Are celebrities bad for you?

Celebrities are everywhere nowadays: on TV, in magazines, online. Is this

preoccupation with famous people harmless fun or is it bad for us? How many people
are truly obsessed with modern media idols? And on the other side of the coin, can
fame be harmful to the celebrities?
Studies suggest that the vast majority of teenagers do not really worship celebrities.
Researchers have identified three kinds of fans. About 15% of young people have an
‘entertainment-social’ interest. They love chatting about their favourite celebrities
with friends and this does not appear to do any harm.
Another 5% feel that they have an ‘intense-personal’ relationship with a
celebrity. Sometimes they see them as their soulmate and find that they are often
thinking about them, even when they don’t want to. These people are more at risk
from depression and anxiety. If girls in this group idolise a female star with a body
they consider to be perfect, they are more likely to be unhappy with their own bodies.
That leaves 2% of young people with a ‘borderline-pathological’ interest. They might
say, for example, they would spend several thousand pounds on a paper plate the
celebrity had used, or that they would do something illegal if the celebrity asked them
to. These people are in most danger of being seriously disturbed.
What about the celebrities themselves? A study in the USA tried to measure
narcissism or extreme self-centredness, when feelings of worthlessness and
invisibility are compensated for by turning into the opposite: excessive showing off.
Researchers looked at 200 celebrities, 200 young adults with Masters in Business
Administration (a group known for being narcissistic) and a nationally representative
sample using the same questionnaire. As was expected, the celebrities were
significantly more narcissistic than the MBAs and both groups were a lot more
narcissistic than the general population.
Four kinds of celebrity were included in the sample. The most narcissistic were the
ones who had become famous through reality TV shows – they scored highest on
vanity and willingness to exploit other people. Next came comedians, who scored
highest on exhibitionism and feelings of superiority. Then came actors, and the least
narcissistic were musicians. One interesting result was that there was no connection
between narcissism and the length of time the celebrity had been famous. This means
that becoming famous probably did not make the celebrities narcissistic – they already
were beforehand.
So, what can we learn from this? People who are very successful or famous tend to be
narcissists and are liable to be ruthless, self-seeking workaholics. As we can see from
celebrity magazines, they are also often desperate and lonely. They make disastrous
role models.
Making time for science
Chronobiology might sound a little futuristic – like something from a science fiction
novel, perhaps – but it’s actually a field of study that concerns one of the oldest
processes life on this planet has ever known: short-term rhythms of time and their
effect on flora and fauna.
This can take many forms. Marine life, for example, is influenced by tidal patterns.
Animals tend to be active or inactive depending on the position of the sun or moon.
Numerous creatures, humans included, are largely diurnal – that is, they like to come
out during the hours of sunlight. Nocturnal animals, such as bats and possums, prefer
to forage by night. A third group are known as crepuscular: they thrive in the low-
light of dawn and dusk and remain inactive at other hours.
When it comes to humans, chronobiologists are interested in what is known as the
circadian rhythm. This is the complete cycle our bodies are naturally geared to
undergo within the passage of a twenty-four hour day. Aside from sleeping at night
and waking during the day, each cycle involves many other factors such as changes in
blood pressure and body temperature. Not everyone has an identical circadian rhythm.
‘Night people’, for example, often describe how they find it very hard to operate
during the morning, but become alert and focused by evening. This is a benign
variation within circadian rhythms known as a chronotype.
Scientists have limited abilities to create durable modifications of chronobiological
demands. Recent therapeutic developments for humans such as artificial light
machines and melatonin administration can reset our circadian rhythms, for example,
but our bodies can tell the difference and health suffers when we breach these natural
rhythms for extended periods of time. Plants appear no more malleable in this respect;
studies demonstrate that vegetables grown in season and ripened on the tree are far
higher in essential nutrients than those grown in greenhouses and ripened by laser.
Knowledge of chronobiological patterns can have many pragmatic implications for
our day-to-day lives. While contemporary living can sometimes appear to subjugate
biology – after all, who needs circadian rhythms when we have caffeine pills, energy
drinks, shift work and cities that never sleep? – keeping in synch with our body clock
is important. 
The average urban resident, for example, rouses at the eye-blearing time of 6.04 a.m.,
which researchers believe to be far too early. One study found that even rising at 7.00
a.m. has deleterious effects on health unless exercise is performed for 30 minutes
afterward. The optimum moment has been whittled down to 7.22 a.m.; muscle aches,
headaches and moodiness were reported to be lowest by participants in the study who
awoke then.
Once you’re up and ready to go, what then? If you’re trying to shed some extra
pounds, dieticians are adamant: never skip breakfast. This disorients your circadian
rhythm and puts your body in starvation mode. The recommended course of action is
to follow an intense workout with a carbohydrate-rich breakfast; the other way round
and weight loss results are not as pronounced.
Morning is also great for breaking out the vitamins. Supplement absorption by the
body is not temporal-dependent, but naturopath Pam Stone notes that the extra boost
at breakfast helps us get energised for the day ahead. For improved absorption, Stone
suggests pairing supplements with a food in which they are soluble and steering clear
of caffeinated beverages. Finally, Stone warns to take care with storage; high potency
is best for absorption, and warmth and humidity are known to deplete the potency of a
supplement.
After-dinner espressos are becoming more of a tradition – we have the Italians to
thank for that – but to prepare for a good night’s sleep we are better off putting the
brakes on caffeine consumption as early as 3 p.m. With a seven hour half-life, a cup
of coffee containing 90 mg of caffeine taken at this hour could still leave 45 mg of
caffeine in your nervous system at ten o’clock that evening. It is essential that, by the
time you are ready to sleep, your body is rid of all traces.
Evenings are important for winding down before sleep; however, dietician Geraldine
Georgeou warns that an after-five carbohydrate-fast is more cultural myth than
chronobiological demand. This will deprive your body of vital energy needs.
Overloading your gut could lead to indigestion, though. Our digestive tracts do not
shut down for the night entirely, but their work slows to a crawl as our bodies prepare
for sleep. Consuming a modest snack should be entirely sufficient.
The Triune1 Brain
The first of our three brains to evolve is what scientists call the reptilian cortex. This
brain sustains the elementary activities of animal survival such as respiration,
adequate rest and a beating heart. We are not required to consciously “think” about
these activities. The reptilian cortex also houses the “startle centre”, a mechanism that
facilitates swift reactions to unexpected occurrences in our surroundings. That
panicked lurch you experience when a door slams shut somewhere in the house, or the
heightened awareness you feel when a twig cracks in a nearby bush while out on an
evening stroll are both examples of the reptilian cortex at work. When it comes to our
interaction with others, the reptilian brain offers up only the most basic impulses:
aggression, mating, and territorial defence. There is no great difference, in this sense,
between a crocodile defending its spot along the river and a turf war between two
urban gangs.
Although the lizard may stake a claim to its habitat, it exerts total indifference toward
the well-being of its young. Listen to the anguished squeal of a dolphin separated
from its pod or witness the sight of elephants mourning their dead, however, and it is
clear that a new development is at play. Scientists have identified this as the limbic
cortex. Unique to mammals, the limbic cortex impels creatures to nurture their
offspring by delivering feelings of tenderness and warmth to the parent when children
are nearby. These same sensations also cause mammals to develop various types of
social relations and kinship networks. When we are with others of “our kind” – be it
at soccer practice, church, school or a nightclub – we experience positive sensations
of togetherness, solidarity and comfort. If we spend too long away from these
networks, then loneliness sets in and encourages us to seek companionship. 
Only human capabilities extend far beyond the scope of these two cortexes. Humans
eat, sleep and play, but we also speak, plot, rationalise and debate finer points of
morality. Our unique abilities are the result of an expansive third brain – the
neocortex – which engages with logic, reason and ideas. The power of the neocortex
comes from its ability to think beyond the present, concrete moment. While other
mammals are mainly restricted to impulsive actions (although some, such as apes, can
learn and remember simple lessons), humans can think about the “big picture”. We
can string together simple lessons (for example, an apple drops downwards from a
tree; hurting others causes unhappiness) to develop complex theories of physical or
social phenomena (such as the laws of gravity and a concern for human rights).  
The neocortex is also responsible for the process by which we decide on and commit
to particular courses of action. Strung together over time, these choices can
accumulate into feats of progress unknown to other animals. Anticipating a better
grade on the following morning’s exam, a student can ignore the limbic urge to
socialise and go to sleep early instead. Over three years, this ongoing sacrifice
translates into a first class degree and a scholarship to graduate school; over a
lifetime, it can mean ground-breaking contributions to human knowledge and
development. The ability to sacrifice our drive for immediate satisfaction in order to
benefit later is a product of the neocortex. 
Understanding the triune brain can help us appreciate the different natures of brain
damage and psychological disorders. The most devastating form of brain damage, for
example, is a condition in which someone is understood to be brain dead. In this state
a person appears merely unconscious – sleeping, perhaps – but this is illusory. Here,
the reptilian brain is functioning on autopilot despite the permanent loss of other
cortexes.   
Disturbances to the limbic cortex are registered in a different manner. Pups with
limbic damage can move around and feed themselves well enough but do not register
the presence of their littermates. Scientists have observed how, after a limbic
lobotomy2, “one impaired monkey stepped on his outraged peers as if treading on a
log or a rock”. In our own species, limbic damage is closely related to sociopathic
behaviour. Sociopaths in possession of fully-functioning neocortexes are often shrewd
and emotionally intelligent people but lack any ability to relate to, empathise with or
express concern for others.
One of the neurological wonders of history occurred when a railway worker named
Phineas Gage survived an incident during which a metal rod skewered his skull,
taking a considerable amount of his neocortex with it. Though Gage continued to live
and work as before, his fellow employees observed a shift in the equilibrium of his
personality. Gage’s animal propensities were now sharply pronounced while his
intellectual abilities suffered; garrulous or obscene jokes replaced his once quick wit.
New findings suggest, however, that Gage managed to soften these abrupt changes
over time and rediscover an appropriate social manner. This would indicate that
reparative therapy has the potential to help patients with advanced brain trauma to
gain an improved quality of life.
Are we losing the art of conversation?
We asked four people who watched an online talk on technology and communication
by Sherry Turkle for their opinions.
A
The talk certainly gave me plenty of food for thought about the way we communicate
these days and how technology is changing our behaviour. People are constantly
multitasking, whether it be emailing during meetings or texting in the checkout queue.
I really believe it’s affecting the way we relate to each other and it’s not just in the
workplace. Kids fade into the background as parents message at the dinner table or
post on social networks during the school run. It’s as if we can’t bear to miss out on
what our online buddies are up to, so we juggle the real and online world. My greatest
concern is that we don’t give our brains a chance to switch off. It’s these precious
moments when we actually process information that helps us make important
decisions.
B
It was a fascinating talk and the speaker really hit the nail on the head with a couple of
things. Take parental influence, for instance. How can we expect teenagers not to text
while doing their homework when they witness their parents posting on social media
while cooking the evening meal or waiting at a red light? She also made a valid point
about people wanting to be in two or several places at once. So they switch back and
forth between their real-life and online conversations. I see it all the time with my
teenage daughter and her friends. They arrange to meet and then sit together in silence
while each one engages in a different conversation online.
C
So much of what the speaker said rang true. I honestly believe there’s a danger that
the more connected we are, the more isolated we feel. I don’t think this is such an
issue for my generation who’ve lived without technology for so long. We know how
to be alone and, more importantly, we know that it’s OK to be alone. But the under
20s are another kettle of fish. They’re so busy communicating that they never
experience the feeling of solitude and run the risk of not learning how to enjoy their
own company. In addition, they’re learning conversation through messages that can
be edited and changed at the expense of learning the art of real conversation in real
time with the person in front of you.
D
I’m not sure to what extent I agree that people are more alone, but the way we
communicate has certainly evolved. We send tiny snippets of conversation or
emoticons to each other and I wonder how much this actually allows us to really
understand one another. This superficial conversation is replacing in-depth face-to-
face interaction with its pauses, intonation and sentiment. The speaker makes a good
point about how we’re getting used to conversing with machines like Siri or robots,
which are totally devoid of any experience of human life. But despite such limitations,
we seem to be expecting more from technology and less from each other.
Do you have the right mindset?
1Think back to when you were in a classroom, maybe a maths classroom, and the
teacher set a difficult problem. (That could have been any time between this morning
or a few years ago.) Which of the two following responses is closer to the way you
reacted?
A: Oh no, this is too hard for me. I’m not even going to seriously try and work it out.
B: Ah, this is quite tricky but I like to push myself. Even if I don’t get the answer
right, maybe I’ll learn something in the attempt.
2Early in her career, the psychologist Carol Dweck of Stanford University gave a
group of ten-year-olds problems that were slightly too hard for them. One group
reacted positively, said they loved challenge and understood that their abilities could
be developed. She says they had a ‘growth mindset’ and are focused on what they can
achieve in the future. But another group of children felt that their intelligence was
being judged and they had failed. They had a ‘fixed mindset’ and were unable to
imagine improving. Some of these children said they might cheat in the future; others
looked for someone who had done worse than them to boost their self-esteem.
3Professor Dweck believes that there is a problem in education at the moment. For
years, children have been praised for their intelligence or talent, but this makes them
vulnerable to failure. They become performance-oriented, wanting to please by
getting high grades, but they are not necessarily interested in learning for its own
sake. The solution, according to Dweck, is to praise the process that children are
engaged in: making an effort, using learning strategies, persevering and improving.
This way they will become mastery-oriented (i.e. interested in getting better at
something) and will achieve more. She contends that sustained effort over time is the
key to outstanding achievement.
4Psychologists have been testing these theories. Students were taught that if they left
their comfort zone and learned something new and difficult, the neurons in their
brains would form stronger connections, making them more intelligent. These
students made faster progress than a control group. In another study, underperforming
school children on a Native American reservation were exposed to growth mindset
techniques for a year. The results were nothing less than staggering. They came top in
regional tests, beating children from much more privileged backgrounds. These
children had previously felt that making an effort was a sign of stupidity, but they
came to see it as the key to learning.
5So, back to our original question. If you answered B, well done – you already have a
growth mindset. If A, don’t worry; everyone is capable of becoming mastery-oriented
with a little effort and self-awareness.
How to be happy
We asked four psychologists for their advice on how to be happy and, equally
importantly, how to avoid being unhappy.
A 
There has been a lot of research which shows the importance of physical health in
avoiding anxiety and depression. The mind and the body are highly interconnected.
We can all make fairly easy changes in our lifestyle to include more exercise,
healthier eating, getting enough sleep, being exposed to sunlight and so on. Research
into exercise has found that it has a positive impact on mood. Physical activity
stimulates the release of endorphins in the brain to produce the feel-good factor. Sleep
is vitally important for children and adolescents to help concentration levels. A good
night’s sleep also stops people being bad-tempered and flying off the handle.
B 
Having good relationships is a big part of being happy. In one study, most happy
people were found to have strong ties to friends and family and they made sure they
spent time with them regularly. You also need at least one person who you discuss
personal feelings with – called ‘self-disclosure’. Just one person for a heart-to-heart is
enough, together with a network of other relationships. It’s not enough to have lots of
friends just to do things with or chat to about music or football. That deeper
connection is all-important. Some people need to learn how to listen effectively to
others in order to develop stronger relationships.
C 
I would recommend being completely immersed in a pleasurable activity, sometimes
called experiencing ‘flow’. The activity could be anything from doing judo to painting
a picture to playing chess. Typically, the activities require a certain amount of skill
and are challenging but not too challenging. If you are experiencing flow, you lose
track of time and are immersed in the present moment. You find the activity
rewarding for its own sake. People who spend time doing ‘high-flow’ activities feel
more long-term happiness than those doing things like just lounging around or
chatting online.
D 
Make like Superman! Discover what your unique strengths and virtues are and then
use them for a purpose which benefits other people or your community. People who
play to their strengths (e.g. curiosity or persistence) or virtues (e.g. justice or
humanity) and use them in different ways and in different situations are happier than
those who focus more on their weaknesses. In other words, focus on the positive, not
the negative, and be true to yourself. Studies in different countries have shown that
people who do this report higher levels of well-being.

The rise of fake news

In December 2016 Edgar M. Welch drove six hours from his home to Washington
DC, where he opened fire in a pizzeria with an assault rifle. He had previously read an
online news story about the restaurant being the headquarters of a group of child
abusers run by Hillary Clinton. He decided to investigate for himself; fortunately, no
one was hurt.
The story about Hillary Clinton is one of the most famous examples of the growing
phenomenon dubbed ‘fake news’. The conspiracy theory about the pizzeria began to
appear on websites and social networks in late October, before the US election. This
was quickly denounced by publications such as The New York Times and The
Washington Post. However, many people thought that these papers were themselves
lying for political ends and instead of disappearing, the fake story snowballed. Tweets
from ‘Representative Steven Smith of the 15th District of Georgia’ claimed that the
mainstream media were telling falsehoods. Even though both this name and district
were invented, the message was re-tweeted many times. A YouTube refutation of
the New York Times article got 250,000 hits.
Fake news stories can be hard to control for several reasons. Many people mistrust
established news sources and others just don’t read them, so the debunking of a fake
story by a serious newspaper or TV channel has limited effect. In addition, the
internet is very hard to police. When users are caught misusing one media platform,
they simply go to another one or start up a website themselves.
There are also various reasons why people create fake news. Some have political
motives, to belittle or incriminate their opponents. Other websites, like The Onion,
deliberately publish fake news as satire – humorous comment on society and current
affairs. Another group is in it for the profit: many people clicking on entertaining fake
news stories can bring in a lot of advertising revenue. One man running fake news
sites from Los Angeles said he was making up to US$ 30,000 a month in this way.
There are also those, like the small-town teenagers in Macedonia who wrote fake
news stories about Donald Trump, who seem to be motivated partly by money and
partly by boredom.
So, what can we do to stop fake news spreading? First, make sure that the websites
you read are legitimate, for example by looking carefully at the domain name and the
About Us section. Check the sources of any quotes or figures given in the story.
Remember that amazing stories about famous people will be covered by the
mainstream media if they are true. Only share stories you know are true and let your
friends know, tactfully, when they unknowingly share fake news. Together we can
turn around the post-truth world!    
Choosing a musical instrument
Many people would like to learn how to play a musical instrument, but they are put
off by one big problem: what to play? Here are a few questions to help you decide.
What kind of music do you like?
Many instruments are versatile, but some are more suited to certain types of music.
Although there is some classical repertoire for the saxophone, for example, people
associate it more with jazz, and it is not a permanent feature of many orchestras.
Some instruments may lend themselves better than others to the music you like, so
consider this before you start.
Do you want to play with other people?
Think about your long-term future as a musician. If you want to play with other
people, what sort of instrument would be most practical? The initial attraction of
playing a dazzling solo instrument like trumpet, violin, flute or lead guitar might fade
when you realise how many other people are competing with you to get the main part
with the same instrument! If you want to play rock music, there will always be a
demand for bass players or drummers, and if you fancy being part of an orchestra, the
bassoon is a great bet to make sure you are always needed.
Where are you going to practise?
Many people live in flats and practising the drums, for example, will drive your
neighbours crazy. Think about where and when you are going to practise, as well as
the patience of the people you live with or near. Electric versions of instruments like
the piano, drums, guitar and even violin give you the option of playing into the night
using headphones, while your housemates sleep in peace. Alternatively, you may need
to consider going to a school or a community centre to practise.
How much money can you spend?
This is quite a big factor. A lot of instruments can be purchased in different price
ranges, for example, guitars. But this doesn’t alter the fact that many, such as the
piano, are always pretty expensive. If you can’t afford your chosen instrument, will
you be able to borrow someone else’s or hire one?
Are there any physical limitations?
If you’re small and don’t like lifting heavy objects, you won’t want to carry around a
double bass. Apart from that, use your common sense, and don’t let your perceived
physical shortcomings put you off. Who says small skinny people can’t play the tuba?
It’s true that some wind instruments require a lot of lung power but with the right
coaching, everyone can develop the right technique.
Still not sure?
Talk to people you know who already play instruments. They might even let you try
theirs. It’s also a good idea to find an experienced music teacher, preferably one who
plays a few different instruments, who can give you some advice and push you in the
right direction.
 
If you find an instrument you love and that suits your needs, you’ll find the time spent
choosing was well worth it. Good luck with making your choice!
Video games are good for you!
For years video games have been criticised for making people more antisocial,
overweight or depressed. But now researchers are finding that games can actually
change us for the better and improve both our body and mind.
Games can help to develop physical skills. Pre-school children who played interactive
games such as the ones available on Wii have been shown to have improved motor
skills, for example they can kick, catch and throw a ball better than children who
don’t play video games. A study of surgeons who do microsurgery in Boston found
that those who played video games were 27 per cent faster and made 37 per cent
fewer errors than those who didn't. Vision is also improved, particularly telling the
difference between shades of grey. This is useful for driving at night, piloting a plane
or reading X-rays.
Games also benefit a variety of brain functions, including decision-making. People
who play action-based games make decisions 25 per cent faster than others and are no
less accurate, according to one study. It was also found that the best gamers can make
choices and act on them up to six times a second, four times faster than most people.
In another study by researchers from the University of Rochester in New York,
experienced gamers were shown to be able to pay attention to more than six things at
once without getting confused, compared with the four that most people can normally
keep in mind. Additionally, video games can also reduce gender differences.
Scientists have found that women who play games are better able to mentally
manipulate 3D objects.
There is also evidence that gaming can help with psychological problems. At the
University of Auckland in New Zealand, researchers asked 94 young people
diagnosed with depression to play a 3D fantasy game called SPARX and in many
cases, the game reduced symptoms of depression more than conventional treatment.
Another research team at Oxford University found that playing Tetris shortly after
exposure to something very upsetting – in the experiment, a film of traumatic scenes
of injury and death was used – can actually prevent people having disturbing
flashbacks.
The effects are not always so positive, however. Indiana University researchers
carried out brain scans on young men and found evidence that violent games can alter
brain function after as little as a week of play, affecting regions in the brain associated
with emotional control and causing more aggressive behaviour in the player. But
Daphne Bavelier, one of the most experienced researchers in the field, says that the
violent action games that often worry parents most may actually have the strongest
beneficial effect on the brain. In the future, we may see many treatments for physical
and neurological problems which incorporate the playing of video games.
.
Russia
Until recently, people and businesses were oppressed by the state and this has affected
people’s attitudes.  It is not uncommon for laws to be ignored and taxes to go unpaid.
In some cases, only contracts between close personal friends are acknowledged.
Therefore, networking is vital for successful business. Presently, the legal situation in
Russia is in a state of flux, with laws constantly being rewritten. Those that exist are
often unenforceable. Most agreements are therefore made on a trust basis, so it is vital
that personal relationships do not break down. The management style is centralised
and directive. Too much debate can indicate a lack of decisiveness.  Subordinates take
orders from the ‘big boss’.  Many westerners see this as a lack of initiative on the part
of middle managers, but in actual fact, middle managers have little power. Most
delays occur because the question has not been presented to actual decision-maker.
However, things are changing in Russia. The old regime is gradually being replaced
by western business style, and younger managers will have a much more modern
approach than their older counterparts.
South Korea
South Korea is one of the world’s most successful economies, having seen five
consecutive decades of high economic growth. When faced with adversity, South
Koreans change direction quickly and effectively. Despite the frantic economic
growth, South Korean society is still very conservative and conformist due to the
influence of Confucian values. Companies are hierarchical and regimented and ‘face’
is very much valued. Consequently, change can sometimes be slow and painful.
Managers are paternalistic, authoritative figures who expect their instructions to be
carried out obediently and respectfully. In return, they give their subordinates support
and help, not only in work issues but in home issues as well. Group harmony is
important, so South Koreans avoid confrontation and blame, especially among people
of equal rank. Friendship is therefore vital to business success. The Korean saying
'make a friend first and a client second' sums this up exactly.
Australia
Australia has a relatively small population in relation to its vast size. Its geographic
isolation and its small domestic market mean that international trade is essential to
guarantee future prosperity. Increasingly, this is done in countries in Asia rather than
Commonwealth countries. Australian managers are not considered to have superior
status to other workers. Their jobs are just different.  Authoritative management styles
are not appreciated among Australians workers. Instead, managers adopt a more
consultative and inclusive style which encourages open debate. Challenging superiors
is acceptable, indeed it is a sign of commitment and professionalism. Outsiders may
consider such dialogues confrontational, but Australians regard them as effective
ways to communicate ideas. Australian managers like to be seen as ‘one of the boys’
and they are more likely to socialise with their team than segregate themselves and
just mix with other managers.
UK
In the last half century, Britain, like many industrialised countries, has moved away
from heavy engineering towards service and high-tech industries. With this has come
a major shift in management style. Hierarchical systems have been swept aside and
replaced by modern business models, heavily influenced by the US. The ‘job for life’
is rare. Neither managers nor junior workers expect to climb the corporate ladder
within one company; rather, they manage their own career paths by progressing from
company to company. Such short-termism can be frustrating for outsiders.  British
managers tend to be generalists rather than specialists, and are not necessarily the
most technically competent person in the team. Instead, they are expected to have the
necessary interpersonal skills to ensure the team works together effectively. They
cultivate a close and humorous relationship with subordinates, which may be
considered too soft.  Giving direct orders can be seen as impolite, so managers often
make indirect requests rather than explicit instructions, which is sometimes confusing
for non-British people.
Description of places
She knew the street backwards, of course. How many times had she been dragged up
it as a child by the wrist, whining and snivelling, always wishing she were somewhere
else?  Now she had no desire to be anywhere but here.  This bustling traffic, these
fuming buses, these chipped paving stones and boarded-up shop fronts, they
were hers.  Here, she would grow from defiant teenager to independent woman. 
When she was an old woman, she would gaze out over the lawns and say ‘Ah, Knox
Road, that’s where I really came into my own’.
Number 126 was only a short walk from the bus stop, and she heaved her multiple
bags onto her shoulders and trudged off, trying to maintain the elation as the straps
dug into the flesh of her neck and fingers.  Number 126 was set back slightly from the
main road, with a concrete path and weed-patch at the front.  The window frames
were rotten and the paint chippe  Holly tried not to min  It was what was inside that
counted, after all.  The coming-together of six individuals from diverse backgrounds.
discussing politics, culture and art late into the night, sharing ideas, recipes, milk,
shower gel and lovers – that would be what she’d look back on of course, not the
paintwork.  In the absence of either a bell or knocker, she rapped firmly on the door.
There was no reply. Holly peered through gap in curtains in the downstairs window,
but there was nothing but gloom within.  She could hear a faint thudding of a bass
beat, but was not sure which house it belonged to.  She rapped more firmly, and was
searching for a pebble to throw to the upstairs window when the door openeA
shirtless, overweight twenty-something, with bleary eyes and greasy hair stood in the
doorway wearing boxer shorts and mismatched socks.
“I’ve come for the upstairs room, I’m the new tenant,” said Holly brightly.
The man grunted slightly and moved aside. He gestured up the dim, uncarpeted
stairway and began to shuffle along the dark hallway to the rear of the house.
“Top floor, is that right?  I guess I just follow my nose!” Holly gave a high laugh, and
received another grunt in reply. Then the man was gone.
Not to worry, he must be the quiet moody type, thought Holly, too caught up in his
own profound thoughts for inane chit-chat.  One day she would penetrate his hard
outer shell and release the free spirit inside.  Anyway, now for the stairs.
The four flights of stairs would be worth it, she’d decided when she picked out the
flat, even if it did mean her going downstairs to get to the bathroom, because the room
faced the front, and she could watch the world scurry by as she sipped her morning
coffee.  Kicking one bag in front and dragging the others behind, she finally made it
up the four flights and flung open the door to her new room, her new haven, her new
adult life. 
Peeling beige wallpaper, a lumpy mattress on a chipboard bedframe, a bare light bulb,
a flat-pack wardrobe inexpertly put together.  All this, Holly could just about put up
with, but when she saw the view from her window – a dull patch of grey sky,
invariable whatever the angle, she finally had to admit to herself that her adult life
was not getting off to a great start.