Personal Blogs

 This morning while listening to Radio Wales and their phone in regarding more closures of banks and removing ATM's l began to think, why do we give banks  our money ? Do we mistakenly think it is in our own interest to hand over our cash because we feel it is in safe keeping ?Is it because that is the way we are conditioned ? Do we feel we are doing them a favour by handing over our cash and the thought that it is being protected gives us the illusion that all is  fine ?

What we tend to forget is banks are private institutions and like any other company they are,  there to make a profit for the stakeholders /shareholders. Just like any other company they will attract you with gimmicks to bank and find ways to make a profit for themselves. I feel that we have this false sense of security that they are there to serve us . The choices are being cut for the customer for profits and gain.

They will say that their surveys show how popular on-line banking is, but who are the surveys targeted at ? What questions are asked open or closed ? What is the banks aim? Who is actually paying for the computer systems ?

Sadly they discriminate and cause many divisions due to profit making, these can be noted through the ways and means they have to prevent you accessing your cash under the guise of the  on -line banking . They entice you with on line- banking ,you can access your account 24  hour  on-line.  The only to other possible  positive can be seen is the direct debit  system .

However, computer glitches, slow broadband and waiting for hours on the other end of a phone to speak to customer service rep who really is not that bothered about your situation and hardly goes past the first screen unless prompted is the just the start .  Direct debits can be delayed due circumstances beyond your control and you have to pay for the privilege of the  hold up causing more stress and anxiety, because you have to go through so many leaps and bounds to talk to someone, instead of being able to access a local branch.

    Has anyone considered that some may not have access to computer, or  be computer illiterate ? We have heard that the system is reliable, but we only have to look at the recent news surrounding the Post office and their computer system to know that, things can go very wrong.  

What happens  to parts of the population that are struggling with onset of Dementia or Alzheimer along with others that may find it difficult and confusing. ?

 Rural communities , are the banks going to pay travelling costs so people in those communities can    travel to  one of the rare branches that are still open, so they can have  human contact and be able to explain their issue  and be allowed to release their money? The pop up banks can only give a limited time at locations and thus not able to accommodate all that may require their services. What is the point of this ?, As l see it,  it is a customer relation  exercise to appease some customers, patronizing way to keep your money.

The choices of banking are being taken away and this can be done because they are  private companies. They have been very good at suggesting  you have a choice but then once they have your money your choices are then limited as to how you can access your money for their  financial   gain not for your convenience !  Next time we decide to bank maybe we should interview them to see if they are worthy enough to be trusted with our hard owned cash !

While listening to the radio this morning with  my partner, a topic on the radio led to the discussion surrounding being human. The topic was regarding the surge in cosmetic enhancements. This was apparently due to people seeing themselves on Zoom.

What makes us feel so inadquete that we have to be clones of others ?

If it is to make us 'feel good' and accepted how long does this last ? If we cannot accept ourselves fully surley the, 'feel good factor' will disappear and sooner or later that can just add to the worries that may already be instilled. At this point l would like to say l am not adverse to anyone that has these procedures if they are already accepting  of themsleves , however what is it about our human traits we dont like ? What do we fear? Why do think that by changing the outside to look like others it will resolve issuses? How does this fit in with the topic of diversity and acceptance?

 Why do we fear our failures ?  For the most part  we can blame the computers for what goes wrong but, who builds them?  Who programmes them? We do, but we can hide our failures behind that circuit board why?

Who controls the way people should act, why is it you are seen as weak if you admit your failings ?

Being human is to accept all of ourselves the positive and the negative but somehow it appears we can accept the positives but not the other. Negative human traits help us to understand grow and learn, however we do not seem to be able to accept this. We appear to use our reptilian brain more and more thus, the  use of flight of fight becomes a daily occurance and not just for the  occasional fleeting use.  We appear to  live in a society which is in  fear of our  individuality and failings. 

Looking back in history and to the present day humans may have progressed in the material way but when it comes to accepting the whole of us, as a wider audience, we tend to want to deny and disreagrd the negative side of human nature.   Society appears to pick and choose at will from the buffet,its not about the people's indiviuality, but control, aesthetics, and judgement.  In my opinion,we need to be able to overcome this barrier if we wish to move on.

Having completed A111 and working my way through DD103, l have to say thank you. I realise how important these subjects are especially in relation to heritage and culture, and in my opinion these subjects should be taught on a level with English and maths.  

If we wish to understand about others then we  have to understand our individual backgrounds. Which can be a difficult task for many reasons.   What evidence do l have for my theory? My experience and no doubt there will be others that can relate to this. I am British, I am white with Western European features. I speak fluent English and l was born here,  it is taken for granted that l am English and l have always accepted that it  is how it is. On forms l class myself as white British, however l am not. I am of mixed race, l am a product of Eastern  European meets Western  European. Along with this, is the  clash of cultures and heritage to boot. Nothing different in that you may say, we all have different heritages and l would agree with you. However l was born ( first born), in the middle of the 1960's to a Hungarian refugee from a Roma circus background and  an English man  . It was during the era of the cold war, discrimination and prejudices where the norm along with the culture of, 'Be seen but not heard' corporal punishment and clip round the ear for answering back ! It was not all bad but that is just  how it was! l was bought up just knowing l was British the only thing that stuck out was my name. People would ask me where my name came from and l would say Hungary and that  is it. My mother fled Hungary during the1956  uprising https://www.britannica.com/event/Hungarian-Revolution-1956
 l knew that she came from a circus background however that was as far as it went in those days. She would not talk Hungarian at that time , the perception she had of England was the Queen and the royal family which she holds dear to this day, and  she taught herself English listening to , 'The Archers'.  Although my mother has great respect for this country some customs and way of life, everyday language can still be miss interpreted.  My mother looks English and therefore when not understanding  certain ways  or language she can become abrupt and frustrated. I along with others automatically assumed that she understood everything because l had taken for granted that although she was Hungarian she was  English. I took this for granted because she was my mum. Because my mother was 'different', in certain ways, l was aware and very understanding when it came to others but not my mother.   When  issues were raised regarding background such as medical information, l would be able to give details of my fathers side but not my mothers . l would be frustrated because she would not tell me, Dr's disapprovingly saying ' surely you must know ' , if l could not give them an answer, the sigh was enough. Judging? Various people would ask questions regarding my background, l would be able to speak in confidence about my fathers side but my mothers it was a different matter,  as a consequence of this l can see were it can cause divisions within a family by  having the ability to talk about one side and not the other. By completing A111 and discovering DD103, l have been able to discover the reasons as to why my mother did not speak about her culture or heritage and the need to 'blend and fit in ' so no questions were asked . As the years have passed and and as society lessens its strangle hold on certain issues my mother has explained a little more without the fear of persecution and the modules  are helping me to understand and  fill  in the gaps. The Roma culture is such that certain issues are not spoken about. My mothers generation where persecuted and lived in fear of reprisals and because of this 'real' fear it  has  lead to some conflicts through generations. Although she may try to forget and l do respect this, it is a part of me and my identity. 

Roma Culture: Customs, Traditions & Beliefs | Live Science,https://www.larp.com/jahavra/gypsylaw.

htmlhttps://www.peterleeson.com/Gypsies.pdf · PDF fie.

Having read and also researched the self governing of the Roma, l can now fully understand how our life has been conducted, all be it in a round about fashion! I have been able to discover the cultures and traditions of the Roma's and in turn l can now speak in confidence when passing information on that  l am half  Roma.  It is so important that from a young age that  we educate children about  their heritage and cultures, so that they may access  resources that  can help them relate to what might be a taboo  issue, for their  parent/s . If we are able to relate to our immediate heritage and culture some, may be able to relate to, and have a better understanding of the term 'diversity.'  We also need to be mindful that some of us are of mixed race and that we cannot be defined by the colour of our skin.

This morning, while enjoying my Sunday cuppa, l thought l would start the day  off by watching  'Andrew Marr ' and as usually follows   my  partner and l  could have our morning topical debate and move on to the wonderful positive things that make our life bearable in this crazy world right now.  This morning however it threw up more then l was expecting and l felt l just had to share my thoughts through my blog. While watching Andy Burnham and Michael Gove discuss the tier system and the conflicts this has within our society right now, I couldn't help but think of 'Antigone' and the  theme  surrounding  obedience and civil disobedience. 

These are ,(stating the obvious) exceedingly difficult times for all, and the world is changing, but this is nothing new, it is only new to us, when people say history doesn't play a part in the way the world is today, l  tend to think it does, have we really progressed ? Ok we have technology, and financial wealth but looking  back in history they also progressed they also had to deal with disasters such as plague and financial  ruin. The only change that l can see is that  each generation has a new name for these disasters . What have we learnt ? Is it progress? Sadly in my opinion we are creating more loneliness and mental health issues due to the way we have progressed in dehumanising our society.  We  replace people with machines to improve productivity and of course less time is wasted on toilet breaks and tea breaks! Governments out source work that in my opinion should  be, 'in house' one being  the welfare state, which in these present times, needs be fit for purpose ! Sadly though the thought of getting the right priced contracts with along with huge  penalties clauses over the course of several years has to my mind, taken credence. These companies are there and rightly so to make a profit for themselves. To increase  their profits some encourage staff bonus schemes to enhance competition  to save money, so where is the humanity to those who are employed by the company and to those who need this  service ? This in turn, leads me to the understanding that this has to be a false economy. Due to several out sourced contracts within the benefits system and the NHS a high proportion of  wrong decisions are  being made. People are having to appeal and are winning , which in turn is wasting government money. What is actually  gained from this? Obliviously not the the well being of the of people involved!

 Why is it that ministers can be reshuffled and acquire post without being asked for their  ground level experience in those roles ?  Is that why many of the main foundations such as the welfare system and parts of the NHS are contracted out? We vote and put our trust in our politicians maybe we should start asking for their CV's before they acquire these posts and not take them at face value ! Is it our fault for not bothering to see the bigger picture? 

Why is it we trust these individuals instead of the  professional person with the knowledge and understanding who has actually worked from the bottom to the top?  Society today appears to be run on the basis of Money, Power, Greed, and  a lack of trust.   So looking back at history in what way have we really progressed for the good of all of us? Future generations in my opinion should have compulsory lessons, to understand how important politics, economics and  history really are  instead of dismissing them. If we do not look back to the past and  continue eradicate the bits we do not like how are we ever going to change and progress in  society and have the respect and trust for each other? 

 I confess that some might find my questions and thoughts naïve but as l embark on my journey into the academic world, it has started to make me think more in depth about our society and that can only be a good thing right?

So, now l have shared my thoughts l shall toddle off and make some face masks ! Enjoy  the rest of your Sunday.