.........but the sky didn't fall in
I want to write a book called "....but the sky didn't fall in". I've been thinking about it for years. Every so often something happens or you read something and you think "that's another one for the book". It gets bigger every year.
Let me give you an example. In years gone by I actively campaigned for gay equality in the UK. Nothing special, just equality. Equal age of consent, eligibility to serve in the armed forces, that sort of thing. What always amazed me was the forcefulness of the opposition's arguments. Their main attack was always based on dire predictions of what was to come. The Chiefs of Staff said discipline would collapse if openly gay people were allowed to serve in the military. The Christian Institute said equalising the age of consent would lead to a growth of cases of young men being led astray by older men. And yet, years after Parliament made eminently sensible decisions to equalise the treatment of homosexuals, the sky hasn't fallen in.
And there are loads more. What about all those people predicting riots on the streets at night when 24 hour licensing was introduced in the UK. Um.....where was that then?..... I seem to have missed it.....ah, the sky didn't fall in (hey...update 2 months after posting this entry..... official report 1 year after 24 hr licencing introduced reports NO increase in criminal or anti-social behaviour - just people having a good time - what a suprise)
I'm sure that if you look back far enough there will be similar dire predictions being used to oppose the abolition of slavery and the sending of children down mines. But the sky didn't fall in
Now, they might have a point that all these little things add up to a bigger change in society, but then society is always changing.... and surely making the lives of individuals more comfortable is worth taking the risk. And at the end of the day the sky doesn't fall in and people just get on with their lives.
Actually, what you really want is a system where these people can be called back years later, shown the rational evidence and made to apologise for trying to frighten people by using arguments that are so clearly wrong.
Let me give you an example. In years gone by I actively campaigned for gay equality in the UK. Nothing special, just equality. Equal age of consent, eligibility to serve in the armed forces, that sort of thing. What always amazed me was the forcefulness of the opposition's arguments. Their main attack was always based on dire predictions of what was to come. The Chiefs of Staff said discipline would collapse if openly gay people were allowed to serve in the military. The Christian Institute said equalising the age of consent would lead to a growth of cases of young men being led astray by older men. And yet, years after Parliament made eminently sensible decisions to equalise the treatment of homosexuals, the sky hasn't fallen in.
And there are loads more. What about all those people predicting riots on the streets at night when 24 hour licensing was introduced in the UK. Um.....where was that then?..... I seem to have missed it.....ah, the sky didn't fall in (hey...update 2 months after posting this entry..... official report 1 year after 24 hr licencing introduced reports NO increase in criminal or anti-social behaviour - just people having a good time - what a suprise)
I'm sure that if you look back far enough there will be similar dire predictions being used to oppose the abolition of slavery and the sending of children down mines. But the sky didn't fall in
Now, they might have a point that all these little things add up to a bigger change in society, but then society is always changing.... and surely making the lives of individuals more comfortable is worth taking the risk. And at the end of the day the sky doesn't fall in and people just get on with their lives.
Actually, what you really want is a system where these people can be called back years later, shown the rational evidence and made to apologise for trying to frighten people by using arguments that are so clearly wrong.
posted by Paul @ 4:03 PM
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