May 12th 2024.
Is it fair to assume that men are automatically guilty by association? It's a question that has been making its rounds on social media, with many women choosing a bear over a man as their preferred companion in the woods. A reader recently wrote to MetroTalk, expressing their frustration that men are being labeled as dangerous simply because they share a gender with those who have committed crimes. The letter also touches on other topics such as homelessness, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and a potential referendum for a "no mayor term" option in local elections.
Robert Bucknor, in his argument against stop and search tactics that disproportionately target ethnic minorities, makes a valid point - no rational person would accept being treated as guilty before having the chance to prove their innocence. However, when it comes to being a man, it seems that this is the norm. The "men vs bear" meme question is a perfect example of this, with many women choosing a bear as their preferred companion in the woods over a man. It's not about bruising our egos, but rather not wanting to be automatically labeled as guilty by association when the majority of us are not.
Moving on to other topics, a reader named Ryan shared his experience of witnessing a man shouting at a homeless person, which motivated him to start helping those living on the streets. He, along with many others, believes that homelessness is not a choice but often a result of unfortunate circumstances such as ill health, relationship breakdowns, or childhood abuse. The letter nominates Ryan for the Good Deed Feed column and urges others to show kindness and respect towards homeless individuals.
On the topic of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, reader Otto Inglis believes that Western leaders should be supporting Israel instead of pressuring them to make concessions to "monsters." He argues that negotiating with callous religious fanatics is an entirely different situation than negotiating with chancers, and we should be giving the Israelis our full support.
Another reader, Doug, brings up an interesting point about the mayoral vote in London. With a turnout of less than 50%, he believes that most people could be said to not want a mayor and suggests having a referendum for a "no mayor this term" option. This would allow power to be put into the hands of the proportionally elected assembly. Similarly, reader Charles EL Gilman questions how people would have voted had there been separate referendums for the assembly and mayoral positions.
Lastly, reader Jonathan raises concerns about government outsourcing of data services, especially in light of the recent hacking of Ministry of Defence armed forces personnel files. He believes that complacency within organizations is a bigger cyber-threat than external hackers and emphasizes the importance of proper data protection and management. John Edwards, Information Commissioner, adds that it is everyone's responsibility to ensure data protection and offers advice on how to do so.
What are your thoughts on these topics? Have your say in the comments below or by texting VIEWS followed by your comment, name, and location to 65700. And remember, you are more likely to be published if you provide your name and location with your comment.
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