I’M MAD AS HELL AND NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.
2025 Translation: I’m mad as hell but the alternatives mean that I’m going to have to continue to take it to live in this fucked up society.
What has happened to us?
Why does 2025 feel like our world has become a compliant robot nirvana?
The egalitarian Australia of folklore is dead. We are now a society that has happily submitted to the strictness of authority no matter how illogical or intrusive. A place where any interpretation beyond the defined ‘black & white’ rule is prohibited.
Society has submitted and allowed authorities to kill nuance. I believe it’s one of the main reasons why so many decisions are made that defy logic. It seems that any scenario that even ‘skims the edge’ of a ‘guideline’ is immediately wrong by default.
What the actual fuck has happened to us?
Questioning authority within the confines of the law is a democratic right. This obviously still exists but the constraints to do so these days make it a pointless exercise.
Nuance is special. I believe it is borne from intelligence and therefore one of humanity’s greatest attributes. However, I am slowly understanding that it clogs up a system that prizes efficiency above all else. Efficiency is king so to hell with nuance. As long as the quota and boxes are all ticked off as the authorities intended.
The problem is that ‘black and white efficiency’ without nuance means that misunderstandings and injustices increase. When one then decides to remedy it, the costs and inconvenience of doing so (eg: appealing in a court of law) are disproportionately stacked against the reward of winning, so we conform.
OK… I’ll pay your fucking parking fine.
So what has set me off ?
It’s not enough that rates are paid, fuel taxes are paid, road tolls are paid, vehicle registration is paid. Your precious piece of uncovered road base and tar is worthy of paying $30 for a 5 hour stint, just for privilege of attending a place of business. I have paid this ‘rent’ for my car to sit on the side of your road many many times. Not happily, but I agree to conform to these rules and have done so at this EXACT same location for many years.
Then, one day YOUR meter is faulty and I am unable to immediately pay this ‘rent’. So I follow YOUR directives and call YOUR ‘report a faulty meter’ phone number; twice before it was finally answered. I report it and offer to pay the fee to avoid a fine. I was advised to return to my vehicle and re-attempt to pay at the meter; yes… the faulty meter. This was impossible as I was no longer in the area and wouldn’t be able to return for several hours. I asked for this to be documented to avoid a fine. Well this was a stupid thing to think, let alone say out loud because of course a fine was awaiting me when I finally returned to my car a few hours later.
OK… as annoyed as I was with this scenario, I also understand that I must play within the system so I go through the process of seeking a review. I document everything, screenshot records of all attempted calls including time, statement of conversations… everything. Despite the thoroughness of my appeal (after all who wants to see $136 evaporate into nothing) deep down I knew the system would reject it. And so it proved to be because 3 weeks after lodging, I receive an email stating that my fine will stand.
The response was full of inconsistencies. My diligently prepared evidence submitted in the initial appeal was totally ignored. The facts were clearly worthless and the ‘letter of the guidelines’ would rule.
Of course I have the option of taking this further and am reasonably confident my appeal would prevail in a court of law but why has it come to this?
This is NOT the way court time should be tied up. It is a comparatively trivial matter to ask a judge to rule on this. The cost of the fine is ‘only’ $136. The cost to go to court and time taken away from my business would amount to significantly more, so even with a win in court the options are unpalatable. I feel like the system has mugged me for $136 because nuance is extinct. These unbreakable rules where nothing can exist on the edge, irrespective of the circumstances, has slowly created a dystopian world. This isn’t hyperbole, this is reality in 2025
So why am I writing this?
I write this as self therapy because I am pissed. I acknowledge that I cannot win because there are just too many who happily go along with this. They feel safe within the bosom of authority. “As long as I conform to the monster’s whims I’ll be safe.”
This seems to be the underlying attitude. So I have decided to unplug my emotions. I know I cannot win so I relent. The mental turmoil and emotional anger just isn’t worth it.
I’m not special. I’m not smarter and I’m not trying to pontificate.
What I am is tired and full of angst at what society has become.
So… I’ll pay my fees for living, pay fines when required, I’ll work within society’s ‘guidelines’ and navigate the gaps where possible but I’m fading out. I just don’t have it in me anymore to even try to battle the system. There are just too many people indoctrinated to the ‘rules are rules’ approach to life so I give up.
One of my favourite quotes has driven me to this attitude.
“Would I rather be right or be happy?”
I choose happy.
Word Of Ross 