I find it extraordinary that Americans pride themselves on “free speech” when what they should be priding themselves on is “free, responsible speech”.

Free speech, as we experience it, is not free at all – it has costs, costs in terms of people’s reputations, peace of mind, self-image and even security. What may have been reasonable before the advent of the internet is quite unreasonable and socially harmful now. Anonymous cowards propagate false news, bully school kids, make false accusations, promote Nazi-type programs and slander immigrants and black people. We have never had a situation like this before. Some people, unschooled in civilised debate, seem to think that writing hurtful, scurrilous and fabricated things about someone is just fine. The Founders never foresaw the current misuse of social media and its use to influence the way we are governed.   As children of the Enlightenment, they never intended “free speech” to be the weapon of choice of louts and semi-literate hatemongers.

Were Epicurus alive I think he would support free speech, but would offer official help to those who are attacked and  unfairly maligned to identify the perpetrators, to to “out” them and expose them publically.  That so many seem to be resigned to the actions of bullies tells me we may be seeing the end of the relatively respectful public behaviour that used to be the norm . Free speech as practised in the United States is a cruel sham that is coarsening and debasing our cultures.  It only takes good people to hide away and say nothing and rapidly we cease to live in a civilised society. Are young people now so used to it that they think nothing of it?  The silence tells me that most people don’t seem to care.  That is very sad.

“Researchers Hal Hershfield and Cassie Mogilner surveyed more than 4,000 Americans to determine whether they valued time or money more, and how happy they were. A clear majority, 64%, preferred money, but those who valued time were happier. Nor was it only the those rich enough to not stress about money who preferred time; after they controlled for income, the effect remained. Older and married people with children were more likely to value time. But it isn’t just the availability of time that matters, it is valuing it if you’ve got it. ” (The Guardian Weekly, Nov 4, 2016)

What I find I resent is the way that companies are constantly finding ways of eating up your time, making you do things that previously they did. An example, on the blog itself, is Disqus. This software handles comments and presents strings of subjects you can follow and comment on. Fine. But have a technical problem and chances are that you can never resolve it. They apparently don’t have any customer service function. Recently I recently a straightforward question to other users on their blog. Three weeks later I still have had no answer to my query. I don’t blame the users, who are supposed to help you, instead of the company. They are probably stressed out too.

And then, companies want you to “tell them how they did” and fill in a survey.  Look guys, why don’t you do two things: look at your sales graph, which tells you most of what you want to know, viz: if it’s going down you have a problem, eh?   Secondly, actually go out with your sales force and talk to actual customers.  Duh!  Stop wasting our time!

Yes, I value time over money, as any Epicurean should.

According to figures published in August, there are 2.23 million EU nationals working in the UK – an increase of 238,000 on the same period in 2015. An estimated 850,000 Poles live in the UK.

In the part of London I know best it is quite rare to encounter British-born people working in shops, restaurants, banks or other similar places.  Sometimes I think it is rare to hear English English spoken on the street ar all.  This has transformed the city into one my grandmother, who lived nearby,  wouldn’t recognise. If you are a visitor or you don’t any longer want to find a reasonably well paid job it is great.  Personally, I love it.  But few English people can any longer afford to live there.  As far as resentment from the British-born population is concerned it has been a backlash waiting to happen.