It’s something I’ve noticed in myself, in that there have been phases of my life where I have been too bothered about following the herd, and then I discovered there was no pleasure in that. My problem is, using Big Brother as an example, is the fact that somebody somewhere has decided it’s cool. In actual fact, the viewing figures, even at its peak, is barely 10% of the population, and yet it figures so heavily in not only the tabloid newspapers but also the BBC and Guardian. I want to know why, when for example, more people watched a programme on grow your own vegetables that was on the same time as some ‘important’ episode of Big Brother.

I can only surmise that there’s not a lot of money to be made from gyo veg, and, furthermore, those who are interested are that majority of the population over 30 whom the advertisers are not interested in targeting because they are less impressionable.

I then go onto think that an awful lot of what is being touted as cool is actually just what somebody is paid to say is cool, in order to persuade me, the consumer, to part with my money. I don’t have infinite amounts of money and I already have expensive tastes. I’m not saying I’m not open to advertising and promotion, of course I am, but I like to think I can use my knowledge, experience and wisdom to analyse whether I actually want that product for its inherent pleasure/utility or whether I’m getting it to boost my self-esteem. I must be getting long in the tooth but I have discovered that consumption for its own sake actually makes me depressed and unsatisfied, despite a passing adrenaline rush, whereas activities that interest me boost my endorphins.

I’ve never really liked being told what to do; I suppose I just don’t understand people who claim to reject traditional authority – politicians, priests, teachers, professionals – are happy enough to accept unquestioningly the dictates of people who don’t actually care about the consequences of their advice, except where it adds zeros to the bonus.

As for the comment left by my dearest mother, this from the woman who says I should be writing a book – make up yer mind!