posted
The only truly acceptable salt/pepper dispensing solution is the jar they came in. They often come with a grinder built on.
Posts: 4376
| IP: Logged
posted
So, just to clarify, are we talking about things which have become essential parts of our lives, or just things we really want? Which is it? It's one or the other. Becauseif you really want it, you don't have it, and if you don't have it, it really can't be considered an essential part of your life. Unless of course you're just in a kind of temporary state whereby you have just been forced to give that thing up, and the absence of it is so unbearable that you will have to do whatever you can to get it again, right?
I don't think having a dream of one day owning your own set of wanky cookwear really counts as things you can't live without. More "things I've never actually had but would like one day to own".
I mean, I really really honestly and genuinely want to have a new HDTV. But you couldn't say I can't live without it. I mean, you could say I couldn't live without any TV, but in order to watch TV I don't specifically need a 50+ inch 1080 Sony Bravia or whatnot. In the same way, you can actually physically cook food, even reasonably nice food, in fairly rudimentary cookware.
A longing for desirable posh replacements for things you already have, again, does not constitute an unacceptable absence in your life.
Let meput it another way: my computer, if it blew up tonight, would have to be replaced as quickly as humanly possible. This is because the majority of my life seems to be conducted through the internet. Now, y'see, I've got quite a nice computer, but if it came to it, I could live with a crappy computer, so long as it fulfilled its purpose of allowing me to access free pornography and harrass people on internet forums. I would like an all singing, all dancing games machine, bought on a budget I will probably never afford. But I don't need one.
posted
You really didn't need to go to any great length to prove you haven't a clue, Ringo. I'll make it really simple.
This is me without the thing I mention above:
This is me when I am in a position to get them:
You see, this is the troublesome part. If my computer (the rather boring, obvious submission to the thread I was trying to avoid) blew up today, I would also have an intense desire to replace it immediately. I can't though. So that's me kind of fucked really. I'm starting to get pensive as one of the partitions keeps failing. Also, just to reiterate how important it is to me. If the hard-drive on Felix's pc blew up tomorrow. I would lose about six years worth of musical material. But I don't own his hard-drive, so obviously it isn't really very important to me, by your blinkered thinking.
posted
I'm not saying you wouldn't be a lot happier with swanky cookware. I'm saying you can live without it. Your life, no matter what kind of spin you put on it, is not made a living hell by the absence of this thing. If it were, what you would do, right, is you would go out of your way to get this thing. If it were as important to you as being an essential everyday part of your life that you can't live without then you would do what you could to get it, right?
Posts: 12211
| IP: Logged
Louche
Carved TMO on her clit just to make you feel bad
posted
quote:Originally posted by Jimmy Big Nuts: The only truly acceptable salt/pepper dispensing solution is the jar they came in. They often come with a grinder built on.
This is wrong. There are many acceptable forms of pepper mill or grinder. For example, the giant wooden pepper grinder utilised in pizzerias to add extra pepper to your pizza is an acceptable pepper grinder. In the above scenario, a jar of black pepper with an attached grinder would be unacceptable. It would also be a waste of resource, as it would empty faster than the traditional large wooden pepper grinder, and cause staff to spend less time with customers as they were spending more time refilling their pepper grinders.
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: an essential everyday part of your life that you can't live without then you would do what you could to get it, right?
Yes. If I found that going to the Library was essential, I wouldn't feel it necessary to run into it and fiercly read books if it was on fire. Oh hang on, I'm not trying my best to buy my own library. Duh. Duh. Duh. I must hate book.
posted
What the shitting hell are you going on about now, you madman?
Posts: 12211
| IP: Logged
Louche
Carved TMO on her clit just to make you feel bad
posted
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: Why would they have to refill their grinders if the pepper were supplied already in a grinder?
Because it would be an unconscionable waste to buy more pots with grinders attached when you already had a grinder.
See, the options are:
1)perpetually refilling grinder 2)perpetually buying then discarding pots with grinders attached.
Both of these options create a more waste than having a giant wooden grinder, which can be re-used, and which runs out of freshly ground pepper much less frequently.
Posts: 5776
| IP: Logged
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: If it were as important to you as being an essential everyday part of your life that you can't live without then you would do what you could to get it, right?
Black Mask - the topic starter - chose moisturiser as his 'survival' item. I'm fairly sure that if he couldn't get hold of any, he'd probably not be plunged into a living hell of insanity and starvation; similarly without a stereo I'd be unhappy but I'd survive. But, like everyone else who's posted on this thread it's something that makes you uncomfortable or unhappy if you have to go without it. You might survive, but it's something that is, in a small way, maybe, essential to you complete happiness.
So I don't think NWoD's suggestion has particularly stretched the logic of the thread. It makes sense. He seems to feel much the same way I would if my stereo packed up. Surviving, obviously, but constantly aware of something missing.
-------------------- Now that you've called me by name? Posts: 2007
| IP: Logged
posted
No but this is what I'm talking about. Obviously you could survive without a stereo, but that life would be frankly bollocks because you love music, right? But if your stereo packed up and you didn't have money for a really fancy replacement, what you'd do is buy a cheaper alternative. That's the point right there. It's not specifically your stereo that you miss, it's what it can do: play music. So really what you can't live without is access to music. You can use this comparisson with lots of things, including computers, frying pans, whatever. With cookware what you really are talking about is missing being able to cook nice food. But cooking nice food is not impossible with cheap pans, it just generates a bit more washing up. And if there really were such a hole in your life left by the absence of something, and if for some reason you weren't able to get that thing replaced right away, you'd still do what was necessary to replace it as soon as was possible, even if that meant saving up money, maybe going without other stuff, whatever. That's totally what marks the difference, in my eyes, between something you feel is an absolutely essential part of your daily life, and something which is just nice to have. I'm not suggesting that having the best stuff doesn't make you happier, simply that it's not a part of your daily life. Especially if you've been doing without that thing for two years and haven't felt suitably motivated to do anything about getting it.
Posts: 12211
| IP: Logged
posted
I don't run an italian restaurant, so I don't really need a gigantic pepper grinder. The jars of pepper that you buy with the grinder on top are refillable though, so you can buy one, use it up, and then add more pepper to it. You could say that you don't get as much pepper in it so you'd have to keep filling it up, but then, I'm not big into pepper. I mean, I'll use it - in fact, I did last night making some mash - but I don't use much. If I was using more pepper then maybe I'd buy something bigger. I can't believe that unless you're living in a pepper mad family, you're going to be too put out by the refilling needs of one of those jars that you buy the pepper in with a grinder on top. Buying something to put your pepper in and grind it when it already comes in something that grinds is assigning lifestyle properties to something that does not require them.
Posts: 4376
| IP: Logged
posted
I think I understand. If the local power grid collapsed for a week and you couldn't use the internet, you would petrify and your dust would be scattered into the winds. Is it like that Ringo? If it's not, then maybe we could discuss another situation I can relate to. Like, a solution to my non working dishwasher. I suppose I could put it in my bedroom and run a 30ft water pipe to it from the kitchen. That seems like a logical solution rather than remaining frustrated, yet optimistic about dirty-dish-woe.
posted
What are you saying? that you physically can't fit a set of pans into your flat somewhere? Jesus, I knew London properties were a bit of a pisstake but I didn't realise it was that bad.
Hey, I've just had an awesome idea. Why not buy the pans you want, then keep them in your nonfunctioning dishwasher? I mean, since the absence of these pans is making your life so unbearably shit, that's a good idea, yes?
Posts: 12211
| IP: Logged
posted
hey. Hey. Let's leave London out of this for once. No reason to be bringing London into this one, Ringo. Man you like having a go at London. It's almost like. Like you're a closet Londoner.
Posts: 4376
| IP: Logged
posted
Ok ok, we're getting nowhere with this. Let's make it simple for you. Complete the following text with your own words:
My name is Micky Tivvy. My life is unbearable, a living hell whereby my lack of pans causes me great sadness and depression. Despite this, in the two years I have been without such cookware, I have made no effort to purchase any. This is because.... continue
Posts: 12211
| IP: Logged
Louche
Carved TMO on her clit just to make you feel bad
posted
quote:Originally posted by Jimmy Big Nuts: I don't run an italian restaurant, so I don't really need a gigantic pepper grinder.
I was merely correcting your assertion that the jars with the grinders were the only acceptable means of grinding pepper. Had you qualified in your original post that you felt that the grinder jars were the only acceptable means of grinding pepper when that grinding of the pepper is being done for personal use only, I would not, of course, merrily continued on to talk about the use of larger pepper grinders in catering environments.
I still feel your statement about the jar grinder being the only acceptable grinder is contestable. From my personal experience, I have to say that I found the jar grinder scenario to be inadequate for my cooking needs. My mother, who has spack hands, also finds the jar grinder to be unacceptable, as pressing a button to grind the pepper electrically enables her to access freshly ground pepper without causing herself actual physical pain.
quote:Originally posted by New Way Of Decay: What shall I do with my dishwasher? I was brought up in a house with one and hate living in a place without one. I own one but can't plumb it in. Should I smash up the landlords kitchen tops to fit it in?
To fit our dishwasher in our rented flat, we took a kitchen unit out and put it in the garage, where it is propably getting all mouldy, but we'll worry about that when we move out. Unfortunately the bloody thing stopped working and I'm too skint to get it fixed at the moment, so I'm having to do without it, which is pretty stressful.
Posts: 710
| IP: Logged
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: My name is Micky Tivvy. My life is unbearable, a living hell whereby my lack of pans causes me great sadness and depression. Despite this, in the two years I have been without such cookware, I have made no effort to purchase any. This is because.... continue
quote:Originally posted by New Way Of Decay: ...the last thing item I bought (a ladle) got melted by one of my other housemates, so I can't trust an expensive saucepan to stay intact.
posted
My name is Micky Tivvy. My life is unbearable, a living hell whereby my lack of pans causes me great sadness and depression. Despite this, in the two years I have been without such cookware, I have made no effort to purchase any. This is because....
quote:During the great move of 2005 to London, I ditched all of my worldly posessions to free up my ability to move from place to place as necessary. Now that I think about it, I haven't had decent cooking equipment for years. In my current flat, I rely solely on the equipment of my housemates. The pans leave flecks of black coating in your food. The wok is tinged brown with rust as it is never greased before being placed back on the hook. The copper pans make everything taste metallic. I am in Cook Hell.
Oh but there's more, because I didn't realise you had replied. I think if you think, deep down or indeed, read my actual post, I have things to cook food with. Mostly cheap pans that after a while, start to leave traces of charred black non-stick lining in the meal. I could buy my own pans and put them in my room, if I feel like acting like an teenager. I can't change my housemates, but I can change myself. If you recall a lot of the things I talk about on here: the phone that I bought. I find a phone pretty essential and I bought one just over a year ago. Within months the buttons were broken and that wasn't my doing. It's almost like in order to prove that these things are really important to me, I should go out and buy a new phone immediately, rather than do the most logical solution, bide my time and move into a new place, with people who have the same values as me regarding personal property or material items. It seems that you have confused essential with life-sustaining, with a smattering of just bothering to read what I'm talking about. If buying items I know are likely to get damaged through misuse will allow me to contribute to this thread with your approval, I think I'll pass until I move in September, if that's ok.
[ 14.03.2007, 12:23: Message edited by: New Way Of Decay ]
quote:Originally posted by Louche: From my personal experience, I have to say that I found the jar grinder scenario to be inadequate for my cooking needs.
Then you need to stop using so much damn pepper in your meals. You're obviously getting carried away.
quote: pressing a button to grind the pepper electrically enables her to access freshly ground pepper without causing herself actual physical pain.
Of course, in the case of disability, having motorised assistance can be a necessity. I wouldn't argue that a disabled shouldn't be allowed to have motorised grinders.
[ 14.03.2007, 12:29: Message edited by: Jimmy Big Nuts ]
Posts: 4376
| IP: Logged
posted
Filtering through everythign you said there, what you're saying, basically, is that you haven't bought your own cookware becasue you think your flatmates might damage them, right?
But, and I'm sorry if I seem to be labouring a point, you could just keep them in your room out of harm's way?
The thing is, you're suggesting that having none of your own pans is really getting you down. Like, without those pans your life is somehow incomplete. Assuming this is accurate, why would you put yourself through this when there is a solution available to you?
Posts: 12211
| IP: Logged
quote:Originally posted by Lickapaw#2: I've wanted a pepper mill for ages so I could get proper pepper, not that rubbish dust you can buy from the supermarket.
Do you think they have factories where they have to make that dusty pepper? Imagine the staff turnover in a place like that.
If I was thinking of opening a landmine factory then I'd make sure I located it in a town where there was a dusty pepper making factory. No matter what people's moral views were on making landmines for a living, there'd still be a queue round the block for any jobs there if the only alternative was a dusty pepper making factory. Or an onion peeling factory. I bet some poor bastard has to peel onions all day for a living.
Posts: 8467
| IP: Logged
posted
Most things are pretty inessential. A good rule of my own devising relates to rail or air travel: always have reading material, always have something to drink. With these items you can cope with any amount of delay or frustration and the reading can help you improve your fund of knowledge (rather than depleting it, as computer games and txting do).
Cooking involves a disproportionate amount of dull chores, tension and disappointment. Why the fuck bother having a revolution in dining out and takeaway food and then spend precious evenings of your life in an inane activity that will probably result in you ruining a selection of perfectly good ingredients in an attempt to ape some shithead off the telly? Get a grip. Go to a restaurant and pay someone else to do it - also: no washing up.
Bonus tip: if you do actually ever get good at cooking, people won't admire you for it. They'll resent you and think you're a show-off.
Posts: 8657
| IP: Logged
Louche
Carved TMO on her clit just to make you feel bad
posted
quote:Originally posted by Jimmy Big Nuts: Then you need to stop using so much damn pepper in your meals. You're obviously getting carried away.
I feel it is rather rude of you to criticise my culinary skills. I also suspect that our volumes of pepper usage differ considerably, and whilst you may be basing your opinion on your personal experience of the acceptable level of pepper consumption required by the standard home, this 'standard home' model does not fit with my own personal pepper usage. Your jar grinder scenario, is, I believe, an acceptable pepper solution to households cooking for one or two people. Households catering for larger numbers of people, or perhaps producing more interesting foodstuffs, require a greater amount of pepper. This is an undeniable fact.
quote:Of course, in the case of disability, having motorised assistance can be a necessity. I wouldn't argue that a disabled shouldn't be allowed to have motorised grinders.
posted
Don't get me wrong, I'm not some saucepan hating freak. I'm not some kind of moron who needs telling why it is that having nice things makes people happier. In fact it's fair to say that when I move out again, decent cookware is going to be pretty high on my list of things to buy. You see, I actually agree that it's a great thing to have. I'm just asking why Mikee doesn't have any. All I'm getting is sarcasm and rhetoric. It's boring, tiring, pointless. Just stop now.
Posts: 12211
| IP: Logged
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic