What Do You Think Is Fake and What Would You Replace it With?

What counts as "fake" these days? The omni-grinning staff in any luxury brand marketed at tweens? Jumped-up reality celebrities putting their name to charities they know nothing about for an investment in their own careers? 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 at www.tullamoredew.com/DeathToDishonesty where you can go and contribute your own ideas of what insincerity you would rid the world of, as well as being in with the chance to win a trip to Ireland, which is pretty good.

But for now, back to the people on our doorstep: London, 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 are really bad. I mean, you’ll see conversations below photos that should be private.

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

But the postman can read postcards.
I think postmen are probably too busy.

Sarah, business woman: Footballers 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: TheX Factor.

Oh, you're into music?
Well, I like people who actually write music, not the quirky acts who get through X Factor.

And you’d replace that with?
A more traditional way of musical progression, people with talent getting signed. I mean, people with talent get booted off X Factor for not being quirky enough, which is ridiculous.

Nat, student: I really hate reality game shows. Not reality TV, it’s the game shows I hate.

Like what?
Like I’m a Celebrity and X Factor.

Yeah, that seems to be a popular source of hatred. What would you replace them with?
Exposes about the UK and Britain, particularly about our history. I’d much prefer to hear about all the dark shit we've got away with on TV.

Harry, 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, industrial engineer: There's 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 get rid of that?
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.

Ah yes, the classic anarchism/peace combination.

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.