The vandals used the handles.

It's very nearly twenty one years since I was brought into this world by a kindly midwife in a hospital in Hammersmith. Since that time I have matured somewhat, led a life that I can't imagine would be described as sheltered and have generally got by reasonably well.

However, last week something happened, something happened that had not happened to me before and the realisation that this something had never happened to me before was almost more of a shock than the fact that that something had happened at all. Last week I was robbed, well, not me personally, but somebody that I do not know, broke into my car and took several of my possessions. My reaction to losing these items, was pretty laissez faire, I felt pretty detached from the event and dismissed it as 'just one of those things'. However, I have reflected upon the incident and thought back to it time and time again in the last week and become more confused and distressed by what transpired.

The economic value of the things I lost wasn't particularly extortionate, an iPod (3 years old, with a less than reliable clicking wheel) and a few CDs (Beastie Boys predominately, having had them on repeat for 2 months since the terribly sad news about MCAs death). However, the person that found their way into my car was not to know what was to be found in the glove compartment of my Peugeot. Now I must point out now that I had forgotten to lock the passenger door, foolish I know, I am a student without a great deal of disposable income and opted therefore for an automobile without central locking, something I now regret. But the failure to properly secure my property was not an invitation, my grandparents have lived in a quaint village for many a decade, feeling completely safe leaving front doors unlocked without fear of reprisal.

I have always had a wonderfully optimistic opinion of human nature, as a race I think we are inherently altruistic, kind, caring and cooperative. I don't blame the individual, or group of people that stole from my car personally for what they did. There is a ridiculous amount of importance placed on materialism and the worshiping of material goods in society. Now don't think this is a Marxist call to arms, I think, on the whole, regulated capitalism is the most viable option, allowing for entrepreneurial pursuits and preventing monopolies and exploitation. I myself am certainly a consumer of luxury products. My grievance is not with their existence, but their importance in society; television, music and film is currently awash with materialism and placing undue pressure on less affluent families, peers, etc to be in possession of these products.

To surmise therefore, those of you out there, whoever you are that now have a cracked iPod and some seminal hip hop works in your home are forgiven. My animosity is not directed towards you, however, I will say, the illegal acquisition of these items, desirable as society makes them, whether you sell them on, or choose yourself to enjoy the vast back catalogue of Radio Four podcasts, is just not cricket.


 Joel