I just watched some video about Yakutsk Siberia which is meant to be the coldest city in the world. Thought “Those poor bastards, wonder what they need to wear indoors when it is -40 outside.”
Turns out a pissing tank top and PJ bottoms. We really need to start demanding better things in this country don’t we?
I’m also reading a book about coal mining. All the unpaid labour, minimising wages and dodgy things the bosses did then still happens now. Now I’m not a tankie so don’t get the wrong idea here. But why are we all okay living like this I don’t get it? Why is the UK population so forgiving at living it shit conditions.
Also I’m going to jump in before anyone says no insulation keeps you cold in the summer. Insulation works both ways, it can keep heat out or it can keep heat in. It’s better in the summer and in the winter.
Siberia video in question:
https://youtu.be/K0z7Avc9ZtY?si=_KTob2YYMn2HLwkv
Also I hope I havent broken any rules. I can’t see any. This seems mostly news posts but I guess text posts are allowed? Sorry if not.
As an outsider, I offer the following theory: it’s cultural.
Brits are conditioned by the media and each other to suffer and wear that suffering like a badge of honour. This is the country that pioneered the battle tactic of having soldiers just line up in an orderly fashion to get shot and have their countrymen just step over them to take their place afterall.
I’m still in awe of a conversation I found on Reddit when I first came here. A Polish guy was asking why the homes were so poorly insulated: “I’m Polish”, he said, “I’m familiar with cold weather. This is deliberate suffering”. He was berated at length for being “weak”, that he should “just put on a jumper and shut up”. In the same thread, someone actually referred to carpeting as insulation.
Worse still, you seem to have no idea who to properly blame for that suffering. You keep electing kleptocrats and aspiring fascists and turn your nose up at anyone who points out that your suffering is the direct result of said kleptocrats. You passed on one guy 'cause you fell for lies about him being “extreme”, “a communist”, and “antisemitic”, and you passed on the one before that because he ate a sandwich funny.
What you do excel at is scapegoating. It’s the immigrants. It’s the poor. It’s anyone but ourselves and the kleptocrats we elected.
This is why you can’t have nice things. Recognise that you’re part of the problem, demand better leaders, and stop being so fucking stupid at the polling booth, and maybe then you’ll get better results.
Nah think I’ll brexit mate.