Dom Kureen returns. Guest opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication. Ed
The cynical amongst us would say that we are all parasites by our very nature, craving our pint of blood. Whether it’s the Channel Four assistant cameraman, judging his success by how many nods he receives daily from an insecure team leader, or the Crown Prince of Spain spiking Daddy’s Havana Club isn’t the issue here.
Pauper or Prince, most people are willing to pee on the rug now and again, if it means they’ll get their belly tickled in the long run.
Glass half full
The optimists among us would argue that we all have a purpose – divine or otherwise. Everyone has a reason for existing, if only to fulfill stereotypes conceived by ‘suits’ in offices far away.
Girls filling bras with chicken fillets, men wearing pants with cushioned crotches. These things all possess a function, to increase self-worth based on what we’re told are essential survival traits.
A series of moments
For most of us there are billions of tiny moments, punctuated by a few dozen larger ones – the latter providing our best stories, often only to be squandered on an apathetic audience.
A few years ago I crossed the path of a self proclaimed free-spirit, who attempted to convince me that everything we own is just stuff ‘man’, so why the need for a label when it’s more a symbol of slave labour than a status symbol?
A commendable ethos for sure, I actually firmly agreed with the sentiments. My contention was that as he waxed lyrical, he sat adorned in a Jack Wills tee and Adidas shoes covered his feet, both with garish logo on parade like unsubtle billboards for the organisations he condemned, something I eventually pointed out, to the indignation of the stranger.
Scripted passion
There’s a chasm between those that get passionate to fit a mould and others who do so legitimately. An irksome man like Noel Edmonds assisting in the opening of random boxes, all the while insisting that Dave from Gloucester is a “real character!” because he had Jim Bowen in the back of his cab once, has all the soul of East 17 recording a Motown album.
It is certainly pleasant to make the acquaintance of the genuinely kind-hearted, that’s something I always strive to be when possible, albeit my words on the page may across with aspects of rage coursing through my veins, it’s that same passion that I urge everyone to exhibit in spades.
To be honest…
Once in a while it’s good to relieve the brain of tensions. Your writer has tried to be brutally honest over the course of the last year in my personal life.
It has worked wonders with most people. The mutual respect levels increase substantially when you cease with the sugarcoating and just blurt out what you think instead.
You can handle the truth
The truth can be harsh and of course there are times when you need to be tactful, but in my experience the majority of nearest and dearest appreciate hearing an honest response to a query.
If someone’s teeth need fixing and they ask you: “Do my teeth need fixing?” say yes. If a nervous person facing a best man speech asks at the eleventh hour: “Is my speech terrible?” Say no (unless it contains references to the groom getting lap dances or something daft!) It’s a simple science really.
Just remember: None of us are worthless or parasites for even if our place on earth allows one other person greater happiness it’s been worthwhile. On that slightly cheery note, I bid you a fine weekend.
