Friday 10 November 2023
Headlines Out of Control Say Headlines
No-fault evictions in England ‘soaring out of control’, say campaigners
Private debt is out of control
Plastic waste problem ‘spiralling out of control’ in Africa, says Tearfund
Out of control XL Bully bites small dog after harness breaks
'VAR has got out of control' - Man Utd lose again on chaotic night in Copenhagen
Humanity is out of control, and AI is worried
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4 comments:
The dark side of this headline meme is that journalists (and their fellow travellers) want things to be 'under control'. Their control or that of their masters.
The march from ordinary rough and tumble life to something 'safe' and 'under control' and 'approved' has been insidious. While some of that journey may be due to the urbanisation of the populace (the urban living machine is fragile and needs constant attention) the rest is down to a human desire for certainty taken to an extreme not previously possible.
I don't think a collection of country folk at the weekly market would be as biddable as a collection of townies in a coffee bar. I hope I am not wrong.
I think religion is an attempt to control life, through prayers and interventions. The substantive beliefs seem to have disappeared, but the emotional need to have things go our way has outlasted them. Most of us can't even control our thoughts and speech and the basic routines of our own lives, but we still expect someone to sort the big stuff out for us.
Wasn't "Control" the MI6 boss in the Smiley novels?
P.S. We watched one of the old telly series a while ago - still excellent.
DJ - yes certainty has been taken to an extreme. It's visible in Net Zero where major scientific, technical and economic uncertainties are brushed aside in favour of political certainty. I suspect you are right about the urban living aspect, there is something bonkers about cities.
Sam - it's a very uncomfortable thing to do, to examine the extent to which we are not in control of our own thoughts, speech and lives. A powerful way to frame the human condition though.
dearieme - I remember him as "Control" and I've just looked it up to confirm. I don't remember which books I've read, if any, but I remember the TV series with Alec Guinness. Must watch it again some time.
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