We seem to be falling into an age where context is increasingly going missing. A time where everyone has a reckoning based on a once over lightly examination of the facts. An age where how you feel in your gut is all that matters. An age where we jump instantly to outraged conclusions

Take for instance, Julie Ann Genter’s announcement of extra funding for bike tuition at schools. During my show yesterday there was overwhelming condemnation of the move as a waste of money. Of the scheme being a form of socialism from an ideologically driven party.

But while that could be seen to be the case it seems to ignore the fact that this is an extension of a scheme that’s already in place. A scheme put in place by the National Government and, based on a number of emails I’ve received from teachers, one that is very popular with the kids and the staff. Somehow I can’t see people saying that National’s decision to fund this in the first place was an ideological one. That’s probably why you’re not seeing National coming out and criticising this funding.

Many said this showed the state stepping into parents' shoes. That teaching kids to ride safely was a parental responsibility and a parental responsibility only. Again ignoring the regular visits to schools by traffic officers back in the old days to run us through correct bike behaviour.

It also runs contrary to a widespread belief that the way schools have abandoned swimming lessons is a bad thing. Surely swimming lessons was always a parental responsibility thing too and yet generations of kiwi kids were taught in school pools.

Of course, it’s a parental responsibility but where is the harm in schools reinforcing the concepts around road usage.

A number of commentators then pointed out that our roads and lifestyles are now so busy that riding to school is not a safe option. That’s true in many cases but this is where parental responsibility and choice comes into play. No-one has ever said kids have to ride and they never will. Both my boys rode to school and university and part-time jobs on bikes. It was their choice which I incentivised by letting them keep the money I’d otherwise give them for public transport.

Speaking of which a number of people said our weather is sometimes cold and wet so bike riding is not an option. No kidding Sherlock. On those days my boys caught a bus.

Finally after complaining that the new generation are always on devices and not getting out and about and taking risks and getting fat, for some reason a whole lot of people turned around and attacked an already existing policy that got the kids doing some physical stuff.

I’m not going to live or die on this funding. If it gets withdrawn there are loads of areas that it can be redeployed to. But with a bit of context, for goodness sake calm down.

It’s not a socialist plot that takes us closer to communism, as I heard yesterday. It’s a bit of fun with good life lessons attached.