[Zenon]

Here's why he has

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...i-comment.html

[Zoot]

Hw was suspended because of an error of type 404 occurred?

[chrysostom]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... mment.html

there you go. working link

[MK Chris]

Having both parents as non-smokers is brilliant (although my dad smoked before I was born, my mum made him give up - something which, to this day, even though they are split up, he counts as the best thing she ever did for him); I would hate to live in a family of smokers.

[Yudster]

Growing up with smokers is horrible, and I think on the face of it a ban on smokers being foster parents is a great idea. Or it would be, if there were people queuing up to be foster parents - unfortunately that's not the case. Not around here anyway.

However, as for John Gaunt - I don't give a rat's arse about him, he can get permanently thrown off the air for all I care.

[TIAL]

Whilst I hate Jon Gaunt and his show, I can't help feeling surprised at the action that was taken. He's said equally bad things before and it was a 'heat of the moment' outburst with a full apology afterwards - it wasn't pre-recorded which is most of the reason why the Brand/Ross incident was taken to seriously. Also, is it "illegal" to call someone a Nazi?

I don't care what happens to him as I don't listen or even like him. However, I feel that things like this are starting to be overblown.

[Boboff]

He was on Sky news with Fat Boy Holmes this morning.

As for smoking, I am in no position to comment, but I have smoked and I have lovely children, we have NEVER smoked in the house though.

When we went to the stop smoking man, stormin Norman, we got the kids to blow in the Carbon Monoxide meter, Mrs B scored an 8, I scored a twenty, but happily both children scored a "0" Apparently if you live in town or walk to school along a busy road you would expect at least a 1 or 2. They have not been affected by us smoking, why then should some Nazi say that I could not Foster ? That those children are better off in a home than in my rather nice house by the River.

Although he is a Fat twat, you have to say that he has a point, and as he had a background in care, his loosing his rag has to be at least understandable.

This chap from the council probably has elderly parents and an Uncle who played with his willy, keeping it their little secret, and smoked a fag at the same time, so I suppose you can understand him being anti as well. ( Oh I just went all Beadle Poke for a minute, must be the nicotine withdrawls making me narky [8 days!])

[MK Chris]

I understand your point Boboff, but how can the foster agency or social services properly determine those who are going to be responsible and not smoke within view of the kids or within a distance where they'll be able to inhale?

Personally I'm all for making smoking as anti social as possible. I think in generations to come, when people don't remember any different than smokeless pubs (for example), far less people will start.

[Boboff]

Look Toph, you can't determine anything when it comes to assessing what an Adult will do when charged with the care of a child. We are all after all human. People can do allot worse things to Foster children than absentmindedly smoke where they can be seen for goodness sake. The Agency have a duty of care to ensure that the children have the best possible development agenda, and a reduction in choice of carers due to the fact they can't "be trusted" is frankly immature.

But you have to read the sub text.

As a Foster carer you get £400 or something a week. As a chav on benefits, smoking rollies and shelling out babies like they are Peas from a Pod, £400 a week for a little chavette to sleep on the floor of our Waynes room, seems like a good proposition. So rather than say to said Chav, "you're a * waste of scum space" they very kindly say, " I am sorry as you smoke we can not give you Foster children"

"Well I ain't givin up me ciggies or me tinnies for no * snot machine"

That is what I would like to believe lies behind this, lets face it, if you know you could not smoke and Foster, and you really wanted to, you would not smoke in front of the child, or in the house, or when in sight of the people who run the Agency.

[Yudster]

You have to go through a massive series of checks and report processes to asses your suitability, and that of your home, for fostering. Your "chav on benefits" wouldn't be likely to qualify on a large number of points before they even looked at whether they smoked or not. And I don't know about other authorities, but I have never heard of a local authority fostering allowance being anything like £400 a week - nowhere near.

Smoking aside, Boboff, why don't you think seriously about it? You and your family and your home have a massive amount to offer a child in need of a family to stay with, short, medium or long term. My house doesn't reach the required standards in terms of space, but if it did, I'd do it - there are thousands of kids in care, many of them short term, who would be a billion times better off with a family, but they just don't have the people available.

[Boboff]

Because I drink too much. Once I stop doing that, I agree that it could be something we could look at. The £400 was advertised locally for young adults with special needs, poetic license?

[Yudster]

You do get more for fostering adolescents, tis true. That's still more than the agency I volunteer for offers though. Its a good thing to do, I hope you follow it up at some point Boboff.

[Nicola_Red]

I always thought that if I ever changed my mind about kids I'd look at fostering or adoption. I wonder if they'd stop me because I'm a vegan and it's perceived that kids need to eat animal products...? just a thought...

[Yudster]

Well, I can't speak for agencies in other areas, but the one I am involved with wouldn't have a problem with you being a vegan - although you would be asked if you would accommodate the preferences and previous diet of any children who might be placed with you. But to be honest, any influence your diet had on some of these kids would only be positive in my opinion, and I say that as a committed carnivore.

[Johnny 1989]

Well as someone who lives in the London Borough Of Redbridge, I'd rather they sort out other issues in my Borough, such as the recent murder we had in Ilford town centre & the alarming sharp rise in crime.

Time for a change of regime in LB Redbridge me thinks.

Regarding smoking in front of kids, it's not the done thing to be honest, my Dad used to smoek in the house but usually in a different room to us (yes I know smoke travels, but there you are), to be honest though I'd say 99% of parents nowadays don't smoke near their kids at all, several parents I know who smoke go outside to do it.

Although I do partially agree with Gaunty (calling them a Nazi's a little harsh, useless w***ers would be more appropriate) I think he's an ar*e anyway & I'm suprise he hasn't been suspended before.

[Yudster]

Regarding smoking in front of kids, it's not the done thing to be honest, my Dad used to smoek in the house but usually in a different room to us (yes I know smoke travels, but there you are), to be honest though I'd say 99% of parents nowadays don't smoke near their kids at all, several parents I know who smoke go outside to do it.

I agree, seems to me people are far more aware of the issues these days, and far less likely to smoke in the house or around the children than they did when I was a kid. No-one gave a toss then.

[Johnny 1989]

Regarding smoking in front of kids, it's not the done thing to be honest, my Dad used to smoek in the house but usually in a different room to us (yes I know smoke travels, but there you are), to be honest though I'd say 99% of parents nowadays don't smoke near their kids at all, several parents I know who smoke go outside to do it.

I agree, seems to me people are far more aware of the issues these days, and far less likely to smoke in the house or around the children than they did when I was a kid. No-one gave a toss then.

Thing is although this happens nowadays you still get some expectant mothers (chavettes) smoking whilst pregnant . There's no point saying anything because you either get punched or stabbed for even saying anything nowadays.

[Yudster]

I know - but there has been a general improvement in terms of awareness of the effects of smoking on children, and I was trying to be positive for a change!

[Johnny 1989]

I know - but there has been a general improvement in terms of awareness of the effects of smoking on children, and I was trying to be positive for a change!

Yeah true, sorry having a bad day at work, plus Ilford is really starting to depress me at the mo, wish I could move

[MK Chris]

you still get some expectant mothers (chavettes) smoking whilst pregnant

I have seen that often - people I know have done it and I have told them - it absolutely disgusts me.

[Yudster]

.......... Ilford is really starting to depress me at the mo, wish I could move

Absolutely the correct response to finding oneself in Ilford. You have my sympathy. Could be worse though, it might have been Romford.

[S4B]

I have never smoked around my kids, I always go outside and if they come out too I send them away until I have finished - unless they are upset and then I put it out!

[Johnny 1989]

.......... Ilford is really starting to depress me at the mo, wish I could move

Absolutely the correct response to finding oneself in Ilford. You have my sympathy. Could be worse though, it might have been Romford.

Thanks yeah could be worse I could be in Romford, or Seven Sisters

[MK Chris]

I send them away until I have finished

You SEND THEM AWAY?!

For *'s sake woman, whether they are upset or not, surely they are more important to you than a cigarette.

[S4B]

Oh for god's sake Topher, wind your neck in! I was merely pointing out that I make sure they don't get in my smoke! Stop being such a prat!