Letters - January 2, 2017

However, nobody seems to mention how this is taught in schools.

In the old days, children were taught to read and write using paper and pencils.

Now it is essential that children are taught at that same age to communicate electronically.

Some lessons:

* There is an off switch.

* Not everything you read on your device is true.

You must check everything;

* Any idiot can publish and it will be given equal prominence with real information;

* It is impolite to interrupt someone speaking to answer the phone.

Just as it would be impolite to interrupt someone at the table;

n Bullying is just as much a nuisance on a device as it is in real life.

Report it;

* If it seems to good to be true, then it is;

* Don’t discuss personal and private items on a device.

The whole world is listening. There is no privacy, whatever settings you use;

* This is the best device you will own, but also the most dangerous.

David Collins

Address supplied

BREXIT

There are more important issues

People are freezing to death on the streets.

Theresa May describes homeless children as only homeless if they are actually on the street.

She claims to be a Christian, you know.

Victims of the Grenfell Tower fire are still waiting for formal counselling, as are many teenagers with eating disorders.

Damian Green will get a severance payment that is equal to my yearly NHS pension (after 41 years).

Virgin Care has been allowed to sue the NHS because Jeremy Hunt has set up a contracting system where companies like this expect to win contracts.

David Davis is utterly incompetent and freely admits he has no knowledge to do that role.

People are waiting for Universal Credit for so long they have cancelled the six-week deadline to remove the evidence.

Grenfell Tower victims are yet to receive Christmas payments.

And what does this sociopathic government think is more important?

Changing the colour of “our” passport at a cost of how much?

Wow.

Terry Maunder

Address supplied

ENVIRONMENT

We must tackle plastic waste

Bottled water has had its day. The plastic throwaway water bottle culture does not have to be creating the serious environmental problem that it is doing.

For less than £2 each, I have purchased two plastic, reusable water bottles.

I fill a bottle with water in the morning and it lasts me through the day.

I believe that ordinary drinking water from the tap is probably at least as healthy as any of the bottled stuff.

As necessary, I sterilise the bottles with Milton. It seems to me, problem solved, and a lot of money saved.

The bottled water manufacturers have had their day. It is time for the environment.

Mike Harwood

Address supplied

POLITICS

Soap opera in 
the House

Theresa May’s sacking of her deputy Damian Green so close to Christmas reminded me of the EastEnders Christmas edition years ago when ‘Dirty Den’ handed his wife Angie the divorce papers and wished her a Happy Christmas! It shows the Tories going into the New Year in turmoil once again.

John Appleyard

via email

CONGESTION

An easier resolution not to break?

I had been planning to lose weight in the New Year but having just tried to drive through Blackpool town centre I’ve chosen a new New Year’s resolution... never try to drive through Blackpool town centre!

Mike Barker

South Shore