This bloke is a piece of work stating "A presumption of innoccence" and then bagging the French Socialist?
What say we all say "No offence" and then proceed to get very personal with this ugly little Narcissitict twerp? What would he feel then?
Mate, shut up, let justice take its course and then write your load of old twaddle! Oh by the way "No offence".

Some good points you make Diver Dan. I agree forms of communication have changed immensely but should that affect content so radically? Being a user of the technologies you mention to keep in touch (cheaply) with a diverse and wide network of friends and family I don't believe my ability to connect in the real world has been compromised. Ditto adult offspring who are well past their teens ....

I'm more inclined to blame social engineering that's led to stupid overindulgent parenting. Children who are not expected to shoulder any responsibility for household work, homes where NO is an unacceptable word, where all demands are indulged before or after the tantrums and Junior is praised incessantly, often for doing the most basic of personal tasks.

By the time Junior reaches your employ he/she thinks you should consider it a great honour that they have agreed to work (and I use that word loosely) for you. They expect whatever tasks they dislike they shouldn't have to do. They want constant rewards that are not commensurate with achievement. "Oh you took the rubbish to the compactor without being reminded 3 times and now you'd like to discuss a pay rise? After 2 weeks?" Certainly there are still plenty of good kids but there is a significent minority of the type thus described and I cannot remember a single classmate or workmate of similar vintage as myself with such an attitude.

Thus my earlier comment that kids should be taught early that they are part of the Universe, not the centre.

I say however it is downright ridiculous that a 17 yr old, a 12 yr old for that matter, should be denied purchase of a HANDSAW. I find todays world much more contradictory than that of my youth and generally less satisfying. Bring back common sense and the concept of responsibility for one's own actions - and SOON!

Yes...It is an interesting world built on shifting sands...