I don't think I'm liking this decade
Discussion
And I thought the '90s were bad with its nauseating political correctness, constant retrospectives, childish design trends and artificially-baffling 'trendy' sexual antagonism, plus post-modern ironic spoutings from tawdry fashionistas and a dearth of decent satire (with the exception of HIGNFY).
But this decade's worse. Just reading these 'what's in and out in 2004/5/6' articles in the papers, plus the world in general, is making life even less appealing.
For a start, the Observer reckons that, yet again, it's going to be even worse being a white, middle-class heterosexual man. Not only have we never got a leg to stand on in an argument, and have become the only 'safe' subjects of 'look at them' comedy, but it turns out that retailers have given up on us, turning almost solely to women and gay men on the high street.
Not only does the world seem to be in a constant cycle of inventing new stereotypes to uphold and beat into submission for no real reason, but I don't think I've ever found it so needlessly 'affected'. There's a warning label on everything, there's an advance warning before every programme or film, there's a bible's-worth of safety regulations with everything, all 'just in case' you hurt yourself or in case a think-tank reckons you'd offend a stereotype they've invented (comedy hit Little Britain has come under fire (and been censored) because Daffyd and Emily are homophobia, Vicky Pollard is classism and Andy, Lou and Anne are apparently offensive to the disabled. But you can't say 'disabled', because it might offend the 'differently abled' (huh?))
And then the government want to know everything about you 'for your own good', at your vast expense, whether you like it or not, yet they can't even tell you why we went to war, and there's nothing you can do about it.
I got a book for my birthday this year celebrating 100 years of cars. It was written in 1985 and was very optimistic. Jackie Stewart's foreword praised all the technological advances made in the previous century and finished with an optimistic 'here's to another 100 years'. Nowadays, everyone in power seems hell-bent on stamping out driving, or at least any fun associated with it, as a pitiful sop to environmental problems they should be tackling realistically, rather than clobbering the motorist for the sake of revenue.
Then I read an editorial by Tim Morgan in one of last years' issues of Classics. He admitted that our hobby is destructive and finite, and we'll never recapture the classic 'glory years' again. Ever.
There's nothing optimistic, for me, about this decade so far, socially, politically, or in a motoring context. Yeah, so we've had loads of great new cars but what's the point if there's no-where to drive them?
Anyone else think we'll be looking back in 10 or 20 years time and saying "the '00s were rubbish", or, depressingly, can things only get worse?
But this decade's worse. Just reading these 'what's in and out in 2004/5/6' articles in the papers, plus the world in general, is making life even less appealing.
For a start, the Observer reckons that, yet again, it's going to be even worse being a white, middle-class heterosexual man. Not only have we never got a leg to stand on in an argument, and have become the only 'safe' subjects of 'look at them' comedy, but it turns out that retailers have given up on us, turning almost solely to women and gay men on the high street.
Not only does the world seem to be in a constant cycle of inventing new stereotypes to uphold and beat into submission for no real reason, but I don't think I've ever found it so needlessly 'affected'. There's a warning label on everything, there's an advance warning before every programme or film, there's a bible's-worth of safety regulations with everything, all 'just in case' you hurt yourself or in case a think-tank reckons you'd offend a stereotype they've invented (comedy hit Little Britain has come under fire (and been censored) because Daffyd and Emily are homophobia, Vicky Pollard is classism and Andy, Lou and Anne are apparently offensive to the disabled. But you can't say 'disabled', because it might offend the 'differently abled' (huh?))
And then the government want to know everything about you 'for your own good', at your vast expense, whether you like it or not, yet they can't even tell you why we went to war, and there's nothing you can do about it.
I got a book for my birthday this year celebrating 100 years of cars. It was written in 1985 and was very optimistic. Jackie Stewart's foreword praised all the technological advances made in the previous century and finished with an optimistic 'here's to another 100 years'. Nowadays, everyone in power seems hell-bent on stamping out driving, or at least any fun associated with it, as a pitiful sop to environmental problems they should be tackling realistically, rather than clobbering the motorist for the sake of revenue.
Then I read an editorial by Tim Morgan in one of last years' issues of Classics. He admitted that our hobby is destructive and finite, and we'll never recapture the classic 'glory years' again. Ever.
There's nothing optimistic, for me, about this decade so far, socially, politically, or in a motoring context. Yeah, so we've had loads of great new cars but what's the point if there's no-where to drive them?
Anyone else think we'll be looking back in 10 or 20 years time and saying "the '00s were rubbish", or, depressingly, can things only get worse?
Spot on mate. As well as PC, I find 'minority rule' and 'celeb culture' extremely tedious. Media rules the hard of thinking whilst they sit on our sofas watching soaps.
Witness recent TV trailer: 'Global Warming - the end of the world as we know it'
Perhaps people should take an intelligence test before being allowed to vote?
Witness recent TV trailer: 'Global Warming - the end of the world as we know it'
Perhaps people should take an intelligence test before being allowed to vote?
Sam, I have to agree with everything you say and you put it very well too, but Parrot's right when he says there are plenty of nice places in the world.
The problem isn't the decade, it's the mentality at large in this country, and those of us aware of it are doinf nothing to stop, or prevent, or change it sadly.
The problem isn't the decade, it's the mentality at large in this country, and those of us aware of it are doinf nothing to stop, or prevent, or change it sadly.
simpo two said:
Spot on mate. As well as PC, I find 'minority rule' and 'celeb culture' extremely tedious. Media rules the hard of thinking whilst they sit on our sofas watching soaps.
Witness recent TV trailer: 'Global Warming - the end of the world as we know it'
Perhaps people should take an intelligence test before being allowed to vote?
Maybe, but who would set the questions?
I find that as a population we're either dumbed-down and over-regulated to the point where we're not allowed to do anything we actually want to, or scared witless with sensationalism that says we'll all be dead by next year.
As soon as the tsunami hit, some idiot in the Grauniad was complaining, saying that it was only neo-imperialism that was causing the British to contribute to charity. Until then I was really proud of the generosity of our country, so why do the types who are behind the likes of New Labour always set out to belittle us.
Hate it, want out, but have no route for the foreseeable future.
simpo two said:
However, if you want things that 'offend' you to be banned, you have to be a Muslim. Don't know why, but they're excellent at it.
I disagree. You have to be a local councillor, who imagines that a Muslim will be offended, whether or not they actually would be (and usually not). Then you ban it. Like hot cross buns, St. George's day, etc etc etc...
In St. Andrews this month, there was a play put on which portrayed Jesus Christ as a promiscuous homosexual. There were a few Christian protestors outside who were too nice to be paid any attention to.
The student paper then published an article about it, in which there was a trivial aside decrying the Welsh, and Charlotte Church in particular, as boring. The University Council took offense to this, and now want to 'approve' every edition of the student newspaper. Totalitarian PC censorship over trivia - even though the original event was actually offensive to some people, yet ignored?
I had tro read this thread and it has just summed up my feelings exactly. I have found as someone who has to use taxis a lot for work that cabbies are a good barometer of the nation's feelings about the UK and the number of times we have discussed moving to Spain, France, Portugal etc just to get away from PC state of play over here is not funny. It's sad how helpless so many of us seem to feel faced with a country that has so much to offer others but is letting down the very people who live here. Hope this doesn't attack anyone, I just wanted to share my thoughts...
I try not to think about things like this too much as they always spark off a particular instinctual human emotion.
Did Blair create the Chav I wonder? His inherent resentment for anything even remotely resembling aristocracy, and his sympathetic political stand-point for the working class has ceratinly perpetuated this resentful sub culture.
I think it's time we consigned 'new Labour' to the history books and give the helm to another party.
I think there's a name given to a central governing body that ignores the best interests of it's constituents. But I can't think of it right now...
Did Blair create the Chav I wonder? His inherent resentment for anything even remotely resembling aristocracy, and his sympathetic political stand-point for the working class has ceratinly perpetuated this resentful sub culture.
I think it's time we consigned 'new Labour' to the history books and give the helm to another party.
I think there's a name given to a central governing body that ignores the best interests of it's constituents. But I can't think of it right now...
HEAR HEAR If you want something else to Moan about try
ITV Teletext p110 on just now....
Think of the implications of automatic fine enforcement..
MoJo.
(sorry couldn't find a link BBC "truth" version here:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4141475.stm )
>> Edited by mojocvh on Monday 3rd January 13:09
ITV Teletext p110 on just now....
Think of the implications of automatic fine enforcement..
MoJo.
(sorry couldn't find a link BBC "truth" version here:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4141475.stm )
>> Edited by mojocvh on Monday 3rd January 13:09
It's not just the content of your post that offends but also your PH member name. "V8" indicates a large thirsty engine while "thunder" implies an antisocially loud exhaust combined with irresponsible use of the throttle pedal. Get into line with the modern world and change your name to "ecohybrid" - you know it makes sense.
5USA said:
It's not just the content of your post that offends but also your PH member name. "V8" indicates a large thirsty engine while "thunder" implies an antisocially loud exhaust combined with irresponsible use of the throttle pedal. Get into line with the modern world and change your name to "ecohybrid" - you know it makes sense.
If it saves just one tree, it's worth it.
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