11:52
you lucky, lucky bastard. we got snow too and nothing's bloody cancelled :mad:

http://arago4.tnw.utwente.nl/stonedead/movies/life-of-brian/thumbnails/12-ben.jpg
The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 11:55
That is getting sigged :)Woo! The first time I've ever been sigged. I can now die happy.
Granthor
08-02-2007, 11:55
It's still coming down here in Aberystwyth, not quite as hard as it was an hour or so ago though. And I still can't believe the TV weather guy actually suggested that drivers should take special survival equipment in the car with them, and not to drive at all if possible. Come on, compared to some places it's a mere dusting. It's ridiculous. :rolleyes:
Egg and Chips II
08-02-2007, 11:59
Lectures are being cancelled in Birmingham? I'm at UoB and I got all my lectures today :(

But I overslept so I missed the first two anyway :D
Rubiconic Crossings
08-02-2007, 12:00
further proof of the wimpification of the UK.

:mad: :mad: :headbang:
Pure Metal
08-02-2007, 12:24
no snow here :(

i guess thats what you get for almost living closer to france than to london...
Mykonians
08-02-2007, 12:28
Don't you think that the possibility of averting nuclear armageddon is slightly more important than some local travel problems?

There's a much greater threat of my car sliding off the road and killing me than there is of a nuclear bomb going off, at the moment. Heck, there's a much greater threat of an alien invasion than there is of a nuclear bomb going off...

In fact, I had a near miss on the car park at work. They refuse to grit (which, I have since found out, is illegal, but that won't make a blind bit of difference), and so there is over 3 inches of snow sitting on the car park and the road leading to it from the gate. Despite driving slowly, my car slid halfway across the car park and very nearly slammed into the metal fence at the end (along with several other cars). Fortunately the brakes finally decided to work properly as it got close.

It is still snowing heavily here, and there is no sign of it letting up any time soon.

Comparing Britain to places which constantly have heavy snow isn't particularly constructive. They are prepared for it, they are used to it, they all own special snow gear, their cars are all geared up for driving in it, their local authorities are used to dealing with it, etc, etc, etc. We, on the other hand, aren't any of those things.
The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 12:47
Lectures are being cancelled in Birmingham? I'm at UoB and I got all my lectures today :(

But I overslept so I missed the first two anyway :Dhaha, you're obviously in the wrong department. POLSIS all the way.

Remember to vote in the Guild Exec elections feb 28th-mar 2nd. c.c
Rubiconic Crossings
08-02-2007, 12:50
There's a much greater threat of my car sliding off the road and killing me than there is of a nuclear bomb going off, at the moment. Heck, there's a much greater threat of an alien invasion than there is of a nuclear bomb going off...

In fact, I had a near miss on the car park at work. They refuse to grit (which, I have since found out, is illegal, but that won't make a blind bit of difference), and so there is over 3 inches of snow sitting on the car park and the road leading to it from the gate. Despite driving slowly, my car slid halfway across the car park and very nearly slammed into the metal fence at the end (along with several other cars). Fortunately the brakes finally decided to work properly as it got close.

It is still snowing heavily here, and there is no sign of it letting up any time soon.

Comparing Britain to places which constantly have heavy snow isn't particularly constructive. They are prepared for it, they are used to it, they all own special snow gear, their cars are all geared up for driving in it, their local authorities are used to dealing with it, etc, etc, etc. We, on the other hand, aren't any of those things.

Fact is that we used to get heavy snow falls during the winters...but since the 90's (midish) the length and severity of the snowfalls has lessened to the point that we have one snow fall and the country grinds to a halt (well not really but you get my drift! har!...)
Mykonians
08-02-2007, 13:00
Fact is that we used to get heavy snow falls during the winters...but since the 90's (midish) the length and severity of the snowfalls has lessened to the point that we have one snow fall and the country grinds to a halt (well not really but you get my drift! har!...)

Yeah, but we used to have Roman Centurions wandering around the joint as well, but that doesn't mean people kept their spears and chariots to deal with them! Stop living in the past, and look forward to the ways we can get out of work.
Silliopolous
08-02-2007, 13:02
Sheesh - Around here people don't even bother breaking out the shovels for that little snow.... it's what we would refer to as a "light dusting".

You need at least a foot of snow before school buses get cancelled, and at -20 about all they might do is hold recess indoors for the kids. Frankly, you need either an ice storm, two feet of snow, or -40 before anything gets shut down.
Rubiconic Crossings
08-02-2007, 13:07
Yeah, but we used to have Roman Centurions wandering around the joint as well, but that doesn't mean people kept their spears and chariots to deal with them! Stop living in the past, and look forward to the ways we can get out of work.

by 90's I meant the 1990s....not the 90's AD LOL!!

Also back then the weather was much milder....leading Britain to becomes Romes premier wine growing region....!
Dryks Legacy
08-02-2007, 13:12
Stop living in the past, and look forward to the ways we can get out of work.

QFT
Domici
08-02-2007, 13:16
Same difference? :p

If in America there can be a difference between a "plan" and an "agenda of actionable items," and a "civil war" and a "determined insurgency against a functioning government" then in Britain there can be a difference between "laziness" and "not wanting to work."
Domici
08-02-2007, 13:18
Its pretty pants really.

They've been out gritting the roads and deicing the railtracks and still the country grinds to a halt.

Pathetic.

Makes me wonder how we survived the 70's and 80's....

Cocaine.
Kyronea
08-02-2007, 13:20
Apparently Britain is facing the heaviest snow it has seen for years.

Oh, whoop-dee-do for Birmingham. Denver, Colorado has been frozen in at least a half foot of snow since late December, and even more for those of us up here in the mountains. How about we freeze you Brits in the snow we've been facing for six weeks, see how you handle it then if you're panicking now. :p
Domici
08-02-2007, 13:20
further proof of the wimpification of the UK.

:mad: :mad: :headbang:

Didn't you know that the upper lips were stiff because they were frozen? I've said it before, global warming is detrimental to the character of British Morality.
Rubiconic Crossings
08-02-2007, 13:21
Cocaine.

LOLOL!!!!!
The blessed Chris
08-02-2007, 13:32
The Tory in me says Bah Humbug, go back to work. In truth, the snowfall is sodding paltry, and the overreaction amusing.

The student in me says hoo-fucking ray. Its far too frigid for me to have any motivation today.
Mykonians
08-02-2007, 13:32
Also back then the weather was much milder....leading Britain to becomes Romes premier wine growing region....!

Global warming. All those damned blacksmiths forging weapons and leaving their carbon footprints behind!
Tsynaches
08-02-2007, 13:50
2 inches... hmmm...

Well. I thought us Americans had the bad reputation of layzness. In some places in the States, nothing is cancelled until people actually CAN'T get out of their own houses because of the snow.

But after looking at the picture, its self explainitory. Englishmen could find any reason to not work. But of course I think it is the Media that made that decision.
Rhursbourg
08-02-2007, 13:50
What Snow there isnt any snow where iam living
Peepelonia
08-02-2007, 13:56
I don't think this says anything about the work ethic of the British(which is actualy massively strong - we do after all work longer hours than the rest of Europe) and says everything about how that fuckin'(sorry) Thacher woman has buggered up our natinal transport with her privatisation, and about the greed of the mothers who brought up our rail systems, etc, and the inificinces of the same companys to do their fuckin(sorry sorry) jobs properly.

Sorry I know a lot of fucks in there, what can i say, I hate the snow. Baahh humbug and all that.
Rubiconic Crossings
08-02-2007, 13:59
Global warming. All those damned blacksmiths forging weapons and leaving their carbon footprints behind!

LOLOLOL!!!!
Pure Metal
08-02-2007, 14:22
I don't think this says anything about the work ethic of the British(which is actualy massively strong - we do after all work longer hours than the rest of Europe) ...

sad, then, that our productivity lags behind most of our western european counterparts... http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_ove_pro_ppp-economy-overall-productivity-ppp

however i gotta agree with the rest of your post :)
Turquoise Days
08-02-2007, 14:23
This doesn't count as snow - its just cold rain. Here in Leeds we have frozen water coming from the sky but its not lying at all.
There's some decent stuff in the mountains, I hope.
Andaluciae
08-02-2007, 14:26
Damn you.

I find myself truding off to work and class in subzero (fahrenheit) temperatures, and all you need to get cancelled is a measly bit of snow.

Bah.
Peepelonia
08-02-2007, 14:53
sad, then, that our productivity lags behind most of our western european counterparts... http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_ove_pro_ppp-economy-overall-productivity-ppp

however i gotta agree with the rest of your post :)


Sorry I don't get it. What does that actualy measure and in which way is it an indication of how hard we work, or not?
Forsakia
08-02-2007, 14:59
sad, then, that our productivity lags behind most of our western european counterparts... http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_ove_pro_ppp-economy-overall-productivity-ppp

however i gotta agree with the rest of your post :)

So it all evens out, we prefer to be lazy for longer periods rather than hardworking for shorter periods.
The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 15:00
Oh, whoop-dee-do for Birmingham. Denver, Colorado has been frozen in at least a half foot of snow since late December, and even more for those of us up here in the mountains. How about we freeze you Brits in the snow we've been facing for six weeks, see how you handle it then if you're panicking now. :pI knew it. The Americans are jealous of the British climate. The whole American policy of not caring about climate change is just a facade. All they really want to do is destroy the gulf stream. Some ally you are.

we is in ur gulf and stealing ur warm waterz. lol

We, the British will resist all attempts at being turned into mini-me version of Canada. I hate ice hockey.

I don't think this says anything about the work ethic of the British(which is actualy massively strong - we do after all work longer hours than the rest of Europe) and says everything about how that fuckin'(sorry) Thacher woman has buggered up our natinal transport with her privatisation, and about the greed of the mothers who brought up our rail systems, etc, and the inificinces of the same companys to do their fuckin(sorry sorry) jobs properly.

Sorry I know a lot of fucks in there, what can i say, I hate the snow. Baahh humbug and all that.You are so wrong. All Thatcher did was turn us from being nation that refused to work because they weren't paid enough, to a nation that refuses to work because we have a collective hangover from last night and... uh... it's snowing... Yeah... I think I have a nasty cough too *fake coughing ensues* OH, and my gerbil's grandmother died last week. I need to be there at the funeral for support.
The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 15:05
sad, then, that our productivity lags behind most of our western european counterparts... http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_ove_pro_ppp-economy-overall-productivity-ppp

however i gotta agree with the rest of your post :)That list is obviously wrong. Italian's hard working...? That's like saying the German's have a sense of humour. *runs* Actually, karmically speaking, I think I've been self-depreciating enough to allow me to insult the Italians and the Germans.
Vorlich
08-02-2007, 15:10
central Scotlands 2cm's of snow hasn't stopped anything. we're all going about our normal business.

we had a few inches a month ago - and nothing stopped then either.

i think it's a southern brit thing. not that i'm anti english - i was born in London before anyone starts.

there was also a huge media hype about the snow london was going to get for about the past week.
Pure Metal
08-02-2007, 15:15
Sorry I don't get it. What does that actualy measure and in which way is it an indication of how hard we work, or not?

DEFINITION: Estimates: GDP (PPP) per person employed, US$

SOURCE: IMD International

i believe its GDP total divided by the workforce. kinda like a GDP per capita but its GDP per worker instead... ie. national income generated per unit labour.


britain's productivity has long lagged behind other european countries
So it all evens out, we prefer to be lazy for longer periods rather than hardworking for shorter periods.

lol
Selvan
08-02-2007, 15:18
Personally, I believe that people that complain about the fact we get the day off for snow are just consumed with envy :P

What can I say? A lot of British effort and manpower has gone into working out ways that we can avoid doing anything, particularly down south. When there are complaints about Polish people [or is Romanian now? I don't read the Mail...] stealing our jobs, what they are really peeved about is the fact that by actually doing something....anything....they are making us look bad and breaking with years of British work ethics :P
Peepelonia
08-02-2007, 15:19
You are so wrong. All Thatcher


I'm amazed! How do you say that name without spitting?
The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 15:21
I'm amazed! How do you say that name without spitting?Meh, what can I say. I'm too lazy to spit.
PurgatoryHell
08-02-2007, 16:37
Oh well, half an inch of snow and shut everything down.

I live in Missouri in the US.

Here they wont shut school down unless the roads have several layers of ice on them or its -15F or -25F with the wind chill factor.

Or in NYC they have a shit ton of snow and still chiggin'.
Dakini
08-02-2007, 16:44
We had classes canceled earlier this year because of the weather. It wasn't snow though, it was the freezing rain.

They don't shut down schools for just snow unless it's white-out conditions or there's two feet on the ground.
Soluis
08-02-2007, 18:10
Had snow this morning but school was still on. It was hard to walk in without falling over, though.

And it didn't last past lunchtime.
Bodies Without Organs
08-02-2007, 18:18
Cocaine.

I sure as hell wouldn't be turning up for work after two inches of 'snow'.
Greyenivol Colony
08-02-2007, 18:27
I AM SO JEALOUS OF ALL MY FRIENDS BACK IN BRUM!

I'm up north in Lancaster (up NORTH!) and I we only had a tiny sprinkling of snow that didn't even settle on top of cars.

*boils over with rage*
The Infinite Dunes
08-02-2007, 18:31
I AM SO JEALOUS OF ALL MY FRIENDS BACK IN BRUM!

I'm up north in Lancaster (up NORTH!) and I we only had a tiny sprinkling of snow that didn't even settle on top of cars.

*boils over with rage*Oooh, whereabouts in brum are you from. I'm a good-for-nothing student stuck in terraced house just north of Stirchley.
Rubiconic Crossings
08-02-2007, 18:47
I sure as hell wouldn't be turning up for work after two inches of 'snow'.

LOLOLOL!!!!! oh man...I never made the connection! doh!
Ashmoria
08-02-2007, 19:11
you might be just a tiny bit more wimpy than places in the US are.

i heard on the news this morning that oswego county new york has 67 inches 170cm) of snow and expects another 2 feet (60cm) before the end of the week.

in new mexico its sunny and warm. no snow. no clouds. temps in the 60s. you can choose between skiing and golf on any given day.
Nadkor
08-02-2007, 20:14
Yea, apparently there's snow across the country, and everybody's in turmoil. Pity it didn't go as far across as here.
Turquoise Days
08-02-2007, 20:16
I AM SO JEALOUS OF ALL MY FRIENDS BACK IN BRUM!

I'm up north in Lancaster (up NORTH!) and I we only had a tiny sprinkling of snow that didn't even settle on top of cars.

*boils over with rage*

Infuriating, isn't it. At least the ground is freezing now. I demand snow!
Boonytopia
09-02-2007, 11:43
I can't imagine many countries that grind to a halt because of 2cm of snow.

Australia. Everyone would be out in the streets, throwing it around.
Krackensvaale
09-02-2007, 17:05
Fact is that we used to get heavy snow falls during the winters...but since the 90's (midish) the length and severity of the snowfalls has lessened to the point that we have one snow fall and the country grinds to a halt (well not really but you get my drift! har!...)

Ahh yes but dont forget to take nto account that there are people driving on the roads nowadays who have NEVER driven in these conditions before and who dont know their own limits. Which is especially prooven where I live, seing as the house is on a main road which SHOULD have been gritted but want and the number of cars ive seen carry on speeding round the corner at 40 and almost crashing into the wall of the church on it is kinda insane.