The Bummer and Rant Thread

It's the old '15 minutes of fame' syndrome. As I have said people have seem to have lost the ability to switch the TV off. There was a family in Britain that actually got rid of their TV for a couple of months to see what would happen. After a few tantrums from the kids everyone settled down and family life improved, the kids would read more, do their homework without much fuss and they felt that their lives where better off.
 
flashjeff said:
Oh, please! Enough with the senseless whining about television! It's the oldest argument in the book!

Bottom line: the only way TV can dumb you down is if you allow it to! If you're willing to look aorund, intelligent shows can be found, either OTA (over the air) or on cable, but most people aren't willing to look, so they settle for all the inane nonsense on the networks, then ***** like little kids when they can't find anything decent to watch.
It's NOT the oldest argument in the book. As I've said before why do you think they call it programming? Because it programs the mind. If this is true then why are all these so called senseless shows so popular? Why does everyone, and I do mean everyone, talk about them the next day at work? Why do most people look at you like you're from another planet when you say you've never watched a single episode of Friends, or Frasier, or American Idol? Why do newspapers, like USA Today, constantly print what was the most popular show of the previous week and year and that "everyone" is watching it?

The answer is simple because that's what "they" want you to be watching instead of C-Span. They want your mind to be programmed to be focusing elsewhere and NOT on what is happening in the world or government. If tomorrow USA Today or the evening news anchors, or Entertainment Tonite, said that the most popular program on TV was C-Span and the House and Senate deliberations on illegal imigration and free medical care for them, tolls on US interstates, the new Patriot Act that is taking away more and more of your rights and freedoms, the 85 BILLION DOLLARS for Iraq, and THE 10 BILLION for hospitals to take care of illegals, I guarantee everyone would be watching it. And when they found out what is going on within our government there would be a revolution tomorrow. Now "they" don't want that to happen do they?

So please do not give the argument that people can change the channel if they want to. People are like sheep and if the newspaper or news says everyone is watching a particular program(s) the majority will watch it, whether it's interesting or not or whether it's funny or not, because everyone else is, and they don't want to be left out of the loop. They think, "Well if everyone thinks it's funny or interesting then I should too." Duuuuhh!

As for those people on Leno, sure they messed up, mainly because they probably had been told that they'd be on live TV, and they predictably freaked. You try being on camera in front of millions of people and answer a simple question, chances are you'd be so nervous, you wouldn't be able to spell your own name. I know I couldn't!
Can someone really be so freaked out that they wouldn't know the face of the President of the United States or the Vice-President? Yet be able to correctly name the picture of Brittany Spears and not Hillary Clinton? Could someone be so freaked out that they wouldn't know their own country on a map? Could a college student be so freaked out that he/she couldn't even name the two sides in the civil war? Give-me-a-break. The general American public is dumb concerning basic knowledge and world knowledge and just getting dumber. I see it everyday. No one cares about the massive trade deficit with China or that factories are closing at breakneck pace. They couldn't care less. But ask them about American Idol or the most recent movie, or the recent gossip among celebrities, and they'll be able to answer even if they're hanging by one leg on a crane above a pit full of crocodiles and snakes. Explain that!
 
There are more TV's in my house than there are people. And there is very little family communication.
Thats why i started reading Shakespeare... Then i was called weird for listening to Static-X at the same time to which i was slightly offended. Then i realised that maybe cheese and chocolate spread sandwiches might not normal and that i might indeed be weird... 😌
Im way off topic... Anyway heres a rant by a buddy of mine which i thought was great...
I'm fed up with this country and it's people; for those who have stumbled across this who ain't British, Britain isn't full of gentlemen with top hats who all live in castles and talk in really posh accents, most of us brits ain't like that. In fact if you believe the national newspapers the country is full of hooded, baseball capped, chavs, with the Crazy Frog ringtone, watching football, fighting, drinking beer, getting pregnant at 12, mugging old people, fighting old people, stealing, raping, grafitting, fighting, breaking windows and being a general nuisance.
Now, a lot of people are scared that going out will result in being mugged or worse. Worried that they too will become just another statistic for the News Of The World with the headline "yob fear shuts down the UK". And then they'll go on about how it's the schools fault and Tony Blair's fault for not fixing the problem, the chain continues when privately owned companies ban hooded tops and baseball caps in their premises enforcing the stereotype yet more and in turn causing more people to avoid doing anything that may result in coming across any teenager. it continues and it eventually ends up with the middle-classes having an irrational fear of the working class for they are the ones portrayed as such in the media.
But in my experience all this is unfound; I have never run into any trouble with anybody on the streets, no gangs have jumped out on me and tried to steal my money, no hooded teenager has started a fight with me and the troubles i have seen on the streets are few and far between. Sure you're going to get bad seeds in the world but not all teenagers in hoodies are out to get you! The media's propaganda only ever prints the crap things in life, you people don't want to buy a newspaper with the headline "teenager gets record number of A-level" - no, you people will buy the newspaper with the most threatening story on the cover, things with the words "murder" or "kill" in the title coz you all want to be scared, coz you want to justify buying that £1000 security system and to make you feel like your life is better than others. Then you sit in you're fortified houses and complain about society when in actual fact you have never even come across anybody outside of Rickmansworth.
Yes, there are some run down areas, and yes they do have a lot of crime. But instead of sitting there throwing blame on a subject you don't even understand - find a solution! "oh well it's not my problem, it's the governments fault for letting the country fall to this sorry state" No, bullsh*t! That isn't the answer, we live in a democracy, you can't sit there and expect some faceless beurocrats to solve anything. You have the chance to change things if you want to, that's the best thing about living in a democracy, but you really have to want to. You're the ones with the problems so you got to deal with it; find a solution, get out of your houses and work on making this country into a utopia, stop reading the propaganda in the nespapers, stop pointing fingers and experience real life.
That's all I have to say on the subject for now. Peace!
 
Ah, thanks for that HomocidalMouse. Sounds like he needed to get that off his chest. And I agree with him. Pointing fingers doesn't solve anything. 👍
 
Why must the public continue to be tortured by reality shows. I'm sorry, but I can't help it, "I Want to Be a Hilton?" Who gives a sh*t. My God, these people must be posessed. Who said that a rich woman training people of a lower scoial class was a good idea? Please tell me, because I would really love to findout so I can find that person, get myself a chair and hit them over the head with it. :eek:

I won't go into more ranting, at least not at the moment.
 
I too, loathe those silly "reality" shows - really appeal to the LCD, don't they ? (Does that make me a snob ?)

I have always watched a lot of reality shows - but in my day, they were called documentaries. Fortunately, the good ones are still good.

Nostalgiacally,

ニ淡ニ停?。ニ停?
 
The funny thing is that these shows wouldn't be on if people didn't watch them. If this show turns out to be a hit I give up on the American people as a whole. I mean what is the fascination of people with the rich and famous? Not only in the US but Britain, Japan, and other countries as well. I just don't get it.
 
I don't know why our manager likes to occupy my computer, viewing pages that I opened, he has his own laptop! :mad: What is more, when I was chatting with someone, he sometimes stood behind me and read the words out, that's really annoying! 😭 I don't like being stared when I'm doing things although I don't have any secret.
 
quiet sunshine said:
I don't know why our manager likes to occupy my computer, viewing pages that I opened, he has his own laptop! :mad: What is more, when I was chatting with someone, he sometimes stood behind me and read the words out, that's really annoying! 😭 I don't like being stared when I'm doing things although I don't have any secret.


Darling it's none of your manager's business as to what you're viewing. You should ask him why he's doing that. I know what you mean though, my younger sister tries to read what I'm saying when I'm on IM. Oh, your manager needs to be smacked.
 
Do it back at him. I would, and have done in the past. They soon get the message. I think I've just about trained our supervisor. He can be such a good boy when told. :-)
 
Peeping Tom, eh ? Here's what you can do.
Have the person you are chatting to (supposing it's someone you trust) to type in bold, (forgive my language for a moment :sorry: )

"I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING BECAUSE I HAVE A CENSORING PROGRAM !
PLEASE F*** OFF FROM MY PRIVATE SPACE !"

And then please tell us the embarassment on his face. 😌
If he (assuming it's a male mngr.) objects, just tell him you don't know how he got caught. Instead, assuming ignorance you could ask him,

"HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING OVER MY SHOULDER ?" :eek:
and give him an evil eye ! 🥷 :kaioken: :samurai :
 
Ma Cherie said:
You should ask him why he's doing that.
Well, I cried out yesterday: why you always watch me chatting?! He said: why can't? Since you don't have any secret. Of course in a kidding tone.
Oh, your manager needs to be smacked.
I dare not. :(
lexico said:
"I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING BECAUSE I HAVE A CENSORING PROGRAM !PLEASE F*** OFF FROM MY PRIVATE SPACE !"
Oh, I'm sure he would burst out laughing! That would make him even more interested.
and give him an evil eye !
:D :D :D
Now I tried not to use MSN when he's in office and even tried not to open any page that might arose his interest. 😌
 
Im sorry, this is probably going to sound completely how I didnt intend it to be, but shouldnt you restrict your personal computer use to lunchbreaks while you are being payed to do work?
My boss would constantly get people in to delete any non work related files, check the cookies etc... there was no way he was going to allow any opportunity for viruses to get into the system. Obviously if your boss doesnt mind paying you to chat thats great, and perhaps he is just looking over your shoulder to see if you are doing work or not? Very sorry that I took this out on you... not appropriate
 
this isn't a rant about reality tv

I have a different rant now. :p It's about these ultra religious people that are trying to shove their religious beliefs into the government. Excuse me, if I'm not mistaken but are these people forgetting the First Amendment? I mean really? I don't mean to offend anyone here who is religious, but seriously. The blaming of school shootings is NOT because prayer was removed from schools. And is it just me, or do these ultra religious people seem like blind patriots? This is what I've noticed (there's a huge possibly I could be wrong). There's nothing wrong with being a pratriot, but it's important to see the things that need change in this country. If you refuse to see these changes, than nothing will improve. The only thing I hear from a blind pratriotic priest is how much we need prayer in schools, we need more religion. Goodness, what's happened to us? We are supposed to allow people to belive what they choose, allow people to have their own religious beliefs. So, why are these ultra relgious Republicans forgetting one of the most basics freedoms?


Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abrigding the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of peaceably to assemble, and to the petiton of government for a redress of grievances.

Yes make no law respecting an establishment of religion!

It's time for some of these ultra religious people to get with the program and see how the world really sees America. Our image is damaged, and it's not because other nations are jealous of us, it's because of our actions! Al-Qiada hates us because to them we are corrupt. Not because we're a democracy!

Okay, I done here. 😌 I'm glad can discuss this, I can't about this with my mom. She'll get angry at me. So, I keep my mouth shut around her about these things. 😌 Anyway, once again I am sorry if I offended anyone. :sorry:
 
I have a rant, and once more it is TV, or rather some of the stupid adverts they put on. Two are currently brassing me off. Number one advert are these low cost loans adverts. If you are not in the know they are offering loans to you. What bugs me about these is they are aimed at people already in debt. "You could reduce your monthly debt repayments into one low payment per month". Except you'll be paying off thier debt for about the next 30 years. And while their paying off that new low cost debt they go and get into more debt because they then think that they have more money, so they get another and another etc. Next thing you know the house/car/TV have gone and your life is in the sewer. The only people who have got rich are the stupid companies living off peoples misery, plus I hate that blue phone.
The other one is for saving for your funeral costs for the over 50s. I know in the long run it is a good idea, but Frank Windsor coming on the TV and basically saying "Your going to die soon. Have a carriage clock if you sign up". What a fantastic idea, not only is the plan forcing you to accept your mortality, you get a clock to watch the seconds tick away, knowing every day is a day is closer to your end :eek: :eek: :eek:
Lets us have some cheerful adverts at least, or just watch the BBC, were you don't get adverts full stop.
 
I agree with you Mike. I don't think they should be allowed to advertise loans on TV. Loans should be for a house or a car, not to 'buy whatever you fancy'. If you can't afford it, do without!
 
What can I say? Humanity has gotten greedier with the rise in technology. People will do anything anymore to get money. It's rather sad if you think about it. That's why commericals for lawyers, loans, and other useless crap I just laugh at when they're on television. People can be just such pieces of s*** sometimes.

Doc
 
I am pissed as hell right now! ****** ******!!! *breathes heavily* *counts to ten* Okay, you are all probably wondering why I'm really pissed off right now. Let me just show you the object of my anger. This is copy and pasted from another forum just so you know:



"Boy, these things are expensive people. expect to be dissapointed and angry when you read this.

Drum roll, please! After endless speculation, musings and fanboy bitching, Microsoft has finally coughed up the North American and European pricing for its next-generation console, Xbox 360. You might want to sit down for this one.

Last-minute rumors from the analyst crowd have actually turned out true; there will be two different hardware models at launch: Xbox 360 Core System priced at $299.99 (299.99 Euros / 209.99 pounds) and the Xbox 360 for $399.99 (399.99 Euros / 279.99 pounds). Scroll down further for all the juicy pricing information for the hefty list of launch-slated Xbox 360 accessories. Start savin' those pennies now, kids.

Yes, this announcement means the hard drive (once the centerpiece of the Xbox platform) is no longer an all-inclusive factor for Xbox 360, but, no, we still don't have a specific launch date. Microsoft continues towing the line that Xbox 360 will launch in North America, Europe and Japan this holiday season - with more details on the Japanese launch to be released at next month's Tokyo Game Show.

You will, however, need that hard drive if you're hankering for some backwards compatibility, says Microsoft representative Mitch Koch. A number of original Xbox titles cached data through the hard drive, making backwards compatibility technically impossible on the Xbox 360 Core System. We still don't know how many or what specific games will even take advantage of the feature at launch; Koch simply said the technology hurdle has been jumped, and now it's a matter of just making it all work.

As a side effect, with the possible exception of certain massively multiplayer online games, no Xbox 360 game will explicitly require use of the hard drive. Microsoft says no other aspect of the next-generation experience will be hampered without a hard drive; Xbox Live as a whole will function as usual, though it's likely downloadable content (and any music or photos you store digitally) would easily exceed the 64MB Memory Unit.

The end result is two options: using a 64MB Memory Unit priced at $39.99 or a 20GB hard drive going for more than double at $99.99. Other companies offer cheaper and larger memory solutions in the PC world through USB flash drives and other devices, but their use on Xbox 360 will be limited to movies, music and photos. "You'll be able to go through the USB port to plug in and access, for instance, an iPod MP3 or your photos and things like that, but not for console gaming," says Koch.

So, what comes in the "standard" Xbox 360? Those consumers dishing out the extra cash receive: Xbox 360 console, 20GB detachable hard drive, wireless controller, faceplate, headset, component HD AV Cable and Ethernet cable, Xbox Live Silver membership and, for a limited time, a Media Remote.

The Xbox "Core" is stripped down, but expandable. You can always add features included in the other package later. The most striking differences between the two are the lack of a hard drive and the lack of wireless controllers in the "core" system. This one, however, includes: Xbox 360 console, controller, faceplate, Xbox Live Silver membership and standard AV cable.

Even the value pack-style Xbox 360 doesn't include all of the accessories Microsoft's planned for the machine. No, no, no! Most importantly, the wireless networking adapter isn't included in either package, and you'll have to dig up an additional $99.99 for that useful piece of technology. The ensemble of customizable components includes:

* Faceplate ($19.99 / 19.99 Euros / 14.99 pounds)
* Hard Drive (20 GB) ($99.99 / 99.99 Euros / 69.99 pounds)
* Memory Unit (64 MB) ($39.99 / 34.99 Euros / 22.99 pounds)
* Wireless Networking Adapter ($99.99 / 79.99 Euros / 59.99 pounds)
* Wireless Controller ($49.99 / 44.99 Euros / 32.99 pounds)
* Play and Charge Kit ($19.99 / 19.99 Euros / 14.99 pounds)
* Rechargeable Battery Pack ($11.99 /14.99 Euros / 9.99 pounds)
* Controller ($39.99 / 34.99 Euros / 24.99 pounds)
* Headset ($19.99 / 19.99 Euros / 14.99 pounds)
* Universal Media Remote ($29.99 / 29.99 Euros / 19.99 pounds)
* Component HD AV Cable ($39.99 / 29.99 Euros / 19.99 pounds)
* S-Video AV Cable (US) or SCART AV Cable (Europe) ($29.99 / 24.99 Euros / 17.99 pounds)
* VGA HD AV Cable ($39.99 / 29.99 Euros / 19.99 pounds)

What's also slightly strange is the company's reluctance to comment on Xbox 360 launch titles. Though assuredly we'll know for sure what the plan is during X05 in Amderstdam later this year, the continual insistence on games arriving within a "launch window" suggests even Microsoft doesn't know what games will cross that finish line. "We really talk about launch window as opposed to day one games," says Koch."

-Source: Frame City Killer Underground

I'm a college student damnit, not a ******* money tree!!! I can't pay that!!! God this is not a good day for me!

Doc
 
The same thing annoyed me too Doc. They are just taking the piss. I am not even going to bother getting one for a couple of years. There are two people working in my house and it is still too expensive. There are plenty of games out there for the consoles I already have, so Microsoft aren't getting any more of my cash anytime soon. They can go ... :angryfire :box: 😲 :bikkuri:
 
Ooh Im having issues with RELIABILITY today.
Ok, I started two new private classes this week. Started on Monday, I called my student, and she asked if we could change it to the 16th (Tuesday), Ok sure, fair enough I didnt give her enough notice that Im back in town. Tuesday comes along, Im waiting and waiting, after arriving nice and early so as to not cause any friction with being tardy. Fifteen minutes after the scheduled meeting time I call her, and she doesnt want to come on that day... Wednesday will be better. Right... fine then, wednesday.
So I go to my evening class, also the first for this group, and 3 of the 6 students show up. Im happy to say I will still get paid the absolute peanuts offered anyhow. But really why waste my time?
Move onto Wednesday... I meet my student, and all is well, she doesnt really want to learn as much as she initially made out to me, but thats fine, Im getting paid for it. I dont mind being paid and also getting taken to a very expensive restaurant for beer and pasta, nor do I mind being dragged around shopping for ridiculously priced clothing. I do mind that eventually she might complain that she has not learnt enough. Right so after finishing this lesson an hour early after not really doing much anyway, we agree to meet today.
Ten minutes before the meeting time I get a phone call. Yes her english is that bad that she has to speak to me in Korean... hence the reason why she is getting english lessons in the first place. Anyway back to the story, "I want to cancel today, I have another schedule". Nevermind about not telling me oh I dont know maybe a day in advance or at least this morning.
Here I was thinking about how bad I would feel, should I want to move back to Seoul and at least have a social life, and make some decent money, leaving these poor lovely students behind. Now I just dont care. Im also thinking that I might like to give them 10 minutes notice, or perhaps no notice at all... but Im not that much of a lowlife, no matter how bad the situation I would at least give as much notice as possible.
Grr, ok thats enough grumbling from me for now..... there is more, but I would rather go and have a beer and relax.
 
It's not specific but today I just feel like I put much effort into doing things for other people and they don't really care or notice or thank me... It is selfish to want just a little bit of recognition? 😭
 
Hebiichigo, people are jerks. They won't notice when you help them, but as soon as you stop they will complain. Tell them :p
 
@Doc. Stuff microsoft. I've got a PS2 and that does me fine. As far as I'm concerned Bill Gates has had enough of my money, but it seems his glorious company want to screw every last penny out of you so he can go on and buy America and the president.

@kara Nari. I feel for you. Inconsiderate people really p!$$ me off. They seem to think that you must drop everything for them and don't think that you have to arrange things to accomodate them, which they then don't turn up to

I have my own rant about the PC brigade. I heard on the radio this morning that a woman wanted Robbie Williams' Angels played at her wedding only to be told by the people in charge that they couldn't play it as it "might offend religious minorities". What!?! It's her wedding, who's it going to offend, her guests? Surely being at a Christian wedding is already upsetting any religious minorities there? who do these left wing, liberal, interferring bigots think they are? If it weren't for these people we probably wouldn't be aware of these things and everyone would get along happily. Instead by making everything PC you highlight that people are different. I could rant further about these baka, brainless, m0r0ns, but I'll start to froth at the mouth and then the language will get worse. :eek: :eek: :kaioken: :kaioken: :banghead: :banghead: 🔫 :mad: :54:
 
Back
Top Bottom