Wednesday, October 06, 2004
The Good Old Days Part ONE
Ah yes, back when I was in the army spoons and yard brushes had much different uses...
I think it's about time I started having a wee go at the whole "good old days" myth that constantly pops up in our society.
I have no doubt that certain things were much better in the past. Relationships with next door neighbours, less traffic, less urban sprawl, the existence of Georgie Pie etc.
But there are many, many things that ARE MUCH BETTER NOW! Well at least one would hope that there aren't cadets still 'walking' around with the types of sick injuries these cadets claim to have had as a result of some unfortunate individuals. A few other things that have taken a turn for the better are falling crime rates (in general), lower road tolls, a general liberalisation of society, the easy access to information from wherever you want it, and changes in societies attitude towards the natural environment.
It's a shame I can't find old newspaper stories online (I can't find them for obvious reasons) about violence in rugby and rugby league a long time ago. We hear about referees and brawls happening these days but they are fairly sporadic and have nothing on some of the punchups I saw in the 80s and what my father has told me about from his senior league days back in the 60s, 70s and 80s and from rugby at the same time.
Anyway, stay tuned for further installments documenting the "not so good old days".
I think it's about time I started having a wee go at the whole "good old days" myth that constantly pops up in our society.
I have no doubt that certain things were much better in the past. Relationships with next door neighbours, less traffic, less urban sprawl, the existence of Georgie Pie etc.
But there are many, many things that ARE MUCH BETTER NOW! Well at least one would hope that there aren't cadets still 'walking' around with the types of sick injuries these cadets claim to have had as a result of some unfortunate individuals. A few other things that have taken a turn for the better are falling crime rates (in general), lower road tolls, a general liberalisation of society, the easy access to information from wherever you want it, and changes in societies attitude towards the natural environment.
It's a shame I can't find old newspaper stories online (I can't find them for obvious reasons) about violence in rugby and rugby league a long time ago. We hear about referees and brawls happening these days but they are fairly sporadic and have nothing on some of the punchups I saw in the 80s and what my father has told me about from his senior league days back in the 60s, 70s and 80s and from rugby at the same time.
Anyway, stay tuned for further installments documenting the "not so good old days".
Comments:
This from a follow-up story about cadet school violence in the NZ Herald this morning:
"His back was covered in scars. After a lot of [questioning] I learned that beatings were a routine part of life at the cadet school."
Mr Subritzky said he told the commanding officer, Major Wayne Anker, and an investigation was launched.
"His back was covered in scars. After a lot of [questioning] I learned that beatings were a routine part of life at the cadet school."
Mr Subritzky said he told the commanding officer, Major Wayne Anker, and an investigation was launched.
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