My girlfriend came home exasperated with one of her yoga workshops. People are so busy putting virtue emogis up on the whatsapp that it’s become a self-propagating site for self-congratulation (prayers, hearts, love in all shapes and sizes). But when someone actually needs a bit of love or empathy it’s a case of turn the other way. The desire to post up your identity in a series of pictures thrives and prospers in today’s bewildering world. Consider the tattoo. What a rich array of hearts, axes, plants and greenery in general, noble invocations in foreign often dead-language tongues, creatures of all shapes and sizes, greet you as you happen to notice the highly-inked arm of your neighbour in the coffee shop. So many pictures on a frieze. Whence this desire to offer a print-out of your personality to a stranger, or a PR version maybe? Can I not make my own mind up about you from conversation and observation of your behaviour, from actual social engagement? Or must you be immune to this? It reminds me of the business boasts. We are considerate constructors. Let me, the customer, be the judge of that. May I be permitted to ignore your frieze and just have a chat?

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