"When I started this business, all I had was a dream...and six million pounds." Denholm Renholm

[nanila]

The bloke and I have got strangely addicted to the (terrible) reality TV show "The Circle".

The final is on right now, and I can honestly say that it has taught me something, via the medium of the adorable Woody, child of Zoe Ball and Fatboy Slim.

It taught me that the secret to raising a happy, confident, loving, intelligent child, is pairing off two happy confident, loving, intelligent parents.

Who are independently wealthy.

...Shit.

Comments

[pbristow]

=:o\

Perhaps you could be independently something else that's just as good?

[nanila]

I certainly hope so, because I've left it quite late to attempt to become rich!

[pbristow]

How about awesome? Being "independently awesome" sounds like an achieveable goal. I mean, at first glance, you seem to be most of the way there already, so you probably just need to show up for the final test and grab your certificate. =:o}

[ironed_orchid]

Let's hope that wealth is the random ingredient in the mix. Although I imagine it smooths out many other issues due to being able to throw money at problems.

[nanila]

It is only one of the factors, I'm sure, but as you say, having it certainly helps especially when you encounter issues.

[antisoppist]

I ended up addicted too as it is on on Wednesday nights when I return from choir too revved up to go to bed at 10. But last night I went to bed once they had all arrived in the dinner party room and met each other for real because I decided I didn't actually need to know who won. I was more interested in how they reacted to each other.

You can have independent wealth and turn out a total shit though so I don't think that is they key factor. But much of James' win-at-the-cost-of-people strategy (if he is to be believed) came from wanting him and his mother to never have to worry about money again, so it is definitely a factor in how people turn out. And the lovely Woody isn't that confident if he went in to find out if people really liked him if they didn't know who his parents were (they do, Woody, you're fine).

[nanila]

The psychology of it was quite interesting. I mean, I know that the capacity to be engaging and charismatic does not rule out the possibility of also being as thick as two short planks. But watching that in action - particularly with the brighter players - was fascinating.

It's a good point about Woody's insecurity. I think it will be something he will be able to overcome as he ages.

[antisoppist]

He really reminded me (in looks and personality) of his grandad, Johnny Ball, who did maths and science programmes on children's television in the 1970s and 80s and was always bouncy and cheerful and enthusiastic and interested in stuff, and managed to make maths and science interesting even to little me. When he's a little bit older, Blue Peter should grab him.

[annofowlshire]

Yes, but I think the former qualities are the greater factors than the latter one.

[nanila]

I really hope so, or we're in trouble!

[cmcmck]

If independently wealthy really is that much of a thing, how come I manage to be all (I think) those things? Come to that if the parents being those things is a thing......

[nanila]

Heh. I don't (entirely) believe that this is a perfect formula. But I would be willing to bet it makes raising a child who is those things a hell of a lot easier .

[recessional]

I think "having enough money that you don't worry about money" definitely does.

I'm actually not convinced "independently wealthy" is actually a good idea though because honestly once you get to that level almost everyone around you is going to be pathological as hell even if you and your partner manage to keep yourselves sane, and you don't really want to expose your kid to that.

I don't know many people from Independently Wealthy families who don't come with so many horror stories about How The Wealthy Are that they rival some of the people I know who came from commonly-recognized "at-risk" backgrounds.

[silveradept]

It's always that last one that gets you, isn't it.

[nanila]

It's certainly the reason I'm not a writer/photographer with my own privately funded laser/ultra high vacuum/ electronics laboratory who occasionally publishes a really good scientific paper.

[silveradept]

I would love to see that, though. "Doctor nanila, gentlebeing adventurer!" had a good ring to it.

[recessional]

I think that this reality show may be suboptimal as a data source. *DRY*

[nanila]

...for, like, literally anything scientifically demonstrable, LULZ. But somehow it is mesmerising.

[recessional]

Legit! I mean hell I watch murder shows for fun. XD

Just. You know. I would solemnly counsel against drawing conclusions from this dataset.

[liseuse]

One of my work colleagues is also addicted to this and apparently his mum went to uni with Fatboy Slim, and he's apparently very nice, or was back in the day, so maybe there is hope that the money just helps?

[nanila]

I have to believe there is hope of just such a thing, otherwise our family is stuffed. :p

[askygoneonfire]

I was also absolutely glued to the show - what a ride!

Woody made me cry multiple times for being such a Good Kid. But also because he is *so* Brighton; he's like the embodiment of that city and you meet a lot of kids like him there.

[nanila]

Haha, go Brighton! He's so lovely; I'm glad to hear that Sweet Sensitive Brightonian Teenager is a thing. :D