Sunday, July 10, 2005
Tough on wristbands, tough on the causes of wristbands
In a posting yesterday, Susanne Lamido reports,
Islington's Lib Dem Mayor Jonathan Dearth has called on all 48 councillors to wear the white wristbands throughout July in support of the campaign 'Make Poverty History'.She adds,
Good on Jonathan for taking the initiative.I couldn't disagree more and I would urge all Lib Dem councillors to ignore their mayor's silly advice.
Don't get me wrong - I'm all for concrete steps to aid development in the third world. If one wishes to do something practical, there are plenty of reputable organisations to which one can donate money or time.
What I object to is 'conspicuous compassion', the trend for ostentatious gestures such as wristbands, lapel ribbons and ten-minute silences, all of which are intended more to make us feel good than to help others. Nowadays, it seems that people's prime concern is to compete with one another to show how much they 'care'. (Read my earlier posting on this subject).
I object not only to such ostentatious displays of 'empathy'. I object also to the faddish emotional incontinence that such gestures demonstrate. Most of all, I resent the unpleasant element of mob rule, the insidious moral pressure to conform by wearing these things.
The ultimate irony is the news that anti-poverty wristbands were manufactured in a third world sweatshop.
My message to Lib Dem Mayor Jonathan Dearth and his emotionally incontinent friends is to get a bloody grip.
# posted by Simon Titley @ 1:34 pm 
Comments:
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Reply to A C Baker:
Oh dear, I have offended a modern taboo, haven't I?
You have missed my point. I was not arguing that anyone is 'forced' to wear a wristband; rather that there is increasing social pressure to conform. This has been an unpleasant feature of British culture since the oppressive wave of Diana-mourning in 1997.
Nor is it my point to suggest the best projects to which people should donate money and time, or how much money and time is reasonable. That is for each person to decide.
My objection is to self-indulgent and ostentatious displays of 'caring', which say far more about us than they do about the good causes they purport to serve.
Oh dear, I have offended a modern taboo, haven't I?
You have missed my point. I was not arguing that anyone is 'forced' to wear a wristband; rather that there is increasing social pressure to conform. This has been an unpleasant feature of British culture since the oppressive wave of Diana-mourning in 1997.
Nor is it my point to suggest the best projects to which people should donate money and time, or how much money and time is reasonable. That is for each person to decide.
My objection is to self-indulgent and ostentatious displays of 'caring', which say far more about us than they do about the good causes they purport to serve.
Now you're straying off topic. This post is about the phenomenon of conspicuous compassion, not the "practical outcomes of the G8 summit". Have that debate elsewhere.
I would like to know the "practical outcomes" of wearing wristbands and ribbons. So far as I can see, it is essentially self-indulgent.
This form of gesture politics speaks volumes about the kind of shallow and reflexive culture we inhabit. As such, wristbands are part of the problem, not part of the solution - even if they are "for chaaridee".
I would like to know the "practical outcomes" of wearing wristbands and ribbons. So far as I can see, it is essentially self-indulgent.
This form of gesture politics speaks volumes about the kind of shallow and reflexive culture we inhabit. As such, wristbands are part of the problem, not part of the solution - even if they are "for chaaridee".
Far from being "obsessed with outward appearances", my point is a fundamental one - that in recent years, particularly since the period of ostentatious Diana-mourning, British society has developed a tendency to indulge in 'conspicuous compassion'.
People's focus has shifted from the original 'good cause' towards making of a sort of fashion statement. It is a symptom of an increasingly reflexive culture and a disturbing social trend. As such, it is worthy of comment.
People's focus has shifted from the original 'good cause' towards making of a sort of fashion statement. It is a symptom of an increasingly reflexive culture and a disturbing social trend. As such, it is worthy of comment.
I'll not bother re-stating my original arguments but would merely suggest that 'The Cat' re-reads them.
All I would add is my conclusion that Islington, collectively, needs a good slap.
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All I would add is my conclusion that Islington, collectively, needs a good slap.
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