A couple of days ago I was stuck at home unable to work because of wet weather and decided to have a look at what was on the "box".
I stumbled on to QVC "the shopping channel", which was promoting "gem day", a 24hr marathon which involved the unloading of tons of junk jewellery on to unloved and unlovely demented women of a certain age.
Teams of slimy presenters took turns tormenting their unfortunate victims by alternately massaging their egos, then bullying them into spending money on rubbish...."Hurry hurry we're down to our last hundred pairs of Nigerian pliothalite earings"

The whole disgusting spectacle struck me as a metaphor for all thats wrong with this society of ours, full of unloved people filling their lives with worthless baubles. Encouraged and goaded by people..the presenters... who obviously knew very well what function they were being paid to perform.

The victims were encouraged to talk of "The shopping experience" on air, one said that she had watched the whole show and had bought every one of the last sixty items on offer.

Others were encouraged to spend money which they couldn't afford..and I quote from one of the female presenters...."You might feel that the money you have should be spent on the children or on food ect but this ring is only £95, and isn't your happiness worth a mere £95".

Aren't we a despicable species to prey on our brothers and sisters and measure every human emotion in pounds and dollars...Ake