Are You Selfish? And The Big Society!
by My strong views on how some people conduct their selfish little lives and David Cameron’s vision of the Big Society.
Are you selfish and the Big Society?
We as a race get wrapped up in out own little lives, our own little worlds, it’s natural our families and friends and work colleagues fill our days. We cook, we work, we make love (optional) Sometimes on a Friday night there maybe a ’Comic Relief night’ or a ’Live Aid Concert’ some of us give to charity and we feel we are well rounded members of society.
I would like to give you two examples of without thinking we are all sometimes selfish? A short while ago I was at my local hospital undergoing a strenuous physiotherapy session to rebuild my wasted leg and thigh muscles after my Bi-Lateral hip replacements last year.
A Medi-car (Funded by the NHS) pulled up to take me and other incapacitated patients home. I went to open the front door and the driver said,
“Sorry Mr Banks the front seat has been pre-booked by the next lady we are picking up in a minute”
The driver continued and said,
“If you’re on two crutches as you clearly are you should have the front seat you can book them you know?”
I replied that,
“Yes up until now the admin staff have always booked me a front seat but never mind I have to be careful not to put my hips through more than a 90 degree angle else there is a chance the news hip joints can pop out”
I got in the rear of the small hatchback with some difficulty and I had to spread my legs sideways as to not strain the joints. We drove to a small hospital unit for “Ear Nose and Throat” The driver knocked and a sprightly lady came out walking normally and unaided and she explained to the driver,
“I always book the front seat because I’m a little hard of hearing, plus I like to get a good view on the ride home because I don’t go out often I’m a Widow”
The driver explained that I was in pain in the back of the car and would she consider swapping this once? The lady point blank refused!
I was in agony as the rush hour closed in and the traffic ground to a halt. The lady in front was clearly lonely and talked for the whole 40 minute journey about how she had lost her husband 12 years ago etc, then she talked about the price of food these days whilst I grimaced in the back and twisted in pain.
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Post CommentFreethinking
On February 17, 2011 at 6:25 am
Unfortunately, we have become a “me, me” society. People seem to be self absorbed and are traveling through life with blinders on, not looking left or right, just what is ahead for them. Somewhere along the way many have lost their moral and ethical compass.
UncleSammy
On February 17, 2011 at 6:37 am
Nice share
Bruce Officer
On February 17, 2011 at 6:48 am
It’s a shame so many folk are selfish.
rubielee
On February 17, 2011 at 7:20 am
im not selfish but i know people are need to be selfish for their own self
Sheila Barnhill
On February 17, 2011 at 7:41 am
That lady on the bus should have had her ass kicked!!! Some people are just so damn stupid that they can’t see their nose in front of their faces!
mtrguanlao
On February 17, 2011 at 7:52 am
Sad to say,there are really some who are selfish! Well,let’s not be like them! Great article Lord Banks! Your article should be read by many.
Uma Shankari
On February 17, 2011 at 8:53 am
I do think it is a possible dream. Habits die hard, but eventually you can kill it. I mean, when you persist in being a do-gooder, people will take notice.
By the way, I did not know what this concept of ‘Big Society’ was and I googled it. It is something like our (indian) panchayat system. That is, centralized administration doesn’t work effectively on a local problem, because it knows pretty little about it. For solving problems at a local level, say it is a rural problem, it is the people who are directly affected by it, can understand/solve it. Panchyat means a local government at a village level.
albert1jemi
On February 17, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Great work
shakugan123
On February 17, 2011 at 6:26 pm
those people should have their karma.
albert1jemi
On February 18, 2011 at 10:23 am
good share
PR Mace
On February 18, 2011 at 8:08 pm
I see so many uncaring people on our world today. I try to treat everyone the way I would want to be treated or the way I would want my family treated. You can’t go wrong with that point of view. And David I would have given you the front seat and helped the lady in the store to. You are a dear kind man. It is a pleasure to know you here.
youthinksokiddo
On February 19, 2011 at 9:06 am
I completely agree with you. Some people are quietly selfish while others are conspicuously selfish! I can’t believe the lady did that to you, and I can’t believe people fool themselves into thinking the government should not help poor people. I always get angry when I see people so involved in helping other countries when they show less respect for the people at home.
Sceptical Thinker
On February 20, 2011 at 8:35 am
Very stimulating article. The lady ( I use the term loosely) should have given up the front seat for you, the driver should have insisted: yes she was lonely but what was to stop her talking to the driver and you from the rear seat, (you would have been grateful for her generosity and been more than happy to converse) As to the old lady in the Supermarket you did the right thing in helping her, presumably the supermarket want her and every ones business, and even if you are busy it does not take too long to grab a member of staff and insist that they help as one of their customers that pay their wages is in distress. As for ‘The big society’ its a politicians con they want us to pay our taxes and then they want us to provide the services that our taxes have gone to pay for.