Thought I'd just chuck in a quick rant here, seeing as it's Thursday.
These last few days and weeks I seem to be encountering huge amounts of arrogance all over the place. Like the following examples:
I was in a restaurant with a fellow contractor the other evening. It was quite crowded (what with the credit crunch and that ) and a couple who were waiting for a table stood behind my colleague. He turned round to them and they sort of acknowledged they were a bit close but there was nowhere for them to go for a moment or two. So he goes, "Could you step back a few feet please?" In English (in a German restaurant) to these German people. I was so fucking embarassed. What a wanker. It's not as if they were actually jostling him or anything, it was just that the place was crowded.
On the plane last night the poor stewardess was trying to stow away the hundreds of bags and full-length coats, which people insist on bringing on board with them these days, when this twat pipes up, "Excuse me! My coat's already been squashed to death without you shoving another bag on top of it..." This guy was just sitting on his own. It's not like he was with a load of pissed up mates. I thought, it's a fucking coat you arsehole, not a dozen eggs, and you've brought it on a plane with you so tough shit if it gets a bit squashed.
But I just keep seeing this sort of thing. Am I missing something here? Should I go stomping around clicking my fingers at people too? Maybe it's a certain type of upbringing that some people have which makes them think it's normal to speak to people in this way.
Or is that completely normal behaviour? Do you make a fuss in restaurants, or tell hotel staff what to do? I just really feel like twatting people like that. I'm talking about really petty stuff like the above, dealt with by this sort of withering arrogance, which must presumably be completely subconscious and natural behaviour for those type of people. Cu-nts, that is.
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
I think - you know - there's a certain type of person who likes to kick up a stink when they think they're entitled to. I'm not sure it's a recent development: my family quite often does this kind of thing, and it really makes me cringe. My dad and my sister and I were in A+E last summer and fucking hell did they bully the nurses. You know - an obvious situation where people are overworked and just... can't... do everything at once, no matter how much you want them to.
Posted by Cherry In Hove (Member # 49) on :
I wonder if it works out well for people though?
I know when I used to work in the service industry, I would be far more helpful and attentive to people who were friendly and polite.
When working in a bar, I'd obviously serve people in the order they came in. However, if someone was being rude then they'd wait until there was nobody else at the bar. When working in a call centre, if someone called in shouting at me, they would get the minimum help required for me to keep my job. If they came through and were friendly about it, I'd go the extra mile and do everything I could for them.
Posted by herbs (Member # 101) on :
I'm in danger of turning into that kind of wanker. The other day we were in a local restaurant, and there was a family at the next table. There were four of them, on a table for eight, and a small child, whom the father kept dandling and sitting right next to me so she kicked my legs, etc, and generally intefered with my delicious roast dinner. 'Are you sure you have enough ROOM? Would you like me to MOVE?' I almost said.
And the other day on the bus I spent the whole journey being annoyed that someone was sitting next to me when there were spare whole seats available.
Surely can't be long until I have an unreasonable outburst.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis: I think - you know - there's a certain type of person who likes to kick up a stink when they think they're entitled to.
Yeah, I'm sure that happens a lot, but in the example with my work colleague he was talking to some fellow customers, not to the staff. I've seen him in action a few times actually, and he's just the definition of arrogance. The trouble is, some people like that seem to get people fawning over them. It's like they somehow exude power or something. Even though a lot of us see them as arseholes, there are others who seem to somehow respect that attitude.
I think all these types of people can detect each other, so the arrogant type knows who he can talk like that to and get away with it, and who will just ignore him or tell him to fuck off, or worse.
I think the worst thing is when you end up being associated with them, like the colleague in the restaurant thing, or if some relative is like that. I did tell him he was a wanker actually, but he just took it as a compliment, possibly because I said it with a smile instead of spitting at him or something.
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
quote:Originally posted by Cherry In Hove: I wonder if it works out well for people though?
In the situation above the weary nurse did turn up with a shot of morphine as a result of my family being twats. So maybe there is some logic here - all these people are convinced that if they're obnoxious enough, for long enough, to enough people then sooner or later one of them will crack and hit them up with a dose of hard drugs.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by herbs: And the other day on the bus I spent the whole journey being annoyed that someone was sitting next to me when there were spare whole seats available.
Someone actually did have a go at me for that once on a Tube train. I don't think there were any double seats empty, but there were plenty of other places I could have sat. But I happened to choose to sit next to this guy and he immediately started having a go at me! It was just nutter-on-the-bus syndrome. I can't honestly remember what I did. Probably just looked confused for a bit, then he got off at his stop. I don't think I'd have made a point of sitting it out if he'd looked violent, that's for sure. But that wasn't an arrogance thing, just a drugged up loon.
So, if you're going to do it Herbs, make sure you look genuinely threatening if you want to be relly effective.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
quote:Originally posted by herbs: And the other day on the bus I spent the whole journey being annoyed that someone was sitting next to me when there were spare whole seats available.
Did they next to you because there were no other seats available at first? That's the tricky one, when other seats come available, and you have to judge whether it's worth moving or not. I mean, you're only sitting next to someone, it's not realy a big deal -- I start to worry about whether the other person will be insulted if I move away from them as fast as possible. As if they smell, or are a nutter, something.
Posted by herbs (Member # 101) on :
They did indeed Mart, which does present a tricky conundrum for the second-comer. I have been in that situation many a time. However, now I'm a fully fledged rude Londoner, I have no qualms in moving, as I reckon the other person, the first sitter, is more likely to be pleased that I've gone than insulted.
But what about those people who sit on the aisle side, and don't move over to let you sit down, just huffily turn their knees 2 degrees to 'let you in'. Sadly I often find my bag grazing their foreheads in these situations.
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
on the flip side, it would be pretty rad if it was some totally hot chick who sat next to you and then started sexually abusing you.
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
i find that I'm usually the last person that people want to sit next to. I've seen chicks dither like, should I sit next to this dude or that dude, and every single time, they sit next to that dude. I've perfected the 'don't you fucking sit your disgusting porcine junk next to me, man. Don't do it now' vibe.
[ 29.01.2009, 07:32: Message edited by: Jimmy Big Nuts ]
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by herbs: But what about those people who sit on the aisle side, and don't move over to let you sit down, just huffily turn their knees 2 degrees to 'let you in'. Sadly I often find my bag grazing their foreheads in these situations.
but there could be all kinds of reasons for this: perhaps they have a bad knee/back and wouldn't be able to negotiate around another person getting out of the inside seat or maybe they are getting off at the next stop and don't want to be trapped? In the second situation they could get up to let you by I suppose...
I will agree that in general unjustified entitlement is an epidemic. As one example, a few years ago, froopy and I were on a plane sitting in two of the three seats in the row. Next to us was an older lady w/a handbag. She couldn't have been more than 5'2" and she said to my 6'1" husband something like, "here dear, can you put my bag under the seat in front of you." She had nothing else in front of her and had the aisle seat and plenty of room. We weren't up to being bullied by some old lady, so we politely refused, but the worst thing was I recounted the story on a bulletin board later and was accosted by everyone's shouts of "foul!" We were awful people because we didn't succumb to the will of our elder no matter how inconsiderate or illogical it was.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Window or aisle seat? That's a good question. I always choose a window seat and I can't think why the hell anyone would want an aisle seat. Why do people choose aisle seats? On planes I mean. On a busy Tube train it might make sense because it's easier to get out, and there's nothing to see out of the window anyway. But on a plane, there's no contest at all. But there are people who choose aisle seats.
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
rooster... I just... I know it must seem like I've got some kind of vendetta against you but... ah... fuck... you just... urgh.
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis: rooster... I just... I know it must seem like I've got some kind of vendetta against you but... ah... fuck... you just... urgh.
please elaborate. don't worry, the feeling is mutual.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
I have long legs and have always gone on crappy budget flights with no leg room, so the aisle affords a tiny bit of extra space, but mainly it makes it easier for me to get up and walk around a bit, stretch the legs and indulge my weak bladder, without bothering other people.
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by mart: I have long legs and have always gone on crappy budget flights with no leg room, so the aisle affords a tiny bit of extra space, but mainly it makes it easier for me to get up and walk around a bit, stretch the legs and indulge my weak bladder, without bothering other people.
Usually froopy tries to get one because of the height/long leg thing too, but sometimes we aren't able. When I'm pregnant I get to have the aisle seat because of the bladder issues and he has to suffer the (more) cramped quarters.
ETA another example that also labeled us awful people and "horrible neighbors" in the same board thread: We lived in a triple decker in South Boston. Parking was very limited (and competitive). Froopy had managed to find a spot in front of the neighbor's house (there is no assignment, just first come first serve anywhere on the street and they had a driveway we weren't blocking). Froop had come in late from class or something and had to be up for work in an hour (with very limited sleep between) when there was a banging on our door at 7am. It was the neighbors asking us to move our car so they could get a piano in their upstairs window. I couldn't drive froop's car, which was a standard, and I wasn't about to deny him one of like three hours sleep because of the neighbor's poor planning. They knew what time the piano was coming and they didn't make any arrangements to park their car in that spot or perhaps ask us the night before (the car had been there for some time because I believe he took the train the previous day), nor did they bother arranging for their driveway spot with the other residents of their house. The guy yelled at me for like 15 minutes because I wouldn't give him the keys to froop's car (um, yeah, I'm going to give some strange dude car keys).
I suppose Thorn would say we should have bent over in this situation too. I think this one is less clear than the other one, so I'm dying to hear the justification of why I irk him w/my other post.
[ 29.01.2009, 08:59: Message edited by: rooster ]
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
quote:Originally posted by rooster: please elaborate. don't worry, the feeling is mutual.
I suppose when I read the story I thought it did describe the sort of bratty mentality we're talking about here... but not on the part of the old lady. It's not a big deal, but I thought the idea that the old lady was 'bullying' you was laughable and pathetic, your reasoning was absurd (after all it's not like you can actually stretch your legs out under the seat in front of you unless you're Mr Fantastic), an old woman is more likely to be prone to discomfort than a guy in his thirties and if your husband's legs are somehow shaped so that they were folded neatly and comfortably under the seat in front of him I wonder if you could have stepped up and offered to put this thing under the seat in front of you. All moot of course, given that all this has passed but it does seem a bit... inconsiderate.
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65: Window or aisle seat? That's a good question. I always choose a window seat and I can't think why the hell anyone would want an aisle seat. Why do people choose aisle seats? On planes I mean. On a busy Tube train it might make sense because it's easier to get out, and there's nothing to see out of the window anyway. But on a plane, there's no contest at all. But there are people who choose aisle seats.
you can stretch your legs properly, go for a piss without waking people up, keep ordering drink without doing so over people's heads, talk to the cabin people easily... man.. so many reasons. Plus, on a 747, you've got a better chance of having nobody next to you if you take a centre aisle, because sitting in the middle two rows is the worst. People often travels in twos, so they go for the seats on the sides of the plane, so they can be private. Travelling on your own, if you time your check in right and go for a centre - aisle seat, you stand a good chance of not having somebody next to you. That's the ultimate aim.
[ 29.01.2009, 09:04: Message edited by: Jimmy Big Nuts ]
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis:
quote:Originally posted by rooster: please elaborate. don't worry, the feeling is mutual.
I suppose when I read the story I thought it did describe the sort of bratty mentality we're talking about here... but not on the part of the old lady. It's not a big deal, but I thought the idea that the old lady was 'bullying' you was laughable and pathetic, your reasoning was absurd (after all it's not like you can actually stretch your legs out under the seat in front of you unless you're Mr Fantastic), an old woman is more likely to be prone to discomfort than a guy in his thirties and if your husband's legs are somehow shaped so that they were folded neatly and comfortably under the seat in front of him I wonder if you could have stepped up and offered to put this thing under the seat in front of you. All moot of course, given that all this has passed but it does seem a bit... inconsiderate.
um...the reason I couldn't put it in front of me is because our bag was already in front of me (with my feet on top of it because there was no room). Have you never flown? Or are you just really short? There is no room for anything other than froop's size 13 shoes under the seat in front of him. Her legs could hardly reach the floor...why wouldn't her actions be seen as entitled?
oh, and I used "bully" because she was at that age where some people just expect people to give them everything because they are old. She wasn't disabled or particularly decrepit, just old (and we aren't talking antediluvian...maybe 65?). I don't believe that time on earth is alone justification for having everyone do your bidding.
[ 29.01.2009, 09:04: Message edited by: rooster ]
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
The thing is... your point isn't about the physical possibility of getting a bag to fit is it. It's not "we tried, but there just wasn't room" it's "we weren't up to being bullied by an old lady". Do you see the difference?
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis: The thing is... your point isn't about the physical possibility of getting a bag to fit is it. It's not "we tried, but there just wasn't room" it's "we weren't up to being bullied by an old lady". Do you see the difference?
No, my post is about "why on earth would she ask when she obviously had a lot more room than we did?" Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who has more room. *and her asking was more like assuming...with an sense of "of course he will do what I ask because I am older."
[ 29.01.2009, 09:10: Message edited by: rooster ]
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
quote:Originally posted by rooster: oh, and I used "bully" because she was at that age where some people just expect people to give them everything because they are old. She wasn't disabled or particularly decrepit, just old (and we aren't talking antediluvian...maybe 65?). I don't believe that time on earth is alone justification for having everyone do your bidding.
Come on now... are you posting in character to wind me up or is this sincere? You may as well start ranting about 'those bloody blacks' now.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jimmy Big Nuts: you can stretch your legs properly, go for a piss without waking people up, keep ordering drink without doing so over people's heads, talk to the cabin people easily... man.. so many reasons.
I suppose it might make sense on long flights on big planes. I usually only fly to Europe thought - about an hour and a half in the air - so I don't need the lavvy and the planes are so small they just have two seats one side and one seat on the other. And they only have time to give you one drink.
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
quote:Originally posted by rooster: No, my post is about "why on earth would she ask when she obviously had a lot more room than we did?" Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who has more room. *and her asking was more like assuming...with an sense of "of course he will do what I ask because I am older."
Well Ok. I wasn't there so maybe I shouldn't judge. It probably takes a lot of guts for a young couple to stand up to an old woman travelling on her own and to tell her where she can stick her bag, especially if she's already been bullying them so mercilessly.
[ 29.01.2009, 09:16: Message edited by: Thorn Davis ]
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis:
quote:Originally posted by rooster: oh, and I used "bully" because she was at that age where some people just expect people to give them everything because they are old. She wasn't disabled or particularly decrepit, just old (and we aren't talking antediluvian...maybe 65?). I don't believe that time on earth is alone justification for having everyone do your bidding.
Come on now... are you posting in character to wind me up or is this sincere? You may as well start ranting about 'those bloody blacks' now.
You honestly think that being a member of AARP means people should do things for you even when they don't make any sense?
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis:
quote:Originally posted by rooster: No, my post is about "why on earth would she ask when she obviously had a lot more room than we did?" Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who has more room. *and her asking was more like assuming...with an sense of "of course he will do what I ask because I am older."
Well Ok. I wasn't there so maybe I shouldn't judge. It probably takes a lot of guts for a young couple to stand up to an old woman travelling on her own and to tell her where she can stick her bag, especially if she's already been bullying them so mercilessly.
Oh, give me a break. Like this is 1950 and women traveling on their own need to be taken care of.
I used the word "bully" because of the assumption that we should do what our elders ask. She was using her age as a way of preying on our sensibilities of politeness to do something that didn't make any sense. We would have certainly obliged if she needed help getting something out of the overhead bin, etc., but the fact that she used our culture's respect for age as a way of getting arbitrary benefits (like more leg room) was "bullying" in my mind.
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
quote:Originally posted by rooster: the fact that she used our culture's respect for age as a way of getting arbitrary benefits (like more leg room) was "bullying" in my mind.
It's quite a common courtesy for younger people to put themselves out for their elders. Calling that convention 'bullying' is self-pitying arrogance.
You know... I can't really take this seriously, this idea that two healthy young people were somehow being victimised by being asked to make things a bit more comfortable for an old woman. The fact that you've apparently repeated the story more than once to try and paint yourselves standing up to a bully makes it even more laughable.
[ 29.01.2009, 09:38: Message edited by: Thorn Davis ]
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
Sorry to get it away from the original point. Guess I have a broader definition of "entitled."
Re: coats in airplanes...don't they give you all the speech that "passengers should hold on to coats until all the bags are stowed?"
[ 29.01.2009, 09:32: Message edited by: rooster ]
Posted by McDirts (Member # 6680) on :
I find it laughable when the middle classes start attempting to up their station by yapping and bleating and ordering about, trying to claim the service and attention that I and my ilk have taken for granted over the last 1000 years. Pathetic really. Good service, politeness and respect automatically gravitates toward class, without the need to try and gain it through causing a big fiddle-faddle.
Oh and always an aisle seat. What level of drongo thinks a window seat is a good option?
Posted by Carter (Member # 426) on :
quote:Originally posted by McDirts: Oh and always an aisle seat. What level of drongo thinks a window seat is a good option?
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis:
quote:Originally posted by rooster: the fact that she used our culture's respect for age as a way of getting arbitrary benefits (like more leg room) was "bullying" in my mind.
It's quite a common courtesy for younger people to put themselves out for their elders. Calling that convention 'bullying' is self-pitying arrogance.
You know... I can't really take this seriously, this idea that two healthy young people were somehow being victimised by being asked to make things a bit more comfortable for an old woman. The fact that you've apparently repeated the story more than once to try and paint yourselves standing up to a bully makes it even more laughable.
You are reading things into it. I never said I used this as an example of us standing up to a bully, and you are narrowing in on that one word because it is what you do. I explained to you why I used that word, but the story was just about someone assuming that another person should suffer discomfort for them just because they want them to. We weren't victimized, but the fact is (and I don't even think this is debatable) that it would have caused froop a heck of a lot more discomfort to have her bag in front of him then it would for her to leave it in front of her. We'd probably be blamed afterward for getting shoe scuffs on it.
The only reason I brought it up is I was surprised at the reaction it got an another thread about 'entitlement' (when I wrote it in that thread it had been the most recent example). I think any time people assume that their needs are more important than anyone else's without real justification they are being entitled:
like the guy in line who thinks he deserves more space than everyone else
like the guy on the airplane who thinks his coat is more important than the things of others
like the woman (regardless of age) who thinks she should have leg room that no one else does
The equation is changed when there is an obvious reason someone should have this benefit: they are old or pregnant or injured so they deserve the last seat on the train, etc. Her action was like someone healthy telling the cripple to get up so he could sit down.
[ 29.01.2009, 09:48: Message edited by: rooster ]
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by McDirts: Oh and always an aisle seat. What level of drongo thinks a window seat is a good option?
What's the point of going 20,000 feet up in the air and then not being able to see what it fucking looks like? You miss all that just so you can get to the toilet about 3 seconds quicker?
But I am starting to understand why they offer the choice.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
You want to see entitlement? YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE ENTITLEMENT!? Then head down to Kings Road, Chelsea, Sunday afternoon for preference. Oh, you'll see entitlement my friend. I'd gladly murder half the people on the Kings Road.
Posted by McDirts (Member # 6680) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: You want to see entitlement? YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE ENTITLEMENT!? Then head down to Kings Road, Chelsea, Sunday afternoon for preference. Oh, you'll see entitlement my friend. I'd gladly murder half the people on the Kings Road.
Dreadful, dreadful, over moneyed euro trash and countless dollar rich arabs with no sense of class whatsoever. Awful.
Posted by McDirts (Member # 6680) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65:
quote:Originally posted by McDirts: Oh and always an aisle seat. What level of drongo thinks a window seat is a good option?
What's the point of going 20,000 feet up in the air and then not being able to see what it fucking looks like? You miss all that just so you can get to the toilet about 3 seconds quicker?
But I am starting to understand why they offer the choice.
pffft, I've seen the view out of an airplane window plenty enough times to appreciate more the freedom and extra leg room an aisle seat provides.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Oh, and aisle seat. Like Big Nuts says, for the drink mainly. You can lean out conspiratorially to a passing steward/ess and say "I know it's early, but... could I get another vodka martini?" I find you can generally do this about six or seven times before they twig that you're an alcoholic and not an engaging bon viveur.
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by McDirts: pffft, I've seen the view out of an airplane window plenty enough times to appreciate more the freedom and extra leg room an aisle seat provides.
You never know when you might have a "bird strike." At least that would be something to see.
ETA: oops, "Bird Strike" not "Bird Event."
[ 29.01.2009, 10:11: Message edited by: rooster ]
Posted by McDirts (Member # 6680) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: you're an alcoholic and not an engaging bon viveur.
As long as you have some level of unearned income you'll never be an alcoholic.
Posted by McDirts (Member # 6680) on :
quote:Originally posted by rooster:
You never know when you might have a "bird event." At least that would be something to see. [/QUOTE]
You mean like one of the Stewardess fillies giving the old chap a bit of a nosh during a long haul to Singapore? Had that happen countless times whilst sat in the aisle seat.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
I'm pretty sure I don't have any unearned income.
Posted by McDirts (Member # 6680) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: I'm pretty sure I don't have any unearned income.
sorry old chap, you'll always be an alcoholic then.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by McDirts:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: I'm pretty sure I don't have any unearned income.
sorry old chap, you'll always be an alcoholic then.
Oh, well... still, parlaying a single complimentary drink into six or seven vodka martinis is still pretty good going. Thanks mainly to aisle seat positioning, I'm sure.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
So, we've established that the romantics go for the window seats and the fantasists go for the aisle seats.
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
quote:Originally posted by rooster: The equation is changed when there is an obvious reason someone should have this benefit: they are old
Posted by New Way Of Decay (Member # 106) on :
quote:Originally posted by rooster: [QUOTE]Originally posted by rooster: [qb]The only reason I brought it up is I was surprised at the reaction it got an another thread about 'entitlement' (when I wrote it in that thread it had been the most recent example). I think any time people assume that their needs are more important than anyone else's without real justification they are being entitled:
I'm sorry, rooster but I simply don't agree with your understanding of 'entitlement' because it borders on the fact that you expect to be the judge of it based on your own agenda. Basically, you think that because you're pregnant you have some sense of entitlement. You don't. Society dictates that we treat pregnant women with respect and care just in the same way we would a 65 year old women. Not everyone adheres to it though. Other people don't have to open a door for you, or give up a seat for you. They choose to, fuelled by the notion it's the correct and right thing to do. Just as you choose to refuse someones request to place their bag under the chair in front of your husbands legs (I'm not sure as the description seems to be ambiguous. Under the chair in front...under froops feet. Can't work it out) or move your vehicle so they can put some furniture in. It might just be how it comes across, but it's coming across as smugly sanctimonius.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Anyway... this arrogance and entitlement thing seems to know no borders or barriers of rank, class, race, creed or colour. I was well used to it in Chelsea, but it's still going on in Peckham. There's a sort of porterage thing going on in most of the big grocery stores on Rye Lane and the Bengali porters are made to fucking HOP by the African women who shop there. They scream at them, hit them with umbrellas, curse them out... and they're only buying a 20kg bag of rice and some cho-cho.
Posted by McDirts (Member # 6680) on :
what ho!
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Also... I'm stunned. I always thought rooster was nice. Turns out she's got a really nasty side.
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by New Way Of Decay:
quote:Originally posted by rooster: [QUOTE]Originally posted by rooster: [qb]The only reason I brought it up is I was surprised at the reaction it got an another thread about 'entitlement' (when I wrote it in that thread it had been the most recent example). I think any time people assume that their needs are more important than anyone else's without real justification they are being entitled:
I'm sorry, rooster but I simply don't agree with your understanding of 'entitlement' because it borders on the fact that you expect to be the judge of it based on your own agenda. Basically, you think that because you're pregnant you have some sense of entitlement. You don't. Society dictates that we treat pregnant women with respect and care just in the same way we would a 65 year old women. Not everyone adheres to it though. Other people don't have to open a door for you, or give up a seat for you. They choose to, fuelled by the notion it's the correct and right thing to do. Just as you choose to refuse someones request to place their bag under the chair in front of your husbands legs (I'm not sure as the description seems to be ambiguous. Under the chair in front...under froops feet. Can't work it out) or move your vehicle so they can put some furniture in. It might just be how it comes across, but it's coming across as smugly sanctimonius.
I suppose it does put me in the position of being the arbiter of who is more deserving, but we all do that. I try to base everything on logic, and to me, tall person with cramped feet needs more room than short person who can't reach the floor. If someone can argue the opposite, then I'd consider that point of view, but no one has been able to do that.
Granted, there are some things I do purely out of politeness, like hold open doors for people, but it annoys me when societal politeness overrides logic. For example, the idea that a man who is encumbered with a tray of coffee cups should still hold the door open for a woman w/free hands.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by rooster: it annoys me when societal politeness overrides logic.
Maybe you're a Vulcan?
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
lol
Posted by McDirts (Member # 6680) on :
But surely the fellow's Man would be carrying the coffee cups, leaving the gent free to hold the door open for the little lady..?
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
McDirts URBWICM£5
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by rooster: it annoys me when societal politeness overrides logic.
Maybe you're a Vulcan?
That would be awesome, then I could cheat death!
Posted by McDirts (Member # 6680) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: McDirts URBWICM£5
Bertie would never get a blow job off a stewardess. Try again.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by rooster:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by rooster: it annoys me when societal politeness overrides logic.
Maybe you're a Vulcan?
That would be awesome, then I could cheat death!
Maybe not, if you were a Chelsea Vulcan.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by McDirts:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: McDirts URBWICM£5
Bertie would never get a blow job off a stewardess. Try again.
LOL
"Jeeves, the crack-pipe and quick about it. Gussie's got some gear."
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
Speaking of boozing on public transport, I had an odd experience on my way down to Bournemouth the weekend before Christmas. I was sat on a table on a train, and there was a guy opposite me - a cuple of years older, maybe - making his way alternately through cans of Stella and some vodka Red Bulls. About 45 minutes into the journey, he mixed himself a fresh Vodka Red Bull, and went to pick it up and knocked it forward. Flooded the table; flooded me. Had proper 'pissed yourself' trousers. I was reading at the time so the whole thing seemed a bit detached. I sort of sensed that I should get angry, but I didn't really care that much: there wasn't a lot that could be done. So without a word, I grabbed my bag, went off to the toilets and changed my trousers. I wasn't really sure about how to handle things from there, whether I should go back and start yelling at the guy, or change seats, or just pick up my book like nothing had happened.
Heading back to the seat the guy started apologising really profusely - as you would, I guess - I said it didn't matter and that I'd have been more annoyed if it wasn't exactly the kind of thing I did on occasion. So he kept saying how bad he felt, and then he gave me tenner, which made me feel worse than having the drink spilt on me. So I offered to use the money to get us both a couple of drinks, at which point he plonked a can of Stella in front of me, which gave a wrenching feeling of taking advantage of his guilt. Anyway. We had quite a nice chat from that point on about marriage and kids and life and work and that.
Posted by New Way Of Decay (Member # 106) on :
I like this idea of a heavily pregnant rooster sitting in the ailse seat, drinking vodka martinis while an old lady and a removal team wait impatiently on with a piano.
Posted by McDirts (Member # 6680) on :
I was dashed if I didn't go down the Drones and get knocked from pillar to post by Gussie Fink-Nottle caught in the grips of a frightful cluck for more Crstal Meth. "Wooster, you terrible **** ," he bawled, "Just give me the fucking trust-fund before I start cutting your toes off with these secateurs!"
taken from 'Rock-Up Jeeves' by P.G. Wooster (1934)
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
quote:Originally posted by rooster: I try to base everything on logic, and to me, tall person with cramped feet needs more room than short person who can't reach the floor. If someone can argue the opposite, then I'd consider that point of view, but no one has been able to do that.
I suppose it depends on whether or not you think that people feel discomfort more acutely when they're in their sixties than they do when they're in their thirties. Maybe you're right, though, and people actually get more robust as they get older.
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis:
quote:Originally posted by rooster: I try to base everything on logic, and to me, tall person with cramped feet needs more room than short person who can't reach the floor. If someone can argue the opposite, then I'd consider that point of view, but no one has been able to do that.
I suppose it depends on whether or not you think that people feel discomfort more acutely when they're in their sixties than they do when they're in their thirties. Maybe you're right, though, and people actually get more robust as they get older.
Man, you don't give up. Her feet would not have been anywhere near the f-ing bag and couldn't be if she tried...unless as you age items begin to radiate affecting molecules in an increasing circle so that by 65, she could feel a bag a full foot from her.
Posted by froopyscot (Member # 178) on :
quote:Originally posted by New Way Of Decay: I like this idea of a heavily pregnant rooster sitting in the ailse seat, drinking vodka martinis while an old lady and a removal team wait impatiently on with a piano.
It wasn't just that the old woman insisted on putting her piano underfoot, it was that she kept making requests for the remainder of the flight.
Though I have to say my rendition of Eine Kleine Fußmusik went over quite well.
[ 29.01.2009, 10:39: Message edited by: froopyscot ]
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
quote:Originally posted by rooster: Man, you don't give up. Her feet would not have been anywhere near the f-ing bag and couldn't be if she tried...unless as you age items begin to radiate affecting molecules in an increasing circle so that by 65, she could feel a bag a full foot from her.
That's not correct - you mentioned twice that she'd have more legroom without it.
quote: like the woman (regardless of age) who thinks she should have leg room that no one else does
quote:but the fact that she used our culture's respect for age as a way of getting arbitrary benefits (like more leg room) was "bullying" in my mind.
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
yep, there would be more leg room in her space regardless of who was sitting there if there were no bag. That didn't mean she needed it or even could use it since her feet didn't reach the floor.
ETA: that was kinda *the point.* She was asking for something just to have it...regardless of any benefit to her. It would be like someone w/perfect eyesight wanting the last pair of glasses just to have them despite the fact that it would do them no good.
[ 29.01.2009, 10:50: Message edited by: rooster ]
Posted by New Way Of Decay (Member # 106) on :
I'm 5'2" by the way and I reckon the space between my feet and the floor on a plane is about the depth of a sheet of paper.
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by New Way Of Decay: I'm 5'2" by the way and I reckon the space between my feet and the floor on a plane is about the depth of a sheet of paper.
I'm guessing your feet don't extend into the space under the seat in front of you (where bags are stored), which is why you couldn't understand the concept of feet competing w/bags.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
lol
eta: @ nwod, not rooster
[ 29.01.2009, 10:51: Message edited by: ralph ]
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by New Way Of Decay: I'm 5'2" by the way and I reckon the space between my feet and the floor on a plane is about the depth of a sheet of paper.
Wove or Laid?
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Bit of paper humour for you, there.
Posted by Thorn Davis (Member # 65) on :
Maybe this lady was even smaller than that. Maybe Froopy and Rooster were being bullied by a 65 year old female dwarf.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis: Maybe this lady was even smaller than that. Maybe Froopy and Rooster were being bullied by a 65 year old female dwarf.
Maybe they could've stowed her in the overhead and spread out on her seat? The fucking lightweights.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Fuckin' midgets!
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by McDirts:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: McDirts URBWICM£5
Bertie would never get a blow job off a stewardess. Try again.
RUthe guy from Dead Babies? Troika? Is that right..?
Posted by froopyscot (Member # 178) on :
Well, she was a bit short with us.
Posted by H1ppychick (Member # 529) on :
lol$
Posted by New Way Of Decay (Member # 106) on :
What she needed was some kind of very tall person to help her put her bag in the overhead......but where is she going to get one of them?
Posted by rooster (Member # 738) on :
quote:Originally posted by New Way Of Decay: What she needed was some kind of very tall person to help her put her bag in the overhead......but where is she going to get one of them?
actually, that was how we politely refused - by offering to put it in the overhead for her, but she declined.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by rooster: that was how we politely refused - by offering to put it in the overhead for her, but she declined.
Cuh, what a bitch!
Posted by New Way Of Decay (Member # 106) on :
Poor rumplestiltsfroop. :-(
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
That was a good little thread, that was. Well done everyone.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
Drinks all round, in fact.
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
Hard hitting social realism wrapped in ground breaking Electro Pop. This some next level shit yo.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jimmy Big Nuts: Hard to hate on it.
Not impossible, though. Not. Impossible.
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
yeah, not impossible. But I like his jizz face. Especially the one where he's talking about bruce willis. 1:45 in. It's grotesque.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Jimmy Big Nuts: Hard to hate on it.
Not impossible, though. Not. Impossible.
Quite easy actually.
Posted by McDirts (Member # 6680) on :
quote:Originally posted by ralph:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Jimmy Big Nuts: Hard to hate on it.
Not impossible, though. Not. Impossible.
Quite easy actually.
you're such a fucking bender, you know that?
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
whatever McDillhole
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
hey, just spreading the love.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
One of them looks a bit like Prince William.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
Royalty. lol.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by ralph: whatever McDillhole
Can this be ralph's new avatar please?
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
I'm quite attached to my current avatar (thanks again, Ringo) but perhaps we could give the one Misc suggested to McDirts?
Posted by Suckmonster (Member # 8246) on :
I think this picture of Ralph at his militia compound's annual bath day (they're one concession to hygiene, which they regard as a tool of The Man) would make for a good avatar.
[ 30.01.2009, 07:30: Message edited by: Suckmonster ]
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
Posted by Suckmonster (Member # 8246) on :
"Lookit paw, he be rollin', nekid in the mud like a hog. Yeehaw."
[ 30.01.2009, 07:58: Message edited by: Suckmonster ]
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
I'm not from Alabama dude...
Posted by Suckmonster (Member # 8246) on :
"Why did paw's middle leg go all stiff when he was mud wrestling with those men, maw?"
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
sorry, tmo. Posted by Suckmonster (Member # 8246) on :
Don't be ashamed of your homoerotic proclivities, Ralph, old sprout.
Posted by McDirts (Member # 6680) on :
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
) and a couple who were waiting for a table stood behind my colleague. He turned round to them and they sort of acknowledged they were a bit close but there was nowhere for them to go for a moment or two. So he goes, "Could you step back a few feet please?" In English (in a German restaurant) to these German people. I was so fucking embarassed. What a wanker. It's not as if they were actually jostling him or anything, it was just that the place was crowded.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)