From tiny acorns...

There is a zebra crossing near my house. Every day I use this crossing, and every day I am nearly run over by drivers who can't be bothered to stop. Most recently, by a taxi driver - in full view of a following police car, which - predictably - did nothing. Possibly it's a sign of fast-approaching old git-dom, but this seemingly minor example of casual indifference is really starting to bother me. It's a prime example of the lack of respect people seem to have for each other - and for society - that the average motorist now feels so completely comfortable about flouting the rules. Likewise, the rules on mobile phone use while driving or teenager's apparent belief that the seat opposite them on the train exists solely for their convenience as a footrest.

You can't legislate against ignorant behaviour, but you can have rules to limit it. Examples of this kind of low-level anti-social behaviour are allowed to flourish because everybody knows that they can act in this way with impunity. Nobody in authority will say anything, let alone do anything. But does it really matter? I think it does: Routine minor infractions of the rules, if left unchallenged, soon become the norm of acceptable behaviour. Unquestionably, this has to have a corrosive effect on the credibility of every law and of every attempt of civilised people to evolve civilised societies. From tiny acorns, mighty oaks will grow. What kind of gnarled and twisted tree will grow from such a poison seed.