The Art of - Consequence

Consequence is the concept of cause and effect, arising from another action. In general terms, it is used to indicate that all human actions, particularly crime and sin, have profound effects.  I believe Doc and Marty had to deal with a dick load of this in Back to the Future.  That film is a real advert for the risks of time travel, the Delorean was bad ass but having to date your mother, in order to sort your dad out with some sweet action has got to have some lasting effect on your brain. 
 
The deleted scene where Marty gives his dad some protection and then realizes he has then prevented his own birth is messed up.  I mean how did his dad not notice that it was a sixty year old professor in a dress?  Why the ball gag for Einstein?  He wasn’t even involved.  Wait…
 
Yes anyway many people today don’t connect their actions with the impending consequences.  A guy wonders why after years of abuse his wife decided the back of his hand is no longer desirable and wants out.  A woman spends her days on the job and honking on a crack pipe, and then wonders why for Christmas she got the first season of rectal prolapse on DVD. 
 
My favourite is the kids you see popping up on TV, “My parents don’t trust me and lock me up”.  We then find out that the Kid has been stealing his parent’s money, stealing his grandmother’s pension, the family dog’s collar and the neighbours TV.  They also have an array of petty convictions, an asbo ankle bracelet, an 8 month old child and one GCSE in resistant materials.  They do the whole bleeding heart thing until their parents come out; win the audience over and the kid winds up swearing and pulling a face like a slapped arsehole.  
 
I’m guessing that it’s unlikely you fall into any of the above scenarios as you’ve probably made more considered decisions throughout your life.  Thankfully a greater proportion of the UK’s population find themselves above the retardation line so that we just about keep this country’s head above water. 
 
I do however believe you may fall victim of the ‘night out morning after’ consequence.  It’s rare to find someone who doesn’t regret their actions on a previous night, be it meeting someone you later wish were anywhere but your bedroom, or a fight you may have caused as a result of jumping your place in the taxi queue.  Flicking through the pictures on your mobile phone is often a good way of re-visiting the actions of nights which you wish were nonexistent.
 
How do we prepare for this?  What do you do to reduce the risk of this occurring?  An obvious solution would be to remove the drink and drugs from a night out, but I’m guessing that probably wouldn’t be a popular move.  Plus then nights out would be like the first disco you went to at school where there is a red sea divide, boys on one side and girls the other. 
We could try using some kind of suppressive drug like in Equilibrium; everyone is quite chilled out there.  Although that idea would probably prove difficult, as I imagine the project would be tied up in litigation for years.
 
We could increase the police presence to reduce the fighting, although there are already a lot of police in the social brawling hot spots, plus that really only solves the fighting problem.  Maybe we could have a police presence on the dance floor and in people’s bedrooms….. wouldn’t work.
 
You know what; there is no solution to this dilemma.  People are always going to conduct themselves socially in a way where the consequences lay neglected till it’s too late.  All I can say is just try and suck it in when you’re at a cross road.  If you’re staring a dilemma involving either an argument, or some one on one time with a new friend, take a time out; go to the toilets or outside.  Try reflecting on previous experiences; is there a night out not dissimilar to this one?  What was the outcome? 
 
If one doesn’t spring to mind try talking to either a taxi driver or cloak room attendant.  These individual’s can often be a vast well of advice.  If after deliberation you’re unsure, just get the hell out of there.  Go hide under a bench or up a tree till it all blows over.  If the gods favour you, then success!
 
Wait maybe fancy dress would cover your tracks…. Balls.
 
No solution.

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