One thinks one could quite like the Duchess of Devonshire
Discussion
Debo Devonshire reminds us of a Britain with backbone and purpose
Gerald Warner again said:
The comments by Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire in Tatler, regarding the abandonment of the stiff upper lip in British society, are a welcome reminder of the days when this country still had purpose, backbone and self-control. The Duchess condemns the present “sloppy sentimental” culture in modern Britain and observes that money, illness and sex were not talked about in the old days, whereas now they are the only things people talk about.
“Self-pity and self-esteem, which are now the key things in schools, were not allowed,” she recalls. She is right. The modish cult of self-expression and self-indulgence in British schools, combined with a nanny-state culture of health and safety, is filleting all character out of the next generation. Discipline is non-existent: louts who self-evidently need a good birching are given counselling instead. Youngsters’ “experiences” and “feelings” are awarded spurious significance when what is required is enforced hard work in fields of genuine academic importance, coupled with rigid discipline.
A startling consequence of the cult of “yoof” has been the infantilisation of undergraduates. Fifty years ago, undergraduates were adults, with a wide range of grown-up interests. Their dress, manners and topics of conversation were largely identical to those of men 10 or 40 years their seniors. Today, outside the very narrow field of their academic subject (and even that may nowadays be trivial or charlatan), their conduct, clothes and interests are indistinguishable from those of teenagers working in supermarkets.
A vile culture of immature incivility, Philistinism and ignorance of adult life has ghettoised “students” so that they remain frozen within adolescence – as do their contemporaries outside higher education – subsidised by taxpayers. Time was, the conversation in a Junior Common Room was almost as mature as in a London club: today undergraduate discourse is largely the babble of overgrown teenagers.
The ultimate condemnation is to describe something as not being “fair”. An infatuated notion of “equality”, “non-discrimination” and other politically correct humbug have displaced rational or original thought. The masses are drugged with “reality” television shows – than which nothing could be more unreal – and obsessed with the squalid, cataleptically boring couplings and uncouplings of cretins termed “celebrities”. Where once the great virtue of reticence ruled, a vulgar, gutless, let-it-all-hang-out mentality has turned Britain into a sewer.
It was America, with its spill-your-guts-to-Oprah attitude and Bill Clinton feeling people’s pain all the way to the bank that initiated this decline. Its apostle in Britain was the Great Charlatan, Tony Blair, with his “People’s Princess” guff and his calculated, Bambi-eyed sentimentality. The post-Diana emotional spasm was Britain’s most shameful moment. Perhaps a recession will engender a degree of stoicism, as people confront real problems instead of agonising over those of celebrities personally unknown to them. Perhaps… But don’t bet the farm on it.
Go and tell it like it is Your Grace. (and Gerald)“Self-pity and self-esteem, which are now the key things in schools, were not allowed,” she recalls. She is right. The modish cult of self-expression and self-indulgence in British schools, combined with a nanny-state culture of health and safety, is filleting all character out of the next generation. Discipline is non-existent: louts who self-evidently need a good birching are given counselling instead. Youngsters’ “experiences” and “feelings” are awarded spurious significance when what is required is enforced hard work in fields of genuine academic importance, coupled with rigid discipline.
A startling consequence of the cult of “yoof” has been the infantilisation of undergraduates. Fifty years ago, undergraduates were adults, with a wide range of grown-up interests. Their dress, manners and topics of conversation were largely identical to those of men 10 or 40 years their seniors. Today, outside the very narrow field of their academic subject (and even that may nowadays be trivial or charlatan), their conduct, clothes and interests are indistinguishable from those of teenagers working in supermarkets.
A vile culture of immature incivility, Philistinism and ignorance of adult life has ghettoised “students” so that they remain frozen within adolescence – as do their contemporaries outside higher education – subsidised by taxpayers. Time was, the conversation in a Junior Common Room was almost as mature as in a London club: today undergraduate discourse is largely the babble of overgrown teenagers.
The ultimate condemnation is to describe something as not being “fair”. An infatuated notion of “equality”, “non-discrimination” and other politically correct humbug have displaced rational or original thought. The masses are drugged with “reality” television shows – than which nothing could be more unreal – and obsessed with the squalid, cataleptically boring couplings and uncouplings of cretins termed “celebrities”. Where once the great virtue of reticence ruled, a vulgar, gutless, let-it-all-hang-out mentality has turned Britain into a sewer.
It was America, with its spill-your-guts-to-Oprah attitude and Bill Clinton feeling people’s pain all the way to the bank that initiated this decline. Its apostle in Britain was the Great Charlatan, Tony Blair, with his “People’s Princess” guff and his calculated, Bambi-eyed sentimentality. The post-Diana emotional spasm was Britain’s most shameful moment. Perhaps a recession will engender a degree of stoicism, as people confront real problems instead of agonising over those of celebrities personally unknown to them. Perhaps… But don’t bet the farm on it.
There's quite a lot in there that I disagree with. Why the f
k would any student want to be like, let alone dress like, his father or grandfather? The stupid stuck-up , toffee-nosed bh, what fking planet does she live on?
FFS, one of my main complaints with the yoof of today is their spineless attitude to things like X Factor. Back in the 70's I would no more listen to my parents music than fly in the air. I was angry and wanted to spit at the Queen and stick safetypins through my hooter, create anarchy, and call the police pigs. It was seen as part of growing up. Yet this lot all seem to want to sing karaoke to Frank Sinatra and bleat about global warming to their pals on Facebook. None of them question what they're being told by big business and Govt, it's the fault of schools I reckon, just churning out obient servants reliant upon and beholden to the State. Spineless and thick...
k would any student want to be like, let alone dress like, his father or grandfather? The stupid stuck-up , toffee-nosed bh, what fking planet does she live on?FFS, one of my main complaints with the yoof of today is their spineless attitude to things like X Factor. Back in the 70's I would no more listen to my parents music than fly in the air. I was angry and wanted to spit at the Queen and stick safetypins through my hooter, create anarchy, and call the police pigs. It was seen as part of growing up. Yet this lot all seem to want to sing karaoke to Frank Sinatra and bleat about global warming to their pals on Facebook. None of them question what they're being told by big business and Govt, it's the fault of schools I reckon, just churning out obient servants reliant upon and beholden to the State. Spineless and thick...
Edited by Andy Zarse on Thursday 4th February 17:30
Eric Mc said:
I liked Frank Sinatra in the 1970s - when I was 15. Maybe I was the prototype of the X Factor generation.
Fair enough Eric,I don't mind old Frank as it happens, and I guess Ireland in the 70's wasn't exactly the hub of the universe, but it's the principle of the matter that grates. They've little imagination today...Andy Zarse said:
Eric Mc said:
I liked Frank Sinatra in the 1970s - when I was 15. Maybe I was the prototype of the X Factor generation.
Fair enough Eric,I don't mind old Frank as it happens, and I guess Ireland in the 70's wasn't exactly the hub of the universe, but it's the principle of the matter that grates. They've little imagination today...Mr E Driver said:
Andy Zarse said:
general bile
not grown up yet Andy? 
Edited by Mr E Driver on Thursday 4th February 17:34
Oh and I take it you've always dressed like your grandfather? Or will you chose to ignore that particular piece of advice?
Quite frankly I am inclined to agree with Andy. This lady is coming from a position where she hasn't really had to undergo the struggle that most folks do with paying your bills, mortgage, finding work, etc. These people struggle by on a few million a year at least, the poor poppets. It's all very well harking back to the old days, but would any of you really want to live in the 30's, 40's or 50's?
Eric Mc said:
Andy Zarse said:
Eric Mc said:
I liked Frank Sinatra in the 1970s - when I was 15. Maybe I was the prototype of the X Factor generation.
Fair enough Eric,I don't mind old Frank as it happens, and I guess Ireland in the 70's wasn't exactly the hub of the universe, but it's the principle of the matter that grates. They've little imagination today...Turn up the speakers...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTO7nXw4StY&fea...
Andy Zarse said:
Eric Mc said:
Andy Zarse said:
Eric Mc said:
I liked Frank Sinatra in the 1970s - when I was 15. Maybe I was the prototype of the X Factor generation.
Fair enough Eric,I don't mind old Frank as it happens, and I guess Ireland in the 70's wasn't exactly the hub of the universe, but it's the principle of the matter that grates. They've little imagination today...Turn up the speakers...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTO7nXw4StY&fea...
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