Less Big Brother more conceptual art

I've written blogs before, but my friends and colleagues would read them. The obvious difficulty with this scenario is that you can never honestly express yourself and retain some anonymity.

So this blog is just for me.

I have a nice group of friends who in the majority I have met through work. They are your ideal group for drinking evenings, whether that be in the form of a dinner party or a big night out on the town. I have however, have never managed to integrate myself with the creative community. Before having my Daughter I would, at least once a fortnight, visit an art gallery. I once took my sister but she just eagerly waited to get to the cafe. I would love to go to a poetry reading. I love female singers with acoustic guitars. Political debate. With the exception of art gallery's I have never dared enter into these arenas on my own, and know nobody who would enjoy these activities. Books and media are currently my only windows to these worlds that interest me so.

I take my Daughter, Eden, to several Mums and tots/playgroups. She goes to nursery 2 days a week and getting out into the community like this should have us surrounded by possible Mummy friends. Again this has been another none starter and despite this integration people remain guarded. Most Mums come to the groups in pairs. The child minders all rigidly cluster together. The Grandparents similarly create a huddle and then bustle their Grandchildren out earlier than the Mums. The Dads stand alone but are scared when approached.

We all seem to have lost basic skills of communication and integration. Human are naturally curious creatures, they want to learn and experience things. What an Earth has made us act in such an alien fashion that goes against all human instinct. I can grasp the concept that we must protect ourselves and our family so strangers will always pose a possible danger, a risk. But the cloning I see, the inbred nature of communities in this day and age is bizarre.

I work in a call centre , the turnover is high, the average age is 21 or so. There actually exists a peer pressure there to watch reality television. To listen to chart music. To wear clothes from Bank, River Island, New Look and Top shop. You are expected to take holidays abroad and have little or no savings. You should smoke. You should drink heavily and go out every weekend. These remarks should be a generalised, stereotypical and exaggerated. I can only comment on my own experience of working there for the last 5 and a half years, but these statements are factual.