I have given this thread a bit of a wide berth due to some of the ridiculous of some of it, but thought I'd give my 2 pence worth.
Some do like to have a Stafford bashing and say nothing but negative and don't weigh up 2 sides, I do feel some need to experience a little time out of town. I have only ever witnessed minor scuffles with a few idiots in the town (and this town as a few), not saying that is the worse there is but in comparison to other areas. But the town has establishments that are just delightful and a couple of places I don't frequent when I am here because they don't look the most welcoming. But this supposed ducking and diving up the high street to avoid trouble, I find very much melodramatic.
If anyone would like to experience real trouble they should experience the delights of Walsall, Newcastle under Lyme and Cannock, their Saturday night trouble makers have been well documented recently. As a previous poster added, Telford is a good place to avoid, the extent of trouble here seems beyond belief. (Not even going to include Brum and Wolves)
But instead of news reports etc I will add my actual own experience in the last year:
-Newport seeing an elderly couple jumped and set about on by a dozen 20 somethings, who proceeded to run through the town causing damage to shop windows, a Wednesday night
-Hanley, been out twice in 12 months, left twice on both occasions due to witnessing mini riots with police etc, trouble here so bad the Council think it is to threatening for the average good person to enjoy a night out in the area.
-Leek, the closest town to me. A couple of Sundays ago my partner and I were making our way back to catch a taxi home at the bus station. Walking down the high street we heard the kicking of a door. The Bargain Booze on the High Street was taking a kicking by some 30 somethings wanting more booze, because I had naturally looked up these 3 idiots followed us both hurling abuse and beer cans at us.
Is Stafford really bad, NO!!!
But to the real point of the thread.
First off, no Stafford people are not RUDE. I am not rude, my family and friends are not rude and those I work with are not rude. Sure Stafford people have their rude persons of course and so does every single town, village, city and hamlet up and down the country. What I think is rude is someone tarring Stafford people in general over an instance that someone seems a little oversensitive with.
I am 6ft 5in and have never, ever in my life had issues with my height and name calling, neither have my family or friends, and with the exception of 6/7 years I have spent my entire life in Stafford, I am not over the hill yet but I am getting there, so that shows my age a little
For someone who has been much travelled over recent years I have to say I have never experienced this anywhere with the exception of people who are merry stating the damn obvious (mainly women), silly but harmless.
My partner who is from Cambridge adores Stafford and she hated going out in her town as she felt unsafe. She loves the town so much we have frequented a night out regularly in the last year, weekends, weekdays etc. Staying at the Swan, The Vine, Premier, Holidays Inns or with friends.
Not one bit of trouble have we seen walking up and down town, sometime getting back to our sleeping quarters at around 2.30am. Having only just get a house near Leek only a year ago, we will be moving to Stafford within the next year because the what the Mrs wants.
Stafford is not the best place on earth, but some on here would make you think it is hell on earth. Everyone rightly should have their say, but I am someone who weights things up with a little perspective, some saying never experience this and that elsewhere.. well it just isn't a believable story or more time is needed to spend elsewhere..
From someone who left Stafford to do the rounds, I can assure you Stafford, as a whole is a darn decent and lovely place to live.