Would You Be Happy With Mr Singh , Living Next Door ?

[Bazile]

That other thread about Air China advising not to visit certain areas of London , because of it's ethnic makeup has prompted me to post this thread .

It is often said on here and elsewhere that ethnic minorities don't mix or intigrate with the wider population , but rather live with their own kind .

I have spoken and know people over recent years who have tried to live amongst the indigenous folk ; but was told/ by neighbours in no uncertain terms that they were/are not welcome , to live amongst them, and made to feel very unwelcome .

This was particularly so in the late 50' / 60' when there was an influx of West indians / Indians into the country.

Is it any wonder therefore that areas populated predominately by Ethnic minorities have grown over the decades ?

Can they really be blamed?

[KARL]

It is certainly no wonder. In many different locations abroad I have watched the British create their own ghettos - not always physically, because flats/houses they lived in have been somewhat dispersed, but metaphorically by only mixing among themselves. I have been astonished when they in effect create pubs in their homes and rotate from house to house to have the same boring evenings again and again.....and then strut around back home talking of having enjoyed a great lifestyle. These people talk of having lived in country X for so many years but by the time they leave they have not made a single friend among the local population and often really know no-one there - country after country. Moreover, conversations with these people reveal that they circulate among themselves countless clichés and myths about the local people, many/most of which are obviously way off the truth (some utter nonsense) if only they would open their eyes and see the way life goes around them. I find it rather sad that with this approach these British expats miss out on so much which is interesting, often rather nice, and a free education right in front of them. In my experience the French are a complete contrast, and to a certain extent the Germans also, in that they seem in these locations to mix much more with the locals, even socialise quite regularly.

Unfortunately the Us-and-Them attitude is alive and well in certain quarters and, it seems to me, especially in Britain, even within the "indiginous" British population - it is very evident in lots of ways in this country (with a veneer of "being nice" - all for the right appearance). People settling in Britain will experience the same oil-and-water separation syndrome and very likely have little choice but only to mix mostly with each other - people need people.

[-Talbot-]

It is often said on here and elsewhere that SOME ethnic minorities don't mix or intigrate with the wider population , but rather live with their own kind .


(Hope divebuddy leaves the spelling error alone)

[New Judge]

No you cannot blame them and it is little wonder.

The plain fact is that many people only like and get on with "their own sort". No amount of legislation, "education" or persuasion will alter that.

The people to blame are the fools who believed that if you chucked enough people together in close proximity they'd all get on spiffingly.

[-Talbot-]

Can they really be blamed?




Yes

[piggynose]

Have you had 1st hand experience Karl? as i have tried to mix and make friends here in Spain, but its very clear they're not interested!! family is all that matters here! I used to think it was a strange coincidence, but sadly its not.

[-Talbot-]

This is going to be another thread where posters take their default position.

[dunnitall]

Totally agree New Judge, it will never work because of cultural differences. Decent people abound in every nationality but put the mix together and it doesn't gel....been proved time and again and I don't blame any single race or culture it's just a fact of life IMO.

[Peter Pedant]

// This is going to be another thread where posters take their default position//

cheer up we havent had Brexit yet
or a dopey comment ending in Righto !

oops there goes one !

[Zacs-Master]

Is he married to Alice?

[trt]

## Is it any wonder therefore that areas populated predominately by Ethnic minorities have grown over the decades ?
Can they really be blamed? ##

Not really Bazile, as I have done the same in different Country's twice.

For me it was mainly language, and having a drink/banter.

[Bazile]

Is the same situation occuring with the present crop of imigrants , e.g. the poles and other eastern Europeans ?

I agree that language might have been / is an important factor.

If you cannot speak / understand the language then you might feel less comfortable in attempting to engage with the wider population

[KARL]

Do I have first hand experience - certainly, lots in several non-european countries in addition to the UK. Regarding a language barrier, in one particular country my wife and I made friends with and were conspicuously well treated by local people of a very different culture, we initially spoke none of their language and many of them spoke no English at all. I kept in touch with some of them until a conflagration there cut off telephone communications. While there we initially met and mixed with other expats, nearly all of whom were British and all of them were decent people, but we became increasingly tired of the rather predictable drink/banter culture and eventually gave up on it. We miss the local friends more than any of the expats and are distinctly uncomfortable not knowing if they are still in their country and indeed whether they are alive or dead.

In my opinion this is very much about whether strangers are prepared to give each other the space to be different as opposed to insisting on copying of ways in order to be accepted. In a way I understand why some find at least odd the maintenance of conspicuous difference, generation after generation, but I cannot get too worked up about mostly visual things - what goes on in another's mind you will never know and should avoid guessing at it. Someone meticulously avoiding consumption of alcohol is to me no measure of the person, but I realise that to many alcohol is central to all socialising and not being able to get past that is to me their problem.

Civil war conditions excepted, I have experienced more overt unpleasantness directed at me personally within Europe than outside it (but tiny in total and always at first total-stranger contact), and that also goes for conspicuous kindness - as a result I am convinced that other parts of the world have just as high a percentage of nice people. And before anyone puts two and two together to make five, my appearance indicates that I am very obviously a "Caucasian".

Sadly, prejudice and worse will probably never disappear although it is distinctly a product of insecurity and mistrust, both innate and induced. It is interesting to note that those who have received the most enduring admiration, nationally and internationally, are probably exclusively people and their initiatives that removed such barriers.