Blackouts are 'like a Third World country' (From Southend Standard)

Apart from Cholera, Mosquitos, Drought, Flood, Rape, Mutilation, Malnutrition, Famine, War, Malaria, Poverty and Children under the age of 2 dying every minute......I really understand the comparison. Poor people....what the heck are they supposed to do if the power goes while they are watching Big Brother!

DCLEIGH wrote:
Apart from Cholera, Mosquitos, Drought, Flood, Rape, Mutilation, Malnutrition, Famine, War, Malaria, Poverty and Children under the age of 2 dying every minute......I really understand the comparison. Poor people....what the heck are they supposed to do if the power goes while they are watching Big Brother!

I think a lot on that list has in fact reached Westcliff.

DCLEIGH I completely agree with you, however on reading again I think you may have mis read the article. They were actually without power for "several hours" and this was not the first time, in fact seven days out of 21 they have had power cuts. I think most third world countries have power for theyre microwaves and tvs at least 9 out of every 21 days making westcliff worse!!. Would you like to re think your comment now you are aware of these facts!!!!...........
.

Third world country!!!!!!! most idiotic comment on here ever and thats saying something

has this bloke ever been to a third world country?

we have been affected by these continuous power cuts In Brightwell Avenue and I can tell you it is more than 7 times as I have also had to get up in the night with my baby who is teething and there has been no power at 4.30am in the morning. We have a 3yr old also and In the evenings when this normally happens we have had to throw away dinners that are only half cooked when the power goes off, obviously we wait first hoping it will not be too long but then we have to go and get a takeaway as the power is off for so long. This has cost us tremendously as a takeaway is usualy a treat for us on a budget. A one off power cut would not be a problem nor would I moan but the continuous regularity of power cuts we have suffered since I have lived here every winter for the last 8yrs is horrendous. I have lived and worked in Thialand and India and have not experienced the loss of power for so long and with such regularity. Our supplier EDF wash their hands of it and we have had to make continuous mobile phonecalls to the Power network(at our expense) to get updates and complain although we do now follow and complain on Twitter also. The last couple of times we have been so angry at the extra expense we have incurred that we have received a '' Good Will'' cheque £75. I really hope that the end is insight and they have managed to fix the issue or issues.

really? wrote:
DCLEIGH I completely agree with you, however on reading again I think you may have mis read the article. They were actually without power for "several hours" and this was not the first time, in fact seven days out of 21 they have had power cuts. I think most third world countries have power for theyre microwaves and tvs at least 9 out of every 21 days making westcliff worse!!. Would you like to re think your comment now you are aware of these facts!!!!...........

.

Third world country!!!!!!! most idiotic comment on here ever and thats saying something

er, NO...
If someone is stupid enough to compare our hardships with 3rd world poverty and deprivation then they should be ashamed and , perhaps, humbly apologise and give the amount of COMPENSATION they will eventually receive to a charity .

cherpalmer wrote:
we have been affected by these continuous power cuts In Brightwell Avenue and I can tell you it is more than 7 times as I have also had to get up in the night with my baby who is teething and there has been no power at 4.30am in the morning. We have a 3yr old also and In the evenings when this normally happens we have had to throw away dinners that are only half cooked when the power goes off, obviously we wait first hoping it will not be too long but then we have to go and get a takeaway as the power is off for so long. This has cost us tremendously as a takeaway is usualy a treat for us on a budget. A one off power cut would not be a problem nor would I moan but the continuous regularity of power cuts we have suffered since I have lived here every winter for the last 8yrs is horrendous. I have lived and worked in Thialand and India and have not experienced the loss of power for so long and with such regularity. Our supplier EDF wash their hands of it and we have had to make continuous mobile phonecalls to the Power network(at our expense) to get updates and complain although we do now follow and complain on Twitter also. The last couple of times we have been so angry at the extra expense we have incurred that we have received a '' Good Will'' cheque £75. I really hope that the end is insight and they have managed to fix the issue or issues.

Regular power cuts are obviously annoying, but comparable to a third world country?
Getting up at 0430 for a teething baby with no power, not really hard, probably easier than in the third world.
Throwing meals away because they are only half cooked. Presumably you don’t have a gas stove or choose to use microwave junk. Annoying yes, probably easier than in a third word country.
Why the need to make expensive mobile calls? no landline/too lazy to walk to a phone box. Probably easier than in a third world country.

It would be interesting to learn if the headline was an Echo sensationalism idea or words actually used by the residents.
Yes it’s a story worthy of reporting, but in proportion please.

DCLEIGH well said

CherPalmer - no one is saying its a nice experience and Im sure its a pain especially with a new born, they are simply saying its not quite at the point where you can say its a third world country, like you cant say hitler was a bit naughty or west ham are a good football team (sorry couldnt resist). Its simply a poor exageration from a frustrated man that has been picked up by people because of the sheer absurd nature of the comment.

Oh for goodness sake it's just a figure of speech. I'm sure some of you people come on here just to nit pick at every article you read. You never seem to comment on the actual story but to either have a pop at what someone has said or written just to make yourselves look clever. It's boring.

Speech is what seperates us from the animals and people who choose to use it in a way to compare themselves with dying children just because they lose power are not seperating themselves much.

And that counts for the residents or the echo whoever made the comparison.

Sorry that pointing out what real poverty and anguish is has bored you

Makes you wonder why they can't keep the power going in Westcliff? I've had two power cuts in Shoebury in just under 10 years and both were because of cables being dug up when building works were going on.

Is there a lot of building work going on in Westcliff? Or maybe the infrastructure is so old in that area it can no longer cope? It is heavily over-populated - maybe EDF need to invest!

dhd wrote:
Oh for goodness sake it's just a figure of speech. I'm sure some of you people come on here just to nit pick at every article you read. You never seem to comment on the actual story but to either have a pop at what someone has said or written just to make yourselves look clever. It's boring.

But the actual story is;
Blackouts are 'like a Third World country'

power cuts are not the only thing thats makes westcliff feel like a third world country, won t be long before westcliffians are turning up in zimbabwe looking for a better standard of living.

So they aren't being told the cause of the blackouts, derrr no power, Lol

Oh deary me I wish I had never written as another resident having experienced the frustration and inconvenience of the power cuts. I do understand that it is not compariable to Third World poverty and I never actually mentioned this in my comments I was simply making the point that we have had many more than 7 in the last 3wks as I get up in the night due to having a baby. Of course we can all survive without electricity when we are prepared and it would be much easier if it was summer, but please also understand that this is a service we pay for and in Britian I dont think anyone would expect it to be a difficulty to get. Also I do apologise next time I renew my hob I must ensure I get GAS in ref to Stop Moanings actually very nasty judgemental comments.

cherpalmer wrote:
Oh deary me I wish I had never written as another resident having experienced the frustration and inconvenience of the power cuts. I do understand that it is not compariable to Third World poverty and I never actually mentioned this in my comments I was simply making the point that we have had many more than 7 in the last 3wks as I get up in the night due to having a baby. Of course we can all survive without electricity when we are prepared and it would be much easier if it was summer, but please also understand that this is a service we pay for and in Britian I dont think anyone would expect it to be a difficulty to get. Also I do apologise next time I renew my hob I must ensure I get GAS in ref to Stop Moanings actually very nasty judgemental comments.

Sorry you found the comments nasty and judgmental, just an opinion, no offence intended

I actually really feel for cherpalmer - I don't think I'd be too happy with having to throw food away and having to buy takeaways - a takeaway is about £20 and in this day and age a family doesn't have spare £20's about. OK it's not exactly third world but it's not something you expect to be happening on a regular basis to yourself. I'd go mad about it. x

No one is saying that they shouldnt be moaning about the power cuts, I feel sorry for every single person affected.

Unfortunately the person that came forward and spoke to the paper described it in the way he did, as quoted in the article and that quote has belittled the genuine grievance due to its sheer absurdity.

People shouldn't exagerate especially when it is at the detriment of people suffering in other parts of the world.

really? wrote:
No one is saying that they shouldnt be moaning about the power cuts, I feel sorry for every single person affected.

Unfortunately the person that came forward and spoke to the paper described it in the way he did, as quoted in the article and that quote has belittled the genuine grievance due to its sheer absurdity.

People shouldn't exagerate especially when it is at the detriment of people suffering in other parts of the world.

I couldn't agree more and take you back to my original comment

"It would be interesting to learn if the headline was an Echo sensationalism idea or words actually used by the residents.
Yes it’s a story worthy of reporting, but in proportion please."

really? wrote:
No one is saying that they shouldnt be moaning about the power cuts, I feel sorry for every single person affected.

Unfortunately the person that came forward and spoke to the paper described it in the way he did, as quoted in the article and that quote has belittled the genuine grievance due to its sheer absurdity.

People shouldn't exagerate especially when it is at the detriment of people suffering in other parts of the world.

I couldn't agree more and take you back to my original comment

"It would be interesting to learn if the headline was an Echo sensationalism idea or words actually used by the residents.
Yes it’s a story worthy of reporting, but in proportion please."

"Blackouts are like a Third World country"

The correct term is 'developing world'

pedantry is a thriving industry in these parts

cherpalmer wrote:
Oh deary me I wish I had never written as another resident having experienced the frustration and inconvenience of the power cuts. I do understand that it is not compariable to Third World poverty and I never actually mentioned this in my comments I was simply making the point that we have had many more than 7 in the last 3wks as I get up in the night due to having a baby. Of course we can all survive without electricity when we are prepared and it would be much easier if it was summer, but please also understand that this is a service we pay for and in Britian I dont think anyone would expect it to be a difficulty to get. Also I do apologise next time I renew my hob I must ensure I get GAS in ref to Stop Moanings actually very nasty judgemental comments.

About the only sensible comment on here.... Obviously 'third world country' is a figure of speech, and westcliff is not third world..... yet
However, the real issue is private utility companies raking in massive profits, lying non stop about investment, taking massive salaries for all the parasites in the board room, and paying vast dividends to the gambling share holders and then hiding behind hopeless call centres (usually in third world countries) when anybody tries to make contact.... The odd power cut over the years is just a fact of life, but people pay a fortune for a service and are entitled to recieve it..... Imagine the comments if commuters had no trains on a regular basis over several years and the operators refused to speak to anybody and explain why, or when the problem would be resolved ?

those gambling shareholders - have you got a pension - then you're a gambler because odds on you own some of these energy companies? the highpriest of hypocisy or just ignorant?

asbo in a coma wrote:
those gambling shareholders - have you got a pension - then you're a gambler because odds on you own some of these energy companies? the highpriest of hypocisy or just ignorant?

No, haven't got a pension, but why is that hyprocisy ? Buying shares is gambling, which i have no problem with. But If you backed a horse and it lost you wouldn't complain about losing your investment, but share holders often do. For example when rail track went down the pan and they wanted their money back, at our expense ! Unfortunately, its often the short term mentality that means large companies making redundancies and providing a rubbish service in order to deliver "stake holder value" that's blighting this economy...

well you should do unless you're able to exist on 5 grand a year. but don't knock those who choose to put money aside for their retirement. that is not gambling - that's called investing.

asbo in a coma wrote:
well you should do unless you're able to exist on 5 grand a year. but don't knock those who choose to put money aside for their retirement. that is not gambling - that's called investing.

I think your slightly straying off the point, and so am i, but..... Nothing wrong with having a pension, but most are work placed money purchase schemes and most people haven't the time or skills to decide where that money goes with the limited options on offer, company shares or otherwise...... and frankly look where its got us..... people ripped off wholesale and many more in for a very unpleasent surprise when those 'investments' materialise, unless you can afford a pot of 4 or 500 grand and even then what is guaranteed ?..... I would maintain its a gamble big time !

the point is anyone who has a pension more likely than not owns these energy companies. privatisation has been a good thing on the whole. it's brought competition of supply (not water). remember the power cuts of the 70s? prices have gone up because the wholesale price of energy has increased due to increased global demand (china), geo-political tensions and a weak dollar - not as a result of privatisation. if you think companies exist for the benefit of you an i you are dreaming.
you want to know what a gamble is - crossing fingers hoping the government is going to keep paying your state pension. they are telling you they cannot be relied on in future by forcing employers to make private arrangements.

asbo in a coma wrote:
the point is anyone who has a pension more likely than not owns these energy companies. privatisation has been a good thing on the whole. it's brought competition of supply (not water). remember the power cuts of the 70s? prices have gone up because the wholesale price of energy has increased due to increased global demand (china), geo-political tensions and a weak dollar - not as a result of privatisation. if you think companies exist for the benefit of you an i you are dreaming.
you want to know what a gamble is - crossing fingers hoping the government is going to keep paying your state pension. they are telling you they cannot be relied on in future by forcing employers to make private arrangements.

We are entering into debate, albeit interesting, that is straying even further from the point. In my opinion privatisation has been an absolute disaster for the consumer where utilities are concerned, which are virtual monopolies in all but name. The regulators have a myriad of complaints about the way they operate, although seem powerless to do much. Citing the equally disastrous mismanagement of publically owned industries in the past is a poor defence for abject greed in the private sector now. I am certainly not dreaming, and i would have thought given my comments, its plainly obvious i realise they don't exist for our benefit which is exactly the point surely ? The consumer needs protection ! Likewise, pension providers, provide products to make the maximum profit for them, not us, and most people with pensions are not making a conscious decision to invest in shares. The point is simply that, in my opinion, buying shares is gambling, not investing, We can beg to differ, but I never actually said there is anything wrong with it, providing you know and graciously accept the risks. The original point was simply that the good people of westcliff who are paying a not insignificant sum to have energy provided, should expect that provision (within reason), and certainly above the interests of shareholders.