by Adam McCulloch
David Cameron wants us to chastise other people’s children, when necessary, in public. The reaction from many can be summarised as “What? Doesn’t he realise we’ll all be murdered? These kids – and their dodgy parents – have got guns now!”
Just look at the comments that follow The Times’s account of Cameron’s statement.
This is hysterical nonsense – although The Times does list some well known recent cases where people have been killed in the most trivial of circumstances. But, as my colleague Keith Hassell points out, these incredibly disturbing incidents make an impact in people’s minds that far outweighs their likelihood. Just as car accidents don’t put us off driving, neither should a casual murder put us off asking someone to play their music a little quieter.
I was embarrassed!
My kids have been told off, in my presence, by complete strangers on several occasions. I can’t pretend I didn’t find the experiences galling… particularly as the accuser wasn’t always in the right. I do recall some embarrassment at letting them run around a public library and being taken to task by an elderly man who hissed at me “This isn’t the first time either!”. He was right, but I was carrying a pile of books at the time and wasn’t manoeuvrable enough to keep up with the boys.
Kids yelled at
My friend Andy recalls feeling grateful when a stranger on a train yelled at his kids to keep quiet and stop running around. Andy had had enough of telling his kids off – and I know the feeling: it makes you feel like such a bore, so having a stranger do your dirty work can be something of a relief, and the kids automatically take it a bit more seriously.
Is Cameron on the right track here? Have you been embarrassed by your kids’ behaviour in public?
Comments (2)
David Camron coems from an elite background and as such has no real understanding of everyday family issues .
He is totally lacking in substance ; thinks that his bullying tactics are the way forward (this comes from his elitist background)and in general terms his only thoughts are for the people of his elk i.e Conservitives
He juts not think through any Policy and makes outragous gestures on how to mange the economy when it is very clear that the funding of the outragous gestures have not been evidenced by Financial expertise .
Long live Labour
Posted by Mary Thorpe | February 8, 2008 8:50 AM
Posted on February 8, 2008 08:50
Let kids be kids. 99% of the time there's no need to tell anybody off. but Cameron likes the headlines and needs them. it's a bit weird to tell off stranger's kids isnt'it? inviting trouble...unless they are doing something that will affect their own safety or that of oters.
Posted by charlie forster | February 12, 2008 11:30 PM
Posted on February 12, 2008 23:30