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Solution to knife crime teach em Latin or Greek:



Should go down a treat in da hood !laugh!

I don't think Boris is seriously suggesting that learing Latin or Greek in itself is going to stop knife crime - but I think you know that really, Andy !wink!.

You've just cherry-picked that snippet from Boris' wider proposals suggesting that a broader education (including languages) is a good thing (which few sane folk would deny) and that youngsters should be given more facilities including things like boxing academies to occupy themselves and to let off steam.

But funnily enough, Boris is actually right in saying that Latin definitely DOES help in the learning of other (i.e. the modern Romance) languages - and as a linguist myself (I work as a freelance translator / interpreter, having studied German and Italian at university and I also O-level Latin and A-level French at school) I know what I'm talking about on this particular issue.

Languages of course are one key area that have suffered under Labour's constant tinkering with and dumbing-down of the UK's education system, as they've introduced mickey-mouse subjects and made exams virtually impossible to fail in their single-minded, politically-correct pursuit of "prizes for all" - and in the process have made the UK's education system a laughing stock that every year churns out teenagers by the terms of thousands who in many cases lack even the basic grammatical and arithmetical skills that would have been taken for granted just 15 or 20 years ago.

So (even leaving aside the crime issue) any proposal to shore up and improve standards in a moribund and decrepit education system can only be a good thing.

- Eric

Johnson wants these young people to investigate what sociologists would call 'legitimate opportunity structures' in terms of which education is key. The kids who are drawn to gangs tend to come from cultures which do not share these values, and crime is a response to disadvantage and the most realistic means by which their aspirations can be satisfied now rather than in the future.

Johnson should be more honest in recognising his task is to manage the problem. I don't think politics and social policy can solve the problem unless it impacts significantly on inequality and disadvantage and this costs money, it requires the advantaged to concede some of their advantages, and so it's politically unpopular and tends not to happen.

The problem that many of these young people have is that they have little chance to succeed and to 'win' by conventional means. Contrast this with Boris Johnson for whom there was never any doubt that he'd win and win big ... isn't that what Eton does for you ?

>isn't that what Eton does for you ?

Yes, some people DO have an advantage in life (Prince Charles, his children etc)

But plenty of people succeed who did not go to Eton, or have rich parents.

Alan Sugar did not go to Eton, nor did Tony Blair, Linford Christie, Elton John, Trevor McDonald and so on.

It IS possible to succeed if you are poor, or black, or both.

Of course for some it is just earier to sell drugs and stab anybody who gets in your way.

p.s. no doubt Alan Sugar's children have some advantages in life, but of course it is easier to slag of people who go to Eton.

"it requires the advantaged to concede some of their advantages,"

Jonone, this is what I've always been saying - the strong, fit, intelligent, charismatic, etc, should concede these inherent advantages to me. It's just not fair that I'm not as smart as Einstein, or as strong as Mike Tyson or even as good looking as Piers Brosnan. If the gods of DNA had blessed me with these attributes success in life would be all but assured and everything would be peachy. It's not fair I say!

But on a practical note ? I can?t see what type of mechanism would facilitate the transfer of these desirable traits to ones who were more deserving - like my good self of course.





Officer Dibble

Of course it's possible to succeed, and many do. The odds can be much longer though and some people don't like long odds, hence as you point out they look for a fast-tracked route to 'success' via crime. You can't deny it's easier but it's also more violent and anti-social with a much greater liklihood of tragic consequences.

I'm not slagging Boris per se but what i'm suggesting is that his perspectives on life are limited. You can't say he's 'out of touch' because my point is rather that he's never been 'in touch'.

Neither do I see Dibble. There isn't a mechanism that can deliver equality, but leaving things to polarize isn't a solution either.

Btw ... what's the story with the 'Officer Dibble' moniker ? Dibble was a kind of hapless wannabe tough guy who was given the runaround by a gang of cats, whereas your approach to law enforcement is more akin to Judge Dredd. Perhaps you started out as Dibble and your attitudes hardened ?

Back in days of yore I used many monikers - often to suit my mood or better convey the particular points I was making. For instance, if I was selling or promoting something I would revert to my alter ego of 'P R Mann'. But if I was of a mind to cause mischief, then sit back tittering, I might be 'Mephistopheles' (Lord of the Lower Depths). But Officer Dibble was my general proposes moniker. The name that most people came to know me by, so I guess it stuck. Of course it also kinda reflects the complexity of my character and throws my earnest, starchy, opponents off balance.

For instance, if I come across all Peter Hitchens while glorying in the name of a frivolous children?s cartoon character it tends to psyche my enemies out. They don?t know how to take me, or where I?m coming from. Throws ?em off balance. The fear of the unknown and all that.

Besides, Officer Dibble had a big truncheon. So what chap in his right mind wouldn?t want to be him?




Officer Dibble

I had always thought that the Officer's nom-de-plume was a reference to the compliment paid to blokes who were particularly successful with the opposite sex, i.e. 'He's seen more pussy than Officer Dibble'.

You know, Cats (T.C. and his gang) = pussies, you get the picture...of course, our Dibble is a different proposition entirely. A brief perusal of his website leads me to believe he has his cartoon namesake trumped when it comes to pussies seen.

But back on topic, I think this is a brilliant scheme Boris is proposing...nobody educated enough to read and speak Latin has ever stabbed anyone.

"Et tu, Brute?"

Flat_Eric wrote:


> You've just cherry-picked that snippet from Boris'

You mean a bit like you and Dibbs etc have done with your posts and quotes Eric !laugh!

Here's another Whoops- a-daisy, this time by Caroline Spelman:



If you want to play politics by media it works both ways, it bores the arse off me frankly especially when Green Dave said he was going to put and end to it and Punch and Judy politics.