FFP

[Percy McCarthy]

^^  I agree right Stu. But it doesn’t help that we’re absolutely shit at telling our story.

I listened to the new MD of the council on a podcast today, and she was quite impressive. Apparently she did well in Manchester and as she’s from Shard End, coming back to lead our council is a labour of love for her. Towards the end she said a big driver for her is the celebration of our culture, which is all well and good, but then you look at the absolute radio silence when people ask about Station Street, an example of world-class culture going to rack and ruin on the doorstep of New Street station. I mean, at least fucking say something about it!

[LeeB]

It's become a punchline (to an unoriginal, unfunny joke). A byword for bland, boring, ugly. That's based on my interactions with people who live in London, from when I lived in London. I don't think race comes into it (then again, I didn't/don't know any racists in London).

There's definately a racist element when you hear opinions of Birmingham from outside the metropolitan areas, in shithole backwater cesspits such as Swindon and the afore mentioned Peterborough.

[Percy McCarthy]

^^ If anyone’s interested in listening to the CEO & the pod I was listening to:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pc9OPsWwito2qWCY8BG9I?si=SOqXUZEiQwqPq6kF4wgUJg

[cdbearsfan]

I've met people who seemed nice then, when finding out I'm Brummie, have said something along the lines of "oh, isn't it full of P****".

Racism plays a huge part. Birmingham was always the poster city for the Far Right "white people can't go out during the night"/"it's basically a Caliphate"/"it's running on Sharia Law" type drivel that I used to occasionally encounter on Twitter, too.

Doesn't help that some Brummies agree with the racist twats. I bet those twats from Istanbul with the flag do, for starters. Diversity is one of our greatest strengths and should be shouted from the rooftops.

[Stu]

It's become a punchline (to an unoriginal, unfunny joke). A byword for bland, boring, ugly. That's based on my interactions with people who live in London, from when I lived in London. I don't think race comes into it (then again, I didn't/don't know any racists in London).

Yeah I was going to be clearer on that point but couldn’t be bothered, so I’m having to do more work because of it - lot of racists in the UK, definitely informs their opinion of Brum.

[Stu]

The international perception of Birmingham is untainted by UK views. If we build a 50/60,000 seat stadium and market it, artists will come. And I doubt our owners are as squeamish about promoting the city and the venue as some on here. Thankfully.

The way the city is spoken about absolutely affects international reputation, particularly in the era of instant social media interactions.

[Stu]

^^  I agree right Stu. But it doesn’t help that we’re absolutely shit at telling our story.

I listened to the new MD of the council on a podcast today, and she was quite impressive. Apparently she did well in Manchester and as she’s from Shard End, coming back to lead our council is a labour of love for her. Towards the end she said a big driver for her is the celebration of our culture, which is all well and good, but then you look at the absolute radio silence when people ask about Station Street, an example of world-class culture going to rack and ruin on the doorstep of New Street station. I mean, at least fucking say something about it!

You’re absolutely right. If our own aren’t going to shout about it when they have the platform then I’ve no idea how perceptions could improve.

[Sexual Ealing]

Oh, I've definitely heard it from the villagers where I am when I say we're planning to move to Birmingham. They're mostly white flight cnuts from Birmingham or the surrounding towns too. These are very stupid people though, so I struggle to think of them as part of the culture.

[Stu]

It’s like as if people feel they can just say anything they want and it’ll be believed. It’s a bit exhausting reading some of this stuff online - on the Bluesky thread I was on about, someone actually said there are no parks in Birmingham. No parks. And I’m sat there thinking, do I interact with this? Is it worth it? The goalposts will shift as soon as I do so what’s the point? I haven’t got the wit to be archly disparaging, so it’s just a block and move on.

[Ads]

People usually associate it with being thick. And follow up with an impression of a strangled stroke victim to prove their immense wit. Its tedious. The rot set in when Labour decided to destroy us.

[PeterWithesShin]

Some of the comments on this sum it up

https://tinyurl.com/4azh582k

[Stu]

Some of the comments on this sum it up

https://tinyurl.com/4azh582k

Not on FB anymore, I assume it’s awful.

[VILLA MOLE]

Some of the comments on this sum it up

https://tinyurl.com/4azh582k

so much hate !