Pessimist moi?

Jenny (who’s a confirmed optimist) thinks I’m a pessimist because I seem to pay more attention to bad news than good news, and I tend to conjure up doomy scenarios.
 
I don’t think I’m a pessimist at all. If I pay more attention to bad news it’s because firstly it’s more dramatic and secondly I want to know what caused the bad news – the train crash or the botched operation or whatever.
 
If I think for example that the Prime Minister isn’t up to the job, that doesn’t strike me as pessimism but just a random opinion.
 
I don’t routinely think everything around me is going to end badly. I can just as well believe something will end well. Like a house purchase or an airline flight (I’ve never been afraid of flying).
 
But it’s hard not to be pessimistic when what’s happening around the world is so dreadful. I have to search hard for genuinely positive news.
 
In any case what others would call pessimistic, I just think of as pointing out reality. Should I refrain from mentioning something because it makes me look gloomy?

Noise mongers

There are proposals to crack down on people playing loud music and videos without headphones on UK public transport, as other passengers find it disturbing and inconsiderate.

I can’t say I’m especially bothered by loud noise on trains and buses, although I’d rather not have to listen to music I personally dislike.
 
In fact most passengers on public transport here in Northern Ireland are actually quite considerate and do wear headphones or keep the noise level down.
 
There are certainly more important things to complain about than noise mongers. Like buses that come late or not at all. Like buses with no luggage racks. Like the deterioration of public services generally.
 
What does annoy me is restaurants that aren’t designed to dampen conversations, so you have to virtually shout to make yourself heard against all the prevailing chatter.
 
Also of course the background musak that assaults you in so many restaurants, shops and other places. Polls say the majority of customers would prefer silence but for some reason they’re ignored and the music blares on regardless.

Is it real?

Much controversy over a TV programme on ADHD that suggested it isn’t a bona fide mental disorder but a “social construct” that isn’t real.
 
Neurologists and psychiatrists immediately weighed in to say yes of course it’s real and there’s plenty of evidence to back that up.
 
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is defined as a disorder marked by persistent symptoms of inattention, restlessness, forgetfulness and impulsivity (among other things).
 
By that definition I could almost have ADHD myself. I can certainly claim inattention, restlessness and forgetfulness. I’m very scatterbrained and find it hard to concentrate totally on what I’m reading or listening to. But there are other symptoms that don’t apply at all, so I have a sort of semi-ADHD.
 
But neurologists are puzzled as to why ADHD seems to be on the increase. Given all the possible symptoms (at least a dozen) I guess it could easily be diagnosed when like me someone has a fair number of the symptoms but not by any means all of them. Does it to some extent depend on a subjective assessment rather than clear clinical guidelines?
 
I guess this debate will run and run.

Hot and bothered

So there I was getting all worked up over a story about crazy Harry Potter fans making ridiculous demands, only to find that the story had been denounced as wholly fictitious.

The story was that a new power cable linking the UK national grid to Ireland had to be diverted because it was due to pass under the grave of a Harry Potter character, namely Dobby, the fictitious elf.

The construction company supposedly got hundreds of calls demanding the cable be rerouted to avoid “desecrating” the supposed grave.

I wondered straightaway if the story was genuine, because it was so far-fetched, but I couldn't find any correction anywhere. It appeared in several mainstream sources (BBC, Guardian, CNN, Irish Times etc), and was so full of convincing details (even naming the project manager) that I swallowed my doubts and ran with it.

And was totally fooled. Oh well, somebody must be laughing themselves stupid over how many people were taken in.

Privacy

People have very different attitudes to privacy, don’t they? Some take elaborate measures to avoid being subject to the slightest scrutiny, others couldn’t care less how much attention they attract.
 
Its common in Northern Ireland for people to keep their window blinds down permanently so nobody can see into their house. They also like huge hedges for the same reason. We had some old window blinds removed because we don’t care if people look into our windows. What harm is it going to do?
 
As for personal privacy, both Jenny and I prefer to use the bathroom in private without the other barging in. I know a lot of couples are quite happy to be intruded on but we’re not one of them.
 
There’s a lot of fuss about websites that harvest our personal data, but personally I can’t see what the problem is. I’m sure hundreds of websites have my personal data but so what? What interest can anyone possibly have in my utterly humdrum existence? It would be different if I had loads of pornography or bomb-making guides.
 
People can get a bit paranoid about privacy for no good reason.

Liverpool

So Jenny and I were in Liverpool for a few days, partly because we like Liverpool – the architecture, the river Mersey, the dockside – and partly to catch up with two old friends from Chester.
 
Of course there were one or two glitches and annoyances along the way, but travelling is never trouble-free.
 
We discovered that our hotel didn’t have air conditioning because that might have spoilt what was a grand old listed building. Luckily it wasn’t too hot and we had a good fan and also windows that opened.
 
Several museums and galleries were closed simultaneously for updating, which must have disappointed an awful lot of tourists. Why did they all have to be closed at once?
 
It was Beatles overkill, much more than on our previous visit. Everywhere we went there were references to the Beatles and Beatles-related merchandise – even Fab Four cafes. Are there not other famous people who’re associated with Liverpool?
 
I was bothered by a bit of back ache, which meant I couldn’t stand or walk around for too long, but that didn’t stop me enjoying things. I’m happy to say Liverpool hasn’t lost its appeal.

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