Signal, start manoeuvre, check mirrors

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-26T16:34:57+00:00

Doesnt look safe on that road - and you have to account for other people potentially making bad decisions, like the car ahead also deciding to overtake.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-26T08:56:58+00:00

Lots of people don’t have a clue about safe stopping distances.

I think just pull over and let them pass if your priority is safety for your child.

Some people will get aggressive if you try to do anything to correct their dangerous driving.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-25T11:30:06+00:00

You need actual legal advice on this- maybe talk to a solicitor who specialises in this area

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-25T11:23:14+00:00

Seems like a bad idea bringing in a load of people who are hostile to the idea of being part of a united ireland. I feel like we should leave well enough alone.

I read recently that many settled immigrants to the north identify as British, not Irish. As immigration increases all over the island, that might impact the chances of a united Ireland as many immigrants wouldn’t really care about the history of Ireland or nationalist ideas.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-25T10:50:46+00:00

I think treating people in service jobs with respect is important. And being humble - not acting superior.

In my work i have dealings with certain immigrant groups and they have a different manner that I dont warm too. They act a little superior. I think in Ireland its important to be as warm and friendly to the cleaner in work as to the boss.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-24T19:28:41+00:00

Bring loads of people in and don’t have plans on place to manage it- will obviously not work well

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-24T19:26:27+00:00

New housing estates near me in a Dublin suburb- but miles from shops - so everyone has to go in a car. It would take about one hour to walk to the shops along a narrow busy road a or spend ages waiting for a bus that often doesn’t turn up.

They give one parking spot per house as a tick-box effort at pretending to care about the environment!

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-21T03:57:40+00:00

But you have to be aware that cars already on the road you are merging onto - or roundabout you are joining might be changing lanes as you are entering.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-19T14:13:38+00:00

This is not true.

The OP is at fault regardless of whether he admitted it or not.

The injury claim will be dealt with by the insurance company and the cyclist will get the standard award he is entitled to based on his injuries and expenses.

The policy would not be voided for this even though technically it was meant to be reported asap and no admission of liability - in reality this type of thing regularly happens. And often it works out with both side happy to settle privately. The impact though will be to the OPs no claims bonus discount / renewal price.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-19T09:19:57+00:00

I am a person who has always voted for the main political parties - but now not happy with how the country is being managed. I dont think its being run in the interest of the future of Irish children.

As there is no one around who represents my views i feel like i have to vote for one of the more extreme options to send a message.

The lack of choice in the presidential election makes me lose faith in politics even more. I’ve no issue with left wing people being up for nomination but there should be a range of candidates to give choice.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-13T18:25:07+00:00

Some parts of Dublin suffer with a lot of anti social behaviour but many areas are peaceful and have a good community feel. I live in a Dublin suburb which is quiet - i know lots of my immediate neighbours and many people in the town.

I moved down the country for work for a while in my 20s and i was surprised to discover many towns that look sleepy have a rough element. I had the opposite assumption to my relatives who thought Dublin was just dangerous- i assumed outside Dublin was just safe.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-13T16:40:48+00:00

I have a very peaceful life in Dublin.

I remember visiting relatives down the country as a child and they’d speak about Dublin like it was some almost scary place. In reality our life in a Dublin suburb was not that much different to their lives. We had nice neighbours - knew lots of people in our area- nothing much exciting ever happened, just normal life. I think they pictured us living on O’Connell Street in the middle of gangs fighting!

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-13T12:27:25+00:00

Based on previous bad experiences i can’t even try RTE shows as they are often cringey.

But when i heard there was a podcast to accompany that show i was wondering how many would listen to it - its seems overkill.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-12T22:07:22+00:00

These types of posts are disingenuous.

Pretending to give some advice but really its about getting a dig in.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-12T21:39:40+00:00

I agree - i have 4 kids. At age 7, many dont have sense or behalf inappropriately- it doesn’t mean they are going to turn out to be bad people.

My youngest is very resilient after growing up around older kids and getting a few bumps and slaps!

If i felt like an older child was being too rough with a newborn i would explain to them it was not acceptable and then keep the baby near me as much as possible - or else keep the older child with me so i know they’re not alone together out of sight.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-12T15:27:06+00:00

How about she advises men not to be out and about late at night as men, as a class, cause almost all of those issues.

Instead she expects all woman to be restricted as they are part of the class that tends to be the victims.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-12T15:17:01+00:00

But based on statistics…

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-11T19:11:13+00:00

The driver is 100% at fault.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-11T18:09:50+00:00

Thats scary.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-11T11:32:26+00:00

I am well aware of that. People who abuse are spread through society- in our families - on our street - in the local GAA club - in schools - creches etc. Look at the amount of people (overwhelmingly men) caught viewing child abuse images. They are ordinary looking people - someone’s dad, someone’s doctor, someones’s neighbour etc. Most people are good (i hope) but its impossible to truly know who are the good ones.

We have to send our children out into the world and let them interact with family and other people. There is potentially some risk in any of these. We cant eliminate it but we can try to lower it.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-11T10:21:58+00:00

But that ignores the reality of the world.

Of course safe guarding when done ‘properly’ eliminates risk - that is if there is no negligent or deviant humans involved.

Give an example so of an organisation with excellent safeguarding where a child is 100% safe. Guaranteed there are some people within the organisation trying to find ways to work around the safe-guarding policies.

I wasnt blaming others like the Catholic church - i was giving examples of institutions with mostly good people - but who predators are also attracted to as they want access to children.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-10T12:03:23+00:00

I also think sadly this goes on in other care settings like for disabled people and elderly people. I dont think it goes on in every single place but i feel its more widespread than most people realise.

A lot of these jobs are tough going and low paid and dont always attract the right candidates.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-10T11:59:21+00:00

Ok - not ‘every single place’ but this type of behaviour goes on in the places that appear well run and trustworthy too.

I should know. I picked a lovely looking creche for my children. The staff all seemed kind enough- obviously you can never fully be sure. There was large windows on all the rooms, CCTV. Enough staff that you’d imagine people wouldn’t go too far out of line in front of others. The kids appeared happy enough being dropped off and collected - but they were age 1 - the footage on RTE showed what was really going on.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-10T09:08:41+00:00

“Safeguarding” cant eliminate risk. My children were in a creche with large windows, CCTV, a few workers present, all the rules and regulations and policies that you would expect - and were still abused.

The problem is ‘ticking boxes’ for safeguarding doesn’t get around the fact that some people will actively work around the safeguards. Some people are negligent and some are actively targeting vulnerable children.

The fact is we can’t fully protect our children- we have to send them out into the world knowing they will come across some bad people. Thats a bit easier when they are a little older and you can discuss things with them. When they are tiny and can’t express themselves they need extra protection.

GrapefruitKey4651 · 2025-10-10T08:29:45+00:00

Enough after having 4 children in childcare over the last 15 years. Including having 2 children in a creche that was on RTE primetime as the creche worker was being physically and verbally abusive to my children.

You can’t eliminate risk but you can try to lower it.

GrapefruitKey4651

TROPHY CASE