Born and lived in UK for most of my life. I generally agree but it really varies. Thing is, there are interesting discussions to be had around the past, the present and the future of the various nationalities in the country ... however much of the time the people most enthusiastic about taking part in them are not the kind you have a good conversation with.
Yeah, it's a fascinating area to talk about if you're with genuinely curious people - for example I think there are some really interesting discussions going on about the changing notion of being "British" in the context of second- and third-generation immigrants - but the quality of the debate is so often terrible that I'm very wary of starting conversations as people can get worked up very quickly.
I dunno if I want a "debate" or anything, but certainly the ability to openly consider things like, for example, what an independent Scotland might look like. As it stands pro-indy people often declare it'll be a riproaring success from the start, while anti-indy Scots fear-monger about Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP being some sinister totalitarians and from south of the border you get some pretty condescending stuff about being a "third-world country". That's just one example, but I imagine it's not uncommon across various subjects.
My friends are all pretty level-headed and good to talk to, but online things tend to get very tribal and center around these exaggerated points as if there's a referee keeping track of the points you scored on your "opposition".
