____twoism

keep working at your music and it may take you places...

Thought I'd resurrect an old thread as there is something on my mind tonight and it won't let go. Not sure why I feel the need to post this, but it got to me today and - I'd don't know - just felt I had to share I guess? Sorry in advance if the link to the title is tenuous.

So I live near a town in England called Bournemouth, which has a reputation for being a quiet, genteel, O.A.P.-friendly seaside town. The pace of life is slow, the traffic even slower and next to nothing tends to happen here. Beige is always in fashion, if you know what I mean. Downtown NYC it ain't.

I work in an area called Westbourne which used to be quite an affluent area. Used to live there too, but steadily the area became a little more run down. The "wrong crowd" started to show up, with alcoholics and junkies becoming more and more prevalent. Eventually we moved out into the suburbs. But even so, it still wasn't the kind of place you'd really see much trouble. Not really. The odd bar-brawl, the odd small scale drugs bust. Small and sleepy.

Today, I'm walking out of work to go to lunch and my way is blocked by POLICE INCIDENT tape, coppers and police cars everywhere and a large white Forensics tent covering up God knows what. I found out later that the homeless guy I've seen stood outside the local supermarket every day since I-don't-know-when has been beaten to death by some bastard and then left with a fucking shopping trolley dumped on top of him.

This guy was well known locally. He was a lovely, lovely bloke. Completely down on his luck, sold the Big Issue, he looked like the stereotypical tramp - big beard, old clothes, swarthy skin. But he was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. Friendly, NEVER pushy (he sold the Big Issue but never gave the guilt trip if you said no), the local old people used to love him because he'd happily chat away to them and he knew many of the locals by their first name. He was bright too. When he wasn't selling his newspapers he'd have his head buried in a book. A nice, nice bloke who just so happened to be down on his luck.

Poor bastard. I've no idea what happened or why. Did drugs or booze play a part? Maybe. Who knows. But whatever, he was somebodys son. People gave a shit and still do. There were flowers piling up by the Police Line when I walked away, shocked. I don't know why I'm typing this really? But the next time you see some homeless guy and he's going through the bins to look for food - do me a favour? Think on. There but for the grace of God....

RIP.

just anothar day for you and me in paaaaaaaradiiihiiise.

That's really sad news, sorry Mexicola... We have a kind of exploded sense of community in the western developed world, i mean it is a community it's just detached and distant and abstracted in a number of practical ways that make it quite different from, say, a tribal community. But when someone like the man you described gets killed, it really is the community's loss of one of its members, whether the guy lived in a house or on the sidewalk.

That's really sad to hear Mexicola, it's certainly a terrible thing to happen but just reinforces my belief this country is far down the shitter.

I remember back in something like August 07 I think, it was literally about 5 days after I bought a bike for getting around to friends at night, due to the dangers of the area and all that. I'd been down to hang out with BNR for a bit and I remember leaving at about quarter to 11, literally a five minute cycle home. For some reason I ended up staying an extra 10 minutes to watch something. Halfway home my dad phones me up, tells me to be careful because coppers are all over the place and I've no lights on my bike yet etc and I could see the lights from where I was so to be on the safe side I jumped off and walked it. Found the road to my house taped off by the police, went round a back street and looped back onto my road further down to get to my house and found it actually a few feet within the boundary where the street had been taped on the other side. Asked the police to let me through so I could get home which thankfully they did... later found out that a 16 year old lad had been stabbed (in the neck ) and killed almost outside my house and I'd literally missed the incident by a matter of minutes...

Course they decorate anyone who dies in circumstances such as these like they're little angels despite everyone knowing he was the opposite but still, I don't like the idea of having that right on the doorstep. I'm only 22 and at least two people from my year at school are already in prison for murder... what's gone wrong eh!

Sorry to hear that but not altogether surprised. I'm also 22 and I swear even to me it's noticeable that social standards have generally declined in this country over the last 10 years or so. I have no idea why, whether it's government, media, or whatever else but it's become clear that this kind of disgusting behaviour has become common and to an extent accepted among certain corners of the community. Many of my age have role models and idols who are simply vacant but have a story that makes them celebrated for the most banal of reasons (i.e. Rappers, footballers, glamour models etc).

Twice in the last 3 years I and friends have been randomly attacked by bigger groups of people of similar age without provocation but who seemingly have nothing to do but cause other people misery because violence has somehow become acceptable to them, and I suposedly live in one of the mmost prosperous conservative areas of the country. If we're honest about this, knives are the next stage, as we have seen countless times in tragic stories in this country in the last few years.

It really makes me despair for this country at times. Something has to change.

Shit - it actually made the BBC website. Don't want to pre-judge but it looks like it was kids. 14 years old. What is going on???

Cupz wrote:just anothar day for you and me in paaaaaaaradiiihiiise.

I love that song.

Hey Cupz, watch the movie 'Into the Wild' and you'll get a taste of what you're talking about. Great film.

The Friendly Stranger wrote:Sorry to hear that but not altogether surprised. I'm also 22 and I swear even to me it's noticeable that social standards have generally declined in this country over the last 10 years or so. I have no idea why, whether it's government, media, or whatever else but it's become clear that this kind of disgusting behaviour has become common and to an extent accepted among certain corners of the community. Many of my age have role models and idols who are simply vacant but have a story that makes them celebrated for the most banal of reasons (i.e. Rappers, footballers, glamour models etc).

Twice in the last 3 years I and friends have been randomly attacked by bigger groups of people of similar age without provocation but who seemingly have nothing to do but cause other people misery because violence has somehow become acceptable to them, and I suposedly live in one of the mmost prosperous conservative areas of the country. If we're honest about this, knives are the next stage, as we have seen countless times in tragic stories in this country in the last few years.

It really makes me despair for this country at times. Something has to change.

I feel the same way. After some years of just avoiding people all together. Its such a rare opportunity to live, its incredible, some of these simian attitudes. Not enough joy out there.. I got it easy though, it is obviously more agressive in 2nd and 3rd world areas--hate to say it but the worst places are not on the global market express.. I guess I've been reading too much Thomas P Barnett.. makes alot of sense though.. multi dimensional.. yeah..

When I was homeless though, which was allright, I used to find alot of money under drive-thru windows at fast food places. People would drop change and stuff reaching their stubby arms at the attendee, and care less to pick it up.

Also, busy outdoor markets, fairs and celebrations are great for looking down at the ground and finding money.

off topic I've just had a Belhaven Scottish Ale (can w/wicket) and it was so good my head exploded.

you'll have no health insurance because you're not working (dont know if that applies in your country). you wont be making music or editing video or wasting valuable time trying to get on an internet to type to us idiots. because youll need to eat. youll essentially be filthy (because how often will you really get to shower). think of the things you do have before you think of living without them. and i would highly suggest that , yes because youre 18, the sound of a possible freedom from your current situation sounds very enticing. because of that social status, unless your as personality cloned as your uncle, it would become lonely quickly. and reassimilating to normal life after, i guess if you have a place to return to where you can live for free for enough time to work and save money then go ahead but theres no predicting that option. dont take me the wrong way here but "pull your head out of your ass kid" and get workin on your life. love ya!

I always knew I'd spend a year or two doing this around Europe once I finish my education. Only, recently I have shifted my plans so that I'll hopefully be doing shows the whole time. I wanna stay in hostels and write music on my solar powered laptop or w/e will be possible by 2013...haha.

I think it would be lovely, Cupz, but only for a while. Life awaits.

NOOO!!! it's f*ing alright!!!!