Out

Cliques - London is full of them, based on class, race, sexuality, political persuasion, musical preference, district of residence, etc. There are cliques formed around information technology, and within that, devices, and within that, software, and of course, the software which is designed around this habit of human herd-formation is "social" software.

Do you have the N95? And if so, do you run this application or that application? Do you connect via WiFi or 3G, and if 3G then which network are you on? Are you online 18 hours a day, and if not, why not? Do you subscribe to this newest of shiny web platforms? Are you inside, an alpha tester? Then again, are you really inside, part of the inner-inner-circle or just inside for their convenience, in order to boost the kudos of exclusivity?

It seems to me that so many human interactions are based upon this formula that it must be part of our clannish baboon-like instincts, pre-civilised behaviour stemming from the limbic system, subliminal and covert signals designed to reassure - you, yes YOU - you are in the select band, and those other people, why, we are superior to them.

So, are you in, or out? Didn't you get the invitation? I'm not the kind of person to look on passively, indeed, I'm likely to comment, intervene, expose, which makes people feel uncomfortable, so I guess that means I'm out.

My feelings are truly mixed. I like some of the people, but I see it happening and it makes me sad. I don't have to join in, but I watch people who are intelligent enough to know better showing their weakness and insecurity by letting people down. I am so deeply uncomfortable with this ongoing process of exclusion - for that is what it is - because it leads to smugness, bitching, snide jokes, denial, scapegoats, pogroms and eventually genocide down the line.

It's all about stigmatising the "other" - so that you can feel better about yourself, and I don't need to do that because, deep down, I feel good and like James, I say it loud.