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Tbh, the people that are impressed by the apparent signs of 'success' are even stranger....
Black Pot calling Kettle. Are you receiving, Kettle?
lolz
People who would rather waste hours of time doing a bad job rather than pay somebody who knows what they are doing
Ah, man... this times a bazillion. We wanted a towbar fitted to our (new to us) Galaxy with its CAN bus electrickery and OH was all for doing it himself. Nope. Not a ****ing chance, but thanks for offering. I'd rather stump up an extra hundred or so quid for someone local and indie who knows what they're doing, who's probably done one before and has all the gubbins he needs to do it, to do it. Drop the bus off, cycle home & get some work done, cycle back, pay the nice people who've just done the work and drive home. No stress, no having to fix something that got broken trying to take it off, just an easy life.
"People who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing"
This. Big time. I like nice things and would say that the wife and I are probably a tad materialistic, however, we also make sure that value is the priority with every purchase, should we be able to afford it - and with very young children we are keen for them to appreciate the value of what they have. I know someone that is disgustingly materialistic, talks at you about what theyve bought, what it cost, how much they earn, debt, etc etc. The thing is, it's not a gloating thing. It seems to be more about validation of their efforts. Sadly, I'm sure their children would appreciate more time being spent with them and less money.
A neighbour has a new R8 Spider and I want one when I hear it head out onto the main road. But I know that I would prefer to borrow one as cost of ownership would make me resent it. Oh, and I'd have to sell the house to buy one.
I really dont understand why people litter.
Hello Black pot! I have come to understand my oddness / eccentricity / sheer stupidity ( delete as appropriate)
I’d rather stump up an extra hundred or so quid for someone local and indie who knows what they’re doing
Good luck with that. Seems like you have about a 50% chance of handing money to someone who does not actually know what they are doing after all.
I'm still on the hunt for the woolly mammoth ..anyone sited one recently ..😁
Sounds like my my brother and two sisters.
Sounds like me!
People who walk in the road when there's a perfectly good pavement the other side of all the parked cars... seems to be a growing trend in Cardiff. Makes it look like you're a retard, or scouting for stuff to nick from previously mentioned parked cars (probably the case where I live).
People who expect other people to search the Internet for an answer that they could have Googled
STW has answered some questions for me that Google could never do.
Anyway ,I found STW through a Google search so that makes every question I ask on here an extension of that search.
STW has answered some questions for me that Google could never do.
So that wouldn't be it then. more the ones where you can paste the thread title into google and get the answer
I'm definitely in the 'work to live' not 'live to work' camp, I realise if you retire and suddenly stop working 40 hours a week it leaves a hole to fill but I can think of plenty of things I'd rather fill it with than working an office job. For those people that actually enjoy their job though, why not carry on working?
As for liking stuff, I guess I'm fairly materialistic. Not entirely sure why, I wasn't spoiled as a child and my parents were pretty frugal (but I didn't want for anything I actually needed). So might be my mind's easily controlled by advertising or I see 'stuff' subconsciously as some measure of success. It's always nice having little rewards to - I'd need to work regardless of my spending habits and I guess would rather work a 40 hour week and have money to fritter away on shiny toys than work a 20 hour week and have to watch carefully what I buy. I waste most of my free time anyway so don't really need more of it at the moment. That said once my mortgage is paid off I'm looking into a 4 day week option (but mostly as I don't like my job rather than wanting more free time).
I don't go around bragging about things though and have always had more respect for someone riding around on a £300 bike than someone like me struggling around on a £3k bike, people that take the piss out of people on cheap(ish) bikes are just tossers.
There’re new standards to upgrade bikes to
And there we have it in a nutshell. Lunacy.
With respect to people with lots of lucre who continue to work long hours, I think you have to understand that they like doing stuff that incidentally brings in a lot of money. The money isn't the end, hence they keep working. The money is a signifier of their success in the same way as having your name listed as high scorer on a games machine back in the 80s.
Materialism is a blanket word that covers lots of things.
As I said - some things actually are intrinsically cool. I for example bought more expensive laptop (on heavy discount) when I needed a computer, even though I could've bought a cheaper one. I bought it because it had some cool features (like being a tablet convertible) that I really liked. I don't flash it around in public and I don't care if no-one knows I have it. And yes I know I've just posted it on here 🙂
I've got a poor memory so whereas a nice experience might be great at the time, I will get less out of it than most people as the memories will fade quicker.
So having 'stuff' I enjoy is more important as I will enjoy it everytime I use it without having to remember the great times I had using it previously.
but having stuff that is better than other peoples stuff, or is in their opinion, doesn't interest me.
Hence my Alfa is 14 years old 'cos I like driving it and prefer it to the modern electronic steering on Alfas and others.
My hifi had a lot spent on it but wouldn't impress neighbours unless they heard it. Quad power amps, MF TVC pre-amp, external crossovers, etc, is not going to win me any brownie points.
My bikes are decent and good quality - a Turner Flux, a Turner Sultan and a Kinesis Tripster ATR. Not interested in the latest slack-and-low trends as I won't enjoy riding them as much, even though they won't impress the warrior on the Bronson next to me at Swinley...
However they are sufficient quality to help me enjoy the experience of riding them whilst not requiring much maintenance as the argument for cheap bikes being good enough doesn't wash with me as I've had the cheaper bikes and gone through all the failures and constant maintence and expense required, particularly if riding in the winter.
I like having stuff but I do end up buying a lot of tech I don't use much. I'd still rather spend £300 on a games console than £600 on a holiday that only lasts a week.
I do try to buy things to last though, and I'm getting better at selling stuff on if I'm not using it anymore.
I wonder if it's something that comes from childhood? We were never starving but rarely had luxuries - it took me a while to realise I could afford to buy decent quality clothes and nice food as an adult with a job. I get enjoyment from owning and using nice things, but I don't understand status symbol purchases.
This post is as pointless as the rest of the thread, but I felt compelled to write it. Can someone tell me why?
Things I didn't understand until I tried them:
- Wide bars
- Disc brakes on bicycles
- Di2
Things I've tried and still don't understand:
- Eastenders
- Musicals
- SUVs
- Watching football
Things I haven't tried and can't understand why anyone would:
- voting Conservative
- supporting Trump
- supporting Brexit
- Morris Dancing
Why the hate of morris dancing, it's been mentioned a few times.
things I genuinely don't understand:
- people who think they can have rights without responsibilty
- litter
- hanging bags of dog poo in trees
- pushing bikes uphill ;0)
pushing bikes uphill
Makes much more sense than pushing them downhill.
Perchy I think you're attributing modern capitalist values which are described as competitive (how comes the same families etc keep on winning?) and biological (ie 'there is no alternative') whereas from my reading of the subject, early societies thrived through cooperation and collectivism and marrying out to form new alliances and to defend against disasters. Elements of that culture can still be seen eg in some groups in southern Africa.
From all the cave paintings I've seen in France (lots) I cannot remember one which showed competition and aggression towards another human. If they exist, they are pretty rare.
Oh and why people were happy that 26" bikes could be very different but 650/29r's must have wheel size defiing characteristics.
How people can't calculate gear ratios
I dont understand why parents who ride with their children in tow, dont wear a helmet but stick one on their childs head? Bonkers?
I dont understand why I never mention this to the parents when I see them.
Its almost as if different people like different things. I don't get why you care what others choose to do or like. You say your not judging, but you clearly are.
I don't understand folk who eat and drink crap and think a couple of hours of cardio is the antidote.
Why the hate of morris dancing, it’s been mentioned a few times.
It's a quote. Google "incest and morris dancing"*. While you are about it you can try "the cost of everything and the value of nothing". No new ideas here.
*Don't worry it won't get you on the register. You can use Duck duck go if you are worried about getting blacklisted.
Why the hate of morris dancing, it’s been mentioned a few times.
Because to many people it is a bizarre activity with no redeeming merit whatsoever. Hence it's inclusion in a 'things people do I simply don't understand' thread.
OK, didn't know about that Nico.
angeldust - OK. Whatever happened to each to their own?
People who think Salt n' Vinegar crisps are not the best flavour.
I dont understand why parents who ride with their children in tow, dont wear a helmet but stick one on their childs head? Bonkers?
Odds of kids falling of on their first few rides and damaging their squishy skulled heads - quite high
Odds of grownups crashing at walking pace and getting a head injury - about the same as walking*
*made up stat about head injuries, but per mile the fatality rate for cycling is lower than walking, so I'm happy to stick my neck out and say it's in the same ballpark.
Whatever happened to each to their own?
It turned out that that just encouraged people to enjoy things that others didn't.
what I don’t get is why are they still working?
(From page one)
Maybe they like working, might not be the material money might just be they enjoy what they do for a living.
Yeah - I got early retirement but carried on working doing stuff I liked doing rather than what I had to do to earn the most money. I've met lots of new friends, learned new skills, I get to drive round the Scottish Highlands and get paid for it, I meet lots of interesting characters and I get to promote the area. I basically choose when I want to work and I'm happy to do additional hours at short notice if it doesn't interfere with my plans. Work doesn't have to be a grind.
As for the acquisition of stuff, I refer you to the first law of manhood; he who dies with the most kit wins.
I don't understand why people use "apostrophe" s to make a plural
Can we all agree that whatever our views on expensive cars, collecting star wars figurines, watching miserable soap operas and morris dancing nobody has a bloody clue why people gather up their dog's shit and hang it in bushes?
Odds of kids falling of on their first few rides and damaging their squishy skulled heads – quite high
Odds of grownups crashing at walking pace and getting a head injury – about the same as walking*
*made up stat about head injuries, but per mile the fatality rate for cycling is lower than walking, so I’m happy to stick my neck out and say it’s in the same ballpark.
Smacks of 'do as I say not as I do'
I don’t understand why people use “apostrophe” s to make a plural
They need to mind their P's and Q's
Can we all agree that whatever our views on expensive cars, collecting star wars figurines, watching miserable soap operas and morris dancing nobody has a bloody clue why people gather up their dog’s shit and hang it in bushes?
Yeah, sorry that's me.
I don't even have a dog, just hang up other people's.
I know why they hang it in bushes. It's because poo is a bit gross and they don't want to carry it around.
My response would be 'tough, should've thought of that before getting a dog' but some people don't want to accept responsibility.
To address TJ’s original point…… the acquisition of goods and chattels and the drive to outperfom your peers, be it in the world of work , the field of battle or in the hunt for the wooly mammoth are hard wired into the majority of human beings. It’s a biological imperative to compete for status.
Citation needed. What do you mean by "hard-wired"? That it can't be changed? That working till you drop for more money is an absolute, and "hard-wired". But what you are really saying is a tautological argument because the original question could be, "I don't understand what other people see as status". What if I add a bit:
… the acquisition of goods and chattels and the drive to outperfom your peers, be it in the world of work, trekking in Mongolia, the field of battle, or in the hunt for the wooly mammoth are hard wired into the majority of human beings. It’s a biological imperative to compete for status.
Quite obviously for some people it is not a (significant) biological imperative to acquire that RS6, but they may have a Berlingo with a £7000 bike in the back, which cannot really be attributed to Richard Dawkins thinking. We've got a bit beyond the wooly mammoth but not beyond the wooly popular psychology.
Things people do I simply don’t understand
Write the words....
Citation needed.
...on a mountain biking chat forum. Taking it all a bit seriously aren't we?
I therefore withdraw all of my popular psychology, wooly or otherwise, and revert to my previous statement, amended as per TJ's suggestion.
People are weird. TJ and I doubly so.
People who press the button on the Pelican Crossing when I'm obviously the only car approaching it for 1/2 a mile.
You don't have a white stick or a Golden lab, just a **** phone your face is glued to!
Learn to cross the road you Nob.
People who need to know gear ratios.
People who press the button on the Pelican Crossing when I’m obviously the only car approaching it for 1/2 a mile.
i press it even if i'm not crossing the road.
brollies - they are just a load of bobbins because the amount of time that you get rain but not wind is so rare, so you just get a brolly that folds up in the wind or a really heavy one that generates so much lift it pulls away from you and you get wet
Morris dancing
i would have been with you up until the point that I went to the wedding of a Morris dancer. Place was full of them, they showed us how to do it and everyone joined in. Bit like a ceilidh but with hankies instead of kilts. utterly brilliant do
Company owners telling potential customers to **** off.
*waves*