More media hype around our social pyjama party?

 

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Today the BBC reported that a notice has appeared at a social welfare office in Dublin which warns claimants; “pyjamas are not regarded as appropriate attire when attending Community Welfare Service at these offices” (see here).

Two years ago a Primary School Headmaster in Belfast, wrote to parents asking them not to wear pyjamas whilst dropping their kids off at school (see here). In January 2010 a Tesco in Wales asked customers not to shop in their pyjamas (see here) and more recently, in May 2011, a Middlesbrough head teacher asked parents to get properly dressed before the school run (see here). So what’s with this pyjama party thing?

It would seem that wandering around in your night attire during the day is nothing new, at least to some members of our society but one has to wonder; is this apparent love of pyjamas some sort of fashion statement or simply laziness? Further evidence to support the assumption in general that our society is slovenly and really couldn’t care less?

In many respects, the wearing of pyjamas on the school run is simply an opposite polarity of extreme. Does anyone comment or concern themselves with the mother who spends 2-3 hours getting ready for the school run? The “simply couldn’t set off without getting dressed darling” brigade are, in some respects just as bad. Their number is probably just as great as those who really couldn’t give a shit. We have all seen them, the type that couldn’t possibly venture outside without the correct levels of preparation.

They only set off to deposit heir little cherubs for a daily dose of education, once they are convinced all is absolute perfection. They ensure their hair is groomed to excess, their make-up has to be just so and, after carefully selecting the right ‘label’ from their extensive collection of Haute couture, they grab the designer bling handbag and load their be-labeled brats into the Chelsea Tractor.

After the drop off they’re free to shop for the day and “do lunch” with a select group of their effected friends, prior to the daily nuisance of school pick-up at 3.30pm curtailing their activities. You can hear them all on their pink bejazzled iPhones outside the school gate; ”don’t know if I can manage the gym today hon, I need to get to BJ’s coiffure before hitting the town tonight with Hollie-Jo darling. What? Monday? No sorry babes, have to fit my nails in after the sauna and doing lunch with Jessie. I’ll check my sched for next week, laters Mwwwwh!” 

Can’t say that I’m particularly keen on either extreme however; as extremes appear to be the the way of our society today, and mostly out way middle of the road normality, I suppose I’ll just have to ignore them!

Related articles

• Why it’s OK to wear pyjamas (mywaysavings.com)
• Designer Spotlight: Pyjama Room (fabsugar.com)
• It’s a pyjama day (aspergersinfo.wordpress.com)
• But My Pyjamas are Comfy… (notesfromalittlemouse.wordpress.com)
• Inappropriate Clothing (mraybould.wordpress.com)

Living life in the chicken run!

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Slightly tongue in cheek perhaps and despite the fact it’s an old analogy, the story below fits well with my previous post about the hamster wheel. Have you ever noticed how, the older one gets, the more times you witness (and endure) youthful exuberance imposing their reinvented wheel on the rest of us?

Most of those who are so excited about their ‘new’ idea, forget to reasearch and understand the past. Far to freely, they are happy to dismiss the knowledge and condemn the experiences of the wise old owls, often failing to take cognisance of historical fact. It may only be a generalistic trait but it’s one that is very common in our society today. We should all understand; we ignore and poo poo this experience at our peril, in so many walks of life.

Many people far wiser than I have been making this point for centuries. Indeed, the much quoted Chinese philosopher and reformer Confucius (551 BC – 479 BC) was probably one of the first when he said; Study the past if you would define the future. Throughout history there have been people wise enough to take cognisance of the past, but unfortunately, also just as many who haven’t.

That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons that History has to teach…(Aldous Huxley - English Novelist & Critic, 1894-1963)

One story that you may or may not have heard before, is an amusing example of the problem of youthful arrogance within our society. It’s one of those social problems which is having negative impacts upon the business world, our family lives and ultimately our society as a whole so read on…

A farmer went out one day and bought a brand new stud rooster for his chicken coop. 

The new rooster struts over to the old rooster and says, ‘OK old fart, time for you to retire.’  The old rooster replies, ‘Come on, surely you cannot handle ALL of these chickens. Look what it has done to me. Can’t you just let me have the two old hens over in the corner?’

The young rooster says, ‘Beat it: You are washed up and I am taking over.’ The old rooster thinks for a moment then says, ‘I tell you what, young stud… I will race you around the farmhouse. Whoever wins gets the exclusive domain over the entire chicken coop.’

The young rooster laughs.’You know you don’t stand a chance, old man but  just to be fair, I will give you a head start.’

The old rooster takes off running.  About 15 seconds later the young rooster takes off running after him. They round the front porch of the farmhouse and the young rooster has closed the gap. He is only about 5 feet behind the old rooster and gaining fast! The farmer, meanwhile, is sitting in his usual spot on the front porch When he sees the roosters running by.

The Old Rooster is squawking and running as hard as he can… The Farmer grabs his shotgun and – BLAM – he blows the young rooster to bits. The farmer sadly shakes his head and says, ‘Dammit……That’s the third gay rooster I bought this month.’

Moral of this story? – Don’t mess with the OLD FARTS – Age, skill, wisdom, experience and even a little treachery when required, will always overcome youth and arrogance!

The above story may have been a little juvenile in its humour but it does serve to illustrate a point. I will admit to the exuberance of youth in my younger days however; whilst questioning the methodology and raison d’être of those much older and wiser than I, there was always a background of respect of and for the experience of age. An understanding that time-served in whatever scenario, actually counted for something.

It tought me that I could learn a lot from my elders, if I was prepared to listen to them, which thankfully I was. Whether I agreed with them or not was often immaterial, just so long as I didn’t fall foul of the same mistakes they had made in their past.

Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe…(H. G. Wells, The Outline of History, vol.2 – English author & historian, 1866 – 1946)

Perhaps we would make far fewer mistakes now, if we took greater cognisance of our past? The sooner we understand that ignoring our history, and those more experienced than us, the sooner we can actually get our heads around the fact; ignorance of the past has profoundly negative impacts upon our future!

Flashmob rules on the Superhighway of People Power!

BankBabble!

Most of us should have realised by now, especially after recent toppled governments and the coordination of protest in the middle-east; the internet has become a fast flowing conduit of public opinion. It has also given hitherto unwitnessed strength and credibility to that age-old revolutionary cry - “Power To The People!” 

That’s ok in most respects, especially if it’s toppling a dictator or just a bit of innocent fun; such as a flashmob choir providing musical entertainment, or maybe a world event to highlight a charitable or worthwhile cause (see Playing for Change – One Love).

But, the power of the internet can also be dangerous to our social framework. It’s use by a minority can bolster mass criminality as seen in our recent riots, or subversive groups can drum up anarchical actions that in turn develop Ochlocracy. Conversely, this freely available power can (unfortunately) also play into the hands of extreme groups and religious sects, those who see the internet as the root of all evil.

With the power of social networks like Twitter, Facebook , and YouTube, everyone with little effort is now afforded their very own personal soapbox. One with a far wider audience than could ever have been achieved at Speaker’s Corner. The thoughts and views of some disturbed or misguided crank, usually with a personal agenda isn’t really a problem, they can actually be ignored, as with the historical soapbox system of yesteryear. The greater problem today arrises when their rhetoric is galvanised into tangible action by the airhead masses. What was once an audience of half a dozen or so can now (worryingly) be thousands or millions.

The greatest issue is that unfortunately, too many in society today have neither the intelligence or desire to check their facts, prior to leaping lemming like into the flow of mass hysteria. In addition, too many also fail to question or challenge anything they’re soaking up like a thirsting sponge. They are happy to simply accept any information at face value, then jump aboard the (often misinformed) bandwagon of perceived popularity.

Many of these contrived and/or controversial ’causes’ are often fuelled by our mainstream media machine. A system that has become far more opinionated over recent years and often, a lot less factual than was once the case. It’s the main reason why democratic and civilised societies have laws. The threat of “mob rule” to a democracy is usually restrained by ensuring a fair and proportional application of those laws; the rule of law is designed to protect minority groups and individuals against short-term social panic and Demagoguery.

The term Demagoguery relates to a strategy for gaining political power by appealing to the prejudices, emotions, fears, and expectations of the public—typically via impassioned rhetoric and propaganda, and often using nationalist, populist or religious themes.

Sometimes it’s suggested that there should be an element of control over internet use however; in a free (thinking) democratic society, that control must come from the morality and beliefs of a general consensus in the electorate, not the dystopian thought police. Pity so many are actually unable to formulate ‘informed’ opinion and care more about real issues, intolerance and injustice in our world, as opposed to the virtual or make-believe one they so often live in.

If only our society were better educated generally, possessed a more enquiring mind, and cared a great deal less about their peers or indeed, the mostly self-interested desires of the popularity stakes… I had a dream today but unfortunately, it’s hardly likely to come to fruition now is it?