Even the TV bulletins and newspapers set their content to ensure we aren't too upset or distraught but are instead entertained. The bombing of Baghdad in late 1998 was merely a visual treat for us, a Christmas fireworks display, as opposed to a life-threatening attack upon a vulnerable people, bombed into the stone age since the Gulf War.
Newspapers have to rely on their advertising revenue to stay financially viable, so anti-status quo stories which may upset business must be avoided at all costs. You will find that news items criticising Nike's sweatshop labour, or Nestle's unethical babymilk marketting, are very rare in the mainstream media.
The news convinces us that we are good people, by turning the grey morality of situations like Iraq into a simplistic black & white, us & them playground fight. Paedophiles are declared to be evil, and our children are said to be threatened by lonely anorak-wearing men who offer sweeties despite the statistics which show children are more at risk from their own families and friends, or of being run over by a car. Very little of the news challenges us, or questions the way we do things. Instead, it places us on a false moral pedestal, from which we can pronounce judgement upon the Iraqi people, the killers of Jamie Bulger, or 'bogus' asylum seekers. The reason the news is this way is because challenging reading is bad for newspaper sales and viewing figures, and so bad for advertisers. What the advertisers want is a placid, passive, happy population, each one content in their own little consumerist bubble, who will continue to take in the con-tricks, and buy things they never knew they needed.
So whats my point? Well, last night I was stoned, and when I'm stoned I realise that other people are extreme intelligent (if only in comparison to me when I'm stoned). When I want to put across a point, like the evils of sanctions on Iraq, I'm tempted to fall into the same way of thinking as the corporate advertisers; that is, I tend to try and write a flyer which is one-sided, and worded in such a way as to persuade and coerce people into sharing my view. But, if I'm really serious about supporting democracy and a more just world, I shouldn't be playing the game of the corporations and government . Instead, I should be recognising that the majority of people out there are at least as intelligent as me when I'm stoned. Granted, thats not a lot of intelligence, but if I can manage to find my way home when I'm stoned, then most people have the intelligence to make up their own minds on a variety of issues. Rather than use propaganda, and presenting one-sided views, I'd prefer to put across ideas in a manner which credits the reader with some intelligence and individuality. Thats why this flyer is mostly text - I could have taken the route of the advertiser, and wowed you with a picture of a semi-naked woman. But I think most people can grasp my point without a 2-dimensional lass looking suggestive. Which brings me to my Phlyer Filosophy...
If you're one of the kids being hassled by the council for skateboarding in the city, put a leaflet together and explain that you want somewhere to skate and why it should be provided. If you're not a skateboarder, but feel there is nothing for young people to do in the city, then write about it. If you're passionate about music, let people know what you like and dislike, and what you think of the local music scene. Don't let the faceless news editors set (or 'reflect') the public agenda - do it yourself! Reclaim your cultural identity from the 'experts' who write the bland reviews for papers and magazines.
The point I'm trying to make is, you don't need permission to publish, and the mere exchange of ideas and opinions can have extraordinary results. Just look at the internet to see what can happen when people feel free to express themselves. The Phlyer Filosophy isn't just about me putting across a political point. It is about everyone helping to make our community a more interesting place, and empowering people to be involved in the things they're most interested in.
So, I urge you; write about something you are passionate about, and distribute it. If you find a flyer you think is fascinating, copy it and hand it out. If you don't have time to hand out flyers, email me and I'll do it for you.
Finally, if anyone has any comments or criticisms, or suggested changes and corrections, e-mail me. Or, even better, publish your own flyer!