Dalrymple is generally opposed to new laws as solutions to social problems, but this piece in the Telegraph (h/t Teddy Msigwa and David) proves he is no purist. The careless and uncivil disposal of chewing gum is so disgusting, and the chewing itself so ugly, he calls for a national ban. It’s not just the aesthetics of the matter. Getting it stuck on one’s shoe is a serious imposition, and what’s more….
There is even worse (there is always worse). Not long ago I was on a bus and my knee happened to touch the underside of the seat in front of me. I experienced a horrible sensation and knew at once what it was: gum. However difficult the stuff is to remove from the sole of a shoe, it is easy by comparison with removing it from a trouser leg. The first is but Latin, the latter ancient Greek.
The Skeptical Doctor
Dedicated to the work of Theodore Dalrymple
Hmm. “Learning Ancient Greek is like removing chewing gum from a trouser leg”…I don’t think I’ll use that as a sales pitch when trying to get my Year 8 students to take up Greek!
Chewing gum is an unpleasant habit but I actually disagree with the good Doctor on this one, it doesn’t appear to me to be serious enough as a public nuisance to merit a blanket ban.
I sympathise but a 5,000 year habit would be hard to break.
I suggest snipers on the rooftops.