What Counts as "Fake" These Days?

What counts as "fake" these days? Jumped-up reality celebrities putting their name to charities they know nothing about for an investment in their own careers? Bald men who wear toupees when their natural beauty is screaming out from underneath that mop of synthetic hair?

We weren't sure, so we went to ask some people in London what they thought was fake in society and what they'd replace it with if they had the option.

Our friends at Tullamore D.E.W. are also in on the whole stamping out phoniness and replacing it with authentic tips, so they've set up a forum here where you can go and contribute your own ideas of what insincerity you would rid the world of and be in with the chance to win a trip to Ireland.

But for now, back to the people on our doorstep: what in society do you think is fake and what would you replace it with?

Harry (artist): People showing off about their lives on social networks is fake. Also, public conversations online is really bad, I mean, you’ll see conversations below photos that should be private.

Yeah, they’re idiots. OK, so what would you replace that crap with?
Well, I’ve started selling postcards, and I think writing to each other is a lot better than social networking.

But the mailman can read postcards.
I think mailmen are probably too busy.

Sarah: Football player and celebrities building something for themselves purely because they’ve got lots of money. That gives everyone the expectation that you need money to be something, and that’s not right.

Yeah that sucks what would you have instead?
Well, I would have people with actual substance succeeding.

Chris (graphic designer): X-Factor.

You into music then?
Well, I just like people who actually write music, not just the quirky acts who get through X-Factor.

And you’d replace that with?
Well, a more traditional way of musical progression, people with talent get signed, and it goes from there. I mean, people with talent get booted off X-Factor for not being quirky enough.

VICE: What in society do you think is fake these days?
Francisca: That’s a hard one.  I guess people not truly being themselves, but doing or saying things to please others.

In what ways do people do that?
The way they act, the way they dress.

Do you think the internet has anything to do with that?
Yeah like statuses or pretending like you have something that you don’t like posing on Instagram with lots of money.  Name-brand designers you can’t afford but post on-line anyway.

How would you change these things?
It starts with self-esteem.  People without self-esteem feel like they have to keep with a certain stereotype.

Harry (19, art student): I hate how unkind people are on their daily commute.  People are just rude to each other.

How so?
I’m always the person who stands up for the pregnant lady on the train.  As soon as they see someone who’s old or pregnant they just put their head down.

So what would you replace it with?
I’d take people’s lack of kindness and replace it with the confidence to be kind.  It makes you feel better about yourself too.

If only we all had your ethical fortitude, Harry.

Darren (32, industrial engineer): There is something I really hate, actually.  I’m fed up with people’s ignorance and disregard for other people’s differences.  I’d take that and I’d replace it with world peace.

Have you experienced any ignorance recently?
Yeah, at work I get a lot of people who look at me and think one thing, and then they speak to me and seem surprised that I don’t meet their first perception.  Human beings judge people before they get to know them.

How do you think we can bring that about?
It’s quite an impossible task to eliminate that because of the way society is.  I suppose if we eliminated government it would force us all to come together and be closer.  But the possibility of that happening is very small.

The classic anarchism/peace combo.  Love it.

Now let’s hear your opinion. Tullamore D.E.W. has launched their Death to Dishonesty campaign to "seek out the real and ignore the babble". Help them make room for the Irish True values of realness, friendship, wit and a *bit* of rebellion by heading over to www.tullamoredew.com/DeathToDishonesty.

Enter your suggestions of dishonest and fake behaviour society could do without in to the Furnace of Resurrection app, and be in with the chance to see your submission symbolically burned in a real-life furnace. Oh, and you can win a trip to Ireland, which would be pretty great.