i felt compelled to join in this thread being a proud englishman, i think what pissed me off most are posts from a english person cunting my country off. that fucks me off greatly,but also because of the sweeping generalisation of the original post.
generalisations are wrong, we here in england think all americans are stupid and have no idea about the rest of the world, thats a true statment, we do. the yanks ive met have all been intelligent and polite, although maybe only the intelligent ones know how to fill out the passport documents.
i think the o/p has a point regarding healthy living, england and the rest of the u.k has become very americanised now, excess is everywhere, suing every cunt for anything they can, processed foods full of shit, its become a lazy arse culture. yet still we are not the most obese country in the world, were only 3rd,lol, and you dont become the most obese country in the world by having the most healthiest diet,lol. although your fattys are probably better looking than our fattys, lol.
i too am from south london, like that other fella. growing up in the 70's we had fuck all, we grew all of our veg coz it was cheaper, but we ate healthily, things are so different now inner city wise and everything is made so we dont have to make.
the 'pub culture' was where working class would get together, it created community, everyone knew each other and looked out for each other, then go home and beat your wife up,lol.
anywhere there's money you'll find good looking people, go to the poorest places you find ugly people. i just come back from egypt, blimey theres some proper fugly people there, same as any third world country to be fair.
regarding freedom of speech, ive always had the impression we have more freedom of speech than almost any country in the world, england is not governed by different laws, in different parts of the country, it's the same all over unlike you folks in the u.s.
we are however a ruled nation and we have been for CENTURIES that is why we tend to be a bit polite and a slightly submissive society and why we put up with more shit than we should do from our governments.