“Notions” Are Good, Actually.

There are few things worse for an Irish person than being called out for having “notions”. The accused is thought to be prideful, self-obsessed, narcissistic, and possibly delusional. 

In reality, “having notions” means having ideas above your station. The Irish, like many Western nations, have a crabs-in-a-bucket mentality. Tall Poppy Syndrome. We’re begrudgers. 

The practice of mocking those with “notions” is really the action of pulling down anyone trying to raise themselves up. The underlying motive is envy, or resentment. This feeds into a culture more broadly which is on a downward spiral. A culture where the lowest common denominator is always accepted; tattoos, casual clothing, swearing, obesity.

“Stay In Line”

Having “notions” could include doing Yoga, buying expensive clothing, or having an expensive gym membership. 

One effect of this “notions” shaming is that it solidifies social and regional divides. A Trinity boy from Blackrock doesn’t have to worry so much about being called out for notions, but his counterpart from west Cork who moves up to Dublin does.  Similarly, from an outsider perspective it seems mind-boggling when working class men are observed – swearing, scowling, in tracksuits, seemingly with zero intellectual curiosity. ‘How can they be happy living like that?’ or ‘Why don’t they just throw on a pair of jeans to start with?’ To understand this, you must understand the social shaming from their peers which many experience which keeps them in line. In such cases, if Keitho from the flats showed up with nice clothing that doesn’t immediately mark him out as working or dole-class – he may in many cases face ribbing from all his mates. 

There are many who would aspire to better but are locked in by the herd mentality. This goes for all classes and all regions in Ireland. This same principal of social shaming applies to other realms that don’t relate to social class: physical fitness, clear speech, book reading, prayer & meditation, even choice of holidays (tanning & clubbing or hiking and site-seeing?)

Instead of all this, why don’t we cultivate a culture of aspiration? One that points upwards, towards the best – an aspirational culture. 

One more example where we can see the social levelling in action is when anyone Irish makes it big on the world stage. This can be in music, sports, or art. You may have your own reasons for disliking Conor MacGregor, or Paddy Cosgrave – but the Irish media have a vendetta against them and want to take them down a notch because they’ve risen above their station. The Mick must be brought low to remember his humble beginnings – and it’s the Irish themselves enforcing this. This is why the media are knives-out the moment an Irish celebrity is under flak or being cancelled. 

The Irish have always dealt with begrudgers and the social levelling instinct, but it has more recently gotten out of control. Compare and contrast how Irish people answered radio and TV interviewers in the 1960s versus today: 

The comparison of how articulate and respectful these people are compared to their modern equivalents is amazing. It should be remembered that these people were from Dublin city centre and grew up with a level of poverty that doesn’t exist today. When being interviewed by the national broadcaster, Irish people took a moment to collect their thoughts, to use language that was more refined and more articulate than what they possibly were comfortable with.

Grime-by-Design

This topic intersects with politics. Specifically, leftist idolisation of pleb-culture. Think of the Bohs supporter with a neck tattoo, even though his parents are both middle class and went to UCD. The left wants us degraded and vulgarised. They want this so that we are all equal – and not a threat. 

It’s OK to have “notions”. To want to increase your intellect, your refinement, your social standing. 

Go for your sunrise swim. Say no to slop food. Embrace your notions.