YP Letters: Shrinking world of tribal loyalties

A POLICY “think tank” has realised that humans like to live amongst their own kind (The Yorkshire Post, January 28), but they don’t seem to be able to quite put their finger on why that is.

To save them thinking about it any more let me explain.

We are all fiercely tribal, it’s a survival mechanism built into in all creatures and its what has got them through the ages.

It’s not illegal and we are all very proud of it judging by the extent to which we wear the hat, tattoos, T-shirt, hairstyle, colours, etc. which associate us with others who share our personal values.

The Romans did a reasonable job of wiping out our tribal system (Boadicea & Co) then it took almost 2,000 years to channel our blind tribal hatred into relatively harmless participation in Saturday afternoon conflicts, but it’s still very much there under the surface.

New arrivals to our shores seem to get into the swing 
of this in a generation or 
two.

The problem facing humans (and many animals for that matter) is that wide open spaces which have always separated warring tribes are rapidly shrinking bringing sworn enemies ever closer with many living cheek by jowl in crowded European cities.

Some are even hostile to the host population.

Now that does need some thought to solve. Over to you “think tank”.

Eye firm’s lack of clarity

From: A Simmonds, Scarborough.

CHANCELLOR George Osborne claims to be ensuring that large companies have to pay tax like everyone else.

Why then does the DVLA insist that drivers taking their eye test can only be seen by a specific firm, Specsavers, whose headquarters are in Guernsey?

I have no idea what response the taxman receives, but when I was referred there by my local branch after I had a complaint regarding my treatment I got no response whatsoever.

There is no effective regulator in this sector either.

Big money is piece of cake

From: James Robson, West End, Kirkymoorside.