| Author | Message | ||
     Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.27.45.129 |
How long does a recession have to last before it becomes the dominating discourse of a generation, scarring them forever? I'm not just talking about the inevitable financial wounds inflicted (eg, student fees) - I mean the psychological impact of it all? It's bad enough being a working adult in this climate, but I really do fear for the next generation. Question courtesy of everything's-a-bit-crap-right-now.com | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 109.79.241.61 |
I don't know if recessions define generations - depressions certainly do, though. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 109.79.241.61 |
My country owes more money than has ever existed. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
More than the average British and American student? Prof - I'm coming back to Blighty and am really worried about whether I'll be able to find work. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.37.199.45 |
That's a valid concern, Frank. Especially when linked to the cutbacks in benefits – if you can't find a job, or if your employer lays you off or goes out of business, you may not be able to get housing benefit and you will probably be forced to do unpaid work four days a week. Employers are using the severe lack of jobs to reduce rates of pay for skilled (let alone unskilled) work to the minimum wage. Meanwhile, the government has announced further tax breaks for bankers and corporations, as well as a relaxation in the rules governing MPs' expenses. Because we're all in it together. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
Gary - you echo my thoughts exactly, mate. I'm already telling my son (he's seven) that there's nothing left here in Engand, and when he's older he should move to a country with more opportunities. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.27.45.129 |
Better start the Mandarin lessons now, then. | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.56 |
Nectarines taste better | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.27.45.129 |
In the wake of the recession, Weber is the straw which breaks the camel's back. Hand me the revolver. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 88.104.134.64 |
'Gary - you echo my thoughts exactly, mate. I'm already telling my son (he's seven) that there's nothing left here in Engand, and when he's older he should move to a country with more opportunities.' We were given residency visas for New Zealand, today. Going in May. Back for Fantasycon, though  Only had to go through 6 months of hell....health checks, police checks, so much information about us you really don't want to know checks sort of thing...final interview last Friday. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 88.104.134.64 |
I'm cool and lucky. My job is easily transferable...I'll just pack my laptop. And yes...I don't know how my liver got a visa but it did. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
You're emigrating, Ally? Wow! Our nephew went to New Zealand a few years ago (his wife's a New Zealander) and he and their young kids are loving it. Hope it all goes well for you - and, as you say, back for FCon! Frank - you teach languages, yes? If so, best to go for the private sector rather than the public sector - there's more work there at the moment. To go back to the original question, it must be very tough for kids who leave school/college/uni and then can't get a job. When I finished study, we were in the fortunate position that basically whatever kind of job you wanted you could get. Not always true, of course, but many youngsters had a back-up plan, a second choice, and it was always possible to switch careers later if needed. I just can't imagine what it must be like nowadays to struggle so much with finding a first job. Of course, I've experience - both my own and my husband's following redundancy - of what it's like to struggle for work later in life, but when you're just starting out on the work ladder it must really knock your self-esteem and confidence. Tough times ...  | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 88.104.134.64 |
Thank you, Caroline. I look forward to seeing you at Fantasycon. Soozy has already booked me in for curry night. Last year is a bit of a blur...with the launch of Never Again. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
I've booked for FCon this year, Ally, but I don't know if I'll be able to get all the way down to Brighton - will have to see nearer the time. I was hoping to see you at the York open eve later in April but I guess not? | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 88.104.134.64 |
Yes! I can make York on the 30th. A few days before my flight. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
Caroline - I wish I did teach language(S). I teach English as a second language. A monkey could do it. In fact this monkey has been doing it for eleven years. Prospects in the north west of England, as elsewhere, are pretty grim nowadays, and I don't just mean for myself, but for everybody. For somebody like me looking for a job comparable to that which I have now, I think I've more chance of playing in the England Under 21's. The government/Nazi regime currently bleeding the country dry, have just cut 80% of the budget for the coming year for the post I was hoping to have a chance in doing. I was hoping to be teaching immigrants and refugees, something I thought would be worthwhile, much better than teaching groups of spoiled rich kids. It seems my plans have been scuppered before I stepped foot on British soil. Just like Cameron and Clegg to cut funding to something like this, especially after their big speech about making it a priority that immigrants and refugees should all learn English as an incentive to integrate fully. How the hell they're supposed to do that while being paid outside the basic wage bracket is a question I'd like shove down the C's throats. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
I may have to return to Poland at some point in the future, though Spain and Portugal are also beckoning full-time. At least I have those options, unlike a lot of people in Britain, who for the fourth or fifth time in three generations get to experience a perpetual lack of self-worth, depression, and downright fatigue at the prospect of not being able to support their family once more. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21 |
Excuse the illogical grammar of the last two 'elements' of the last clauses of the last sentence. I can hardly speak or write English anymore. Perhaps I will stay over here (: |