‘And so we remained till the red of the dawn began to fall through the snow gloom. I was desolate and afraid, and full of woe and terror. But when that beautiful sun began to climb the horizon life was to me again’ - Bram Stoker
Well folks, guess who is back?
I have had a small sabbatical from writing what with Christmas, New Year and New Job and all. I kind of had to focus on the six inches in front of my face.
Talking of six inches, no, not one of my disappointed ex-girlfriends, but the snow! The natural white icy falling droplets that have managed to change Broken Britain into Frozen Britain.
I have never heard anything like it! The moaning, whining, the sheer doom and apocalyptic outlook that the chattering sheep classes who have fallen for the negative media drivel.
We almost need Simon Cowell to make a press statement telling us all that the snow is an acceptable part of nature, and I for one, am a fan. It is for this reason, snow; you are through to the next round. I am sure that some people would have been comforted by this.
I live by a giant Tesco’s (although there are other supermarkets available which also do have meagre dwellings nearby). The other morning, as per usual, I left for work at around 6am. I pop in and pick up a fruit juice or flapjack, and low and behold the place was packed. The end of days was coming – albeit a slight irony as if the end of the world is nigh why do we need food?
I will explain how this phenomena works and we can place this under the headline ‘Mass Hysteria’ my ardent followers know that I have blogged about this before, check the link http://scotteverest.blogspot.com/2009/05/tanganyika-laughter-epidemic.html.
Mass Hysteria is created in this case by the media, the infamous weather warnings, the constant references to Armageddon, the somewhat convenient panic about shops running low on stock.
Bad news sells; advertisers pay premium for publications which sell more copy.
So the panic buying leaves the shop shelves empty, prices of goods rise. The hoarding of food continues. However, when spring cleaning comes around the extra food is just wasted.
There is as well another psychological aspect and something which is becoming more prevalent.
If you were asked to think of snow, what do you think of? A chocolate box scene? A red robin? Or a Victorian setting and no doubt Christmas? What if the media representation of the snow could damage our perception of Christmas itself? Surely we cannot be turned into a consumer nation and forget the spirit of Christmas?
When we paint something in a negative light, or give it power through multi media outlets then surely we will also give negative credence to all its associations.
This can even work through xenophobia; we associate certain countries with snow, and then place a negative association with them. However, let’s not re-open wounds from the propaganda of the cold war.
There is only one tip moving forward, and that is not to eat yellow snow.
A new year is a new dawn, before light came darkness, the ground needs to harden to protect the seed growing underneath. The sun will come up across the horizon as it has done for billions of years.
I think Bram Stoker says it best, although you can worship the light or the dark even if you are not in its presence.
Blogs will continue weekly, with next’s week subject being goal setting.
Cheesy chips and Mango dips
Sensai Scott x
