Nick Zep Tepi
10th November 2011, 22:41
I’ve realised the ‘recession’ has had knock on benefit in controlling the masses.
It seems at least in the UK, that the recession has been tempered just enough to allow nail bars, beauty salons and expensive coffee shops to continue to do profitable business, albeit less profitable, but just enough to put foreign holidays on hiatus in favour of staycations, (which may not be to far off a trip abroad, price wise) but coupled with the hassle of the airport, reports of riots abroad the overall price increases they would encounter, it has put off a large number of people off holidays in foreign lands.
The more we stay here, without a break, the more we get used to the ramping up of security, seeing foiled “terror” plots on the News, we take comfort from the PA announcements in stations and shopping centres telling us not to leave our bags, we agree that showing more ID more frequently is a good thing and the less we are exposed to alternative cultures with different standards of security the more we come to accept what we are used to here in the UK as the norm.
Of course we all want to feel safe flying, some will remember the hijackings in previous decades most will only remember the box cutter incident 10 years ago, flyers were legally allowed on planes with knives in that country not in the UK and with each incident adjustments are made and new standards gradually become the norm, despite the killing of Bin Laden and “success” in Iraq the heightened security measures seem here to stay, it makes you wonder if they were due to Bin Laden and buddies at all
On my first holiday away in several years I felt quiet a stark contrast in my perception of personal security and fear in the UK compared to Morroco. I’d flown at least once a year on business trips so I’m now used to the no liquids, shoes off, and pat down, I’ve even bought an all plastic belt so it doesn’t set of the beepy beepy machine. After a surprisingly short queue I proceed swiftly through security lock-down and got “Airside” here I am meant to feel secure, safe in the knowledge everyone here has been through similar, I am told even the retail products you buy and eat airside have been through those baggage X ray machines.
Do I feel any safer, mmm no not yet. The first thing I notice is flat panel screens on poles advertising expensive make up, they all play the same loop, generically attractive woman, flowing hair with to much bling and make up. The underlying message I perceive is, you’re not worthy unless you look like her, buy this product, obey this message and aspire to what you will never have. I feel I have the sunglasses of truth on from “They Live”
There are still plenty of shoppers or credit to keep these aspirational items buoyant. What recession
Each staff member has numerous security ID’s, passes, and photo cards hanging round their necks. All the holiday makers huddle in their little traveler groups guarding their bags, even I do it, I have to have one of the straps or body of the bag touching my leg at all times so I can feel it if it gets moved or tampered with. Surely this is one place where there will be statistically lower numbers of opportunist bag snatchers. But we are now used to the mantra “don’t leave bags unattended.” One very diligent woman picks up her carry on bag walks all of 12 ft puts an item in the bin, turns around, 12ft back and sits back in the same seat and puts her bag back on the floor. A victim of the fear campaign, they must be proud.
This is the new norm, this is our standard we measure others by. A bit more than we would like, a bit more than we actually need but just enough to push the boundaries of what we would tolerate.
Do you see the clever ploy yet?
My first few days in Marrakesh, apart from the onslaught to the senses of the wonderful sights, sounds, smells, heat, dust, etc. I notice there’s a distinct lack of photo ID’s, no magnetically locked entry doors, hardly any police in hi-viz, no ram raid bollards, No CCTV. My feeling of fear and personal security is conflicted, I am lead to believe this and every other country is a hot bed breeding ground for extremists, all plotting and ready to blow you, themselves and every one else up, if not this then they’re surely going to pick your pocket, steal your camera, climb numerous story balconies to sneak into your room at night rifle your bags and take your valuables. argghhhh please take me back to the UK where it is normal and I can sooth my shaken nerves with some more celebrity reality shows.
So what do I do, the first night and every other day, I willfully leave my passport and wad of currency that won’t fit in my wallet in the front pocket of my ruck sack carefully placed on the table in the 4th floor room that has it’s balcony door left open at all times. I did zip-up the ruck sack and “hide” the wad of cash in-between the leaves of a magazine – I’m not daft! Not only that I whip out my flashy camera phone snap off a few picks in the middle of the poverty stricken souks and drop it back into my easily picked side pocket.
Do I feel safe? Well yep I do, in fact safer than I typically do in the UK, and I’m paranoid, just ask those blokes following me!
While on holiday I went quad biking to the foot of the Atlas mountains, It was great and I highly recommend it. We arrived at the biking compound, were kitted out and offered the chance to leave sunglasses bags etc in the office for them to look after as we wouldn’t need them, it was only at the half way point I noticed the 2 Canadian girls had brought their bags with them, “you know, passports, purse etc” was their reply. Really?! I thought, you couldn’t trust the event organisers who’s business replied upon a good safe and secure reputation, if they dared tamper with your stuff one bad review on Tripadvisor would ruin them. It was logical to place enough trust in them to look after your belongings.
I cannot tell you why I felt safer, was it the people there just don’t steal, was it the lack of 24hr rolling news taking every minor incident and blowing it out of all proportion, did they not need the overt security because there was so little crime, was there just enough staff and police to calm you but not induce fear it’s hard to tell or was it just because I was away from the UK?
Making it difficult, expensive and stressful to travel will reduce your likelihood of traveling abroad and exposure to these truths, keeping you in the dark longer. The feeling of fear and security we have at “home” is supposed to stay with you if or when you travel, your not supposed to notice that you can feel safe with a lot less control from the authorities, your not supposed to realise how close they have taken it to 1984 back “home,” your not supposed to notice how much fear propaganda they pump out at you via the media plex. Your supposed to be glad to get back to good old blighty!
It seems at least in the UK, that the recession has been tempered just enough to allow nail bars, beauty salons and expensive coffee shops to continue to do profitable business, albeit less profitable, but just enough to put foreign holidays on hiatus in favour of staycations, (which may not be to far off a trip abroad, price wise) but coupled with the hassle of the airport, reports of riots abroad the overall price increases they would encounter, it has put off a large number of people off holidays in foreign lands.
The more we stay here, without a break, the more we get used to the ramping up of security, seeing foiled “terror” plots on the News, we take comfort from the PA announcements in stations and shopping centres telling us not to leave our bags, we agree that showing more ID more frequently is a good thing and the less we are exposed to alternative cultures with different standards of security the more we come to accept what we are used to here in the UK as the norm.
Of course we all want to feel safe flying, some will remember the hijackings in previous decades most will only remember the box cutter incident 10 years ago, flyers were legally allowed on planes with knives in that country not in the UK and with each incident adjustments are made and new standards gradually become the norm, despite the killing of Bin Laden and “success” in Iraq the heightened security measures seem here to stay, it makes you wonder if they were due to Bin Laden and buddies at all
On my first holiday away in several years I felt quiet a stark contrast in my perception of personal security and fear in the UK compared to Morroco. I’d flown at least once a year on business trips so I’m now used to the no liquids, shoes off, and pat down, I’ve even bought an all plastic belt so it doesn’t set of the beepy beepy machine. After a surprisingly short queue I proceed swiftly through security lock-down and got “Airside” here I am meant to feel secure, safe in the knowledge everyone here has been through similar, I am told even the retail products you buy and eat airside have been through those baggage X ray machines.
Do I feel any safer, mmm no not yet. The first thing I notice is flat panel screens on poles advertising expensive make up, they all play the same loop, generically attractive woman, flowing hair with to much bling and make up. The underlying message I perceive is, you’re not worthy unless you look like her, buy this product, obey this message and aspire to what you will never have. I feel I have the sunglasses of truth on from “They Live”
There are still plenty of shoppers or credit to keep these aspirational items buoyant. What recession
Each staff member has numerous security ID’s, passes, and photo cards hanging round their necks. All the holiday makers huddle in their little traveler groups guarding their bags, even I do it, I have to have one of the straps or body of the bag touching my leg at all times so I can feel it if it gets moved or tampered with. Surely this is one place where there will be statistically lower numbers of opportunist bag snatchers. But we are now used to the mantra “don’t leave bags unattended.” One very diligent woman picks up her carry on bag walks all of 12 ft puts an item in the bin, turns around, 12ft back and sits back in the same seat and puts her bag back on the floor. A victim of the fear campaign, they must be proud.
This is the new norm, this is our standard we measure others by. A bit more than we would like, a bit more than we actually need but just enough to push the boundaries of what we would tolerate.
Do you see the clever ploy yet?
My first few days in Marrakesh, apart from the onslaught to the senses of the wonderful sights, sounds, smells, heat, dust, etc. I notice there’s a distinct lack of photo ID’s, no magnetically locked entry doors, hardly any police in hi-viz, no ram raid bollards, No CCTV. My feeling of fear and personal security is conflicted, I am lead to believe this and every other country is a hot bed breeding ground for extremists, all plotting and ready to blow you, themselves and every one else up, if not this then they’re surely going to pick your pocket, steal your camera, climb numerous story balconies to sneak into your room at night rifle your bags and take your valuables. argghhhh please take me back to the UK where it is normal and I can sooth my shaken nerves with some more celebrity reality shows.
So what do I do, the first night and every other day, I willfully leave my passport and wad of currency that won’t fit in my wallet in the front pocket of my ruck sack carefully placed on the table in the 4th floor room that has it’s balcony door left open at all times. I did zip-up the ruck sack and “hide” the wad of cash in-between the leaves of a magazine – I’m not daft! Not only that I whip out my flashy camera phone snap off a few picks in the middle of the poverty stricken souks and drop it back into my easily picked side pocket.
Do I feel safe? Well yep I do, in fact safer than I typically do in the UK, and I’m paranoid, just ask those blokes following me!
While on holiday I went quad biking to the foot of the Atlas mountains, It was great and I highly recommend it. We arrived at the biking compound, were kitted out and offered the chance to leave sunglasses bags etc in the office for them to look after as we wouldn’t need them, it was only at the half way point I noticed the 2 Canadian girls had brought their bags with them, “you know, passports, purse etc” was their reply. Really?! I thought, you couldn’t trust the event organisers who’s business replied upon a good safe and secure reputation, if they dared tamper with your stuff one bad review on Tripadvisor would ruin them. It was logical to place enough trust in them to look after your belongings.
I cannot tell you why I felt safer, was it the people there just don’t steal, was it the lack of 24hr rolling news taking every minor incident and blowing it out of all proportion, did they not need the overt security because there was so little crime, was there just enough staff and police to calm you but not induce fear it’s hard to tell or was it just because I was away from the UK?
Making it difficult, expensive and stressful to travel will reduce your likelihood of traveling abroad and exposure to these truths, keeping you in the dark longer. The feeling of fear and security we have at “home” is supposed to stay with you if or when you travel, your not supposed to notice that you can feel safe with a lot less control from the authorities, your not supposed to realise how close they have taken it to 1984 back “home,” your not supposed to notice how much fear propaganda they pump out at you via the media plex. Your supposed to be glad to get back to good old blighty!