The grumpy thread

[Sheefag]

I've always felt that F. W. de Klerk never received anything like the credit he was due, a very brave politician indeed.

The Gorbachev of Africa in my opinion.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Sorry my reading of it was that was what he had said and it was this the TA had taken offence at

It was exactly that the kids were interested. They are always interested to learn things, they are very underestimated on what they know, understand and want to know.

 

Again non of this was meant to cause anyone any harm, it wasn't said with any agenda or malice merely an answer to a question posed by a teaching assistant who didn't know the answer to why he was imprisoned.

 

It was not said for anyone to take offence to and I will not be apologiseing we will just have to agree to disagree.

[John F]

I don't think there's any reason for anyone to be offended tbh, it's all history now anyway.

 

But yeah, teachers ought to be able to give a balanced appraisal of all sides of a story. Kids aren't stupid, they can cope with shades of grey.

[cobblers]

 they can cope with shades of grey.

 

The 7 year olds I read it to are pretty fucked up now tbh

[John F]

The 7 year olds I read it to are pretty fucked up now tbh

 

Hahahaa!

[chaseracer]

I'm not suggesting it's the sole reason, but generations growing up listening to music that glamorises the gangster lifestyle and the massive levels of crime and murder in American inner cities can't be a coincidence

 

The Second Amendment doesn't help, arguably.

[chaseracer]

...but you can't just keep using the past as a reason for your current circumstances.

 

The past is the reason for all our current circumstances.  It's what we do with NOW to make the future better - for everyone, preferably - that counts.

[Tamworthbay]

Hence why I don't think it's the sole reason, but a reflection of a mindset. If you have generations of boys growing up being told that money is everything, violence is glamorous and women are disposable with no one to provide a counter then it's not going to contribute to a healthy society. No sane person would ever deny a terrible injustice was committed against the black community in America, or that racism no longer exists, but you can't just keep using the past as a reason for your current circumstances.

I agree to an extent but the problem is that it isn't in the past, just look at the numbers. Black people (and several other minorities) are still suffering those injustices each and every day. If people feel they can't make it in a legitimate way then many will decide to stick two fingers up and become scumbags instead. Even then it's a tiny minority of the population that cause the problems, most just keep plodding on trying to survive.

[Negative Creep]

I agree to an extent but the problem is that it isn't in the past, just look at the numbers. Black people (and several other minorities) are still suffering those injustices each and every day. If people feel they can't make it in a legitimate way then many will decide to stick two fingers up and become scumbags instead. Even then it's a tiny minority of the population that cause the problems, most just keep plodding on trying to survive.

 

 

 I saw a documentary not too long ago about the ghettos were one resident pointed out they couldn't move as no one will hire them, and the only way of getting rich was becoming a rapper or drug dealer. Most do just want to get on with their lives, but the uncomfortable truth is that by far the biggest killers of black males in America are other black males. The crime stats show they commit a disproportionally high number of violent crimes, 13% of the population carry out 52% of homicides. Of course for such a thing to occur there must be a multitude of reasons both historical and current across all levels of society, but there seems to be the vocal minority of the community who just blame everything on the system and white people, refusing to accept the problems in their own back yard. If Black Lives Matter really wanted to stop the killing they'd be marching through the ghettos.

[Tamworthbay]

I saw a documentary not too long ago about the ghettos were one resident pointed out they couldn't move as no one will hire them, and the only way of getting rich was becoming a rapper or drug dealer. Most do just want to get on with their lives, but the uncomfortable truth is that by far the biggest killers of black males in America are other black males. The crime stats show they commit a disproportionally high number of violent crimes, 13% of the population carry out 52% of homicides. Of course for such a thing to occur there must be a multitude of reasons both historical and current across all levels of society, but there seems to be the vocal minority of the community who just blame everything on the system and white people, refusing to accept the problems in their own back yard. If Black Lives Matter really wanted to stop the killing they'd be marching through the ghettos.

That is such a simplistic view with so many misconceptions I don't know where to start. The black lives matter campaign is nothing to do with complaining about the numbers of black people killed it is purely against the ever increasing number of unarmed black people shot (some would say executed) by the police when they pose no danger to anyone. The fact that most black young men are killed by other black young men does not in any way explain the reasons behind this. If you are living in an area with the most violent crime then you are more likely to be a victim or an offender, as young black men are most likely to live in those areas then they are most likely to be the victims, simple cause and effect. You also fail to mention that the biggest killer of young white males is also young white males - most people tend to associate most with their own ethnic groups. All this proves is that the number of deaths is linked to socioeconomic factors and that should have nothing to do with race but does in americas system. The small percentage of the population carrying out most crime is always the case, again it does not suggest that blacks are more likely to be criminals. And when the system and many 'white people' as you put it are so responsible for the conditions that exist then surely it is only fair for them to be blamed?

 

Have you bothered to look at the number of blacks killed by well off blacks? I think you will find it's considerably lower than those killed by well off whites.

 

Poverty causes crime, not the colour of their skin.

[Cavcraft]

They need a Sex Lives Matter campaign to highlight the injustice of people being wankers.

[Kiltox]

Urgh. Shifted my Rover for the first time in months tonight to prep it for its new shiter owner and now the bastard won't start.

 

Fun evening tomorrow of going through earth wiring etc

[Anthony]

Insurance companies.

 

Thanks to my wonderful* planning I've ended up with the situation where all my car insurance policies expire within a few weeks of each other, so February is a frustrating month dealing with all the renewals.

 

Despite no claims or any other changes, one of the renewals is quoting me a frankly laughable 65% increase over last year. That's bad enough in itself, but salt is rubbed into the wounds when they're offering exactly the same cover, excess etc for £50 less just by putting the details on a comparison site. Well done, you're doing a GR8 job encouraging customer loyalty...

[captain_70s]

Royal Mail have declared my house and safety risk and will no longer deliver my letters, it's now kept at the local collection office. This annoying but not as annoying as the opening times for the local collection office which are as thus:

 

Mon - Fri: 7:00 - 13:00

Sat - 7:00 - 12:30

 

What use is that to anybody? Until my very recent state of unemployment I worked 6 days a week Mon - Sat from 7:30 -16:00 with 45mins commuting tacked on either end of the day. So, in order to collect my letters or a parcel or something I'd have to take a day off work, surely this is a fairly similar story for most every other bugger with normalish working hours?!

 

Also, the RBS sent me a letter today saying they weren't going to amend my standing order for my rent payment because my signature didn't match the one they had on record. I phoned them up and spent 8mins on hold to be told that actually it HAD been set up anyway despite the letter. Bah!

 

[Des]

Royal Mail have declared my house and safety risk and will no longer deliver my letters

 

You Sir, are gangsta.

[Negative Creep]

That is such a simplistic view with so many misconceptions I don't know where to start. The black lives matter campaign is nothing to do with complaining about the numbers of black people killed it is purely against the ever increasing number of unarmed black people shot (some would say executed) by the police when they pose no danger to anyone. The fact that most black young men are killed by other black young men does not in any way explain the reasons behind this. If you are living in an area with the most violent crime then you are more likely to be a victim or an offender, as young black men are most likely to live in those areas then they are most likely to be the victims, simple cause and effect. You also fail to mention that the biggest killer of young white males is also young white males - most people tend to associate most with their own ethnic groups. All this proves is that the number of deaths is linked to socioeconomic factors and that should have nothing to do with race but does in americas system. The small percentage of the population carrying out most crime is always the case, again it does not suggest that blacks are more likely to be criminals. And when the system and many 'white people' as you put it are so responsible for the conditions that exist then surely it is only fair for them to be blamed?

 

Have you bothered to look at the number of blacks killed by well off blacks? I think you will find it's considerably lower than those killed by well off whites.

 

Poverty causes crime, not the colour of their skin.

 

Poverty may cause crime but it doesn't excuse it. Doesn't matter where you live or what skin colour you are, no one will better themselves by blaming their situation on everyone else. As I stated before, what happened historically is shameful and rightly looked back on with disgust, but if you keep looking back you never look forwards. I get why people find it uncomfortable to talk about, and how carefully they must be addressed due to idiots on both sides, but if we don't do it openly nothing will change. Whatever way you look at the statistics, something is clearly wrong at a cultural level.

 

BLM absolutely not about just reducing violence - it's an umbrella organisation which includes highly radical elements. Their aims are radical wealth redistribution, repatriations, promoting black only institutions (i.e segregation) and outright preferential treatment such as free college access and wiping out student loans. Such an attitude will never promote racial inclusion or harmony. https://policy.m4bl.org/reparations/ One of their stated heroes is a woman who found asylum in Cuba after being accused of murdering a State Trooper, and praised Castro as a ideal revolutionary.

 

I will leave this topic here since such debates never end well, but just to make it absolutely clear, what I refer to is nurture NOT nature. I am firmly of the belief that everyone should be treated equally regardless of their skin colour, gender, sexuality or beliefs and should have access to the same opportunities. But I have come to realise that to do so means asking some tough and uncomfortable questions.

[Guest Hooli]

Royal Mail have declared my house and safety risk and will no longer deliver my letters, it's now kept at the local collection office. This annoying but not as annoying as the opening times for the local collection office which are as thus:

 

Mon - Fri: 7:00 - 13:00

Sat - 7:00 - 12:30

 

What use is that to anybody? Until my very recent state of unemployment I worked 6 days a week Mon - Sat from 7:30 -16:00 with 45mins commuting tacked on either end of the day. So, in order to collect my letters or a parcel or something I'd have to take a day off work, surely this is a fairly similar story for most every other bugger with normalish working hours?!

 

Also, the RBS sent me a letter today saying they weren't going to amend my standing order for my rent payment because my signature didn't match the one they had on record. I phoned them up and spent 8mins on hold to be told that actually it HAD been set up anyway despite the letter. Bah!

 

How TF can a house be too dangerous to deliver too?

[strangeangel]

How TF can a house be too dangerous to deliver too?

 

There's a big, vicious dog there?

[DodgeRover]

Too much post going missing?

[captain_70s]

It's an issue of location.

 

Everything to the right of the driveway is obscured by the viaduct making the corner completely blind, considerably worse than streetview makes it look. Any vehicle attempting to leave the driveway has to pull out in to potential traffic they can't see, also although the road has a 30mph limit relatively few people fling themselves around that corner at anything less than 40mph.

 

As a result the RM have been told not to park their van in the drive but to park over the street by the old hotel and cross the road by foot. This leaves you with the exact same problem as before but now the postie is on foot rather than in a car, one nearly got knocked down t'other day so that's the end of that. I'll be moving out before April so it's not a massive hassle!

[mercrocker]

Couldn't you just have it re-directed to the hotel?

[richardmorris]

There's some bloody big pigeons hanging out on that viaduct!

[D Spares & Tyres]

I did the handbrake trick once when I was 18 pulling into my mums drive. Cable snapped and I ended up in the hedge.

No real damage done apart from to my ego. TBH it was probably the best way for teenage me to learn not to use handbrake turns as an everyday manouver.

Ha.

 

I tried to do one in a Citroen BX when I was 18

 

That didn`t go well

 

How was I supposed to know the handbrake was on the rear?

[puddlethumper]

Soooo. Government reckon they are going to have a million new " homes " by 2020. Mm. As someone who has spent many years in the construction industry I can't see how they are going to do it. In fact I would go further and say its not going to happen. 

Government saying stuff that sounds good but is practically damn near impossible.   Usual crap.   Everything is a bloody CHALLENGE MOVING FORWARD with SYSTEMS IN FUCKIN PLACE TO MEET THE NEEDS etc etc. 

Where are they going to get the extra builders ?     Poland ? Ooh! more immigrants.

Theresa May ( thanks for the tip, but I will have to decline, for political reasons ) inaugural speech that she's going to make Britain a country that works for everyone is inaugural speech crap, and aint gonna happen.

Typical Tory crap. Previous Tories ( snatcher ) sold off council housing for way below market value, for the votes, and now they want councils to provide the money to build social housing, but they won't give the funds to do it. 

Also "by" 2020.    Now, I don't know about all you shiters but to me " by " means up to the end of 2019. Of course the Gov mean to the end of 2020.   Still not going to happen. 

And another thing, they want housing associations to go the same way and sell at low prices.

Of course, rent regulation would be an idea, but most landlords probably vote Tory so  a non starter there.

 

 

Another grump.  Anyone got IBS ? I've got it that bad I'm trying to throw up two or three times a week within ten mins of getting up. Been to the doc but it seems there's bugger all they can do. Unfortunately on these days I can't eat till at least midday and then only something like a banana. As a six footer I am now down to ten stone which is .8 above under weight as far as NHS BMI calculations are concerned. I had to go for a hernia op just before christmas and only just scraped in on weight. Was told if I had been under weight it wouldn't happen. Three years ago I was eleven and a half stone. So at that rate I'm goin to fade away in the not too distant future.  Got to hope I won't need an op any time in the coming years.

Life's a beach, and then you lie on it.

[Guest Hooli]

 

 

 

Another grump.  Anyone got IBS ? I've got it that bad I'm trying to throw up two or three times a week within ten mins of getting up. Been to the doc but it seems there's bugger all they can do. Unfortunately on these days I can't eat till at least midday and then only something like a banana. As a six footer I am now down to ten stone which is .8 above under weight as far as NHS BMI calculations are concerned. I had to go for a hernia op just before christmas and only just scraped in on weight. Was told if I had been under weight it wouldn't happen. Three years ago I was eleven and a half stone. So at that rate I'm goin to fade away in the not too distant future.  Got to hope I won't need an op any time in the coming years.

Life's a beach, and then you lie on it.

 

I've not heard of throwing up with IBS. It's normally rather painful knotting of the stomach & getting the runs. There is plenty they can do for IBS, the normal pills they give out work a treat, I think they are called Buscopan.

[Guest Hooli]

It's an issue of location.

 

Everything to the right of the driveway is obscured by the viaduct making the corner completely blind, considerably worse than streetview makes it look. Any vehicle attempting to leave the driveway has to pull out in to potential traffic they can't see, also although the road has a 30mph limit relatively few people fling themselves around that corner at anything less than 40mph.

 

As a result the RM have been told not to park their van in the drive but to park over the street by the old hotel and cross the road by foot. This leaves you with the exact same problem as before but now the postie is on foot rather than in a car, one nearly got knocked down t'other day so that's the end of that. I'll be moving out before April so it's not a massive hassle!

 

That looks a lovely little place.

 

As for RM, are they really saying they can't cross the road? ffs you walk a little way from the viaduct & then cross if it's that bad. Most people learn that at primary school age!

[beko1987]

I've not heard of throwing up with IBS. It's normally rather painful knotting of the stomach & getting the runs. There is plenty they can do for IBS, the normal pills they give out work a treat, I think they are called Buscopan.

Mum had ibs for years too, it's under control with a diet now but she wasn't really sick on it either...

[Stanky]

Lateral thinking - can you put a letter box on the opposite side of the road, then YOU take the aforementioned 'walk of death' over the road duirng the hours of darkness to retrieve your post on the basis >95% of drivers will probably have their lights on therefore give some advance warning of their impending arrival?

[Guest Hooli]

Mum had ibs for years too, it's under control with a diet now but she wasn't really sick on it either...

 

I'd guess it's more like an ulcer tbh, everyone I've known with them throws up a lot.

[puddlethumper]

I've not heard of throwing up with IBS. It's normally rather painful knotting of the stomach & getting the runs. There is plenty they can do for IBS, the normal pills they give out work a treat, I think they are called Buscopan.

Tried Buscopan, didn't help much.  I'm on Immodium which helps over the runs but it can go the other way and is like trying to shit a breeze block. The worst is trying to shit and vomit at the same time. Luckily the sink is in reach while on the bog.

At 64 getting old can be a pain in the arse. Literally.