Addiction And Idolisation

In this episode of The People’s Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast, co-hosts Stuart ‘The Wildman’ Mabbutt and William Mankelow are once again joined by Alex Kauffmann, in the ‘Listener’s chair,’ to explore two very different, but equally thought-provoking questions sent in by listeners. 

Faye from Islington, London, England, asks the first question: “We often talk about societal addictions and highlight drugs and alcohol, but isn't addiction to salaries in there too?”

From Faye’s question, William argues that salary addiction is real, but often “unseen.” He links it to ancient hunter-gatherer instincts: we have always wanted more resources for survival, and that same drive now fuels the endless chase for wealth. Like billionaires who never stop wanting more, the craving for higher salaries rarely ends. Alex describes addiction as “a drug within the mind.” He argues salary addiction sits in the same category as drugs, alcohol, or gaming because all trigger brain chemicals that can become compulsive. Stuart highlights how salaries often act as status symbols. He recalls meeting people introduced by their salary amounts, saying this fuels social pressure and unhealthy comparison.

Mark from Horspath, Oxfordshire, England, brings us the second question in today’s episode, which is as follows: “People often say about the Rhodes statue on Oriel College in Oxford that they don’t like him looking down at us during the modern day. Others say we don’t have to look, and history is history after all. Any thoughts?”

Off the back of Mark's big question, Stuart argues that the problem isn’t statues themselves, but how they’re presented. Placed high on plinths without explanation, statues imply respect. He believes they should present both the good and the bad, not sanitize history. William observes that many people barely notice statues at all — like the Rhodes statue on Oriel, which blends into the architecture. He suggests adding plaques or context boards to show “the whole picture” rather than encouraging idolization. Meanwhile Alex sees that many statues function as little more than decoration unless people actually recognize who or what they represent. Without context, they risk being “just decoration.” He compares them to religious statues, which only have meaning because people recognize their stories.

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