Don’t treat us all the same please

DO YOU remember at school being told of some terrible misdeed such as the misappropriation of toilet rolls or graffiti on a blackboard and the culprit being asked to own up?If they didn’t, the whole class would be punished.

The injustice of it sends a shiver down my spine even now, but who would have thought that it would continue into adult life?

A drink at the airport before or on a flight may soon be a thing of the past because of ‘the rising number of hen and stag parties causing chaos’ according to Lord Ahmed, the new Aviation Minister.

For those of us who dislike flying, an injection of alcohol before and after take-off is welcome, if not vital. I do however own up to taking it too far on a flight to New York years ago, when after a few drinks, no water, non-stop chat, and too much adrenalin, I suffered serious dehydration.

When we left the plane I was struck down by the worst migraine ever, and Mr F and the friends we were travelling with, had their first sight of the Big Apple ruined by me vomiting into a carrier bag as we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge.

It wouldn’t happen now. I learned my lesson. But my stupidity didn’t result in me badmouthing people or starting a fight and having to be strapped into my seat.

Then... grrr …I discovered that there is a move by the Government Digital Service to stop those lovely little Latin abbreviations like eg and etc being used on their websites, because they may be confusing for some people.

Surely most people are familiar with words like ad hoc, vice versa, via and status quo? If not, they can always google them.

Everyone who saw Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs will remember the use of quid pro pro, when he was speaking to Jodie Foster from his cell.

Learning the meanings of these abbreviations takes no more application than learning text speak like LOL or BTW.

The mixture of influences that make up our language shouldn’t be abandoned because a few can’t be bothered to apply themselves. Nor should the choice to have a quiet gin and tonic on the plane be removed, because of the extreme behaviour of a few.

However, it seems if it goes on, we’ll all be kept in at playtime…

Email me: bmailbarbara@gmail. com