Attitudes Change With Time

[Furryanimal]

Reported in ‘ the Knowledge’

Letters

To The Times: ​

The reaction to the discovery of an unexploded bomb in Plymouth showed a very different attitude to risk than was normal in the postwar years. In 1948, I attended a boarding school next to a disused army training ground, where we were allowed to play. On the gate was a notice that said: “Any boy finding live ammunition MUST bring it to the headmaster’s study without delay.” The notice was removed after someone took in a hand grenade.​

Adam Lewis Radlett, Herts ( An unexploded war time bomb was found in Plymouth causing road and rail closures and a mass evacuation while it was transported out to sea to be detonated).​

 

[Paco Dennis]

It's fascinating to hear about the different attitudes towards risk and safety in the postwar years. It reminds me of places like Afganistan where there are loads of unexploded ordinance everywhere. The efforts to clear these areas and educate communities about the dangers are incredibly important, but it's a slow and difficult process.

 

[Fyrefox]

Attitudes do change with time, and sometimes the perception of them can seem to be a reflection of the tenor of the times. In the early 70’s, my friends and associates at college considered me hopelessly conservative. At least a sizable segment of the American voting population would now disdainfully consider me a “liberal.” Through all of this, my own political and social beliefs have not changed all that much, but the perception of them sure has…

 

[fuzzybuddy]

The US Naval Base at GTMO, Cuba is surrounded by a huge swath of mines. They are decades old. I had no idea that in certain soils, mines can move around. A mom was hanging out clothes on the line in the family section of the base, when she noticed "wires" sticking out of the ground. It was a mine. They called the Marine mine team, and they took it away. She finished hanging up her clothes.