What's going on in the North West of England?
April 30, 2008 5:25 AM Subscribe
Is it just me or has the North-West of England turned into a giant hypnotic theme park?
I don’t know what life is like in other areas at the moment but there’s a lot of weird stuff going on in the North West at the moment. I think it all has something to do with the Year of the Capital of Culture. The website for Liverpool08 is hypnotic and so is all the literature they give out.
There have been some extremely bizarre things going on around here. It’s difficult to explain, but on a bad day, when I go out I feel a bit like Hackworth from the Waverly Films videos*. Everyone seems either excessively impressed or cooperative whenever I talk to them.
Here are some of the weird things that happened to me on Monday:
-I managed to persuade a book shop to give me a refund for some books even though I bought the books over a month ago.
-I also managed to pay only a £10 fine for £50’s worth of library books that I’d lost (for which I’m extremely grateful).
-Someone asked me out, even though I’m not attractive (I think they were trying to wind me up)
-I found a DVD in the street worth £10
-I met 2 people I hadn’t seen for over 6 months.
-Someone in the street shouted at me and then walked away.
I also noticed for the first time yesterday that there’s CCTV everywhere, even on the buses. It‘s ostensibly there to stop crime but I also think it‘s there for surveillance and research purposes. There’s also a large amount of viral artwork everywhere, and most of it seems hypnotic.
There are a lot of other weird things going on as well, e.g. some people have very weird expressions on their faces; it looks like they’re sneering at everyone around them.
Could someone please explain what’s going on, and where is all of this headed?
---
*Re: Hackworth- "The adventures of the world’s most amazing individual" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1stTXenWv0
I don’t know what life is like in other areas at the moment but there’s a lot of weird stuff going on in the North West at the moment. I think it all has something to do with the Year of the Capital of Culture. The website for Liverpool08 is hypnotic and so is all the literature they give out.
There have been some extremely bizarre things going on around here. It’s difficult to explain, but on a bad day, when I go out I feel a bit like Hackworth from the Waverly Films videos*. Everyone seems either excessively impressed or cooperative whenever I talk to them.
Here are some of the weird things that happened to me on Monday:
-I managed to persuade a book shop to give me a refund for some books even though I bought the books over a month ago.
-I also managed to pay only a £10 fine for £50’s worth of library books that I’d lost (for which I’m extremely grateful).
-Someone asked me out, even though I’m not attractive (I think they were trying to wind me up)
-I found a DVD in the street worth £10
-I met 2 people I hadn’t seen for over 6 months.
-Someone in the street shouted at me and then walked away.
I also noticed for the first time yesterday that there’s CCTV everywhere, even on the buses. It‘s ostensibly there to stop crime but I also think it‘s there for surveillance and research purposes. There’s also a large amount of viral artwork everywhere, and most of it seems hypnotic.
There are a lot of other weird things going on as well, e.g. some people have very weird expressions on their faces; it looks like they’re sneering at everyone around them.
Could someone please explain what’s going on, and where is all of this headed?
---
*Re: Hackworth- "The adventures of the world’s most amazing individual" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1stTXenWv0
This post was deleted for the following reason: This is the sort of thing that people generally use blogs for, not askme. -- cortex
The FAQ item entitled 'ChatFilter' may well be pertinent here.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 5:57 AM on April 30, 2008
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 5:57 AM on April 30, 2008
I agree that the branding for Liverpool 08 is a bit trippy. I figured they were making a graphical link to psychedelic art from the Beatles era.
However some of the other things you are experiencing, and the way you described them here, seem like examples of either ideas of reference or magical thinking. When you previously asked a question about stabbing pains in your foot due to hypnosis, many people suggested you see a doctor. If you haven't been yet, I think it would be sensible to visit your GP, and explain some of the odd things that have been happening to you, and how you feel about them.
posted by roofus at 6:00 AM on April 30, 2008
However some of the other things you are experiencing, and the way you described them here, seem like examples of either ideas of reference or magical thinking. When you previously asked a question about stabbing pains in your foot due to hypnosis, many people suggested you see a doctor. If you haven't been yet, I think it would be sensible to visit your GP, and explain some of the odd things that have been happening to you, and how you feel about them.
posted by roofus at 6:00 AM on April 30, 2008
Have you seen a medical professional about this kind of thing since asking your last question about hypnosis?
I'm afraid I don't know anything specifically about Liverpool, but if Monday was a nice day, or maybe you were dealing with people who were feeling happy for some other reason (it's a bank holiday next week, so maybe they're looking forward to having time off?), it's quite normal that a person might get lucky with requests (like the refund and the small library fine) on the same day. Mixing that up with weird things like being shouted at in the street (and in a city, that happens to everyone sometimes for no reason) makes it feel more significant than it really is.
If you haven't done so already, I think it would really help you to find a doctor you trust to talk to about this kind of thing, so that if necessary they can refer you to a specialist. If you find it hard to explain in person what the matter is, it might be easier to print off this question and your other one to give to the doctor.
posted by Lebannen at 6:03 AM on April 30, 2008
I'm afraid I don't know anything specifically about Liverpool, but if Monday was a nice day, or maybe you were dealing with people who were feeling happy for some other reason (it's a bank holiday next week, so maybe they're looking forward to having time off?), it's quite normal that a person might get lucky with requests (like the refund and the small library fine) on the same day. Mixing that up with weird things like being shouted at in the street (and in a city, that happens to everyone sometimes for no reason) makes it feel more significant than it really is.
If you haven't done so already, I think it would really help you to find a doctor you trust to talk to about this kind of thing, so that if necessary they can refer you to a specialist. If you find it hard to explain in person what the matter is, it might be easier to print off this question and your other one to give to the doctor.
posted by Lebannen at 6:03 AM on April 30, 2008
Observation bias.
...also, to be blunt, based on the stabbing-pain question (and now combined with this question) I suspect that you are not mentally stable and should consult a professional. Preferably sooner rather than later. Really.
posted by aramaic at 6:06 AM on April 30, 2008
...also, to be blunt, based on the stabbing-pain question (and now combined with this question) I suspect that you are not mentally stable and should consult a professional. Preferably sooner rather than later. Really.
posted by aramaic at 6:06 AM on April 30, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
*Agent 67339 please report to Liverpool Office. Looks like we have another patient who's mind control drugs are losing effectiveness again.*
posted by Pollomacho at 5:51 AM on April 30, 2008