Ben Shaw

Ben talks about technology, having £100,000 and Ronda Rousey.

How has life changed since you were growing up? 
Well I think the biggest change is undoubtedly technology. Mobile phones are the landmark change that took real effect when I was about 15. Before if you rang someone's house and they weren't there then that was that, no friend for the day. Now we have so many different mediums of communication and there all available with a simple reach into our pockets. Messages that are written instead of spoken create an extra level of detachment. The other main change to society is that people now feel they can really be who they want to be. People these days feel more than free to be different, in fact they embrace it. When you add these two changes together you get a much faster, freer Britain.

What are your thoughts on society today? 
It hasn't changed dramatically so much just sped up. I really like today's people, they are so much more accepting and far less confrontational. People consider other peoples feelings more these days. The one problem with that is that some people fail to act. Mainly I'm talking about younger kids and children. If I see kids up to no good I don't know how to behave where as when I was young and up to no good people would be straight over giving you a good telling off. I'm so proud of society as a whole today but if I had to think of negative points it would be drugs. Alcohol is especially different since the licencing laws changed. Today at night our streets are littered with zombie looking young people who have had way, way too much to drink and what's worse is it seems to be acceptable. 

Some say happiness if hard to find, what are your thoughts on that? 
Happiness is easy to find, it's keeping it that's the problem. Go to the fridge eat a bit of chocolate and you're happy. So happiness is easy to find... It's in the fridge. Problem is that feeling soon evaporates into nothing again. I really think that happiness is a choice, you can wake up everyday like it's Christmas morning if you truly learn to appreciate all the great things that you have. I'm not saying I do. But sometimes if I have a nightmare and I wake up I'm so happy for the life I have, I just wish I could hold onto that feeling. I think love in any form is important too, but the same rules apply. You have to appreciate it everyday. 

What do you think are your strengths? 
My modesty. 

If someone gave you the choice of having £100,000 or being able to see into the future would one would you choose and why? 
Hmm well I wouldn't want to see my own future as I like surprises. So I would take the money in that case. But if it was to see everything else then I would. If the world was good then I could relax about the future and if the world was terrible then I could do my up most to change whatever direction we took to get there. Also I could come back and make some accumulative bets that would me much much more than £100,000 then I would share it with you. 

How much does family mean to you? 
Biologically not that much. I know that might sound bad to some people but I think that the real family is the one you create for yourself. My friends are my family, that doesn't exclude my family at all, my Dad is my best mate. It's just I think as humans we should treat EVERYONE equally. I refuse to give an exception because we have similar DNA. I judge people on who they are as a person and not what genes they are made up from.

If you could marry anyone in the world who would it be and why?  
This will probably have changed by next week but at the moment I would have to say Ronda Rousey. She is an Olympic gold medallist in Judo and is strike force women's MMA champion. She is an unstoppable fighter and yet extremely beautiful. She is what young women need in answer to all this super skinny-sell your soul to be celebrity culture. She is super healthy, mentally strong, independent and not in it for the fame or money, just to fight and be somebody.  

How do you overcome fear? 
You don't, you learn to respect it, then manipulate it to your advantage, then you go back and face it. Remember it's only bravery if you are scared. Everybody gets scared, some deny and learn to hide it, but there scared too. There are many things in life to be afraid of, but the biggest one of all is living life in fear.

You seem to know a lot about life at such a young age, why do you think this is? 
Stephen Fry says you don't have to be clever, wonder all the time and Now i have an iPhone I can quench some of that thirst for answers. Before if I heard a word that I wasn't sure about I would never have gone and gotten a dictionary, but now I can just Google a definition in seconds. It's a wonderful time for wondering. 

For more information or questions as always follow Ben on Twitter @MMABENNYJ