Feeding My Ignorance

Reality TV shows are anything but.  They are sold to you as good viewing because, unlike soaps or crime series etc., you are seeing "real life" unfold in front of your eyes.  However, if it really were real life (and there have been some so-called "slow TV" shows made that could claim that) then the vast majority of the programme would be dull and unwatchable (always assuming that any show of this genre can claim otherwise )

...

Currently the so-called "most powerful position" in the world is held by a person who used to be a reality TV show host; who was, presumably, well used to dictating the way in which the "reality" was crafted and had a big say in what was seen and what was not seen; who almost certainly used his role to try to ensure that his "image" was always portrayed in the "best light".  He has brought all those lessons learned (but not well learned) to his current post.

Unfortunately for him there have been a number of times when "real life" has intervened - in as much as he has been unable to ensure that everything goes the way he wants - none more so than over the last days when the entire country has been absolutely shaken up by events in Minneapolis last Monday.  He tries hard at all times to create his own reality, only to be thwarted by the fact that he does not have control over everything that impinges on that world he is trying to create.

I have, although perhaps not in so many words, said before that we all do this - we have what I call "mental models" of how the world around us works and those are constantly being changed as we learn new things and as we encounter things that don't resonate well with our current view of the world.  Most of the time we are reasonably comfortable with such adjustments as they are usually minor - but now and again something comes along which requires a significant rethink and those times can be uncomfortable.

Obviously I am writing this from the viewpoint of a spectator of events in the USA, but it seems to me that for many these last few days have been one of those times - and it has certainly been uncomfortable.  The central theme is, of course, the biased treatment of some by the upholders of law and order.

Now, I know far too many people who are or were members of the police to fall into the trap of lumping all policemen together as "the enemy" and it is only a few weeks ago that I wrote about the scourge of "usandthemism".  I do believe that most of those trying to uphold law and order are doing their best and would be quick to condemn what we saw happen in Minneapolis.

That is important - "what we saw" - there are many stories of incidents that were not seen - and then it becomes much more difficult to condemn because it is human nature to have doubts about "hearsay" and, inevitably, we come back to the very centre of usandthemism and you get the situation where each "us" group bands together and closes ranks.

. It has often been the case that the "Blue Wall" has prevented justice from occuring. With a video it becoms much more difficult to fabricate a different reality.

We saw this in Buffalo - he "tripped and fell" - until the video surfaced showing that he was clearly pushed. Rightly in this case the two perpetrators were quickly suspended - only for 57 others to "support" them by resigning fom the emergency response team. Now, of course, we gain another problem - it is far from easy for any of those 57 to "break ranks" and admit to themselves that this action was wrong.

Clearly the culture encourages such strong arm tactics - I have heard it so often from people this week who have been on the "wrong end" of the discrimination - and the most telling are those when the "mood" changes in an instant due to some small - but significant event - like seeing a camera. BUT - seeing a camera did not save George Floyd - and I am sure that there are plenty who would not be at all ruffled by the idea that someone might "catch" them - heard a report tonight of a policeman with 79 complaints of excessive force - golly - and he had only been in the police for three and a half years!!

Firstly - that is an amazing rate of racking up offences - secondly - why did no one do anything about it given the frequency of occurrence.

The current focus is on the USA and the racist actions of (some of) its police force members. However, the injustices are not confined to that country, nor to clashes between those empowered to enforce the law and the "general public".

I wrote this a while ago now and it is as yet unfinished however events have moved forward and I feel that I need to start afresh - so I am publishing it "as is".