I don’t think I would like to be a politician. Please don’t misunderstand me, I have nothing against those who do choose to serve in that way, but it’s not for me.

There are problems with that profession, from my perspective.  For example, I don’t think I could ever develop the talent for side-stepping direct, and perfectly reasonable questions, while retaining any semblance of credibility.  Nor could I ever be comfortable with spouting the thoughts and opinions of others and pretending that I really believed they were true.  But, the big thing for me, would be the constant criticism. I don’t like being criticised.

Why would that be?  I don’t know.  Maybe it’s something lodged deep in my past: a harsh word from a schoolteacher, jibing from school bullies, a rejection from a pretty 14-year-old at the school disco.  I have no idea.  Maybe all three.  Maybe none. But I do know that if I upset someone, it can keep me awake for night after night. I often think, why am I beating myself up about this?  I am sure that the other person isn’t worried about it half as much.  But still I fret until the matter is resolved, usually by talking it over.

I had a good example of this the other day.  I was walking in the park with my dog, Otto.  He’s a German Pointer and something of an athlete.  We were coming to the end of our hike when a little FluffyPoo, or whatever they are called, charged over to Otto and barked in his face.  Otto was less than impressed, and decided to explain the error of the fluffball’s ways as only a dog can do.  It was about this time that Miss Fluff’s owner turned up and started hurling abuse at me because my dog was frightening hers and should be on a lead.  Now hang on a minute.  It was her dog that started the whole thing, me and Otto were just on our way home, and anyway … her dog was off lead too. What’s more, Otto had probably saved this dog from serious injury.  If it had tried the same tactic with a vicious animal, rather than my best mate, it could have got nasty.  Really nasty!

Despite the obvious and incontrovertible evidence in my and Otto’s favour, I found myself apologising (very British) and analysing the incident for days after to establish whether her totally undeserved criticism could be justified. I’m still writing about it now for goodness sake!

Yet other people, it seems, can just shrug this stuff off and carry on as if nothing had happened.  How can this be?  In an effort to find out, I enlisted the help of my trusty AI friend, Copilot.  I asked a simple question: ‘Why do some people handle criticism better than others?’  Copilot said it was a ‘Great Question’, which I thought a little condescending, but reassuring that I wasn’t a total idiot after all.  It then proceeded to tell me that I am more susceptible to criticism because: I have low self-worth, I don’t have a ‘growth’ mindset (whatever that might be), I lack emotional intelligence and a man of my venerable years should have developed better coping mechanisms.  Well, thanks a lot.  If I was feeling vulnerable before, I am completely crushed now. That will teach me to trust a computer to give me comfort.        

I then took a different tack.  I asked Copilot what was the difference between confidence (which I think I have) and arrogance (which I hope I don’t)? It told me that arrogant people dismiss other people’s opinions because they think they know best; have an inflated self-worth; belittle and look down on others; are unwilling to accept feedback; and are boastful and expect validation from other people.  Criticism just bounces off them. Hmmm.  Does that remind you of anyone? 

It does seem that arrogance is an essential requirement of a successful modern-day politician.  Just take a look at Trump, Johnson, Farage, Putin and probably many more around the globe who seem to be becoming ever more adored by the populous they exploit. Then again, many would have said the same about Churchill in his day. It just seems that, being a decent person, who wants to help people live fulfilling lives, seems to be very old hat. Now, we must shock, offend, belittle and crush to get anywhere.

I hanker for a gentler age.  One where doing what’s right is more important that doing what’s profitable. That’s just my opinion.  If you disagree, please keep your opinions to yourself.  You know I won’t take it well.