- The obsession with celebs
- Tattoos
- Tongue-piercing
- Stag and hen weekends*
- The prejudice against public services
- Posting naked selfies on Facebook
- Wearing a face veil
- Having private quarrels in public
- Personalised car number plates
- Going berserk on a plane
- Nouvelle cuisine
- Barbecues
- Thongs**
- Cosmetic surgery***
- Weddings on the other side of the world
- High heels
- Letting kids run wild
- Teeth whitening
- Designer labels
- Lads' mags
I went to a barbecue quite recently, but I still don't see the attraction. Eating indoors is more comfortable, and you don't get rained on. Of course the climate here doesn't encourage outdoor eating - it's more likely to be cold and wet than warm and dry. Big kitchen diners are more popular than barbecue grills. I imagine barbecues are more common in the States and Australia with their long hot summers.
* bachelor and bachelorette parties in the States
** the underwear not the footwear
*** other than reconstructive surgery
Ooooh - now there's an idea - have you ever tried writing a short fictional piece about an item on this list? For example, a story about someone going berserk on a plane? The exercise would give you an excuse to discover the reasons behind these activities.
ReplyDeleteI reckon you'd be pretty good at creative writing if you put your mind to it.
Sx
Ms Scarlet: I've tried extended pieces of writing but I dry up pretty quickly. Blog posts are my ideal format. A story about someone going berserk on a plane? You never know, I might even try it.
DeleteI too am in the same boat.
ReplyDeleteRamana: There are so many things going on that seem to make no sense whatever. Or I'm just not on the right wavelength.
DeleteI wouldn’t say I don’t understand them, because I do see how many things on that list are appealing. I mean, don’t most people enjoy a party of any sort? And aren’t white teeth prettier than yellow? Some of the things are popular for those who want attention. We love any sort of outdoor dining and take advantage of it as much as possible, but we love to be outdoors, period.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: I think teeth that are unnaturally, dazzlingly white are no better than slightly off-white teeth. But I'd draw the line at yellow teeth. And yes, I'm sure a lot of those things are done mainly to attract attention.
DeleteI'd go along with your list...waste of money, most of them, self obsession too.
ReplyDeleteKids running wild is pretty rare here, but on trips to stay with a friend in London our nice caff has been ruined by the offspring of the soi disant grentrifyers who now infest her area. She had one little rat opening her handbag and peering into it...so snapped it shut on his fingers. If ever travel is possible again I shall consider taking with me a bucket bag and hiring a ferret for my next visit to the caff.
Fly: A child peering into someone's handbag is seriously outrageous. It sounds like London is a lot worse than Belfast for misbehaving kids. Some parents seem to think it's quite okay for their kids to cause mayhem.
DeleteI think perhaps an understanding of your list - or your own particular problem with them would result in some understanding?
ReplyDeleteFor instance: celeb worshippers - and I've known a few - are trying to give more meaning to their own lives. Many have no hobbies or interests. And it alleviates the absolute ordinariness of their own existence, in their minds.
As to thongs, you only have to look at porn culture and see how many girls and woman have bought into.
Etc.
XO
WWW
www: It would be helpful if a few journalists actually asked people why they worshipped celebrities, instead of just taking their obsession as read. There must be all sorts of motives in addition to the ones you mention.
DeletePosting naked selfies got the chuckles from me. When I had the body for it, I thought it needed much improvement. But if I woke up with that young body tomorrow, I would probably post a few nude selfies. Not for titillations, more for look at me you old coots. Now the real story would be a woman old as the hills and it shows posting pictures. But in her mind, she is gorgeous. lol
ReplyDeleteAnn: There seems to be increasing interest in older models and "plus size" models as part of the drive for "diversity". Some older models are not only stunning but seem to have a lot more character.
DeleteI’ve changed my mind on tattoos , some are quite lovely
ReplyDeleteJohn: I like small discreet tattoos, like a small bird on someone's shoulder. Big shouty tattoos not so much. I once worked with a woman who had a tattoo right round her waist. I thought it just looked a bit ridiculous.
DeleteWhen I was living in a motorhome I bought a personalized plate. Because you have to write down the plate number every time you sign into a campground so I wanted one I could remember. In Minnesota you pay $100 USD for the plate and keep it forever with no further charge. Mine said CASTLE as in this motorhome is my castle.
ReplyDeleteLinda: That's a good reason for getting a personalised plate. Luckily my car registration number is one that's very easy to remember.
DeleteI would like to add anything woke and starting sentences with "So" and punctuating them with the word "Like." Modern life it's so much fun I frequently find I've almost lost the will to live. Which reminds me another of my pet hates is the use of the expression "so fun."
ReplyDeleteJoe: I do agree about anything "woke", which seems mainly to be trendy, self-righteous nonsense. I also get irritated by people who say "You know" about every two seconds.
Deletenothing seems very Personal anymore! I don't know when it started but this era has brought more people with their own peculiar habits and odd behavior out of the woodwork than ever before! so many want to 'be special' and the social media caters to that. wonder what they'll be like when they reach really OLD age! :D
ReplyDeleteTammy: Agreed, people are falling over themselves to be special and unusual by adopting the most peculiar behaviour and beliefs. And social media actively encourages outlandish attitudes.
DeleteTeeth whitening stumps me.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: As I say, off-white teeth look more natural to me than glaringly white teeth.
DeleteMy mother's teeth were naturally so white her dentist had trouble matching the color when she needed a repair. That was way before whitening of teeth became a thing.
DeleteLinda: That must be very unusual. An interesting challenge for the dentist!
DeleteWe do like our bbq's here. I like to bbq on cooler days and bring the food inside to eat.
ReplyDeleteMary: I think barbecues are much more popular in countries that are a lot warmer than Northern Ireland.
DeleteSuch a great list, Nick, and I can concur with nearly all. An exception might be women wearing face veils as part of their culture or religion. I would not disagree with anyone who wears certain clothing based on specific reasons like these.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice: I don't understand face veils at all. How exactly does wearing a face veil bring you closer to God or spiritual well-being? I don't get it.
DeleteMy understanding is that it is to keep men from being attracted to you since we all know men are incapable of resisting such attraction. (Blame the victim much?)
DeleteLinda: That's a much more likely explanation. This myth that men are incapable of controlling their raging masculine urges really needs to be dumped once and for all.
DeleteGood list. As you guessed, Barbecue is something I understand and relish (pun intended). But in Florida we have a thing called a Florida lanai that shades us while we eat. The back is part of the house. The two sides are screened in. The top is a covered roof (for shade). The front is open. That's where we dine about 9 months of the year. So a barbecue makes sense a lot of the time.
ReplyDeleteColette: A lanai (what we would call a veranda) is a good way of combining outdoor eating with comfort - and keeping dry. Verandas are very rare in Northern Ireland. Some people have conservatories, but they are often too hot or too cold.
DeleteMostly I agree except for the hate for barbecues. I love outdoor eating events. I also like picnics, food trucks, outdoor receptions, and just eating outside on the deck.
ReplyDeleteAgent: No no, I don't hate barbecues, I just don't understand the attraction. Nothing wrong with them, they obviously give a lot of enjoyment to people.
DeleteAgree with you on most of these. That photo at the top is the visual equivalent of fingernails on a blackboard. Why would anyone do that to herself?
ReplyDeleteInfidel: My thought entirely. I don't see how anyone could find that more attractive than the body you were born with.
DeleteI pretty much agree with your list. Grilling outside, not necessarily barbecues, probably are more enjoyable in warmer climes as we have in SoCal or pleasant weather time in other parts of the country -- if pesky insects, especially mosquitoes, aren't present. What seems rather senseless to me is tailgating.
ReplyDeleteJoared: Luckily with our moderate temperature we aren't bothered by insects - except the odd fly. I still remember being bitten half to death by mosquitoes in Florence.
DeleteI agree, tailgating is annoying - and ultimately pointless.
Don't agree with all of those but you might add "Perineum sunning" and "anal bleaching". One presumes if you go too far with one you can correct with the other.
ReplyDeleteI will leave it to the reader to look them up. Depending on your search setting it may be NSFW.
I wonder, has any human ever risen from sleep inspired by the revelation that their life would be measurably better if only their anus was a few shades lighter? It boggles the mind.
Anonymous: There seems to be no limit to the weird and wonderful "treatments" that people are urged to undergo to improve their lives. I suspect that usually the only thing that's improved is the promoter's bank balance.
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