Pet peeves

[StMonicaGuideMe]

I absolutely agree with the problem of indolence and arrogance...and socialist ramblings...

I'd like to add

1. Just because one has an opinion, doesn't mean one has to open their uneducated, ill-mannered trap about it
2. When one uses the word "ironic" in a completely terrible fashion proving they have no idea what it actually means
3. When those who use American English can't tell I'm obviously not American when I put "u's" in some of my words because that's how I was raised. On my honour.
4. <---people who are like that all the time for no reason
5. Parents who don't parent their children in public. During college, I worked between an ice cream store and a popcorn vendor. Enough said.

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

Englandistan of Francistan. That's funny stuff. Tell me F.L. What's it like in Liechtenstan?

Actually, FYI, I live nearer to Jacksonville. You were close though. They're only 200 miles apart.

Oh...I've been to Jacksonville. I remember the traffic being really bad and I also remember spending time in a hot tub at the hotel where I was staying. That's about it. I have more memories about Vero Beach...

Liechtenstein is nice. Like Switzerland...but richer.

FL

[DannyM]

France, the UK...who cares? In both France and the UK the most popular name for boy babies are the various forms of Mohammed. You are a lot more alike than you think!

You have my sympathy.

FL

Oh wow, you've really sealed your argument and wiped the long, long histories of both France and Great Britain with that little piece of ever-so-relevant information, FL

[DannyM]

While I'm at it, walking in certain neighbourhoods in London or Paris I see the same dirty shops frequented by the same type of people who seem to not wash or use underarm deodorant. The same type of people who wear pyjamas all day long and speak an incomprehensible language live in both capitals. They seem to like garbage in the streets and their women like to walk around with scarves covering their head. My overall impression is of a dirty third world country that is disorganized and is populated with men - mostly men - who smell bad and pee in the streets and do not shave.

FL, you sound like a scaremonger from the Right. I used to listen to and believe such nonsense: Britain is on the way out because we are being 'overrun' by Muslims. If you had really walked through neighbourhoods and cities of Britain you would see a whole lot more than what you describe here. What you have described seems strangely one-dimensional, and is not a country I identify with, even though I was born here, live here, and have visited most corners of this great land. Yes there are slums. So what? Where exactly is/are this place/these places you describe above?

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

While I'm at it, walking in certain neighbourhoods in London or Paris I see the same dirty shops frequented by the same type of people who seem to not wash or use underarm deodorant. The same type of people who wear pyjamas all day long and speak an incomprehensible language live in both capitals. They seem to like garbage in the streets and their women like to walk around with scarves covering their head. My overall impression is of a dirty third world country that is disorganized and is populated with men - mostly men - who smell bad and pee in the streets and do not shave.

FL, you sound like a scaremonger from the Right. I used to listen to and believe such nonsense: Britain is on the way out because we are being 'overrun' by Muslims. If you had really walked through neighbourhoods and cities of Britain you would see a whole lot more than what you describe here. What you have described seems strangely one-dimensional, and is not a country I identify with, even though I was born here, live here, and have visited most corners of this great land. Yes there are slums. So what? Where exactly is/are this place/these places you describe above?

Wow! I see that I've irritated your patriotic fibre! You are right: there are nice places in Britain. I really like the Isle of Man, and...and...I can't seem to think of anywhere else for the moment. Ditto for France: there are nice places there as well, Strasbourg comes to mind (only one car was burned there during the Muslim riots!)

If truth be told, most of your immigrants are peaceful and just want to continue living peacefully. Go back to sleep now; everything will be just fine.

FL

[DannyM]

Wow! I see that I've irritated your patriotic fibre! You are right: there are nice places in Britain. I really like the Isle of Man, and...and...I can't seem to think of anywhere else for the moment. Ditto for France: there are nice places there as well, Strasbourg comes to mind (only one car was burned there during the Muslim riots!)
If truth be told, most of your immigrants are peaceful and just want to continue living peacefully. Go back to sleep now; everything will be just fine.

Don't worry about me, Bro, I'm not irritated in the slightest; I am merely left reeling at how the history of two once-great superpowers (and real superpowers at that) can seemingly be summed up with a reference to the popularity of some Muslim name. I mean, I'm almost missing history lessons from school this is so enlightening

[Proinsias]

Things are less terrifying if you don't read the Daily Mail:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog ... ver-olivia

Coincidentally the Daily Mail is one of my pet peeves.

[DannyM]

Things are less terrifying if you don't read the Daily Mail:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog ... ver-olivia

Coincidentally the Daily Mail is one of my pet peeves.

Frrom the Daily Mail article:

The official list, which covers all births in 2009 in England and Wales, has ­Mohammed at number 16 but this does not include the many different spellings, which are all ranked separately.

When they are added in, Mohammed zooms all the way up to top spot for the first time.

In order of popularity, the variant spellings used during the year were: Muhammad, Mohammad, Muhammed, Mohamed, Mohamad, Muhamed, Mohammod, Mahamed, Muhamad, Mahammed and Mohmmed.

In terms of the Guardian, look at the comments section of that article. See the fifth comment down by TheSugarPope, then see the comment directly below this removed because it “didn’t abide by” the rag’s “community standards”… The filth of the fifth comment down is deemed ‘acceptable standards’ by the idiotic Guardian…

I should add, The Guardian is another peeve of mine.

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

Wow! I see that I've irritated your patriotic fibre! You are right: there are nice places in Britain. I really like the Isle of Man, and...and...I can't seem to think of anywhere else for the moment. Ditto for France: there are nice places there as well, Strasbourg comes to mind (only one car was burned there during the Muslim riots!)
If truth be told, most of your immigrants are peaceful and just want to continue living peacefully. Go back to sleep now; everything will be just fine.

Don't worry about me, Bro, I'm not irritated in the slightest; I am merely left reeling at how the history of two once-great superpowers (and real superpowers at that) can seemingly be summed up with a reference to the popularity of some Muslim name. I mean, I'm almost missing history lessons from school this is so enlightening

France and the UK were superpowers?* well, I guess in a folkloric sort-of way, you are right. The bigger they are the harder they fall. France wasn't really big for a ''superpower'' - even a folkloric one - so it isn't in such a ethnic mess as the UK. (Ever notice that your country is becoming more and more like a police state what with all those surveillance cameras all over the place?)

Anyway, my personal opinion is that the concept of superpower is very modern and only the USSR and the USA ever measured up. In the end, what does it matter?

FL

*If you believe that you'll have to let Spain into the superpower club. Portugal and The Netherlands may also squeak in.

[DannyM]

Brother FL, before I reply I just want to ask whether this,

the concept of superpower is very modern and only the USSR and the USA ever measured up.

is a joke? Or tongue-in-cheek?

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

Brother FL, before I reply I just want to ask whether this,

the concept of superpower is very modern and only the USSR and the USA ever measured up.

is a joke? Or tongue-in-cheek?

I'm toying with you. I find patriotism amusing; here is something that happened to me this week:

A Columbian woman I know recently got her Canadian citizenship and proudly showed me her new Canadian passport. As I flipped through it I remarked, ''Well, now you can throw your Columbian passport in the garbage!'' ''I will always be Columbian!'' she protested. ''What for?'' I continued, ''Columbia is a crap nation that people try to leave. Try entering France with your Columbian passport and see where that will get you!'' She charged me with not being nice. I told her I was just being factual, ''keep your Columbian passport for folkloric reasons if you want but understand that it has little value.''

Maybe you're a little like her. Be proud of your country if your sentimentality commands but understand that it is dying and will die...but why should you care? you are the citizen of a better place, Brother.

FL

[DannyM]

I'm toying with you.

Phew.

I find patriotism amusing;

I promise you this isn’t tit-for-tat, Bro, but I have always found the mockers of patriotism amusing. Speaking from my experience (and no aspersion cast on you) I’m not sure most of the mockers even know why they are anti-patriotism, unless they want to own up that it is one big sneer based on a generalised misconception of patriots.

here is something that happened to me this week:

A Columbian woman I know recently got her Canadian citizenship and proudly showed me her new Canadian passport. As I flipped through it I remarked, ''Well, now you can throw your Columbian passport in the garbage!'' ''I will always be Columbian!'' she protested. ''What for?'' I continued, ''Columbia is a crap nation that people try to leave. Try entering France with your Columbian passport and see where that will get you!'' She charged me with not being nice. I told her I was just being factual, ''keep your Columbian passport for folkloric reasons if you want but understand that it has little value.''

Maybe you're a little like her. Be proud of your country if your sentimentality commands but understand that it is dying and will die...but why should you care? you are the citizen of a better place, Brother.

This is all lovely, Brother, but I fear your concerns are misplaced. We might as well say “Love your football club by all means, enjoy it, be sentimental towards it, but know that it is dying and will die.” There is a here and now and there is a future, Brother, and I’m enjoying the glorious past of Great Britain in the here and now and, I do declare, immensely enjoying the prospect of my eternal citizenship. Why let one die when it is still alive and I am alive with it?

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

I promise you this isn’t tit-for-tat, Bro, but I have always found the mockers of patriotism amusing. Speaking from my experience (and no aspersion cast on you) I’m not sure most of the mockers even know why they are anti-patriotism, unless they want to own up that it is one big sneer based on a generalised misconception of patriots.

I'm not against patriotism as such. I did a Bible study on it some years ago and concluded that God wants us to accept our position in life, and that would include the country we call home. So, a national flag in a church or a synagogue is not out-of-place, anymore than appreciation for our country is out of place.

Your country's past is past, dead and buried. If your patriotism is rooted in the past, of what good is it? Are you not like an old woman reminiscing about the beauty of her youth and her many suitors? Of what good is that?

FL

[DannyM]

So, a national flag in a church or a synagogue is not out-of-place, anymore than appreciation for our country is out of place.

And what am I expressing if not appreciation for my country? Is my appreciation laced with spit and venom coming out of my mouth, or does it have racist overtones? Just what is it you are objecting to here, Bro?

Your country's past is past, dead and buried. If your patriotism is rooted in the past, of what good is it? Are you not like an old woman reminiscing about the beauty of her youth and her many suitors? Of what good is that?

Telling words...Dead and buried. Not quite. My grandmother is dead and buried. And of course following your apparent line of thought I should have no care for the memory of my grandmother: what good is her memory to me? Yet here we are talking about history, which you, as bizarre as it sounds, are saying means nothing. You evidently have a problem, which I’m struggling to accept as rational, with people being proud of their nation’s past. But in any case it seems my appreciation for my country is granted on your first line, and all is okay. I would say "what a waste of ink," but that could be harping back to the good old days...

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

So, a national flag in a church or a synagogue is not out-of-place, anymore than appreciation for our country is out of place.

And what am I expressing if not appreciation for my country? Is my appreciation laced with spit and venom coming out of my mouth, or does it have racist overtones? Just what is it you are objecting to here, Bro?

I have no problem with you expressing appreciation for your country as it is at the moment.

Your country's past is past, dead and buried. If your patriotism is rooted in the past, of what good is it? Are you not like an old woman reminiscing about the beauty of her youth and her many suitors? Of what good is that?

Telling words...Dead and buried. Not quite. My grandmother is dead and buried. And of course following your apparent line of thought I should have no care for the memory of my grandmother: what good is her memory to me? Yet here we are talking about history, which you, as bizarre as it sounds, are saying means nothing. You evidently have a problem, which I’m struggling to accept as rational, with people being proud of their nation’s past. But in any case it seems my appreciation for my country is granted on your first line, and all is okay. I would say "what a waste of ink," but that could be harping back to the good old days...

I don't understand how you can compare a loving grandmother to an unfeeling nation but if your analogy moves you, what can I say? I did not say that history means nothing. You are putting words into my mouth! ...perhaps your deduction came from a sense of hurt, wounded pride. Here is what I think: History is very important, pride is always evil, thankfulness is beneficial.

FL