THE paper's full of it. Regardless of which edition of the D&S you read, our columns are dominated by one issue.
No, it's not council tax, or regional government. It's the scourge of anti-social behaviour by young people. It is the No 1 pre-occupation of parish councils (and a few district authorities, too) in vale and dale.
Spectator has some sympathy with those worry about what young idiots will do next. It is not so long ago that his car wing mirror was destroyed by a passing casual kick and we have long been used to various things being thrown at our front window by yobs walking along the green. Yoghurt was arguably the most novel of those (a tip - don't let it dry, it's a devil to remove).
But it's important to retain some perspective on these matters. Recently, Spectator met a retired and respected North Yorkshire businessman who spoke in warm and almost reverend tones of the days in his youth when he and groups of friends would descend on village hops in remote Dales villages. More often than not there would be an altercation with the village lads and a good set-to ensured. By all accounts it was anti-social behaviour of a pretty nasty type but the businessman's memory was of a grand time being had by all. How time can bless unpleasant incidents with a golden glow.
This does not in the least excuse modern-day thuggery and mischief-making but we do need to remember that young people will, as part of growing up, push the boundaries of acceptable behaviour. Hopefully, with guidance, they will establish where those boundaries lie and become good citizens.
Returning to Spectator's wing mirror, I am pleased to report the culprit was apprehended and thanks to the good offices of the police, compensation was agreed and, we hope, the young man responsible has learnt a lesson.
Your name, please
On the subject of anti-social behaviour, what about those (mostly adults, Spectator suspects) who do not clean up after their dogs?
The issue is almost as (un)popular as yobbish behaviour with parish councils.
Spectator thought the suggestion made at a recent meeting of Neasham Parish Council was particularly note-worthy. One councillor thought the only way to enforce the dog fouling by-laws was to "name and shame" the culprits.
Ihe idea of a councillor approaching an offending dog owner and seeking their name in order to shame them seems to Spectator to be a recipe for some anti-social behaviour of the most thuggish kind - namely a punch on the nose.
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