Brits Leaving UK In Droves.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by David Brent Yes but Steve, wasn't it you who repeatedly told us all that you cannot believe everything you read in the papers - especially "official" figures? Why do you believe these figures in a free "local" paper against all other reports that violent crime is on the increase in the UK? Dave.

Because I checked them on the Metropolitan Police's web site

I think I usually say "Don't believe what you read in the newspapers - until or unless you've checked it elsewhere with a source that you trust"

Steve

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by David Brent Talking of figures and newspapers. In a recent survey conducted by Steve's "favourite" newspaper 'The Sun', over 95,000 people (99% of the vote) voted to bring back hanging in the UK. Dave.

I'd be tempted to vote for a culling (although hanging's too good for 'em) of all Sun readers - and the people that publish it

These newspapers all run this sort of vote quite regularly. They don't care what the results are, the results will never change their stance. They are only interested in the revenue from the premium rate phone or text lines that they get people to use to "Make their voice heard".

95,000 people voting? That's a tidy sum earned at 50p or £1 per vote.

And then the best bit is when GMTV or some organisation like that is found to have been "pre-empting" the results of a vote or prize draw, the newspapers are the first to say how terrible it all is.

It's the hypocrisy that I dislike even more than the lies they tell.
Like the Daily & Sunday Express running editorials about the horrors of the sex trade - and at the same time running ads for text and chat lines run by Television X. And of course they have to run those ads, because The Express and Television X are both owned by Richard "Dirty Des" Desmond.

Steve

[Marky B]

I'd be tempted to vote for a culling (although hanging's too good for 'em) of all Sun readers - and the people that publish it
Steve

Thank you.

In fact the Sun does not support the death penalty,like me,but it supports tougher jail sentences for murderers. Thankfully,Steven Wright won't (hopefully) see the outside of a jail wall ever again,nor will that bastard who murdered - then raped - the young model,Sally Ann Bowman. As for the scum who killed Gary Newlove ,shouldn't see daylight again and have nothing but Hell to look forward to.
Mark
Who also reads Daily Mail,Daily Express,Daily Mirror,The Hartlepool Mail,The Northern Echo,Teesside Evening Gazette,The Sunday Post.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Marky B Thankfully,Steven Wright won't (hopefully) see the outside of a jail wall ever again,nor will that bastard who murdered - then raped - the young model,Sally Ann Bowman. As for the scum who killed Gary Newlove ,shouldn't see daylight again and have nothing but Hell to look forward to. Mark

You may wish it on him, but unless he's of a religious nature then Hell won't particularly worry him. Eternal damnation isn't a universal concept, even amongst the major religions

Steve

[Marky B]

You'd be pleased to know,Steve,despite being a Sun reader,I haven't being culled.
Ta Ta
Marky B

[Freddie Freeloader]

Originally Posted by Marky B Mark ............reads Daily Mail,Daily Express,Daily Mirror,The Hartlepool Mail,The Northern Echo,Teesside Evening Gazette,The Sunday Post.

What a well-read, literary chap you are!

[batman]

I don't read newspapers much .... but I do love the new Transformers comic!

[Marky B]

Originally Posted by Freddie Freeloader What a well-read, literary chap you are!

Why thank you,Freddie. I am also into Empire,Film Review,Dalesman,County Walking,Country File,Whitby Gazette etc
Ta Ta
Marky B

[homeguard]

Dig out Peter Medak's film about the hanging of Derek Bentley in 1952. Wherever he is, heaven or hell, I hope he finds some satisfaction at the fact he was pardoned in 1998. I have never seen a better reason for keeping hanging a thing of the past. You can't bring 'em back.
Regards,
HG

[BristolUK]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook Bad news for everyone who is sure the country's going to the dogs, isn't the same as when they were young or who has emigrated and revels in bad-news stories from the old country to justify their decision to leave.

Crime stats have shown crime to be generally reducing for quite some time now.

While one or two people have a perception that crime has been increasing, most of us who think things are worse or not like they were when we were young actually look at the nature of the crime....or the non crime but unpleasantness or bad attitudes.

Like that attack on the diabled person while someone filmed it on their mobile. Or the piles of vomit needed to be avoided when walking. The abuse one gets (or worse) when telling someone to stop the vandalism, whereas not too long ago the vandals would have run off.

For me, my decision to leave was solely because I met someone from Canada and married her. But in the years leading to that, I know I had to avoid vomit and the glass from vandalised bus shelters and phone boxes etc far more often than previously.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by BristolUK Crime stats have shown crime to be generally reducing for quite some time now. While one or two people have a perception that crime has been increasing, most of us who think things are worse or not like they were when we were young actually look at the nature of the crime....or the non crime but unpleasantness or bad attitudes. Like that attack on the diabled person while someone filmed it on their mobile. Or the piles of vomit needed to be avoided when walking. The abuse one gets (or worse) when telling someone to stop the vandalism, whereas not too long ago the vandals would have run off. For me, my decision to leave was solely because I met someone from Canada and married her. But in the years leading to that, I know I had to avoid vomit and the glass from vandalised bus shelters and phone boxes etc far more often than previously.

If you look for the worst about any country, I'm sure you'll find it.

But if you look for the best, then I'm sure you'll find that as well

There's no point in comparing the terrible things a few individuals do, be it filming an attack on a disabled person or putting a dead body in a hockey bag (Thomas Svekla, Fort Saskatchewan) or vandals spraying racist slogans over an Edmonton election poster. These aren't the normal or average people that we judge society by. They are the exceptions, but sadly they can be found everywhere.

Steve

[Jackdaw]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook Because I checked them on the Metropolitan Police's web site I think I usually say "Don't believe what you read in the newspapers - until or unless you've checked it elsewhere with a source that you trust" Steve

Steve, I always thought you were a fellow cynic!
Why would anyone believe in figures published by an interested party?

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Jackdaw Steve, I always thought you were a fellow cynic! Why would anyone believe in figures published by an interested party?

But is it in the Police's interest to show a fall in crime figures? Surely it's to their advantage to see an increase in crime figures. Then it'll be easier for them to get more budget for more people and equipment.

Is that cynical enough?

Steve

[BristolUK]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook If you look for the worst about any country, I'm sure you'll find it. But if you look for the best, then I'm sure you'll find that as well. There's no point in comparing the terrible things a few individuals do....These aren't the normal or average people that we judge society by. They are the exceptions, but sadly they can be found everywhere.

All very true. But that doesn't mean that the 'worst' today is the same as the 'worst' yesterday.

Get involved in trying to stop something now and you are more likely to suffer abuse or worse than if you tried years ago.

You're more likely to be victim of a drug related crime now than before.

I live in the city of Moncton. From wiki - "Moncton is the most populous census metropolitan area in New Brunswick with a population of 126,424."

The newspaper here has been reporting a 'crime wave' over the last few weeks. People have been going into the laundry rooms in apartment buildings and taking coins from the coin operated machines there.

Oh...they caught a man and these thefts have halved.

That's the kind of crime wave I'd expect to make the news in a sleepy little town like Bradford on Avon.

[BristolUK]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook But is it in the Police's interest to show a fall in crime figures? Surely it's to their advantage to see an increase in crime figures. Then it'll be easier for them to get more budget for more people and equipment. Is that cynical enough? Steve

Of course the equally cynical but opposite view would be "haven't we done well...now, about that 15% pay rise...."