The Gloomists

[jigsawpig]

It is evident, from the comments people have made in response to my occasional posts on social issues, that my generally optimistic view on the current state of the world, and my belief that people are by nature tolerant and friendly, are generally regarded as being foolishly, and possibly dangerously, naive. This really puzzles me, since I cannot

Comments

Not Gloomy, just realistic

[chessiegirl]

take note with this website: We have 4-5 times the crime rate you have in the UK. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_tot_cri-crime-total-crimes

and this from Wikipedia:

According to the FBI, Flint has one of the highest crime rates in Michigan (5538 incidents/100,000 residents), and in 2004 the second highest violent crime rate in the United States. Flint was recently named as the fourth most dangerous city in the United States in an evaluation by Morgan Quitno Press.

Also, I see that your town ranks lower than your national average in most crimes except vehicle theft.

Re: Not Gloomy, just realistic

[jigsawpig]

Yes, we are a lawless community, here by the sea, I eavesdropped on a conversation last week between a group of Worthing bus drivers, comparing notes on their experiences. "You know what its like, you're stopped waiting to turn, and there's a car opposite you at the junction. Now, there's two options. Either its some 100 year old codger and his wife, who won't come out if he can even see another car anywhere at all on the road, not that he can see properly in the first place, or its some boy racer, in a car he's probably nicked anyway, who is just going to come straight out as fast as he can, regardless

Re: Not Gloomy, just realistic

[prodnose]

It is not true that this phenomenon you describe is based upon Inherent Niceness. It is in fact a practical Life Strategy known as Reciprocal Altruism and is a well documented component of all societies, including those of Baboons. Good behaviour is rewarded by good behaviour, bad behaviour by exclusion and punishment. It works in most places, except, of course in Somalia where Aid Workers are regularly molested, robbed and murdered.

Re: Not Gloomy, just realistic

[jigsawpig]

Hmmm, and on what basis, apart from the fact that it is coincidentally advantageous, do people identify this characteristic as being a cynical strategy, rather than simply part of human nature? I prefer my Inherent Niceness theory.

Somalia, I agree, presents something of a problem, as does the Sudan, but then again, people are weak and suggestible, and if encouraged to wanton pillage and genocide, they will usually go along with the idea. Perhaps I should modify the name of my theory to 'Nice But Dim'.

[anonymous]

i think you may well be right. I know that I am always strangely relieved to discover that a single serial killer has disposed of 30 or more victims because that means there was only one deviant out there (now thankfully in jail) rather than 30 separate killers.
also it costs less to house one person at HM pleasure and i pay less in tax.

[jigsawpig]

I would bear in mind that captured serial killers have a tendency to exaggerate their accomplishments.

[anonymous]

i think you are thinking of cereal killers, like Ian Botham.