The little things in life that fuck you off

[Boydy]

People moaning about being cold in the office when it's not cold at all. Maybe if you proper shoes instead of fucking flip flops you'd not be cold, you daft cunt.

[CJay]

You can wear flip flops to work? :drool:

[Giggles]

People moaning about being cold in the office when it's not cold at all. Maybe if you proper shoes instead of fucking flip flops you'd not be cold, you daft cunt.

Tell them to work harder. And buy shoes.

[bruhnaldo]

That other people can wear flip-flops to work apparently

[Disco]

Is this the fifth or sixth time we've moaned about people being cold?

[Magic]

People moaning about being cold in the office when it's not cold at all. Maybe if you proper shoes instead of fucking flip flops you'd not be cold, you daft cunt.

Office temperatures are horrific. Either too hot, or too cold, and you can't please everyone (anyone?). Thank fuck I work from home where I can freeze in peace.

[Boydy]

Office temperatures are horrific. Either too hot, or too cold, and you can't please everyone (anyone?). Thank fuck I work from home where I can freeze in peace.
So make it on the cooler side of things and people can wear more to warm up.

[Magic]

So make it on the cooler side of things and people can wear more to warm up.

Well work can provide me with more clothes to wear and I'll also claim washing tax back for my new uniform.

#shesaid

[Pepe]

So make it on the cooler side of things and people can wear more to warm up.

Because fuck the environment.

[Magic]

It's Northern Ireland mate, not fucking AZ.

[John]

Because fuck the environment.

He's in Northern Ireland. You've got that backwards.

[Magic]

https://media.tenor.com/images/b61dc373fd80dc1f1516b12d4c240434/tenor.gif

[Pepe]

It's Northern Ireland mate, not fucking AZ.


He's in Northern Ireland. You've got that backwards.

They run the heater in the summer? :D

[Magic]

They run the heater in the summer? :D

What the fuck is 'summer'?

[Pepe]

No wonder you're all so MISERABLE.

[Magic]

No wonder you're all so MISERABLE.

No that's just Boyd.

[Disco]

We're currently enjoying pre-Autumn where the rain isn't quite as cold as it will be when Real Autumn rolls around.

[bruhnaldo]

Do you all really not just turn the A/C on because of "the environment"?

I mean there's two options... either

A. the planet is fucked and there's nothing we can do about it at this point

or

B. global warming was somehow a hoax and nothing's going to happen anyways

This is a serious question.

[Boydy]

You don't need air conditioning in most of the UK.

[Spikey M]

I'd use it for about 1 month of the summer in total. 2 months of the weather is particularly good that year.

Even then it's only really at night.

[bruhnaldo]

Well let me expand the question.

Do you do anything because you think you're doing something to combat global warming?

[Spikey M]

I shit with the light off.

[mugbull]

Well let me expand the question.

Do you do anything because you think you're doing something to combat global warming?

Extreme nihilism. Solid life philosophy I must say

[Boydy]

I shit with the light off.

How do you know when to stop wiping?

[Lewis]

You would lick the paper. Duh.

[bruhnaldo]

Extreme nihilism. Solid life philosophy I must say

Why anyone can't just answer the fucking question is beyond me

[Magic]

How do you know when to stop wiping?

After 30 years if you haven't developed 'the feel' you need checking out.

[Spikey M]

How do you know when to stop wiping?

Wiping?

[John]

Why anyone can't just answer the fucking question is beyond me

I'm not answering it because your initial premise - there are two options etc - is deeply flawed and I can't be arsed explaining how and why on a phone keyboard.

[Spikey M]

I'm not answering it because your initial premise - there are two options etc - is deeply flawed and I can't be arsed explaining how and why on a phone keyboard.

Where by saving battery life and avoiding the need to charge your phone. Hero.

[Shindig]

People who shout for songs at gigs. It never works.

[bruhnaldo]

I'm not answering it because your initial premise - there are two options etc - is deeply flawed and I can't be arsed explaining how and why on a phone keyboard.

So clearly you're in the do small, unimaginably meaningless shit to "save the environment" group. Gotcha.

[Pepe]

What group are you on?

[Spikey M]

What group are you on?

Team Oxygen Theif.

[bruhnaldo]

I'm hardly out here trying to destroy the environment but I'm not one of those "let me stop using the A/C because the polar bears" type either.

[mugbull]

Why anyone can't just answer the fucking question is beyond me

My point was relevant af, since i correctly surmised that you would say something like "your actions won't affect climate change so they're pointless" which i retorted with "what a shit way to live your life", so i was answering your question, and thus the yin and the yang of this thread have been properly balanced

[bruhnaldo]

My point was relevant af, since i correctly surmised that you would say something like "your actions won't affect climate change so they're pointless" which i retorted with "what a shit way to live your life", so i was answering your question, and thus the yin and the yang of this thread have been properly balanced

The fact that you think I don't understand that and aren't just commenting on how all of you never seem to just be able to have a straightforward conversation without being the most pretentious fucks possible just reinforces said point.

[John]

So clearly you're in the do small, unimaginably meaningless shit to "save the environment" group. Gotcha.

Nope. I'm in the 'regularly forget to put recyclables in the correct bin' group.

You do understand that small actions have a larger cumulative effect though, don't you?

[bruhnaldo]

Not when they're being overshadowed by people like the Chinese pumping shit into the atmosphere at an astronomical rate?

[Lewis]

Nope. I'm in the 'regularly forget to put recyclables in the correct bin' group.

Wanker.

[bruhnaldo]

Let me start over cause I think you guys think I'm just saying shit just to be saying it.

My two options come from:

"A. the planet is fucked and there's nothing we can do about it at this point"

http://nypost.com/2017/03/21/carbon-dioxide-levels-hit-point-of-no-return/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/donald-trump-climate-change-policy-global-warming-expert-thomas-crowther-a7450236.html

http://www.complex.com/life/2016/09/enjoy-earth-while-it-lasts-atmospheric-carbon-levels-pass-point-no-return

i.e. the SCIENTISTS have said we've already passed the "point of no return!" and the planet is fucked

The only alternative to that would be

"B. global warming was somehow a hoax and nothing's going to happen anyways"

which would only mean that all of the data, info, blah blah blah was a bunch of bullshit (which I don't personally believe)

So what the fuck would turning off the A/C actually do for anybody? This isn't one of those "Haha the American thinks it's all a ruse by the mainstream media!" jokes.

The SCIENTISTS! have literally said we are doomed at this point.

[Spikey M]

I don't bother to rinse out my recyclable stuff.

[Magic]

I don't bother to rinse out my recyclable stuff.

Neither do I. Hold me.

[Pepe]

I'm also pretty shit at recycling.

[Spikey M]

Threesome?

[Pepe]

"A. the planet is fucked and there's nothing we can do about it at this point"

From one of those articles:


“It’s fair to say we have passed the point of no return on global warming and we can’t reverse the effects, but certainly we can dampen them,” said the biodiversity expert.


“I’m an optimist and still believe that it is not too late, but we urgently need to develop a global economy driven by sustainable energy sources and start using CO2, as a substrate, instead of a waste product.

[Pepe]

Threesome?

I'm in.

[Spikey M]

We just need to workout the carbon footprints of our flights and it's go time.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Pepe can cycle round.

[Pepe]

And 'how will prepare a vegetarian meal for us.

[bruhnaldo]

From one of those articles:

So they agree with the premise that "the planet is fucked" and given that no one is actually going to "develop a global economy driven by sustainable energy sources using CO2 instead of waste product" one might even say "there's nothing we can do about it at this point".

Awesome, thanks for sharing.

[Pepe]

given that no one is actually going to "develop a global economy driven by sustainable energy sources using CO2 instead of waste product" one might even say "there's nothing we can do about it at this point".

Is it that there is nothing we can do, or is it that no one is actually going to do it?

[bruhnaldo]

we as in you and I, the normal layman, not the world's governments.

[bruhnaldo]

*reserved for snarky Spikey reply to literally everything*

[Pepe]

Voting for a cunt that thinks it is all a hoax certainly doesn't help.

[Spikey M]

Sometimes I put food waste in the normal bin.

[Pepe]

Also, two of the most impactful things could be done just by 'the layman' without the need for government intervention: change your diet and stop commuting by car.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Vegetarian meals :sick:

[bruhnaldo]

*marks Pepe down for "Yes, I will gladly give myself a minor inconvenience for absolutely no reason"*

Jesus, how hard was that?

[Spikey M]

To give a somewhat serious response:

I don't know (or care as much as I should) if it's too late, but I know it doesn't matter either way. Things won't change in any real way until some serious shit kicks off. Actually, probably not even then. The folk that engineered the world economy around oil don't give a fuck about a chunk of Indonesia disappearing.

[bruhnaldo]

To give a somewhat serious response:

I don't know (or care as much as I should) if it's too late, but I know it doesn't matter either way. Things won't change in any real way until some serious shit kicks off. Actually, probably not even then. The folk that engineered together world economy around oil don't give a fuck about a chunk of Indonesia disappearing.

Exactly! That's what I'm trying to say. Nothing is gonna change, why the fuck would you keep the A/C off "for the planet!"

I'm not saying go set a bunch of tires on fire and piss in Mother Nature's face but I certainly feel like there's a line where you're just doing this shit for yourself, rather than "the planet".

[Magic]

In terms of energy I'm not going to freeze or roast to save the planet it'll be to save me money.

If you don't recycle you're definitely a cunt though.

[mugbull]

Exactly! That's what I'm trying to say. Nothing is gonna change, why the fuck would you keep the A/C off "for the planet!"

I'm not saying go set a bunch of tires on fire and piss in Mother Nature's face but I certainly feel like there's a line where you're just doing this shit for yourself, rather than "the planet".

Of course you're doing it for yourself, that's the whole point.

China, by the way, the gas guzzlers they are, invests more new money in renewable energy than the US or Europe. They're also still party to the Paris agreement.

[John]

why the fuck would you keep the A/C off "for the planet!"

Pepe was the only person who even motioned in that direction, and he was operating on a mistaken assumption.

You're arguing against a position no one has taken there.

[bruhnaldo]

Pepe was the only person who even motioned in that direction, and he was operating on a mistaken assumption.

You're arguing against a position no one has taken there.

Jesus fucking Christ..... I saw someone say something about it and asked if anyone actually had that stance.. no one answered and just asked me for my opinion, so I gave said opinion.

Why the fuck are all of you like this?

[bruhnaldo]

China, by the way, the gas guzzlers they are, invests more new money in renewable energy than the US or Europe. They're also still party to the Paris agreement.

Ah yes, the agreement they signed to actually do less for their emissions than they were already apparently on track to do. Awesome.

[John]

The minute America pulled out of the Paris Agreement China cancelled a load of coal plants and committed shitloads of spending to renewable energy research.

[Pepe]

Pepe was the only person who even motioned in that direction, and he was operating on a mistaken assumption.

You're arguing against a position no one has taken there.

True.

Also, there is a lot more to 'the environment' than global warming. Even if the two scenarios bruhnaldo presents were really the two only possible outcomes, being more mindful about how we use our resources would be beneficial in both instances.

[Magic]

True.

Also, there is a lot more to 'the environment' than global warming. Even if the two scenarios bruhnaldo presents were really the two only possible outcomes, being more mindful about how we use our resources would be beneficial in both instances.

But he's quite clearly a cunt and is incapable of such unselfish thinking.

[Spikey M]

It should be pointed out that climate change isn't really 'beyond the point of no return' too. It may take hundreds (thousands?) of years, but if we stopped using fossil fuels / were wiped out the planet would go back to normal in the blink of an eye.

Aside from the crumbling structures and plastic bags, anyway.

[Pepe]

In terms of energy I'm not going to freeze or roast to save the planet it'll be to save me money.

Indeed. 'Sustainability' is about a lot more than global warming. It is about how we operate our economies and societies. Most of the things we could do to reduce CO2 emissions would also be beneficial to society as a whole in any case. But there is no room for big ideas nowadays. Everything is run by bean counters who think slashing some benefits or adding a couple of dollars to the minimum wage will somehow solve all of our problems. Any sort of massive investment, which is basically what we need, is a complete no-go. And so we march towards a shiter future that everyone sees coming.

Does anyone think that, say, the highway system would have ever been built by the current lot? Or would the US ever get stuck in a space race? The second someone suggested anything of that magnitude, cries over the taxpayer's money would drown everything else.

[bruhnaldo]

How I imagined this conversation actually going:


Do you all really not just turn the A/C on because of "the environment"?

I mean there's two options... either

A. the planet is fucked and there's nothing we can do about it at this point

or

B. global warming was somehow a hoax and nothing's going to happen anyways

This is a serious question.


I shit with the light off.


In terms of energy I'm not going to freeze or roast to save the planet it'll be to save me money.

If you don't recycle you're definitely a cunt though.


I'm in the 'regularly forget to put recyclables in the correct bin' group.


I'm hardly out here trying to destroy the environment but I'm not one of those "let me stop using the A/C because the polar bears" type either.


I don't bother to rinse out my recyclable stuff.


I'm also pretty shit at recycling.


I'm not saying go set a bunch of tires on fire and piss in Mother Nature's face but I certainly feel like there's a line where you're just doing this shit for your own ego, rather than an actual want to "save the planet".


Well, some people are self-indulging dickheads, so you're probably right. I, personally, do my part because we have to start somewhere, right? Can't just piss it off and leave for the next generation.


Nah you deffo have a point there, it's just a shame that all of our supposed efforts will likely be for naught if SCIENCE is believed.


It should be pointed out that climate change isn't really 'beyond the point of no return' too. It may take hundreds (thousands?) of years, but if we stopped using fossil fuels / were wiped out the planet would go back to normal in the blink of an eye.

Aside from the crumbling structures and plastic bags, anyway.



True.

Also, there is a lot more to 'the environment' than global warming. Even if the two scenarios bruhnaldo presents were really the two only possible outcomes, being more mindful about how we use our resources would be beneficial in both instances.


China, by the way, the gas guzzlers they are, invests more new money in renewable energy than the US or Europe. They're also still party to the Paris agreement.


Ah yes, the agreement they signed to actually do less for their emissions than they were already apparently on track to do. Awesome.


The minute America pulled out of the Paris Agreement China cancelled a load of coal plants and committed shitloads of spending to renewable energy research.


Damn! I didn't know that. I knew they had made a big fuss about it but I didn't realize they decided to become so proactive overnight.


Voting for a cunt that thinks it is all a hoax certainly doesn't help.


https://em.wattpad.com/92fc6aa666938c3bd9796c35e47ad8019e26c748/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f 776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f 7279496d6167652f70425073634234304b45444a37773d3d2d 3431353335323837332e313463306535613233636563376336 633137323431353839333533372e676966?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280

I'm just going to pretend that's how it went down instead if that's okay.

[Pepe]

Not everything is about you.

[bruhnaldo]

What an odd response.

[Pepe]

http://i.imgur.com/8v0HnsQ.gif

[Spikey M]

wHaT aN oDd ReSpOnSe

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/022/940/spongebobicon.jpg

[Boydy]

I imagined the conversation stopping at the dickhead wearing flip flops.

[Pepe]

I imagined the conversation stopping at the dickhead wearing flip flops.

What material were they made of?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Probably leather and non-recyclable plastics.

[mugbull]

Bruh is definitely the american Smiffy

[Giggles]

Far too much there so I had to skim, but I just wanted to acknowledge Pepe's great fuck the environment sentiment.

[John]

:D

[Giggles]

I had a free 5 minutes and read it now. I just wouldn't run the A/C if I didn't need it because it'd save me money.

[bruhnaldo]

Bruh is definitely the american Smiffy

Whatever that means :|

[Foe]

£450 to fix my boiler. :(

[Giggles]

Are you not supposed to be an engineer? Unless that's £450 on parts then you've failed.

[Foe]

£250 of parts, the rest was fault finding and labour.

If I'd followed the manual I'd have replaced the wrong thing, given what the guy had to do to fix it.

[Shindig]

I'd suggest roping Magic in but all he can do is install a phone line.

[Magic]

I could make it so your boiler could auto call a plumber?

I couldn't really because I'm terrified of cabling and DIY. :(

[Giggles]

I've gone and lost about €1000 of wedding money :face:

[-james-]

It's down the back of the telly.

[Spikey M]

I've gone and lost about €1000 of wedding money :face:

How?

[Giggles]

How?

Put it somewhere in the house or car until I could get a days holidays to lodge it. Absolutely not one iota where it is but I've checked anywhere I might leave it. I could have had it in the glove box of the car when it went in for service so good luck to that if so.

Only thing is that it was worth about €1000 to us, but if it was robbed they'll only have got 500 sterling as the rest was sterling cheques and a bank draft.

[-james-]

Dry your eyes mate.

[Giggles]

Dry your eyes mate.

Expected from some hippy cunt.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Use it as an excuse to cut some guests.

[Giggles]

Use it as an excuse to cut some guests.

It was presents we got. It's not a massive deal as I'll just forego the laptop I was buying to make it up and teach myself a lesson but it's annoying that I can't recall even one tiny detail about what I did with it.

[Magic]

You made the money up in your head, so you haven't actually lost anything.

[Giggles]

You made the money up in your head, so you haven't actually lost anything.

I'd have done well as it was the first time in my life I'd seen a £100 note.

[Adamski]

Perhaps you got steaming one night, your willpower cracked and you horsed it all on tomatoes and spaghetti and you don't remember.

[Disco]

Perhaps you got steaming one night, your willpower cracked and you horsed it all on tomatoes and spaghetti and you don't remember.

There would be one tremendously dirty shirt left behind as evidence.

[Giggles]

Found it. Just ordered tomatoes and spaghetti to celebrate.

[SvN]

Where was it?

[Giggles]

Where was it?

Recycling bin in among a couple of site induction handbooks that I'd chucked out of the car. It goes in the morning too. £450 and €650.

[Spikey M]

If I had a penny for every time I put half a months wage in the recycling bin.

[SvN]

Well done for finding it, but you feel elated right now.

I remember about 10 years ago going to the cashpoint to withdraw £20 before going to the pub. I got the money, and by the time I'd got to the pub (30 second walk) I'd lost it. Still makes me seethe to this day.

[Giggles]

If I had a penny for every time I put half a months wage in the recycling bin.

A complete one off in the circumstances. Apart from buying a car I don't think I've ever had cash like that going around, nor will I again.


Well done for finding it, but you feel elated right now.

I remember about 10 years ago going to the cashpoint to withdraw £20 before going to the pub. I got the money, and by the time I'd got to the pub (30 second walk) I'd lost it. Still makes me seethe to this day.

So relieved, was really annoying me all day and I had searched nearly everywhere inside. I'm the same as that, I hate even losing a tenner. I think last time it happened was similar but it turned out of hadn't actually taken the cash from the machine. I didn't know until I seen the amount credited back a few days later.

[Spikey M]

We've got a load of new computers in today, jumping us from Windows XP to Windows 10. We have some 'Floor walkers' floating around, but seeing as the whole court is being done they are pretty sparse. I made the mistake of helping someone with a step I have already done and now seem to be the go-to for all the over 50's that can't follow a step by step guide.

'It says click on file, where's that?'
'The same place as it was on the old computer'
Oh yeah, I didn't see it there!

Just fucking retire, Maureen.

[Offshore Toon]

Yeah, it's difficult not to patronise people in situations like that.

[Disco]

It amazes me how truly fucking useless some people are.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Spikey, where's the any key?

[bruhnaldo]

Oh I'm basically IT-Lite in the office as I'm the only twenty-something generally insight. It's so annoying because as you say half the time it's something that's right in front of them.

I always get so frustrated as if I'm the only one that can read and follow directions.

"It says it's out of paper."
"Does it now?"
"Well what should I do?"

u fuckin wot m8

[John]

Fucking powercut thirty seconds before I was going to step into a shower. :moop:

[igor_balis]

The self service machine here, after 'deposit cheque' has three options - enter details (sort code account number), paying in slip and select account. I swear every fucker shouts at me WHY ISNT IT WORKING, I go over and inevitably it says 'can't recognise paying in slip'.

Did you have a paying in slip?
'No I put my card in'
...why didn't you press the picture of the card that says select account?
'...'

This isn't just old people, people in their 20s do it too. The picture for paying in slip does look like a cheque, but they've already pressed 'deposit cheque', just read the fucking screen you spacker.

[Mike]

Oh I'm basically IT-Lite in the office as I'm the only twenty-something generally insight. It's so annoying because as you say half the time it's something that's right in front of them.

I always get so frustrated as if I'm the only one that can read and follow directions.

"It says it's out of paper."
"Does it now?"
"Well what should I do?"

u fuckin wot m8

Same here, the school pays a company a huge sum to have IT support in once or twice week, they also have a ICT coordinator on site at all times yet everyone just comes to me. The first week back is a nightmare if anyone has been in working and moves a computer or unplugged anything.

[bruhnaldo]

Lmao we have an IT guy literally on site all day long. It's madness!

The WORST thing I hate that they do now... they'll just loudly state their problem instead of asking me to help them with it.

Like they "wouldn't want to bother me oh no :(" even though it's 10x more bothersome when they try to be sneaky about it.

"Why isn't my mouse working?!?!!?!?!!"
*sits silently in corner of office*
"But! It was working just fine!"
*continues to sit silently*
"UGH! I can't believe this!"
"Wellll is it plugged in Martha?!"
"Oh my goodness how silly of me! It's come undone!"

This type of shit happens all the time.

[Adamski]

Do you work in porn?

[Magic]

It's always Martha. Fucking Martha.

[Magic]

"ICT Coordinator"

lol.

[Boydy]

I was tired all day in work today but do I want to sleep now? Nooo, of course not.

[Spikey M]

I'm awake with a teething baby. She has done this the last 3 Wednesday nights when I have her on Thursdays. She will now be a cranky mess all day. Yay.

[Offshore Toon]

I was tired all day in work today but do I want to sleep now? Nooo, of course not.
Aye you exercising?

[Spikey M]

I recently went back to the gym after a few months off and (baby interface aside) I am sleeping so much better.

[John]

Lloyds bank specifically marketing themselves to people with cancer seems properly hawkish.

[Spikey M]

Baby interface :D

[Magic]

Found out the other day one of my old mates' mates got a dig in the pus by a big black guy for having dreadlocks (he's white, really white). I'm not sure who is the biggest cunt here but it went as follows:

"Why you got dreadlocks man, they are a sign of oppression of my people"
"Hey man, everyone experiences oppression at some point"
*punch*

:D

He also called a lifeguard at the local swimming baths 'a pawn of the government' because he wouldn't let him use the water slide because it was closed for repair. :face:

[Disco]

Where do you even start with a post like that?

[bruhnaldo]

I was rooting for your buddy until he hit mans with the "Hey, we all experience oppression at some point!" line.

[Spammer]

I wasn't. White people with dreadlocks deserve everything they get. Not because it's offensive, but at least one person needs to take the piss out of them every day.

[SincereTheRebel]

Protect yourself at all times.

[Lewis]

Black people 'claiming' shitlocks is one of the more bizarre developments in this whole wanker area. They have been used (which isn't really the right word, because it will have been purely practical in most cases) all over the world forever. The black dickhead in question should be done for a HATE CRIME.

[Spikey M]

I thought they represented being a filthy cunt.

[Giggles]

As much as dreadlocks on a white guy are a big no no (because they look shit), the black guy needs to get the fuck over himself.

[Shindig]

"Why you got dreadlocks man, they are a sign of oppression of my people"
"Hey man, everyone experiences oppression at some point"
*punch*

:D


Great. Dreadlocks on white guys never look right.

[bruhnaldo]

Check engine light came on in my mom's car. Called the dealership to make an appointment for tomorrow to bring it in.

"Oh, we don't do diagnostics on Saturday because they're our busiest day and we try to get as many oil changes done as possible. Is there another day I can get you guys in?"

I'm sorry.... my vehicle that you sold me is having a problem. The fuck you mean I can't bring it in for you to look at on Saturday? You fucking what?

[phonics]

Well they actually didn't say that they wouldn't, they asked if you could bring it in another day instead and they gave you a perfectly valid reason why it would be an issue. Not like you to fly into a fit of rage at the most minimal of affronts.

[mugbull]

"You think you can just close at 5 PM? You sold me this car!"

[Disco]

What an entitled little shit.

[Giggles]

In fairness, whether he's right or wrong, it's still ok to be fucked off by it. It's the little things.

[bruhnaldo]

Well they actually didn't say that they wouldn't

"Oh, we don't do diagnostics on Saturday..."

Why are so many of you absolute fucking idiots, exactly? They're open from 7am to 2pm. People work Monday thru Friday. Why the fuck wouldn't they be able to plug in the little computer and run a fucking diagnostic test? That's sheer stupidity.

Dickheads talking about being entitled are you people fucking high?

[bruhnaldo]

Always in a rush to condemn shit I say instead of stopping and thinking how fucking asinine it is.

It's a fucking handheld device they plug into the car to see what's wrong with it. It's not an engine replacement.

[SincereTheRebel]

Talk that shit.

[bruhnaldo]

And I know I'm going to get shit for my latest overreaction but this shit is getting old to be very honest.

[SvN]

Oh God, not again.

[Spikey M]

https://img.ifcdn.com/images/d1281057e0602aa0018d716e8a014af4a3145126f428f529ec b99d0f553d2675_1.jpg

[Boydy]

I'm with Bruh here. Services like that not being available on weekends when people work full time during the week is a pain in the arse.

[mugbull]

Always in a rush to condemn shit I say instead of stopping and thinking how fucking asinine it is.

It's a fucking handheld device they plug into the car to see what's wrong with it. It's not an engine replacement.

It kind of seems like the company has a reason for this policy, the person you're talking to is being polite, and meanwhile you're on one. That's my assessment, correct me if I'm wrong

[bruhnaldo]

Well, I was wildly polite on the phone and then come here to vent. I didn't give the guy any problems on the phone i'm not a monster smfh.

[bruhnaldo]

"Hey let's have a thread to vent about small inconveniences"

"Why the fuck can't they plug in a handheld computer to see what's wrong with my car?"

"Whoa look at this entitled piece of shit smfh"

fuck off.

[Spikey M]

2 faced cunt.

[Pepe]

Love it. :D

[Danny]

In fairness, whether he's right or wrong, it's still ok to be fucked off by it. It's the little things.


I'm with Bruh here. Services like that not being available on weekends when people work full time during the week is a pain in the arse.

Yep, that's what this thread is for.

[Disco]

0208 8584422

They'd probably be interested to know the world doesn't revolve around the sun anymore.

[bruhnaldo]

This circle jerk of shitty jokes just because you dislike someone over the internet is beyond played out.

[Pepe]

Would you say that it fucks you off?

[Lewis]

If it does you need to diagnose it today.

[Giggles]

Yep, that's what this thread is for.

If Bruh hadn't been the one that posted it this thread would be halfway down the front page by now.

[igor_balis]

It is a bit like that at my place, if people want to open bank accounts we generally tell them you'd be better off coming in the week as it's super busy on Saturdays with general account servicing stuff. We can book Saturday appointments, but generally there's a 2 week wait. And you can do it online. It is a bit annoying, but when they start getting all pissy and entitled and say a variation of "I don't want to do it online, I don't want to do it in 2 weeks, I'm busy in the week, I want to do it now", usually about 30 minutes before we close, it takes a lot of willpower to not just tell them to fuck off.

Entitled customers are the worst, and I sometimes struggle to control myself. I had one bloke come in and 4pm on a Friday and say "i've just moved back from the States and want to restore a dormant account".

"sure, feel free to take a seat, but it's pretty busy and we close really soon so you might struggle to get seen. I'll come over and update you in 5 minutes, and if we can't do it today I'll book you an appointment"
"WHY DO I HAVE TO WAIT?"

I just walked off and mumbled to myself "well, because it's like 4pm on a Friday afternoon before a bank holiday, so obviously it's really busy". Unfortunately in my nicotine-deprived, stressed out state I'd underestimated the volume of my voice, and he heard every word. He called my back over and shouted "WELL DO YOU WANT TO SAY THAT TO MY FACE", and I composed myself and said "actually that was incredibly unprofessional of me, I'm really sorry. but I stand by what I said, it is a Friday afternoon and it's bank holiday on Monday so obviously it is going to be really busy. I'll try to make sure you get seen, but I can't really control it. It's up to you what you want to do."

He did get seen eventually, and funnily enough he came over and shook my hand, told me how much he respected my honesty, and apologised for kicking off. He came in another day and told me how I'm his favourite ever person to
deal with in a bank, and something along the lines of how he'd rather have someone like me on my side rather than against him or whatever.

Honestly I think I got pretty lucky, and hadn't he backed down I'm sure I'd have gotten a pretty heavy slap on the wrist for sassing him. He deffo deserved it though, and part of me sorta regrets not just saying it to his face in the first place.

[igor_balis]

The worst by an absolute mile though are the ones who come in every week, and EVERY WEEK say something like "I hate how you do things here now, I'm really thinking about moving to [insert other bank name]" and I just think WELL FUCKING DO IT THEN. Always about something incredibly petty, too.

[Boydy]

This circle jerk of shitty jokes just because you dislike someone over the internet is beyond played out.
Yeah.


If Bruh hadn't been the one that posted it this thread would be halfway down the front page by now.
And yeah.

It's not even funny.

[Reg]

Agreed. Getting pathetic now guys.

[John]

If someone else had posted it using those words and that format they'd have got the same response. The fact that Bruh is fully incapable of taking a joke, or even sensing a joke that he didn't make himself doesn't help him any.

Tone it down, Bruh. You're alright when you're not bouncing off the walls.

[bruhnaldo]

Well they actually didn't say that they wouldn't, they asked if you could bring it in another day instead and they gave you a perfectly valid reason why it would be an issue. Not like you to fly into a fit of rage at the most minimal of affronts.


"You think you can just close at 5 PM? You sold me this car!"


What an entitled little shit.

"jokes"

[randomlegend]

If someone else had posted it using those words and that format they'd have got the same response.

What a load of bollocks.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

FWIW, sounds like a shitty garage.

[bruhnaldo]

It is a bit like that at my place, if people want to open bank accounts we generally tell them you'd be better off coming in the week as it's super busy on Saturdays with general account servicing stuff. We can book Saturday appointments, but generally there's a 2 week wait. And you can do it online. It is a bit annoying, but when they start getting all pissy and entitled and say a variation of "I don't want to do it online, I don't want to do it in 2 weeks, I'm busy in the week, I want to do it now", usually about 30 minutes before we close, it takes a lot of willpower to not just tell them to fuck off.

Entitled customers are the worst, and I sometimes struggle to control myself. I had one bloke come in and 4pm on a Friday and say "i've just moved back from the States and want to restore a dormant account".

They're open 7a-2pm. "entitled customer".... They can run a diagnostic check every time I bring it in to get my oil changed but my CHECK ENGINE LIGHT is too much trouble? I've literally had my car there and got my tires changed, got the oil done, had them replace belts in the motor, all kinds of shit... on a Saturday... but magically they can't plug in a handhand device into a car to see why my check engine light is on? I'm not even asking them to fix it.

I can make arrangements if "we have to order the part" or "there's no one there to fix that". I just don't want it to blow up in the mean time but they won't even look at the fucking thing.

And again, I wasn't rude with the guy. The only person I complained to was the "little things in life that fuck you off" thread.

He said is there any other time I can schedule you in? I said "oh, I'm sorry, I have to check because we both work M-F and have to make arrangements. Thank you for your time I really do appreciate it."

For fuck sake.

[John]

"jokes"

That part of my post was referring to your 'shitty jokes' comment that Boydy quoted. Though taking those in order; Phonics has explained why he disagrees with your gripe, and you do tend to fly off the handle pretty quickly, as further evidence by my having to make this post; Mokbull's post is, as always, without content or value of any kind, so nothing to get worked up about there; No defence for Disco, he's having a go.

Your first response to Phonics, by the way, was to ask why he's an 'absolute fucking idiot', so you've fanned the fire from then on.

Calm down a bit and try not to see every post that isn't wholeheartedly agreeing with you as a personal attack. People will disagree, even with the things you're annoyed about in the things you're annoyed about thread.

[Giggles]

That part of my post was referring to your 'shitty jokes' comment that Boydy quoted. Though taking those in order; Phonics has explained why he disagrees with your gripe, and you do tend to fly off the handle pretty quickly, as further evidence by my having to make this post; Mokbull's post is, as always, without content or value of any kind, so nothing to get worked up about there; No defence for Disco, he's having a go.

Your first response to Phonics, by the way, was to ask why he's an 'absolute fucking idiot', so you've fanned the fire from then on.

Calm down a bit and try not to see every post that isn't wholeheartedly agreeing with you as a personal attack. People will disagree, even with the things you're annoyed about in the things you're annoyed about thread.

It's at the stage where most are basically personal attacks though. He can post fuck all these days, no matter how bland it's getting jumped on.

[John]

They're open 7a-2pm. "entitled customer".... They can run a diagnostic check every time I bring it in to get my oil changed but my CHECK ENGINE LIGHT is too much trouble? I've literally had my car there and got my tires changed, got the oil done, had them replace belts in the motor, all kinds of shit... on a Saturday... but magically they can't plug in a handhand device into a car to see why my check engine light is on? I'm not even asking them to fix it.

I can make arrangements if "we have to order the part" or "there's no one there to fix that". I just don't want it to blow up in the mean time but they won't even look at the fucking thing.

And again, I wasn't rude with the guy. The only person I complained to was the "little things in life that fuck you off" thread.

He said is there any other time I can schedule you in? I said "oh, I'm sorry, I have to check because we both work M-F and have to make arrangements. Thank you for your time I really do appreciate it."

For fuck sake.

That sounds to me like he was just trying to get you in through the week for his/their convenience and if you'd said 'No, I can only bring it in on a Saturday, there's no workaround' they'd have taken it in. Try to find some middle ground in the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde thing you have going on between reality and online and call them back.

[Pepe]

Igor wasn't even talking about you, no need for yet another chimp out.

[bruhnaldo]

That sounds to me like he was just trying to get you in through the week for his/their convenience and if you'd said 'No, I can only bring it in on a Saturday, there's no workaround' they'd have taken it in. Try to find some middle ground in the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde thing you have going on between reality and online and call them back.

Right, which is why I literally said (and have posted ITT before) that I said "Oh no, we both actually work M-F so that's going to be a problem for me. I'll have to call you back and try to make arrangements" as to not be a pushy, entitled dickhead and hope that Customer Service First would kick in at he'd attempt to work with me. He didn't. He said "Okay thanks!"

That fact lead me to being annoyed. The entire point of this thread is literally these type of inconveniences but again, because I basically don't let everyone have a go at my life all day, again here we are overanalyzing a simple situation to find a fault in me.

Fuck off already.

[bruhnaldo]

Your first response to Phonics, by the way, was to ask why he's an 'absolute fucking idiot', so you've fanned the fire from then on.


What I said was "Why is everyone such an absolute fucking idiot about everything" which was a commentary on the exact behavior that I, and now others, apparently see with all of my posts.

I'm all for everyone having a go but it's when you all expect me to just go "ha. got me again!" every time. I'm not that person and I haven't been in all the years I've posted here.

Either people can start actually making funny jokes or they can expect this every single time.

[Adamski]

Take it to the meme thread.

[Baz]

Bruh should do a wdytoe.

Everyone would https://m.popkey.co/195eb0/mv03_f-maxage-0_s-200x150.gif and we'd all move on happier, together.

[Spikey M]

If Internet shootings / vehicle attacks were a thing we'd all be dead by now.

Well, once he's managed to get his car fixed anyway. :harold:

[Disco]

Our roundabouts would protect us.

[Magic]

I hate reading a book, then annoyingly thinking about something else and realising you've read an entire page without taking in a single thing.

[SvN]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn22UlVdpw0

[Shindig]

I hate reading a book, then annoyingly thinking about something else and realising you've read an entire page without taking in a single thing.

Absolutely. Focus is a bitch.

[Giggles]

I hate reading a book, then annoyingly thinking about something else and realising you've read an entire page without taking in a single thing.

That's the main reason I never bother. Happens with every page.

[mugbull]

That's true. It just takes practice though, and the iPhone lifestyle we all live doesn't help

[Giggles]

That's true. It just takes practice though, and the iPhone lifestyle we all live doesn't help

I wouldn't be interested enough to practice. With movies and TV it's a a redundant form of entertainment.

[bruhnaldo]

If Internet shootings / vehicle attacks were a thing we'd all be dead by now.

Well, once he's managed to get his car fixed anyway. :harold:

Why's that? I'm quite fond of you all. I wouldn't keep coming back here if I wasn't.

I realize I can be a chore to deal with at times but I'd like to imagine others realize they are also not the prize peach of the lot.

It is what it is.

[ScousePig]

My girlfriend ordered some furniture from a garden centre in April. It cost around £800 and would take up to 12 weeks to be delivered as it is hand made and comes from abroad. This was fair enough as it was half the price of Oak Furnitureland and the same/similar quality.

It should have arrived by early July but nothing happened, and when she phoned them they just fobbed her off a bit. Eventually they got in touch in early August to apologise, said some of the stock had arrived but it won't all be in until the end of August, and she wanted it all delivered together so would wait until then. They gave her a complimentary afternoon tea as an apology. It should have arrived earlier this week but still nothing, and when she phoned they just said that it's still not in and they don't know when it will be.

She's gone in today to talk to them (or tell them she doesn't want it anymore) but they're still fobbing her off a bit saying the same things, and the manager isn't in. I think they've agreed to give her her money back, but surely this is the least they should be doing?

Anyone been in a situation like this, and is there anything else that can be done?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I am on the other end of that sort of thing on a daily basis. What you do is lie to the customer, often under orders from above.

If they give her her money back then not sure what else can be done.

[Pepe]

Apart from getting your money back?

[Disco]

It'll be coming in from China (or similar) so there's nothing they'll be able to do, delays in shipping are quite common. It'll be on a boat or in a container waiting to be processed somewhere, there's not a lot they or anyone else can/will do about that apart from wait.

[Boydy]

You got your money back, what else do you want? Your arse wiped?

[bruhnaldo]

Why can't you people just let people blow off some steam? You don't have to be the fucking center of zen every single day.

[Magic]

Those tits that wear beanie hats all the time. Especially driving. Absolute clowns.

[mugbull]

Why can't you people just let people blow off some steam? You don't have to be the fucking center of zen every single day.

If ur free to post mundane annoying shit, then one should be free to shit on you if one feels so inclined. Its not friendship otherwise.

[mugbull]

Those tits that wear beanie hats all the time. Especially driving. Absolute clowns.

Beanies are better for the sub 30 age range than any other hat type, and you can still pull off a beanie after that if you're on a jog.

[bruhnaldo]

If ur free to post mundane annoying shit, then one should be free to shit on you if one feels so inclined. Its not friendship otherwise.

Except when I do it I'm having a MELTDOWNANWNWNWNWNWWN and when you guys do it it's "jokes amongst friends m8!"

[ScousePig]

I wouldn't have expected anything more than the money back, and quite happy that they're willing to do that. She's been £800 out of pocket for nearly five months though, which is why she's pissed off.


You got your money back, what else do you want? Your arse wiped?

Cheers for your input Boydy, much appreciated as usual.

[mugbull]

Except when I do it I'm having a MELTDOWNANWNWNWNWNWWN and when you guys do it it's "jokes amongst friends m8!"

Because you always catch the bait, lol

[Boydy]

Why can't you people just let people blow off some steam? You don't have to be the fucking center of zen every single day.

I defended you the other day, dickwad.

[Boydy]

Maybe you should try mumsnet, Scouse.

[Magic]

It's normally accompanied by loose fitting tight jeans and some boxers showing, usually comic based. Cunts.

[Lewis]

The garden centre probably doesn't have the processes in place to deal with somebody handing over eight-hundred quid. They will have just lost it or blown it on fish food without writing it down.

[ScousePig]

Maybe you should try mumsnet, Scouse.

Yeah I started there.

[Disco]

She's been £800 out of pocket for nearly five months though, which is why she's pissed off.

This seems like an odd reaction to me, unless she was already annoyed at 'having' to spend £800 in the first place.

[randomlegend]

Well it's £800 she could have spent on something else, but couldn't for 5 months because of someone else's fuck-up/lying. Depends how much money you have and whether it's a lot to you or not, but I can understand it being irritating.

[Kikó]

£800 could have got you a nice Ralph Lauren Polo.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Or a Hermes belt.

[Disco]

Well it's £800 she could have spent on something else, but couldn't for 5 months because of someone else's fuck-up/lying. Depends how much money you have and whether it's a lot to you or not, but I can understand it being irritating.

But it hasn't evaporated, you get it back.

[Magic]

Or pay off your credit card debt. :happycry:

[Foe]

Or buy a couple of signed Niall Quinn shirts.

[randomlegend]

But it hasn't evaporated, you get it back.

Yeah I'm not retarded.

[Disco]

My point is it would be reasonable to be annoyed that you don't end up getting the furniture you chose or if you don't get a full refund. If you're just annoyed that you didn't have access to the money for however long it was then you have to question the decision to spend it in the first place.

[randomlegend]

I think it's perfectly reasonable that you might have wanted to spend it on something else/some other furniture in that five months, had you known you weren't going to end up getting what you'd paid for.

It seems we have reached an impasse however, so I bid you good day sir.

[ScousePig]

This seems like an odd reaction to me, unless she was already annoyed at 'having' to spend £800 in the first place.

It's an odd reaction to be annoyed at paying £800 for something that should arrive within 12 weeks and still hasn't at 19 weeks?

[bruhnaldo]

What kinda dumbass logic is "You have no right to be upset at constant delays, lies, and nonsense so long as you eventually get your money back"

[Lewis]

Now you know why Oak Furniture Land charges double.

[Disco]

Keep reading.

[bruhnaldo]

Keep being a pretentious dipshit.

[ScousePig]

My point is it would be reasonable to be annoyed that you don't end up getting the furniture you chose or if you don't get a full refund. If you're just annoyed that you didn't have access to the money for however long it was then you have to question the decision to spend it in the first place.

It's a little thing in life that fucks you off, not a major catastrophe. If we ended up not getting the furniture or the full refund I'd be shitting in their plant pots.

And she's not annoyed at not having access to the money, she's annoyed at not getting the furniture.

[Disco]

What kinda dumbass logic is "You have no right to be upset at constant delays, lies, and nonsense so long as you eventually get your money back"

Is anyone saying that?

[bruhnaldo]

Wow you're fucking dense.

[Disco]

It's a little thing in life that fucks you off, not a major catastrophe. If we ended up not getting the furniture or the full refund I'd be shitting in their plant pots.

No I get that, it was the bit about being annoyed specifically at not having the money for a couple of months (which would be the case whatever the outcome) rather than not getting the stuff.

[bruhnaldo]

Except the waiting went on many many weeks longer than it was supposed to?

[Disco]

Except the waiting went on many many weeks longer than it was supposed to?

Again, no-one is saying it's unreasonable to be annoyed about the wait.

[Pepe]

This page fucks me off.

[Magic]

Oak Furniture Land. :D

Hand made originals or nothing tbf.

[Disco]

Their stuff seems too cheap to be anything other than full of cruelty and tears.

[ScousePig]

No I get that, it was the bit about being annoyed specifically at not having the money for a couple of months (which would be the case whatever the outcome) rather than not getting the stuff.

I worded one of my posts quite badly. She's annoyed at not having the furniture, thus annoyed that she's paid out £800 and doesn't have anything to show for it.

They phoned earlier, apologising and offering some vouchers. Some of the stuff is in, but they're waiting for the rest. She's giving them until the end of the week before getting a refund.

[Boydy]

Should've just gone to Ikea.

[Disco]

If it's far eastern then lead times are basically pot luck, I get stuff in from Portugal and they're bad enough.

[ScousePig]

Should've just gone to Ikea.

It was between Oak Furnitureland and this place. The difference in furniture was minimal, but the price substantial.

[Adamski]

Bruhs constant outrage at British people being British is one of the nicer themes on the board recently.

[Adamski]

It was between Oak Furnitureland and this place. The difference in furniture was minimal, but the price substantial.

And now you know why.

[Boydy]

It was between Oak Furnitureland and this place. The difference in furniture was minimal, but the price substantial.

Should've gone to DFS.

[randomlegend]

I might have moaned about this before, but fucking 40mph drivers.

You spend half an hour following them at 40 along a 60mph road, then you finally hit a town and the speed limit drops to 30. You slow down and what do they do? Ride off into the FUCKING distance at FUCKING 40 miles an hour, dribbling into their lap as they go.

Centre of the town, speed limit goes to 20? 40.

Troglodytes.

[Shindig]

Smoke alarm going off for no reason. Cue me doing the dance of all dances to remove a smoke alarm using:

1. A ladder not quite tall enough.
2. A man not quite tall enough (me)
3. On a winder staircase.

[mugbull]

Sounds like a paraplegia waiting to happen

[Shindig]

Did I mention I'm not good with heights? It's removed but having to prop the closed step ladder against one of the stairs and then climbing it was a little iffy.

[Gray Fox]

Smoke alarm going off for no reason. Cue me doing the dance of all dances to remove a smoke alarm using:

1. A ladder not quite tall enough.
2. A man not quite tall enough (me)
3. On a winder staircase.

Apparently the most common causes of them going off like that is either 1) a spider has moved inside the thing 2) and more commonly it's just a build up of dust inside it

Ours was doing this and we got the hoover out and gave it a clean. You may look like a nutcase if anyone sees you hoovering your smoke detector, but it worked for me. No problems since.

[Pepe]

I just chucked all of the batteries away.

[Lufcdanny]

Smoke alarm going off for no reason. Cue me doing the dance of all dances to remove a smoke alarm using:

1. A ladder not quite tall enough.
2. A man not quite tall enough (me)
3. On a winder staircase.

I have recently moved in to a rented apartment. There are two smoke alarms downstairs and one is above the fucking oven. When one goes off it also sets off every other alarm in the house. Including upstairs. So if I cook when my housemate is out and it goes off, I have to run around the house wafting each one like a maniac. What an absolute ridiculous place for it.

[Shindig]

That's terrible foresight. I'd be removing that every time I wanted something to eat. Hoovering sorted mine out, thankfully. Curse this dusty spider nest.

EDIT: Actually, if you hold the test button down as it's going off, you'll probably shut it up for ten minutes. If it's the same model as mine.

[Spikey M]

I have recently moved in to a rented apartment. There are two smoke alarms downstairs and one is above the fucking oven. When one goes off it also sets off every other alarm in the house. Including upstairs. So if I cook when my housemate is out and it goes off, I have to run around the house wafting each one like a maniac. What an absolute ridiculous place for it.

Why would you have to 'waft' the ones that haven't been exposed to smoke?

[Yevrah]

Pubs dropping a zero (and sometimes even the £ sign) from their point of sale pricing.

Prawn cocktail in a jam jar - 5.5
Burger on a chopping board - 12.5
Another dish wrapped in pretentious wank 8.5

Nope, not having it.

[John]

That's the best use of this thread in about five years.

[Boydy]

Before I even got to your menu there, I thought to myself 'those are the same fucking places that can't just use plates'. Spot on.

[Disco]

Something in the fridge smells, it's none of the food and there are no obvious spills so now I have to empty it and clean the whole thing.

[mugbull]

Maybe it's a fridge demon

[Disco]

I haven't exorcised my white goods recently so you could be right.

[phonics]

I read that as white gods and it made more sense.

[Spammer]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/41127404/loreal-sacks-first-transgender-model-munroe-bergdorf

This woman has been dumped by L'Oreal for saying that all white people are racist. She then clarifies later on:

"When I stated that 'all white people are racist', I was addressing that fact that western society as a whole, is a system rooted in white supremacy - designed to benefit, prioritise and protect white people before anyone of any other race."

Fair enough, except that she didn’t express that sentiment - which is a much more nuanced one - in her original words. Her original words were 'all white people are racist'.

She's not got sacked because 'white privilege', but because she's become another example of these people who use privilege theory as a justification for making megalomanic claims to omniscience, where it's somehow appropriate to take general trends across society and make absolute judgments about vast swathes of people on an individual level based on those general trends. Whether or not she should have been sacked, it’s a thoughtless way of expressing herself at best.

I actually agree with privilege theory. White people are privileged. Men are privileged. Straight/cis people...and so on. These are statements which are statistically verifiable and when applied across the whole of society are completely appropriate at informing social policy and raising awareness. Absolutely.

Is it appropriate to label every single white person ‘privileged’ though, even if they do have privilege as a result of being white? No, I don’t think so. I think that’s flippant and stupid. The personal is the political, I agree with that, because there’s only one world and both are a part of it – but until we have God-like levels of knowledge and understanding where we know literally everything, we cannot know entirely how the personal and the political relate to each other in every circumstance. Sorry.

That’s why I’m saying that generalised, blanket statements, while being helpful for informing social theory, are harmful when you use them to make dogmatic judgments about people on an individual level. For example, how about a white male who was raped as a child, and can’t hold down a job because of the anxiety issues which stem from that experience? Yeah he’s a white male, but is it appropriate to put a circle around his entire existence and label him ‘privileged’? How about Baby P? Was Baby P, who was tortured and eventually murdered at the grand old age of 18 months, a ‘privileged white male’? Is that appropriate or not? You shouldn’t use privilege theory to make such crass assumptions about people on an individual level, because you don’t know what an individual person has gone through – doing so is insensitive at best and utterly despicable at worst.

Of course we can flip this and consider the many people who belong to demographics who are in the ‘oppressed’ category and acknowledge as such, and yet nevertheless deeply resent the idea that them being a ‘victim’ and ‘oppressed’ is the defining feature about them; the entirety of their existence. To give anyone an all-encompassing ‘victim’ label is insidiously disempowering. In all situations, there is more to a person than the fact that they have been a victim of something.

I wonder about people who think in this way. Do they walk around the streets taxonomising everyone and weighing up the amount of ‘privilege’ that they have, as though it’s some kind of quantifiable commodity? I wonder how possible it is to actually connect with other people on a genuinely intimate and personal level while you’re doing that kind of thing.

It reminds me of a woman I knew at university who came back from Morrison’s one day proudly exclaiming that she had a nice chat with the checkout cashier because she ‘respects working class people’. I couldn’t (and still can’t) help but wonder if it would ever be possible for her to have a genuine relationship with that cashier while she was seeing them in such a reductive way. Labels are great for spotting trends that can inform social policy or for for intellectualising about ‘society’ in the abstract while you’re flicking through your Guardian or a Sociology journal, but looking at everyone via a category is an impediment to intimacy, genuine listening, and respecting lived experience.

I can’t help but consider what I see as a remarkable hypocrisy behind the emphasis on ‘listening to lived experience’ while making judgements about people in this way. For as long as you’ve got a taxonomy in your head and for as long as you see people purely as representations of some wider category, you’re more likely to bring your own assumptions to the table which is going to get in the way of you actually listening to them properly.

While acknowledging all the social issues out there, when you engage with individual people in your life, surely trying your best to build your impression of that person based your actual experience of talking and listening to them is ultimately the most humane and respectful way of going about things? Or am I missing something?

[Lewis]

The only 'privilege' that exists relates to socio-economic factors, not biological ones.

[Spammer]

Not sure if I agree entirely with that.

I do agree that that's the biggest one though. Taken alone, the privilege of me being a white or male is kinda trivial in comparison to the privilege of not needing to work for 12 hours per day from the age of five every day of my entire life in order to barely avoid starving to death. I mean, there's no comparison really. I do think there are other privileges though, relating to the white/male/cis/blah blah type things.