Recreational Grief?

This is an interesting item from the BBC:

In his report, Conspicuous Compassion, author Patrick West said people were trying to feel better about themselves by taking part in “manufactured emotion”. Describing extravagant public displays of grief for strangers as ‘grief-lite’ Mr West said these activities were, “undertaken as an enjoyable event, much like going to a football match or the last night of the proms”.

This is similar to my problem with movies – the group emote. Abstractions from reality.

Home Awake

Being the only one in the house not sick or three, I am the only one awake this afternoon. I find myself listening to Acts of Volition Radio show #6, watching the sunny melty day outside moving on, wondering whether it would be so wrong downloading Counterstrike for moments like this, surrounded by the snoring, communicating only with headphones and screen.

[Four gerunds and a gerundive in one sentence…wow.]