The Orange Housewives of Essex County

Am I alone in thinking that ours is a very manipulated society, where the majority of people are kept in their place by a diet of endless reality tv shows and rampant advertising to encourage consumerism? We are also encouraged daily to take part in on-line poker games and endless bingo sessions – without having to leave our own homes. Add to that convenience food that requires very little cooking and cheerful adverts for pay day loans to get people in more debt and you have a recipe for disaster. Government ought to be concerned about such things but they are not. It suits the purposes of Government and big business to have a comotose society, so that profits can flourish and dissent limited. Of course, I could just be turning into a ‘grumpy old man’ but I think not. I just feel sad that people are led to believe that a reality tv lifestyle and the ‘fame’ it brings is wholly desirable and that you can get rich quick by appearing on a game show or gambling on line.

In our Advices and Queries, we are asked to, ‘Consider which of the ways to happiness offered by society are truly fulfilling and which are potentially corrupting and destructive. Be discriminating when choosing means of entertainment and information. Resist the desire to acquire possessions or income through unethical investment, speculation or games of chance.’

This advice seems trivial compared to others, but in the light of contemporary life, it is spot on. As Friends, we may need to do as much work changing these elements of society as we do when we consider climate change and sustainability.