This afternoon I was planning to go to the gym with my dad (what can I say, he wanted a gym buddy) and I was denied access because I only had a 'general membership' which did not include the gym. In order to access the gym, I needed to sign up to a £298 annual membership contract just so I could go in ONCE for that particular day. Annoyed that it had ruined our plans, we left and spent the journey home ranting about the corporate monster that is the gym industry...or whatever you would call it.
And it got me thinking...gyms are supposed to be there to help us improve our health and fitness, right? I know they're businesses and need to make money etc. etc. but should it really be this expensive and complicated to access exercise equipment? We can all go running for free, I know, and a couple of weights aren't too expensive to buy but if the whole point of a gym is to give a person guidance and access to a variety of equipment at once, shouldn't they make it more accessible to people? Not everyone can afford to spend hundreds of pounds a year on a membership. Considering the appalling state of general health and fitness in the UK, I think gyms need to reconsider their prices and encourage more people to consider their own health more seriously. Of course, you could argue that it would be much more beneficial for public health if we were discouraged from thinking that in order to get fit, you simply must pay three hundred pounds a year and exercise only in this particular room full of equipment. Many people feel that it isn't the gym's contents that drives them to join, but more the idea that the act of joining the gym in itself will supply them with that desperately-needed motivation to get fit and keep them going. Of course this isn't the case for the majority, and we waste hundreds of pounds on...doing nothing. Wouldn't it be much healthier, in terms of mindset as well as physical fitness, if more people associated a healthy lifestyle with exercising outside in the fresh air (ie. how we're meant to anyway) than inside a room filled with electronic equipment? And don't even get me STARTED on those who think Nintendo Wii Sports is working out. My head will explode. More of us need to remember that using our feet costs nothing more than a pair of trainers which, I can assure you, is a hell of a lot cheaper than a gym membership! What do you think? Are gyms worth the cost? Comment below and give your opinion.
0 Comments
MP Chris Huhne and wife, Vicky Pryce Corrupt journalists, newspapers, TV presenters, food suppliers and now MPs?
Upon reflection, most of you have probably laughed after reading 'and now MPs', but I am simply referring to the most recent scandal regarding the former cabinet minister, Chris Huhne, and his wife, Vicky Pryce, who were sentenced to 8 months (each) in prison today at Southwark Crown Court. They were charged with "perverting the court of justice" after Huhne was found guilty of making his wife, Pryce, take his speeding points on her license in order to avoid legal repercussions. Clearly, as an MP, you are expected to obey the law impeccably (as, naturally, we all are) and cannot be seen to be sidestepping the rules you and your government have put in place. Evidently, Huhne took the 'cannot be seen' phrase too literally and simply tried to not get caught out. According to an article by the Telegraph, he did not 'go quietly' once caught, and tried to "get the case against him thrown out during a series of pre-trial hearings" and "sought to portray him as the victim of a potential miscarriage of justice." The truth of the scandal only emerged after Pryce went to the media with the story following the breakup of their marriage which, for me, begs the question...if their marriage had not suffered, would this corruption have ever come to light? Of course, this is only the most recent scandal that has been brought the light in the media. Of course, I'm not trying to suggest that these sorts of events occur solely in Britain and only just recently, but has anyone noticed there has been almost a continuous chain of outrage regarding various faculties and persons of note? I'm sure many will remember the News of the World scandal that began as early as 2006-7 when the royal editor and a private investigation were convicted of "intercepting voice mail messages left for royal aides" which eventually widened to reveal that phone-hacking had been a widespread problem. The paper was even discovered to have made confidential settlements of around £1 million to people who claimed that their phones had been hacked in order to cover up their illegal methods. Following (and as a consequence of) this, we saw the Leveson Inquiry splashed across the media as the PM called for an investigation into the conduct of the press, focusing particularly on the practice and ethics of the media in addition to the relationship between the press and the public. As the investigations into the British media in general continued, we were hit with a fresh scandal regarding the 'unmasking' of the late Jimmy Saville, a previously revered children's TV presenter who starred in shows such as 'Jim'll Fix it' and was revealed to be responsible for a string of 214 sex attacks on both adults and children spanning decades and died before he could be brought to justice. The secondary scandal was that evidence shows that the BBC were aware that "he had dark sides to his personality" and, following the initial revelations of his offences, hundreds of victims came forward to paint the picture of the man who was described as "one of the most prolific sex offenders in a 129 year old history" by the NSPCC. This was yet another example of the lack of proper conduct of the media, and the consequences of this failure were devastating. Aside from the Huhne and Pryce outrage, the most notable point of contention in the news recently has been the 'horse meat scandal' which has brought the light a significant lack of conduct in many major food suppliers. Companies such as Silvercrest Foods, Comigel and Dalepak were found to be supplying contaminated meat, which the Food Standard Agency attributed to suspected "criminal activity". Whilst this problem was by no means unique to Britain, a significant impact was felt here in addition to other European companies. The reason for this contamination was the gradual decrease in proper regulation in licensed slaughterhouses across Europe, essentially leaving meat plants to police themselves. Budget cuts may and the limited powers of the Food Standard Agency were also contributing factors. What I am essentially trying to get across here is that a great number of industries have been revealed to be significantly flawed in terms of their practices and conduct, particularly the media. The horse meat scandal has also highlighted the malpractice of food suppliers across Europe, which has been a huge point of contention for many people. We've all seen the 'What Burgers Have Taught Us' posters, which (hopefully) means that progress has been made to correct these flaws, but it begs the question - certainly for me:are there other major industries or persons out there who have yet to be investigated for corruption? Who will be in tomorrow's papers? What do you think? Feel free to comment below and give your opinions on this matter. How many parents in the UK would be dismayed if their child told them they were opting to go into a trade or apprenticeship instead of the well-worn path of university?
I imagine that many would deny that they have succumbed to the social stigma revolving around apprenticeships in the UK, agreeing quite sincerely that Britain needs more plumbers and builders but secretly assuming it will not be their child that fulfills these roles. University has long been advertised as the yellow brick road to money, success and therefore happiness, but many of us forget that not everyone flourishes in the same environment or through the same learning processes as everyone else. The elitism of the university image has created the social expectation for young people finishing school education to automatically proceed to higher education (ie. university), whilst alternative routes are, arguably, played down in favour of a degree. For many students, it is becoming the case that they are going to university due to this expectation, when a vocational apprenticeship may have been far more suited to their skills and interests. What kind of apprenticeships are available? According to www.apprenticeships.org.uk, there is an enormous range of apprenticeships available - so vast that I couldn't possibly list them all here. To be more concise, there are apprenticeships available in all the major sectors you could think of. If you love the outdoors, wildlife and animals, then apprenticeships in the field of Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care are an option you should consider. If you are interested in engineering and construction but don't fancy an engineering degree, you can do an apprenticeship in anything from Nuclear Working to working in the Water Industry. And I say this in the briefest manner, because there are numerous vocations in this single sector alone. For those of you who are more inclined towards the arts, apprenticeships can include courses centred around theatre, digital media and the music business to name just a few. Until I began researching apprenticeships, I knew very little about them and I can honestly say I am astonished at the sheer variety there is in courses, vocations and professions available.There really does seem to be something for everyone. Does an apprenticeship provide good employment prospects? Evidently, the matter of youth unemployment is of great concern and employment prospects have to be taken into account when deciding which route is best for you. According to the Independent, to name but one source, in 2011, "employers want apprentices, not graduates" even today it has been widely publicised that British employers are looking for experience over qualifications. I'm not intending to put off any of those who are seeking a university education - as degrees are undoubtedly of value - but I would like to emphasise that courses and apprenticeships that provide specific, vocational training for a certain field or occupation are very much needed assets for British workers. Many employers are "frustrated" with the lack of fundamental skills in graduates who have emerged from university and are unable to meet requirements in the workplace, therefore you could even be giving yourself an advantage if you were to opt for an apprenticeship over a degree in some cases. Countless companies and organisations in the UK are committed to hiring apprentices and fully support the Apprenticeship programme. For example, Matt Stripe (HR Diretor of Nestlé UK and Ireland) said of the programme: “Our aim is to double our apprentice numbers by the end of 2012 and continue to broaden our existing apprenticeship programme to offer opportunities across a range of different functions including HR, Supply Chain and Finance. Last year we took on 14 new apprentices bringing our total to 50 working right across our business.” This demonstrates that the employer's attitude towards apprenticeships is perhaps far more positive and practical than many of us might think. In fact, according to Parliamentary statistics, this year has seen an increase of around 64000 applicants starting apprenticeships after leaving school compared to 2011-12, so the social stigma of apprenticeships appears to be beginning to abate. Will doing an apprenticeship rule out entire fields of professions? The variety of apprenticeships out there are evident if you go to www.apprenticeships.org.uk, but aside from this there is strong evidence to suggest that the market is widening for apprentices. An article published by The Guardian in January named 2013 as "the year for legal apprenticeships", demonstrating that a law degree (or similar university-attained qualification) isn't the only viable route into a legal profession. Professionals in occupations such as Law are recognising the importance of creating alternative routes for workers; Lord Neuberger said in November on the topic of reforming legal education: "A less diverse profession is an impoverished one, one less able to reflect and support a flourishing democracy committed to the rule of law." Click here for the entire article for more information. The subject of apprenticeships is an enormous one to tackle in a single post, as there are so many aspects and opinions to cover. If you are interested in learning more, make sure to click on the links in this post and do a little research for yourself! I think it is incredibly important that we recognise the diversity in people, not just in terms of their skills but the way in which they learn and flourish in their workplace. Some people need a lecture theatre, and some people need a hands-on scheme in order to improve their abilities. Whilst there is a difference in the two routes, I don't believe there should be a subtle taboo associated with opting for an apprenticeship instead of university. What do you think about apprenticeships vs university? Do you think an apprenticeship can have equal value or not? Comment below and share your opinion. Naturally, I have done the one thing that I said I would avoid doing with regards to 'If Anybody Cares' - I have not posted for around three weeks. After guilt-tripping myself for at least half of that duration, I've decided to just apologise and make a promise that I will have posted (by which I mean posted something that is of veritable interest to anyone) by the end of this week.
IF I DON'T (not that this is a possibility, of course) then feel free to comment below with a delightfully varied - but legal - list of ordeals that I will have to subject myself to. Or I can just content myself with the knowledge that I'm a terrible human being...? Salamanca, the subject of my penultimate post (if you...remember), was a definite success in terms of improving my fluency and experiencing the culture and lifestyle of a different country with my friends. I stayed with a lovely lady, Bernada, and she was the best hostess I could have hoped for. Despite cooking almost 100% carbohydrate meals, she ticked every box and made my stay in Salamanca the best it could have possibly been. The best part was how easy she was to get along with; I am by no means fluent in Spanish, yet I found myself chatting with her in her living room until almost 1am on the first night! That felt like a real achievement for me, in a completely different way from getting an A in an essay in class, because it showed me that I could apply what I'd learnt at school and successfully use it in a real life situation. I know that sounds cheesy, not to mention obvious, but it is completely possible to study languages at both GCSE and AS level without feeling like you have any ability to cope with a real-life scenario in which those language skills would be needed. So the confirmation that I was not one of these people was a real booster! On the subject of Spanish, I have a series of mock exams to be preparing for this week so I had better get to it. Thanks for reading! (Sorry!) Pope Benedict XVI has shocked the world with the announcement of his resignation as Head of the Catholic Church, becoming the first Pope to step down for more than 600 years. His reasons ultimately revolve around his declining health which, at the age of 85, means he no longer feels capable of continuing as Pope. The move will be made official on 28th February 2013, and the Pope's public events and engagements will continue as normal until this date.
However, what will happen to the unfulfilled promises of investigation and justice for the victims of the Catholic priest child abuse scandal that came to light during Pope Benedict's time as Head of the Church? Of course, it was merely another chapter in the epic tome of sex scandals that has permeated Church history since 1985, with the case of Rev. Gilbert Gauthe in Louisiana, USA. The outrage spread to Europe in 2002, when a wave of child abuse cases emerged in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. In addition, subsequently from 2009, Ireland was hit with a similar outcry when the government issued a report revealing that numerous cases of paedophilia from Catholic priests had been covered up for decades. In May 2010, Pope Benedict declared his "shame and remorse" for the terrible acts committed by members of the Church, announcing that he would open up a vigilant investigation into the matter. But what has actually been done? There has been a flurry of activity from organisations such as Irish Survivors of Child Abuse and SNAP (Survival Network of those Abused by Priests), who have cried out in protest at the Church's lack of action towards resolving this issue. Today, an official statement by SNAP declared: "No matter how tired or weak Pope Benedict may be, he still has two weeks to use his vast power to protect youngsters. Before he steps down, we hope he will show true leadership and compassion and take tangible action to safeguard vulnerable children." According to The Guardian, John Kelly - a co-founder of Irish Survivors of Abuse - said: "In our view we were let down in terms of promise of inquiries, reform and, most importantly of all, the Vatican continuing not to acknowledge that any priest or religious found guilty of child abuse would face civil authorities and be tried for their crimes in the courts." That is not to say, however, that the Church has failed to act at all. In February 2012, key figures within the Church participated in a four-day symposium in Rome, along with 100 bishops and other religious superiors and abuse victims themselves, which focused on the prevention of sexual abuse of children by the clergy. This was planned to be achieved by better communication with victims, and the development of a more thorough and efficient response system to cases of paedophilia with the intention of eradicating them entirely in the future. Nevertheless, many feel that the response has been slow to deal with the issue and Pope Benedict XVI may be walking away from a ticking time-bomb of a situation. Already, news of his resignation has been met with harsh responses - SNAP celebrated, reportedly saying that he had done little to stop the "reign of terror of child rapist priests". The renowned atheist, Richard Dawkins, today tweeted: "I feel sorry for the Pope and all old Catholic priests. Imagine having a wasted life to look back on and no sex." Scathing remarks such as these illustrate the continuing anger and dissatisfaction many harbour towards the Catholic Church on this matter, and the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI could be the catalyst that sparks a whole new wave of protests and brings the issue of paedophilia within the clergy back into the headlines. What are your thoughts on the Pope's resignation? Do you believe the Church has adequately dealt with the child abuse scandal? Comment below and share your thoughts! I'm ready to go! This time next week I will be at Heathrow airport with around sixty students from my school, waiting to board a plane to Madrid. We will be spending five days in the city of Salamanca, located to the north west of the capital, whilst we focus on developing our Spanish language skills.
English students live in pairs with a Spanish host, who is a resident of Salamanca, and the host provides a place to stay, two meals a day and - hopefully - an opportunity for developing conversational Spanish abilities! In the day we attend lessons at the local language college, don Quijote, and an afternoon activity is organised for us. Afterwards, we are free to do as we wish (almost) until the midnight curfew. Having participated in one of these study trips before, I can tell you that there is no better way to immerse yourself in a language (in this case, Spanish) than living in Spain with a Spanish resident and going to a Spanish school to have lessons about Spanish in Spanish, taught by a Spanish teacher. (Just to say the word again...Spanish.) Of course, you may be interested in another language. Friends of mine have just received their French exchange partners into their home, and I know that spending the majority of your time with a person of your chosen language of study is another brilliant way to engage with the language. But back to me. Let me tell you a little about Salamanca... FOOD I'm not going to waste your time by telling you all about the fabulously expensive fine dining restaurants in Salamanca because (firstly) chances are you won't be able to afford it after immediately throwing half your spending money at the ubiquitous Universidad de Salamanca hoodie! (modelled in red by me above) Secondly, if your host is anything like dear Vincenta who I stayed with last time, then you will be so stuffed from the gargantuan lunch provided for you that you won't want much more than a taste of the local tapas in the evening. Warning to vegetarians (and vegans, God help you) - whilst your host will have been briefed prior to your arrival that you don't eat meat, the local restaurants and bars may not be so simple. When I ordered a vegetarian sandwich for a friend of mine last time, it arrived heaped with tuna and so we had to send it back (great language speaking opportunity though!) A personal recommendation of mine is a wonderful little cafe, appropriately named Cafe y Té, which serves good food at reasonable prices and offers free Wifi - great if you want to get in touch with home without spending a fortune on phone calls and texts. Un pincho de tortilla, for example, is perfect for a small snack/meal to keep you going in the evening. SHOPPING There are whole shopping districts in the city, so if you have money to burn then head straight for the areas north of the Plaza Mayor. If you want to keep things familiar, head for the Zara and H&M stores, but otherwise feel free to have a poke around in the various local boutiques and independent shops in the district. Of course, no modern city would be complete without a couple of shopping centres so check out the Tormes y Capuchinos and the Vialia. There you'll find a variety of shops, eateries and even a cinema if you feel like watching a Spanish film. NIGHTLIFE Salamanca is first and foremost a university town, and where there are students, there is nightlife. According to the official Salamanca website (check it out for yourself), there are three main areas of nightlife: Varillas, Gran Via and Bordadores. Bordadores may be more of interest as it is near to the Plaza Mayor, the central hub of Spanish cities. Fun fact for you: the Plaza Mayor of Salamanca is considered to be the grandest in all of Spain! Here you can find live music, your regular nightclubs offering American and British music and - if you're feeling really cultural - you can get a taste of the Spanish music scene too. Salamanca is brilliant for music, and the clubs and bars are still packed well into the early hours thanks to the students. LEARNING Salamanca is considered the city to learn Spanish in, attracting tens of thousands of international students every year. It is safe, vibrant and packed with educational institutions offering language courses - both long and short term depending on the duration of your stay. The school I will be going to in Salamanca, don Quijote, is a reputable organisation that has schools all over the Spanish-speaking world. You can go at almost any time for any time, whether it be un Curso de Navidad (a Christmas course), un Curso Super Intensivo (a very intensive, concentrated course) or los Cursos de Larga Duración (a longer-duration course). If you are interested in learning Spanish, this is one of the best ways to do it! So that's just a taste of where I will be going next week. If you're still not intrigued about the idea of participating in a language study trip abroad, here are a few reasons why you should consider it: 1) It's the fastest way to get to grips with a language - seriously, there's nothing like waking up in the morning and reaching for your dictionary within the first minute of consciousness. You are thoroughly immersed and, within days, you will find yourself noticeably speaking more confidently and switching to the language more quickly. 2) It's a trip to another country - and who wouldn't want that? Trips like these allow you to experience another country in a way you never would if you were simply another tourist on holiday. 3) It is a fantastic credential to have - you can refer to it in university interviews, job interviews and include it on you CV. It demonstrates a desire to learn and initiative to take your language learning to the next level. Language skills are on of the most sought-after abilities by employers! 4) It's a wonderful experience - there is nothing like breaking the language barrier and conversing with a local (even briefly) and walking away afterwards, thinking..."I did that." It's fantastic for a person's confidence and knowledge of the wider world. 5) You will make great memories and meet great people - don't forget these trips are with your school friends! Five days in a foreign city with money to spend and a multitude of bars and clubs in every direction? What's not to like! Plus, you may even end up returning to spend time with your host or any friends you make there in the future! Failure is something that we all experience at some point in our lives, however one person's definition of a failure could differ entirely to another's. Your background - ie. your upbringing and your environment - could dictate how you approach failure and the severity of its effects on you psychologically. For young people in particular, the pressure to perform in academia and other fields of merit has, arguably, never been higher.
Is the pressure of elitism making it increasingly difficult for us to cope with failure? A survey conducted by the UN in 2008 showed that Britain scored the lowest out of 21 countries in terms of youth well-being. That was five years ago - but has anything really changed? One in ten British teenagers are diagnosed with a mental condition, and depression is widespread. My generation may not have been made to work in factories as children, or have been forced to participate in a war, but we do not have it easy. A BBC article published only two days ago, entitled 'Have Young People Ever Had It So Bad?' outlines the difficulties faced by young people in Britain, and how ferociously competitive (and lucky, to some degree) one must be to overcome them. But not everyone can. The consequential realisation of failure is a hard blow to bear, particularly when we are bombarded with headlines about youth unemployment and similar dismal circumstances that failure to succeed could lead us to. Many teenagers are burdened with overwhelming expectations to succeed, whether these stem from parents, schools or internal sources. A survey published in January 2012 demonstrated that students who experience more pressure from their parents (in comparison to those who are not excessively burdened) were more anxious and unhappy than their relaxed counterparts. This suggests that the pressure to succeed amplifies every minor failing or, in some cases, creates failure where none exists! I go to a very high-achieving school which promotes excellence in everything it does - and achieves this aim. We regularly succeed in getting at least 10% of each year group into Oxbridge, and the remaining 90% into universities of similar (if not equal, dare I say) standards. However, the consequences of this aura of prowess is the inescapable pursuit of perfect grades and the need to be the best. Ambition is one of the greatest things an educational establishment can give a student, however this constant pressure to succeed can cause even the most brilliant student to feel like a failure if their perfect record slips even slightly. If we take this mentality and apply it to Britain as a nation, we are potentially raising a generation of perfectionists who are unable to cope with the inevitability of facing failure at some point in their lives. We need to re-educate ourselves about the meaning of failure, and the significance of it in our lives. Failure should not make you slow down, it should make you speed up so that you can try even harder next time. I'm not going to embarrass myself any further by trying to come up with inspirational quotes, so I will quote the man who no one - perfectionist or otherwise - would deem a failure: "We are not the first Who with best meaning have incurred the worst." - William Shakespeare's King Lear The Blackberry Curve Not the fruit, the phone. As you may know from previous blog posts (see 'Are We Trapped Online?'), I am a Blackberry owner, a phone and a company that currently has one of the worst reputations in the industry. In fact, I have only just received my phone back from repair because the entire handset - keypad, trackpad, everything - stopped working all of a sudden as I was actually in the process of using it. This was before I had even owned the phone for six months, I should add, which only reinforced the poor reliability of the brand which has been commented upon frequently in the media. I cannot count the number people I know who have owned a Blackberry phone, and have proceeded to switch to an iPhone or an Android equivalent. Has it always been like this? Blackberry is a world away from its glory days; the previous decade saw the euphoric introduction of a sleek, compact and revolutionary device that allowed the user to email from their phone. From their phone. If we look back to 2003, the utility provided by Blackberry was unparalleled in the phone industry, with businesses and their employees, in particular, seizing the opportunity to pack a variety of office facilities into their pocket. The appearance and capabilities of the Blackberry blew its competitors out of the water, and the company RIM (producers of Blackberry) went from strength to strength. Its fortunes were such that it was fondly nicknamed 'the Crackberry' by its consumers, referencing the smartphone's ability to create addicts of its users. In 2009, RIM soared magnificently to its peak market share of 21% (down to approximately 12% by 2011) and saw tremendous revenue from its global market. In contrast, figures published mid-2012 revealed a measly 6.4% market share for RIM. What caused such a severe decline for Blackberry? As a user myself, I vividly remember the October 2011 incident where 70 million Blackberry customers worldwide suffered from long-term service faults and delays which lasted three consecutive days. It was a scandalous event for RIM, and received international coverage in the media, as customers across all continents were hit by email, internet and BBM (Blackberry Messenger) blackouts. Consequently, a mass movement of consumers from Blackberry to its competitors occurred. Of course, we cannot say that a simple software malfunction (despite its scale and duration) was the sole factor of Blackberry's plummet into shame. The emergence of Apple's iPhone and the various Android phones on the market have contributed enormously to the decrease in Blackberry sales. By late 2012, Android phones occupied 51% of the market, with the iPhone swallowing most of the remainder. I believe one of the greatest reasons for Blackberry's decline was simply the fact that it came first; it was the first successful and mass produced smartphone on the market, and thus it had to make all the mistakes first. These mistakes were observed closely by the competition, and allowed them to develop products that overcame these obstacles. Blackberry's initial success in the face of its competitors gave it a seemingly immortal and invincible status, and as a result, Blackberry's innovation gradually slowed. The existing status of its products, and its dismissal of its competitors who waited in the wings, meant that whilst companies such as Apple, Samsung and Microsoft were working furiously to develop phones with capabilities that rivaled and, arguably, surpassed those of Blackberry, RIM failed to respond with newer models that held on to the company's dominance in the smartphone industry. A former RIM employee told The Guardian: "RIM grew in popularity too quickly, and got complacent over the iPhone." This extends beyond the development of the handset itself; the app market is a huge source of revenue for the smartphone industry, and developers have stopped creating software for RIM because it presents too much of a liability in comparison to its rivals. Millions of apps are created for Apple, and this provides yet another attraction for potential customers. The lack of development for RIM represents one more blow to the future of Blackberry smartphones. Is this the end for Blackberry? RIM have launched the Blackberry 10 OS, which many are called 'RIM's lifeline'. The future of the company hinges on this new model, and the majority of opinion shows that it is unlikely to save it. Finance and business experts have said that only time will tell, but time is getting on and Blackberry have yet to make a reappearance as a major player in the smartphone industry. Here is the advertisement Blackberry shared for their new model: Do you own, or have you ever owned a Blackberry? Is the poor opinion of RIM justified and, more importantly, do you believe it will make a comeback?
Comment below and share your thoughts. Many of us have them - if you don't, I envy you. There are phobias of all types and severity, from arachnophobia (fear of spiders) to phobophobia (fear of fear) and the American Psychological Association discovered that at least 11% of people will suffer from at least one phobia in their lifetime. That seems like a measly statistic at first - but if we apply it to the world's population...that's a lot of panicking.
Personally, I have always found flying difficult to deal with. Planes make me exceptionally uncomfortable, and I have been known to shed a few tears on the runway. The last time I did that, I think I was thirteen or fourteen, so I seem to be making some progress! (Don't laugh, I've seen a woman scream out loud during a flight!) I have always found it difficult to understand why flying affects me so, because once I am up in the air I am completely fine. It is the actual prospect of boarding a plane itself that makes me break a sweat. Before you comment about how there is only a 1 in 2 million chance (or something like that, I don't particularly want to look it up myself) of a plane crash, I must impress on you that it is not a fear of crashing but a fear of not being in control that makes flying such a daunting experience for those who suffer from aerophobia. Fortunately for me, it is not so severe that it has stopped me travelling and I will, in fact, be experiencing my first ever long-haul flight this July when I travel to Ecuador and the Galapagos islands. However, for many people, coping with phobias is not so simple... According to www.mind.org.uk, there are three principle causes for phobias: - "For some people the phobia can be linked to a particular incident or trauma; for example, a child who experiences a lot of turbulence on a plane might develop a phobia about flying." - "Phobias can be learned responses, picked up in early life – you might develop the same specific phobia as a parent or older sibling. It has also been shown that factors in the family environment, such as parents who are very worried or anxious, can have an effect on the way you cope with anxiety in later life." - "There does seem to be some evidence that genetics can play a role – some people appear to be born with a tendency to be more anxious than others." Based on this information, it appears that it is very easy to spark the development of phobias. They can take root in our subconsciousness, and become gradually more significant until they result in full-blown fear and anxiety. Until I was ten years old, I always named flying as my favourite way to travel! How can we learn to overcome these phobias? Well, the most obvious answer (particularly if you suffer from an extremely severe phobia - ie. to the extent that it is regularly disrupting and reducing your quality of life) is to seek professional help. If you do have a phobia, no matter what type, you are not alone. However, I may make an exception for one of the One Direction boys who, apparently, has a fear of spoons. And yes, I am ashamed that I know that. There are all kinds of treatments available, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) which is a form of counselling that focuses on the links between thoughts and feelings. This can be extremely helpful for coping with phobias as it teaches you how to disassociate feelings of anxiety and panic with the subject of your fear, or at least to minimise the level of anxiety you feel when facing your phobia. Even without attending professional sessions, the concept of changing your mindset and the way you think about the subject of your phobia is a useful one to master. You need to find something that gives you a sense of control, no matter how slightly. Inexplicably, blasting 'Fireflies' by Owl City at full volume on my iPod during take-off helps me to cope with the panicked sensations which that part of the flight often induces. There are, of course, options by the way of medication but these are mainly for short-term treatment for those who suffer very severe levels of anxiety. Antidepressant, tranquilisers and beta-blockers are your main three, but these must be prescribed by a doctor and are, ideally, a last resort. Dealing with the psychological causes of your phobia is far more effective, and will stop you feeling as if you are dependent on medication. Do you have any personal experiences with phobias or coping strategies? Comment below to share them on 'If Anybody Cares'! The desire to be known, to be recognised for something and to (arguably) rise above your peers is widely felt. A society that worships celebrities and encourages everyone to strive to be someone makes fame the ultimate goal. Music icons, film stars, sports stars, best-selling authors...no matter what the profession, they are the symbol of success and a representation of what so many of us want to achieve.
According to Psychologies Today: "Fame promises an escape from whatever ghetto we're in, real or imagined. It deters detractors and may even squeeze a few crumbs of recognition from those who have begrudged us a smile while we were clawing our way out of Nobody-land...The more recognition we can amass, the less likely it is that anyone will dare to nobody us." However, despite the overwhelming evidence that life in the spotlight is a difficult one (not financially, of course!), it is the ambition of many to achieve just that. There are countless examples of those who have been destroyed by fame, and whilst we shake our heads and murmur how you 'could just see it coming'...does that stop our insatiable craving for recognition? No other time in history has produced an equivocal obsession with the famous, and the need to be one of them. Why is that? I don't believe it is the desire for money, as there are various positions in society which can earn enormous salaries. Bank managers and CEOs aren't 'famous' as such, but they earn millions a year. It cannot be purely a financial motive, but rather a sociological and psychological desire. We want to be better that those around us, which can only be achieved through status. And what earns a person status? Money, recognition, connections and some measure of power and influence - all of which celebrities possess. Unfortunately, not everyone can be famous, and this can produce great levels of dissatisfaction in people. A survey conducted by www.infotheblue.co.uk revealed that over half of teenagers want to be famous...but what are the possible implications of this? A quote from the famous novella 'Fight Club' comments on this matter: "We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War, no Great Depression, our great war is a spiritual war. Our great depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars, but we won't." Have you ever felt like this, or is this an exaggerated stereotype? |