Naturally, I'm with the geologist

Well I may be a bit thin on expressing an opinion via the old blog these days, but for Shark, Squirrel and Tiger the onslaught is relentless. Take, for example, IDS - not the irritable bowel syndrome, but our Secretary of State for Work and Pensions - and that's enough of a reason for you to pity Shark, Squirrel and Tiger.

Because IDS - not the irritating bowel syndrome - is in fine sneering fettle. Here he is, patronising geology graduates seeking to work in a professional museum environment via their volunteer work.

Warning of what's coming next
I apologise in advance. I am not yet grown up enough to refrain from sarcasm, personal invective and juvenile name calling.

Think of it all as my character weakness, and my inability to turn my failings into any productive action. (Unless you count marching round this house spitting venom at IDS as a positive outcome. At which point you can feel sorry for the little grits all over again.)

Volunteering in a Museum? Wot's that then, thinks IDS. Deposit of Culture? A place where communicative skills are needed in an environment where thoughtful interpretive skills are valued along with all-round perspectives of how society, artefact, history, geology and study combine. WTF is that? A place holding history and future in its hands? Museums and libraries, the distinguishing triumphs of civilised, thinking, caring societies?

PAH!

What's the bleeding value of toiling in a poxy museum in exchange for your dole payout, hoping to turn your professional training and your 27,000 pounds educational debt into a fulfilling career where you can bring your expensively-acquired knowledge to the enrichment of all society?

Look here love, you could be spending your time usefully, clocking up your Poundland hours in a corporate high-street monolith, functioning entirely for someone else's profit and making a financial return to our corporate investors. Yes, you could be another powerless, mindless pawn pushed about in a labour market we contract and expand as market conditions dictate or as we can opportunistically stitch up behind the scenes with our donors to transfer your public money into our private hands.

Now here's your measly dole payment, payable only if you shut your mouth. Be bloody grateful for it. Who needs you gravel shovelling geologists anyway? Unless it's to build us a new road through an SSSI, sink us an oil pipeline across Africa or blow up the ice caps.

(Phew! As I said, I apologise. But I'm sure you'll be happy to know that, thanks to the presence of my blog, Shark, Squirrel and Tiger are off the hook.)