A few days ago, I went out and yelled at all the smokers, as they sat in exclusion, in the tiny damp smoking area. At LandWorks smokers are completely the majority (most days 100% of trainees). They just stared back at me, 7 faces watching me as I shouted… “Okay, from now on, nobody gets to smoke until everyone has helped tidy up after lunch”. A minority had been left inside to tidy up. The nicotine craving (or is I saw it, lack of community spirit) seemed to take precedence. I guess it was just one of those days, I was uptight about something or other and usually everyone just mucks in. We even have a dish washing rota… it generally just works. Then several apologies came, “You must think us a bunch of selfish shits” (err yes) and I got over myself and said sorry for shouting. Next day and it’s all behind us, lots of volunteers for washing up and thankfully nobody points out that physically we can’t all fit in the kitchen area all at once! As volunteers squeezed in together to do the dishes, I remained at the table chatting to one of the guys about Donald J Trump. He’s very popular with the majority. What I might describe as conspiracy or lies, Baz held as complete fact. Did I know that books didn’t exist before 1836? This was getting a bit weird. We kept going, it wasn’t so much about holding political views; it was that Baz felt Trump spoke for him. Even here in Britain, where he felt excluded, unable to take part, often acting criminally to make life work out. I was going to say something about the bigger picture and the link between selfish behaviours and smoking… But didn’t! Capitalist ideals gave Baz the expectation of a millionaire’s lifestyle. He was bitter, deeply bitter that others, ‘the billionaires’, had it all. At 29 he felt done to, marginalised and excluded. I am reimagining our smoking area. Making it feel more communal. Obviously not causing passive smoking or encouraging smoking, but less ostracising and perhaps a little more accepting. We have outdoor table tennis nearby and more seating in the vicinity to allow all of us to gather. Good community needs to be about acceptance.
Chris | 