Discussion Wow the uk is horrible lmfao

[capi]

Im not a politics guy and dont live in the UK but i just saw a video of them banning cigs for LIFE for anyone born after 08'.
Man and thats just one thing ive heard, ive heard SO MUCH bs they been restricting as well, and having mandatory online ids or something? Holy shit that place sounds horrible. Dont even mention the millions new internet restrictions and privacy violations (though the request to delete data is really nice!!)

I thought the "usa is land of the free" propaganda is bs but comparing it to uk or Australia, its kinda crazy.

 

[avoid]

I wouldn't want to live in the UK either but I actually like the attempt to create a cigarette-free generation. I hope it pans out nicely. Though maybe I'm biased as a non-smoker? I certainly don't mind laws and regulations that push back on harmful addictions: nicotine, gambling, drugs, sugar, social media, and probably more. But I'm still on the fence about online IDs for privacy reasons even though they would help with regulating online gambling and social media addiction.

 

[KuriGohan&Kamehameha]

The UK is obsessed with banning everything. Cigarettes are just the latest thing, earlier this year they banned restaraunts from having sugary drink refills, which in practice meant that even wetherspoons started taking out the hot chocolate machines. Basically encouraging you to drink even more alcohol, because now the options for alternative drinks are getting more limited. During my uni days, I used to go to spoons for the cheap hot chocolate and study/chat with friends, can't do that anymore!

Several years ago, after the sugar tax had been implemented, it pretty much created a market where only original Coke is the only soft drink that doesn't include artificial sweeteners. The artificial sweeteners taste like shit and give me a headache, but now an insane amount of products have this garbage in them, simply because the government taxes anything unhealthy to high heaven. Of course, this doesn't solve the issue that loads of people eat unhealthy crisps, sandwiches loaded with mayo and fat, and biscuits full of sugar. If you want convenient food options, usually only junk is available.

The approach of the UK government is to ban and take things away, rather than try to introduce alternatives which may be healthier and still enjoyable. It's also true that many apps are requiring British users to submit ID verification, which is crazy. There's always some licence, permit, or permission required for everything. Even though most British people don't like the idea of mandatory ID cards, you will be IDed in a shop to purchase paracetamol or drinks containing caffeine if you are in your 20s or 30s and look young.

It's not just unhealthy vices that are strictly regulated either, if you're a person with chronic pain, or mental health issues, it is nearly impossible to get any strong medication in the UK. The approach to a lot of issues there now is paracetamol and CBT therapy, if your issue is long-term and more complicated, they will just expect you to suffer forever, because "it's better than having a medication which may have addictive potential, it's too dangerous!"

The philosophy is it's better to be safe and miserable, rather than ever taking risks. Life can't always fit into such neat and tidy boxes, but people who want to control you would rather take away that autonomy and freedom of choice than let people decide for themselves how to live their own lives.

 

[Always-in-trouble]

The UK is obsessed with banning everything. Cigarettes are just the latest thing, earlier this year they banned restaraunts from having sugary drink refills, which in practice meant that even wetherspoons started taking out the hot chocolate machines. Basically encouraging you to drink even more alcohol, because now the options for alternative drinks are getting more limited. During my uni days, I used to go to spoons for the cheap hot chocolate and study/chat with friends, can't do that anymore!

Several years ago, after the sugar tax had been implemented, it pretty much created a market where only original Coke is the only soft drink that doesn't include artificial sweeteners. The artificial sweeteners taste like shit and give me a headache, but now an insane amount of products have this garbage in them, simply because the government taxes anything unhealthy to high heaven. Of course, this doesn't solve the issue that loads of people eat unhealthy crisps, sandwiches loaded with mayo and fat, and biscuits full of sugar. If you want convenient food options, usually only junk is available.

The approach of the UK government is to ban and take things away, rather than try to introduce alternatives which may be healthier and still enjoyable. It's also true that many apps are requiring British users to submit ID verification, which is crazy. There's always some licence, permit, or permission required for everything. Even though most British people don't like the idea of mandatory ID cards, you will be IDed in a shop to purchase paracetamol or drinks containing caffeine if you are in your 20s or 30s and look young.

It's not just unhealthy vices that are strictly regulated either, if you're a person with chronic pain, or mental health issues, it is nearly impossible to get any strong medication in the UK. The approach to a lot of issues there now is paracetamol and CBT therapy, if your issue is long-term and more complicated, they will just expect you to suffer forever, because "it's better than having a medication which may have addictive potential, it's too dangerous!"

The philosophy is it's better to be safe and miserable, rather than ever taking risks. Life can't always fit into such neat and tidy boxes, but people who want to control you would rather take away that autonomy and freedom of choice than let people decide for themselves how to live their own lives.

I thought it just costed them too much for non-water refills... Also, why is alcohol still so readily available if they are starting to do this unable to smoke cigs past a certain age thing. Have they announced anything on that front.

 

[EternalShore]

Unfortunately, the stupid rules regarding complete lack of digital privacy in the UK is only the beginning to the awfulness that is the UK rn! :( I've heard they practically pay double for everything too~ and then, they also have the highest r@p3 rate in the entire world according to Wikipedia~ D: they really need someone to come in and fix all their issues pronto~ >_<

Speaking of cigarettes, something I never understood is why some governments ban them but allow other drugs like marijuana~ >_< I think California did that~

 

[buriedinmyhead]

Im not a politics guy and dont live in the UK but i just saw a video of them banning cigs for LIFE for anyone born after 08'.
Man and thats just one thing ive heard, ive heard SO MUCH bs they been restricting as well, and having mandatory online ids or something? Holy shit that place sounds horrible. Dont even mention the millions new internet restrictions and privacy violations (though the request to delete data is really nice!!)

I thought the "usa is land of the free" propaganda is bs but comparing it to uk or Australia, its kinda crazy.

I don't live in the UK, but I actually support the cigarette ban. Smoking harms everyone around you, not just yourself, so it's much more of a public health and safety issue. I'm very against all the online stuff they're doing though

 

[RoachClassified]

wasn't UK the country that first invented all this age verification bullshit and other countries later adopted it?

 

[Spite]

Yeah the UK is a shithole and I'm glad I don't live there, but being in Australia isn't much better. Me being Australian, we tend to follow in the UK's footsteps. Many of the other Commonwealth countries do. What pisses me off especially is the knee-jerk laws our country loves to implement as well as the absolute damage control they try to do whenever something bad happens. They're desperately trying to push a nationwide under-16s social media ban all because one teenager decided to end their life last year. Like yeah don't get me wrong it's fucking sad and tragic this kid was in so much pain they had to take their own life... but you can't use that to control who can and cannot access the Internet, right?? It's ridiculous.

The parents should be doing their fucking jobs and parenting their kids, not the government.

I also hear the UK is trying to ban knives, which is so fucking absurd I don't even know what to say. "Just ban violence guys! It'll work, trust us, now we won't have violence anymore!"



Also self-defence laws in both the UK and Australia are dogshit; a complete joke. What am I supposed to do? Let the thugs break into my house and stab me to death? The fuck?

EDIT: I'll add one more thing about the cigarette ban - I guess if it's just being banned for people under 18, sure, that's fine. Banning cigarettes for LIFE for people born after a specific year? That's crazy.

 

[Sord17]

Unfortunately, the stupid rules regarding complete lack of digital privacy in the UK is only the beginning to the awfulness that is the UK rn! :( I've heard they practically pay double for everything too~ and then, they also have the highest r@p3 rate in the entire world according to Wikipedia~ D: they really need someone to come in and fix all their issues pronto~ >_<

Speaking of cigarettes, something I never understood is why some governments ban them but allow other drugs like marijuana~ >_< I think California did that~

https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/claim-uk-has-highest-rape-rate-developed-world-misses-key-context-2025-09-17/

 

[Sord17]

Defo an outlier but having lived in the UK I think that's close to as good as it gets. Maybe that's only because the restrictions only affect me productively. Nothing is too sweet, compared to other counties where I have to water down any soda at juice they have. The air in cities is pretty clear compared to others of similar density even if the emission fines are annoying. The towns are greatly walkable, even smaller towns have a decent array of amenities due to being so old. The transport is effective if not over priced. And the folks and culture is great. Not sure what more I'd ask for, granted if I were still living there I'd have to bypass the law to even be on this site so defo not perfect but far away from the dystopia the global media likes to portray.

Don't forget folks- news IS a business.
What's going to get more ad revenue. "life remains mundane and peaceful on western island nation despite ineffectual governance and economic stagnation" or "GREAT BRITAIN HAS FALLEN, FREEDOM AND LIFE STOLLEN FROM THE BRITISH BY TYRANNICAL 1984-ESQUE REFORMS FROM GLOBALIST GOVERNMENT!!!"

 

[fedup1982]

I'm in the UK, and I like it, except for weed being illegal. Thankfully it's easy to get and nobody cares really.

The cig ban doesn't bother me, I'm not young enough to count.

I've not once needed an ID for going anywhere online, except when buying crypto, but that is understandable.

Fucking better than living in the USA. I'd be homeless in the USA. The UK takes care of me.

 

[bl33ding_heart]

I will deadass ctb if I can't get out of this country.

 

[PanaxMan]

Im not a politics guy and dont live in the UK but i just saw a video of them banning cigs for LIFE for anyone born after 08'.
Man and thats just one thing ive heard, ive heard SO MUCH bs they been restricting as well, and having mandatory online ids or something? Holy shit that place sounds horrible. Dont even mention the millions new internet restrictions and privacy violations (though the request to delete data is really nice!!)

I thought the "usa is land of the free" propaganda is bs but comparing it to uk or Australia, its kinda crazy.

It's pretty free if you live in the correct states. For example blocking the hub is hilarious

 

[ThisMan000]

It's because the UK is led by a bunch of diet-dictator lovers. British people are unbelievably pro-authority and cucked, especially on gun issues.

 

[froggirl9000]

It's because the UK is led by a bunch of diet-dictator lovers. British people are unbelievably pro-authority and cucked, especially on gun issues.

Nail on the head. As an unfortunate Anglo subject (only half Anglo, which is, I assume, why I'm not totally braindead), I've seen this all too much. The Anglos are absurdly pro-authority. I have my own theories as to why (tl;dr most likely their colonial past, as well as a lack of any large-scale revolution at a time where it would have meant something; look at France, they brought out the guillotine when they did, and now look at what they're like)

 

[ThisMan000]

Nail on the head. As an unfortunate Anglo subject (only half Anglo, which is, I assume, why I'm not totally braindead), I've seen this all too much. The Anglos are absurdly pro-authority. I have my own theories as to why (tl;dr most likely their colonial past, as well as a lack of any large-scale revolution at a time where it would have meant something; look at France, they brought out the guillotine when they did, and now look at what they're like)
View attachment 201472

I've always been dumbfounded at how pro-monarchy Brits are.

 

[froggirl9000]

I've always been dumbfounded at how pro-monarchy Brits are.

Not everyone is pro-monarchy (there have been rather vocal calls to abolish it since Elizabeth died), but I have noticed that it tends to be one of two extremes; either you want to abolish the monarchy completely, or you are one of those weirdos who camped outside Buckingham Palace in a tent for days just to get the best spot for Queen Elizabeth's funeral.

 

[ThisMan000]

Not everyone is pro-monarchy (there have been rather vocal calls to abolish it since Elizabeth died), but I have noticed that it tends to be one of two extremes; either you want to abolish the monarchy completely, or you are one of those weirdos who camped outside Buckingham Palace in a tent for days just to get the best spot for Queen Elizabeth's funeral.

I'm aware of the history of the British republican movement (I was obsessed with Oliver Cromwell in high school for some reason) but British people seem more pro-monarchy than essentially any other Western nationality living under a constitutional monarchy.

 

[froggirl9000]

I'm aware of the history of the British republican movement (I was obsessed with Oliver Cromwell in high school for some reason) but British people seem more pro-monarchy than essentially any other Western nationality living under a constitutional monarchy.

It is rather jarring, the press constantly reports on the Royal Family, with accounts from "royal experts" (how fucking sad must one's life be to wind up being a "royal expert", your one accomplishment in life is being obsessed with some inbreds in silly costumes) to the point where I've often said to people that they're like the UK's form of the Kardashians more than anything.

Maybe it's due to them having more power/status compared to other royal families? From what little I've heard over the years about other royal families withing Europe, I'm pretty sure the other royals live more normal lives and work normal jobs, in comparison to the British royals who get all their money from their subjects and live in their fancy shmancy palaces. I'm mostly just basing that off vague shit I heard years ago though, and for all I know it could be the opposite (the Brits' love for the monarchy causing them to continue to have so much power).

 

[Dot]

As an unfortunate Anglo subject (only half Anglo, which is, I assume, why I'm not totally braindead)

 

[iguazo falls]

Im not a politics guy and dont live in the UK but i just saw a video of them banning cigs for LIFE for anyone born after 08'.
Man and thats just one thing ive heard, ive heard SO MUCH bs they been restricting as well, and having mandatory online ids or something? Holy shit that place sounds horrible. Dont even mention the millions new internet restrictions and privacy violations (though the request to delete data is really nice!!)

I thought the "usa is land of the free" propaganda is bs but comparing it to uk or Australia, its kinda crazy.

im in aus and their solution is tax the fuck out of it and slap warnings on the butts. the solution is obviously to extort people reliant on nicotine and hopelessly addicted to gambling.

i dont smoke often but i like smoking so i go to any old store, ask for manchester royal reds (made in the UAE), don't have to pay more than $20 and enjoy smokes that are better than anything australia can make. everyday a new article comes out whinging about the black market. organised crime isn't a good thing, but if someone wants to vape or smoke they will find a way the same way people find a way to do anything else. i find raiding a tobacco shop 5 times a year a total waste of money for everybody if its just to confisticate nicotine.

ID verification crap i have a million add ons so i can watch youtube in peace, and have a vpn. the internet age restrictions arent really effective if every toddler around me has their nose stuck in tiktok algorithms still; they just use their parents verified account. i hate our "e safety" commissioner . maybe they shouldve fucking answered tips i and other people have made about actual pedophiles. or am i just talking about the same govt who coerced a teenager into terrorism instead of getting him help? if they cared about kids theyd fucking help them and make help more accessible, not "swap" funding from service to service for disadvantaged kids instead of ADDING funding and keeping a stable program continuum. theyre just gutting the NDIS. medicare is sliding backwards in things that are being rebated. if they gaf they'd rebate psychology fully, and CAMHS wouldn't be so dogshit and full of people doing the jobs of 3 people in 1 person. all this to add more money to the military. the rest you can infer. im sure one day this message will get me in trouble or whatever.

and now this is a VERY LUCKY country to be in, so most other places are in a much more terrible predicament, but i'm disappointed at the lack of pride for the good things we have (medicare etc), and i'm sad things are degrading and people don't really care enough. i think we're in for a decade of either centrist authoritarianism or following the US depending on who gets elected in future.

 

[coolcow1289]

I wouldn't want to live in the UK either but I actually like the attempt to create a cigarette-free generation. I hope it pans out nicely. Though maybe I'm biased as a non-smoker? I certainly don't mind laws and regulations that push back on harmful addictions: nicotine, gambling, drugs, sugar, social media, and probably more. But I'm still on the fence about online IDs for privacy reasons even though they would help with regulating online gambling and social media addiction.

As an American I just can't understand or respect this kind of sentiment. Why can't people make their own decisions regarding their own life?

 

[avoid]

As an American I just can't understand or respect this kind of sentiment. Why can't people make their own decisions regarding their own life?

I wrote this on another thread a couple of months ago.

I don't consider the freedom of choice and taking away rights a valid argument in this instance because laws exist to protect the public from themselves and others. A lot of people were against mandating vehicle occupants to wear a seat belt, claiming personal choice. Now, few would choose to not wear one.

You weigh the public good and public harm against one another. Breathing in exhaust gases increases health risks but without the industrial revolution and oil, we would not be where we are now. Regulations try to minimize the harm of things without diminishing the good it does for the public. And what good does nicotine products? I can't think of anything—staving off withdrawal effects? Meanwhile, the bad of tobacco and vapes are the harm they bring to the smoker and everyone around them, increasing health risks and cancer.

Furthermore, smokers often inhale their first cigarette as a minor often due to peer pressure and get addicted quickly as they grow older. How much free choice is there really between peer pressure and addiction? Not to mention secondhand smoke that passersby breath in without a choice in the matter.

Maybe I would be fine with limiting tobacco use to private domiciles, but what if you have children living with you? Do the parents' fundamental rights to make decisions regarding their children's upbringing triumph over the children's freedom to choice to not breath in (secondhand) smoke? Statistically children with parents that smoke tobacco have "nearly twice the odds of nicotine dependence" than children with non-smoking parents [1] [2]. How large do the external factors need to be before you question whether a decision was truly made in freedom? Did you know it's entirely legal to smoke tobacco during a pregnancy in the US, just heavily discouraged and frowned upon?

Would you permit inflight smoking? I know commercial airlines make this decision, probably to abide by the law of various countries they fly to and from, but if you could, would you allow it?

I'm all for people making their own decisions but not the kind of decisions that affect others (within reason). You got to weigh the pros and cons and whether something should be banned is subjective, hence why politicians debate and try to sway others. I don't accept a blanket "my choice, my life, my freedom." You weigh the pros and cons of smoking or banning tobacco and you choose the freedom of choice (out of principle I assume), and I choose harm reduction—I agree to disagree.

If you find a way to allow people to smoke tobacco (and other drugs) without the problem of secondhand smoke or other adverse consequences for 3rd-parties then I'll stand with you, provided you know how such a rule/law can be enforced. But I just don't see a solution other than a total ban on tobacco.

P.s.
I feel I've written enough and would rather not dive into the other examples I listed (gambling, drugs, sugar, social media, et cetera). I think most of my arguments for banning nicotine also apply to the rest: peer pressure, addiction, growing up in an unhealthy environment, parents are often the role model for their child, and the companies that prioritize profits above health and all else.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I've noticed there are a lot more health driven adverts recently- encouraging children to eat more fruit and veg, encouraging those still able to smoke to quit. While, on the face of it- that could be seen as a good thing. Our government caring about its citizen's health, I've also noticed an increase in other types of adverts though. Those tackling ageism for example. That we shouldn't mock older people. That older people are still capable. Also good- on the face of it.

It's the undertones that I don't like though. As in- expect to see older people in the workforce- because we're going to keeping upping the retirement age and who can even afford to retire anyway? Stay healthy so that you can live longer, work longer and pay us more taxes. And- don't even think of trying to leave early. Don't even mention 'suicide'.

I really don't think our governments care about our health. I'm sure it's all about the economy. Our increasingly bad health choices as a nation are costing them too much money. Again, maybe they are considering the greater good but- I'd rather leave this slave society to those happy to stay here.

It's not like their bans have massively affected me on a daily basis. I don't smoke. I don't like being considered a monetary asset though. Not that I'm much of one anyway. I don't like feeling trapped and controlled though and I think we are more and more.

 

[Dot]

I've noticed there are a lot more health driven adverts recently- encouraging children to eat more fruit and veg, encouraging those still able to smoke to quit. While, on the face of it- that could be seen as a good thing. Our government caring about its citizen's health, I've also noticed an increase in other types of adverts though. Those tackling ageism for example. That we shouldn't mock older people. That older people are still capable. Also good- on the face of it.

It's the undertones that I don't like though. As in- expect to see older people in the workforce- because we're going to keeping upping the retirement age and who can even afford to retire anyway? Stay healthy so that you can live longer, work longer and pay us more taxes. And- don't even think of trying to leave early. Don't even mention 'suicide'.

I really don't think our governments care about our health. I'm sure it's all about the economy. Our increasingly bad health choices as a nation are costing them too much money. Again, maybe they are considering the greater good but- I'd rather leave this slave society to those happy to stay here.

It's not like their bans have massively affected me on a daily basis. I don't smoke. I don't like being considered a monetary asset though. Not that I'm much of one anyway. I don't like feeling trapped and controlled though and I think we are more and more.

Tht = prbbly lrge motv8tr

Ppl r livng longr whch = puttng mre strainng on helth servces - s/ restrctng accss t/ smethng lke smokng whch triggrs mny latnt chronc helth issus sch as dffrnt cancrs & livng wth COPD fr 25 yrs etc whch wll pt mre l8tr pressre on thse servces mkes ecnomcl snse

am nt sayng tht smokng shld b bannd bt thnk tht econmcl drivrs r lkely

Givn tht ppl wll b prevntd fr sellng/purchsng cigrttes bt nt b-ing chargd fr pssessng thm mkes slf thnk tht thre wll jst b bg blck markt fr thm

 

[Rainbow Dash]

Wait till you hear aboit UK arresting people for making a political comments on social media...
And jailed too...

(Not the ones who encite violence)

 

[Dot]

Wait till you hear aboit UK arresting people for making a political comments on social media...
And jailed too...

(Not the ones who encite violence)

Wld nd 2 C sme sourcs fr tht

Govt actd dsproprtn8tly aftr th/ 2024 summr riots fr sre bt slf also remmbr recntly a st8mnt b-ing mde tht polce wll nt wste tme on intrnet 'nn-h8 crmes' bcse thy tke up 2 mny rsourcs

Th/ systm = stll b-ing usd t/ intim8 dissentrs thru arrsts bt am nt awre of ppl b-ing convictd & jaild fr politcl commntry

 

[Rainbow Dash]

Wld nd 2 C sme sourcs fr tht

Govt actd dsproprtn8tly aftr th/ 2024 summr riots fr sre bt slf also remmbr recntly a st8mnt b-ing mde tht polce wll nt wste tme on intrnet 'nn-h8 crmes' bcse thy tke up 2 mny rsourcs

Th/ systm = stll b-ing usd t/ intim8 dissentrs thru arrsts bt am nt awre of ppl b-ing convictd & jaild fr politcl commntry

Sure and many arrests happened and people did months for "racism"

Heres one.

Lucy Connolly: Woman jailed for race hate post says she was political prisoner

She gives her first newspaper interview after being released from prison.

www.bbc.com

On 29 July last year - the day of the Southport attack - she had posted on X that there should be "mass deportation now" and said "if that makes me racist, so be it".
Connolly's post had been deleted before she was arrested on 6 August, but it had already been viewed 310,000 times.
She pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred by publishing and distributing "threatening or abusive" written material on X.



Also edit:
And HAIIII DOT <3
Long time no chat lol


Not really source as they just talk about weird UK laws but here

"Athorities arrested a grandmother for silently holding a sign outside an abortion clinic that said "Coercion is a crime, here to talk, if you want.""

People Are Being Thrown In U.K. Prisons Over What They’ve Said Online. Can Free Speech Be Saved?

Who could have imagined Great Britain's descending into the kind of speech censorship one associates with China?

www.forbes.com

Also detained and silenced

"The recent arrest at London's Heathrow airport of a noted Irish comedian, Graham Linehan, for the "crime" of three politically incorrect tweets vividly illustrates how far Britain has fallen. After being detained for several hours, Linehan was released on the condition he not post any more tweets until his case is adjudicated."


Even more here

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/03/the-victims-of-britains-free-speech-crackdown/

Cant critisize trans right.
Cant say eff hamas
Cant say Britrain has fallen
Cant say maas deportarion now
Cant critisize labour counsler.

Idk man this was all in 2025 when they where doing like up to 30 arrests a day over social media posts that dont even entice violence. Lol

May be rude, homophobic, or racist even dispicable at times but all would pass here in USA XD

I defend free speech till I die.
I wont defend speech if it entices violence or calla for violence as its not even protected here i usa.

Oh wow even here
Arrested and was in a cell for hours for
...

Misgendering a person ONLINE

Mother arrested after calling a transgender woman a man

Three officers detained Kate Scottow, 38, at her home in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, before quizzing her at a police station about an argument with Stephanie Hayden on Twitter.

www.dailymail.com

Misgendering in UK is a hate crime....

Labour to jail people who use wrong gender pronouns on purpose under crime law

Purposely calling someone by the wrong gender pronoun could lead to jail time of up to two years as it may be treated as a hate crime under a Labour government.

www.express.co.uk

"We've seen people arrested for misgendering but this isn't enough for Labour – they want them locked up for two years."