Human behaviour

For whatever reasons, one more obvious than the other, there are two recent issues that stick to my mind. They have absolutely nothing to do with each other – besides human behaviour.

But then again, as a good friend of mine says all the time, “it’s not the end of the world”. Which is dead right, because if it would be the end of the world then not a single issue – big or small – matter anymore because the end of the world,..... well is just the end of everything. And being a non-believer, the end of everything is really the end of everything.

Back to those issues. First one that in content is from below the equator but in practice a worldwide topic for sure. Corruption, special favours, I-know-you-and-you-know-me, gifts with strings attached,...

South Africa just had elections – flawless, free, fair. A proof that not all African elections are rigged. And after voting, a new government is formed. Normal practice. Now the new transport minister was previously a regional (provincial) transport minister and a regional Premier – which you can compare with a State Governor in the US. And a minister of transport here is like a secretary of transport in the US of A.

As he is sorting out his new desk, new staff and new business cards he is invited to a big ceremony in the province where he was previously the man in charge. It’s a ceremony organised by a large road construction and transport company that wants to thank him for the work he has done in that province. The THANK YOU comes in the form of a brand new Mercedes, petrol vouchers, champagne glasses, a large wide screen TV,... and 2 cows. The cow thing is pretty normal in African tradition, so no disrespect there. The new minister and his wife are being captured on TV and in newspaper photos with big smiles on their face in the Mercedes and with the cows. The Mercedes is really a symbol that you have made it into the new class. Like a stepping stone for upper-class movements. It comes with the new suit, the trendy sunglasses and the latest model cellphone (or mobile phone as some people call it too).

But the ceremony and the smiling faces were the start of a media storm and an outraged public calling into radio talk shows, writing text messages to websites and emails to newspapers. It is clear to all that a private company giving such expensive gifts to a minister clearly wants something in return sooner or later. Rather sooner please. The smell of corruption was starting to stink. There are no freebees in this world, and certainly not between the corporate world and public servants – which minister are. The minister as such did not understand the fuss at all. Here he was with this lovely Mercedes that showed his family, friends, colleagues, neighbours , sportsclub members,... that he really made it in life. He was up and coming and loving it. But the storm just kept blowing and coming down harder and harder. And yes, yesterday the news dropped that the minister would give a press conference. And hours later, there he was still saying he did not understand the fuss but to avoid further hassles he was returning the car and the cows. He would keep the TV and the glasses! I am still surprised he still did not see that getting such large corporate gifts undermines any future decisions from which that company might benefit. It’s very simple, isn’t it?

But then the image remains. Minister gives back Mercedes and cows. How African tradition and the new bourgeoisie comes together in one. The old and the new. The tradition and the new status symbol.

How to move to the second issue as there is no link between the Mercedes, the cows and the second topic? Besides, as mentioned earlier, human behaviour.

Anyway. I am a regular – probably daily - visitor of music blogs. And the last days I have witnessed on one American, alternative music blog – the name is of no importance here – a very active thread about bloggers looking for specific releases. In theory the blog entry was only about out of print tunes but as it goes it becomes a free for all. That is all fine by me. So people ask for something and then mostly within hours somebody else pops up a mediafire, rapidshare or sendspace link with the downloadable zip of that requested album. All fine and great worldwide sharing! But then a few bloggers put a download link in the thread but then add the line ”not my upload – got it from another message board (aka blog)”. I mean, how really childish is that! Just copy and paste and put that download link in the blog if you join in this thread; if you think music sharing is evil then leave it alone. It is such a contradiction. These bloggers do not wanna upload (illegally in theory) music but are willing to spread the (illegal) download links. Don’t know why the following example pops up in my head but it’s like a cocaine dealer defending himself by saying “hey I am not growing the shit”. How really stupid is that! Human behaviour will never seize to surprise me.

And for those readers thinking I do not like music sharing. Wrong! I do!

And as a throw out. Currently listening to the mcd “Bodies of water” by Connecticut’s Make Do And Mend,... and liking it.

C-Ya.
May 2009