I used to be a member of a green group. They advocated a "Herod Policy" of killing the first-born of every family and had the most distasteful personal hygiene standards: almost Germanic

I do tend to see them as attention-seekers who are well on 'the spectrum'. Just look at Chris Packham.

[Link]

"A row has broken out between naturalist Chris Packham and a council after an area of wildflowers was cut down.

The TV presenter criticised Derbyshire Dales District Council on Twitter for mowing an area near Matlock's Arc Leisure Centre.

He said the issue highlighted by not-for-profit group Little Green Space in a tweet was "maddening".

The council said it did mow part of the site but other areas were left for pollinators." (BBC website 10 June 2022)

If he typifies a protester, I have always considered him to be very much the c-unit. "It's my way or the highway" kind of fella. No compromise at all. And he always has his 'personal issues' (autism/aspergers) to use as a shield from criticism. Well I have Tourette's, and I think Packham is a c-unit.

Packham lives in a relatively isolated dwelling near woodland and has children. Firstly , people like him shouldn't be breeding because children are the biggest net contributors to using the world's resources. Population growth is the single biggest contributor to most of the planets woes. Secondly, I'd want to build affordable housing all around his house, so that less financially able can enjoy the wonders of the countryside, just like that TV presenter who tries to call the shots from his ivory tower.
That'll fiick-'im

Edited by Forest Hillbilly (11 Jun 2022 4.25pm)

I disengage, I turn the page.

Life span figure from the past are distorted by the very high death rates among children, most adults usually made it to their 60s.

If this is genuinely the case perhaps the authorities will be aware (I know they monitor far left green groups, not just radical islam and dissident right types [Link] though something tells me Caroline Lucas isn't about to attack someone with a cucumber - other than herself when she's in the mood). Or do they avoid issues on some kind of technicality that they're not actually personally theatening anyone and just stating an anti humanity view?

In any case, again I'd say that most of those with a genuine interest in the environment and natural world aren't nutters in the making. There are unpalatable fringes to all political and ideological takes and they are often the loudest.

In a sense I admire Packham's passion for nature. The guy has been targetted in routinely threatening ways, with dead animals being tied to his property gates and so on. This is hardly 'less' full on than anything he does or believes. The obsessive and detail orientated nature may indeed be in part due to him having aspergers, but I wouldn't say it's directed in a particularly horrendous way all things considered even if you don't take to him personally. You touch on an important topic though, as a startling number of those who become radicalised (which is clearly as uncompromising in perspective as you can get) are on the spectrum [Link] . Often young people. Parents should mindfully factor this reality in and direct focus to passions that can readily be harnessed to positive effect. The wayward political and religious takes of various shades that the above succumbed to likely did them no favours, but then in this internet age it may have often happened entirely unbeknownst to others anyway. A sad state of affairs.

Edited by BlueJay (11 Jun 2022 5.39pm)

I googled it and those were the numbers and age.
It wasn’t an average as far as I read.

Turns out he did a documentary about his condiiton [Link]
[Link]

A good opportunity to understand and emphasise with others, that way we better see where his passion for nature emerges from (or as one poster fairly said and why he might rub some up the wrong way!). It's sometimes touching, others easy to see the real challenges and peculiarities he is having to navigate.

Like I say, better for him to take a path of care for nature, rather than something, say, politically or religiously unconscionable. He may spur those on a similar position to take up an interest that adds to their community rather than burdens it and I can think of worse things to get pied pipered with.. I doubt those repeatedly stringing up dead animals on his gates give two figs about any of this but of course, some people are hate and belittlement geared, while others are more able to appreciate and do right by those around them. When you think of how many are without even a hobby, let alone a passion, there is something to be said for where he's got to despite his challenges.

Edited by BlueJay (14 Jun 2022 11.41am)

Let's face it - you did it for a shag.

Red and Blue Army!