Are British people apathetic by nature or nurture?

Question

I notice tremendous apathy in Britain. Any suggestion that people should take on responsibilities and maintain their rights is met with disdain.

In particular, given the increasing levels of violence in the country with the increasing tendency of the police to go after soft targets such as householders that defend their homes and lives, it makes me think people are being nurtured into apathy. How often do we hear the phrase "don't take the law into you own hands"? What does that really mean? To me, that means "aw - just let somebody else deal with it and claim on insurance". Insurance itself is a crime industry - like the guy who tosses bricks with the name of a glazier attached, through people's windows.

Where are people's guts? There's been a petition to the PM to permit people to carry and use guns for defence of self and of others. In 6 months only 15 people have signed it? Apathy rules the UK! Here is the proof of apathy: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Armed-citizens/

Answer 1

The British are apathetic by conditioning, the consumer society and credit availibility have resulted in a Nation who as long as there is Chinese c**p in the High Street and a working card the rest in irrelevant.The days of a Nation that could not be messed with are long gone, integrity,honesty, law and order,social responsibility,ethics are all values that have little credibility, probably because they are not advertised on TV.

The gun issue is very emotive and few have looked at the FACTS.

British villians know that their prey is unarmed, and the police just do not have the resources to protect the public.In some US states when guns where banned violent crime increased and when reintroduced decreased.

In the UK the law is biased toward the criminal, and self defence often results in the conviction of the victim of the criminals wrong doing!!!

The controlled right to bear  arms  for self defence would be a move it the right direction,along with clearly defined guidelines where their use is appropriate, but no party has the political muscle to do it.At present the only sector of the British Nation to have virtually unrestricted access to guns is the criminal fraternity.

Answer 2

We have become apathetic as increasingly we have become victims both of political correctness that has been manipulated and abused by some, and the nanny state. Increasingly this Government in particular has taken to telling the populous how to live, thus removing the necessity for individuals to think for themselves and be responsible. I think it's ridiculous the onus is on car owners not to leave 'tempting' items in cars, similarly householders whom apparently are responsible for enticing burglars by owning desirable items. 'Don't take the law into your own hands' refers to vigilantes who administer their own 'justice' rather than relying on the Police/Judiciary. It would be anarchy if we all decided to 'take the law into our own hands'. Insurance is increasingly a necessary evil given increasing crime rates. I am ready and willing to stand up and be counted, I have no shortage of guts, I'm just sure no-one is listening. Yet. Guns? No thank you, look at the current problems we have with youths carrying knives. We don't want to make them more efficient murderers. Guns are best left in the hands of the Police and armed forces, for now.

Answer 3

Interesting but I can't be bothered at the moment to add my name.

Answer 4

The Government never gets to grips with the real issues. Its always window dressing...Ban this.... Ban that...without even a thought for law abiding citizens. When they banned handguns it didn't make any difference to gun crime because criminals don't listen to Bans!!!! Now there's a surprise!!! But what about the law abiding citizens that enjoyed a shooting competition at their gun club? Well they were screwed weren't they.

Answer 5

English, not British

The Scots and Welsh are not apathetic.

Answer 6

I dont like guns but the apathy is being taught us or fed to us in the media.  When we have to stand up to be counted we will have a big job on

Answer 7

Have you not heard of Dunblane, Hungerford, or any of the mass shootings in the States?

Glad you are not my neighbour

Answer 8

I don't know what's worse, British apathy or American complacency.

Answer 9

I'm not fond of guns, there ok for hunting. Most of us just want to get on with our lives without a fuss. Whats wrong with that? Mind you, if we don't like something we know how to show it, just look what happened with the poll tax, and the fuel crisis.

Answer 10

ok, because every1 who wants 2 carry a gun will b able to judge wen its appropriate 2 blow some1s head off wont they. most people i know who think they can shoot have neva actually shot in their lives and i bet they wouldnt go and get training, and find out that aiming at a moving intruder is harder than in computer games. enough peeps get shot in the uk already lets not go make it legal.

i am a brit and standing up 4 my right to not b shot by sum idiot  . so there you go.

(tip 4 people - a gun and a knife can b used against you, a dog (yours)  and ur initiative cant)

Answer 11

I would assume that you're not British from the clear-sighted views on our sorry society. Both probably - people only get pissed off here if you point these things out to them. But before it gets to that point, they're only too happy to moan and put up with their lot. But it doesn't matter because Margaret Thatcher hit on the bright idea of what amounted to plain bribery really, so we got bought off with our boxy little houses and p**s-poor values and were nicely put to the sleep of apathy which has become a coma - now we're not even aware we're pissed off we're so stoned on "success". So, it's been going on a long time and anyone who wants to have a go at me "take a look at yourself" then take a look around you, and show me an individual who you can actually admire that's British (except for charity organisations, mustn't touch those!)

Answer 12

its what happens when you take away nationalism and ban your own flag. its rather like going to a football match in nutural colours and being told not to take sides.......we dont own this country. its owned by the EU...we have no say in what happens SO who gives a flying toss what!! happens to it........thats what you are up against.  personaly i agree with you. we should all arm our selves to protect our families. the police in this country are just beyond it completely. government revenue collectors.

Answer 13

people have had the p1ss taken out of them by governments for so long we really can't be ar5ed anymore

Answer 14

No, it's just that here in the UK we're not all quite so keen to become a bunch of gun toting hot heads. Criminals and cowards (and famers) carry guns, civilised people in the UK use other tools to settle disputes, like firm complaints letters to organizations, bottles, knives and booze. To put it bluntly, take your backward gun toting American unculture and shove it. I'd hate to live in a place where I fear my neighbour to the extent I must arm myself against them. Pathetic, and typically American in my opinion.

Answer 15

I am afraid that British people have always been apathetic, they allow the government to walk all over them. I don't know what will bring people to their senses.

Answer 16

Beyond violence in British streets there is violence in African streets. Violence which happens elsewhere is violence in British streets for reason if rights not protected elsewhere rights not at home. Strong United Nations helps reduce violence. Human Supremacist Attitudes restrained by law free up capabilities to stop violence in Britain. Were money spent on Celebrity Magazines, Entertainment, Junk Food Advertising, Television Advertising instead spent on U.N. The U.N. could have more money to improve  how Britain viewed in world by it being part of effective U.N.

Answer 17

Quite the opposite, the lack of apathy of the British people is being shown by their resistance to the attempted propaganda being put out by the BNP, largely through the internet and their attempts to use forums such as YA.  British people have also used their intelligences to visit the BNP website and to discover that the right to own guns is a key tenet of the BNP policy.  They have also decided that the BNP is basically a neo-racist and neo-n**i party that ultimately wants to implement an ethnic cleansing policy resulting in the deportation of all who are not UK white British or of similar white European origins. The British people have further decided this is not for them, and have decided not to sign the gun petition.  Just one possible explanation and example.

Answer 18

I agree.

We need to take back our rights from the twisted and corrupted government and have a physical presence against the police and other tools of the government.

Although, I think that carrying a weapon designed to kill is a bit extreme. Most people will be sorted with a good kicking.