Londoners - how has diversity enriched your life?

Let's see: increased crime, decline in English speaking population, more and more women covered in black "dementor" veils, more traffic, longer hospital waiting times.

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Lets just say, if I went on holiday to Poland I'd be able to cope

I can't put it in simpler terms, sorry

go stack some shelves may help calm you down.

Why aren't you comfortable with it? Do you view non-whites as a threat? (You clearly are inferring that)

Please. Immigration was the downfall of Japan (Tokyo) anyone knows that. Had a rising elderly demographic with falling birth rates which could of been replaced with immigration.

As a Londoner, I'm aware that phrases such as "cultural melting pot", "multicultural","cosmopolitan" and "diversity" are often associated with the capital.

People I've come across tend speak of London's diverse population in a postive manner and are quick to highlight it as one of the capital's strengths. But they rarely say how specifically living in such a diverse environment has enriched their lives.

I don't really see the cultural and social advantages of living in such an environment anymore.I feel that London's increased diversity has lead to society becoming fragmented and less trustworthy. Yes, I am surrounded by many different types of people, but I've also noticed that ethnic groups (this includes white groups) tend to congregrate in insular communities which nullifies the supposed benefits of living among different people.

I also feel the varying degrees of difference leads to a level of friction among people that you simply wouldn't see in a less diverse environment. This usually results in flashpoints of violence and confrontation - fuelled by the vast cultural differences that emerge from London's high levels of diversity.

When you have such a broad gamut of cultural difference, there's less social cohesion. There's less respect for your fellow man or woman. And I see the effects of that frequently in London.

I believe the actual cultural benefits of living in London's multicultural society are an illusion. I live in a borough where they is a high population of black (west African and Carribbean) people and oriental (Chinese and Vietnamese) people and yet I feel like I have gained very little (culturally) from living among them.

Now, I'm not saying that I'd rather live in a a small rural village where everyone sports an English pudding face - I think diversity is good to a point, but I feel the high level of diversity that exists within London has lead to a society that feels incredibly culturally segregated and untrustworthy.

How has London's diversity enriched your life?

Maybe it hasn't and you can identify with the thoughts above.

Share your opinions.

Hasn't brought much to my life.

I'm glad where it's only London that I am often the only white person on the bus. I am not to comfortable with it too be honest.

loved it- never boring and you learn so much more. nothing good about being ignorant and close minded

Nice thread OP.

So many ways that London gives you a boost just by being so diverse.

* Exposure to cultures and people - you learn so much, it makes you a wiser, smarter and more easy-going person.
* Foods and entertainments - London has an incredible diversity of eating and other cultural experiences - you don't have to pay a lot, there are hundreds of affordable places to eat with global cuisines and things to do / experiences to have with people from elsewhere on the international map.
* Everyone in London has to learn to rub along with everyone else, one way or another. If you embrace that, it gives you glittering possibilities to be a truly cosmopolitan person, at ease in any company and any country or culture.

Plus - it's stacks of fun.

Don't fight it - grab it!

Yet ignorance exists across vast areas of London's population. Diversity has done nothing to change this. People don't go around wanting to learn about another person's culture and likewise people don't want to share their culture with people outside their own ethnic group.

Most of my cultural awarness has come from the web and not being among people that are different to me. The idea that people in a multicultural society go around actively wanting to learn about the cultures of their fellow citizens is an illusion.

I've lived in a white area of London my whole life so multiculturalism has hardly enriched my life. If anything, university has made me aware to lots of different cultures.

Well it's certainly enriched my life in the sense that I never get the feeling of "You're not white so you're not really supposed to be here". Isn't that the main point of it really?