Posted by John Nichols on June 06, 2004 at 18:54:24 from 165.91.196.181 user Mcneacail.
In Reply to: Re: Terror of the Seas polite and well behaved? posted by Peter H on June 05, 2004 at 23:27:35:
The Swallows Amamzons and D's.
The point I am trying - not very successfully - to make is that the Blacketts, and the Walkers were normal human beings who behaved as one who had grown in that environment would be expected to behave. Texas in the 2000's is a very similair place in rearing style to the Public Schools of England at least in the upper socio-economic group that I teach. The fact that we have young adults and adolescents who behave badly in this day and age is no different - IMHO - to how people of all ages have behaved down the ages.
The interesting thing about Texas is the lack of graffitti - which was very common in London and Sydney etc. We can not but hope that the dispossessed peoples of the world can find some place to live and raise their children, and that the cities do not become the modern Pales of Russia.
I would suggest that more than one person thought Nancy was a holy terror, but CF seems to have been able to raise "used loosely" them in a non-judgemental manner. I think perchance a very strong reflection on AR and his personality. I think this and Comm Walkers attitude rubbed off on their children.
I accpet your point that the D's had permission to take the stuff, but to the GA it was still stealing and she was the subject of a consipicy to not tell her. That is the critical plot element and one that we can all accept as exciting and fun, but the critical element is that Nancy got away with it in the end. Which reminds me of the old adage the only time treason is not treason is when you win.
I accept that it is highly unlikely that anything would have ever been done to the D's even if they got caught, even G Owden did not suffer that much for all he did in the BS. It was also a different time and we forget that as well in terms of policing and attitudes towards young adults.
So my point is these families are normal and they had great adventures but they are not perfect nor is their behavoir perfect, they are beautifully normal - just the way we like humans.
I have tow daughters - one who would make a great Titty and the other who needs to be drowned a while in the lake. I would not trade them for anything, but I still marvel at their differences.
But the D's are not normal at all - they are just bloody perfect characters.
JMN