Latest Moan From You and Me 2025

@pete that looks like a Badgers tail or another dog tail?

 

Just after I left school one of the pupils was murdered in the village where he lived. I was just close enough still to people who lived in the village and everyone knew the people that did it, or where there (about six in total) because they wenter to my school. In the end no one was convicted because the family of the murderer fled the country to live in Europe. We all knew who did it and the police certainly did but still no justice was served, not even to those who stayed here. It's always stuck with me because the lad was such a nice young guy.

 

Partly ... but also genetics, and local environment outside the home, and poverty, and available role models, and access to resources, and expectations at school, and employment opportunities, and mental health issues, and a whole wealth of other factors.

 

Kids years ago had a lot less than even the poor ones now, and they were not angels, but there is something else going on that turns kids into sadistic little sods.

There is no discipline and no come back these days, and I dont think many of them improve as they get older, they just get worse, things are not looking good for the future.

 

I don't know what statistics are available but would it be true to say that serious crime by both children and adults is higher as a %age of the population than it was 40 or 50 years ago ? It seems every day reports of criminal activity are in the news.
As for "poverty", I'm not sure who sets the definition these days - general expectations have gradually risen to such a degree that it no longer means what it used to. There are certainly many who are struggling and they deserve help but there are also many who profess to be poverty stricken and expect the govt/tax payer to fund their lifestyle.
So many people are seriously influenced by social media hence the rise in mental health issues as well as other attitudes which lead to other problems.
The constant warfare ( newsworthy or not ) which continues relentlessly must surely have a bearing on how serious the act of killing others really is regarded or understood by some. Others are doing it so why shouldn't I have a go ?

 

Demographics. Just what I believe from watching the news and reading newspapers, it seems most of the gangs here are children of people who have migrated here. I presume these young people were not encouraged to embrace our culture and values. Not all people no matter their background, are law abiding but crime repirts from reliable news agencies say a lot.

And we have indigenous/first nations gangs too.

Makes me feel sad that this is going on.

 

I think the violent video games also have a lot to do with it as well. Hours and hours of watching such stuff (which was not available when we were young) is bound to make a lasting impression on young minds.

 

Not just video games. The level of violence and the graphic nature of it can't be helpful either.

 

I hadn’t realised that I lived in poverty as a child, until I grew up! We were certainly expected to behave very properly, went to church every Sunday and the idea of skipping school would have been unheard of. We all wore hand me downs or clothing from jumble sales and my dad worked two and sometimes three jobs to keep us fed. All grew up to be sensible and hard working adults, three attended university. We had the benefit of good parenting and good teaching and discipline in our schools. OH and I chose to have our children privately educated, it certainly provided the privilege that we were prepared to pay for, that of being educated alongside children whose parents also valued good behaviour and expected homework done etc.
It’s very easy to have children, but that doesn’t make someone a parent.
I do agree that youngsters ( and adults) are exposed to levels of on screen violence that would have been unheard of and unacceptable in our day. Plus the amount of graphic news coverage. I think it must eventually harden off our sensitivities?

 

Pre-internet, the circle of influence on a child was much smaller- home, school, the town in which they lived, the occasional holiday destination. Now the whole world, with all its glories and all its horrors, is available in their bedroom. Of course this makes a difference to behaviour and social interaction.

 

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Think I had this in the wrong thread.

 

When I was young, but old enough to understand, the war was the Vietnam war, I know we were not involved but I think it was probably one of the first to have pretty graphic reports on the news nearly every night.
I don't think it damaged anyone's mental health who watched it, or turned anyone into sadistic nutter, probably the opposite.

 

Locally it's evident that there is just a general lack of respect, be that for property, animals or other humans. We don't seem to have common courtesy as a population anymore. A few still hold doors, give way or smile at each other but most just rush about and think they take priority. We saw selfishness blossom during covid and I don't think most switched back.
I'm still believe most people are nice, decent people, but there is an ever increasing amount of uncivil idiots. I think the media and social media have allowed hatred to boom, it's partly why I like it here because people are generally kind and friendly.

 

I think Covid showed the vast majority were very willing to put others, especially the elderly, first. Some of the restrictions were quite bonkers, others actively harmful to specific groups (eg children), but, despite misgivings, people compiled, often to the detriment of their own health, finances, etc.

That said, it was probably a one-off and I don't think anywhere near that level of cooperation would happen next time.