Brendan Flanagan - "[The pub is] an unrivalled space for civic discussion"

Members of the Inishowen Civic Forum, including Tim Stampton, Patrick McCarroll, Ros Harvey, Jim McCarroll, Francis Faulkner, Brendan Flanagan, John Madden, Maragaret Tees, Doris Russo, Jim Fernand, Pat Heaney, Garret Hitchcock annd Alan Teer.

Brendan Flanagan wrote:

"Ironically, a feature of economic recession, where there is a welfare safety net, is that reflective people engage in collective philosophising. These people, experienced in formal and existential education, have time to think and ruminate on matters beyond the immediate. 

Ireland currently enjoys the most highly educated population in its history and therefore the best equipped for philosophical analysis of current problems and issues. It is ironic then that this phenomenon is also accompanied by the highest levels of anomie, of alienation. This is evidenced in electoral indifference, opinionated egoism, failure to educate for empowerment, the erosion of civic equality. 

Those who take time to reflect become ever more detached from civic society as they feel powerless to change what they conclude needs changing."

A person who is nice to you, but who is not nice to the waiter is not a nice person

Having worked in two bars before, one in Belfast and one in Toulouse I can say with confidence that the quote in the picture and in writing below, rings very true. The person who said this remains anonymous to me. I found the picture on Bronagh Waugh's Twitter account (@bronaghwaugh). The quote in full:

"A person who is nice to you, but is not nice to the waiter is not a nice person."