I know I spoke about this last week but I thought it worth further exploration as I only really touched on the money and greed side of things.
I am convinced that society wasn’t anywhere near what it is like today and attitudes and behaviour were simpler and less, well less vulgar.
I’m certainly not saying that everyone has changed for the bad. On the contrary. Most people are still fundamentally kind and morally okay. However, it’s the amount of wrong ones that has increased and in some areas has grown out of control.
Everywhere I go, whether walking through town or cycling in the countryside, I see litter. It’s not just a bit that has lost its way by being blown out of a bin or accidentally falling out of a bag or pocket. I talking about wrappers, empty cans, bags, papers and food being deliberately dropped because the owners cannot be bothered to find a bin or take it home. The countryside has become a dumping ground for household waste and its ugly and damaging to the landscape and wildlife. Its lazy, ignorant and downright disgusting, not to mention illegal. It was never as bad as this when I was a younger and if you were seen someone would pull you up for it. Today one can’t say anything in case one is attacked or abused by the culprits.
Where has the discipline gone? Why is this acceptable behaviour to set as examples to the younger generation? When did we become fearful of gently advising others of their anti-social actions? Why isn’t more done to combat this?
We have an ever-increasing amount of surveillance cameras watching our every move so why can’t this be used to catch and stop this mindless damage?
My father was telling me the other day about an incident outside the local library in Rothwell (the Northamptonshire one). Apparently, the kids sit on the wall outside to take advantage of the free WiFi offered by the library. Nothing wrong with that unless it is costing the library money but what I found terrible was the fact that these youths started jostling and shoulder bumping my father as he walked by to go into the building. Now he is quite unsteady on his feet and has to walk with a stick and this act nearly unbalanced him and had him over. Thankfully, one of the lads knew my father and told them to stop. Then, to my father’s horror, the biggest of these youths stood up and squared up into his face and he thought this lad was going to hit him. Fortunately, he just asked if my father was “Doctor Froment” and on hearing that he indeed was turned round and told this group that if he saw anyone of them or their mates touch or say anything bad to the doctor then he would “knock their block off”.
Phew!! All was well and there is some sense of honour and respect. It could have been a different outcome had it not been for the two lads who came to my father’s rescue. A fall at his age could have seriously injured or killed him and no doubt these thugs would have thought it funny.
There is no way I, or my friends to that matter, would have acted like that to the older generation. I hope to think the total opposite and we would have offered to help.
I see children riding, at a fair distance from their parents, scooters and bicycles on the pavements and if you say anything then you geta mouth full of abuse. It’s dangerous for the kids and the other pedestrians and just imagine if they lost control and skidded into the road and path of an oncoming car or lorry. Why can’t these parents take responsibility for their loved ones and think about their actions. Parks, gardens and proper cycle lanes are there to use not the damned pavements.
Again when I was younger one was taught not to cycle or scooter on the path and if a policeperson saw you then you were for the high-jump.
One of the most aggling thing I see is teenagers and young adults who wear their trousers round their buttocks or lower. Not only does it make them walk like a duck, it shows their pants or worse. It makes you want to either pull them right down or up and buy them a belt. It is just so rubbish.
Oh, and whilst on the subject who thought it a good idea to wear lounge and nightwear in public? Have fashions become so low that one cannot see fit to have some dress sense and code of standard? I’m not saying we have to go around in a suit or dress for dinner but at least show some sense of decorum. Or is this a step too far.
Social behaviour has slipped and technology hasn’t helped but surely not everyone has to be subjected to others selfish ways. For instance; sit on a bus or train and it won’t be long before someone sits down with that tinny sound that is emitted from their headphones. Its meant to be personal not public. Or you get the person who has to shout into the phone whilst it’s on speaker mode so the whole carriage can enjoy the innane conversation. And lets not forget the pink-ponk-plunk from the games that have to be played to wile away the journey. Its crap. NO ITS BEYOND CRAP.Its unnecessary and selfish but it’s now an acceptable part of being in public.
No one talks to each other or gives that quaint greeting or “how-do-you-do?” any more and car driving has become a guessing game amongst some of the more prestigious car owners. They are so up themselves that a simple indication of where they are going seems beneath them or they have to drive like they are attached to the car in front. And don’t get me started on the fact that most of these drivers have bluetooth or hands free but insist on using their mobile phone as it is. Again, any gentle nudge or advise is returned with a barrage or verbal or physical abuse. The police just turn a blind eye to it and so it carries on and at times people are killed by this stupid and pointless action.
Oh dear; I appear to have had a little or a lottle of a rant there but I am sure I am not alone in my hatred for some things that have crept into our ways of life.
It’s all to do with teaching right from wrong, instilling good moral values, discipline (both at home and at school), suitable punishments and proper education.
As I said at the beginning, it’s not the majority who are at fault, it’s the amount of people who are pulling the rest of us down who are to blame.
The thing is that my grandfather said the same about my father’s generation, my father said a similar thing of my generation and I have gone on to view my grievances about the generation to come. So no doubt they will say the same in the future.
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