Posts by Jackie Clark
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I know nothing about this case, except what I have read. But I've been there. When I was a young woman, in my first year in the UK, 1987, I was invited back to a boarding house for a drink, by a young man who had been frequenting the bar I worked in. I went with him, only to find myself in a dark room, surrounded by supposedly sleeping men, and with an increasing feeling of disquiet. When most of the men started getting out of their beds and approaching me, I started swearing and yelling at them to open the door (which they had locked). They did unlock the door, and I escaped. I wish I had reported them to the police. I didn't, because I felt very naive for not thinking about the consequences of my going with this young man, and I still think it was pretty stupid. However, I also know that I went with this young man, genuinely thinking that I was going to spend time with him, alone, having a quiet drink. I was not expecting what happened to happen. And I imagine the young woman around whom this story revolves, would not have expected anything bad to happen either. I don't know what happened to this young woman - but whatever it was, I have to assume that she found herself in a situation she didn't want to be in anymore. Just like I did. And I don't believe she deserves the contempt being heaped upon her. 18 is very, very young. Too young, perhaps, to know that people are not always what they seem. One would think that someone in that group would have, at the very least, felt some moral obligation, and tried to keep her safe.
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I have to say, though, Matthew, that people are generally afraid of those big police dogs. I have no knowledge of tasers or guns, but I have seen police dogs in action. And they seem to be very, very effective.
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I am firmly against extending police powers and surveillance but totally in favour of spending large sums on more cops on the beat
I'd vote for that one.
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I guess I reclaimed the night by never giving it up, rather than spending one night marching in a large loud whistle-equipped group.
Well, quite. I used to walk home alone from town at night/early morning all the time in my early twenties. And then I moved to the UK. I must admit that I always felt far safer walking down the main roads in London at 2am than I ever did walking down the dark end of K Rd or Ponsonby Rd. Albert Park felt safe to me, until the night I was jumped on. Once again, my foul mouth came to the rescue. Funny how people who are about to violate you can't stand the word "fuck" coming out of your mouth. It wasn't the first time I ever used it, and it wasn't to be the last. Now? I've been in too many hairy situations in my 20's to bother all these years later with putting myself in the way of anything so bothersome.
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What is it with random violence? I remember marching many, many years ago to reclaim the night, for women. Perhaps we need to reclaim our streets? I, like Emma, am not keen on carrying anything dangerous, and I'm not good at screaming. When I'm frightened, it just doesn't happen. My defense mechanism has always been to have a very, very good grasp of obscene language. It's helped me in the past, I know. Now? I don't know. I very rarely walk anywhere by myself, and never at night. It's an interesting question to cogitate on.
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Well, yes, quite. I don't know about anyone else, but I have to say that I gave up, for the most part, deliberately trying to piss people off when I left my teen years.
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So, while I may be unpopular, I'm still right.
Gob. Smacked.
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Grant, I hate to break it to you. As evidenced by your comments in another thread, it's just really obvious that you have some sort of belief that everything in life is black and white. You even said that there are all sorts of views, most of which are generally wrong, one of which is right. Let me guess which one that would be? Yours, right? I don't know that you have any idea just how sanctimonious you are making yourself look with your comments. I find it breathtaking that you really believe that there is, generally, only ever one view that is right. Are you playing devil's advocate? Or are you really, really, that arrogant? Women request terminations for many, many reasons. Doctors carry out terminations for many, many reasons - and yes, some for medical reasons. It should be clear to you that this somewhat academic argument you have been having has been read by people who are personally invested in this issue. Who have had terminations. Who have tried to have children and cannot. Some of them have contributed to this discussion, and shared their experiences. This is not academic to these people. It is personal. You have the right to your opinions, but please remember, they are just that. Opinions.
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We should be intolerant of murderers, adulterers, thieves and liars
Depends on the circumstances, as others have so eloquently pointed out. I'm intolerant of the people who kill in cold blood. I'm not intolerant of those who kill in selfdefence. I'm intolerant of those who deliberately cheat time and time again. I'm not intolerant of people who have unhappy domestic situations and seek the right person to live their lives with, while they are still in a relationship. I'm intolerant of people who steal others' livelihoods and celebrate it. I'm tolerant of those who are hungry and in need, and the only way they can live is by nicking stuff. I'm intolerant of people who live their lives with deceit and dishonesty every day, in order to aggrandise themselves. I'm very tolerant of people telling little white lies to spare others' feelings. All very grey, isn't it? Life's like that. Well, for me, anyway. I feel sorry for people who are so black and white that they hold others and themselves to such excruciatingly high standards. It must be very hard to be so perfect.
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I'm so desperately sorry this happened, David. There is nothing one can say or do that make the death of a child better. I would imagine you wish there was. However, you have served Finlee and her family well with your beautiful words. Bearing witness is so important. I believe that's what the traditional scribes did, and you follow in that tradition in a very fine manner.