Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Is British society more selfish today?

Today this article on the BBC website tells us about a man who died in Essex when his dog pulled him out suddenly onto a road causing a collision with a car. The driver was more concerned it appears to get the mans details after his pet's lead caused damage to her vehicle. The man, in his 60s, went home but began feeling unwell and died later in hospital from a head injury.

Separately Bill Bryson is bringing out his new book about UK life called the Road to Little Dribbling. This is 20 years after his last book on the UK, Notes from a Small Island. In a recent interview Bryson said;

''The UK had become a greedier and sometimes less polite place - a more ''screw you Jack'' society. If you went into a bar 20 years ago everyone would know who was next to be served. No one would dream of being served before the guy next to you if he was first. Now, it's very much every man for himself ''.

Here on HOL we have a new discussion about a homeless person where the person posting said, I am a compassionate person (or at least I'd like to think so) but I do not want to have to encounter this supposedly homeless petson's little encampment on my journey to and from work every day.

Is the UK a more selfish society in general than say 20 years ago? If so what has caused this change?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on October 1, 2015 at 10:58

Oh how I wish that were true. Unfortunately the housing revenue account is ring fenced so they can't use "windfall" income like parking fines.

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Permalink Reply by Abi on October 1, 2015 at 11:20

Do we know the equivalent figure for Haringey, out of interest?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on October 1, 2015 at 12:18

64m on all work. Of that 38m was spend on bringing properties up to the decent homes standard

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Permalink Reply by Abi on October 1, 2015 at 11:22

No one would dream of being served before the guy next to you if he was first. Now, it's very much every man for himself

'Man' being the operative word here, because as every women who's ever set foot in a bar knows, nobody wants to serve us. And if a man is standing next to you, you can bet your last dollar he'll be served first.

Not dissing Bryson btw, he's one of my favourite writers. I just think this is yet another example of thoughtlessness...