tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post5481603963756652563..comments2024-03-27T15:59:11.066+00:00Comments on Prometheus in Aspic: Hooptedoodle #155 - Socrates is alive, and drives a taxiMSFoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-37120903027811055182014-11-24T23:17:39.936+00:002014-11-24T23:17:39.936+00:00Glasgow's difficult history of forced relocati...Glasgow's difficult history of forced relocations, miserable living conditions and tough, manual labour means that many Glaswegians came to Australia as "ten pound Poms" in the 50s and 60s. As a result I have many friends from that particular corner of the world, and they are some of my favourite people. Generous, gregarious, hilarious and brilliant musicians. But the city made them tough, too. One of the staff in my local post office is an older lady of Glaswegian origins, and she became internet famous for five minutes after calmly facing down an armed robber. He said "give me all the money or I'll stab you". She said "no you won't" and just walked off to press the alarm button! He was quite flummoxed. I know exactly what you mean about being uncomfortable with the culture shock, having made the transition from blue collar ruffian to uni-educated arse-sitter. That said, some people are just jerks, but its good now and again to try and figure where they're coming from, otherwise we just assume that everyone who isn't Our Kind Of People are just stupid. A dangerous assumption.Steve Curryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06440638652987274722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-27484995147401062162014-11-24T08:47:29.602+00:002014-11-24T08:47:29.602+00:00Steve - thanks for this - made me feel a bit bette...Steve - thanks for this - made me feel a bit better about it. To be honest, one of the things I am least comfortable about is the implied we/they - I am aware of feeling like that in myself, and my working class origins and liberal socialist leanings don't like it very much. As we go through life, if we are lucky (which is a big proviso, I accept), we try to improve our lives in ways which suit us - we move away from people or situations we do not find agreeable or amenable. Nowadays I live, by choice, in a very rural area, in conditions of some comfort, and I have got out of the old habits of being physically threatened at least once a day, of avoiding eye contact on the street, of being aware of violent domestic squabbles on the next stair etc. We grow away from these things - we tend to forget. They are still there, and they are no more oppressive than they ever were, but occasional exposure to old attitudes is more of a culture shock than it should be.<br /><br />Glasgow is a decent, modern city - I have many friends who are Glaswegians - but its history is unusual in that the big shift of population from the Highlands into the city, looking for work in the shipyards and the factories, is comparatively recent by European standards - the clans were housed en masse in the schemes, bringing their traditions, their religious prejudices and their feuds with them. That legacy is still with us, to an extent, and raises its ugly head on most Saturday nights. MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-20602338313426052192014-11-24T08:32:29.669+00:002014-11-24T08:32:29.669+00:00I think Italian taxi drivers are kind of different...I think Italian taxi drivers are kind of different; of course he stiffed you on the trip/fare, but there's nothing personal in it - he is kind of expected to do this, so he would be letting everyone down if he didn't. Being stiffed by taxis, car parks, gift shops and waiters is an essential part of the Italian experience. And - importantly, as you point out - they do it in a pleasant manner.MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-91011893035816967792014-11-24T03:45:15.372+00:002014-11-24T03:45:15.372+00:00It's a truth, universally acknowledged, that a...It's a truth, universally acknowledged, that all taxi drivers everywhere are about a half second off reality. Bless them. At least it gives us all a chance to know what 'they' think. (You know, them, the ones who vote for people 'we' can see are nutjobs and watch reality television.)Steve Curryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06440638652987274722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-25338605651317050042014-11-24T01:35:14.557+00:002014-11-24T01:35:14.557+00:00I had a pleasant cab driver in Rome this summer, w...I had a pleasant cab driver in Rome this summer, who seemed entirely free of prejudice, but he did cheat me out of 15 Euros by needlessly driving me around half of Rome. I'm not sure which kind of cabbie is worse.Mad Padrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00410143683610813671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-74838546324162674912014-11-23T18:38:10.284+00:002014-11-23T18:38:10.284+00:00Maybe they have characteristics that self-select t...Maybe they have characteristics that self-select them (like basketball players), or maybe the job appeals to a certain type, or maybe the long hours and the bum-numbing nature of the work does something to their minds.<br /><br />The night after the Referendum result, George Square in Glasgow was full of middle-aged men in suits and kicking boots, singing Protestant sectarian songs and generally behaving as they have always done on Orange Lodge parades and at Glasgow Old Firm matches - Glasgow is a fine city, but it also has a long tradition of mindlessness and hatred which depresses the life out of me. MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-1504981623348547722014-11-23T16:01:40.735+00:002014-11-23T16:01:40.735+00:00I fear taxi divers are the same the world over - d...I fear taxi divers are the same the world over - do they start out like that or turn into it ?, TonyThe Good Soldier Svjekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08749564052124659180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-25739343089835249522014-11-23T15:51:56.167+00:002014-11-23T15:51:56.167+00:00If I spent my days with my back turned to complete...If I spent my days with my back turned to complete strangers, I think I'd watch my mouth a bit. Maybe he does some kind of snapshot analysis of his customers as they come on board. If I had been 300lbs and black I might have got a different version. Who knows?MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-77724497580937372822014-11-23T15:47:20.297+00:002014-11-23T15:47:20.297+00:00My wife seemed a little puzzled that I was not mor...My wife seemed a little puzzled that I was not more upbeat about my day out in the cheery, warm-hearted West.MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-74990592973154961782014-11-23T15:45:41.171+00:002014-11-23T15:45:41.171+00:00The man is not without some value, I admit. He was...The man is not without some value, I admit. He was quite a chunky fellow - I reckon if boiled down he would make about a kilogram of soap, for a start.MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-49816130454502360892014-11-23T15:38:53.757+00:002014-11-23T15:38:53.757+00:00At least he provided us with a bit of entertainmen...At least he provided us with a bit of entertainment. Surely there is some value in that?<br />RedSaberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844189477553443696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-62170451512832046792014-11-23T15:32:49.864+00:002014-11-23T15:32:49.864+00:00Thank God I read that. It's cheered up an othe...Thank God I read that. It's cheered up an otherwise dull day! GaryAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06963552380378929829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-78586063021345290452014-11-23T13:56:21.786+00:002014-11-23T13:56:21.786+00:00Not allowed to give people a drink of hemlock any ...Not allowed to give people a drink of hemlock any more are we?<br /><br />Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04053555991679802013noreply@blogger.com