This afternoon I sat down with my youngest son (12 year old Darcy) and we watched the classic Australian film, The Castle which portrays the Kerrigan family fighting a huge multi-national company in order to save their home from compulsory acquisition for an extension of the adjacent Airport.
My son loved it. He thought it was funny and he said that Daryl wasn't interested in the $95,000 offered for his home. All he wanted was his and his families home.
Young Darcy hit the nail on the head. Money is not important in this life of ours. Yes it helps pay the bills, but at the end of the day you and I are no different to someone like George Lucas or a homeless person once we pass away. We are dead and that is that.
Wealth, just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In the movie Daryl Kerrigan prided himself on providing a home for his family. A home that was theirs and it held so many fond memories that no amount of money could replace.
So many people have simply lost sight of what is important in LIFE. It's not how wealthy you are or how expensive your car is. It's not how many possessions you have or what suburb you live in. It's about family, it's about friends and good close friends. It's about doing things that you love. Sounds too simple hey?
Well it is. Since I resigned from my much loved job as a bus driver after almost 30 years in the industry my life has got a new lease. I am healthier, I am happier and I am spending more quality time with my family and friends. Good friends are not the ones you have to see or speak too every second day, they are great friends because you may not converse for weeks then simply pick up from where you left off last time. Furthermore, when things go bad your great friends are always there to lend a hand or support.
Since resigning from my job, I am focussed on my study and supporting my wife and any other family member or friend that requires assistance. Money is not everything and equally possessions are not everything either. Some of my most valuable possessions are simple little knick knacks that have been bought for me by my family or friends and especially things made by my kids. If I had a pool room like Mr Kerrigan, that is where these things will go.
I am not interested in keeping up with others, on what they earn per annum or what type of car they drive. I am happy with what I have got. I have the most amazing people in my life. I have a loving wife, Clorinda who I absolutely adore. I have two amazing kids, Zac and Darcy who always find ways of inspiring me. Although she wouldn't agree totally, I have a wonderful Mum plus amazing Grand parents, Aunties, Uncles, Cousins and even Brother in-law. My friends of which I have many who are close to me are some of the most amazing people anyone could possibly have in their lives. For this I am truly blessed and I am grateful.
This is what life is about. Get out there and live a little. Don't worry about others, worry about yourself. Have fun. Walk the dog on the beach, eat the donut, drink that beer, watch that movie, take your spouse out to dinner. Life is way too short to be piss farting around worrying about what everyone else is doing. Once we die, we are all the same. Your money, house, car, clothes etc don't go with you.
Anyone who thinks that they are more important to this planet or universe than someone else "Tell em their dreamin"!!
Until next time. Keep safe and may your God go with you.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
BUILDING HEALTHY CHILDREN
Listening to 5AA recently, there was some discussion about children and their parents eating healthily and getting enough exercise. Discussions revolved around family time constraints, weather events and other excuses to not walk the dog and call into Hungry Jacks on the way home, instead of cooking something at home.
I am 45 and spent my days growing up in the 1970's and 80's where us kids were never bored, eating Hungry Jacks, Macca's or even a pizza was a treat. Usually we would have fish or chicken & chips about once a fortnight on payday. The remaining 13 nights my mum would cook tea and she also worked full time as a school teacher.
The reason parents these days are time poor is (in their words) because they work, then they pick the kids up take them to sport practice or other things and by the time they get home they do not feel like cooking as it is about 7 or 7.30pm, so it's easier to call in and get takeaway.
Parents these days are too over protective and believe that if they leave their children to walk home or ride home on their own, something might happen. Well it might. Our lives are full of 'What if's', from the time we a born through to death. There is no more paedophiles and creeps around today as there were in 1975. The difference is that it is reported much more than 40 years ago, so it seems like its worse. Some of the most infamous child abduction cases in Adelaide go back to the 60's and early 70's and also Richard Kelvin in the early 80's.
When I was growing up my parents did not have a mobile phone to constantly keep track of me. My friends and I would head off on our bikes or go to the oval and not come home until the street lights came on. We cannot wrap our children in cotton wool 'for their protection' because we end up breeding teenagers and adults who have no self confidence once they leave school and begin to enter the workforce. Mummy and Daddy cant be with them all day to wipe their noses.
If little Johnny or Mary-ann has footy or netball practice after school, give them the freedom to get themselves there and home again. Rain, hail or shine. It helps build their confidence. The added benefits these days are mobile phones, so if anything did happen you have a chance to make contact. Allowing your children this freedom, then allows the parents to get back to keeping a home and preparing decent meals for the entire family.
Well that's my view.
I am 45 and spent my days growing up in the 1970's and 80's where us kids were never bored, eating Hungry Jacks, Macca's or even a pizza was a treat. Usually we would have fish or chicken & chips about once a fortnight on payday. The remaining 13 nights my mum would cook tea and she also worked full time as a school teacher.
The reason parents these days are time poor is (in their words) because they work, then they pick the kids up take them to sport practice or other things and by the time they get home they do not feel like cooking as it is about 7 or 7.30pm, so it's easier to call in and get takeaway.
Parents these days are too over protective and believe that if they leave their children to walk home or ride home on their own, something might happen. Well it might. Our lives are full of 'What if's', from the time we a born through to death. There is no more paedophiles and creeps around today as there were in 1975. The difference is that it is reported much more than 40 years ago, so it seems like its worse. Some of the most infamous child abduction cases in Adelaide go back to the 60's and early 70's and also Richard Kelvin in the early 80's.
When I was growing up my parents did not have a mobile phone to constantly keep track of me. My friends and I would head off on our bikes or go to the oval and not come home until the street lights came on. We cannot wrap our children in cotton wool 'for their protection' because we end up breeding teenagers and adults who have no self confidence once they leave school and begin to enter the workforce. Mummy and Daddy cant be with them all day to wipe their noses.
If little Johnny or Mary-ann has footy or netball practice after school, give them the freedom to get themselves there and home again. Rain, hail or shine. It helps build their confidence. The added benefits these days are mobile phones, so if anything did happen you have a chance to make contact. Allowing your children this freedom, then allows the parents to get back to keeping a home and preparing decent meals for the entire family.
Well that's my view.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
MENTAL HEALTH
In a follow on from my previous post, lets analyse the issues and stigma surrounding mental health. Today, thousands of people are still suffering in relative silence from depression, anxiety or many other mental health issues. Depression and anxiety are probably the two most common forms of mental illness.
I say that people suffer in silence because they feel that the people around them such as work colleagues, their boss, friends and even their family will not understand or be sympathetic to their illness. Primarily because mental illness is not a visible illness like the flu or a broken leg. However, they have a broken mind.
It is also hard to admit to others that you are suffering because of the issues I mentioned above but also because they themselves feel inadequate and stupid for feeling this way. And this my friends is the vicious cycle.
People suffering from a mental illness simply want the people around them, especially their loved ones to be there and be understanding. They don't want sympathy or pats on the head or people fussing around them. They require people to understand what may trigger a bout of sadness or anger which is not generally aimed at the person but is a burst of frustration.
For loved ones, this can be extremely difficult to contend with. It may appear that the person is flying off the handle and aimed their tyraid at you, but that is only because your there. They are just as likely to yell at the dog if they were the only person around too. Again, extreme bouts of sadness is brought on sometimes by a reaction to a situation that has become overwhelming and not necessarily a result of something you said or did.
Often the person suffering from the illness does not know themselves why they have these extreme emotions and again this is where frustration creeps in. It is advisable for people who are with someone experiencing an episode to simply just be there. Talk calmy and about normal things. Don't try and solve their problem as it often makes things worse.
I urge everyone to look out for their loved ones as well as their friends, co-workers and neighbours. Mental illness can affect anyone and often these people are very good at putting up a façade. Just think back to the much loved Robin Williams. I have watched in absolute awe some of his interviews with Parkinson and many others where he had everyone in stitches. Yet, behind the smiling face and hundreds of voices was a man who was suffering from depression. A deep depression that ultimately saw him take his own life.
I watch his video's and have a laugh at his wonderful comedy, yet cry at the same time because this troubled person could see no way out of his darkness and the world lost a true comic genius.
Just because someone looks and perhaps says that they are ok, doesn't necessarily mean that they are indeed ok. Notwithstanding the normal pressures that come with living like, paying bills, working, driving, dealing with children etc there are many more manufactured pressures put on us like how we look, we are too fat or thin and don't look like a model, cant eat this or that, can't drink this or that either, can't discipline your children, your working too hard, your not working enough the list is endless. We all experience these things and we all deal with them differently. Just because you can handle most of these things, does not necessarily mean that I can and vice versa.
With these normal issues with life we then often get thrown a curve ball and experience a major trauma in our lives like death, accident, divorce, job loss etc etc. If one is not handling day to day life very well then one of these will simply push them over the edge or take them very close to it.
We quite simply should be looking out for one another and ensuring that everyone is ok.
That's my view. Please look out for one another.
I say that people suffer in silence because they feel that the people around them such as work colleagues, their boss, friends and even their family will not understand or be sympathetic to their illness. Primarily because mental illness is not a visible illness like the flu or a broken leg. However, they have a broken mind.
It is also hard to admit to others that you are suffering because of the issues I mentioned above but also because they themselves feel inadequate and stupid for feeling this way. And this my friends is the vicious cycle.
People suffering from a mental illness simply want the people around them, especially their loved ones to be there and be understanding. They don't want sympathy or pats on the head or people fussing around them. They require people to understand what may trigger a bout of sadness or anger which is not generally aimed at the person but is a burst of frustration.
For loved ones, this can be extremely difficult to contend with. It may appear that the person is flying off the handle and aimed their tyraid at you, but that is only because your there. They are just as likely to yell at the dog if they were the only person around too. Again, extreme bouts of sadness is brought on sometimes by a reaction to a situation that has become overwhelming and not necessarily a result of something you said or did.
Often the person suffering from the illness does not know themselves why they have these extreme emotions and again this is where frustration creeps in. It is advisable for people who are with someone experiencing an episode to simply just be there. Talk calmy and about normal things. Don't try and solve their problem as it often makes things worse.
I urge everyone to look out for their loved ones as well as their friends, co-workers and neighbours. Mental illness can affect anyone and often these people are very good at putting up a façade. Just think back to the much loved Robin Williams. I have watched in absolute awe some of his interviews with Parkinson and many others where he had everyone in stitches. Yet, behind the smiling face and hundreds of voices was a man who was suffering from depression. A deep depression that ultimately saw him take his own life.
I watch his video's and have a laugh at his wonderful comedy, yet cry at the same time because this troubled person could see no way out of his darkness and the world lost a true comic genius.
Just because someone looks and perhaps says that they are ok, doesn't necessarily mean that they are indeed ok. Notwithstanding the normal pressures that come with living like, paying bills, working, driving, dealing with children etc there are many more manufactured pressures put on us like how we look, we are too fat or thin and don't look like a model, cant eat this or that, can't drink this or that either, can't discipline your children, your working too hard, your not working enough the list is endless. We all experience these things and we all deal with them differently. Just because you can handle most of these things, does not necessarily mean that I can and vice versa.
With these normal issues with life we then often get thrown a curve ball and experience a major trauma in our lives like death, accident, divorce, job loss etc etc. If one is not handling day to day life very well then one of these will simply push them over the edge or take them very close to it.
We quite simply should be looking out for one another and ensuring that everyone is ok.
That's my view. Please look out for one another.
MENTAL ILLNESS
I am quite literally stunned. I have just read a report from a 'so called' psychiatrist and I simply could not believe what I read.
Firstly, let me ask you: What does depression and or anxiety look like? Hmm, I am stumped too. This is the problem with mental illness because it is not as visible as a broken arm or leg and the body does not have any contusions. Therefore one relies on suitably qualified practitioners to make assessment and then administer appropriate treatment.
It makes me furious that a supposed well trained and respected psychiatrist would use terms as 'they presented well, were well groomed, spoke clearly and had good posture'. This was to insinuate that there was nothing really wrong. Especially when reading on further.
Well, I ask this gentleman (and we will get the chance), obviously using his very loose model he would have determined that there was nothing wrong with Mr Robin Williams. He was always well groomed, well spoken and as we all know was as funny as a fit. However, we are all aware that he suffered terribly from depression and he hid it really well. Mr Williams eventually could not take it anymore and committed suicide and ultimately leaving the professional world who treated and knew him stunned.
This reaction is sad because still in 2015 despite all the media focus on the subject from teenage suicide through to shift workers and anyone effectively. Anyone can surrender to depression or anxiety and no one is immune. Yet there is still this stigma attached to it, especially from a professional perspective and from many employers.
There are many people in Management that are too ready to dismiss mental illness because people look ok. Gone are the days of 'she'll be right mate'! But to get such a dismissive response from a professional is somewhat bewildering.
I ask you to make sure you ask your loved ones, friends, co-workers, anyone that you care about if they are ok. Seriously, ask them if they are cool, anything bothering them. If they are struggling encourage them to seek help but don't ever tell them to get over it or don't be silly because chances are they themselves feel silly for bothering you with their problems. Just because something does not bother you does not mean that it does not bother others.
Mental illness is more prevalent in our society than many people give credit for. As with Mr Robin Williams don't leave it too late to render assistance to someone in need.
That's my view.
Firstly, let me ask you: What does depression and or anxiety look like? Hmm, I am stumped too. This is the problem with mental illness because it is not as visible as a broken arm or leg and the body does not have any contusions. Therefore one relies on suitably qualified practitioners to make assessment and then administer appropriate treatment.
It makes me furious that a supposed well trained and respected psychiatrist would use terms as 'they presented well, were well groomed, spoke clearly and had good posture'. This was to insinuate that there was nothing really wrong. Especially when reading on further.
Well, I ask this gentleman (and we will get the chance), obviously using his very loose model he would have determined that there was nothing wrong with Mr Robin Williams. He was always well groomed, well spoken and as we all know was as funny as a fit. However, we are all aware that he suffered terribly from depression and he hid it really well. Mr Williams eventually could not take it anymore and committed suicide and ultimately leaving the professional world who treated and knew him stunned.
This reaction is sad because still in 2015 despite all the media focus on the subject from teenage suicide through to shift workers and anyone effectively. Anyone can surrender to depression or anxiety and no one is immune. Yet there is still this stigma attached to it, especially from a professional perspective and from many employers.
There are many people in Management that are too ready to dismiss mental illness because people look ok. Gone are the days of 'she'll be right mate'! But to get such a dismissive response from a professional is somewhat bewildering.
I ask you to make sure you ask your loved ones, friends, co-workers, anyone that you care about if they are ok. Seriously, ask them if they are cool, anything bothering them. If they are struggling encourage them to seek help but don't ever tell them to get over it or don't be silly because chances are they themselves feel silly for bothering you with their problems. Just because something does not bother you does not mean that it does not bother others.
Mental illness is more prevalent in our society than many people give credit for. As with Mr Robin Williams don't leave it too late to render assistance to someone in need.
That's my view.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
SAME SEX MARRIAGE
Surely our world has more things to get its knickers in a knot over than carrying on about why two people who love one another cannot get married if they happen to be gay.
This is 2015 not 1955. I applaud the citizens of Ireland who made the overwhelmingly supported gay marriage in their recent referendum. We in Australia pride ourselves on being easy going and welcoming of all cultures and creeds, yet we as a collective group resist going this final step in allowing gay people to marry legally in this country.
It is quite bizarre, that we have people to quite literally get hot under the collar on the mere mention of the topic, yet fall silent when a group of fanatics burn our flag in our own country and denounce its laws and traditions. Surely, this is more important than two people marrying one another.
These same people who often get offended for other people claim that children in gay relationships suffer. What utter unfounded bullshit. I see more children being mistreated by 'straight' parents than those of gay parents. The real truth is that there are sometimes poor parenting from either parents whether gay or straight.
I have some family members who are gay. I have worked with people who are gay and I have a number of gay friends. They are no different to anyone else and they are just as deserving of being married to their soul mate as I am being married to Clorinda.
Again, small minded people will say it's not Gods way!! Well, if that is what YOU believe then wonderful, but I am sure your God loves everyone and does not pick or choose, does he or she?
That's my view.
This is 2015 not 1955. I applaud the citizens of Ireland who made the overwhelmingly supported gay marriage in their recent referendum. We in Australia pride ourselves on being easy going and welcoming of all cultures and creeds, yet we as a collective group resist going this final step in allowing gay people to marry legally in this country.
It is quite bizarre, that we have people to quite literally get hot under the collar on the mere mention of the topic, yet fall silent when a group of fanatics burn our flag in our own country and denounce its laws and traditions. Surely, this is more important than two people marrying one another.
These same people who often get offended for other people claim that children in gay relationships suffer. What utter unfounded bullshit. I see more children being mistreated by 'straight' parents than those of gay parents. The real truth is that there are sometimes poor parenting from either parents whether gay or straight.
I have some family members who are gay. I have worked with people who are gay and I have a number of gay friends. They are no different to anyone else and they are just as deserving of being married to their soul mate as I am being married to Clorinda.
Again, small minded people will say it's not Gods way!! Well, if that is what YOU believe then wonderful, but I am sure your God loves everyone and does not pick or choose, does he or she?
That's my view.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
ASHLEY MADISON
Forgive me if I seem a little naïve here, but I am sitting in my lounge room watching some TV and a commercial comes on for ASHLEY MADISON.COM. It proudly states on there 'HAVE AN AFFAIR'!
What the fuck is this shit? Encouraging gutless wonders (male & female) to have an affair. This world has completely gone insane if our society allows the promotion of this type of garbage.
Anyone who has been on the receiving end of being cheated on like myself would testify that it is one of the worst feelings in the world. To have someone you love and trust betray you in such a way hurts and quite literally your heart shatters.
If people are unhappy in a relationship, have some common decency and front up to your partner and end it. Just think for a second (that's if you can) of the feelings for your partner and how would you react if the roles were reversed.
In my case it happened to me 10 years ago. My marriage finally ended almost 5 years ago officially, but, despite a good effort it was on a downhill slide since that fateful event was uncovered. The whole scenario not only affected myself, by reducing me to someone who had trust issues, low self esteem and ultimately depression and anxiety. It also affected my children, my working life and I sort of just bumbled my way through life until I bumped into someone who turned my fortunes around. And that was my current wife, Clorinda. She picked me up, dusted me off and helped steer me in a upward direction.
I am beyond disgusted over this Ashley Madison.com crap. I simply cannot believe what I saw. If NORMAL people think this is OK then there is no hope for our civilisation.
That's my view. Until next time, stay safe and may your God go with you.
What the fuck is this shit? Encouraging gutless wonders (male & female) to have an affair. This world has completely gone insane if our society allows the promotion of this type of garbage.
Anyone who has been on the receiving end of being cheated on like myself would testify that it is one of the worst feelings in the world. To have someone you love and trust betray you in such a way hurts and quite literally your heart shatters.
If people are unhappy in a relationship, have some common decency and front up to your partner and end it. Just think for a second (that's if you can) of the feelings for your partner and how would you react if the roles were reversed.
In my case it happened to me 10 years ago. My marriage finally ended almost 5 years ago officially, but, despite a good effort it was on a downhill slide since that fateful event was uncovered. The whole scenario not only affected myself, by reducing me to someone who had trust issues, low self esteem and ultimately depression and anxiety. It also affected my children, my working life and I sort of just bumbled my way through life until I bumped into someone who turned my fortunes around. And that was my current wife, Clorinda. She picked me up, dusted me off and helped steer me in a upward direction.
I am beyond disgusted over this Ashley Madison.com crap. I simply cannot believe what I saw. If NORMAL people think this is OK then there is no hope for our civilisation.
That's my view. Until next time, stay safe and may your God go with you.
Monday, May 18, 2015
LIFE STRUGGLES
So far in 2015 both Clorinda and I have had an ordinary year to say the least. If anything could go wrong it has gone wrong. Some of the goings on have been our own doing by not managing our finances very well. Other issues that have arisen have been out of our control.
My beautiful wife was unfortunately assaulted at her workplace twice within 2 weeks by some of the lovely people who frequent our public transport system. As a result of these two incidents she has been placed on Workcover and her mental health has deteriorated significantly. She has had a couple of melt downs along the way also. My stupid attitude whilst often softening a situation has backfired and made the situation worse.
I have had to take stock and rethink how I react to certain situations with Clorinda, especially when she is not fully on her game and having a bit of a downer. At these times she does not need my dumb comments.
As well as these issues with Clorinda, my satisfaction with working in the public transport industry has continued to decline. So much so that my anxiety levels have risen significantly, so much so that I experienced my first panic attack one day whilst out shopping.
Combine this with an increase in the effort I need to put in towards my study, something had to give, so I made the bold decision to resign from Transfield and ultimately bring an end to my 29+ year career within the public transport industry. 29 years 7 months to be exact.
Prior to this my brand new motorbike tyre went flat in an instant. The motorbike shop did not replace the valve when they did the tyre. The valve was fucked.
Clorinda has not been paid since March and we have been struggling big time. This added stress has just added to my darlings anxiety. A big thank you to my brother in law Beau for being an enormous help financially.
We have had to cancel our proposed weekend and annual trip to Hawker for the races, due to the uncertainty of funding. Then if things couldn't get any worse, we picked up a huge piece of glass in one of our back tyres on the car. Again a huge thank you to my long time friend Paul Childs for firstly fixing my valve on the motorbike tyre then fixing the car tyre so we can get it through to Thursday when we can buy two new tyres.
On top of all of this, we have been looking at other rental properties since our current Property Manager seems less than sympathetic to our financial woes, despite us having fixed, replaced and repaired most things ourselves and ultimately saved the owner well in excess $1500.
But as Doris Day once said "Que Sera Sera, what ever will be will be".
Hopefully we get the place over at Hectorville.
Until next time - Stay safe and may your God go with you
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Social Behaviour - PartII
Continuing on from my blog yesterday, I find it disturbing that many people conduct themselves in a manner that would make our Grand Parents cringe.
There are now so many people who are so downright rude it amazes me that noone has ever pulled them up on it. Then push into lines, despite others in a queue that have been there before them. Then when they are challenged they either get aggressive or are genuinely shocked that someone dare tell them that they are wrong.
This is a direct result of the changed attitudes in our society that began changing in the mid 1980's as I mentioned in my earlier blog.
Almost daily I hear people at work whinging about everyone else or they feel compelled to humiliate another publicly as if its their right to do so. However, these same people are often mortified when the tables are turned and the focus of negativity is aimed squarely at them.
From a young age, there is nothing wrong with firm discipline. A tap to instill your displeasure at your youngsters behaviour is perfectly acceptable in my view. If you disagree and feel that a pleasant chat will suffice and that a medium smack is a form of abuse then you must study many species in the animal world of which we are a part of.
Study the parents of cats, dogs, monkeys etc etc and you will see that when the parent has had enough of their youngs behaviour they will use an element of force to show their displeasure. The force slowly increases until the unwanted behaviour ceases.
We (humans) are no different. Because of this anti-discipline culture of ours we now have 3 or 4 generations who simply do not know boundaries. Many people think it is their right to abuse others, steal others belongings, vandalise someone elses property and generally just do what they want and when they want to do it. Heaven forbid, someone should stand up to them, at which point and all too often hell breaks loose.
Just look around suburbia and on public transport. There is hardly a wall, fence, sign, post, window and even trees that have not been covered in meaningless grafitti. I cast my mind back to when I was at school in the 1970's and early 80's, never did myself or my friends even contemplate vandalising someone else's property. It never even entered our heads. In about 1983, one girl in our class thought it funny to scribble on the floor of the bus. Her happiness soon turned to shame because the rest of us thought she was stupid for doing it and more importantly thinking of it.
What do these people get out of scribbling a tag on a tree, sign, fence or post and then scratching the same garbage into a window? What sense of fulfillment do they get? The answer is none! They do not have respect for themselves let alone for others and their property.
Back when I was growing up, it was the simply fact of fear of consequences. Consequences from the law and more importantly consequences from my parents. Sadly, these days people do not fear consequences from anyone, because largely there are none. Civil libitarians go into bat for people who continually do the wrong things as apperently they have rights!! Well, what about the rights of the person/s who was assualted or property vandalised? The civil libatarians have no comment on this issue.
I firmly believe that if we need to build more prisons for people who do the wrong thing, then so be it. We could keep our costs down by operating our prisons like the one in Maricopa County in the U.S where it is practically self sufficient. Make prisoners work. Chain gangs, work groups. Building roads and property maintenance just to name a couple of tasks easily outsourced to this burgeoning labour force.
Anyway, thats my view.
Until next time - May your God go with you
There are now so many people who are so downright rude it amazes me that noone has ever pulled them up on it. Then push into lines, despite others in a queue that have been there before them. Then when they are challenged they either get aggressive or are genuinely shocked that someone dare tell them that they are wrong.
This is a direct result of the changed attitudes in our society that began changing in the mid 1980's as I mentioned in my earlier blog.
Almost daily I hear people at work whinging about everyone else or they feel compelled to humiliate another publicly as if its their right to do so. However, these same people are often mortified when the tables are turned and the focus of negativity is aimed squarely at them.
From a young age, there is nothing wrong with firm discipline. A tap to instill your displeasure at your youngsters behaviour is perfectly acceptable in my view. If you disagree and feel that a pleasant chat will suffice and that a medium smack is a form of abuse then you must study many species in the animal world of which we are a part of.
Study the parents of cats, dogs, monkeys etc etc and you will see that when the parent has had enough of their youngs behaviour they will use an element of force to show their displeasure. The force slowly increases until the unwanted behaviour ceases.
We (humans) are no different. Because of this anti-discipline culture of ours we now have 3 or 4 generations who simply do not know boundaries. Many people think it is their right to abuse others, steal others belongings, vandalise someone elses property and generally just do what they want and when they want to do it. Heaven forbid, someone should stand up to them, at which point and all too often hell breaks loose.
Just look around suburbia and on public transport. There is hardly a wall, fence, sign, post, window and even trees that have not been covered in meaningless grafitti. I cast my mind back to when I was at school in the 1970's and early 80's, never did myself or my friends even contemplate vandalising someone else's property. It never even entered our heads. In about 1983, one girl in our class thought it funny to scribble on the floor of the bus. Her happiness soon turned to shame because the rest of us thought she was stupid for doing it and more importantly thinking of it.
What do these people get out of scribbling a tag on a tree, sign, fence or post and then scratching the same garbage into a window? What sense of fulfillment do they get? The answer is none! They do not have respect for themselves let alone for others and their property.
Back when I was growing up, it was the simply fact of fear of consequences. Consequences from the law and more importantly consequences from my parents. Sadly, these days people do not fear consequences from anyone, because largely there are none. Civil libitarians go into bat for people who continually do the wrong things as apperently they have rights!! Well, what about the rights of the person/s who was assualted or property vandalised? The civil libatarians have no comment on this issue.
I firmly believe that if we need to build more prisons for people who do the wrong thing, then so be it. We could keep our costs down by operating our prisons like the one in Maricopa County in the U.S where it is practically self sufficient. Make prisoners work. Chain gangs, work groups. Building roads and property maintenance just to name a couple of tasks easily outsourced to this burgeoning labour force.
Anyway, thats my view.
Until next time - May your God go with you
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Social Behaviour
Having spent the past 29 years working in the public transport industry I have had the priviledge of interacting with a diverse range of the population. On a daily basis I deal with adults, children, elderly, sick, frail, disabled, workers, unemployed, alcoholics, drug users, happy, sad and angry people and many others.
However, there has emerged over time one striking similarity between all of these groups and I call it the "ME" attitude. Most people these days are so self absorbed with themselves that they think (to coin a phrase) the world revolves around them.
These people conduct themselves throughout their daily lives with the attitude that they can do whatever they want, whenever they want and nothing or noone will tell them otherwise.
Take a minute and think about the last time you went for a drive through the City and suburbs. The number of people who continually flout the road rules astounds me. This is despite repeated campaigns from the Government and Police about the dangers of being on the road. Here are a list of the things I see on the roads daily:
They do this because they they have the mind set of NO SIGN WILL TELL ME WHAT TO DO. IF I WANT TO DO IT, THEN I WILL.
Sadly, social attitudes began changing in the mid 1980's with this lovey dovey attitude towards everyone and that let litttle Johnny and Mary-Ann do want they want because they will have a tantrum. I was brought up the opposite, where I respected the rules and if heaven forbid I cracked a tantrum I had zero chance of getting or doing whatever it was that I got told NO for.
We now have three generations who have come through this lovey dovey garbage, who have no respect for authority, no respect for rules, no respect for others and no respect for themselves.
I am happy in the knowledge that I at least am trying to teach my kids old fashioned values of respecting the law, respecting your peers, respecting your elders and respect yourself.
Till next time - Be Safe and my your God go with you.
However, there has emerged over time one striking similarity between all of these groups and I call it the "ME" attitude. Most people these days are so self absorbed with themselves that they think (to coin a phrase) the world revolves around them.
These people conduct themselves throughout their daily lives with the attitude that they can do whatever they want, whenever they want and nothing or noone will tell them otherwise.
Take a minute and think about the last time you went for a drive through the City and suburbs. The number of people who continually flout the road rules astounds me. This is despite repeated campaigns from the Government and Police about the dangers of being on the road. Here are a list of the things I see on the roads daily:
- Using mobile phones
- Speeding
- U-turn at traffic lights
- Illegally parked
- Queuing over intersections
- Speeding through school crossings
- Disobeying road signs like "No Left Turn"
- Not indicating
- Failing to Give Way
- Not getting out of the way of Emergency Vehicles
They do this because they they have the mind set of NO SIGN WILL TELL ME WHAT TO DO. IF I WANT TO DO IT, THEN I WILL.
Sadly, social attitudes began changing in the mid 1980's with this lovey dovey attitude towards everyone and that let litttle Johnny and Mary-Ann do want they want because they will have a tantrum. I was brought up the opposite, where I respected the rules and if heaven forbid I cracked a tantrum I had zero chance of getting or doing whatever it was that I got told NO for.
We now have three generations who have come through this lovey dovey garbage, who have no respect for authority, no respect for rules, no respect for others and no respect for themselves.
I am happy in the knowledge that I at least am trying to teach my kids old fashioned values of respecting the law, respecting your peers, respecting your elders and respect yourself.
Till next time - Be Safe and my your God go with you.
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