Hello, and welcome to my website...
I'm pretty new to this, so apologies if things aren't as good as they might be. Still getting the hang of just what it is that I'm supposed to be doing. I'm pretty sure this website could be all-singing and all-dancing, with loads of showy content, exciting images... I just don't know how to do that. Still, I did say this girl was no genius!
It's my intention that this website becomes a collection of my "musings", in the form of a "blog". Each time I blog, I'll be picking a different subject; something that interests me, and gets my brain cells firing; I hope they will get yours firing, too. If all I succeed in doing is providing you with a brief period of diversion (and maybe amusement!), then that's good. It's a start. If what I write can get you reading between the lines, asking questions, challenging the "status quo"... thinking... then... I've achieved my goal. And that's more than I could possibly hope for. Taste is personal. You might think this site fantastic. You might think it c***p. I'm content to settle for something in-between! If you've even so much as bothered to read it, I'm grateful.
At the end of the day, I'm just some twit of a girl from a cruddy seaside town in the bleak Northwest of England. I'm not Emeritus Professor of anything at Oxford, or Cambridge. I'm not a T.V. or radio personality; or a published author. I'm just "Joe Public". But that's the beauty of the internet! "Joe Public" is free to do what "Joe Public" never before imagined doing. I was "educated" within the Comprehensive School system, where everyone was programmed to think alike, act alike, dress alike. Teachers did not expect anyone to distinguish themselves by "breaking the mould". They did not encourage or reward difference. They did not even apppear to know how to handle the child who asked awkward questions, stood out from the crowd, rebelled. Free thinkers were obviously far too "radical" for such a "one size fits all" educational system to cope with! Still, here I am, ordinary "Joe Public" - about to do exactly what I am encouraged not to do... I am going to challenge the doctrines of my teachers, those who criticised me for being different. I am going to fly in the face of the comments made by those who could not handle my difference - my parents, my peers, my past acquaintances. "Who do I think I am?", they asked.
I am a person, an individual, who is inclined to think freely, and independently. I do not wish, or choose, to be fettered by conventions. I will not be told what to think, or what to believe. There is a whole wide world out there for me to explore - and I can do that my way, by engaging my BRAIN. That does not make me; as my detractors have attempted to suggest; arrogant, self-absorbed, stand-offish, complicated, political (insert inverted commas to gain better understanding of full euphemistic use of word). It does not mean that I think I am clever, or superior, or above people. These are not my words. Wanting to think freely, and independently; wanting to inquire, and ask questions - these are not negative qualities. I am sorry that there are those who think that they are.
I am just me. And there are probably many people out there very much like me. We ponder, we reflect, we question, we probe. Perhaps we poke our noses where they are not wanted? Who can say? That's just our way. Well, this site is for us...
Before I go any further, there is something I'd like to ask of you readers. A small favour; if that's allright with you. Well, not even a favour, really. More a sort of "social duty". I'm big on trying to change things... improve things that I don't believe are right, or are working effectively. I don't agree with things forever staying as they are. Humans have to learn to accept change, where that change is to be for the better. Sometimes, the way something happens to be, or they way something is done, just isn't quite up to scratch. Sometimes, it's downright "ropey", or just plain wrong.
Each of us has the power, should we so choose, to change things. We can do this individually, or collectively. I'd love your help in attempting to change things. For that reason, I have put together some E-Petitions, to which I would really like readers to add their signatures. This is not compulsory; after all, it's a matter of whether you agree with what I propose. So, the web addresses at which the E-Petitions can be found are listed below. Please feel free to take a look at them, and sign up, if that's what you choose. I'll maybe be adding more as an idea pops into my head, but for the moment:
E-Petition List:
1. "Raising The Profile Of Gynaecological Conditions And Infertility: Please Take Them Seriously". web address...
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/department-of-health-and-the-government-improve-treatment-for-infertility-or-gynae-problems?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created
2. "Call For Increased Protection And Rights For Whistleblowers In The Workplace". web address...
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-government-department-for-business-innovation-and-skills-protect-whistleblowers?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created
3. "Ban Unnecessary Cosmetic Procedures And Diet Pills: The NHS Is Already Overstretched". web address...
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-government-department-of-health-ban-diet-pills-and-cosmetic-surgery?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created
4. "Open-Minded, Not One-Track-Minded, Diagnosis, Please". web address...
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-government-department-of-health-protect-iatrogenic-patients?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created
5. "Call For Increased Protection And Rights For Iatrogenic Patients". web address...
http://www.change.org/en-UK/petitions/the-government-department-of-health-improve-treatment-and-diagnosis?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created
6. "Make Bullying A Criminal Activity". web address...
http://www.change.org.uk?en-UK/petitions/the-government-make-bullying-a-criminal-activity?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you to anyone who signs up! It's much appreciated.
Anyhow, all the best... and here's hoping you enjoy reading the "Blog"...
P.S.
Gratitude always to my husband, who ever-so-supportively encouraged me to do this, and who ever-so-patiently gives some of his time to assisting in my "brainstorming" activities...
Thanks to the few others in my life who HAVE cared - I remember who you are, and how you have helped. To my two excellent English Teachers at Secondary School; thankyou for encouraging me to read widely, and to interpret freely. To my Secondary School Language and Science Teachers; thankyou for making the lessons relevant, and for affording practical opportunities to reinforce learning. To my Secondary School Music, and Art, Teachers; thankyou for making learning fun, and for putting in so much unrecognised hard work behind the scenes. It is such a pity that students were not encouraged to explore a wider variety of subjects; and that so many of the subjects which I had enjoyed early on at school, could not be taken to "O-Level" and beyond. The dreaded "timetable clashes" appeared to forbid this! Children's horizons should NOT be limited by lack of time, money, and educational resources. That rotten Headmaster we had, truly undervalued his quality staff! To those kind, encouraging and thoughtful University Lecturers and Tutors who have taken an interest, provided constructive criticism, and sparked my enthusiasm, go heartfelt thanks. To my Manager and colleagues in Forensic Mental Health Services, thanks also, for believing in me, for trusting me, and for accepting my individual style of working, and letting me get on with my job.
To my mother... thanks for opening up. To my father... thanks for toughening me up!
Thanks also; though admittedly of a far more ironic and sarcastic nature; to those family members, unenlightened School-teachers (admitedly, mostly at Sixth Form), and toxic ex-employers, who in the past attempted to drum into me the notion that independent thought is unacceptable. Without your constant criticism, threats of punishment, and belittling of my ideas, thoughts, feelings, emotions, and sense of self... I might never have come to the conclusion that to truly be oneself takes effort and courage. I might also never have learned that without investing that effort, and drawing upon that courage, a person never truly gets to find themself.
Thankyou for inspiring my journey!
It's my intention that this website becomes a collection of my "musings", in the form of a "blog". Each time I blog, I'll be picking a different subject; something that interests me, and gets my brain cells firing; I hope they will get yours firing, too. If all I succeed in doing is providing you with a brief period of diversion (and maybe amusement!), then that's good. It's a start. If what I write can get you reading between the lines, asking questions, challenging the "status quo"... thinking... then... I've achieved my goal. And that's more than I could possibly hope for. Taste is personal. You might think this site fantastic. You might think it c***p. I'm content to settle for something in-between! If you've even so much as bothered to read it, I'm grateful.
At the end of the day, I'm just some twit of a girl from a cruddy seaside town in the bleak Northwest of England. I'm not Emeritus Professor of anything at Oxford, or Cambridge. I'm not a T.V. or radio personality; or a published author. I'm just "Joe Public". But that's the beauty of the internet! "Joe Public" is free to do what "Joe Public" never before imagined doing. I was "educated" within the Comprehensive School system, where everyone was programmed to think alike, act alike, dress alike. Teachers did not expect anyone to distinguish themselves by "breaking the mould". They did not encourage or reward difference. They did not even apppear to know how to handle the child who asked awkward questions, stood out from the crowd, rebelled. Free thinkers were obviously far too "radical" for such a "one size fits all" educational system to cope with! Still, here I am, ordinary "Joe Public" - about to do exactly what I am encouraged not to do... I am going to challenge the doctrines of my teachers, those who criticised me for being different. I am going to fly in the face of the comments made by those who could not handle my difference - my parents, my peers, my past acquaintances. "Who do I think I am?", they asked.
I am a person, an individual, who is inclined to think freely, and independently. I do not wish, or choose, to be fettered by conventions. I will not be told what to think, or what to believe. There is a whole wide world out there for me to explore - and I can do that my way, by engaging my BRAIN. That does not make me; as my detractors have attempted to suggest; arrogant, self-absorbed, stand-offish, complicated, political (insert inverted commas to gain better understanding of full euphemistic use of word). It does not mean that I think I am clever, or superior, or above people. These are not my words. Wanting to think freely, and independently; wanting to inquire, and ask questions - these are not negative qualities. I am sorry that there are those who think that they are.
I am just me. And there are probably many people out there very much like me. We ponder, we reflect, we question, we probe. Perhaps we poke our noses where they are not wanted? Who can say? That's just our way. Well, this site is for us...
Before I go any further, there is something I'd like to ask of you readers. A small favour; if that's allright with you. Well, not even a favour, really. More a sort of "social duty". I'm big on trying to change things... improve things that I don't believe are right, or are working effectively. I don't agree with things forever staying as they are. Humans have to learn to accept change, where that change is to be for the better. Sometimes, the way something happens to be, or they way something is done, just isn't quite up to scratch. Sometimes, it's downright "ropey", or just plain wrong.
Each of us has the power, should we so choose, to change things. We can do this individually, or collectively. I'd love your help in attempting to change things. For that reason, I have put together some E-Petitions, to which I would really like readers to add their signatures. This is not compulsory; after all, it's a matter of whether you agree with what I propose. So, the web addresses at which the E-Petitions can be found are listed below. Please feel free to take a look at them, and sign up, if that's what you choose. I'll maybe be adding more as an idea pops into my head, but for the moment:
E-Petition List:
1. "Raising The Profile Of Gynaecological Conditions And Infertility: Please Take Them Seriously". web address...
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/department-of-health-and-the-government-improve-treatment-for-infertility-or-gynae-problems?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created
2. "Call For Increased Protection And Rights For Whistleblowers In The Workplace". web address...
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-government-department-for-business-innovation-and-skills-protect-whistleblowers?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created
3. "Ban Unnecessary Cosmetic Procedures And Diet Pills: The NHS Is Already Overstretched". web address...
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-government-department-of-health-ban-diet-pills-and-cosmetic-surgery?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created
4. "Open-Minded, Not One-Track-Minded, Diagnosis, Please". web address...
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-government-department-of-health-protect-iatrogenic-patients?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created
5. "Call For Increased Protection And Rights For Iatrogenic Patients". web address...
http://www.change.org/en-UK/petitions/the-government-department-of-health-improve-treatment-and-diagnosis?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created
6. "Make Bullying A Criminal Activity". web address...
http://www.change.org.uk?en-UK/petitions/the-government-make-bullying-a-criminal-activity?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you to anyone who signs up! It's much appreciated.
Anyhow, all the best... and here's hoping you enjoy reading the "Blog"...
P.S.
Gratitude always to my husband, who ever-so-supportively encouraged me to do this, and who ever-so-patiently gives some of his time to assisting in my "brainstorming" activities...
Thanks to the few others in my life who HAVE cared - I remember who you are, and how you have helped. To my two excellent English Teachers at Secondary School; thankyou for encouraging me to read widely, and to interpret freely. To my Secondary School Language and Science Teachers; thankyou for making the lessons relevant, and for affording practical opportunities to reinforce learning. To my Secondary School Music, and Art, Teachers; thankyou for making learning fun, and for putting in so much unrecognised hard work behind the scenes. It is such a pity that students were not encouraged to explore a wider variety of subjects; and that so many of the subjects which I had enjoyed early on at school, could not be taken to "O-Level" and beyond. The dreaded "timetable clashes" appeared to forbid this! Children's horizons should NOT be limited by lack of time, money, and educational resources. That rotten Headmaster we had, truly undervalued his quality staff! To those kind, encouraging and thoughtful University Lecturers and Tutors who have taken an interest, provided constructive criticism, and sparked my enthusiasm, go heartfelt thanks. To my Manager and colleagues in Forensic Mental Health Services, thanks also, for believing in me, for trusting me, and for accepting my individual style of working, and letting me get on with my job.
To my mother... thanks for opening up. To my father... thanks for toughening me up!
Thanks also; though admittedly of a far more ironic and sarcastic nature; to those family members, unenlightened School-teachers (admitedly, mostly at Sixth Form), and toxic ex-employers, who in the past attempted to drum into me the notion that independent thought is unacceptable. Without your constant criticism, threats of punishment, and belittling of my ideas, thoughts, feelings, emotions, and sense of self... I might never have come to the conclusion that to truly be oneself takes effort and courage. I might also never have learned that without investing that effort, and drawing upon that courage, a person never truly gets to find themself.
Thankyou for inspiring my journey!
Something to ponder...
"Accepting that we are all fallible , then is it worse to be cynical, or gullible?"
"Accepting that we are all fallible , then is it worse to be cynical, or gullible?"