Gransnet forums

News & politics

The passing of our dear friend Common Sense

(25 Posts)
ballie Sat 25-Sept-21 18:46:57

Having seen the queues at petrol stations today, a memory from 10 years ago popped up on social media.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; And maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies - don't spend more than you can earn; and adults, not children, are in charge. His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Truth and Trust, by his wife Discretion, his daughter Responsibility, and his son Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers - I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, do nothing.

lemongrove Sat 25-Sept-21 18:50:42

?
Excellent ballie

Anniebach Sat 25-Sept-21 19:00:25

Agree, excellent

crazyH Sat 25-Sept-21 19:02:20

Excellent !

Forsythia Sat 25-Sept-21 19:07:36

Brilliant!

Galaxy Sat 25-Sept-21 19:22:38

Oh yes it was much better when women couldnt get abortions, when gay people had to hide who they were, when rape in marriage was fine, yes common sense was alive and well back then.

Grannyben Sat 25-Sept-21 19:58:43

Oh dear, just when I was enjoying the post!

tickingbird Sat 25-Sept-21 20:12:19

Yes everything’s so much better now - not!! I mourn the death of Common Sense flowers

Scones Sat 25-Sept-21 20:38:03

These sorts of things remind me of certain old people when I was younger. Always dreaming of an imaginary past whilst completely missing the good and decent and positive occurring all around them in the present day.

I especially don't know how people can believe this kind of thing given the enormous common sense and responsibility displayed by the vast majority during the Covid crisis.

Still, if it makes some people happy and gives them a kind of blinkered comfort then so be it.

Parsley3 Sat 25-Sept-21 20:44:17

Not sure why queues at petrol stations would bring up this hackneyed old chestnut.

MerylStreep Sat 25-Sept-21 20:53:16

I found it very sad, thank you for reminding us.

lemongrove Sat 25-Sept-21 21:04:45

Parsley3

Not sure why queues at petrol stations would bring up this hackneyed old chestnut.

I’ve never seen it before.
The queues at petrol stations are being exacerbated by panic buying, therefore lack of common sense.

vegansrock Sat 25-Sept-21 21:36:10

There is no such thing as common sense to which everyone subscribes. Its a social construct which can change over time and change between individuals and cultures. It might have seemed common sense in times gone by for women to marry young, give up work immediately on marriage and dedicate her time to playing second fiddle to her husband, since obviously she would soon be having children and looking after them, whereas now it would seem more sense for a woman to have children after she has established a career and to continue working. In some cultures it’s seen as common sense for parents to arrange the marriage of their son or daughter, whereas this would appear to lack common sense to others not brought up in that tradition. What seems strange or odd to us today would seem common sense in another place or time. Some of the examples you cite - “adults not children were in charge” in the past gave child abusers the green light , since children obviously had fewer rights than adults and were not encouraged to speak up in your common sense world.

lemongrove Sat 25-Sept-21 22:06:05

A sense of humour is often needed on GNhmm

Chestnut Sat 25-Sept-21 22:25:32

Lemongrove there is always someone there wagging their finger in disapproval.

Whatdayisit Sat 25-Sept-21 22:44:27

I did wonder sometimes where common sense was but it hit me in 2019 that we had lost it altogether when the bafoon stormed into no10 with his get Brexit done mandate and that takes me right back to the petrol stations today.

Nanna58 Sat 25-Sept-21 22:49:49

I find that the only people who decry commonsense are those without any!!!

Judy54 Sun 26-Sept-21 14:57:30

There is nowt as queer as folk! Some people have common sense and some don't. You have either got it or you haven't.

lemongrove Sun 26-Sept-21 15:51:05

Yes, common sense is not so common.?

DiscoDancer1975 Sun 26-Sept-21 15:55:42

Brilliant! Love it ???.

soop Sun 26-Sept-21 16:19:02

Spot on!

Lucca Mon 27-Sept-21 08:21:45

Whatdayisit

I did wonder sometimes where common sense was but it hit me in 2019 that we had lost it altogether when the bafoon stormed into no10 with his get Brexit done mandate and that takes me right back to the petrol stations today.

Indeed.

tickingbird Mon 27-Sept-21 08:38:00

Brexit nothing to do with non existent petrol shortage.

Scones Mon 27-Sept-21 10:28:53

Nanna58

I find that the only people who decry commonsense are those without any!!!

That's an interesting comment. Can you please give us some examples?

tickingbird Mon 27-Sept-21 10:37:45

I especially don't know how people can believe this kind of thing given the enormous common sense and responsibility displayed by the vast majority during the Covid crisis

Oh yes, the common sense displayed by the ones having parties, family gatherings, large funerals and weddings? Not to mention all the neighbours having families round etc that were regularly reported on here. It was the same selfish attitude as displayed by the petrol tank fillers and toilet roll hoarders. Not so much common sense more no sense.