Violence on traffic wardens a direct result of social media

SIR,

There was a shocking expose on violence against our traffic wardens in one of our Irish newspapers last week. The threats and abuse hurled at these public servants is a scandal all by itself.

“I’ll break your arms”; “I’ll find you out of uniform”; “I’ll follow you home” and comments way worse than these. No one deserves to hear this level of abuse when they go to work in the morning. One traffic warden was recognised in a pub and beaten. Others have been spat upon.

This behaviour, to my mind, is a direct result of the repeated commentary one sees on social media, especially Twitter. People have arrived at a point now where its OK to be vulgar and threatening. They can say whatever they like to whomsoever they like at any time they want, with no regulation. They get used to speaking like that and it has warped their perceptions of real life.

They take umbrage at anyone who questions them after which the vulgarity and threats excellerate.

They want what they want whenever they want it. They do not accept normal boundaries of socially acceptable behaviour.

No traffic warden should be required to take their own life in their hands for writing out a €40 parking ticket.

This conflict will continue until a traffic warden puts one of these braggarts in the hospital.

Give these wardens some help and give them respect, Sincerely,

Tom Cahill Ballinskelligs