Camera Obscura - Criminal Glue by Jez Strickley

[the paperboy]

Regular Winterwind columnist, Jez Strickely, returns from his summer hols with a thought provoking piece on what really binds our society together.

http://www.winterwind-productions.com/c ... inal_glue/

[Joseph]

Nice to see you back Jez! And I'd hate to think that what you examine in your article is the true glue binding our society together...

[Gorth]

I think this Ballard guy needs to spend his next holiday in northern Mexico... or maybe urbanised parts of Russia? Southern Italy (Sicily) would also do.

In places ruled by organised crime, any perceived "peaceful" living is not one of contentment and cooperation towards common goals, but one of abject fear, intimidation, summary executions, breeding a culture of informants, collaborators and the odd brave soul speaking up against the blackmail and paid protection schemes (usually shortly before ending up as a mutilated body in ditch, showing signs of a painful death).

An interesting thought experiment, but with no basis in reality.

[Michael S Collins]

Ballard is dead and was a bit of a nihilist, and a chap who by all accounts from people who met him was a bit of a creep. This doesn't show up in his writing at all, honest. Err....

Nice article though, Jez!

[Joseph]

Well, Jez has a thing for Ballard. This is the second article he's mentioned him in.

[Trailer Park Jesus]

yay jez! jez is back. jez has the coolest name going around here.

the writing style is... hmm... really formal i guess and i have to think a bit harder reading his pieces but i guess that's good for me.

winterwind - entertaining and educational all at once.

as for the theory... yeah, sure, no criminals equals no need for cops but we'll always have some nut here or there that needs taking care of and yeah, i agree with gorth. a good read, an interesting theory but i just can't see the world working that way. i sure as hell hope not anyhow.

[Jez]

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

And it's lovely to be back, Trailer Park Jesus

Yes, Joseph, I do like JG Ballard; his somewhat twisted picture of humanity suits the darker side of my personality...

His dystopian works were most likely inspired by his time as a child POW in wartime China. His earliest novel 'The Drowned World' is particularly thought provoking.

[Jez]

Saying that, I too hope that his idea is just that, an idea. The notion of social structures being underpinned by law breaking and anti-social behaviour is decidedly creepy, if not downright disturbing.

[Joseph]

Well, being in Italy you'd have a certain insight into the social structure being underpinned by law breaking. I've met Italians that, while they miss certain aspects of their country, are happier here.

And bloody nice seeing you so active on the forums these days!

[Jez]

I have no firsthand experience of the sort of problems for which Italy is famous, but I've no doubt expats living in Canada would have a story or two to tell.

For me, the process of leaving my home country also involved a great many push factors, although as the years have passed these factors have shifted form or simply moved out of the picture altogether.

As far as crime is concerned, I think that strong community ties and a shared experience help to combat anti-social behaviour, which may then obscure - if not block - the path to more serious infractions.