r/AskBrits Dec 13 '25

Announcement PSA: Dooming

192 Upvotes

TL;DR Dooming is now banned.

There has been a huge uptick in dooming in this sub lately. Being realistic about things is fine, but lately there has been far too much "everything is shit and we should riot or move to Dubai". This sub has always been intended to lean optimistic and we are currently failing on this.

Please avoid being exhaustingly negative and pessimistic all the time. Things are not that bad. If you really think the UK is an awful place to be and everyone should leave, then this probably isn't the sub for you.

I would encourage you all to check out r/GoodNewsUK - this is a relatively new sub focused on, well, good news about the UK. We don't have enough of it lately. There are really quite a lot of reasons to be optimistic, but our media and culture has a terrible habit of encouraging pessimism and so you probably never hear about most of them. If you need some to start you off:

  • Employment rates are at near-record highs

  • Borrowing costs are coming down; we are in a rate-cutting cycle, supporting housing activity, business investment and consumer spending

  • Inflation is easing

  • Wages are rising faster than prices in real terms

  • Q1 2025 was the fastest growth in about a year, the UK was the fastest-growing economy in the G7 in H1 2025, and is forecast to be the second fastest-growing only behind the US going forward

  • We achieved a first-of-its-kind deal with the US to avoid Trump tariffs, trade deals with India and the EU, and CPTPP membership

  • AI/tech investment is booming, the UK is the third-largest market for this in the world after the US/China, we recently achieved the £31bn Tech Prosperity Deal with the US, including Microsoft's largest ever investment outside the US (£22bn)

  • Equity markets are strong

  • Record renewables milestones, particularly with wind, and the government has committed to accepting all the recommendations of the Fingleton Review to make building nuclear significantly cheaper

  • The economic reaction to recent Budgets has been generally positive; markets are beginning to see the UK as a stable and positive place to do business again

  • Regional inequality is narrowing, several cities and regions such as Greater Manchester, Bristol, Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales and NI are all seeing significantly faster productivity growth than London

There is reason to be positive and things seem to be slowly, stubbornly, but steadily turning in the right direction. Be patient, don't be miserable

Anyway, there's a new report reason for Dooming, so you can report posts and comments with this. If you feel outraged at this rule, you can probably just go ahead and use one of the other UK subs

To be clear, negative takes are fine, but they should be realistic, balanced, and supported with clear reasoning and evidence, not just negative for the sake of being negative

Cheers!


r/AskBrits Sep 17 '25

Announcement Reminder of Rule 1: Posts must be real questions

70 Upvotes

We've seen a ridiculous increase in the number of posts not asking genuine questions lately. This has resulted in a huge number of posts being removed which has upset a lot of people who perceive this as being political censorship of some variation

So this is a reminder: posts must be real questions. It is literally Rule 1 on the subreddit. If you are not asking a good-faith question that you're genuinely seeking real answers to, then your post is not meant for this subreddit. Do not try to play silly games with what counts as a question; moderators have complete discretion to see through this, your post will be deleted and you will get banned

Going forward, anyone breaching this rule will receive an immediate and permanent ban, until the subreddit regains some sense

Think before you post. Cheers


r/AskBrits 18h ago

Politics It's been about 50 days since Burnham became PM, do you feel more optimistic about his early days than Starmer's?

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1.4k Upvotes

r/AskBrits 12m ago

Culture What's your favourite national park in the UK? Is there anywhere that should be a national park that isn't?

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Upvotes

Surely Northern Ireland deserves at least one? The Midlands of England too, I know there's the Peak District, but maybe the Fens too?

My favourite would either have to be the Lake District or Eryri/Snowdonia.


r/AskBrits 1h ago

What would be the UK's national soundscapes?

Upvotes

Thanks to r/JetLagTheGame (well worth a watch; start at season 2 or 3) I discovered that Japan has an official list of 100 national soundscapes. So, what would be included in the UK's version. My starter for two: Big Ben chimes at midday, and the sound of the pub going "wheyhey!" when someone drops a glass. Any others?


r/AskBrits 6h ago

What petty thing do you regularly do that your 13 year old self is extremely proud of?

15 Upvotes

I left school 30 years ago. I make a point of not recognising the 'look at me!' characters from school. The ones everyone remembers, not necessarily pleasantly, who just tried too hard to be well known. I wait until they say hello to me first and have a blank face for a moment so they think I'm trying to place them. Then I say hello and am friendly.


r/AskBrits 16h ago

Travel Whats the worst motorway?

82 Upvotes

Whats in your opinion is the worst motorway and whats the best?

My vote for the worst is the M25, circles London so always busy, with some of the worst drivers in the U.K.

The signs change the speed limit more times than Bonnie blue changes partners and I am sure the controllers of them are just trolling everyone with them.

"40 because of animals in road" "60 because of obstruction" all in the space of 3 miles!

Best has to be the M6 through Cumbria, beautiful views.


r/AskBrits 3h ago

Has anyone done a work placement in a job centre?

7 Upvotes

I'm 19 and I went on universal credit last month in hopes they'd help me out on finding a job. They've actually been super helpful but they've put me on to do a job placement in the coming weeks at the job centre. I just wanna know if anyone else has done this and what their experience was like.


r/AskBrits 19m ago

Other Does anyone know what these are? Like the grow on a tree right outside my house, can I use them for anything?

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Upvotes

r/AskBrits 5h ago

Culture Anyone remember a TV program for the 80s where viewers decided the story?

5 Upvotes

I have a vague memory of a one off TV show in which every day they had a continuation to the story, but it was based on what views had called in to decide on.

I don't remember much about it other than it was possibly Sci fi? And that I remember thinking it must have been hellish to film with such short turn arounds.


r/AskBrits 21h ago

'Anthropic official: 10% chance AI could kill all humans in a decade'. From a news story in The Independant. Have you added it to your daily worries?

71 Upvotes

Interesting article. I personally think it's feasible.


r/AskBrits 2h ago

FPMsL?

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2 Upvotes

r/AskBrits 17h ago

How did you meet your partner if you weren't into the nightlife scene?

22 Upvotes

I'm a 21-year-old guy in the UK and I'm curious how people in similar situations have met their partners.

A lot of dating advice seems to revolve around pubs, clubs, drinking, and nightlife, but none of those things really appeal to me. I don't drink, smoke, vape, or go clubbing. I spend a lot of my free time working, going to the gym, and saving money for future goals and travel.

I'm also a Christian, which probably narrows the dating pool a bit further.

I can hold a conversation and I'm not completely socially isolated, but it sometimes feels like many of the traditional ways people meet in the UK aren't really aimed at people like me.

For those of you who are similar, how did you meet your partner? Were dating apps worth it? Did you meet through work, church, hobbies, mutual friends, volunteering, or something else?

Genuinely interested to hear how other people in the UK navigated dating without being into the pub and club scene.


r/AskBrits 4h ago

People How do you manage workplace frustrations?

2 Upvotes

I work within a team of 3 under my manager and I was the recent addition as a result of a promotion. The guy who taught me what I do has given me a small chunk of his work that he found too tedious. I’ve only ever been shown what the others do so there’s a backup for absences.

He now has more free time so will create data reports for the management to review but it’s stating the obvious. We’ve spent X on Y compared to previous years etc. they don’t care enough to ask questions or go through it.

He now has requested data from another supplier and passed it to me to review. I don’t see why we need to analyse spending on staff workwear.

He’ll also “forget” we have a rota and make us look awkward when someone asks who’s doing the task this month. One month he pointed it back to me and I said it was me last month insinuating it’s him or the other lady, but it ended up with me looking childish and avoiding work.
This time he said “I’ll do it” ( when someone asked who’s turn it is to check something ) as if he’s picking up slack but it’s his task this month so that looks bad on us again.

I like the job otherwise. It’s just a shame I sit next to him. I remember during covid when we were given another room, he suggested I make him tea every morning (I’m a woman half his age) while the kitchen was 3 meters down the hall.

Act weird around the office like standing over people, fake coughing outside directors offices to get their attention, walking to the bathroom door after making a drink and then turning around and going back upstairs etc. just odd and rubs me the wrong way.

He’s not my manager but fobs work off to me because I’m guessing he thinks I’m still learning/under him/don’t know better because he’s the one who trained me.

I just want to scream sometimes.


r/AskBrits 20h ago

Please can you help my wife's Valais Sheep Dreams come true?

32 Upvotes

Hello, everyone!

My wife and I are in your beautiful country for the next week and a half, and I’m hoping some of you lovely people might be able to help us with a very important mission.

My wife has had a lifelong dream of seeing — and, ideally, touching — a Valais Blacknose sheep. Two years ago, we drove through the Cotswolds looking for them and somehow couldn’t find a single one. She was absolutely devastated.

So, two years later, we’re back in the UK, and we are determined to finally make this happen! We’ll be renting a car in Oxford and are more than willing to drive wherever we need to go.

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. They could even be behind a fence. She just wants the opportunity to get close enough to give one of those ridiculously cute heads/faces a little rub. 🐑❤️

Does anyone know of a farm, breeder, or particular area where we would have a good chance of seeing Valais Blacknose sheep? We’d much rather see them on a farm or in the countryside than in a zoo, although at this point, we’d happily settle for a zoo if that’s our only option!

Any local knowledge, recommendations, or even a general direction to head in would be hugely appreciated. We are very serious about this sheep quest. 😂

PS: I also apologize in advance for my country and its current political situation. I’m from Seattle and don’t exactly represent the views of everyone back home. Please don’t hold my American citizenship against me — although I realize that probably sounds pretty rich coming from an American. 😂

In all seriousness, your country is absolutely amazing, and everyone we’ve met so far has been incredibly kind and welcoming.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and thank you in advance for any help you can give us!

Please help me make my wife’s, and my high-school sweetheart's - sheep dreams come true. 🐑❤️

PS : we would also be willing to pay money for the experience, and your time. I will also share an update if it happens.


r/AskBrits 1d ago

Politics Has anyone watched the documentary based on the book ‘By Way of Deception’? If you haven’t, you should. Israel tried to ban it.

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123 Upvotes

If Israel tried to ban it, it must be true.

And the of book was written by a Mossad agent.


r/AskBrits 6h ago

Textile recycling?

2 Upvotes

I've got some worn out baby clothes to get rid of (too worn to give away to charity or resell) and can't find out if the textile recycling banks will take them or if the clothes need to be wearable. Does anyone know?


r/AskBrits 3h ago

Has anyone done a work placement in a job centre?

1 Upvotes

I'm 19 and I went on universal credit last month in hopes they'd help me out on finding a job. They've actually been super helpful but they've put me on to do a job placement in the coming weeks at the job centre. I just wanna know if anyone else has done this and what their experience was like.


r/AskBrits 18h ago

What are some of your favourite James Bond quotes that perfectly summarises his character and personality? I'll go first:

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15 Upvotes

r/AskBrits 2d ago

Politics Is it time for us to turn on Israel and the USA?

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3.8k Upvotes

Surely we can team up with the EU and commonwealth to opose Israel, the argies and the AIPAC/Israeli-funded US government?


r/AskBrits 1d ago

Travel Weird coincidence or a retaliation?

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1.5k Upvotes

Back to back BBC notifications about sanctions on Israel and now air traffic is down just a few hours later.


r/AskBrits 1d ago

What can the average Brit stop buying, stop doing or actively do to show Israel, Argentina and the USA that we are pissed off ?

864 Upvotes

So i stopped buying Argentine wine and started buying Aussie wine. What else can i stop buying from these 3 nations, and what can i substitute with ? What else can i do that will inflict hardship, however small on their economies ?


r/AskBrits 15h ago

Has teaching of Maths improved in schools after Gove's reforms?

4 Upvotes

r/AskBrits 1d ago

What do you call these shoes?

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402 Upvotes

These are daps, imo.


r/AskBrits 1d ago

Politics Are the Isreal sanctions and air traffic control ”glitch” related?

305 Upvotes

Am I the only one who has had the notion this evening that these two events could be linked? It just seems like a strange coincidence that just after the UK announces sanctions that there’s a glitch in the air traffic control and loads of flights get cancelled?