What now there has to be a policeman on every street corner to stop someone who they might consider to be a vandal.
I didn't realise that you wanted to live in a police state - I could recommend some where you could stay - ask nicely and we might have a whip round for the airfare :)
Edited by hxj on 31/12/2008 at 15:46
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I was watching a programme on the Stasi the other night... they and their informants would be perfect for solving those sorts of crimes, MrX, but you'd also have to accept all the other shortcomings of the old East German Secret Police as well, mind! ;)
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I didn't realise that you wanted to live in a police state - I could recommend some where you could stay - ask nicely and we might have a whip round for the airfare :)
Singapore fits the bill rather well, by all accounts. Draconian punishments for even minor offences like dropping litter, never mind vandalism.
Of course, people can also be locked up for the slightest criticism of the authorities, and if you are foolish enough to elect an MP who doesn't support the govt, your area loses all govt spending.
If Mr X wants to move, I'll chip in for the whip around. :)
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Say what you like about Vlad the Impaler but there was no crime when he was in charge.
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Say what you like about Vlad the Impaler but there was no crime when he was in charge.
of course there was - he wasn't called "Vlad the Unemployed"
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of course there was - he wasn't called "Vlad the Unemployed"
I just spent an hour sweeping up broken glass from last night's "celebrations", are you sure impaling's a crime? ;oP
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.. resources certainly exist to counter certain transgressions of the law whilst they seem in short supply to deal with others.
One generates revenue, the other consumes taxpayers money [Do you know how much it costs to process a criminal from arrest to court to sentence - exclude jail, as the cost of keeping them in jail for a night is greater than the cost of a night in a posh hotel, eg. a night in Paris Hilton ]. ;-)
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Actually one is a civil offence (At least on most places now). The other a criminal one.
In fact the local street wardens have been so effective they don't actually collect much money nowadays - they've even started to challenge those parking in disabled parking spaces.
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Hang on, does the term 'lynching' ring any bells with anyone here.
As far as i knew this is a motoring forum that anyone can freely contribute to as long as they abide by the rules.
I don't always agree with some posters here, but this playground sniping from supposedly grown up and intelligent people is unpleasant to say the least.
Maybe you'd like to direct some of the flak at me now for raising an objection to what i consider forum bullying.
Edited by gordonbennet on 31/12/2008 at 16:23
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Fair comment from Gordonbennett, but the original post suggests a link between lack of arrests for criminal damage (not a motoring matter, a crime one, and a very tenuous link to paying the government for the privilege of using a car) and local authority parking enforcement. I can't see the link. To suggest resources in one arena, at the deficit of another is perhaps justifiable but the local authority do not set Policing numbers, or for that matter, priorities. Author of the original post might ask the local station what their priorities are, and then ask what level of Policing exists in his area. One will inform the other since there are not enough cops to have 'patrolling' for the sake of it, at the expense of areas suffering higher crime. If the damage problem persists, local plod will have to do something. If nothing else, they will not want the crime figures. On another practical level, is the author a member of a neighbourhood watch?, residents association? Spreading the word and getting the community more aware can help, not only with this problem but any future ones. One thing is almost sure - local person(s) responsible. people don't travel to commit this sort of crime.
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I don't always agree with some posters here but this playground sniping from supposedly grown up and intelligent people is unpleasant to say the least. Maybe you'd like to direct some of the flak at me now for raising an objection to what i consider forum bullying.
Well said GB!
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Wise words GB.
I remember at primary school, there was a boy who didn't quite fit in. I didn't especially like him myself. But what offended my childish sensibilities even then was the way some of the other kids would surround him chanting and taunting him at every opportunity.
You see the same behaviour on wildlife programmes with troupes of monkeys.
I come to this site for entertainment and information. I come to relax and chat to others with a shared interest, to share an experience, maybe a joke or two, to learn something more about ouir chosen interest.
This particular thread fulfills none of those criteria. A nastiness has crept in recently, a sense that some are here to argue for the sake of having an argument.
I don't like it.
Happy New Year to all by the way.
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I come to this site for entertainment and information. I come to relax and chat to others with a shared interest, to share an experience, maybe a joke or two, to learn something more about ouir chosen interest.
HB: Shame on you, oh, why can't you be more like Mr. Angry? He does cheer everyone up, including me, Altea Ego, and NowWheels.
Edited by jbif on 31/12/2008 at 17:03
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HB: Shame on you oh why can't you be more like Mr. Angry? He does cheer everyone up including me Altea Ego and NowWheels.
Did you not know? Mr X is my "straight man" My alter ego as it were. I think we make a good team.
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I came here to discuss motoring issues. Yet it would seem that only certain types of motoring issues may be discussed and that precludes any of those issues that look at the more unpleasant aspects of motoring in the UK today.
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Though I've read a lot of posts made by and referring to a certain BR member I've refrained from commenting myself, apart from one rather oblique remark. HB's comments seem fair enough on the face of it, but I think he paints an extreme picture of an innocent child bullied without justification.
The posts that offend many people do have a certain flavour to them - think Eeyore crossed with Jimmy Porter.
The one thing that both Mr X and his critics share is a failure of their sense of humour and their sense of porportion. To put it more bluntly, people on both sides are getting steamed up about very little and look more than a bit ridiculous.
A moderator might do us all a favour by deleting the entire thread.
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The one thing that both Mr X and his critics share is a failure of their sense of humour and their sense of porportion. To put it more bluntly, people on both sides are getting steamed up about very little and look more than a bit ridiculous.
The only steam I see here is the steam emanating from some people who have managed who profess themselves horrified at those who have poked fun at Mr X's endless state of indignation about nearly everything.
He puts on a great comedy act, and it's a pity that some people don't want to enjoy that.
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Maybe you'd like to direct some of the flak at me now ...
grodonbennet: If you want that to happen, you will have to emulate Mr. Angry. [Is there any thread/subject where Mr. Angry has shown that he is happy, pleased, cheerful, not anti-Police, etc. etc. ? If so, please point one out. ]
Be happy, don't worry, be happy. :-)
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MrX - I gave you a sensible response. I see no reason why you shouldn't raise the issue and question Police activity. Some of the responses are perhaps unfairly worded but do make a point. How about responding to those points?
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Because such responses would break the rule regarding ' politics " and I have no intention of being goaded in to breaking the forums rules.
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I've just quickly scanned some of the points made to you, and again my own, to which you could respond without touching on politics. Points about: evidencing an increase in vandalism in the uk, your own community action/participation, questioning local Police as to their action and ongoing enquiry and level of officers in your area etc..
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Mr x had a point about the resources given to traffic wardens vs policing
Overstay by 5 mins on a meter in London and you will have a ticket, the 'offence' will be photographed and if you have the effrontery to give the warden some gip that conversation will be recorded and maybe given in evidence against you if the council decides to prosecute you for 'threatening behaviour'
On the other hand the police sometimes do not even bother visiting you if you report what I call a proper crime, and if they do its a wait of hours or days
Priorities wrong? I think so
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That's probably because the parking wardens are employed in great numbers, by a private company, to focus on one issue.
As for the Police, I used to supervise a shift of six (assuming they were all available) to Police 500 square miles. Of course we had to be social workers, parents, marriage guidance councillors, animal experts, tourist information and if we were really lucky, we found time to deal with crime.
Edited by midlifecrisis on 31/12/2008 at 18:55
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The chances of being a victim of this type of crime have a lot more to do with postcode than decade.
Where I lived in the late 90s, I had three incidents of my car being keyed, one of which involved a broken tail light and a mangled rear wiper arm. Neighbours all had similar problems. Where I live now, nothing like this happens, ever (touch wood).
In London, and I suspect other big cities, this is not even on the police radar. Here's your crime reference number, sir and will be in touch. If you're lucky you get a standard mailer through the door a week later with a number offering counselling.
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'Lynching' - is unfair tis only a bit of the olde fashioned ende of yeare troll baiting contest - not sure whom is winninge yete! Maybe we shoulde have a vote on it.
Used to be a big sport in them there old days - he's now an injured troll - bleating about howe decente and honeste he is - but as my greate greate greate greate ......... greate grandfathere usede to saye "Beware me lade a troll is alwayse a troll"
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DP and Midlifecrisis - who do you blame for the sorry state of affairs you describe?
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DP and Midlifecrisis - who do you blame for the sorry state of affairs you describe?
amongst others the free loading and empire building jobsworths who have just spent milions on creating the new jobsworth army of 'civil enforcement officers'.....what was wrong with the old much despised admittedly term of traffic warden? they do love a title don't they?
with new uniforms, baseball caps and lots and lots of new powers to harrass and generally deplenish the wallets of us hard earning mortals who actually pay their wages
there might be a more spied upon, taxed, abused by petty jack booted little Hitler type group of people on planet than us Brits but I doubt it......... :-)
PS hope you had a merry christmas and best wishes for the new year! traffic wardens excepted
Edited by malden blue on 31/12/2008 at 19:43
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...DP and Midlifecrisis - who do you blame for the sorry state of affairs you describe?....
Mr X, probably - he gets the blame for everything else.
And hxj, could you explain why someone whose opinion differs from your own must be ridiculed as per your last post?
Edited by ifithelps on 31/12/2008 at 19:41
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MB, I have nothing but thanks to our new traffic wardens, or whatever they are called these days, they allow me to pop into town with a better than even chance of finding a space... and as I understand it what they do is allowing Police to get on with sorting out other crimes rather than dealing with stupid motorists who can't read and obey parking signs... long may they continue...
On a simlar note, as MrX thinks that its something new us motorists being picked on I attach the following quotes from a magazine I've been reading...
"It is a well known fact that motorists cause road accidents... Read court reports... Listen to any town hall debates..."
"The Greater London Council wants to cut the amount of parking space... by 40%"
"The councillors have decided to clamp down on selfish motorists"
"I am getting tired of being pushed around by jumped up jackanapes(!) simply because I'm a motorist"
"Whats so wrong about being a car owner that we must be so heavily penalised"...
Think you'd be proud of that lot, X!
BTW it was from Harry Loftus's "Top Gear" section in a 1974 edition of Car Mechanics!!
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Everyone has a right to an opinion and everyone else has the right to ridicule them for that opinion.
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Yes, you have the right to, if you want to put it that way. But, it doesn't make this a pleasant place to be or to moderate.
GB makes a good point further up the thread. If you disagree with someone there are better ways to make a point than sinking to the level of personal insults and such emotive terms. It's starting to look a bit like oneupmanship, if I'm honest, and over the years I've come to think of this place as a place for a bit more grown up debate than that.
If you were in a pub with someone who kept making what you felt were ridiculous claims or exagerations, you wouldn't waste your energy (or at least, I wouldn't) on continuously responding to them and goading them on - you'd just move away and chat to someone else, wouldn't you? It's easy to see who's started a thread here, that's all I'm saying.
How about a bit of healthy, but friendly, debate for 2009, instead of all this bickering and sniping?
Thanks... PG
I am locking this, because of what it became... however, if you think there is more to say about the original topic... feel free to start a new thread.
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