tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post3850728956309119496..comments2023-10-25T10:22:52.127+01:00Comments on Home-The last bastion: The Loneliness Triblogology - Part 3Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072165710888952465noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-77330442591370820172011-02-22T08:56:56.840+00:002011-02-22T08:56:56.840+00:00I accept all this and am sorry that my pleasure up...I accept all this and am sorry that my pleasure upsets so many people. I wish that my life was different, but after smoking for over 60 years it is difficult to stop.Eye Creamshttp://www.abouteyecreams.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-9997338563289799552011-02-21T21:53:01.995+00:002011-02-21T21:53:01.995+00:00HI Big Yin, this is very very sad. To think that ...HI Big Yin, this is very very sad. To think that these wonderful elder people sacrificed so much their whole lives and lived through the horrid blitz and everything, and to be treated like this just because they enjoy a smoke.<br /><br />Very heartbreaking. The gov't really needs to adjust this smoking ban stuff. Maybe set up elder clubs and such were you have to be 60 to join, and once there, you can smoke all you want.<br /><br />To deprive people of the only fun they had, getting together with friends, and now that's taken away,<br />is just criminal. Thanks for posting these, and opening people's eyes.Amusing Bunnihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385840951446381247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-63957436907699644012011-02-21T14:59:39.158+00:002011-02-21T14:59:39.158+00:00No need for apologies, Mr A - it's a cracking ...No need for apologies, Mr A - it's a cracking idea.<br /><br />On the loneliness theme - older people are stuck in their homes for longer than before, but if they have to rely on the 'free' (yes I know!) telly for entertainment, most of what they're subject to is aimed at young people, so they're kind of forgotten about there as well.<br /><br />My mum's always moaning that there's nothing on telly, and she doesn't 'do' technology so she won't let us get her satellite or a computer. I'm middle aged and think it's pretty crappy while the kids would watch it all day given half a chance!<br /><br />karenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-14612969668199869692011-02-21T13:09:53.722+00:002011-02-21T13:09:53.722+00:00Well done. A good peice of work. I'd send it t...Well done. A good peice of work. I'd send it to my MP Kris Hopkins, but he won't answer my letters.<br /><br />meanwhile off topic:<br />If you smoke why not declare it as a religion in the next census. Half a million Jedis are now recognised. We can do the same.<br /><br /><br />George SpellerGeorge Spellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06566990991084867385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-91414799723056417992011-02-21T07:54:01.201+00:002011-02-21T07:54:01.201+00:00Sorry to leave such a trivial post on such an exce...Sorry to leave such a trivial post on such an excellent blog post, but.....<br /><br />Some fun.<br /><br />Remember how ten years ago thousands put down their religion as Jedi? Well, we have a new census coming up, so let's put down our religion as "smoker." Tobacco Control are leading an inquisition. Let's just highlight that fact.<br /><br />Whether you want to just deny them the information that they demand from you by force or you just want to raise this issue in public once again and remind them that it is not going away, let's have some fun.<br />Spread the word.<br /><br /><br />http://mr--a.blogspot.com/2011/02/census-2011.htmlMr Ahttp://mr--a.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-72491286352129643592011-02-20T20:48:51.288+00:002011-02-20T20:48:51.288+00:00Nice work! The same thing has happened to my mom i...Nice work! The same thing has happened to my mom in Chicago. She used to go to Denny's or Baker's Square (both cafe style chain restaurants that are popular with the working class and older folks) to meet up for coffee and pie with her friends, but has not done so in the last 3 years since the ban was instituted in Illinois. So here's my mom, who takes care of Alzheimers' patients (and has worked hard her whole life since coming to America from the U.K.), who (aging herself) doesn't go out and socialize anymore. Being able to go out and meet with friends used to be a simple reward for folks who have worked hard all of their lives. Sadly, this simple reward that adds so much to the quality of life for so many has been taken away. It is a spit in the face to free people everywhere.jredheadgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11078082563556309444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-35204904605479851202011-02-20T17:36:49.577+00:002011-02-20T17:36:49.577+00:00Send it to MPs? The MPs have no heart. They work f...Send it to MPs? The MPs have no heart. They work for satan now. They would burn in hell before understanding the concept of heart.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-19118083756148694162011-02-20T14:33:09.305+00:002011-02-20T14:33:09.305+00:00Thank you for your post Angry Squaddie, As an Ex-s...Thank you for your post Angry Squaddie, As an Ex-serviceman myself (Royal Navy)I fully understand your critism, A serivicemans Regiment, Squadron or Ship is our home, our comrades are family and we are all very proud of them. I offer you and the Manchester Regiment. our profound apologies for the slip.<br /><br />I would also offer and I believe the team will stand behind me, our thanks for carrying out the tasks all servicemen (I use the term generically) that they are currently engaged in overseas. Good luck to you all and come home safe.<br /><br /><br />John WatsonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-967572759534893872011-02-20T02:23:34.300+00:002011-02-20T02:23:34.300+00:00Many apologies, now I've checked, the Manchest...Many apologies, now I've checked, the Manchester Reg saw some pretty nasty action in Malaya rather than Korea.Angry Squaddienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-67395602705519382302011-02-20T02:18:46.179+00:002011-02-20T02:18:46.179+00:00Superb bit of writing but I would like to pull you...Superb bit of writing but I would like to pull you up on your use of "(sic)" after the phrase "Manchester Reg". Anyone remotely familiar with the Army would recognise that as everyday shorthand for The Manchester Regiment which did exist and you could have simply put "(Regiment)" rather than the slightly condescending "(sic)".<br /><br />We do speak a different language and soldiers never become civilians, we just become veterans.<br /><br />I don't subscribe to the "Every soldier is a hero" meme that seems to be doing the rounds but, if he is 82 and served in the Manchester Reg, he probably saw action either at the tail end of WWII or in Korea.<br /><br />I've served/am serving my time and have been to every trouble spot you can name over the last 10-12 years (except Sierra Leone - missed out on that one) and I would say that I've had it easy compared with the veterans of the 20th Century. <br /><br />Yes, equipment has been shit, the reasons we went in have been, at times, equivocal, but at least I got to speak to significant others on a regular basis and mail got through quickly.<br /><br />We need to look out for people like this and if the smoking ban is doing as much harm as I think it is to institutions like the British Legion it should be got rid of ASAP.Angry Squaddienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-30095109379062444712011-02-20T00:09:27.669+00:002011-02-20T00:09:27.669+00:00Out of sight...out of mind
Welcome to The Big Soc...Out of sight...out of mind<br /><br />Welcome to The Big SocietyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-57592611952900969512011-02-19T20:28:43.471+00:002011-02-19T20:28:43.471+00:00A brilliant piece of work :)A brilliant piece of work :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-80180195359750732122011-02-19T12:19:59.607+00:002011-02-19T12:19:59.607+00:00Thank you Frank and Dick for your kind words, in t...Thank you Frank and Dick for your kind words, in the course of our research we found so many heartrending stories that we would Have ended up with a novel sized article! <br /><br />Stories of suidcides, depression instilled guilt and fear as well as some horrific side effects from the drugs used to treat people. <br /><br />I agree Frank that a deeper probe into loneliness and its associated illnesses like depression including the role that ASH and legislation is playing in this area of health. <br /><br />I personally would argue that the Precautionary Principle applies and that Health Acts should be repealed on those grounds just as they were enacted under that principle. <br /><br />Jay, a copy of the first two articles articles have been sent to every Rt. Hon. Member of the House of Commons and the third is due to be despatched (if it has not gone already) we have recieved some replies from the House, all of which have been supportive or have shown some interest in the subject. <br /><br />John Watson.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-51545995379772190122011-02-19T11:45:09.778+00:002011-02-19T11:45:09.778+00:00Excellently written and compiled trilogy. You pres...Excellently written and compiled trilogy. You presented the extent of the ban's cruelty very well, the MPs you send it to should think long and hard about this.Dick Puddlecotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01481866882188932892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-8485999577749237342011-02-19T10:02:08.985+00:002011-02-19T10:02:08.985+00:00Are our MPs aware of this devastating effect of th...Are our MPs aware of this devastating effect of the ban?<br /><br />Rather as OH sent every one of them a copy of Nineteen Eighty Four, I'd like to see a compilation of these stories with some background on their authors sent to each one.<br /><br />And, of course, it's not just elderly smokers who are suffering -so do their non-smoking friends and anti-smoking peers who find that their bingo hall, social club and so on have closed.<br /><br />What a miserable old age so many of us are condemned to having: lonely, pretty poverty-stricken, our final days spent in hospital ignored by nurses who are 'too posh to wash' or in 'care', druggede up to the eyeballs to keep us quiet for which expense our assets have been taken from us.<br /><br />JayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206739907723081582.post-87551525348536072122011-02-19T03:26:13.921+00:002011-02-19T03:26:13.921+00:00Thanks for that. And well done.
For myself I beli...Thanks for that. And well done.<br /><br />For myself I believe that the smoking ban is doing really terrible social damage, shattering communities, dividing people from each other, and producing widespread isolation and loneliness. I think it's something that's far more serious than the number of pubs that have closed (bad as that is).<br /><br />I think there must be thousands and thousands of poignant stories out there like the ones that you have reproduced.<br /><br />The antismokers seem to think that the bonds between people don't matter, that they're not important, and people can do without them (just like they can do without cigarettes). But it's these bonds that give meaning to most people's lives, in their marriages and families and friends. It's not just food and shelter that people need, but also communities of friends. <br /><br />I really think that this must be explored more deeply, and the consequences of social isolation examined carefully.<br /><br />FrankFrank Davishttp://frank-davis.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.com