Nanny State?

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 23 Sep 2004, 13:21

Just out of interest - and this is nothing to do with the profanity-filter discussion, other than it gave me the idea! - is anyone else as irritated as I am with the way so many aspects of our lives are now monitored and 'advised upon', either by the government, or by self-styled 'experts'? I am tired of being told how certain foodstuffs are dangerous to my health, a certain way of life is not acceptable, the way I dress, furnish my house, even whether I clear out my attic, is not The Right Way, etc., etc. We are all going to end up as clones of a Perfect Citizen.

I know I don't have to take any notice of what I am told - yet! - but I still think there is too much 'advice' around.

Or is it just me being a grumpy, middle-aged person?

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 23 Sep 2004, 13:57

Jay wrote: I am tired of being told...a certain way of life is not acceptable

Amen to that, sister!
BB

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 23 Sep 2004, 14:15

Well, I'm glad it's not just me being middle-aged and grumpy, Bellybabe!

Britain used to be known as a nation of individualists

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 23 Sep 2004, 17:11

Jay wrote:Britain used to be known as a nation of individualists

By who?

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 23 Sep 2004, 17:47

Porty wrote:By who?

Furriners

(I said 'furriners', not 'furriers'

)

Seriously, it did used to be said by other nations. It's in history books and documents, and even the odd novel, but I can't give you chapter and verse at quarter to five in the evening, when I'm still at work, and should have been gone 45 minutes ago! I will look it up and let you know!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 23 Sep 2004, 18:04

I remember at School, everyone thinnking they were individuals. I think I was theonly one that didn't.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 23 Sep 2004, 20:53

I have heard of a workplace where one is (figuratively) knee deep in advice and nannying. Variously :

1) Health & Safety
2) Occupational Health
3) Health Promotion & Awareness
4) Investors In People
5) Employee Counselling

With the added value that 1) and 4) are regularly used by management simply as a tool to control staff.

The amount of expenditure on leaflets nobody reads is staggering - every piece of your body, at any stage in life, with whatever disorder may occur to it, is gleefully covered in its own glossy leaflet.

If I hear that someone will "appreciate" my "feedback" one more time, I think I shall take up glue-sniffing.

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 23 Sep 2004, 22:09

Dadaist wrote:With the added value that 1) and 4) are regularly used by management simply as a tool to control staff.

The amount of expenditure on leaflets nobody reads is staggering - every piece of your body, at any stage in life, with whatever disorder may occur to it, is gleefully covered in its own glossy leaflet.

If I hear that someone will "appreciate" my "feedback" one more time, I think I shall take up glue-sniffing.

Amen to that too. Does anybody actually feel that these leaflets/feedback/opinion counters are truly meant or perhaps are just produced by someone who want to say "look, I really do care - please like/promote/sponsor (delete as required) me".

Yes, I think we live too much in a nanny-state, and I also think the people 'nannying' are, in the main, doing it for the wrong reason.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 23 Sep 2004, 22:16

Sometimes I think that, in this workplace which I have heard about, the powers that be will only be happy once any given male has shared his problems, felt good about himself, drunk a fruit smoothie, walked to work, cycled home, eaten fruit, checked his prostate and testicles and had safe sex whilst giving blood to the light of an energy saving bulb.

Edit - I forgot flu vaccines. Must get me a flu vaccine.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 23 Sep 2004, 22:58

Dadaist wrote:If I hear that someone will "appreciate" my "feedback" one more time, I think I shall take up glue-sniffing.

A bit drastic there Dada old boy, but hey, if you ever do take up glue sniffing? I would appreciate your feedback.

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 23 Sep 2004, 23:14

Dadaist wrote:Sometimes I think that, in this workplace which I have heard about, the powers that be will only be happy once any given male has shared his problems, felt good about himself, drunk a fruit smoothie, walked to work, cycled home, eaten fruit, checked his prostate and testicles and had safe sex whilst giving blood to the light of an energy saving bulb.

Edit - I forgot flu vaccines. Must get me a flu vaccine.

No gay men there then...just a bunch of bicycle thieves.

BTW am trying very hard NOT to picture having safe sex and giving blood at the same time under a light bulb that takes half an hour to get light!

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 07 Oct 2004, 09:43

The consensus of opinion seems to be that Yes, we do live in an interfering 'nanny state'. 54% said 'Yes, absolutely' and 27% said 'Yes, to some extent'. There was only 1 'No', and 1 'Does it matter?'.

However, as only 11 people voted, I'm not sure that this can be taken as reflecting the opinion of the Forum, far less the people of Portobello!

ras · Post by **ras** » 07 Oct 2004, 14:21

did i hear right, that kids now have to wear safety goggles when playing with their conkers?

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 07 Oct 2004, 14:30

That was at a school in Cumbria, I think - the head thought it was better than banning it. But it's been banned in other schools because of nut allergies, although the anaphylaxis people say it's not really a risk.

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3722810.stm
and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/3712764.stm.

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 07 Oct 2004, 14:42

I rest my case! What a load of conkers!

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

Nanny State?

Is there too much 'advice' and 'nannying'?

Nanny State?

Re: Nanny State?