Social Media and Conformity

Well, we all knew. Even though most of us pretended not to notice the way she would always appear with the smoked mackerel fillets on, or about, her person at just the right time.

Of course, even in these days of upfront attitudes where even the slightest digression from the mores of what is regarded as politically correct is to call down the wrath of all forms of social media upon ourselves, she was not one to ever consider hiding her predilection for smoked mackerel behind some more socially-acceptable and fashionable attitude such as having no truck with bigots who would deny people the right to choose their own footwear, or support some football team that has no international stars on its books and a complete lack of merchandising deals with top brand names.

Of course, back in earlier times having some mackerel fillets to call your own was regarded as the sign of a gentleman and/or woman of good breeding. For example, it was regarded as the height of bad manners to be seen out strolling down the promenade of a Victorian seaside resort without having one's valet nearby ceremoniously disporting a brace of mackerel fillets on a silver platter. Nor would any gentleman ever consider attempting to engage a lady of the night in a pecuniary transaction in return for her negotiable virtue without first offering her a bowler hat full of herring before attempting to complete the transaction.

No person of good breeding would even venture into the vicinity of royalty – especially Queen Victoria herself – without a hat-box filled to the very brim with kippers, unless he wished to be dispatched without further ado to the far-flung corners of the Empire to sever out the remaining years of his life in shame at falling into such disrepute.

But, today, even the finest establishments will look upon you askance should you venture through their portals with so much as a plaice or Dover sole. Such is how times have changed and – some would say – not for the better.