Now as children we’re taught to always give people second chances and to strive to see the good in every person. Sadly after nearly a decade working in pubs and bars I find it very difficult to see the ‘good’ in the majority of people any more. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying people cannot be kind or considerate nor am I stating that we do not have the capacity to show great love to one another but in some situations there is no ‘good’ but just varying degrees of bad.
A late night bar is not a nice place and all manner of bad things happen at them, such as at the infamous London pub pictured above. Now you may have your local boozer, favourite dive bar or a honky tonk that you frequent but have you ever tried being there without the booze blanket of copious amounts of a mind altering substance? Also if a bar is not a place you’d take your parents or suitable for your children can you really tell yourself it’s a nice place. With that out of the way I’m not telling you not to go out and enjoy yourself. I’m just advocating that you approach being out at a bar and the night time economy realistically. We are selling an experience and a feeling, you loose you inhibitions and for a short while forget your problems. Apart from the financial cost and the serotonin depletion there can be other costs to your imbibing and the internet is awash with horror stories (as is your local newspaper I’m sure).
Now when I was a younger man I idolised gangsters and cowboys. From the Richardson brothers in South London, Jesse James and men such as Lucky Luciano I felt that their way of looking at and living in this world was something to be admired. I watched all the films, read the books and looked on men such as these in the same way other kids had a favourite football player or pop singer to look up to. It was not so much these men’s capacity for violence which intrigued me (although as a bullied fat kid, the idea of not being messed with did appeal). It was the fact that these men always seemed to be in control and that they kept their dignity in a world which seems to do everything to strip us of this last bastion of self respect.
I remember years ago my brother gave me his VHS copy of Kevin Costners Wyatt Earp. Now it’s a hell of film and I would recommend it to any one with a love of cinema and to this day there are several scenes where the dialogue is imprinted upon my mind. It is one scene in particular which was the spark behind my ramblings today though. I watched the film with my brother and I’m one of those annoying people who asks questions throughout a film, or rather I was back in the 90’s as a boy. Well I still remember him telling me to shut up and listen as Wyatt states to Ed Masterston ‘“You are not a deliberate man, Ed. I do not sense that about you.” I did not immediately understand the words spoken nor the message they held. Then a few scenes later Ed is gunned down in Dodge city after replacing Wyatt for being too harsh; I got an inkling that I needed to listen. Wyatt knew that in many situations people just ain’t no good and giving them the benefit of the doubt will most likely get you killed.
I don’t work in Dodge City and the real Wyatt Earp probably never said those words but gunslingers and cinema are part of our modern day folklore and their wisdom of survival shines through. Working in the night time economy I learnt over time to strictly follow these words and now days nobody gets a second chance. I myself am not naturally a deliberate man but I have had to learn to try and be one. Once a punch has been thrown, this isn’t a Victorian novel and peace won’t occur after a handshake. There is no romance in violence or drunkenness. People will do the most outrageous things possible and being a Good Samaritan will invariably get you injured or killed. The Queensbury rules were thrown in the Thames and sunk a long time ago. I’ve seen many fights and the vast majority of them would never have occurred if the people had been in control of three things, their egos, blood alcohol level and their assessment of what actually is reality.
Being a deliberate man or woman will save your life. Yes it may make you come across as serious and at worst a cold person. Assessing a situation and always being aware will keep you alive though, as even a Fool’s luck one day runs out.
Image Credits
PicA)https://.latimesherocomplex.files.wordpress.com
Pic B)https://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive
Pic C) https://www.nationalcrimesyndicate.com
Pic D) http://www.videocollector.co.uk
Pic E) https://i0.wp.com/www.britishboxers.co.uk
Pic/gif F) https://media1.tenor.com