You've got to love the Daily Mail

[Oneeyedvic]

Spot the difference between the two stories:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...nd-hampshire-11741262

http://www.dailymail....ts-claim-doctors.html

[ludwig]

Sorry Vic, I'm missing it - did the Mail blame rickets on immigrants somewhere and I didn't see it?

[whiskeryron]

BBC News- 20% in Southampton
Daily Mail- 1in 5 of all children (exaggeration as usual)

[anotheoldgit]

Yes the Daily Mail gave a much more in depth report.

But I think knowing you, you are referring to the following passage:

/// Although white children can develop rickets, many affected children in the UK have Asian, Afro-Caribbean and Middle Eastern origins.///

Relax, relax jake the Mail is not being racist here, only reporting what must be a known fact.

Did you not know for instance that Asians are more likely to suffer from chest diseases (TB) than modern day Brits?

[Gromit]

The doctors attributes the rise to lack of vitamin D from sunlight. The Mail attributes it to children of immigrants.

Southampton does not have a particularly large immigrant population, and it has not had a 20% rise in immigration in recent years.

It is 88.8% British. 0.48% Caribean, 3.5% Asian. It is highly unlikely that 4% are responsible for a 20% increase.

[naomi24]

I actually think it's pathetic for anyone to try to score points on here with this story. If it's true that children from a specific section of society are indeed suffering a particular affliction, it needs to be addressed and well done the Daily Mail for highlighting it.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// The doctors attributes the rise to lack of vitamin D from sunlight. The Mail attributes it to children of immigrants.///

This statement by you is pathetic.

It has also been attributed to children, white, black, skyblue-pink spending vast amounts of time on computer games, instead of hours outdoors frolicking in the sun.

But if you must highlight the colour factor, then isn't it also possible that with their skin pigmentation a darker skin, suffers more from the lack of sunlight that a pale skin?

The North was also highlighted, not just Southampton.

[Oneeyedvic]

Actually it was nothing to do with immigration.

Note the first line of the BBC report:

More than 20% of children tested for bone problems - important bit - "tested for bone problems"

That doesn't mean that 20% of children suffer from it (as per the DM headline) but rather that 20% of children WITH A BONE PROBLEM are suffering from it.

[Gromit]

// If it's true that children from a specific section of society are indeed suffering a particular affliction, it needs to be addressed //

People with darker skin do require more sunlight, about 15 minutes a day. That should be easy to obtain.

The doctors do not attribute the rise to more black people living here. They think the rise is due to changes to how our children live. Children do not play out the same as they did, and spend a lot of time indoors. When they go out, they are often driven by their parents. It is those children who account for the rise.

A Burqa clan woman might not receive enough sunlight, but this question was about children not adults.

[Answerprancer]

/// This statement by you is pathetic ///

So you're never rude unless someone is rude to you first ... hypocrite.

[naomi24]

Gromit, I haven't the foggiest idea what you're talking about. I can only assume it's your way of worming around your earlier provocative post because none of it relates to what I said.

[Gromit]

//...worming around your earlier provocative post //

I didn't realise my post at 13:03 was provocative. It wasn't meant to be.

[naomi24]

Gromit, Well if it wasn't intentional perhaps it came across that way as a result of your haste to disparage the newspaper. I suggest you read the article again because it doesn't attribute it to immigrants as you claim. It simply says that many of the children affected are from Asian, Afro-Caribbean and Middle Eastern origins, and if that's true, then I say again, well done the Mail for highlighting the problem.

[ludwig]

This is from the Mail..

// More than 20 per cent of children from all social classes who were checked for bone problems showed signs of the disease.//

..so either they've updated it, or you're incorrect vic.

Admittedly the headline is still misleading and sensationalist, but that's typical of tabloids, not just the Mail.

[Oneeyedvic]

Ludwig - my point is the headline - which is not what the article says

[sandyRoe]

Are rickets contagious? The Mail should tell us.

[123everton]

I'm 39, when I was a lad I first went to school in short trousers, hail rain sleet or shine.
I well remember years later reading letters questioning "this stupid practice" and now kids don't wear shorts to school.
Years before I was born a man HAD to wear short trousers until the age 13 or 14 (not sure which), maybe that was the reason why the older generation had that "stupid idea."

[anotheoldgit]

Answerprancer

Not that it anything to do with you , you nosy parker, but I have a little catching up to do with jake.

Whereas as with you, you very rude person, I will never catch you up.

[anotheoldgit]

That should have been Gromit, but there is little difference between him and jake.

[anotheoldgit]

The information was of interest, but was the point in posting it worth while?

It just seemed to me to be another opportunity to have a go at the Daily Mail.

WHY?????????????????

[Gromit]

// I have a little catching up to do with (Gromit). //

How so AOG?