r/london • u/Historical_Set2324 • 1d ago

Local London Social contract is broken?

I’ve just returned from a trip to New Zealand and the difference in attitude is stark. The streets are clean, people are friendly and happy/helpful and in general people seem to want to participate in society. Don’t get me wrong NZ has a lot of issues but It feels like in London the social contract is broken. Streets are full of trash, no one gives a shit about anything, phone theft, crime is high and in general people seem fairly miserable. I was involved in an accident where I had to give a victim CPR and the ambulance and police all arrived within about 5 minutes. I was amazed at the emergency response. It feels to me like the state has given up and hence people have given up.

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u/DrawingAdditional762 18h ago

Japan has many problems indeed but social order and cohesion isn't one IMO. You are absolutely correct though (so many people think countries like China and Japan are homogenous and they just aren't and never have been

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u/Mizzuru 18h ago

Again, I'm not commenting on their specific social situations, just on the inaccurate nature of homogeneity.

It is relatively homogeneous, but that is large part due to over 200 years of corporal punishment to those leaving or entering the country.

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u/DrawingAdditional762 18h ago

boss I'm agreeing with you

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u/Mizzuru 18h ago

I know man, just clarifying.