How have you grown (up) over the years...

[ScousePig]

...whilst being a TTHer? Inspired by something I read in WDYTOE (and turning 30), I thought it might be nice to look back on where you were in life when you first started posting here (I'm sure most of us can remember) and compare that to where you are now. A bit of a 'look at me' thread I guess.

I was 18, and the year was 2003. I had just left sixth form with shitty A-levels and zero ambitions. I posted the most ridiculous things with grammar Bamster would be ashamed of. I'd been working at Morrison's as a student and continued to work there part-time up until 19, then upped it to 35 hours. I'd probably been promoted to a supervisor by then. I didn't drive and wasn't in a serious relationship (possibly a casual one). I was overweight and unfit, and hadn't seen much of the world outside the UK (something I'd always wanted to do - it appealed much more than the 'lads holidays' to Magaluf I always ended up on).

Twelve years on and I'm a primary school teacher with a first class degree and an access diploma with most credits at distinction. I have a nice car, but I'm still single (though I'm dating someone) and living with my parents. In between then and now I carried on working at Morrison's for several years before going to uni, had a couple of years of serious mental health problems, found a really rewarding part time job in mental health to see me through uni, which meant I could leave Morrison's. I worked with them for five years. I'm now a lot fitter, happier generally, and have 'travelled' across much of Europe on several holidays.

Despite this, I can't help but feel I wasted a large part of my twenties. I should probably have been where I am now at 25 (though I try not to look at things that way).

Here's to a better decade of life :beer:

[ScousePig]

This is going well. I should have added to the OP as a general point that I feel like I have, or at least am developing, a bit of a life now.

Which is nice.

[SvN]

The biggest change in my personality is that I don't engage with people who I perceive to be idiots. That might sound arrogant, but I've found that by ignoring the likes of Mert and Saint on TTH alone has made the forum more enjoyable for me. In real life, I'm a member of a Whatsapp group with a ton of friends and friends of friends. One of the guys I don't know too well is a United fan and before the match against Chelsea, he said he hoped United lost so LvG would be sacked. I originally called him out and said it was a joke that he'd want his own team to lose, but after he responded (with drivel about possession football not working in England and that we need to get Pep in to replace him), I just chose to ignore it.

In his head, he probably thinks he bamboozled me and "won". I'm now happy for him to think that. Years ago, I wouldn't have been.

[Lewis]

I'm a member of a Whatsapp group with a ton of friends and friends of friends.

Alright, big man.

[SvN]

There's 13, so a ton might have been an overstatement. Although I do have 104 friends.

[ScousePig]

Are those big WhatsApp groups worth it? The only group one I'm in is for my football team. A lad I work with is in one with a big group of uni mates and he says it gets taken over by a couple of them talking about their bets (the men) or people moaning (the women). Sometimes there's over a thousand messages a day, none of which concern him. Sounds a right ballache.

As for hoping your team loses, I've never been in that position but I've probably been close, and many other Sunderland fans have been. When your team are that bad and desperate for a change at a critical point of the season, and you know that one extra defeat will most likely tip things over the edge, I can certainly sympathise with the view.

[simon]

Alright, big man.

:D

[Toby]

I hate WhatsApp.

[Giggles]

I hate WhatsApp.

Bit extreme. What the problem with it?

[Giggles]

I really don't think this place has effected me in any way. I suppose it lets me vent my inner cunt far more than I do in real life, but I don't think I've changed a great deal here over the years.

[Toby]

The way almost everybody uses it would be better served by Facebook Messenger.

Although the main issue is that the couple of groups I'm in include arseholes.

[Mellberg]

I was 13. I'm now 28. I haven't grown up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Whatsapp is superb. Had it been around in 1997, Tony Blair could and would have run the government using Whatsapp alone.

[ScousePig]

The way almost everybody uses it would be better served by Facebook Messenger.

Although the main issue is that the couple of groups I'm in include arseholes.

I use both and find WhatsApp more convenient. Though I do also make calls using it.

[Giggles]

The way almost everybody uses it would be better served by Facebook Messenger.

Although the main issue is that the couple of groups I'm in include arseholes.

Any groups I was in or am in have all migrated to Whatsapp or Viber as some people have closed their Facebook accounts so couldn't be on a messenger one. People will always have a phone number which is the only requirement for Whatsapp. Facebook is too orientated around stupid large smileys too.

The only advantage I found FB to have was that you could use it on a tablet.

[John Arne]

WhatsApp is a thousand times more convenient than Facebook.

[Toby]

I use both and find WhatsApp more convenient.

All my groups are people also on Facebook, and who use it solely for messaging, which just seems stupid to me. It's just exactly the same but with an uglier interface and without the ability to sync across devices.


WhatsApp is a thousand times more convenient than Facebook.

How?

[John Arne]

It uses a hell of a lot less data and notification shit, for one. It includes friends that don't use Facebook, for two. It's better, for three.

[Toby]

Those first two reasons are fair enough but don't affect me in any way. As I say, everybody in groups I use is on Facebook and using WiFi (3G is near non-existent here). So, I maintain that in my specific case it's pointless.

[John Arne]

Fair enough.

[Pepe]

I was going to post my story but since now we're talking about whatsapp: I have only used it once to talk to my mother while she was in Greece. Worked ok.

[Giggles]

It uses a hell of a lot less data and notification shit, for one. It includes friends that don't use Facebook, for two. It's better, for three.

As well as the data usage, it's a bastard of a battery drainer too. Same as the Facebook app.

[Lewis]

I think TTH has made my humour drier and more oblique (if that is the right word; I mean when some of you moan about my references), which is why I don't have any mates. I had a ton of them in 2006.

[Yevrah]

I've never used Whatsapp, facetime (is that even a thing?), Viber or anything like that and I don't think my life's any worse for it, or would be any better had I done.

[Spammer]

I'm not sure if I've changed that much fundamentally. I've only been on here properly for about 3 years though.

I've changed a fair bit since being on FMG, which was my first and only other online community thing. I got booted off there the first time for posting 'I AM IRON MAN' in response to everything for about 20 posts in a row. Then I got banned permanently for being racist. Not that I was actually racist, I just thought it'd be fun to see the reaction. The reaction was for me to get banned permanently. I was 14. Then I reregistered a few months later and kept my head down.

I don't do that kind of thing anymore, so I reckon I've changed loads.

[Chrissy]

The biggest change in my personality is that I don't engage with people who I perceive to be idiots. That might sound arrogant, but I've found that by ignoring the likes of Mert and Saint on TTH alone has made the forum more enjoyable for me. In real life, I'm a member of a Whatsapp group with a ton of friends and friends of friends. One of the guys I don't know too well is a United fan and before the match against Chelsea, he said he hoped United lost so LvG would be sacked. I originally called him out and said it was a joke that he'd want his own team to lose, but after he responded (with drivel about possession football not working in England and that we need to get Pep in to replace him), I just chose to ignore it.

In his head, he probably thinks he bamboozled me and "won". I'm now happy for him to think that. Years ago, I wouldn't have been.


Yeah. Very very true. Good advice mate.

[mugbull]

Oh man, this is a good thread. I'll C-P my thread from the old board over onto this

[Spoonsky]

It uses a hell of a lot less data and notification shit, for one. It includes friends that don't use Facebook, for two. It's better, for three.

But excludes friends without smartphones. :(

[Giggles]

Anyone that has a phone that isn't a smartphone these days is either over 70 or trying their hardest to be a massive hipster.

[Spoonsky]

Not really. People spend too much time looking at their phones. I spent too much time looking at my phone when I had one. The solution is to not have one.

[Giggles]

The alternative is what though? Stare into space? I can look at my phone, do my job, and hear anything I need to hear from people I know. It's just following those wanky cafes, etc that thought they'd be different with their wifi bans and all that uppity shit.

[igor_balis]

Hipster it is then.

[Adamski]

"Help, help I don't understand it! Must be those bloody hipsters again!"

[Toby]

I have a non-smartphone but I'm a two phones wanker. It gets signal where my smartphone doesn't.

[The Merse]

Hard to say.

I arrived here (well ,there) a little short of my 24th birthday. I had just recently reached the 6 month stage of a relationship for the first time which was a bit of a landmark. I was working seasonally in an area of West Wales that you might call 'never never land', so prolific are those who seem to stretch their youth. I lived with my folks, though only really on paper - I divided my time between staying at mates and my girlfriends places mainly. I spent a lot of time partying and enjoyed getting battered. Ketamine and MDMA were right up my alley.

A year ago I'd have said I've grown up shitloads based on having had a couple of promotions (and another soon after), buying a house, talking about marriage and kids as a very imminent target with the then Mrs Merse. I was dressing awfully middle aged too - all Oxford shirts and brogues.

Then obviously it all fell apart a bit in terms of the house and the relationship. To some extents I reverted - I partied, I got battered, I bought a new wardrobe which everyone here thinks is batshit crazy, I got a tattoo and am back in a house share.

But, for all that, I think I've matured the most in the last 6 months or so. Coming out of all that gave a lot of perspective and mainly, something that was missing a lot of the time - motivation. I thought I'd become ambitious when I started focusing on my career development. Now though, I'm motivated to fulfil any personal want or target I might set in a rational manner. I am getting fitter, I am saving money, etc, etc.

I suppose for me, that's the mark of growing up - I've continually become more motivated, whether to get up and do a good day's work, to develop personally and professionally, to work towards my goals or have the confidence and belief that I oughtn't be inhibited by the fear of making the wrong call or move every so often.

So - quite a bit I guess.

[Giggles]

"Help, help I don't understand it! Must be those bloody hipsters again!"

Offer something more constructive than this regurgitated rubbish or ram it.

[igor_balis]

Spoon, did you watch one of those shit viral videos where some cunt is on a date or something and they're looking at their phone and not paying attention and the world is meant to be so connected, yeah? But everyone is actually more disconnected, yeah? And the beauty of the world passes you by cus you're looking at a screen? That shite made me want to go and buy another 10 smartphones as a protest.

[Spoonsky]

The alternative is what though? Stare into space? I can look at my phone, do my job, and hear anything I need to hear from people I know. It's just following those wanky cafes, etc that thought they'd be different with their wifi bans and all that uppity shit.

"Stare into space" :D

People got on well enough before smartphones existed. There's no inherent human need to be staring at a phone. You just think about things, observe the world around you, actually talk to people (this is a bigger problem for me, probably, in my classrooms filled with people looking at their phones instead of talking, than it is for you), read a book... I waste enough time on my own computer as it is.

With that said, I think I have a somewhat addictive personality and I end up hooked on stupid games (Flappy Bird :drool:) far more than a lot of other people do.

[Giggles]

Spoon, did you watch one of those shit viral videos where some cunt is on a date or something and they're looking at their phone and not paying attention and the world is meant to be so connected, yeah? But everyone is actually more disconnected, yeah? And the beauty of the world passes you by cus you're looking at a screen? That shite made me want to go and buy another 10 smartphones as a protest.

Things like that always make the assumption there's actually something in the world worth missing out on.

[mugbull]

I don't think people spend too much time on their phones. It's not like we would accomplish anything else instead.

[Pepe]

I'm with Spoon on this one, it is infuriating. Even my mother is on it too now.

[Giggles]

"Stare into space" :D

People got on well enough before smartphones existed. There's no inherent human need to be staring at a phone. You just think about things, observe the world around you, actually talk to people (this is a bigger problem for me, probably, in my classrooms filled with people looking at their phones instead of talking, than it is for you), read a book... I waste enough time on my own computer as it is.

With that said, I think I have a somewhat addictive personality and I end up hooked on stupid games (Flappy Bird :drool:) far more than a lot of other people do.

I knew you'd go there and it really does sum up hipstery at it's finest. Reading a book is somehow superior to reading the exact same words in the exact same language on a screen. That thinking is the nail on the head moment of being a hipster.

Though at least you saved it at the end with the real reason :D

[Spammer]

I felt exactly the same, but then I actually got a smartphone in July and realised that, actually, I can still appreciate the transcendent beauty of nature and have meaningful conversations with friends and all that shit. The trick is just to, you know, not be a twat and let a daft computer take over your life.

Almost anything can be either helpful or harmful depending on how you use it. Just don't be a douchebag and smart phones are fine.

[Lewis]

I don't even take my phone out. Hipster King.

[Spoonsky]

I knew you'd go there and it really does sum up hipstery at it's finest. Reading a book is somehow superior to reading the exact same words in the exact same language on a screen. That thinking is the nail on the head moment of being a hipster.

Though at least you saved it at the end with the real reason :D

How often are you reading books on your phone though?

People definitely can still do those things, Hammer, I just don't think they do nearly as much as they would otherwise. Those videos are definitely condescending

[Shindig]

I'm still anti-social but in a much less cowardly way. I used to dodge events and things for fear of making a tit of myself and, whilst I still turn up of these things and kill conversations dead, I'm at least trying now. Plus there's a lot of stuff I'll do on my own now that I'd previously have someone in tow for. Seems like getting my first job was a real catalyst to sort some personal baggage out.

And I no longer think dying my hair red is a cool thing to do.

[Giggles]

I read a lot on my phone or tablet. Is reading fiction superior to reading about science or tech?

[Pepe]

It is mostly about the constant need for distraction to me. Of course you can still do everything you could do before, but now you don't need to seek it since entertainment is so readily available.

[Adamski]

I knew you'd go there and it really does sum up hipstery at it's finest. Reading a book is somehow superior to reading the exact same words in the exact same language on a screen. That thinking is the nail on the head moment of being a hipster.

Though at least you saved it at the end with the real reason :D

It's not really a question of superiority though is it? It's a question of choice and preference. You just come across as a bitter twisted old man moaning at anyone who doesn't want to waste their life doing the boring shit everyone else does.

People are allowed to be different and allowed to like doing things that are considered cool. Get over yourself. It's no different to you and your hatred of Apple preferring that utter Android mess cause it makes you look different. It's personal preference.

/constructive

[Pepe]

It is of course a matter of preference but when I go visit my family and my sister spends all week taking selfies while my mother lols at shitty facebook posts I can't help but wonder what's the bloody point. Next time I'll just take the days off and stay home instead.

[Spoonsky]

I read a lot on my phone or tablet. Is reading fiction superior to reading about science or tech?

No, and I think you misunderstood me. Reading a book on your phone isn't any worse than reading an actual book (I prefer the book aesthetically but I make no judgment about it), but I tend to believe that most people looking at their phones aren't reading books. If all these people at bus stops are actually reading Anna Karenina instead of their Snapchat then fair play.

Adam and Pepe hitting it on the head.

[Giggles]

It's not really a question of superiority though is it? It's a question of choice and preference. You just come across as a bitter twisted old man moaning at anyone who doesn't want to waste their life doing the boring shit everyone else does.

People are allowed to be different and allowed to like doing things that are considered cool. Get over yourself. It's no different to you and your hatred of Apple preferring that utter Android mess cause it makes you look different. It's personal preference.

/constructive

Oh dear you've been saving all that up for a while haven't you? :D Run along boy and try keep it relevant instead of these little outbursts.

[Adamski]

No, and I think you misunderstood me. Reading a book on your phone isn't any worse than reading an actual book (I prefer the book aesthetically but I make no judgment about it), but I tend to believe that most people looking at their phones aren't reading books. If all these people at bus stops are actually reading Anna Karenina then fair play.

They're not. They're downloading books, reading a page and a half and getting distracted with a notification.

Physical books are far superior aesthetically as you say and also as you can physically stay away from your phone a lot easier.

[igor_balis]

I think I'm just being thick. I can't really think of occasions where you could be doing something brilliant but you're not by virtue of having the smart phone. Either you're doing something, or you ain't. I only ever piss around on my phone when I'm having a shit or on a train or something. The only alternative would be reading a book which is fair enough, but the more abstract stuff I really can't figure out. Are you freaks literally playing on your phone as you walk about the place and socialise and stuff?

[Giggles]

No, and I think you misunderstood me. Reading a book on your phone isn't any worse than reading an actual book (I prefer the book aesthetically but I make no judgment about it), but I tend to believe that most people looking at their phones aren't reading books. If all these people at bus stops are actually reading Anna Karenina then fair play.

Adam and Pepe hitting it on the head.

But do I have to be reading Anna Kareina or something like that for any of my reading to be relevant? You've just said Adam has hit the nail on the head and you've also just completely contradicted his choice and preference argument.

[Adamski]

Oh dear you've been saving all that up for a while haven't you? :D Run along boy and try keep it relevant instead of these little outbursts.

The conversation moved to you thinking people who didn't have a smartphone was a hipster. I offered a differing view, it's relevant and on topic.

If you're beat then just say :)

[Giggles]

They're not. They're downloading books, reading a page and a half and getting distracted with a notification.

Physical books are far superior aesthetically as you say and also as you can physically stay away from your phone a lot easier.

But why do you have to stay away from you phone? You're not advocating much choice there.

[Pepe]

Are you freaks literally playing on your phone as you walk about the place and socialise and stuff?

Surely you've seen people doing this, haven't you? If not, stop staring at that screen and look around you, you'll see it absolutely everywhere.

Never been into cafes (I don't drink coffee) but the current iteration where everyone is sitting around on their laptops is just plain sad.

[Giggles]

The conversation moved to you thinking people who didn't have a smartphone was a hipster. I offered a differing view, it's relevant and on topic.

If you're beat then just say :)

You explode like the ghost of Steve Jobs, which has obviously been making you twitch for a while and was completely irrelevant to all this, so you want to preach to yourself before anyone on this.

And proclamations of 'beat' do not actually make it a fact. That shit stops when you're 12.

[Adamski]

You explode like the ghost of Steve Jobs, which has obviously been making you twitch for a while and was completely irrelevant to all this, so you want to preach to yourself before anyone on this.

And proclamations of 'beat' do not actually make it a fact. That shit stops when you're 12.

Not at all. We're having a discussion loosely related to previous discussions I've seen you having. I'm using that as a basis to form my argument. Pretty reasonable actually.

Regarding your point about staying away from your phone, I think you're misunderstanding as Spoon said. If I'm reading a book on my iPad (down boy) and I get loads of Facebook notifications then it's rather distracting as I will always go and check them rather than reading my book.

If I read a physical book and purposely don't look at my phone then it's a lot easier to actually just read the book.

[Giggles]

Not at all. We're having a discussion loosely related to previous discussions I've seen you having. I'm using that as a basis to form my argument. Pretty reasonable actually.

Regarding your point about staying away from your phone, I think you're misunderstanding as Spoon said. If I'm reading a book on my iPad (down boy) and I get loads of Facebook notifications then it's rather distracting as I will always go and check them rather than reading my book.

If I read a physical book and purposely don't look at my phone then it's a lot easier to actually just read the book.

The old Android vs Apple argument had absolutely no relevance here. I'd happily give my views in the mobile phone thread as I think your assumption is exaggerated anyway.

And my main argument with what Spoon is saying is not that it's paper vs electronic, it's that he's declaring reading certain content to be superior to another. I'd rather people read what they wanted to read.

[igor_balis]

Surely you've seen people doing this, haven't you? If not, stop staring at that screen and look around you, you'll see it absolutely everywhere.

Never been into cafes (I don't drink coffee) but the current iteration where everyone is sitting around on their laptops is just plain sad.

I'd still write off the people who are browsing the internet or playing new star soccer as they walk down a pavement and similar as being impaired far beyond having a smart phone, that's truly mental behaviour - you'll just bump into people!!

The latter, yeah, fair point. I think I am just being colossally thick again to paraphrase what John said in WDYTOE. Though speaking from personal experience, I don't think any of my mates would start playing on their phones when we're socialising unless it was something shite like a few of us in a pub on a Wednesday night or something.

[Spoonsky]

The old Android vs Apple argument had absolutely no relevance here. I'd happily give my views in the mobile phone thread as I think your assumption is exaggerated anyway.

And my main argument with what Spoon is saying is not that it's paper vs electronic, it's that he's declaring reading certain content to be superior to another. I'd rather people read what they wanted to read.

I think you're putting words into my mouth still. The problem isn't what people on their phones are reading, it's the fact that they're actually not reading at all but rather looking at Snapchat or Instagram or the latest viral video.

With that said, I don't think it makes me much of a hipster to suggest that reading Anna Karenina (or literally almost any other book, that was just the first one that came to me) will do more for you than reading a load of Buzzfeed articles.

[Giggles]

I think you're putting words into my mouth still. The problem isn't what people on their phones are reading, it's the fact that they're actually not reading at all but rather looking at Snapchat or Instagram or the latest viral video.

With that said, I don't think it makes me much of a hipster to suggest that reading Anna Karenina (or literally almost any other book, that was just the first one that came to me) will do more for you than reading a load of Buzzfeed articles.

It really does. The assumption that if you're not reading what you deem acceptable, then you're reading buzzfeed (or the like) is snobby wankery really.

[Spoonsky]

Where have I ever said what I deem acceptable or not? I really don't see what you're getting at here.

You should try staring into space sometime, it can be fun.

[Adamski]

Yeah Giggles you're not getting this. You shouldn't have used a specific book as an example Spoon as he's just latching on to that and calling you a wanker.

It's more a general point about reading books versus reading nonsense I think.

[Giggles]

Where have I ever said what I deem acceptable or not? I really don't see what you're getting at here.

You should try staring into space sometime, it can be fun.

I do it every day for hours on end.

[Giggles]

Yeah Giggles you're not getting this. You shouldn't have used a specific book as an example Spoon as he's just latching on to that and calling you a wanker.

It's more a general point about reading books versus reading nonsense I think.

But what constitutes nonsense? You were all for freedom of choice and now you're calling some peoples choice of reading nonsense. What type of books aren't nonsense and are acceptable (an acceptable 'choice' of course) to read?

[mugbull]

Snapchat is great. So is Instagram i think. I think the difference is the degree to which you want to be social / connected with your friends. There's nothing wrong with being in constant contact with people either.

[Adamski]

But what constitutes nonsense? You were all for freedom of choice and now you're calling some peoples choice of reading nonsense. What type of books aren't nonsense and are acceptable (an acceptable 'choice' of course) to read?

I don't really get where you're going with this. If you can't grasp the difference between reading novels and lolcats then you're just being deliberately obtuse.

[Giggles]

I don't really get where you're going with this. If you can't grasp the difference between reading novels and lolcats then you're just being deliberately obtuse.

But to me novels are tripe (as are lolcats), and you're the one that has been wailing on about free choice. So are you saying I'm wrong now because my choice doesn't fit in with your idea of what peoples choices should be?

[Raoul Duke]

I would posit that the people who are reading Buzzfeed and looking at cat pictures 24/7 are unlikely to be reading Tolstoy, even if that was literally the only written words left on planet Earth after an extinction-level event.

[Adamski]

But to me novels are tripe (as are lolcats), and you're the one that has been wailing on about free choice. So are you saying I'm wrong now because my choice doesn't fit in with your idea of what peoples choices should be?

Every book ever written is tripe? What on earth are you talking about?

[Giggles]

Every book ever written is tripe? What on earth are you talking about?

Every book ever written is a novel? What on earth are you talking about?

[Adamski]

Have a good night you absolute weapon.

[Giggles]

Well you danced around it for long enough, it's best just to dance off.

[Manc]

Have a good night you absolute weapon.

Seething. :D

[Spoonsky]

Snapchat is great. So is Instagram i think. I think the difference is the degree to which you want to be social / connected with your friends. There's nothing wrong with being in constant contact with people either.

See, and I think I may be different to a lot of people in this, but I think I value my friends most for the conversation they provide rather than just for the lulz. My best (or favorite) friends are the ones whom I most enjoy talking with, rather than necessarily doing stuff with. When I had Snapchat I was more connected with my friends but I was never actually having interesting conversations with them on it, it was just making silly faces and such. I'd much much rather just have a chat with somebody at a coffee shop, even if that happens much less frequently than a Snapchat does.

Looks like Giggles finally caught his own tail.

[Giggles]

Looks like Giggles finally caught his own tail.

Or you're just only seeing the side you're arguing. At least you're a bit more articulate than that other goon though.

[mugbull]

See, and I think I may be different to a lot of people in this, but I think I value my friends most for the conversation they provide rather than just for the lulz. My best (or favorite) friends are the ones whom I most enjoy talking with, rather than necessarily doing stuff with. When I had Snapchat I was more connected with my friends but I was never actually having interesting conversations with them on it, it was just making silly faces and such. I'd much much rather just have a chat with somebody at a coffee shop, even if that happens much less frequently than a Snapchat does.

Looks like Giggles finally caught his own tail.

you don't know this yet Snapsexi

[Spoonsky]

Or you're just only seeing the side you're arguing. At least you're a bit more articulate than that other goon though.

That's true, I really have no idea what you're arguing. I said that there a lot of good alternatives to looking at your phone such as, yes, staring into space, thinking about things, making conversation, or reading a book. You said (http://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/showthread.php?761-How-have-you-grown-(up)-over-the-years&p=47015&viewfull=1#post47015) that this statement made me a hipster. I said I don't understand how it does, and you descended into something about book genres which I had never mentioned in the first place.

So what point are you making?

[igor_balis]

Has adamski gone full Townsend? I hope so. X

[Spammer]

Well its nice to see you lot have had a good new years eve.

[mugbull]

Looks like i shit myself halfway through that post. I was going to make a point but i guess it's moot now

[Boydy]

I like Buzzfeed and cat gifs and novels.

Smartphones are great but I do worry I use mine a little too much. It is a massive distraction. Idiots are going to do idiotic things whether they have smartphones or not.

[Spoonsky]

It's not about idiots, though, it's about distractions. Dumb people will do whatever they do, the problem is when even relatively cultured and intelligent people like Boydy use theirs too much. Some of the smartest people I know spend too much time on their phones, which is why they're a problem (in my eyes).

[Boydy]

'relatively'?

Fuck you.

[Spoonsky]

It was a choice between gay and condescending. I flipped a coin, mate. :console: