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Birmingham - why does it exist?
Ben_Caesar
Posts: 307 Forum Member
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A city of over 1 million people, Britain's second biggest city by population. With a city that big, what does it have to offer? Their two most 'famous' exports other than their crappy football clubs are Ozzy Osbourne and Jasper Carrot. That's EMBARASSING for a city that big. Everyone rightly mocks their silly accent and the place has become a multi-culty hell hole.
I wouldn't say it's the Detroit of Britain but it's not a particularly good place either. It's just a mediocre city. And there's nothing in life that irritates me more than mediocrity.
Cities in the UK that are smaller than Birmingham like Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Liverpool all punch above their weight. Birmingham produces nothing of real relevance. And especially compared to other global cities of a similar size like Barcelona, Calgary and Adelaide, Birmingham is pitiful ^_^
I wouldn't say it's the Detroit of Britain but it's not a particularly good place either. It's just a mediocre city. And there's nothing in life that irritates me more than mediocrity.
Cities in the UK that are smaller than Birmingham like Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Liverpool all punch above their weight. Birmingham produces nothing of real relevance. And especially compared to other global cities of a similar size like Barcelona, Calgary and Adelaide, Birmingham is pitiful ^_^
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Actually, they usually wrongly mock their accent. Most people not from the area effect a Black Country accent when trying to mock the Brummie one and therefore get it completely wrong.
I've been there a number of times unfortunately and the place is a dump. Sorry but a place like this needs to be called out for its tediousness
I know the difference, still doesn't let Birmingham itself off the hook for how silly they sound. Black Country folk have the worst accents of course but Birmingham stands out particulrly since they're such an easy target for their city size and nothing to show for it.
Matter of opinion I guess. I could name several regional accents I think are worse than Brummie.
How, exactly, does Leeds 'punch above [its] weight'? No disrespect meant to the city, but what's the great gamut of culture and influence to come out of Leeds that so impresses you?
Actually while Ozzy is a famous export. Black Sabbath itself is bigger than Ozzy. Actually you could even say that Birmingham gave us Heavy Metal. After all it was Sabbath who basically created the genre. Which not everyones cup of tea is one of the biggest genres in the world.
Judas Priest also came from Birmingham, Then flip the coin over and you get bands like ELO, The Moody Blues, The Move, Duran Duran and UB40. All of which came from Birmingham.
Not forgetting that until the Kraft takeover it gave some of the best Chocolate in the form of Cadburys.
And Godflesh, too.
As someone who lives near Leeds.... well said!
Well, it has plenty to offer in the way of culture: theatres, museum, art galleries, an amazing library. It's our nearest big city, so we go there quite often. New Street station used to be dreadful but it will be hugely improved when the redevelopment is finished next month. They are even starting to catch up with Manchester with the introduction of city centre trams!
Spencer Davis Group , Stevie Windward and of course Phil Lynott was born in Birmingham
It can also boast Tolkien , John Wyndham and if its your cup of tea Barbara Cartland as well as Benjamin Zephaniah
I love ELO, Jeff Lynne is brilliant. Love the NEC too :-) been to lots of craft shows there.
I think Ben's just short of something to do today; stuck a pin in a map and landed on Burmingham.
Well I never suggested that it was some cultural haven or anything. It's home to 4 universities and is a huge financial hub for Yorkshire.
Yes they are and no I won't
I'll acknowledge the decent Cadbury's chocolate and maybe Duran Duran. But Liverpool have a world famous football club and gave the world The Beatles. Manchester is home to the world's most famous football club as well as the richest too. Plus their nightlife is better than Birmingham. And they have MediaCityUK. Birmingham can boast of having a funny looking shopping centre though
What 'culture' does Birmingham have to offer? Also an amazing library that can't afford its own books and has to beg the public for some? Plus it's an eyesore of hideous proportions. And what's the point of re-building a train station when the rest of the city isn't worth seeing anyway?
Electric shurely?
Being a keen walker I spent my lunch hour exploring everywhere within a couple of miles of Brindleyplace and didn't find anywhere that was particularly bad, and several that were very pleasant. I also had a choice of several walks along canal paths that were mostly well maintained and well used.
As for the accent - you hardly ever hear the 'classic brummie' accent in the centre. It's too cosmopolitan for that. I've never really liked large cities and would rather live in a small rural town but I'd be prepared to live in Birmingham if I had to. I'd never even consider living in London.
It's a bit strange-looking, but you can get used to it. I quite like it now. It is a shame that it's having to cut back so soon after it opened though.
There's plenty to see. Even if there wasn't, the millions that pass through each year still deserve a decent station!
Well there's always the Victorian architecture in Digbeth to explore. Plus the old Custard Factory, whilst now an outlet for many media companies has some fantastic surrounding areas.
...and we have the Digbeth Dining Club
Would be interesting to know where the OP comes from though.
Much as I love Birmingham I know it does have issues however to say it has produced nothing/no one of note or has no purpose is obviously ridiculous. And the fact that the OP says multi-culturalism is a bad thing probably says a lot about how seriously his opinions should be taken.
The Sisters Of Mercy?
Mrs Elton in ‘Emma’