Yes but you only about it all because it was all so unusual.
Or put another way, how many other things do you really know about this daughter of this widower neighbour of your mother ? And how many psople do you think heard about this ? Loads I'll guess. She only said anything at all because it was so unusual, and similarly other people have only passed it on, as you have on here, because it was so unusual. Not because it was particularly representative.
Sorry but that's occupational bias. If you have a chat with a dentist he'll tell you that people's teeth in this country are terrible, that there aren't enough dentists, and that dentists need to be paid more. If you have a chat with a scientist they'll tell you that science in this country is grossly underfunded, that there need to be more scientists and they need to be paid more. A policeman - the country is in imminent danger of collapse from hidden crime and teerorism we need more policemen they need tobe...
With social workers you can take your pick. The country is over-run with alcoholics and/or kiddie fiddlers so we need more social workers to deal with them all and they all need to be paid more.
Evidentially the idea of widespread hiding of empties which are never discovered doesn't really stand up. However if this could be linked to some kind of theory other than a simple guilt complex as to why people should do this; rather than simply throw them away on the sly. After all dumping an empty spirit bottle per day shouldn't be that difficult. Possibly they're anally retentive. But then those sorts of people can hang onto all sorts of things. Newspapers magazines, old clothes, empty milkbottles. Anything. Or if the person is old enough, possibly this is linked to a subconscious childhood memeory of money being given for empties although presumably not spirit bottles. And so subconsciously they're simply saving up a nest egg.
michael adams
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