This struck a chord with me so I'd like to share this.
Some time ago my wife was driving to the Supermarket and saw the driver in the car ahead throw what looked like McDonald wrappers and empty containers out of the window.
As it happened the car was going to the same Supermarket as my wife, who followed her into the car park and confronted the woman.
She told her she had seen what she had done, had
taken her licence plate number
and if the rubbish was still there when my wife went back that she would phone the police.
Happily when she drove past the spot on the way home, the rubbish had disappeared which was a good job because we all know the police are too busy with non hate crimes to do anything about it or anything else for that matter.
Yes indeed. Good manners - not petty 'etiquette', but basic consideration for others - have been in decline in my home country for decades.
Here in Argentina, I have occasionally expressed admiration for the way people queue for the bus, for example. No jostling, those with mobility problems or small children automatically waved to the front, general good nature. The reaction is to say 'But you're English! Why are you surprised?'.
They actually don't believe me when I relate what it's like on London buses now. 😢
Evidence that God’s spirit is in us is the willingness to repent. Repentance applies at every level of wrongdoing, not just ignoring God’s commandments. Repentance comprises confession ( admitting the fault) contrition ( feeling some remorse ) and most importantly of all, change. Your cycling experience revealed all three, so take heart Frederick, you are nearer God than you may have thought.
''People arriving to these shores are variously uninterested in our norms''
I have noticed when abroad that they're almost universally disinterested in that bastion of British norms ... the sanctity of pedestrian human life whilst using the zebra crossing. No indigenous Brit would even think of not stopping at the B & W's if there's a pedestrian within 30' of one!
Nearly three decades ago i saw this in Koln. A man in his 50s, well off, decided to 'beat' a slow but frail woman to the escalator in a book shop. In the process she fell over. His reaction? Look around briefly as he continued his speedy way forward.
Complete strangers then went to the woman's aid, and she was not hurt.
Two errors - pushing the woman over, and then walking off with no attempt to make amends. Not good.
You cyclists eh? Got a little camera on your head have you? Like Jeremy Vine? What are you like eh? After all, who's gonna come off worse if you jump a red light? You or the big red bus? Who can tell?
As for confronting morons - good for you! My mother, back in the early 1970s, used to tell teenagers off at the cinema if they misbehaved. Teenagers would instantly apologise. Until about the late 1980s, when they started telling her to fuck off or threatening to punch my silent and embarrassed father. Times changed earlier than people think!
I'm not quite that dreadful... at least I hope not.
Re: Jeremy Vine, I had forgotten about this nugget (https://youtu.be/zhZujxFT9yI?t=165) but have rewatched it after your comment reminded me. Never fails to make me laugh.
No doubt the rot set in a while ago. It just seems to have spread further and further.
As always great writing Frederick.
This struck a chord with me so I'd like to share this.
Some time ago my wife was driving to the Supermarket and saw the driver in the car ahead throw what looked like McDonald wrappers and empty containers out of the window.
As it happened the car was going to the same Supermarket as my wife, who followed her into the car park and confronted the woman.
She told her she had seen what she had done, had
taken her licence plate number
and if the rubbish was still there when my wife went back that she would phone the police.
Happily when she drove past the spot on the way home, the rubbish had disappeared which was a good job because we all know the police are too busy with non hate crimes to do anything about it or anything else for that matter.
Good stuff. My initial assumption is that these people would just tell you to 'eff off', but it seems that a spot of vigilantism is rather effective!
Dashcam Alan! ;o)
Yes have had one for ages 😉
I love insight laced with humour. Great piece!
Thank you, Bettina!
Yes indeed. Good manners - not petty 'etiquette', but basic consideration for others - have been in decline in my home country for decades.
Here in Argentina, I have occasionally expressed admiration for the way people queue for the bus, for example. No jostling, those with mobility problems or small children automatically waved to the front, general good nature. The reaction is to say 'But you're English! Why are you surprised?'.
They actually don't believe me when I relate what it's like on London buses now. 😢
Interesting! Are you in Buenos Aires? Do you think there's been much change in public manners in recent years there?
Wouldn't really know, TBH - it was where I landed when I ran screaming from England nearly two years ago.
OK, it's not paradise (where is?), but there's a ground level of basic manners which reminds me of the England of my childhood. I like that.
Evidence that God’s spirit is in us is the willingness to repent. Repentance applies at every level of wrongdoing, not just ignoring God’s commandments. Repentance comprises confession ( admitting the fault) contrition ( feeling some remorse ) and most importantly of all, change. Your cycling experience revealed all three, so take heart Frederick, you are nearer God than you may have thought.
Fingers crossed. Still sinning occasionally, I am afraid.
''People arriving to these shores are variously uninterested in our norms''
I have noticed when abroad that they're almost universally disinterested in that bastion of British norms ... the sanctity of pedestrian human life whilst using the zebra crossing. No indigenous Brit would even think of not stopping at the B & W's if there's a pedestrian within 30' of one!
I can't say I share your certainty in that, unfortunately.
Some of the imports come from countries I know. Their behaviour is completely unaltered. Such are the benefits of multi-culti.
A lovely article from Frederick.
Of course, I'm in the right the whole time.....
Nearly three decades ago i saw this in Koln. A man in his 50s, well off, decided to 'beat' a slow but frail woman to the escalator in a book shop. In the process she fell over. His reaction? Look around briefly as he continued his speedy way forward.
Complete strangers then went to the woman's aid, and she was not hurt.
Two errors - pushing the woman over, and then walking off with no attempt to make amends. Not good.
People can be decidedly odd. Either that chap was a sociopath or was so embarrassed that he had to scarper? Preferably the latter, I suppose.
From the look on the man's face, he was more concerned about the reaction from others than the woman on the floor. It was very clear. 'Me first!'
You cyclists eh? Got a little camera on your head have you? Like Jeremy Vine? What are you like eh? After all, who's gonna come off worse if you jump a red light? You or the big red bus? Who can tell?
As for confronting morons - good for you! My mother, back in the early 1970s, used to tell teenagers off at the cinema if they misbehaved. Teenagers would instantly apologise. Until about the late 1980s, when they started telling her to fuck off or threatening to punch my silent and embarrassed father. Times changed earlier than people think!
I'm not quite that dreadful... at least I hope not.
Re: Jeremy Vine, I had forgotten about this nugget (https://youtu.be/zhZujxFT9yI?t=165) but have rewatched it after your comment reminded me. Never fails to make me laugh.
No doubt the rot set in a while ago. It just seems to have spread further and further.