The Meaning of Research

Peckham. Heritage.

In an earlier post I wrote - rather messily, now tidied up, this was a real rambling blog and if I do it I must do better and I was even more stressed and...sorry... must do better... - that anger leads to conspiracies and comes from dishonest, self-serving authorities treating people dismissively and with contempt. If that wasn't clear, that was what  was trying to say. It's been a pretty consistent theme unfortunately throughout this blog, is one of the reasons it was started and why the posts were so erratic. It was a place to vent a little.

It also of course played into the 'B' word. Everyone now knows the win for Brexit (capital 'B') was at least partly a protest vote. Many of the people who voted this way now feel they were wrong, that the EU has nothing to do with the problems they face, and their frustrations were played on by people who had no good argument otherwise to convince enough people to vote for Brexit. Demagogues with money faking concern and for their own ends playing the frustrated, oppressed working masses that they have such contempt for.

But of course some people still do believe the arguments, still want to believe them. Brexit has taken up time that could have been spent on issues such as housing, health, education and employment (another thing the  politicians are starting to realise) and people have been left to stew. The anger is often accompanied by hatred of outsiders, spite towards those who disagree - there are enough videos of MPs and others being harangued to prove this - and suspicion of anyone contesting the conspiracies. Fake news can take hold. On ITV London news reporting the People's March this weekend said 'onlookers' booed the march as it passed Number 10. No - the protesters booed as they passed Number 10. I think. Yes, definitely...

And so we can understand the true meaning of 'research'. As in The European Research Group. Why that name, ERG? Does anyone really believe they, or their staff, are studiously delving into the detail of the true workings and nature of the EU, any more than anyone believes Rees-Mogg can suddenly be the voice of the working class? (Incidentally, as some have asked when, this must have happened the same time the EU became the choice of the wannabe liberal Left).

So ERG is playing again of what those they are...well, playing, will respond to. These guys are on our side (at least some of the way, eh, Farage?) and the good guys (eh, Francois?). They are not part of fake news media metropolitan elite. They understand. They have seen through. They have looked deeply and seen the truth. They are not mouthpieces or journalists. They are researchers. What do conspiracy theorists call themselves? Researchers. What do conspiracy theorists have to do, have to do because of the fake news? Research.

And so, with news more about personality and opinion rather than facts, and a choice available of who to believe based on who you want to be, the ERG can drop in that middle word for those who want to hear it. And because of propaganda and spin and lies and oppression and contempt and cover-ups, is it any surprise people believe - want to believe - the more comforting lies? At least some one is on their side.

The only thing is, if you really want to get at the truth, you cannot believe lies, however much you want to. Thankfully enough people now realise they've been lied to, by the self-appointed truth-seekers (that's another trigger term) and researchers.

The photo is part of a building on Peckham High Street covered by the Peckham Heritage Project. One of the fine old buildings that can, with care, serve people and last many, many years, with character that is worth preserving. This is the aim, all the while alongside plans for 48 stories agreed by councillors without, many would argue, proper consideration. Doesn't take much research to see this is happening.

The truth is out there, somewhere.