THE path to responsible citizenship begins in early childhood as adults guiding a young life impart their knowledge to shape the important first years of cognitive development.

There is an awful lot for little people to take in over those first years as they learn to use man’s inherent skills to process the myriad conflicting information that bombards them every minute of the day. We are, after all, living search engines constantly filtering far more information than we need or want.

In the important early years we rely on adults to teach us what is right and wrong, safe and dangerous, and appropriate or inappropriate social behaviour. We soon learn the obvious dangers to our person, such as the fact that sticking fingers into a fire is sure to result in serious burns, drinking household cleaning fluids is not a good way to quench a thirst, and playing with sharp knives is likely to lead to a trip to Accident and Emergency.

As the scope of our knowledge expands and we venture forth, we are taught how to cross a road safely with and without the aid of pedestrian refuges and crossings. We also learn from experience that walking on walls, as Humpty Dumpty discovered, can lead to great falls, and until we can swim confidently it is rather foolish to go beyond one’s depth.

Eventually, parents feel that their children can be trusted to go out alone on foot or on that first beloved bike. Who can forget the euphoric feeling as the apron strings break and life’s big adventure begins? It will be fraught with accidents as we forget the words of warning, but what the heck, we all learn by our mistakes and bones mend, cuts heal and pride is never dented long after a fall.

Growing up is a dangerous activity and excepting rare and tragic accidents, the majority of children emerge into adulthood unscathed and with a barrel load of memories to warm the cockles of later life.

With the irksome advent of the Elf ‘n’ Safety brigade and a plethora of experts to tell us what and what not to do, much of the fun has now gone out of enjoying life as a responsible and free-thinking adult.

Notwithstanding the expectation to do and think as we wish, as sentient beings we exercise our democratic rights according to the accepted parameters that the interests and well being of the majority are paramount. That is why laws, rules and regulations exist to curtail such activities as excessive drinking, smoking in public places, driving motor vehicles at speeds judged dangerous to human life and the public display of pornography.

We accept and agree to society’s rules and laws for the good of the community we live in, in the knowledge that transgressions are punishable by law. Those who do choose to break the law have to accept the consequences.

Increasingly in all countries we are seeing the fine line between sensible restrictions and an over-anxious nanny state shifting towards the bounds of the ridiculous, because of experts who think they know better than the sensible man and woman in the street.

The silly season of the summer of 2009 has been marked by such ‘experts’ – all no doubt with brains the size of a planet and more letters after their names than in them – vying with each other to grab the headlines.

The barmiest health advice of the year came last week from a gaggle of Danish scientists who announced to the world, after three years of studying thighs, that those with skinny upper legs are more prone to heart disease than those packing a pound or ten of flesh.

Regardless of whether your shape resembles an apple, a pear or a beanpole, it’s the thunder thighs that are a sure fire recipe for a healthy heart.

From our own little over-reactive corner of the world came a call last week for railings to be erected the length of the Five Mile Road. We all know that it’s not really five miles long, but that would still be an awful lot of railings. But why stop there? Let’s fence the entire coastline – with the exception of Nigel Mansell’s chunk of Beauport headland where he has fenced himself in to keep us out.

I do not wish to make light of the serious injuries suffered by the unfortunate woman who fell from the sea wall while at a party at Kempt Tower. In commenting on her situation, no one should underestimate the pain and upset the accident caused her and her loved ones, but any adult in a location such as St Ouen’s Bay after dark must be aware of the possible dangers and take responsibility for their own safety.

There are several others venues in secluded coastal and rural locations also available for hire, and hirers are made aware of not just the terms and conditions of use, but more importantly, of the possible risks associated with the venue. In turn they are expected to act with due responsibility.

The Island is ringed with footpaths in close proximity to steep drops for mile upon mile of the coastline, whether on the north coast or from the concrete sea defences erected by the Germans. These popular walks are used safely by tens of thousands of Islanders and visitors every year, who respect the environment and take the appropriate due care and attention, especially when accompanied by children and dogs.

Jersey is also blessed with lunarscape tidal reaches and amazing tidal flows that can cut off those who fail to check the tides before venturing out.

No society can be expected to take measures to prevent every possible accident ever happening. As adults, we are responsible for our own
actions and those in our care.