This is why it's called GREAT Britain

Zlatattack

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2017
Messages
7,374
It is a play on words but that play on words will bring reflections and remarks which for a part won't be positive. Unless you expect people to have no reflection.
Are you french? I'm just trying to understand why this would get under your skin so much.
 

Cheimoon

Made of cheese
Scout
Joined
Jun 22, 2020
Messages
14,327
Location
Canada
Supports
no-one in particular
And since I don't want to sound like I'm having a go at the UK, the exact same thing has happened in France since March, benevolents and companies have picked up the slack and provided food and the logistic to distribute it, those people are brilliant and it would be shameful for "France" to take any credit.
And actually, governments do run away with it. I can totally imagine Boris saying that COVID-19 brought out the best in the good citizens of the UK and confirms the 'great' in Great Britain - without any irony. (Certainly in the US they celebrate their philanthropy, which is necessary in the exact same way.)

If only the OP had said something snappy like, " I know that we, as Brits, are still grappling with the negative connotations of our postcolonial identity and, in no way am I intending to ignore the obvious complexities of that identity, but...the acts of these particular people - in isolation - while not making up for the horrors of slavery, could certainly be perceived as positive in some quarters."
I think we're going to need @2cents in here soon to properly reflect on the colonial dimension!

Yeah fair enough, in Holland we think the French are arrogant and smell like feet, whereas Europe think all Dutch people are 8ft tall debauched drug addicts.
Ah, finally some facts!
 

JPRouve

can't stop thinking about balls - NOT deflategate
Scout
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
65,354
Location
France
Are you french? I'm just trying to understand why this would get under your skin so much.
What would be the link with my nationality? And it didn't get under my skin, I get why people would question the angle you picked though since the title of the thread has little to do with GB and I also get the play on words that you used but the latter will bring obvious questions.
 

Lennon7

nipple flasher and door destroyer
Joined
May 8, 2013
Messages
10,473
Location
M5
For real, The tories love when society does the hard work. It's like a group project where one or two people do feck all and then take the credit.
Nah, they won’t ever be able to take the credit for this. Social media won’t allow it - everyone has access to who voted it down and as soon as there’s a sniff of it they’ll get baited

We won’t forget this governments neglect in general, to be honest. Absolutely atrocious in every aspect.
 

SalfordRed18

Netflix and avocado, no chill
Joined
Sep 24, 2012
Messages
13,927
Location
Salford
Supports
Ashwood City FC
If there is any thread that sums up the negativity of this site its this one.

One of our own steps up and helps feed the most vulnerable kids in our country and the thread is a hive of negativity and arguing over a thread title.
There's already a thread for that in which he's quite rightly earned applauds and praise.

This is a thread talking about how great Britain is because people picked up the government, that they voted in, slack.

Ignoring all that, it's still a shit play of words.
 

Samid

He's no Bilal Ilyas Jhandir
Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
49,157
Location
Oslo, Norway
If there is any thread that sums up the negativity of this site its this one.

One of our own steps up and helps feed the most vulnerable kids in our country and the thread is a hive of negativity and arguing over a thread title.
Marcus Rashford MBE
Give Rashford the Captaincy
Petition: End Child Food Poverty (created by Marcus Rashford)
Rashford | Food for kids campaign continues
Marcus Rashford MBE | 2020/21 Performances
Rashford is ridiculously nice guy
Marcus Rashford - Top Red
Marcus Rashford to receive honorary doctorate by University of Manchester
Rashford | takes on the government over free meals for kids - and wins


He is getting nothing but praise in all those threads. The reason people are 'arguing over a thread title' has absolutely nothing to do with Rashford.
 

sammsky1

Pochettino's #1 fan
Joined
Feb 10, 2008
Messages
32,841
Location
London
Credit to Marcus obviously for his efforts, and those small businesses stepping up but this is a government leaving people to fend for themselves.

Expect Boris and co to be out re-tweeting and congratulating Marcus soon.
They did the same with Captain Tom.

thread title should be Great Rashford or Great British Public, not Great Britain as that implies some involvement from our political leaders

Why should one of the richest countries in the world, with centuries of stolen and created wealth hidden within its shores, and a very efficient and long standing tax system, require its already taxed citizens to bail out its poor with a decent meal during a pandemic when they are also close to the bone.
 
Last edited:

Fluctuation0161

Full Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2016
Messages
8,156
Location
Manchester
If there is any thread that sums up the negativity of this site its this one.

One of our own steps up and helps feed the most vulnerable kids in our country and the thread is a hive of negativity and arguing over a thread title.
I think being accurate with language and where you direct positivity or criticism is vital to preventing these problems from continuing.

Yes, Rashford and the organisations/individuals who have supported and attempted to get this problem resolved deserve great praise.

But that does not mean the whole country should be sat around patting each other on the back, that would be to ignore the root cause of this problem.

We need to be critical of the structure in place in this country which has allowed the problem to get this bad so it doesn't happen again. Hell, the government are currently doubling down on the fact that they do not want to support free school meals in holiday time during a pandemic. With government MPs coming out with lines like "kids have been starving for years" and "food support creates a culture of dependency".
 

SalfordRed18

Netflix and avocado, no chill
Joined
Sep 24, 2012
Messages
13,927
Location
Salford
Supports
Ashwood City FC
They did the same with Captain Tom.

thread title should be Great Rashford or Great British public, not Great Britain as that implies some involvement from our political leaders

Why should one of the richest countries in the world, with centuries of stolen and created wealth hidden within its shores, and a very efficient and long standing tax system, require its already taxed citizens to bail out its poor with a decent meal during a pandemic when they are also close to the bone.

thread title should be Great Rashford or Great British public, not Great Britain as that implies some involvement from our political leaders.
I suspect thread would have gone a lot better.
 

Denis' cuff

Full Member
Joined
May 13, 2007
Messages
7,769
Location
here
If there is any thread that sums up the negativity of this site its this one.

One of our own steps up and helps feed the most vulnerable kids in our country and the thread is a hive of negativity and arguing over a thread title.
yep - fecking state
 

Wibble

In Gadus Speramus
Staff
Joined
Jun 15, 2000
Messages
88,602
Location
Centreback
For real, The tories love when society does the hard work. It's like a group project where one or two people do feck all and then take the credit.
Those discounted meals and drinks at parliament don't pay for themselves.
 

Wibble

In Gadus Speramus
Staff
Joined
Jun 15, 2000
Messages
88,602
Location
Centreback
A lot of people in here have the mentality and outlook as if they found £5 on the street, they would be annoyed it’s not a £20 note.

a lot of things aren’t working well at the moment, but it’s good things like this that will help lift the doom and gloom. Stop being so bloody negative about everything.

well done Marcus, and well done those businesses who are supporting this.
MR is brilliant and we can recognise his initiative just as we can recognise the generosity of the businesses who are helping even when many of them must be hurting financially. We can be proud that there are such good people in the UK and at the same time recognise that it is a national disgrace that this is needed.
 

Fridge chutney

Full Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2016
Messages
8,872
Great work by Marcus, as usual. BoJo and his government should be ashamed.

On a separate note, I usually get confused between the difference of the UK, great Britain, and Britain. Pick a name and stick to it.
 

Charlie Foley

Full Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
18,308
The fact that a 22 year old needs to do everything he’s done would suggest it should be embarrassing Britain instead.

bad OP/title aside, well done to Marcus, a remarkable young man and credit to our club, a future captain of Manchester United I hope.

also credit to the numerous business owners stepping in to generously help a problem they too should not have to solve. But the problem exists so Kudos to them in light of that.
 

hubbuh

New Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Messages
6,110
Location
UK, hun?
yep - fecking state
How tho? People are showing appreciation to Rashford and local businesses, while not allowing Tories off the hook. What else did you want? A thread full of people paying homage? Critical thought and debate should be encouraged, not chased off!! Particularly right now as the world swirls down the shitter.
 

That'sHernandez

Ominously close to getting banned
Joined
Oct 30, 2010
Messages
24,545
Let's not lose sight of the brilliant work Rashford is doing here please.
The guy is a real credit to the club, we as fans should be proud to have him at the club,
He’s not a credit to the club, he’s a credit to himself. The club could be doing loads more.
 

Sparky Rhiwabon

New Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2013
Messages
16,946
I can see the point of people in poverty getting food vouchers in the school holidays in general, but why is it any different at the moment with Covid than any other time?
 

Champ

Refuses to acknowledge existence of Ukraine
Joined
Jun 17, 2017
Messages
9,888
He’s not a credit to the club, he’s a credit to himself. The club could be doing loads more.
The club don't need to be doing anything :confused:

They've supported Rashford through his campaign, so yeah he's a credit to himself and the club.
 

Zlatattack

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2017
Messages
7,374
I think the perpetually offended need to explain to Marcus why he also shouldn't be proud of Britain.

 

Wumminator

The Qatar Pounder
Joined
May 8, 2008
Messages
22,933
Location
Obertans #1 fan.
I think the perpetually offended need to explain to Marcus why he also shouldn't be proud of Britain.

Do you genuinely not get the point?

You seem genuinely offended about the reaction to your thread.

What people are saying is - Britain at the moment is a bit shit. It is obviously shit. You’ve got an inept government, rising levels of inequality, a system designed to benefit the few and increasingly people struggling to survive.

Systemically, Britain is in trouble.

However - it is great to see so much generosity. That is great. People in general are good once they are allowed to be.

That is the issue.
 

That'sHernandez

Ominously close to getting banned
Joined
Oct 30, 2010
Messages
24,545
The club don't need to be doing anything :confused:

They've supported Rashford through his campaign, so yeah he's a credit to himself and the club.
The club could be a bigger part of the Manchester community...
 

Zlatattack

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2017
Messages
7,374
Do you genuinely not get the point?

You seem genuinely offended about the reaction to your thread.

What people are saying is - Britain at the moment is a bit shit. It is obviously shit. You’ve got an inept government, rising levels of inequality, a system designed to benefit the few and increasingly people struggling to survive.

Systemically, Britain is in trouble.

However - it is great to see so much generosity. That is great. People in general are good once they are allowed to be.

That is the issue.
Genuinely offended... not really. I am really surprised to be honest. I had no idea people would be so worked up about wordplay suggesting something positive about Britain.

I honestly think its a bit spoilt. People don't know how good they have it.

I agree things are shit right now, but government is not really a reflection of the nation. There are a lot of decent people and good things happening too.
 

jeff_goldblum

Full Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Messages
3,917
Genuinely offended... not really. I am really surprised to be honest. I had no idea people would be so worked up about wordplay suggesting something positive about Britain.

I honestly think its a bit spoilt. People don't know how good they have it.

I agree things are shit right now, but government is not really a reflection of the nation. There are a lot of decent people and good things happening too.
The reason you're getting stick in the thread is because the evidence of 'greatness' you're citing reflects well on Rashford and those engaged in his cause, but incredibly badly on Britain, which has allowed an entirely avoidable situation to get so bad that it's taking a massive effort by private citizens to ensure that children don't go hungry.

So, basically people are getting tetchy because the 'Great Britain' line both takes credit from where it's due (Rashford et al) whilst also masking the root cause of the issue ('Great' British people voting in governments which happily preside over massive poverty and inequality).
 

Smores

Full Member
Joined
May 18, 2011
Messages
25,496
I think the perpetually offended need to explain to Marcus why he also shouldn't be proud of Britain.

There's a difference between the british people and Britain. If you can figure out what that is then you'll understand why people think your choice of wording was odd.
 

Untied

Full Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2009
Messages
4,480
Government spends more money on unused ferry contracts than it can raise to feed children. Majority of people vote for that.

Conclusion: we are great.
 

SalfordRed18

Netflix and avocado, no chill
Joined
Sep 24, 2012
Messages
13,927
Location
Salford
Supports
Ashwood City FC
Genuinely offended... not really. I am really surprised to be honest. I had no idea people would be so worked up about wordplay suggesting something positive about Britain.

I honestly think its a bit spoilt. People don't know how good they have it.

I agree things are shit right now, but government is not really a reflection of the nation. There are a lot of decent people and good things happening too.
Then they shouldn't be in government then should they? Yet here we are.

Great Britain.