England in the 21st Century

[upsticks]

England, famous across the world as the country of Shakespeare, royalty, fair play and manners, is a nation of "overweight, sex-and-celebrity-obsessed TV addicts", according to a new tourist guide.

I'm not sure what to make of this article on England in the 21st Century.


I mean, England isn't the dry stone walls and rolling hills and apple-country it seems to suggest that it is. It isn't the magical fairytale country, where people speak slowly and clearly, and all with the same accent - the perfect RP.

We don't wear bonnets, and complain about decency.

I'm not sure we even feel so strongly about Royalty anymore. I for one, feel particularly indifferent to it (right now, at least).


But saying we are a nation of "overweight sex-and-celebrity-obsessed TV addicts"?

You forgot the Chavs.



Tell me, flist, anyone - from England or not - do you think England is overweight/sex-obsessed/celebrity-obsessed/tv-obsessed?

Comments

[glitterfairy25.livejournal.com]

LOL, fuhtehluh!

Yes. That is because they're tabloids. Well done, you idiots.

I thought exactly that, but then I realised, even though they're not exactly representative of the UK (I mean there are a lot of popular broadsheets too), that these tabloids sell. Some people buy them because they like them. Of course, some people just buy them for the Page Three Girl, and the "Dear Deirdre, I had sex with a female monkey and now my third husband's cousin thinks I'm a lesbian" sort of stuff. But I don't think it's fair to look just at the tabloids. Most people understand how poor they are in content.

I reckon it's the new religion. People want something to believe in, and where God has - perhaps - failed them, Celebrities (this new type of beautiful and indestructable person that we choose to watch) are around, to idolise, fancy, and generally creep out. Inspiration, and all that. It's certainly an idea anyway.

The whole idea of Slash and 'Slash Goggles' suggests to me that there is a lot more sex involved in things than we'd all care to admit, although how similar that is for the non-slash folk (I reckon we need a name for those) I couldn't say.

I don't mean to knock you down or anything, I just thought it was a worthy of a bit of a discussion.

Overall though: idiots = yes. Way to stop the tourist industry!!