Society

[Govangirl]

I just heard on the news that an 85 year-old woman lay dead in her Edinburgh flat for FIVE years before she was discovered yesterday. Is this not shocking indictment of the erosion of community spirit in modern-day Britain?

Is there really no such thing as society, just individual men and women, and families?

[Ileach B]

What is the age and capacity of an elder person to be looked in on every day classified - A form? Or is it by the bank balance? As this is what it is all about?

[numberplease]

It`s not only shocking, but so sad that she had no friends or family who`d missed her.

[EMDEE]

I just heard this on the news tonight at 11 pm, and find it unbelievable. It was mentioned that if her pension was being paid into the bank, then it would go unnoticed that she wasn't using it.

What kind of neighbours did she have? If it was a flat she must have had neighbours!

[Govangirl]

I so agree EMDEE. I guess if she was paying all her bills by direct debit, nobody would notice and I can understand how officials would allow her to slip through the system. Heck, I even see how if she had no family and her friends all dead that she would go unnoticed. But as you say, how can her neighbours in a tenement building not notice she wasn't around. I do think that this itself is a shocking example of how fractured a society we have become.
See, I have this (probably now romanticised) notion of living in a tenement. I spent the first 15 years of my life in one and we really were a community. You looked out for your neighbours, you did their turn of the stairs if they were ill, you shared what you had if folk were short and you knocked on a door if you didn't see your elderly neighbours for a day or two (often, you didn't need to knock as doors were left opened).
I know I'm stretching things here but I can't help thinking that in this age of mindless celebrity, millions of people will mourn someone they never knew while poor old lady lies dead and unnoticed for five years. There was a shopkeeper on the news this morning who said he remembered her passing his shop every day just as others in the building talked about her going to the park, lifting litter in the street, etc. They have to share some guilt, surely? I kind of 'look after' a woman down the end of my street. She is only in her sixties but she lives alone, suffers from depression and is a bit of a loner. I don't do a lot, just 'lend' her my dog at times when she needs it, drop her off a few cans each week, drop in for a chat, etc. I know now exactly what level of support she needs as she wants to live her life quietly but she has also done lovely things for me too and so it's a 2-way relationship. I'm not alone here, people do all sorts of things for each other every day so I just cannot understand why these neighbours were so wrapped up in their lives they didn't notice. Not even the smell, it seems!

Sorry, I went on too much there. This story just saddens me so much on many levels including how we treat our old people.

[ionnsaigh]

My son and his partner received a gift of £500 - for their newly born daughter ( Ailsa ) - who was born two days ago ( My second grandchild - and a pal for Josh ) from their 90 year old neighbour - Why ? because they make him soup once a week - and get his daily newspapers - generally seeing that he is alright ( from a distance ).
Of course they can't except the money - nevertheless their is clearly divides in teaching community responsibility . At the end of the day humans - are essentially social beings by nature - and as such- are inherently selfishly social

[Govangirl]

Congratulations Grandpa. Lovely name for a wee girl

[Lossit Lass]

I know I'm stretching things here but I can't help thinking that in this age of mindless celebrity, millions of people will mourn someone they never knew while poor old lady lies dead and unnoticed for five years.

Don't think that's a stretch at all, GG. It was precisely my thought, too, upon reading this.

There was a shopkeeper on the news this morning who said he remembered her passing his shop every day just as others in the building talked about her going to the park, lifting litter in the street, etc..

Surely, in 5 years they must have noticed that she was not making her usual rounds???? Did they just ignore that fact?? Apparently.

This is one of the saddest stories. Just heartbreaking.

[Lossit Lass]

...newly born daughter ( Ailsa ) - who was born two days ago ( My second grandchild - and a pal for Josh )

Yes, congrats Ionns
(& I agree, her name is very beautiful!)

[ionnsaigh]

Congratulations Grandpa. Lovely name for a wee girl

Thank you, Papa Mick.

Yes, congrats Ionns
(& I agree, her name is very beautiful!)

Thank you, named after a certain pub in the town

[Lossit Lass]

Yes, congrats Ionns
(& I agree, her name is very beautiful!)

Thank you, named after a certain pub in the town

Nice, Grandpa

Congratulations Grandpa. Lovely name for a wee girl

Thank you, Papa Mick.

"Papa Mick" What'd I miss here, GG?

[Govangirl]

What a hoot! Lossit Lass thinks Ionns is ma da!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, Lass. You understand him as much as I do - which is not a lot!

[Lossit Lass]

:lol: What a hoot! Lossit Lass thinks Ionns is ma da!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, Lass. You understand him as much as I do - which is not a lot!

yea...I wasn't sure if he was signing 'papa Mick' or calling YOU papa Mick?! Either way, it appears we're BOTH confused. I guess we'll have to wait for papa Ionns to splain hisself

[ionnsaigh]

[EMDEE]

Viva el papa!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBJSHrHcors



Sorry Ionns, too good an opportunity to miss.