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:

• 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

Plus many many more.  These people (and they are now in the majority) come from all walks of life, young, middle aged, old, male, female etc etc.  Take the "No Left Turn" sign for example.  There is a street that runs off of Currie Street, called Clarendon Street.  This is used by many buses throughout the day to turn left onto Currie Street and head in an Easterly direction.  However, when on Currie Street there is a clear 'No Left Turn' sign into Clarendon Street and an island that encroaches halfway across Clarendon Street.  Yet, despite this many people simply turn left, then give the finger to anyone who dares point out the error of their ways.

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.