The beady-eyed magpie swoops down upon its sparkling prey and soaring high into the trees, returns in triumph to its waiting brood. The young birds greet their benefactor with wide expectant mouths, which swiftly close in sorrowful disappointment. The coin-sized piece of tin foil does not quench their thirst or stave off their hunger. This mistaken treasure is not the feast they were expecting and their disappointment is heard in their loud chirping at the adult forager.
“All that glitters is not gold” – how many times have we heard that warning and yet we still continue to chase that pot of gold. What is it that attracts us? Is it the lure of the fast buck, the possibility of being incredibly successful or the thrill of the risk? Why are we unable to resist the lure of the jackpot, even though we know deep down that it might be a fool’s errand?
Every year millions of people flock to Las Vegas, only to return to their mundane lives without that big win? What brings them back? Their response is varied; the glamour of the city, the lights along the strip, the ringing of the slot machines, access to free shows and international artists, being part of something exciting and last but not least, they might get lucky next time! One thing they have in common is an enduring belief that against all odds they can still do it. Like Walt Disney and Donald Trump who bounced back from bankruptcy to make millions all over again, they believed it was possible. I am tempted to mix metaphors and ask, if ‘All that glitters is not gold’ and ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’, why not go for it like the Las Vegas visitors, because there might be something positive to be gained from the experience.
The very act of taking a gamble, whether it be in the choice of career, an important decision or a toss of the dice, it is a risk. However it turns out, it moves us forward in our lives in some way or another. One could argue that life itself is a risk. Crossing the road, driving a car, taking the bus are all potential hazards. Yet if we fail to negotiate the cross roads of life we run the risk of stagnating.
It seems that man is not alone in his attraction to glitter. Birds, especially Crows and Magpies, will collect silvery objects and use them to build their nests and/or to attract a mate. The Daily Mail reported an experiment with birds and slot machines. It seems that the birds paid little attention to the combinations that regularly paid out a small number of food pellets, in preference for the chance of winning the jackpot. Psychologist’s say that they are mirroring the ‘maladaptive’ behaviour of humans, who will forgo a small but assured reward, hoping against hope for the big jackpot.
Humans tend to wear something bright and glitzy to attract attention. It’s no mistake that most coins in mint condition are bright and shiny. Gold has always been highly valued for barter as something to be prized. Even in today’s credit card currency it is still used to back up the monetary system. In times of uncertainty we tend to fall back on the gold standard. Pop stars and actors frequently adorn themselves with outrageous glitter, even to the extent of including the word in their name i.e. Rock Band ‘Glitterati’ and Gary Glitter, now unfortunately in his demise. The antics of these people have contributed a new word to the English language - Glitterati, meaning ‘wealthy or famous people who conspicuously or ostentatiously attend fashionable events’. The predilection we all seem to have for glitter has spawned a multi million-dollar industry in magazines like Hello and Paris Match, reporting the public and private machinations of the rich and famous.
Most of us, if honest, admit that we would prefer an easy life to that of the typical hard working, poorly paid drudge. Perhaps we are all naturally lazy and any opportunity to get something for nothing, or for very little effort is irresistible. Some Psychologists argue that the human psyche is motivated by bright and glittery things because they cause the body to produce endorphins that make us feel good. Whether it is true or not, there is no doubt that we will continue to chase the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, to dress up in ostentatious clothes when we want to impress, excite or just show-off. It is part of the theatre of life and it may not make the world go around, but it certainly makes it more interesting.
