Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Ego and the Unrest (AKA riots)

So I spent some time in Camden town speaking to Police officers and young people. And I have been thinking about the violence and in particular I have been thinking about my thinking about the violence.

I spent time with a friend of the family who is a criminal lawyer (read that as you choose!) She said that she was in court today and that the Majistrates had been given instructions to refuse bail to anyone arrested at the unrest including those with no previous, of good character and where there is no evidence. I was furious and said so. My wife then did what she so often does. Disagreed with me. I watched myself start to get angry and then began to laugh at myself. I told her that I really appreciate it when she does that because it trains me to notice my attachments to my beliefs. My experience is that attachment to any beliefs causes me suffering so why bother ? Instead I can just remind myself of my new mantra given to me by someone I met this week - the mantra is 'I dont know'

12 comments:

Author said...

Hi Danny.

I have seen a worrying trend in the last year. Corporate companies and indeed individuals are listening less than ever.

Another trend I am seeing in myself is that if people don't listen eight times or so in a row with polite requests then I get angry and threaten them. Non physically I might add. The sad thing is that action is only taken when threats are given.

I have been receiving calls and emails from a recruitment agency for two years. I have asked them continually and politely to take me off their database. Tonight I received another call. I told the lady that their website will be taken down for a whole week if they don't take me off their database.

I feel that terrorists and rioters get sick of not getting anywhere with the official routes and like me end up having to make threats. I am having enormous success with this behaviour. Indeed terrorists also eventually get what they want if they keep going.

Sometimes passivity doesn't work. British Gas paid me compensation when I went 'ballastic'. When I was polite nothing happened aside from empty promises.

Most of the world's problems can be fixed by listening. I wonder why listening isn't taught in schools.

My neighbours and myself had our cars vandalised a couple of years ago. The police fobbed us off and wouldn't investigate. However when I threatened to take legal action against the police if they didn't investigate the issue, a lovely police officer arrived within half an hour and started doing their job. Again, being nice didn't work!

Note that with friends and family of course I never use this tactic. I never need to as they are all decent considerate people.

Politeness is the first priority, but after that anger is acceptable. Before last year I found that people were always reasonable. I think
porate companies and indeed individuals are listening less than ever.

Another trend I am seeing in myself is that if people don't listen eight times or so in a row with polite requests then I get angry and threaten them. Non physically I might add. The sad thing is that action is only taken when threats are given.

I have been receiving calls and emails from a recruitment agency for two years. I have asked them continually and politely to take me off their database. Tonight I received another call. I told the lady that their website will be taken down for a whole week if they don't take me off their database.

I feel that terrorists and rioters get sick of not getting anywhere with the official routes and like me end up having to make threats. I am having enormous success with this behaviour. Indeed terrorists also eventually get what they want if they keep going.

Sometimes passivity doesn't work. British Gas paid me compensation when I went 'ballastic'. When I was polite nothing happened aside from empty promises.

Most of the world's problems can be fixed by listening. I wonder why listening isn't taught in schools.

My neighbours and myself had our cars vandalised a couple of years ago. The police fobbed us off and wouldn't investigate. However when I threatened to take legal action against the police if they didn't investigate the issue, a lovely police officer arrived within half an hour and started doing their job. Again, being nice didn't work!

Note that with friends and family of course I never use this tactic. I never need to as they are all decent considerate people.

Politeness is the first priority, but after that anger is acceptable. Before last year I found that people were always reasonable. I think

danny shine said...

i hear ya mate ! i think the enlightened thing to do is to PRETEND to be angry whilst not being !!

farid1323 said...

I feel that anger, much like all other emotions, is only an impediment if held on to with attachment. For example take fear, which can be a huge impediment, as when someone freezes in fear. Or it can be a moment where courage is born. Anger can cloud judgment. It can also create the passion behind action.

Would you have started doing the things you do and questioning our life style had you never felt angered by it? (I hope your answer to this is "no" or my example is a fail haha.)

Obviously this is only my opinion, which I have developed through my own experience up to now.

Anonymous said...

Good mantra to have Danny. I had started to battle at work with people who were saying that they should all be locked up and throw away the key. Made me realise how detached I was from their views and at the same time calmly dropped in to conversation an alternative opinion to their own. Although we agreed to disagree, everyone including myself managed to look at both sides of the coin. Always two sides to an arguement. Always down to a point of view which comes from peoples own knowledge experience. Peace. Pete Mac

polka said...

[quote]My experience is that attachment to any beliefs causes me suffering so why bother ?[/quote]
theres a few people with 'buddhist' inclinations that would agree with you ;)

Anonymous said...

If you got any further up your own arse you'd invert.

What a self obsessed wanker you are.

Grow up, get a clue and shut the fuck up.

Anonymous said...

Or you could just shut up, and get a life.

Rufus said...

It's clearly wrong to enforce a blanket policy of refusing bail regardless of peoples' individual circumstances. It's clearly wrong that magistrates should take instructions from another authority (presumably the Police or CPS) on how to proceed in any given case: it undermines the process of justice, and sets a dangerous precedent. You did know.

Why did you try to remain detached and 'unknowing' about this issue, while feeling spurred into action on so many others?

Is it possible to be attached to the idea of detachment?

As well as being destructive and negative, anger can be vital and positive, when deeply felt and acted upon. Likewise, cultivation of detachment can be healthy, but if over-practiced can lead to passivity and disassociation from one's purpose in life.

Peace x

Anonymous said...

Aren't we all self obsessed? Just that comment alone has to do with you and no one else. There's a bigger picture to it all. Send love not hate.

Anonymous said...

I am so happy to see you didn't take down the inverted arse wanker! That's so funny, I love people like that. Anonymous and using the word, "arse" and "wanker" Look up, Banality of Evil, good read.

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