"Sense of Entitlement"

[Mag_seven]

There are various threads running on these boards that reflect a general "Sense of Entitlement" that exists in society these days at large. When did this come about? I personally believe that it came in under Tony Blair and New Labour but it might have had its roots is the Thatcher era.

 

[backontrack]

Please give examples.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Refusal to fold a pram on a bus to allow a wheelchair user to board.

Refusal to give up a seat for someone who needs it more than them / the reserver.

Etc

 

[deltic]

John Major's government introduced a number of citizens' charters - the purpose being to set out exactly what level of service the public should expect from publicly provided services. The aim was to re-address the balance between the provider and the customer when the customer had no choice but to use a monopoly provider.

Britain has never had a very good reputation when it comes to customer service and I'm not sure we are that good at it now. People's expectations have changed and in the present day people expect what they want when they want it and often not to have to pay for it!

 

[flymo]

When did this come about? the Thatcher era.

Various snippings but the answer is in bold

That is all.

 

[Phil.]

IVF argument a little while ago.
"IT'S EVERY WOMAN'S RIGHT TO HAVE A BABY" was the cry to justify this expensive treatment.

No dear, it's every woman's right to try and have a baby.

 

[Western Lord]

IVF argument a little while ago.
"IT'S EVERY WOMAN'S RIGHT TO HAVE A BABY" was the cry to justify this expensive treatment.

No dear, it's every woman's right to try and have a baby.

Wasn't that "Loretta" (ex Stan) from Monty Python's Life of Brian?

 

[TheKnightWho]

IVF argument a little while ago.
"IT'S EVERY WOMAN'S RIGHT TO HAVE A BABY" was the cry to justify this expensive treatment.

No dear, it's every woman's right to try and have a baby.

... how is this entitled? It's to the detriment of absolutely no-one else, unless you're think a few fractions of a pence out of your pocket is worth depriving women of having children?

Frankly, that penny pinching stinks of entitlement more than anything else.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Many years ago, a woman in her late 20s on a train from Leeds to York was heard to say to her friend that she wanted UVF treatment...

I can see certain Protestant paramilitaries would have thought all their Christmases had come at once..

 

[telstarbox]

Bloody hell...

I take it you meant 'her late 20s' rather than 'the late (19)20s'?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Bloody hell...I take it you meant 'her late 20s' rather than 'the late (19)20s'?

Posting now amended...

 

[CatfordCat]

"there is no such thing as society"

 

[backontrack]

"there is no such thing as society"

"We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish. Good night."

- J.B. Priestley

 

[Busaholic]

"We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish. Good night."

- J.B. Priestley

A man who refused any preferments under the so-called Honours System, so no hypocrite. A good biography of him was published about fifteen years ago by Judith Cook, now deceased but whom I came to know when she moved to Penzance for the last few years of her life.

 

[Harbornite]

"We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish. Good night."

- J.B. Priestley

We studied "an inspector calls" at school for GCSE, it was pretty good and the ending had a good twist.

 

[backontrack]

A man who refused any preferments under the so-called Honours System, so no hypocrite. A good biography of him was published about fifteen years ago by Judith Cook, now deceased but whom I came to know when she moved to Penzance for the last few years of her life.

Oh. Interesting.

 

[roversfan2001]

"We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish. Good night."

- J.B. Priestley

That quote is well known by all GCSE English Literature students!

 

[backontrack]

That quote is well known by all GCSE English Literature students!

Indeed! Although this year, sadly, there's no coursework. It's all on the day for the class of 2018. :roll:

 

[roversfan2001]

Indeed! Although this year, sadly, there's no coursework. It's all on the day for the class of 2018. :roll:

And the class of 2017 (ie. me)! :cry:

 

[backontrack]

And the class of 2017 (ie. me)! :cry:

Don't worry, at least you can be part of the test group

(Just kidding of course, good luck with your exams next summer. )

 

[roversfan2001]

Don't worry, at least you can be part of the test group

(Just kidding of course, good luck with your exams next summer. )

Thanks.

 

[J-2739]

Indeed! Although this year, sadly, there's no coursework. It's all on the day for the class of 2018. :roll:

And the class of 2017 (ie. me)! :cry:

I feel you guys' pain!

(2018/19 for me )

 

[backontrack]

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Back on topic - why should I feel entitled to coursework anyway?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I feel you guys' pain!

(2018/19 for me )

Don't worry, just try your best and you might even beat Brexit if the exams are in June.

I think I'll stop here - don't want to hijack this topic too badly

 

[yorkie]

I think I'll stop here - don't want to hijack this topic too badly

No need for hijacking threads. If you want to discuss another topic, simply click 'Quote', then select & copy the text (Ctrl-A, Ctrl-C), click 'New Topic' and paste (Ctrl-V).

Anyway back on topic, yes there are too many spoilt brats who have a 'sense of entitlement' these days. It's always been a problem, I believe, but there are more than ever these days.

There really are people like Lauren Cooper*, although most who have an over-inflated sense of entitlement are rather less extreme than that.

It's not nice when you have to deal with such people, but you get used to it!

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauren_Cooper

Dame Lauren Alesha Masheka Tanesha Felicia Jane Cooper is a fictional character in The Catherine Tate Show. Lauren is one of the show's main characters and is played by Catherine Tate. The character is "killed off" in the 2007 Christmas Special which aired on 25 December.

Lauren is a 15-year-old schoolgirl with a surly attitude and was most widely known for her phrase "Am I bovvered?" (i.e. bothered - the "v" in the word takes the place of the "th" that should be there; see th-fronting). When feeling angry or embarrassed, she frequently replies with defensive responses such as "Am I bovvered?", "Do I look bovvered?" or "Are you disrespecting me?", among others. As demonstrated through her clothing and mannerisms, Tate portrays Lauren as a caricature of a Chav.

 

[Harbornite]

I think you could argue that Miriam Margoyles had a sense of entitlement about her during "watergate". This was discussed on here before.


http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/201...s-station-seat-young-man-water_n_9251864.html

"So I just thought, 'F*** you!' and I took my bottle of water out, took off the lid and poured it over his head."

 

[anme]

There are various threads running on these boards that reflect a general "Sense of Entitlement" that exists in society these days at large. When did this come about? I personally believe that it came in under Tony Blair and New Labour but it might have had its roots is the Thatcher era.

People have been writing this kind of nonsense since pre-history. For example, check out the biblical story of the Flood - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis_flood_narrative .

A more interesting question is why much of humanity sees itself as being in decline. In my experience, it's particularly prevalent in the UK. Several decades ago, I was told by many teachers that my generation was the worst yet. When you think about it, that a really sick thing to say to a child.

Other countries with considerably more problems have optimism about the future. I wonder why the UK doesn't?

 

[yorksrob]

People have been writing this kind of nonsense since pre-history. For example, check out the biblical story of the Flood - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis_flood_narrative .

A more interesting question is why much of humanity sees itself as being in decline. In my experience, it's particularly prevalent in the UK. Several decades ago, I was told by many teachers that my generation was the worst yet. When you think about it, that a really sick thing to say to a child.

Other countries with considerably more problems have optimism about the future. I wonder why the UK doesn't?

I believe the French have coined the word "declinisme" to describe the sense of everything going down the pan.

 

[TheEdge]

I think I'll stop here - don't want to hijack this topic too badly

Please do, I was class of 2007 and now I feel old :cry:

 

[DynamicSpirit]

There are various threads running on these boards that reflect a general "Sense of Entitlement" that exists in society these days at large. When did this come about? I personally believe that it came in under Tony Blair and New Labour but it might have had its roots is the Thatcher era.

I would suggest that sense has been around a lot longer, possibly for most of human history. However the particular form it takes varies with time. For example, 100-150 years ago, many people in the UK had a sense that they were entitled to rule over whatever countries and peoples they discovered in Africa and parts of Asia. 250 years ago, there was a similar sense of entitlement to have Africans as slaves.

Today the phrase, 'sense of entitlement' tends to be used by right wing politicians to denigrate those who receive welfare payments, but I see it in many other cases. To take just a couple of examples: People who complain about paying taxes, who appear to have a sense of entitlement that they should be able to keep their entire salaries without making any contribution to the society that makes it possible for them to earn their salaries in the first place. People who have a 'sense of entitlement' to drive everywhere without any thought for those affected by the noise, pollution and congestion so caused. And yes, cyclists who feel a 'sense of entitlement' to ride without any thought for pedestrians around them. I would guess a very large proportion of nonviolent crime (including for example shoplifting, stealing small items from employers, or riding on trains without paying) is also motivated in part by a sense of entitlement. Probably some violent crime too - most obviously some sexual assaults.

I would roughly define 'sense of entitlement' as a feeling that society owes you the right to do/earn/take whatever you want, without thinking about the need to help or consider others, or to contribute to the community you live in. And I would say it is a big problem - it's far better to think first about what you can do for other people. But it's not new, and it's not confined to any one group, and I'd be very wary of using it as a way to exclusively tar any one group of people, as some politicians are inclined to do.

 

[90019]

Anyway back on topic, yes there are too many spoilt brats who have a 'sense of entitlement' these days. It's always been a problem, I believe, but there are more than ever these days.

I don't think there are - I think that because we live in the age of social media where it's easier to get your voice heard than ever before, we hear about all sorts of things that would never have been considered important enough for broadcast and end up with the impression things are worse, regardless of whether they really are or not.