Brexit - And why I admire the full immersions

I voted yesterday, I have voted in every election I have been able to.  I strongly believe in a Suffragette spirit, women died, were force fed and imprisoned so that we could take part in the democratic process, I have always been scathing about people but women especially who refuse to vote because they 'don't know nuffin' or that nothing changes so 'what's the point?'  Well the point is you can have major f-ups like what happened yesterday.

I was re-watching 'Time Warp Wives' again a while ago, which as you know I have blogged about before.  I was shocked at one of the wives Joanne (aka Lola Lamour) who had no idea the PM had changed, for me that is/was unthinkable, but after the effect on being vastly disappointed in my country has (yet again) on my mood, I rather admire the full historical immersion types.

Do you think Sarah Chrisman gives a toss about Donald Trump?  No, she just goes along riding her Victorian bicycle and writing her books (I love her she is so cool).

Do you think Lola Lamour is stressed about Brexit?   Probably not, probably just singing her songs.

Full immersion would be hard for me because I really am very political.  But I still can't help but admire it, perhaps if myself and my friend really do get that intentional community off the ground I will get that chance to forget all about Politics and just live my life, healthily and naturally.

*sob* I feel excuded

Or maybe I am taking some things too seriously?

I am only subscribed to three vintage bloggers only one of whom is a fellow Brit, it is a small vintagely world and I am so glad not to feel alone in it.

Yesterday her video was about something that I have a lot of experience in so I was excited to watch and finally got to comment, I was the first one to comment too. Yay!!!  I actually know something.

When I clicked back to read up on some of the messages later on, I noticed that, she had responded to every other comment but mine.  ;o((  I feel Mean Girl-d!

I think I have felt it more because I actually really identified with her on this issue, I have the exact same issue and it is something that bothers me so, knowing that I am not alone made me feel SO happy. 

Also, it reminds me of all those bloody events I have been to alone where they have there little clique and the organisers make no effort to even smile to a newbie.  I went to one event, organised by a well known Vintage group and one of the girls in that group, sat on a chair, facing the stalls, I smile at her and she looked at me as if I was an alien and turned to her friends to talk. 

Really it is hard going out there, especially as a single woman without friends already in, or willing to go with you.  You are constantly fretting about your look and whether you might be judged for not looking  "right" and judge for not looking vintage enough, hair not right, clothes not right, "Is she wearing modern shoes?"

It is not anyone else's responsibility to make me feel more secure of course, but I just wish people would be a little more courteous.

Were we happier in the Stone Age?

One of my historical minded friends forwarded this article on Facebook.  Here is a quote:

Romantics never tire of finding the dark side of every discovery. Writing gave rise to extortionate taxation. Printing begot mass propaganda and brainwashing. Computers turn us into zombies. The harshest criticism of all is reserved for the unholy trinity of industrialism, capitalism and consumerism. These three bugbears have alienated people from their natural surroundings, from their human communities, and even from their daily activities. The factory worker is nothing but a mechanical cog, a slave to the requirements of machines and the interests of money. The middle class may enjoy better working conditions and many material comforts, but it pays for them dearly with social disintegration and spiritual emptiness. From a romantic perspective, the lives of medieval peasants were preferable to those of modern factory-hands and office clerks, and the lives of stone-age foragers were the best of all.

 Ermmm, yeah, that is exactly how I see it.  Of course I don't totally romanticise the past, as a woman, especially one of colour, almost any time period in the last few years would have been a hardship for me.  I enjoy the freedoms of the modern age but the fact that I DO enjoy them, is only because I live in the West and I am relating my experience in the modern West.  Life is plenty different in other countries and I wouldn't have as much freedom as I enjoy in other countries.

No one really wants to reenact or dress like stone age woman.  Though I have to accept that it is probably the time period when people were at their healthiest and maybe even happiest.

The happiness levels of some of the remaining Hunter Gatherer communities is really much higher than in the West, it breaks my heart to see some of them give up their indigenous ways to follow the path of 'progress'.  The disaster that Imperialism wreaked on millions of peoples...well there just isn't enough restitution in the world.  But, well it happened, that is the dark side of the past and their is no use ruining our futures by dwelling on it.

The article presses on that there is a balance between the romantic view and the view of the progressives but then points out:

Even if we take into account solely the citizens of today's affluent societies, Romantics may point out that our comfort and security have their price. Homo sapiens evolved as a social animal, and our wellbeing is usually influenced by the quality of our relationships more than by our household amenities, the size of our bank accounts or even our health. Unfortunately, the immense improvement in material conditions that affluent westerners have enjoyed over the last century was coupled with the collapse of most intimate communities.

I realise this topic is far more in sync with what I usually post about on NN, how modern living has taken us (especially women) away from our much needed social support systems. This has been terrible for us.

True or false, the practical impact of such alternative views is minimal. For the capitalist juggernaut, happiness is pleasure. Full stop. With each passing year, our tolerance for unpleasant sensations decreases, whereas our craving for pleasant sensations increases. Both scientific research and economic activity are geared to that end, producing each year better painkillers, new ice-cream flavours, more comfortable mattresses, and more addictive games for our smartphones, so that we will not suffer a single boring moment while waiting for the bus.

The link between modern day expectations and happiness is a thoroughly interesting one.
In a world where we have access to 24hour news, social media and an idealogical wars, it is often easy to get overwhelmed by the negative aspects of modernity.  I have shed many tears crying over news items that broke my heart recently, I will spare you the details but I can honestly say that I was more encouraged than ever to avoid the modern world and descend further into neo-traditionalism. I might not be there yet and I don't think it is entirely healthy to avoid the world entirely, but I was sorely tempted.

I urge you all to read the article. Maybe if enough of us decide to forgo the march of 'progress' we will band together to make a more simple, but far happier world.

Result

I would love to tell you all that I lost some weight, but it seems that my hardly used digital scales have decided that they don't need to work any more.....PoS newfangled #!!&!

I should have got a mechanical one, my mechanical one lasted years......

Just proves the older stuff is better.....