Theodore Dalrymple - Our Culture, What's Left of It - June 2005 (4 of 5)

On June 2, 2005, Theodore Dalrymple spoke at the Harvard Club in New York to celebrate the release of his book Our Culture, What's Left Of It: The Mandarins and the Masses, published by Ivan R. Dee. The book is a collection of essays Dalrymple wrote for City Journal magazine, who sponsored the event. He is introduced by City Journal editor-in-chief Myron Magnet. To learn more about Theodore Dalrymple, visit www.skepticaldoctor.com, an unofficial website devoted to the man and his work.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• theodore
• dalrymple
• dr.
• anthony
• daniels
• life
• at
• the
• bottom
• skeptical
• doctor
• manhattan
• institute
• city
• journal
• politics

[ajs41]

Replacing grammar schools in Britain with comprehensive schools has had the opposite effect of that intended, as Dalrymple says. Bright children from poor backgrounds were able to succeed in life by attending grammar schools. Now they have no choice but to attend comprehensive schools which are often dominated by louts and thugs. The reason why grammar schools were closed is because it was thought unfair that some poor people should be able to succeed while others did not. This was utopian.

[Pittounikos]

Good insight. A perfect example of the law of unintended consequences. Today the political class' won't mention this. Shame on them I say

[Jumpingflashlight]

Once, a few years ago, I was riding my bicycle through a suburban neighborhood and came across children of similar age. (Ok, maybe more than a few years ago!)

As I passed them, and said hello, they just stopped playing their games and stared at me. One of them asked if I knew them.

I sometimes get similar reactions today from adults when I go out for a run.

[Jumpingflashlight]

On the subject of non-socialization in the night clubs; I have observed something similar to this in online multiplayer video games.

Often, even when in massive groups of players in the game world, there will be almost no interaction between players of any kind. Even when part of the game is to "get into" the fantasy world, people will ignore each other.

[shaqdaddy11]

Well even in american christian circles churches and church doctrain is become more and more leftist. In a way many churches are trying to adopt the leftist mindset of the british, just so they can attract the younger crowed. But what i so often see is that, that sort of christianity is like a season for many of the young these churches are trying to attract. It comes like a house on fire and then the kids get bored and leave. That sort of christianity has no base to stand.

[301250]

Of the various laws around, Parkinson's, Seagle's, Murphy's etc. there now must be added Dalrymple's Law :"All policies produce the opposite effect to those intended." sd goh