Better Media

I have never owned a TV since moving out of my mum's place. When I tell people this, I get a mixture of reactions. Some are approving and among them I may find the fellow TV-less types. Some think I just say I don't have a TV to be 'trendy'. Some realise I can't possibly be trendy if I haven't seen the latest great comedy or drama series. Some people can't fathom what life would be like without a TV and thus find it exceptionally difficult to talk to me, since I haven't got a single response to their comments about what was on last night. TV is a hot topic and so by not having one, in some senses I am outcast from mainstream conversation.

What a shame.

I hate the prevalence of fear-mongering and the destruction of self-esteem that is the result of the majority of our media. I believe that the media has a responsibility to inform accurately, without bias and at present we've got it all wrong. Largely, what I read or see tells me that everyone's a shitbag, the world's absolutely fucked and that I look nothing like I should do, in fact, I'm rather ugly. Which you can imagine, is very depressing.

I'm sorry but my thighs aren't silky smooth, a nice brown colour or bald. My boobs aren't pert and disproportionately large compared to my really tight six-pack and complete lack of body fat. My hair isn't naturally light blonde, my face isn't symmetrical and yes, I have wrinkles at 25. I'd rather not be told that what I'm not, is what I'm supposed to be.

And I don't want to live my life vicariously through the characters of EastEnders or Coronation Street. I want to live my own life, have my own experiences and judge life by those experiences rather than by someone else's. Why would I want to spend my free time in front of a screen, within the same four walls, spending my life transfixed by the pretend experiences of an actor rather than enjoying my own? Yes, I could watch X Factor and pretend that if they can be a pop star, so could I. Or I could just advertise for some local musicians or singers and try and set up my own little pop group. Maybe practise down at my local studio for a tenner an evening and eventually play a few gigs in my local pubs. I might not get a £1 million record contract, but then I also wouldn't have to lick Simon Cowell's arse, or become the image I so readily berate for it's effect on the self-esteem of young people today.

It is utterly wrong that we live in an age where we continue to murder and exploit each other. The Western world rapes other countries of their natural resources without paying fair trade prices; it claims to be fighting for human rights through murder and war and is the biggest cause of the irresponsible environmental destruction that will ultimately destroy all of us. We need to manage ourselves and our resources better.

Constantly being bombarded by information about what a bad world we live in is not conducive to a rich and fulfilled life. And a rich, fulfilled life is one that contributes in a positive way to the society of which it is a part. 

It is not because I think that what goes on in places other than my back yard is unimportant. It's terribly important. But I personally can not change government policy or come up with an alternative economic system to replace capitalism. And so, I simply try to do my best within my back yard and, for my own sanity, I've switched off the shitbox. Because for the most part, I find it depressing. And it would be depressing for me to look back on the last year of my life and realise that I spent the majority of my free time doing nothing but watching television.

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Buddhist prayer.

I just think it is important to be careful about what you listen to and how you spend your time. We are constantly bombarded by information, advertising and media that reduces our self-esteem to keep us spending and glued to the telly. I would rather be socialising or doing something creative.

I think that the internet is one of our best media sources since it allows you to pick and choose what you watch. There's a plethora of educational information, available from qualified experts in their field. One of the best websites I have found recently is http://www.ted.com/. I want to tell you why.


 TED is a hub for humanity's best ideas. It features short video talks by educated people from all over the world; astronomers, biologists, psychologists, ecologists, satirists and many other fabulous 'ists' who have something positive to say about the world.

I'll tell you about some talks I watched recently. The first was by Jill Tarter, Director of SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) and described how she wished for more people to become engaged in the work SETI undertakes. She reminds us of how very small our planet is in the context of the whole universe and how finding life somewhere else within it may help to unite us as earthlings. Human beings are, at present, divided. Into tribes, countries, religions and more. She reminds us that we all share one home, which we should take care of.

The second talk I watched was by marine biologist, Sylvia Earle. She urges us to take a good look at the devastation we are causing to the ecosystems of the ocean and how heavily we rely upon them to survive. Without water, there is no life and we aren't taking any steps to ensure it's conservation. It's a message not necessarily about altruism; we should protect the oceans for our own good. She asks why we're not doing so and describes the true cost of our current fishing habits.

The third talk was by the mighty Eve Ensler, author of 'The Vagina Monologues' and a campaigner for women's rights all over the globe. It was about the current stifling of our 'inner girl'; that part of us (both men and women) that is emotional, has feeling, intuition, compassion, empathy, love. It took my mind off of glass ceilings, of rapes and mutilations, of second class rights and social pressures about appearance or behaviour and reminded me of what's good about being a girl.

I want to tell you about one of the most important talks I've ever watched on TED and that was one by Sir Ken Robinson. In his speech, he talks about the need to revolutionise our education system completely. That, at present, our education system stifles the creativity and talent of our children and in doing so, hampers social progress for all of us. To me, there is nothing more important than ensuring that our children, our future generations, are well informed. Not primed for labour, but actually educated. http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution.html

These are just examples, but every TED talk I have watched has inspired me, has drawn attention to the bigger picture, has given me hope for the human future. This is the kind of media I want to watch and I hope that everyone can be inspired by TED too. Humanity stands to influence it's own future dramatically; TED gives me hope that we might go in the right direction.

What would you rather watch?

Running Better

I'm currently reading 'Born To Run' by Christopher McDougall; a book that tells the tale of an indigenous people living in the cliffside wilderness of Mexico, called the Tarahumara, otherwise known as the best runners in the world. They can run distances of over 100 miles continuously and in some of the most perilous terrain on earth, with nothing but a pair of sandals and a smile on their face. The book talks about famous ultradistance athletes who have competed against the Tarahumara people and investigates what is behind their success.

The conclusion is that they can run so far simply because they love to do so. It is an integral part of their social culture; it is both daily life and a daily joy for them. It reminds us that you don't need to have the most expensive footwear or running gear to be able to perform feats of massive physical endurance. You've just got to have the heart to do so. In fact, this book talks about the lack of scientific research behind the marketing of running shoes and that there is no evidence to show that they either improve performance or reduce injury. In fact, it argues that injuries have increased since the advent of cushioned shoes. It says that nature gave us all the equipment we need, that humans have been running for thousands of years to escape predators and to hunt prey. We are naturally equipped to do it and there is no better equipment than that which nature gave us.

"That was the real secret of the Tarahumara: they'd never forgotten what it felt like to love running."

In fact, there are a small number of scientists; paleontologists, anthropologists and sports coaches, who believe that running was a key factor in our evolutionary migration from other primates. We have a number of physical differences from the chimp, which are crucial to our ability to run; the Achilles tendon, arched feet, the ability to manipulate our breath, the nuchal ligament (a ligament in the neck that balances the head), the fact that we are naked and sweat in order to cool down rather than pant. These physiological differences mean that we can run for long amounts of time, where as most animals can only do it in short bursts. This book argues that early man used to hunt animals by isolating them from their pack and wearing them out by chasing them until they dropped. Admittedly, we are slow runners compared with other animals, but we're built for endurance, not speed.

 

It is yet another book that confirms how integral exercise is to our overall well-being and the joy that can be taken from it. It is a reminder about getting in touch with our physical selves again and how through exercise, such as running, we can cure some of the stresses and sicknesses of modern life. But it is a reminder of how natural it is to be active; a reminder that we were once animals that had to compete against others through acts not just of intelligence, but of agility and stamina. We have forgotten this fact and become fat, lazy and mentally ill because of our sloth.

I truly believe that in combination with the better parts of modern civilisation, a little backstep will help us lead more fulfilled lives. To some extent, we must embrace the inner animal. Before the advent of agriculture and industry and this thing we call modern life, humans were more inclined and more able to perform as athletes do today. How many people can run for 5 minutes, let alone 5 miles or 5 hours?

So why is it that not everybody likes running if we are so well equipped to do it. In 'Born to Run', it says "Humans are the only creature to have a mind-body conflict... while our bodies are built for performance, our brains are constantly looking for efficiencies." The point of work is to negate the existence of itself. I.e. we work so that we don't have to work so hard in future. Today, we can see examples of lives lived purely behind the screen of a television or computer. In fact, it's probably possible to spend your entire life without moving very much at all. You can work from home, get your food delivered to your home and socialise via the internet. We've invented technology that largely eradicates physical activity. But what we've failed to notice is that we need it. Our health relies upon it. Our mental health as much as our physical health.

"There's something so universal about that sensation, the way running unites our two most primal impulses: fear and pleasure. We run when we're scared, we run when we're ecstatic, we run away from our problems and run around for a good time."

I believe that we are misguided about exercise. It is not a burden, it's a joy, or at least it can be if you are in the right mindset. It naturally releases serotonin in your brain; your happy drug. If you feel unhappy, exercise can cure it. And you only have to look at the nature of the human animal to understand why. I believe that we need to take a step back towards mother nature in order to cure the modern malaise. By incorporating regular running, or any kind of physical activity, into our lives, we can be much happier, confident and balanced people. As children, every human being runs about, but is told to slow down. In the developed world, running no longer remains a part of our culture, a form of social bonding or a means of survival. As we get older, we're primed for a life in the office, behind a desk. We're told that running is a chore, something that's unenjoyable but something we should do. We've forgotten how to enjoy it.

"You will not find a 4-year-old on this planet who does not like to run. Why? Because they haven't been told it's a workout."

I ran the Race for Life on Sunday and have raised around £270 for it. I found the whole experience absolutely thrilling and despite not training regularly beforehand, I still managed to run the whole thing without stopping. I can't wait for my half-marathon. 'Born to Run' has really changed my outlook; I see running as a mental exercise as much as a physical one; to endure such distances, you have to enjoy every step, you have to be relaxed. I've come to enjoy the feeling of running; the rhythm of it, the power of it. Knowing that we are physically designed to run great distances really inspires me and I hope to push myself one day to completing a marathon and maybe even an ultra. And it was 'Born to Run' that gave me this attitude.

"You don't stop running because you get old, you get old because you stop running."