Thanks for this Sue. It’s all true, but… there are an awful lot of people who would agree with you. The vast majority of those who would will never read your post. The working class (including those without university educations) are not so gullible and indoctrinated as those higher up the social ladder. Yes, they may be tempted to claim benefits for children with ADHD, or anything else that brings a financial reward, but why wouldn’t they? There are plenty of sane critical thinkers out there. I know them as clients, neighbours and friends. Perhaps they tend not to be in academia (or psychotherapy)? Or, if they are, they are preoccupied with keeping their heads below the parapet (as we have noted before)?
You are so right Jane….the majority of people don’t naturally agree with these anti-human measures or beliefs…it was very reassuring to read your words…. I long for the bigger picture to become more apparent to everyone…our local elections and the Welsh and Scottish national results are very encouraging in that regard. Thank you Jane.
I don't think any aspect of modern life has escaped your reflections Sue. Full of nuggets of wisdom. I particularly like the way when discussing adolescent and human angst you described how it's pathologisation produces scenarios where 'temporary distress hardens into permanent identity.'
Last night I attended a brilliant and thoroughly enjoyable musical called 'Caroline', set in the 60s. Caroline was the first commercial radio station to bring popular music to the public by operating from a boat in the middle of the ocean to break the BBC airwaves monopoly. In fact it was because of Radio Caroline and pirate stations which followed that laws were created to protect the BBC monopoly. For our 'safety' apparently 🤔. Ring any bells? Radio Caroline listeners will recall how it was raided by beaurocrats mid-broadcast which was highly amusing at the time. And I thought nothing changes does it? Displays of independence are always seized upon by the establishment and put under government control with new legislation. However, those dissidents, continuing to sock it to the establishment whilst their ship was literally being sunk looked as if they had lost the battle but in fact BBC Radio 1,2,3 and 4 were created to replace what they had shown to be a need of the public to access free pop music which shows that in the end, public pressure triumphed in one sense. I suppose the modern day equivalent is alternative media so no wonder new legislation in the form of the Communications Act and Online Safety Bill are being created to censor and criminalise what would have formerly been regarded as free speech.
All of the above. Thanks for writing this, Sue.
Thank you Ness…perversely it feels good to contain it all.
Thanks for this Sue. It’s all true, but… there are an awful lot of people who would agree with you. The vast majority of those who would will never read your post. The working class (including those without university educations) are not so gullible and indoctrinated as those higher up the social ladder. Yes, they may be tempted to claim benefits for children with ADHD, or anything else that brings a financial reward, but why wouldn’t they? There are plenty of sane critical thinkers out there. I know them as clients, neighbours and friends. Perhaps they tend not to be in academia (or psychotherapy)? Or, if they are, they are preoccupied with keeping their heads below the parapet (as we have noted before)?
You are so right Jane….the majority of people don’t naturally agree with these anti-human measures or beliefs…it was very reassuring to read your words…. I long for the bigger picture to become more apparent to everyone…our local elections and the Welsh and Scottish national results are very encouraging in that regard. Thank you Jane.
Wow Sue. What a beautifully summarized and Full nutshell.
Very relaxing to my nervous system to have it all contained here (at least for a while).
Thank you Antoine….perversely it makes me feel better 🙃
Excellent essay & a very clear analysis of our times 👍👍
Thank you PsychScot
I don't think any aspect of modern life has escaped your reflections Sue. Full of nuggets of wisdom. I particularly like the way when discussing adolescent and human angst you described how it's pathologisation produces scenarios where 'temporary distress hardens into permanent identity.'
Last night I attended a brilliant and thoroughly enjoyable musical called 'Caroline', set in the 60s. Caroline was the first commercial radio station to bring popular music to the public by operating from a boat in the middle of the ocean to break the BBC airwaves monopoly. In fact it was because of Radio Caroline and pirate stations which followed that laws were created to protect the BBC monopoly. For our 'safety' apparently 🤔. Ring any bells? Radio Caroline listeners will recall how it was raided by beaurocrats mid-broadcast which was highly amusing at the time. And I thought nothing changes does it? Displays of independence are always seized upon by the establishment and put under government control with new legislation. However, those dissidents, continuing to sock it to the establishment whilst their ship was literally being sunk looked as if they had lost the battle but in fact BBC Radio 1,2,3 and 4 were created to replace what they had shown to be a need of the public to access free pop music which shows that in the end, public pressure triumphed in one sense. I suppose the modern day equivalent is alternative media so no wonder new legislation in the form of the Communications Act and Online Safety Bill are being created to censor and criminalise what would have formerly been regarded as free speech.