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Post by amipal on Dec 6, 2017 14:37:36 GMT
I went in Waitrose at lunch because there's eff-all else to do around here.
I did come out with a bottle of Waitrose-own carmenere though - additional training for Friday's festivities.
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Post by tenthenemy on Dec 6, 2017 14:43:56 GMT
Lunch! Pollo con fungi. Nice. No booze. Christmas avatar is GO! No booze? Always a mistake. I had a salmon and whisky quiche, cannily incorporating the booze. From what I can discern by squinting at it on the mobile phone Christmas avatar looks rad Edit: I like how easy it is to change one's profile picture here as opposed to the other place, but I'm still slightly troubled by the thought that someone might read my comment from a while back on how delightful etimmeh's avatar is |
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Post by shotput82 on Dec 6, 2017 14:49:19 GMT
What did we finally decide with the homeless then? Sub-human scum, or there but for the grace of god? Having worked in housing probably more of the later. There's a depressing number of people who are one bit of bad luck from dropping out of the bottom. But the papers/TV spin the narrative that only workshy chancers/junkie scumbags are on benefits/are homeless and too many fuckwits swallow that line. <steps off soapbox> |
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Post by Melvazord on Dec 6, 2017 15:10:23 GMT
<Stands on soapbox>
Having once been fairly close to being homeless myself, but luckily having a decent network of family and friends I did not, I can easily see how one tiny slip can grind you into the gears. As a society we really need to get away from the now all pervasive 1980s "I'm alright Jack" bullshit that the Thatcher era flung us headlong into. I give regularly to my local foodbank, but I shouldn't have to. Its the 21st Century in the UK, one of the richest nations in the world, and we have foodbanks. Foodbanks that the government are now basically using as a failsafe for their shitty policies.
The gap between the richest and the poorest has never been wider, and we could all do with a few less things* so those that the gears have mangled can get a hand up.
This year in particular has seemed really, really shitty for everyone. It truly does feel like we are back in the 80s.
Who wants this soapbox? Its pretty heavily soiled now.
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Post by Rynu07 on Dec 6, 2017 15:20:04 GMT
Hi everyone!
Everyone seems in a good mood.
All the best.
Rynu07
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Post by stxdpr on Dec 6, 2017 15:30:35 GMT
Homeless chat, can people afford deposits and mortgages? In Theresa May's constituency you will have to work 50 years without spending any money on the national average wage to afford the deposit on a starter house.
Anyone know charity shops selling 2 bed waterproof paintings?
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Post by Pyjakson on Dec 6, 2017 15:31:42 GMT
What did we finally decide with the homeless then? Sub-human scum, or there but for the grace of god? Having worked in housing probably more of the later. There's a depressing number of people who are one bit of bad luck from dropping out of the bottom. But the papers/TV spin the narrative that only workshy chancers/junkie scumbags are on benefits/are homeless and too many fuckwits swallow that line. <steps off soapbox> I can back this up. In my year working in housing for the council, I was shocked at the extent to which some people can't look after themselves. At first I thought they just wouldn't, then eventually realised they can't. The system is now so complex and punishing. There were a fair number of chancers too, but they were swiftly dealt with. (I was in rent recovery). |
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Post by BabyfarkmcGeezak on Dec 6, 2017 15:32:22 GMT
It's the beggars in town that annoy me, the groups of ruffians that hassle people for money and commit petty crime everywhere. They hang around in town as they can convince mugs to give them money and because it's convenient for the dealers.
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Post by tenthenemy on Dec 6, 2017 15:39:23 GMT
Hi everyone! Everyone seems in a good mood. All the best. Rynu07 I remember '07. That was a good year compared to this one. Have we reached the point yet where it can't get any worse? Of course not, but it might already be at a point where people will want to change things. Both the UK and the US have got the most inefficient and incompetent governments in living memory, and there's bound to be a backlash. And games this year were quite good on the whole, with more gamers becoming aware and speaking out against exploitative monetisation. If people on the whole become less tolerant of bullshit it's been a good year. I yield the remainder of my time on the soapbox to the next honourable Chatterboxer |
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Post by RollingEscargot on Dec 6, 2017 15:39:35 GMT
(I was in rent recovery). Did you have to buy your own baseball bat? |
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Post by Melvazord on Dec 6, 2017 15:41:56 GMT
It's the beggars in town that annoy me, the groups of ruffians that hassle people for money and commit petty crime everywhere. They hang around in town as they can convince mugs to give them money and because it's convenient for the dealers. When's your next piece for the Daily Mail due? |
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Post by Faceless on Dec 6, 2017 15:45:02 GMT
Baby's hardcore
He knows the score
and he's disgusted by the poor
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Post by Pyjakson on Dec 6, 2017 15:46:51 GMT
(I was in rent recovery). Did you have to buy your own baseball bat? Nope, but Tory cuts meant there was only one Council issued bat which was shared on a rota. |
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Post by BabyfarkmcGeezak on Dec 6, 2017 15:48:26 GMT
Baby's hardcore He knows the score and he's disgusted by the poor And my chums matter more |
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Post by FieryMeat on Dec 6, 2017 15:48:50 GMT
You can see why The Guardian banned him
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Post by sandybahookie on Dec 6, 2017 15:59:46 GMT
I think there is definetly such a thing as empathy fatigue, Ive walked the same route to work for 20 years and never ever have there been so many people asking me for money, firstly theres the homeless, all of whom speak no English and are clearly all together as if you walk that route mid day you often see them having a picnic in the park, they definetly look rough and I imagine they are being extorted by someone, but they dont even ask nicely. the loudest most persistent guy just says Moneeee Moneee moneee! over and over again. Then there are the charity botherers constantly standing in your way trying and get their guilt trip chat underway, again they use the same tactic as the beggars and saturate the entire area so you have to get past 4 of them in a row. Add in the festival flyerers in August and my walk to work has become a relentless guantlet of people trying to get my money. It wears you down and now Im just totally switched off on what should be a lovely walk to work every day. Poor Sandy I hear you cry sarcastically, but whats the alternative? I give money to good causes already. Merry Christmas!  |
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Post by BabyfarkmcGeezak on Dec 6, 2017 16:03:38 GMT
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Post by Conchord on Dec 6, 2017 16:09:43 GMT
It probably is down to media misrepresentation, but I don't feel comfortable giving money to beggars, aside from the fact that I barely carry cash on me anymore anyway. Instead I give to a few charities monthly and trust that they divvy it out to where it needs to go.
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Post by GetOver on Dec 6, 2017 16:11:16 GMT
Oh god, you've all gone again.
Remember when people asking for money used to play an instrument and entertain you? If they are not playing an accordion then I do not want to know. Broken.Britain.
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Post by lonewolf on Dec 6, 2017 16:12:05 GMT
Say make it so, one more time. Whose Q? Qs dead. |
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Post by Melvazord on Dec 6, 2017 16:13:13 GMT
I've destroyed two charidee botherers, once by mistake and once on purpose.
I was staying with my old folks, where I was recovering from cancer.
My parents were out at work when there was a knock at the door. At this point I was still very knackered (but recovering) so was in my pyjamas when I answered the door. There was this middle age lady with a collecting tin etc.
She asked me "oh having a bit of a lie in?"
I replied, in a kind of confused manner because I'd been in and out of hospital for a year so it ad kind of become my world:
"No, I'm recovering from cancer"
Her face fell to the ground and she went white as a sheet.
"Oh my god I'm so sorry to have bothered you" she gibbered as she ran away from the house as quick as she could.
This confused me as well, and it was only later that I realised what had gone on.
The second time was when I was back at uni in Glasgow and some charity pest approached me and asked if I would support Cancer research. Now given that I had been part of a clinical trial, that I had to go see the specialist every three months to take shedloads of blood because I recovered super quick and they wanted to know why and the fact my family had already done loads of charity stuff I said
"No thanks, I think I've already done enough"
She looked disgusted (my face etc) and replied "Dont you know cancer breaks up families?!"
I angrily turned on her and said rather loudly, so that all around could hear "I KNOW, I've bloody HAD cancer. Piss off!"
Her fellow charity pests all looked sheepish as I strode past them, jorts flapping.
Well, thats a lot of words.
TL;DR: I've had cancer. It was a while ago. I'm fine now.
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Post by cobblers on Dec 6, 2017 16:13:37 GMT
I think there is definetly such a thing as empathy fatigue, Ive walked the same route to work for 20 years and never ever have there been so many people asking me for money, firstly theres the homeless, all of whom speak no English and are clearly all together as if you walk that route mid day you often see them having a picnic in the park, they definetly look rough and I imagine they are being extorted by someone, but they dont even ask nicely. the loudest most persistent guy just says Moneeee Moneee moneee! over and over again. Then there are the charity botherers constantly standing in your way trying and get their guilt trip chat underway, again they use the same tactic as the beggars and saturate the entire area so you have to get past 4 of them in a row. Add in the festival flyerers in August and my walk to work has become a relentless guantlet of people trying to get my money. It wears you down and now Im just totally switched off on what should be a lovely walk to work every day. Poor Sandy I hear you cry sarcastically, but whats the alternative? I give money to good causes already. Merry Christmas! You should move to a better neighbourhood. |
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Post by Rynu07 on Dec 6, 2017 16:13:52 GMT
Yeah, we get those. Right at the busiest pedestrian junction in town.
Always some Millennial types.
One gave me a fist bump once on my way into Yates'
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Post by cobblers on Dec 6, 2017 16:16:34 GMT
‘Zord! You need tighter jorts. Flapping is out. This is not the ‘70s. Who made me the jorts police? Never you mind.
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Post by Conchord on Dec 6, 2017 16:17:04 GMT
Oh god, you've all gone again. Remember when people asking for money used to play an instrument and entertain you? If they are not playing an accordion then I do not want to know. Broken.Britain. Eurgh. There's an accordianist (is that a word?) in the town that I work and she's awful. She only knows three 'songs' but can't even do them right. There's also a guitarist who 'plays' Oasis, and Oasis alone. My lunch break would be much improved without them. |
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