h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What I would be afraid of is the people I meet in the prison wanting to look me up when they get out. Wanting money or a place to stay or something. Getting me involved in their lives which could very well still include activities on the wrong side of the law. I suppose it is unlikely, but then I watch a lot of crime dramas and in them befriending a prisoner seems to lead to trouble.

Thing is, B...you're not 6 any more. Hopefully you've got better repertoires of social skills and coping strategies...and a better sense of self worth.

My Chilren's Panel work has brought me into contact with Real People. Some of them angry...and even angrier when I'm telling them things they don't want to hear. I'm not saying it can't be difficult...but really...it's not *that* much different to Normal Life.

All you have to fear is fear itself.

Indeed.

Hypatia:

Yes...but that's why you have professional barriers. Same with any teacher.

As for looking you up. Really...most released prisoners will have other things to do and will mix in entirely different circles. A Prisons Education Officer will probably not be their first port of call if they're planning a big heist.

Meh. A lot of 'em will be out scoring scag. The ones you manage to educate (can happen!) will be trying to hold down jobs.

Fear and big hairy fanged spiders, not the little jumping ones, they're cute, just those big hairy fanged ones... oh and a whole bunch of the spiders in Australia, even the cute ones can kill ya.

VIP, you didn't push too far, and I appreciated your honesty.

Hyp, that thought hadn't even occurred to me.

Hi there CZ - welcome to the thread.

Edward, I may not be 6 any more, but I probably have a greater fear of anger (suppressed or otherwise) and violence (ditto) than I had then. My flight instincts are pretty strong which can make me a frustrating person to argue with at times. I've excused myself from business meetings when things got loud before now, and certainly run away from domestics.

To pick up another point in your post: I've never understood the assumption that any group of people are more real than any other group: the word makes no sense to me in that context. A synonym would be useful, if I am to understand what you mean.

Oh, hi... I've just been ing as I feel in no way qualified to give you career advice, maybe ask for some, but not give.

Mind you, people shouldn't do things just because they are worthy. I know some people who teach because it's a caring professiona and all and who are monumentally bad at it. Really, I'd rather, for their students' sake, they were stockbrokers. especially as they don't seem to enjoy it much.

If I turn out to be not very good at teaching ESOL, I'll stop doing that too.

It works both ways of course. I also have a friend who keeps trying to get out of social work but who keeps getting sucked back in because he is extremely good at it. At the moment he has got a balance of four days social work and one day of a considerably more frivolous job, and that seems to suit him at the moment.

>>To pick up another point in your post: I've never understood the assumption that any group of people are more real than any other group: the word makes no sense to me in that context. A synonym would be useful, if I am to understand what you mean.

That was heavily laden with Irony. 'The Public' didn't seem to fit. Nor 'The Great Unwashed'. The sort of mental territory we're in is the great swirling mass of humanity with all its associated dangers.

I'm not sure I'm helping here.

I shall stop badgering also. My only point is that you may well find yourself perfectly at home amongst groups of people and in situations that you never imagined before. A different peer group than your current one, whatever that is.

I am peerless, Edward, surely you know that!

What's the most out there thing you've thought of Ben?

Well, most of what I've thought of is here in the thread.

One idea that won't go away is being an officiant at Humanist funerals: I've been to more funerals than most and I am passionate about good ones.

An allied idea which would probably involve too much starting from scratch again is being a coroner's clark.

Then there's being a translator for the deaf, presumably in hospitals and courts, but anywhere really: as Z pointed out it would involve breaking rather a lot of bad news.

Something academic, maybe.

I am also concerned about web access, and I've already enquired about helping teenagers with ITC skills and helping the local hospice with their web site.

I really like the idea of running the online presence for a museum or art gallery, but am aware that in an ideal world I'd have javascript.

Some things are definitely ruled out: for example I'm not keen on anything involving extra housework, so not a B&B or a pub. I've no children and plenty of people do have children, so there's be much better people out there for that.

In fact, all of the above is - I hope - a few years off yet. The only reason I'm thinking about it at all is because the cold winds of redundancy are whistling down the corridors here and there's a real chance I'll be out on my ear after Christmas. That being the case, it seems sensible to consider a wider range of options than more of the same, though more of the same would probably pay best. If I get the chance to stay here, I probably will. But if I find something I prefer, like an online gig for a museum, then I'll move on.

I liked the idea of the Humnanist officiant when you first mentioned it. You'd be wonderful in that role. And it would offer families a much needed alternative to traditional services.

It's definitely something I want to move towards, Hypatia.

Good. I wish there had been someone here I could turn to when F died. Had to do it myself. And when Sis died, her family had a perfectly nice service, but it didn't accurately reflect her beliefs. I know a lot of people think that a funeral or memorial service should reflect the mourners beliefs so it will bring them comfort. I'm afraid I disagree. I think it should reflect the deceased person's beliefs and life.

I went to a typical funeral last week and after the 50th mention of god I thought about how I'd want mine done. In the bible belt a humanist funeral is just not a current option, so I figured I'd have to make all the plans myself before it's too late.

I was thinking something along the lines of leaving a letter to be read by whoever volunteers. All it would say is "Well, Rob's gone now, no reason hanging around this sad room any longer, let's go plant him."

I mean that last bit especially as I'm keen on being plant food when I'm done, biodegradable box preferably.

Well, I suspect that if it reflects the deceased's beliefs, then it will reflect the beliefs of their friends. However, it seems to the the family who call the shots when people die. Personally, I agree with you Hypatia but I have to grit my teeth and acknowledge that logic is on the other side of the argument, particularly if you beleive there's no kind of afterlife. It's a tricky one, and can be argued both ways.

That sounds great, CZ. The best bit's the party, anyway.

My Granny specified how many crates of champagne should be drunk at her funeral in her will. Quite a lot, if you were thinking about asking how many.

Actually, I had assumed those were the sensible options, Ben. I also like you for the Hummanist Officant role. Is the academic option persuing your current subject of study further or something else? Because it sounds fascinating.