In a double hit-and-run incident on a busy freeway in a U.S. state next to mine a few years ago, we learned that not only was the offender (and his buddy leering at us from the passenger seat) a criminal sociopath, but so was the other victim. When we told him that we had already called the police, he swore at us, asked what we did THAT for, shrieked that there was no way he could talk to any cops as they were looking for him, and fled like a bat outta hell. That’s 60 percent of the people involved in that particular incident who were on the run.

Further data of interest gathered that day: Not a single person who witnessed the collisions called 9-1-1. Hundreds of people would have seen either the reckless driving that preceded each collision, or one or both of the collisions, or the damaged cars following the collisions, or the reckless driving of the offender after the last collision. No one called. I guess they didn’t want to have to give their names to the police either! So when the responding police officer arrived and heard our tale of woe with its phantom second victim and apparently no witnesses, he was interested but not enough to do anything about it. Case closed. I found the whole thing to be profoundly disillusioning and depressing for what it indicated about the character of our society. I think the number is way over 5 percent.

Saying “not cool dude” is what I had in mind. I think a determined campaign by a charismatic leader could make that happen.

I think if you include racists and people who would send immigrants to Rwanda and the people who scrawl graffiti and steal bicycles and TVs and start fights in the streets and do wheelies at 30 miles an hour in pedestrian zones, I think you’d get way more than 5%.

The solution to this sort of situation seems obvious to me – am I missing something? If people are using an area as a toilet, add public toilets or porta potties. If people are breaking glass and leaving NO2 canisters then add bins and maybe hire someone to clean the area.

Social change would also be effective (Eg. creating a culture of saying “not cool dude” when someone shatters their beer bottle on purpose)but I would expect that to be much harder to do.

It’s more than disappointing when I move into a neighborhood I like, and then it evolves into something much less attractive in the years I live there. Should I stay, or should I go? Nagging, annoying question to live with.

By the way, some information for the man on the telly: About a year ago, there were accusations of a toxic workplace and sexual misconduct by three of the producers for Ellen Degeneres show. I don’t know the details, but I’d bet there’s lots on social media. During the last year, her ratings have dropped, and the show is ending.