Donald Bashford, of Dartmouth, writes:

A very cocky and self important university graduate in a general debate on 'the generation of today' decided to involve a senior citizen, who was within earshot and minding his own business at the time, much to the amusement of the other young students gathered around.

To the senior citizen he said, loud enough for all to hear: 'You grew up in a different world, actually an almost primitive one.

'The young people of today grew up with television, jet planes, space travel, man walking on the Moon and space stations. We have nuclear energy, cell phones, computers with near light speed, robotic technology , earth-shattering medical knowledge and many more fabulous inventions.'

The senior citizen sat and thought for a minute and then addressed the cocky young man. 'You're right, son. We didn't have those things when we were young, so we invented them.

'As I perceive you to be very arrogant and cocky young so-and-so, can I ask the debate what you are going to do for the next generation?'

You can imagine the standing ovation received and, for one, the obvious embarrassment.