I have always disliked reality TV in all its forms. It seems a perverse way to spend time; watching what is supposed to be entertainment created from the lives, troubles, trials and tribulations of others; usually not 'real' at all but created. In my view programs like Big Brother are leading dangerously down the road toward the same scenario that resulted in the Roman Games; I won't have any of it on the TV in our house at all.
I became interested in The Hunger Games Trilogy when I realised that the Suzanne Collins books stemmed from her dislike of reality TV and the risks it represnts in our society. I probably wouldn't have read them but for that curiosity. I quite enjoyed the books as a fiction but was also continually considering the poltical slant.
About three months ago I happened to be talking to one of the young lads, called Dave, in a retail store that I consult in, about the Hunger Games. He said "...you should watch Zeitgeist; it's really good!" without a clear descriptor of what it was about I assumed it was a fictional movie. I thought ok, 'yes I will' and promptly forgot! On a couple of occasions thereafter he asked if I had watched it; so I eventually got around to searching it out and watching the first movie. It took a couple of sittings to get a hold of what I was watching.
Having watched the first, got curious and realised that there was more to this than just a single movie, I proceeded to the second; Zeitgeist: Addendum.
It was at that point I was starting to question why I hadn't come across this before. It seems so profound a concept not to be more mainstream.
I did a bit of digging around and came across a whole series of websites, links, books videos blogs etc... all purporting to say something about Zeitgeist. It was really quite difficult to 'dig' through it all to get to something that I could get a hold of. I went on to a couple of sites that looked to be 'real' ZG sites one of which was http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/. On here I found links to the 'Chapters' section and the map showing the locations of the global chapters. Lo and behold there was one close to me. So I sent an email off on 9th November 12 explaining where I was at and asking what I could do to get involved. By then I had watched all 3 ZG movies, both of the Culture in Decline episodes and some of the interview stuff with Peter Joseph and, I have to say, was reasonably convinced that this was something I was prepared to put some time into. To learn and potentially contribute, to see where it led.
Some more research led me to TVP and I followed the activism links. On 22nd Nov. sent an email into that site ... with pretty much the same question to a guy with the same name... it turns out to be the same chap. He said that a FaceBook page was due to be launched in the coming few days for the local ZG chapter.
So... in the meantime I signed up on the TZMNetwork site and started to look around to see what was going on and who was who etc. made a few tentative posts and wasn't laughed at; hence became a bit more involved, linked to a few folk and am starting to feel a little more comfortable.
Whilst this initial feeler stage was going on I kept chatting to Dave at work about what I was discovering. He had watched the first Zeitgeist movie 3 years ago; had been quite struck by it. Sufficiently so that he told me about three years down the line, so it obviously made an impression on him. However, he had done nothing about it. Had not pursued it in anyway and didn't actually realise that there were other movies in the 'series' and all of the other content around the web. I had mentioned a couple of times that he should take a look at the other movies, perhaps look at the local FB page (that was now up and running). He agreed that he would but was continually distracted by girlfriend, work, just moving into a house with his girlfriend etc. He is a young lad 21 or 22 I think. Quite hardworking, diligent and a thinker.
On 29th Nov. the first part of the Orientation Manual was released on the local FB page. which I downloaded, printed and started to read.
He came and sat with me during one lunch break and flicked through the guide and it piqued his interest. Another lad, called Chris was sitting with us. He now also is interested. For a couple of weeks, since the beginning of Dec. I have been asking him if he has watched any of the movies yet... still 'no'. Internet is too slow or doing his university assignment or ... but is still curious enough to not want me to stop talking about it.
I see similar responses from both of them. They are afraid that it is some leftwing commune/hippy sect that will just suck away their time with no real benefit or outcome. Both can see that the idea of a resource based economy is sound thinking; they can recognise that we are in some trouble financially but aren't ever so sure how bad it is. There are a lot of comments about how they can't see it working, how are we ever going to get rid of money, what will be the incentive to do anything, how will 'stuff' get shared out etc. I haven't been involved very long but the questions seem to be very standard.
... and that pretty much bring us up to date.
Today I downloaded all three ZG movies and the three Culture in Decline episodes and put them on a memory stick for Chris to watch over the coming few days. He has agreed that he will do that. Dave has taken my copy of the Orientation Manual and is going to read that.
I need to watch the movies again and will do so piecemeal over the next few days. I will then re-read the Orientation Manual.
On Wed 19th Dec. there is a gathering in a local pub; one of the members (Dean Kitching) of our local chapter plays the HanG Drum http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-cKpJjwUrM ... it is not a formal TZM meeting but several of the members of the chapter will be there. Dean is launching his first album.
It turns out that the guy that I initially contacted about the local chapter is someone that I have met. Both he and Dean know my youngest daughter Lauren. She is also starting to be a little curious about TZM. She is going to the gig too as she is just starting her own PR company http://gnt-media.co.uk/. One of my sons, lives further south; he is a drummer too, has watched the first movie and is also quite interested.
What I would like to do now is keep this up to date with the progress of these various 'players'; myself, Dave, Chris, my daughter Lauren, son Dan... and the local chapter. To see what arguments they pose, questions they raise and how they are countered. I'm still not sure how helpful this will be to anyone else but it will help me to rationalise my own thoughts and consider how to best present the ideas and advocacy of TZM. It's of no use to you... don't read it! (too late if you got this far![Smile]( "Smile")
)
I am beginning to feel that we should be starting to promote it to the general populace in my area somehow... perhaps public movie showings or something... not sure yet... how would you advise me to proceed. Recognising that I am a member of a newly formed chapter. Started on 26th Nov. I was the 4th member and there are now 21. We are yet to hold a first meeting; it would be good to go to that armed with loads of ideas![Smile]( "Smile")
Thanks for reading; hope it's not too tedious
... [see the next post![Smile]( "Smile")
]
I became interested in The Hunger Games Trilogy when I realised that the Suzanne Collins books stemmed from her dislike of reality TV and the risks it represnts in our society. I probably wouldn't have read them but for that curiosity. I quite enjoyed the books as a fiction but was also continually considering the poltical slant.
About three months ago I happened to be talking to one of the young lads, called Dave, in a retail store that I consult in, about the Hunger Games. He said "...you should watch Zeitgeist; it's really good!" without a clear descriptor of what it was about I assumed it was a fictional movie. I thought ok, 'yes I will' and promptly forgot! On a couple of occasions thereafter he asked if I had watched it; so I eventually got around to searching it out and watching the first movie. It took a couple of sittings to get a hold of what I was watching.
Having watched the first, got curious and realised that there was more to this than just a single movie, I proceeded to the second; Zeitgeist: Addendum.
It was at that point I was starting to question why I hadn't come across this before. It seems so profound a concept not to be more mainstream.
I did a bit of digging around and came across a whole series of websites, links, books videos blogs etc... all purporting to say something about Zeitgeist. It was really quite difficult to 'dig' through it all to get to something that I could get a hold of. I went on to a couple of sites that looked to be 'real' ZG sites one of which was http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/. On here I found links to the 'Chapters' section and the map showing the locations of the global chapters. Lo and behold there was one close to me. So I sent an email off on 9th November 12 explaining where I was at and asking what I could do to get involved. By then I had watched all 3 ZG movies, both of the Culture in Decline episodes and some of the interview stuff with Peter Joseph and, I have to say, was reasonably convinced that this was something I was prepared to put some time into. To learn and potentially contribute, to see where it led.
Some more research led me to TVP and I followed the activism links. On 22nd Nov. sent an email into that site ... with pretty much the same question to a guy with the same name... it turns out to be the same chap. He said that a FaceBook page was due to be launched in the coming few days for the local ZG chapter.
So... in the meantime I signed up on the TZMNetwork site and started to look around to see what was going on and who was who etc. made a few tentative posts and wasn't laughed at; hence became a bit more involved, linked to a few folk and am starting to feel a little more comfortable.
Whilst this initial feeler stage was going on I kept chatting to Dave at work about what I was discovering. He had watched the first Zeitgeist movie 3 years ago; had been quite struck by it. Sufficiently so that he told me about three years down the line, so it obviously made an impression on him. However, he had done nothing about it. Had not pursued it in anyway and didn't actually realise that there were other movies in the 'series' and all of the other content around the web. I had mentioned a couple of times that he should take a look at the other movies, perhaps look at the local FB page (that was now up and running). He agreed that he would but was continually distracted by girlfriend, work, just moving into a house with his girlfriend etc. He is a young lad 21 or 22 I think. Quite hardworking, diligent and a thinker.
On 29th Nov. the first part of the Orientation Manual was released on the local FB page. which I downloaded, printed and started to read.
He came and sat with me during one lunch break and flicked through the guide and it piqued his interest. Another lad, called Chris was sitting with us. He now also is interested. For a couple of weeks, since the beginning of Dec. I have been asking him if he has watched any of the movies yet... still 'no'. Internet is too slow or doing his university assignment or ... but is still curious enough to not want me to stop talking about it.
I see similar responses from both of them. They are afraid that it is some leftwing commune/hippy sect that will just suck away their time with no real benefit or outcome. Both can see that the idea of a resource based economy is sound thinking; they can recognise that we are in some trouble financially but aren't ever so sure how bad it is. There are a lot of comments about how they can't see it working, how are we ever going to get rid of money, what will be the incentive to do anything, how will 'stuff' get shared out etc. I haven't been involved very long but the questions seem to be very standard.
... and that pretty much bring us up to date.
Today I downloaded all three ZG movies and the three Culture in Decline episodes and put them on a memory stick for Chris to watch over the coming few days. He has agreed that he will do that. Dave has taken my copy of the Orientation Manual and is going to read that.
I need to watch the movies again and will do so piecemeal over the next few days. I will then re-read the Orientation Manual.
On Wed 19th Dec. there is a gathering in a local pub; one of the members (Dean Kitching) of our local chapter plays the HanG Drum http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-cKpJjwUrM ... it is not a formal TZM meeting but several of the members of the chapter will be there. Dean is launching his first album.
It turns out that the guy that I initially contacted about the local chapter is someone that I have met. Both he and Dean know my youngest daughter Lauren. She is also starting to be a little curious about TZM. She is going to the gig too as she is just starting her own PR company http://gnt-media.co.uk/. One of my sons, lives further south; he is a drummer too, has watched the first movie and is also quite interested.
What I would like to do now is keep this up to date with the progress of these various 'players'; myself, Dave, Chris, my daughter Lauren, son Dan... and the local chapter. To see what arguments they pose, questions they raise and how they are countered. I'm still not sure how helpful this will be to anyone else but it will help me to rationalise my own thoughts and consider how to best present the ideas and advocacy of TZM. It's of no use to you... don't read it! (too late if you got this far
)
I am beginning to feel that we should be starting to promote it to the general populace in my area somehow... perhaps public movie showings or something... not sure yet... how would you advise me to proceed. Recognising that I am a member of a newly formed chapter. Started on 26th Nov. I was the 4th member and there are now 21. We are yet to hold a first meeting; it would be good to go to that armed with loads of ideas
Thanks for reading; hope it's not too tedious
... [see the next post
]