tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683286062192110.post7630121169287036319..comments2015-08-19T10:28:40.756+01:00Comments on hullness: HULLNESS - AN ESSAY BY DAVID NEAVEUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683286062192110.post-75467754124211740812009-06-25T15:42:06.072+01:002009-06-25T15:42:06.072+01:00I think what has been stated by John Netherwood ve...I think what has been stated by John Netherwood very carefully and clearly describes the city and what is there and what might well be done to do improve / modernise things. Unfortunately, I think only a little describes Hullness. I would say the two items on his list that do so are the flatness and the isolation, both of which, along with its position which led to its becoming a port. I belive that Hullness really is about the people; the people themselves and, as I pointed out at the meeting, the dialect and its associated accent.<br /><br />I will start with the dialect which I believe is wonderful and overflowing with lovely expressions, words and phrases, many of which are unique to the city. Hear a Hull person interviewed on radio or TV and you can tell straight away where they come from. But they are not proud of it, many hate it. Why ? It's special and as much Hull as geordie, cockney or scouse are to Newcastle, London or Liverpool. It should be celebrated and I hope to see that it is.<br /><br />The people, possibly as a result of some or all of the things on John's list are, in general, very conservative (with a small "c"). They don't like change and are quick to complain when it is in the offing. This is helped by a local paper that is ready and willing to publish negative letters. For example, many didn't want the Deep .... or the Stadium. They can't see the point of new hotels or offices like Humber Quays. I moved to the area shortly after the Infirmary was built and even then people were complaining then that they didn't need that, that there had been a perfectly good hospital on the site of what is now the prospect Centre. Think of the uproar about the Hull (or should I say hull) cog logo.<br /><br />Alongside this is a negative attitude, a lack of self belief. This manifests itelf in the lack of ambition of many parents for the achievements of their children - why send them to school ? There aren't any jobs. You can walk around the city any day and see children of school age, many with their families. They can't all have dentist's appointments. <br /><br />The city is policed badly. There is little presence and equally little respect for the force which advertises all sorts of initiatives which all seem to be short lived and forgotten. This allows behaviour to occur resulting from the negative attitude.<br /><br />It is also poorly led - successive councils have been lacking in ambition and consequently toothless in their attempts to get the best for the city. Many councillors have represented the same ward for years - it seems like since the war - and until recently - could rely on winning any election without bothering. Only today we hear that the council has not even applied for government money to help with flood protection. Similarly it is rarely on the radar for government initiatives and was dealt a cruel blow by Maggie and the Cod War.<br /><br />There is a relatively small clique of business leaders who seem to have the city at heart but organisations like Hull Forward, who are doing a great job - as John Holmes said we are ahead of many other regenerating cities - are described as a waste of money by the man in the street. Who else is going to make the city a better place ?<br /><br />Hullness the to me is two things. The way he people speak which is unique and immediately identifies a person as coming from Hull. And this lack of self belief that holds the city back from dynamism. <br /><br />John BrienJohn Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00509128071005360880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542683286062192110.post-79351924440819802692009-06-25T13:55:40.582+01:002009-06-25T13:55:40.582+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10834973483638783504noreply@blogger.com