BBC Blog Network

User Profile

Iain_Glasgow

Listed below are comments made by Iain_Glasgow between Monday, 16th June 2008 and Thursday, 2nd October 2008.

«Newer
Older»

Calling time 2:42pm on 02 Oct 2008 Kenny MacAskill's suggestion that if we can't offer an alternative suggestion, we should not mock his, is an insult to free thought and smacks slightly of the onset of dictatorship. As a 48 year old University lecturer, I don't know why this proposal annoys me so much, but it does. I've seen enough hung-over students trying to stay awake in my time. However, in spite of popular misconception, that is not the norm. They mostly work very hard often ballancing study with part-time jobs. It is a profound insult to these young people to suggest they should be treated as infants in this way. How dare MacAskill blame the ills of Scots society on them. It would make as much sense to suggest 30-33 year olds be banned from buying alcohol. In fact, an enforced mid-life break in alcohol consumption may actually help - but NO I don't suggest it as an alternaitve!
Sobering thoughts 3:07pm on 16 Jun 2008 To correct the first comment to this story, Scotland has a dramatically higher murder rate than the rest of the UK. The figures (I believe for 2006/7) were 2.12 murders per 100,000 in Scotland compared with 1.23 per 100,000 in England and Wales. A sobering reality. These figures compare with 5.7 for the USA (in 2006). In some ways these figures are even worse than they first appear. In Glasgow, the figure is 6.17 which is higher than almost any other European city and compares with 2.64 for London. Also, the numbers of murders are very highly biased towards young males. The rate for males age group 21-29 is 9.9 per 100,000 and for 16-20 is 8.2 (all of Scotland, not sure what the Glasgow figure is). It is therefore a very significant cause of death in young males.

«Newer
Older»

^ Back to top

BBC MMVI

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

BBC.co.uk

BBC Blog Network

Find and talk to the BBC's bloggers.

User Profile

Iain_Glasgow