Mass Hypnosis

Manchester
9th July 2011

Dear John,

The riots moved north today and it would seem that they are Just. The handgun was not fired in self-defence; it wasn’t fired at all.

I refuse to call the ‘rioters’ disillusioned (I use the term ‘rioters’ here loosely, you understand). Such words can only be designated to those who are unhappy with their current clime. This new breed of once apathetic, pond-life is revelling in its mass-lunacy. Who can blame them for wanting a break from the continual recycling of a pap culture? An uncomfortable, lustful build-up of Friday/Saturday/Sunday and Thursday night Hedonism, pushed into overload and fuelled by muscle enhancing, square-head-inducing STED’d Syndrome.

It seems Big Brother must now take on its third incarnation. No Dystopian nightmares here. No “Uncle Jo” as such, just a forced and scripted reality whose vision isn’t clear. One that lives, breathes and copulates in our telescreens and seems intent on lowering our collective tone and dampening our spirit.

While these “rioters” must commit arson, loot shop-fronts, perpetrate gang-rape and as they say, “go-ape”, they can be safe in the knowledge that On-Demand TV will allow them to lap up their bilge, triumphantly returning to the wise words of Mr Kyle and a comfortable nothingness.

With this in mind, it is with a reassuring light-heartedness that I don my balaclava, fill my zippo and head out to join them, humming “Black and Yellow” as I do.

Yours faithfully

R.S.