Your recent article about alleged anti-social behaviour on Hove seafront which needs to be "tackled" by a combination of councillors and police officers (The Argus, June 14) made me wonder, aren't some of these anti-social laws a little, well, anti-social?

I dislike this catch-all "anti-social" phrase used by the Grim Citizen and his best friend, the policeman.

It is used to put the boisterous, fun-loving behaviour Grim Citizen disapproves of and would like to be rid of in the same realm as criminal behaviour (vandalism, violence).

While vandalising beach huts is obviously criminal and therefore anti-social, I don't agree that playing football on Hove Lawns is.

A "near-fatal" accident is cited as a reason to stop students playing football there, something they have been doing without incident for the past 20 summers I have lived in Brighton.

Cyclists who dare stray off the frankly tortuous cycle track path in Hove are also considered anti-social. I would say they were if they were riding too fast and paid no heed to pedestrians but, if they go at a slow pace and are considerate, the esplanade is wide enough for everyone, as anyone with any common sense can see.

Can I point out, too, that there is such a thing as the law-abiding sociopath? For example, the cyclist who wouldn't dream of straying out of his or her cycle lane but, for that reason, feels completely justified in speeding up or nearly clipping any poor pedestrian who happens to cross that white line.

More rules do not stop bad manners or inconsiderate behaviour. All they do is introduce more and more divisions and disharmony between people who share the same space.

Brighton likes to consider itself a tolerant town, is even pleased with itself on this score in comparison with other towns, but I don't know.

I see a lot of little groups unwilling to cut any slack to any other little groups and, most sadly, happy to bring the law in to get their own way.

The councillor's and policeman's eagerness to be a part of that should give everyone pause for thought.

Who knows, Grim Citizen, maybe one day you'll be the bad guy.

-Jay Clifton, Brighton