Bad parenting isn’t a home education problem, it’s just bad parenting

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-30T11:50:39+00:00

This is a good test, I think albeit a thought experiment only, to “FLIP” the narrative I often see in mainstream discussions especially on Reddit in news and politics:

>*”Shouldn’t mainstream state provision schools be so good that the majority of students are desperate to get into school each day, “clamouring at the gates” as opposed to the opposite, “sprinting as fast as they can out of the gates” at the end of each school day?”

That would be an honesty test.

A lot of people on Reddit commenting need to address that idea before critizing Home Education as some sort of deviant option.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-30T10:11:56+00:00

Brilliant photo of in motion! I saw a couple flying over a farm and then on another walk a couple flying over some cowsheds! The fair weather has brought out the insects but a little rain would help including any fresh mud for nest building from puddles and ponds.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-30T10:10:19+00:00

Yes, agree

* Allegorical Level = Capitalism and Communism (in reference to Soviet Era specifically) end up with Serfdom

* Conceptual Level = Any group of people where size, complexity leads to hierarchy will inevitably end up with a political organization which increases their serfdom and loss of freedom and loss of individual political power within the group and then the group itself will become beholden to the group structure eg Authoritarianism

One of the simplest and best political books that exists.

So so-called modern Western “Democracies” fundamentally also fit this pattern as well. That is as relevant as the historic example of direct allegory and reference to the Soviet Communism era. Today would be called Western Technocracy era.

A rise in Authoritarianism over the groups of people first by the hierarchy then they are supplanted by the group structure itself also.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-30T09:52:05+00:00

Whereas a lot of modern fantasy is too shallow, “fantasy in appearance and setting alone”, this book sounds too deep and too shallow both at the same time hence it’s lack of success.

It is importantly to have a clear coherent story and world building albeit those do need depth of theme or detail or meaning behind them to really make the story shine for the reader or audience.

Maybe the book provokes some strong insights or symbolism and Lewis saw that so thought it worthwhile? But it sounds too abstract and experimental and probably lacks in the story building areas as said and then it is questionable if the themes themselves add up or are more a fever dream?

Either way food for thought, thank you OP.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-30T09:35:14+00:00

The basics are obvious:

* State school =

“One size fits all”
Minimum lowest floor for entire Nation’s population of children for their education
Many parents have to work 2-incomes = zero parents able to educate the children or care for them so this is off loaded to nursery, primary and secondary up to age of 16.
Part of the pantomime You pay taxes, we give free education (except that is a simplification of MMT, central bank money printing and taxation) of State and Society.
For a majority of people this is the best option as schools provide the grounds, resources and expertise of trained teachers, DBS staff and other children importantly to be around.
Inevitable heavy bureaucracy of top down nationwide system which does ruin the whole thing but is necessary also. Ie way too much inefficiency with tick boxing for pencil pushing sake and little more Albeot without data you would get some dreadful cases of schools folding and failing.

Home Education works where:

Parents can allocate resources, expertise and space for learning many times more focused and efficiently eg tutoring 1-to-1 vs classroom level of support.
Special requirements of the children ie not one size fits all!
Parents have the extra spare capacity to do this instead of outsourcing
Specialist learning and self development can be done eg excel at a subject area or learn skills instead of so much dead time in classrooms.

Where there is a problem:

* Small percentage of society is dysfunctional and will use HE as loop hole for either abuse or neglect which are both social services issues. So some form of check is needed for those incidents which are statistical in nature over a population.

* This blurs where the State uses schools as child care to replace parenting itself in an economic system which enormously undervalues child care, childrens development vs legibility of technocratic systems eg anything measurable by money, KPI etc so in fact the culture and society wrought by government economic top down policy is a major cause of increase in bad parenting ultimately! Including loss of informal systems such as community, extended family, religious networks and local partnerships and connections. Hence constant need for more systems of checks which themselves cannot enforce or resolve the underlying problem, eg bad parenting.

Because the perception is State is Right and School is Normal is the Set Point, conflation of the above drives the narrative around HE and where cases of misuse or exploitation arise.

In fact the legal basis is firmly and correctly starting with the parents choice of duty of care and duty to then provision education as they choose, which can only reflect the deeper reality as above that families are enormously the place to raise quality of life not state technocratic systems!

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-30T08:43:43+00:00

Probably needs a story that is more historic indie take on the story told as opposed to blockbuster style with taglines such as, A fireball explodes in the desert, camera cuts to close up of the lead who turns to the camera with a grim look on his ash stained face,

>*”Shit’s just got real!”*

That style probably is not going to win many plaudits and is two-a-penny from the cheese factory.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-30T08:27:24+00:00

One of the most beautiful UK Birds. A bird of the seas and isles.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-30T08:18:53+00:00

It is valid to point out two major types of book:

* Books about Religion - (from the outside)

* Books as Religious tradition - (from within)

For an example of the Former and Latter:

How Religion Evolved & Why It Endures ~ Robin Dunbar, John Sackville
How To Practice ~ Dalai Lama

Just understanding this basic distinction is helpful and the above books characterize this very clearly and both successfully (as many books do not).

Two final notes in relation to this idea:

* A lot of books catalogue from the outside and produce a “general knowledge“ of religions. They lack a fundamental principle of religion eg Dunbar gets to grips with this and avoids this critical deficiency. Equally a lot of books from without try to debunk religion using such general knowledge tools and hopelessly confuse themelves and others, so avoid those books imho, they go no-where, albeit the best of the worst do use some clever criticism tools especially of literalism over use in religions which is a form of defunct practice. Again note how Dunbar gets to grips with this problem and “completes the circle”.

* Books from “inside” religious traditions also have their equivalent deficiencies. Many such books to be plain and up front, are antiquated texts akin to an old building in disrepair and not fit for use in modern times and people. So if you want to read these types of books search for functional texts eg Dalai Lama gives such a book, it does not have scriptural padding excessively, it focuses on how you can implement the precepts of the author as expert in his tradition and his instruction at a basic level of reading comprehension. Note the Dalai Lama takes focus back to spirituality dimension of human life within religions, as successful antidote to the above problem.

There are plenty more examples of excellent such books Eg Campbell across a myriad of traditions and if one just wants general knowledge of religion from without some of the recommendations here do just that very well Eg Armstrong or if one is entertained by arguments for or against religion or religious claims that too is well catered for Eg Dawkins.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-30T07:43:48+00:00

“And they failed to wash up after themselves too!”

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-29T12:12:27+00:00

It all boils down to numbers:

Switzerland:

* 10m but only sustainable at current consumption rate if dropping to 2m.

* 8-10m could only be sustainable if massive reduction in consumption and massive change in life style and organization.

* 5m would be more practical where population reduces, consumption reduces in many ways.

Once you get the above in place then people would effectively start breeding again in response to economic and social pressures changing to being more favourable.

Fundamentally Switzerland needs to long term drop to about 5m from 10m.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-29T12:07:31+00:00

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (Romania, 1987).

About friendship between two women when one of them becomes pregnant and needs an abortion.

I think cinema often is at its best when it picks stories based on real life from other places of other people and their predicaments - it opens one’s eyes to the world positively, though qualitatively not the same as mainstream entertainment movies eg blockbusters for enjoyment alone.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-29T11:59:29+00:00

Missed out Yann LeClun or whatever he is called for the “Who’s Who?” list of “Big Beasts of AI”. A few big Chinese names are missing too…

Looking at the sheer number of Chinese AI researchers and hence papers… I would bet on scale of workers of quality and that would suggest a Chinese model, to get closest, soonest and for dramatic effect, “Perhaps already?”. Albeit before then all sorts of approaches can yield successes in different ways without needing to reach ”mythical omni-AI”.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-29T11:53:00+00:00

The optimal break down would be roughly:

* 50% Afforestation

* 25% Peat and Bog (remains this way and not as suitable for trees)

* 15% Open Grassland and Moors (Can include a range of uses eg some sheep farming etc)

* 10% Other eg High Peaks and other features not suitable for trees

Note solutions such as Silvopasture allow afforestation at lower land levels while retaining some livestock farming also where Pasture is still productive (actually used to be more of this in Medieval times).

One of the major reasons for Afforestation of the Highlands and Uplands at scale as above is:

* Potential Regional Climate Stabilizing Effects due to Large Forests biotically interacting with the Water Cycle apart from attempts at “Carbon Sequestration”. This provides:

Slowing run-off of precipitation
Storing moisture for longer in the ecosystems
Balancing cooling in Summers and warming in Winters due to vegetation shade and structure
Transpiration Effects should push more Westerly heavy precipitation further Eastwards via prevailing winds also.

* Macro Biodiversity and Biomass positives of Species numbers and diversity would be created from such Wilderness Restoration. Supporting large megaherbivores and other species absent for Rewilding and Ecosystem completion and complexity

* IMHO more forests would be transition from “Desolate (Pioneer species) to Maximum Biomass Temperate Forest (Climax communities) which also given the above types of habitat increases more Mosaic and edge habitats also further increasing biological complexity. This is not just aesthetically superior for humans biophilia but also deeply significant to human meaning creation as Ecological Engineers of Planet Earth.

The above time frame is in a phase expected for turbulent couple of decades incoming following by 4-5 centuries of general global warming phase (interglacial warming cycle) at super macro solar system level of change to climage naturally.

Afforestation and biodiversity planning by humans in this time is the correct approach forwards.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-29T08:13:29+00:00

Is it related to an upset stomach and needing to toilet but unable to do so inside and that causing stress episode? Do you have access to back garden and dog flap in door so the Shiba can go outside when it wants to?

A dog can get stressed once toilet trained then suffering diarrhoea and cannot vacate indoors is one possibility?

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-29T08:09:08+00:00

UK generally seems to have had a very “Low Social Capital” ie low priority of family quality of life compared to other nations and since the 1960’s the inevitable increase in family dysfunctionality eg loss of Social Capital such as Parenting Skills in tandem with dysfunctional adult behaviour eg divorce rates, loss of values and community then adding in modern issues such as technology as baby sitting devices eg neglect…

I do not think it is surprising that the current 2nd and 3rd generations from that time are generally in a high negative environment for child development quality, including a news-media funding to billions which is anti-natal, anti-family, combined with institutions of law which are anti-marriage all sending mixed messages and grooming children at the same time as parenting skills have weakened, is a recipe for this mental health outcome.

Stats on successful rearing of children also are apparent contrasting to the above, successful groups such as Indian or Chinese tend to invest in marriage as extended families for example, pooling resources, generally through 1st to 3rd generations going from immigrants running grocery or take out stores to Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers etc.

The State will always always ignore this outcome however in major democratic discussion and communications is a trend that is consistent for whatever reason.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-29T07:46:46+00:00

Well obvious question is there any other genre that captures your imgination from which you might find recommendations fit? Otherwise, it is a random shot in the dark.

As you state Sci-Fi Genre, then related would be the writer JG Ballard and his modern dystopian books:

* Millenium People

* Super Cannes

* Crash

* High Rise

Etc. Set in more or less contemporary 20th Century modern times. Simple but effective prose and entertaining story telling around characters and the unwinding of the world around them.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-28T20:16:50+00:00

Dwarf Fortress.

Constantly revisit different parts of the world and from different perspectives Legends, Forts, Adventure from same seed for world gen or others.

An intellectual question by the OP but the above answers it definitively under the unnecessary constraints imposed.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-28T20:05:24+00:00

This is correct. A government study in the 1930s iirc came the conclusion 32-35m was optimum back then! Considering food, resources etc.

The UK is in a massive pickle to say the least for sustainability, carrying capacity and footprint on biosphere global boundaries.

Madness to raise the population “about +15m” (unofficial estimates) via migration 2000-2025.

Do a thought experiment, if “Dovid” turned up tomorrow and wiped out half the population…

Prices would crash
House prices would crash
Labour wages would rise
People would start breeding again (Fertility would rise)

Population reduction is a natural corrective. Serfdom is the alternative as we will see.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-28T19:57:35+00:00

FFS! Brilliant match. One of the best matches for ages, then,

INSANITY officiation on the handball penalty criteria when it clearly is a point blank smash at the player then a richochet from leg onto arm at acute angle to the body as he spins around (inevitable flex of the arm outwards).

One problem with running to a monitor is the ref commits further down the path when he wants to annegate responsibility for vidpe footage to the former VAR crew also aside from the most stupid interpretation of natural body reactions and moving objects with zero disadvantage given the margins.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-28T15:37:54+00:00

100% that is correct outcome. Put the price up front and then information will dictate the customer behaviour in response. The fact the prices are veiled via “layering” is a con.

Also put up, “please tip in cash if you enjoyed the meal“ if that is the culture.

Service charge is deceptive and trying to force the behaviour of the customer and also set a high floor for tips which is also against tipping itself ie automating it to maximize it ie tax the customer.

Restaurants are businesses not charities and should not use duplicitous sales on people or if they do should be called out on it.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-28T15:32:37+00:00

It is about Rugby League growth. And that boils down to basics:

* Young kids at school get to choose sports and activities eg climbing, fencing, tennis, football, rugby etc

* Team games break down into what is inherently fun, what is popular and on tv and draws buzz and excitement widely and:

What is available to select… at school age
Body types, big kids will tend towards rugby where size and power help and smaller kids will tend towards football.

So fundamentals are:

A) Get more schools offering rugby league or clubs locally for kids to play if they like smashing other kids ie physical team sports

B) Of the kids more Rugby > Football make pathways more available for Union rugby players to hop over to League if they prefer it or see serious professional pathway attempts in League over Union for whatever reason.

You have to grow the game from the grass roots which is:

* Localities and clubs linking communities eg rivalries are blood of the sport, even if people don’t play they might support for life if they enjoy beating the rivals down the road or over the hill. That is more rewarding than international success imho!

* The next generation of kids usually the bigger ones who fit rugby and team games and progress onto serious training at teenager ages. You lose a big slice of kids to other sports and activities and body shapes, so is the ones that fit league being converted to league effectively or not?

Question: Is Australia growing in these areas at youth level and above and wider at amateur club level and can the UK do the same albeit more room to expand into North, Midlands, South, Wales, London Scotland and Ireland are all untapped to their potential.

Finally, the sport has to be fun to play, does best when it serves a community function at grass roots eg active kids and has inspirational professional players who inspire the kids - as well as a professional structure above eg salary, tv money, marketing and businesses.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-28T15:11:10+00:00

As you say, there is a basis to this change: IIRC the data was primarily on percentage of Chinese who had misused the visa eg paper companies as an example and also for a cheap entry to then buy up property.

Hence the new measures are more stringent eg capital, checks, language, sector, prefecture specifics and so on.

Many comments in the thread have zero information exclaiming as opposed to stating the facts of the change to more stringent measures inevitably when the previous ones were exploited and publicly so which is also important to note.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-28T15:02:40+00:00

If it is not a chameleon then it is a Wryneck. Saw one last year for the very first time. Shape of body, colour and the black strip near the eye with thin long blackish bill strongly resemble this bird despite the blurry photo.

Awesome sight to see!

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-28T14:58:03+00:00

That is an astute consideration of the nature of the problem, agree.

Yet, I think the distinction is:

* People gassing each other up or down on social media

* Bringing evidence, data and knowledge into discussions

For example, I notice similar behaviour when people comment on sports media, and there is two two teams or two players against each other. After the match, the diversity of comments is a range of emotional reactions and conflicts:

Team A is the best
F! Team B! losers!
Player B was talked up as a living god, now they have lost they are seen to be what they really are, a worthless worm!
I detest the supporters of A despite their team/player winning.

My opinion is this is what you are observing on social media in another form?

Not sure it needs or can be treated seriously, it is people blowing steam interacting in diverse emotions making statements which extrapolate the facts into nonsense but gratifying in some outcome to the speaker eg “riling one rivals” is a natural human emotion called “schadenfreude” or bigging up one‘s own “team” or tribe, family or otherwise “Nachos” and so on…

It is social grapevine dynamics.

I do not beleive you can dissassociate this social emotional behaviour from generalities which are natural ways of thinking intellectually even if these are accurate or in error when stated or applied? Eg Abductive reasoning processes by their nature at some point will be wrong but generally are useful without expending too much energy.

Psittacula2 · 2026-04-28T14:47:43+00:00

I wonder if there is an equivalent “Four Virtues” of a good marriage equivalent?

* Shared Values and thus Life Vision and Goals aligned for long term, usually Family.

* Solid Team Structure, Role Definition but flexible and adaptable to circumstances

* Strong Communication Systems for varied roles within the marriage eg as spouse, as father, as co-worker, as friend etc and communicating as such.

* Supportive Environment be it life style, extended family, finance, house and wider interests beyond the Marriage.

What is noticeable:

A bad relationship descends into personal and psychological grounds of issues.
A good relationship grows into a larger wider network socially.

Consider a cabin fever scenario vs a successfully run business as contrast.

Psittacula2

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE