Bubblehammerblog

Image of Edith Piaf is by Angelique Houtkamp

A recent poll of 10,000 people between the ages of 5 and 18 invited them to rank in order of importance a variety of activities. Watching television and playing computer games, believe it or not, came first. Only 2 percent ranked Saving the Planet above that activity.

I read this in a copy of the newspaper they give away on the tram; not more than a single 4 inch column, 10pt bold. I've not yet seen the full results of the this poll, so before concluding that modern youth is uniquely moronic, I'd like to see more detail.

I noted that at Snorri's St Gwynllyw Infants School the 5 year olds were doing a project on Saving the Planet. Prominent on the classroom wall there was a large mural comprising a map of the World, with pictures of endangered animals attached with ribbon. Above it the legend in letters cut from coloured paper, Together We Can Save the Earth.

What can a 5 year old make of the ruin of the planet and the imminent danger of extinction? Surely a dark, terrifying prospect. To bear it we domesticate it. It becomes a moment of the spectacle.

I may check out this poll. The fact remains that this supposed result came as no surprise, I expected it. My unexamined view is that most young people are boneheads. Very depressing, though clearly preposerous. In back rooms and attics, bars and dancefloors, passionate, intelligent young women and men are formenting the downfall of capitalism as we speak. Some do it while watching tetevision.

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