Add a Comment

Comment by Ray Hallam on February 26, 2012 at 13:35

Has anyone created an "Old Boys" online community for ex-squaddies like Frank, where they can meet and talk with others who have had similar experiences and can thus understand each other on important levels?

Further, is there a general ex-squaddies forum where lads from the same regiments of all ages can meet and exchange stories and experiences? In both cases, they could exchange stories both via video conferencing or text-posts, share stories, photos and documents and feel part of something bigger?

I have not checked, but if such forums and online communities do exist, then is Frank aware of this? Perhaps he does not have a computer, or does not know how to use one, but computers are cheap and a well-set up computer is usable by anyone. Initial teaching could be delivered by two methods - in-house or at an IT centre which comes back to my point in GY Challenge 1 about having a community hackspace / education centre. Training could even be delivered by volunteers, perhaps young unemployed.

People like Frank still have a lot to offer modern society, he could be offering a first person account of some of the things that he has witnessed to history classes, etc. It seems that (in the west at least) we have a very young cultural ethos - everything is focused on the young, the old are ignored or seen as a burden on the state .Yet in many countries they are valued for their experience and wisdom, they still have a large role in society as teachers and guardians.

Aside from online communities, here are a couple of ideas off the top of the head.

1. Childcare: Here's where Big Brother can play a truly meaningful role. Many parents worry about leaving their children at a new playgroup, creche, with a new babysitter, in a new school, or simply out in the garden. A couple of cameras and a group of grandparents could offer a solution to this, the latter providing a role of guardian. The obvious risk is that no carer I can think of would like disturbing every 5 minutes by some meddling relative when they are trying to control a room full of bouncing infants, but Frank doesn't strike me as the meddling type. There are all sorts of people in all age groups, and whereas there may be twenty people monitoring, perhaps only two nominated people can communicate directly with the carers. This could possibly drive down the cost of a creche for low-paid parents whilst improving the actual child care.

2. If Frank had video conferencing in his home, then he could also have an input at schools and colleges. He has real life experience of war and so can offer a first hand account of this to history lessons, has witnessed the country change under various systems for over 80 years and so may have interesting political / socio-economic insights, etc.

3. Keep an eye on (and speak with) other elderly or vulnerable people. To take an extreme example, the recent reports of the abuses filmed at Castlebeck care unit could not have happened had there been some form of external monitoring in place, can you really imagine this occurring under Frank's watch? It amazes me that video systems are not compulsory in these places. Perhaps the reason that this is not the case is because of perceived cost, but this would be minimal: a few sub £100 wireless IP cameras and a decent router is all the required hardware and the monitoring could be performed by relatives / online communities.

Ideas like this could bring the elderly back into the heart of the community proving essential services to society. The elderly may be physically restricted, but are often mentally sharp, they just have few opportunities to apply their minds to real life problems - this is, I believe, a major factor in the boredom and sense of powerlessness I hear many speak of.

Comment by Heather Niven on February 1, 2012 at 10:39

Frank is just the sort of chap we would like to help with our ideas for Challenge 2, opening later today!