Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property wpdb::$categories is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 668
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property wpdb::$post2cat is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 668
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property wpdb::$link2cat is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 668
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Theme::offsetExists($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetExists(mixed $offset): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php on line 554
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Theme::offsetGet($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php on line 595
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Theme::offsetSet($offset, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php on line 535
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Theme::offsetUnset($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php on line 544
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/comment-template.php on line 1739
Deprecated: wp_getimagesize(): Implicitly marking parameter $image_info as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/media.php on line 5006
Deprecated: Return type of WP_REST_Request::offsetExists($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetExists(mixed $offset): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php on line 960
Deprecated: Return type of WP_REST_Request::offsetGet($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php on line 980
Deprecated: Return type of WP_REST_Request::offsetSet($offset, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php on line 992
Deprecated: Return type of WP_REST_Request::offsetUnset($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php on line 1003
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 151
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 175
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::key() should either be compatible with Iterator::key(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 164
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::valid() should either be compatible with Iterator::valid(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 186
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 138
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::offsetExists($index) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetExists(mixed $offset): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 75
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::offsetGet($index) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 89
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::offsetSet($index, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 110
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::offsetUnset($index) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 127
Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::count() should either be compatible with Countable::count(): int, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 199
Deprecated: Jetpack::setup_xmlrpc_handlers(): Implicitly marking parameter $xmlrpc_server as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/class.jetpack.php on line 939
Deprecated: Automattic\Jetpack\Connection\Manager::setup_xmlrpc_handlers(): Implicitly marking parameter $xmlrpc_server as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/vendor/automattic/jetpack-connection/src/class-manager.php on line 110
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property Automattic\Jetpack\Connection\Manager::$error_handler is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/vendor/automattic/jetpack-connection/src/class-manager.php on line 80
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Instagram_Gallery::$is_wpcom is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/class-wpcom-rest-api-v2-endpoint-instagram-gallery.php on line 23
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Mailchimp::$wpcom_is_wpcom_only_endpoint is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/class-wpcom-rest-api-v2-endpoint-mailchimp.php on line 17
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Tweetstorm_Gather::$wpcom_is_wpcom_only_endpoint is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/class-wpcom-rest-api-v2-endpoint-tweetstorm-gather.php on line 21
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Tweetstorm_Gather::$is_wpcom is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/class-wpcom-rest-api-v2-endpoint-tweetstorm-gather.php on line 22
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Gutenberg_Available_Extensions::$wpcom_is_site_specific_endpoint is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/gutenberg-available-extensions.php on line 20
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Memberships::$wpcom_is_wpcom_only_endpoint is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/memberships.php on line 23
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Memberships::$wpcom_is_site_specific_endpoint is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/memberships.php on line 24
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Subscribers::$wpcom_is_wpcom_only_endpoint is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/subscribers.php on line 15
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/extensions/blocks/podcast-player/podcast-player.php on line 157
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/extensions/blocks/podcast-player/podcast-player.php on line 157
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property Automattic\Jetpack\Sync\Queue::$random_int is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/vendor/automattic/jetpack-sync/src/class-queue.php on line 38
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property Automattic\Jetpack\Sync\Queue::$random_int is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/vendor/automattic/jetpack-sync/src/class-queue.php on line 38
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/widgets/migrate-to-core/image-widget.php on line 195
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/widgets/migrate-to-core/gallery-widget.php on line 56
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property Publicize_UI::$in_jetpack is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/publicize.php on line 53
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/calypsoify/class-jetpack-calypsoify.php on line 128
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/calypsoify/class-jetpack-calypsoify.php on line 129
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/calypsoify/class-jetpack-calypsoify.php on line 133
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/calypsoify/class-jetpack-calypsoify.php on line 134
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/calypsoify/class-jetpack-calypsoify.php on line 135
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 219
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 220
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 227
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 229
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 231
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 248
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 249
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 267
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 268
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 270
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 271
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 273
Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 275
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_Widget_Goodreads::$shelves is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/widgets/goodreads.php on line 33
Deprecated: DateTime::__construct(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($datetime) of type string is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/script-loader.php on line 348
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Block_Type::$plan_check is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-type.php on line 333
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Block_Type::$plan_check is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-type.php on line 333
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Block_Type::$plan_check is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-type.php on line 333
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Block_Type::$plan_check is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-type.php on line 333
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Block_Type::$plan_check is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-type.php on line 333
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Block_Type::$plan_check is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-type.php on line 333
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property Jetpack_Shortcode_Unavailable::$shortcodes is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/shortcodes/unavailable.php on line 19
Deprecated: ltrim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 3030
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$object_id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-term.php on line 198
WHO | Why Dont You Blog?
Oh how times have changed since the halcyon days of the first and second world wars (as well as the wonderful Cold War period). Following on from a line of thinking in my previous post, it seems there are some other generalisations you can make about societies that have experienced the horrors of war, and those that haven’t1.
It seems to me that in our current, peace-addled, societies if a month goes by without a government body declaring war on something the world will stop rotating. This week, New Scientist reports2 “Plans drawn up for a war on drink.” Wow. A real war on drink. Amazing. Will people get medals? When will the US invade the ocean? Comically, the online version tempers its headline somewhat, choosing to use the less comical “WHO considers global war on alcohol abuse.” I find the print version more honest though. (I will attack this at a later date)
Even ignoring the sheer comedy of a “war on drink” there are some telling aspects of modern, western, culture here. It seems every time there is a societal “problem” that a government (or international) organisation want to diminish, the only way it can get public attention is by declaring a war against it. In recent years we have mounted a war on poverty, obesity, hunger, want, crime, drugs and the ever comical war on terror. Are any of these real wars? Of course not. They are just victims of the increasing need to over-dramatise everything to get public attention.
Are they “winnable” wars? Again, no. Can they ever end? Still no.
And herein lies the problem I have with all this word-nonsense.
Westerners (at least English speakers) have a strange association with the term “war.” While it has become the norm for a war to be declared on everything and anything, we still have a lingering memory of what war really entails. This creates a strange situation where people will sacrifice their rights and liberties because “we are at war” without realising the term has simply been misused. Giving up an essential liberty for the “duration” of one of these insane wars is foolhardy – the war will never end so the liberty will never return. Even the War on Terror, which at least involves military action, is not a war the traditional sense of the word.
Compare our peace-loving present with the past of a mere 30 years ago. In the mid-1970s most people in the West could remember the War, lots had served in smaller wars (Korea, Vietnam, Borneo, Aden etc) and there was the ever present threat of a REAL BIG WAR with the USSR. Scary times. Genuinely scary.
Into this mix, we throw in a wide set of terrorist organisations who are bombing, shooting and kidnapping all over the place. Planes were regularly hijacked, visitors to the middle east had a 50:50 chance of being kidnapped each day and the IRA were doing their level best to turn the UK into one big fireball. Even Africa was in at least as much chaos as it is today – only instead of the locals killing each other it was mostly lunatics trying to be mercenary kings.
Throughout this crazy time did we have a war on Smoking? Drink? Obesity? Crime? Violence? Drugs? Nope. We didn’t even have a war on terror; western governments understood that declaring “war” on the terrorists gave them a status they didn’t deserve and changed how the state had to interact with them. One of the things the IRA/INLA hunger strikers were campaigning for was recognition of their struggle as being a war. Instead of starving to death, all they had to do was convert to Islam apparently.
What has changed over the world? So far, the Islamic terrorist threat has killed less British people than the IRA did in 1970 but we are a thousand times more frightened. Does this explain why we declare war on anything and everything?
It strikes me, that in the same manner people who have never experienced war sometimes long for it, a culture which has forgotten the horrors of war may start to long for it.
Worryingly, does this imply western society will, out of fear of the bogeyman, keep going to “war” on things until a real big war reminds everyone what they were trying to avoid? Crucially, when can we declare war on declaring war?
— 1: I am fully aware that these are generalisations. I am seeking to do no more, and no less, than discuss a trend. There will always be examples which flow counter to this and I wont lose any sleep over them.
2: Unfortunately you need to be a NS subscriber to get full access to this. Buy the magazine or trust me…
In recent weeks, any science content in New Scientist seems to be purely coincidental, with more and more pages being given over to woo and thinly veiled mysticism. This weeks issue is a minor deviation from this pattern, although most of the “solid science” is to be found in the letters pages…
There is one article, in the Comment and Analysis, which I am unsure about. Reading it, triggers a “bad science” response in me, but I am aware this may be a bit hasty. In an article titled “The media make a killing,” Michael Bond looks at some of the issues around the coverage of the Virginia Tech shooting. This is a well written article, which carries a lot of the “self evident truths” which the print media seem to like. As I was reading it, though, a few alarm bells were triggered — but this is not a subject in which I am well versed so before I scream Bad Science, I would like second opinions.
Deprecated: ltrim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 3030
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$link is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 749
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Term::$id is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/category-template.php on line 750