Awareness

March 4th, 2012

I just tried a little experiment.

I typed “awareness days” into Google.

382,000,000 results!

This is a thing that has been around for some time [though you may not be aware of the fact] and it leaves me baffled.  Most of these “awareness days” seem to pass by without us even being aware of them.  A fucking pointless exercise if ever there was one.

Will someone please tell me what they are all about?  What is the point in my being aware of something?  Most of them cover topics that I am already aware of and the rest, I couldn’t give a flying shite about.  And when I do become aware of something, what the hell am I supposed to do about it?

One of the sites I found gives a list of some of the exciting forthcoming “awareness days”.  There is a “Maths Awareness Day”.  What the hell is that about?  Am I going to have a Damascus Moment and suddenly realise for the first time in my life that two numbers can be added together?  And a “Water Awareness Day”? There isn’t a single person alive on the face of this blighted planet who isn’t aware of water.  What can they possibly tell me about water?  It’s wet?  You can drown people in it?  Some people have too much while others don’t have enough?  I know all I need to know about water, and I certainly don’t need to be made aware of it.

Every now and then I hear of someone spouting on about how “we need to increase public awareness” about some fucking hobbyhorse or other.  This is usually a sign that they are going to try to fill the newspapers with horror stores about whatever is the flavour of the day.  For example, I see there is a “Salt Awareness Day” coming up.  Doubtless they will see this as a golden opportunity to regale us with terrifying [and imaginary] statistics [just as well we had the Maths Awareness Day?] about the terrifying dangers of salt.  I like salt on my chips.  I don’t like salt in my marmalade.  That is all I need to know.  If it hasn’t killed me by now then it isn’t dangerous.  They can go fuck themselves with their “Salt Awareness Day”.

Some time ago, some crowd got the idea of using a twisted yellow ribbon as an “awareness” symbol.  Various other groups thought this was a brilliant idea and used exactly the same ribbon but in a different colour.  I have seen cars with more of these twisted ribbons on them than a spitfire had swastikas in the Battle of Britain.  And I can guarantee that no one has a clue what each colour is supposed to represent.

I think I will declare today to be “Awareness Awareness Day”.

The public need to be aware about how pointless awareness is.

17 Responses to “Awareness”

  1. Brianf UNITED STATESon 04 Mar 2012 at 2:33 pm

    What color is the ribbon for Awareness Awareness Day?  Paisely?

  2. Grandad IRELANDon 04 Mar 2012 at 3:05 pm

    Puce.

  3. tt UNITED STATESon 04 Mar 2012 at 4:16 pm

    It’s all bad. Bullshit Awareness Day.

  4. Grandad IRELANDon 04 Mar 2012 at 5:11 pm

    At least you are aware of the fact now?

  5. tt UNITED STATESon 04 Mar 2012 at 6:28 pm

    What ?

  6. meltemian GREECEon 04 Mar 2012 at 7:28 pm

    Sorry GD, can’t wear puce with my complexion!

    Can I just be aware of awareness without the ribbon? 

  7. Grandad IRELANDon 04 Mar 2012 at 7:38 pm

    tt – That it’s all bad, of course.

    Meltemian – No.  You’ll just have to change your complexion.

  8. Slab IRELANDon 04 Mar 2012 at 7:56 pm

    Awarenesszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……………………………

  9. Patrick Harris UNITED KINGDOMon 04 Mar 2012 at 8:28 pm

    I must confess to have been totally unaware of all these awareness days, now, because of some inquisitive Granddad and Google, I’m all too aware. Ignorance truly is bliss.

  10. Jim C UNITED KINGDOMon 05 Mar 2012 at 2:20 pm

    Bullshit awareness day comes the day after elections when we realize what crap spewing jack asses have been elected to public office office.

  11. Peter Moore IRELANDon 05 Mar 2012 at 3:20 pm

    All this awareness would drive you insane. Therefore there is a need for a Sanity Awareness Day. O God. I just realised I am insane for even suggesting that. Thanks for giving me a good laugh.

  12. cat CANADAon 05 Mar 2012 at 3:25 pm

    sorry i’m late commenting, wasn’t aware this was posted.

  13. Jim C UNITED STATESon 05 Mar 2012 at 3:41 pm

    I actually have to laugh about the “ribbon” symbol. As far as I know it started with a song “tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree”. Everyone though it was for returning soldiers. The song was actually written about a convict getting out of jail after serving his sentence.

  14. tt UNITED STATESon 05 Mar 2012 at 3:43 pm

    I am aware that today is Labour Day in Western Australia ( according to my wall calendar ) and that whiskey and Gin apparently don’t mix too well.

  15. Grandad IRELANDon 05 Mar 2012 at 4:23 pm

    whiskey and Gin apparently don’t mix too well“  I wasn’t aware of that.  Could you send me a bottle of each so I can try it out?

  16. tt UNITED STATESon 05 Mar 2012 at 5:45 pm

    Sure. Will Midleton and Hendricks suffice?

  17. Grandad IRELANDon 05 Mar 2012 at 6:49 pm

    I suppose they’ll have to….

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