Greet The New Orthodoxy

Everyone doesn't think the same, they never have. It's just that, nowadays, I get the impression that there's less tolerance for views outside the orthodox. There seems to be more rules about what to think.

Sometimes I think I'd like to post some inflammatory opinion on my FaceBook status or my Twitter but I can't, for the sake of offending someone. And I wonder how many other people hesitate before saying what they think because it's not only the people in the room listening, but another few hundred, many of whom you never see any more but there you go.

So there's this kind of averaging out of opinion. And if you're too far along the narrow bit of the bell curve, not only are you wrong but you're wrong to say it, there must be something wrong with you, you troll. And if you have one opinion that means you must belong to a subset, and have a load of other opinions.

In my job, I can't discuss politics or religion in any other way than factual. Fair enough too, people should be able to make up their own minds, and I wouldn't want my nearest and dearest influenced by someone else (especially if I disagreed). Mind you, I like to think my friends etc are probably pretty clear on my leanings.

Still, it leaves plenty of room for opinions on other things. But still one hesitates to express them. If I say X-Factor (Strictly/I'm a Celebrity etc etc) is shit and aimed at placating the vegetating masses with some artificially enhanced drama masquerading as jeopardy or talent, I would probably risk offending the many friends of mine who feel the need to point out what it is that distinguishes their particular chosen participant/contestant from the others who are by some mysterious measure still more awful. So I don't, because if I want to argue I'll do it face to face, preferably over a pint. But I am in the habit of expressing strong opinions.

Those who know me well recognise it as a starting point, not an end, but in the new orthodoxy it's getting harder all the time.