Is this really indicative of life in the UK now?

[Hamlet]

I lifted this from a forum based in my hometown in the UK & decided to post it here in it's original format:

"One reason why people don't like to help others anymore;
I was in town today and saw a woman shout at her daughter coz she was being funny about going down escalator. The girl was only about 3. The mum went down them n left daughter at top. An elderly man saw what happened, took the little girls hand n took her down the escalator. When he got to the bottom he helped the girl off n as he did he trooped n feel onto the escalator cutting head arm n belly. The woman just did there shouting at him calling him a paedo etc for touching his daughter. She didn't push the emergency stop or anything but Luckily someone at the top did. I was on opposite escalator bit explained what had happened to the staff n gave my details in incase woman took it further". 

[Highlander]

No.

[Eric]

Its indicative of the appalling standard of literacy in the UK.

[Marggie]

No.  The other side of the coin! I would refer you to Rimm's "A Nice Story" where the two youngsters left 60 lira from their holiday money to help the children in the Love Homes.

[Hamlet]

I totally agree with all 3 of the above comments. I read the post by Rimms this morning then read the article that I posted & felt that I had to share it just as a contrast but what I will add is that although I have never witnessed any behaviour as bad as this I have certainly witnessed a lot of verbal abuse of children by their so called loving parents.

[bewva]

This reminded me of something I saw the other day. We were at our local railway station last week and whilst waiting on the platform a little lad of probably 4 walked through the gate from the road followed by his classy mum shouting and screaming at the top of her voice to effing come back. Her language would make a docker blush. The names she called him were disgusting and we heard every word from the opposite platform I remember thinking at the time what chance has he got of learning the values of right and wrong with her. The poor lad hasn't got a chance.

[Lotty]

Bewva, that makes me hurt inside. I can't bear these hideous mothers who publicly scream vile abuse at their children, if they do it in public, what are they like in private. All children are born beautifully innocent.

[echogirl1]

After the recent  publicity about the dreadful case of the little boy so badly abused, and finally murdered by his mother and stepfather,when I hear some of the things people call their children in public, I cant help but wonder how these children are treated at home.  It makes you feel so helpless.  On the other hand a friend of mine has 4 young children, she shouts at them all the time, but would give her life for them.

[Lotty]

Echogirl, I totally agree, show me a mum with 4 young children and I know she will be shouting at times, but it's the vile language and verbal bullying of these awful mothers that is horrendous. If they do that in public, what is it like privately?

[Scunner]

I don't quite agree with everything. My kids are beautifully mannered and spoken at a restaurant with our friends for example - as many here can verify, but after two aisles of Tesco I'm ready to rip their heads clean off! I shout, exceptionally loudly, at them not because I am a bad parent, but because I know how much it embarrasses them, and that it works. I am not an abusive parent and people need not wonder what chance my kids have with a father like me, as they go about their shopping.

But I do see instances where one might. After a pleasant "business meeting" in Dundee recently, I took my place on the train to return home. I shared a table with a middle aged rather well to do looking couple who said little. At the table across from us was a really charming little girl, maybe six years old, and a couple who I assumed were her grandparents (as they were a little mature to be her parents). She was a real chatterbox and quite amusing.

Conversation at my table was scarce, everyone was listening to grandchild and grandparents adjacent. Just before they got off the train the conversation turned to what time the olds had gone to bed the night before. "I went to bed at 11 o'clock, and you two went to bed at 12". To which 'grandad' replied with "Twelve? It wasn't twelve. You were still looking for your f***ing watch at 1".

It's amazing how easy a "what chance do the kids have" expression can be communicated and received.