BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines

Subject: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 05:37 AM

Have you any habits which are irrational and/or unnecessary but which you can't break?

For example, I realised recently that I always lock the lavatory door even when alone in the house, and even continued to do so in the 3 years between my first wife's death and my remarriage, even tho I was alone in the house — and even tho, I realise, it wouldn't even bother me that much if anyone did chance to come in while I was at it. But it has become an ineluctable habit from my earliest days, tho I would be hard-pressed to express the reason for it.

Have you any similar irrational routines?

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Will Fly
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 06:15 AM

Nothing really of that sort, but a kind of reversal - or over-rationality on occasions - being influenced by Frank Gilbreth's theories of Time & Motion as a young man. My breakfast routine is one such:

1. Place a mat on the dining-room table
2. Place laptop on mat an go into kitchen
3. Go to sink and switch on the kettle socket electrical point
4. Pour water from water filter into kettle
5. Re-fill water filter
6. Take cafetiere from cupboard
7. Put a heaped measure of coffee into cafetiere
8. While there, open cutlery drawer and remove two dessert spoons
9. Move left along worktop and place spoons on worktop
10. Open cupboard below worktop and take out two cereal bowls
11. Place bowls on worktop
12. Turn round and go to worktop on opposite side, taking one bowl
13. Open cereal jar and place 3 Weetabix in bowl
14. Close jar and take one cup from upper cupboard
15. Go back to other worktop with filled bowl and cup
16. Remove milk from fridge and pout some into bowl and cup
17. Back along worktop to place cup next to cafetiere and switch kettle on
18. Back into dining room while kettle boils to read email, etc. on laptop
19. When kettle boils, back into kitchen to fill cafetiere and bring cereal bowl to dining table
20. Continue reading while eating cereal
21. When cereal is eaten, take bowl into kitchen and pour coffee into cup
22. Resume coffee and reading in armchair

Then I'm ready for the day!

When you analyse what you do in detail in this way, it looks absolutely finicky and anal, but I'm sure we all do this to some extent. The kitchen routine developed itself many years ago when I was at work - to prepare breakfast as quickly and logically as possible in order to get out to work bright and early. I've been retired for 7 years now, with no need to be efficient, but the routine still holds - and it actually amuses me to retain it. I suppose that's where the irrationality might come in!

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Will Fly
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 06:16 AM

Forgot to add: the second spoon and bowl are for Mrs.F. - who generally comes down later...

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 07:20 AM

How did the kettle boil, you forgot to switch it on.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 07:24 AM

Thanks for contrib, Will; but what was there to pout about [#16]?

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Will Fly
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 08:20 AM

Ah well, as Kingley Amis used to say, "Bum!"

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: olddude
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 02:40 PM

Shooting my guns wildly in the air when I hear the song the camp town ladies

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 03:11 PM

I absolutely must fully remove the peelable safety/freshness seals on bleach bottles, patent medicines, coffee cans, etc. My wife is just the opposite. She's perfectly happy to peel the thing back just far enough to get at what's in the container. If I use something she's opened, I'm compelled to finish removing the seal first.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 06:25 PM

In recent years I have developed a habit which I can't seem to break. Every Friday I catch a bus to a nearby town and have chicken and chips for lunch in one of the town's chippies. There are certain 'ritual' aspects to this habit: I must leave my house at 11:00 am and walk the mile or so to my local bus station. I then wait 10 minutes or so for the bus (I could time it better but the wait appears to be part of the ritual). When the bus arrives I go upstairs and sit in a seat on the left hand side about 1/3 of the way from the front. The journey takes about 1/2 an hour and the districts the bus passes through are full of memories and reminders of times past, absent friends etc. I get off the bus at the town's shopping precinct and I make my way to W.H. Smiths and buy an 'Independent' newspaper (what am I going to do when the 'Independent' goes digital in a couple of weeks time??!!). I then turn off the main street, into the old part of the town, and soon arrive at my favourite chippy. I take my usual seat in the chippy's quaint little dining room and, in due course, a member of staff brings me my usual Friday repast. Once I've eaten my lunch, I visit the town's market and then make my way to Currys/PC World for a browse. Then I walk back to the town's bus station in order to catch the bus home. Every week the bus stops just short of the bus stop and we passengers have to wait while the old driver hands over to a new driver - all part of the oddly comforting ritual. That night I, and a few mates, go to the pub for a pint. I wonder if this ritual is related, in any way, to getting old? I am old because I receive a pension and am the proud owner of, what I call, my "old git licence" which means the journey, there and back, costs me nothing.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 06:45 PM

I have two , well, no, many habits which drive the better half round the bend. But these two really set the ball rolling.... I keep two things always in the fridge ! Empty... A beer class and a milk mug! I love milk and it must be cold so I rinse my mug and pop lt back in the fridge, same with my beer glass. I have done this for most of my life, even before matrimonial bliss, but it still drives blessed partner mad and I am often castigated For it.
I also reserve my Sunday mornings for crosswords and hate to be interrupted, otherwise I am , I tell myself, the perfect mate!

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 07:07 PM

WIf I wake up at, say, five in the morning for any reason at all, I get up and go for a wee. This is whether I need to or not. If I fail to get up I just know that I'm going to lie there fretting about my one-third full bladder for the next three hours. I even torture myself by prodding myself in the belly to confirm that my bladder is not perfectly empty. It's taken me sixty years to realise that it's best just to get up and go.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 07:13 PM

just don't get me started.....

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 07:23 PM

Oh, come on now. Get started... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 02:42 AM

I don't suffer from OCD.



(It's CDO because it has to be in alphabetical order.)

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Teribus
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 02:45 AM

GUEST,Raggytash - 28 Feb 16 - 07:20 AM

"How did the kettle boil, you forgot to switch it on."

Shame you didn't read the post Raggy:


17. Back along worktop to place cup next to cafetiere and switch kettle on

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 02:52 AM

Hemingway has a great description of his writing rituals in A Moveable Feast when, as a young writer with enormous self-confidence, he used to go out and write in one of a selection of cafes in Paris near where he and his new wife were living; he had to have a rabbit's foot in his pocket.
Karen Pryor has a chapter about rituals, or what behaviouralists call 'superstitious behaviour' in her book Don't Shoot the Dog. "I have seen one baseball pitcher who goes through a nine-step chain of behaviour every time he gets ready to pitch the ball," she writes – "touch cap, touch ball to glove, push cap forward, wipe ear, push cap back, scuff foot, and so on. In a tight moment he may go through all nine steps twice, never varying the order. The sequence goes by quite fast—announcers never comment on it—and yet it is a very elaborate piece of superstitious behaviour."
Do musicians have similar rituals?

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 04:36 AM

Well done Terribus, you are correct .................... for once.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 05:03 AM

I'd need better proof than Mudcat posts to make such a bold assumption Raggy..

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 05:28 AM

That baseball pitcher story reminds me of those bloody tennis players that seem unable to serve unless they've bounced the ball about twenty times. More than one bounce should lose you the point. Grrr.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 07:13 AM

But you do get close ups of their legs meanwhile... 🤐

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Michael
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 07:14 AM

Two magnetic knife holders on the kitchen wall: one holds a set of knives(in descending size order), other holds oddment knives (but still in a particular order).

Toilet rolls on wall holders MUST unroll from the front (and I don't care who's house it is).

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 08:15 AM

Toilet rolls on wall holders MUST unroll from the front

Good man.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 09:26 AM

On the very off chance I was a visitor at either of your houses, I'd not be able to resist folding a single roll of the two ply paper the other way so the tears don't match up.

My responsible adult has a similar mental health issue regarding toilet paper. Ditto folding towels in a certain way, even drying racks get rearranged if I unload the washing machine.

Mind you, try serving me a pint in anything other than a straight glass and see if accept the bugger...

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 09:48 AM

I'd accept a pint served up in a bucket and spade as long as you were buying.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 09:53 AM

Many years ago a mate of mine who didn't like his neighbour nipped over the wall into their back yard and spread Fiery Jack on the Izal bog paper in the outside toilet, rolled it back up ..............

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 10:22 AM

Hi

I have " Steve's disease" too. I go to toilet if I wake early whether I need to or not. My theory is that if I go then i can sleep on longer if I go back to sleep.

And talking of sporting habits, has anyone watched Dan Biggar as he prepares to take a kick ??

I once had a touch of the yips when I played golf. Just couldn't bring myself to hit the ball. I used to go back and forth to the ball, waggling my club but just couldn't hit it.

I was "cured" when I was playing in The Isle of Man with a professional golfer. He said.....after some expletives, "Line up your target, take your stance ...AND JUST F***ING HIT IT."

Cured me though.

I do have some of the mannerisms of above and it is re-assuring that I am quite normal !!!

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 10:42 AM

When I was in 7th grade, my science teacher, Mr. Williams, told the class, "I'll bet I can watch you once put your shoes on, and then predict how you will do it every morning."

I had never paid attention to such things, but next morning I noted I put my left shoe on first. Since then I almost always do it that way, even adding putting my socks on the other way... right foot first. I *think* I am doing it just because Mr. Williams was such a forceful teacher, and I wanted to justify his prediction. Whatever.... it has now become a ritual.

This, I would contend, is an example of a "self-fulfilling hypothesis". In college, a psychology professor demonstrated something similar by telling a girl.."I'll buy you a new dress IF the next time I say 'pebble', you do NOT think of 'crocodile'."

I do of course have various habits & routines, but mostly they are done for convenience & efficiency..(timing of the toast to meet the coffee being done...etc,) I generally do NOT like to be bound by automatic routines.... but the shoe/sock thing just is there to stay.

(It's interesting that I don't have any particular order to removing shoes & socks. Sometimes it's just which foot hurts most.)

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Mrrzy
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 10:53 AM

Try washing your body parts in a different order than your usual in the shower. It's just WRONG.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 11:00 AM

While listening to a radio news broadcast, I'll frequently
hear the announcer say something like (such and such a city)
"is the epicenter of" (some human activity).

When that happens I cannot resist loudly and truculently saying
to the radio, "No, it's NOT 'the epicenter of'" (whatever.)
If someone asks what I mean, I'll explain that "epicenter"
is a technical term in earthquake science, meaning that spot
on the surface of the earth above the quake's center,
which is located perhaps two or more miles below
the earth's surface.

Now, I know perfectly well that I am engaged in a lost cause,
because the word "epicenter" has been carelessly misused so
widely that it has come to mean, in the minds of many speakers,
either just "center" or maybe something like "very center
of the center". So my correction of the speaker on the radio is
useless (or otiose, if you like) on two grounds: 1, the
meaning of "epicenter" has been irretrievably fuzzed up, so
I'm out of date, and 2, the announcer can't hear me in
any case.

Just the same, for this word and for some choice few other
words I hear, I'll "correct" the usage I hear on the radio.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 11:07 AM

I think Mrrzy has a point. In my case, when the warm water hits my shoulders, I MUST use a brush to stop the ... 'itching'? Then, there is a fairly routine order to the rest. Never thought about it before.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 12:41 PM

Not a bad idea buying beer for Liverpool fans Steve. Mind you, I'd have to buy a half in a pint glass to leave room for the tears as you cry into your pint...

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: olddude
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 01:20 PM

Wearing cowboy boots during sex

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 02:55 PM

I drink faster than I cry.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 03:18 PM

I hope you take your spurs off when playing rodeo?


(Rodeo. A bit like doggy fashion but once you get started you say "Oh yes! Almost as good as your sister!" My record is 8 secs.)

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 04:57 PM

Uncle Dave, you are my hero. And the epicentre of my world.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Joe_F
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 09:11 PM

He is just above your world? I hope you are not in hell.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 29 Feb 16 - 11:36 PM

Posting on Mudcat!!..or for that matter anywhere online, but Mudcat got the pick of both the draw...and my nose!!


GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 01 Mar 16 - 04:04 AM

when i pass the sign for Blennerhasset and Baggrow   between carlisle and cockermouth i always begin   'the police, miss blennerhasset -just tell the m there are a couple of drunks in the penrith tearooms.....' and the n on with the script til my imagination is taken by something else
                               '

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 01 Mar 16 - 04:11 AM

I keep the same clothes in the same drawers, fairly neatly folded, including socks and underwear. The kitchen - anyone in my household could go in there blindfolded and reach out for any given object, even in the fridge. It's kind of calm; you don't spend frantic energy looking for things. (Though a kindly Christmas gift was a Tile, which will allegedly keep track of my keys if they migrate.)
On the other hand, I often can't find things I don't use often - jewellery, the boxes that a phone or tablet came in (with its earphones still in situ…)
I have friends who are rapidly turning into the kind of old people who are eventually dug out from their mounded mountains of clothes and books and… stuff, only to feature in Daily Mail spreads - Police Had To Search For Pensioner Under Years Of Detritis - and whose stairs are a terrifying hazard, two-thirds covered with slippery magazines and books. No wonder stair falls are such a common cause of death.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 01 Mar 16 - 07:24 AM

When I'm driving I have a habit of constantly reaching for the gear lever to check that I'm in fifth gear.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 01 Mar 16 - 09:46 AM

What you were grabbing ISN'T the gear lever....but we don't need to go into THAT!!


GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 01 Mar 16 - 09:57 AM

Non-LoL & not ROFL-ing...

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 01 Mar 16 - 10:02 AM

Oh, yes, talking back to the TV and the radio. Really helpful.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Mar 16 - 10:57 AM

".. talking back to the TV."

Be careful what you say...I read that some of the fancy new TVs can hear you and report what they hear to.... 'someone'.

Samsung

Vizio

Samsung, Vizio and LG

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 05:17 AM

I have just noticed something I wasn't even aware of doing. I keep my email inbox, sent items and deleted items empty at all times.

I do file some emails for retention but everything else is deleted and the deleted box emptied daily, sometimes several times a day.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 06:15 AM

I absolutely can't stand the thought of eating carrots. It is probably irrational, but it's a peculiarity that I choose not to correct. We have even put in notes when we are playing for a folk society and being hosted that I am primarily carnivourous and would prefer no carrots. I know I pick them out, but....

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 06:52 AM

Slowburn about the loo rolls correspondence a few days back (29 Feb):-

They probably look a bit more elegant unrolling from the front: BUT they are liable if one is not careful to unravel out of control, which they don't do if reversed & unrolling from the back; which I have therefore decided I marginally prefer.

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Thompson
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 07:15 AM

On the other hand, loo rolls that have been touched with perhaps dirty hands are wiping off the wall if they're unrolling from the back, but waving in clean air when unrolling from the front. I'd see front as more hygienic.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 07:29 AM

I do not remove portions of bog rolls to order, as it were. I remove a section of sheets before the commencement of the procedure. I rarely detach too few. If I've removed too many I may blow my nose whether it needs blowing or not, which eases my conscience apropos of profligate waste. With a different hand, before you ask. Glad to share.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Michael
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 07:29 AM

For me it's the possibility of having to run my nails up the wall to catch the bottom edge, "waving in clean air" from the front removes that risk.

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 07:31 AM

Why should a bog roll should come unravelled if placed one way and not the other. Clockwise or anticlockwise the weight of the paper is still the same. Can anyone explain if this does happen and if so why.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 07:54 AM

I have no children of my own. But several parent friends have said that small children tend to unravel the roll when it faces forward, but not when reversed. Not sure why the latter procedure should defy gravity more than its converse, as Raggy enquires above; would simply state that pragmatically that is what seems to be the case.

≈M≈

Isn't Mudcat just ever the medium for discussing questions of ☯-shattering moment...!

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 09:19 AM

Speaking of bog paper, yesterday I obtained a free copy of the Daily Mail. Even better, it had an eight-page pull-out supplement about the Queen. I consider myself well supplied.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,mayomick
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 02:18 PM

If I wanted to turn left in the middle of the Gobi desert I would first indicate

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 08 Mar 16 - 02:27 PM

Thanks Mayomick, that one made me giggle although I would suggest that's conditioning or training and not irrational per se.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: BobL
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 02:19 AM

Try an advanced driving course - it's the sort of thing you get trained not to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 03:51 AM

You obtained a free copy of The D*ily M*il Steve? 😱

I hope you reported it to the police?

As doing anything is preferable to doing what you should be, I've just checked the house. Five toilets. Three rolls to the back, two to the front. The front ones being the two my responsible adult would make use of. The others put there by the cleaner.

Conclusion? I rest my case.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Thompson
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 04:31 AM

I'd imagine (though I've no intention of trying it, in my own toilet, anyway) that the childhood pleasure of putting a small bundle of loo roll (still attached to the roll) into the toilet, standing clear and flushing, and watching the roll unreel itself as it's all pulled down by the flushing water, works better with the roll rolled out to the front.

Getting back to routines generally, I'm a fan of what Seinfeld calls the Streak, where you keep yourself honest in terms of some piece of work you need to do daily by putting an X across the day on the calendar if you've worked; the chain of Xes is very motivating. I use a gold Sharpie and sparkly gold gel.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 05:16 AM

The Daily Mail is free with your Waitrose card as long as you spend at least a fiver. The choice appears to be between the Telegraph (never so much as held a copy - what is it?) The Times, the Daily Mail or The Guardian. I get the latter anyway so I thought I might as well do the nation the tiny service of removing one copy of the Mail from circulation.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 06:18 AM

Don't worry mate, the thread is all about being irrational.....

We had visitors the other weekend and they bought a copy when we walked down to the post office. (I know, and under our roof eh?)

With all what is going on in the world, including its problems and actual news, the front of the thing had a headline saying Blair let in millions and millions of scrounging immigrants and above that was an advert for readers to win one of Th*tcher's handbags.

There again, I buy Viz. None of us perfect eh? (At least Viz is about the real world.....)

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Thompson
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 06:38 AM

But does it remove it from circulation? Surely it gives them evidence to present to their paying advertisers that another copy (estimated readership per copy: 5) is in circulation.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 06:50 AM

Removing the copy from Waitrose may be the lesser of two evils though. I'll just nip over to that other thread and ask Joe and Keith...

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 07:00 AM

Considering the ten commandments seem to be a misprint according to Keith, good luck with interpreting some thing as holy and pious as The Daily M*il...

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 07:03 AM

Do you guys actually *enjoy* being such a parcel of selfrighteous·lefty·prigs

— or is it just some sort of frightful but irresistible compulsion you can't fight?

— which would of course bring it well within the parameters of this well-took-off thread of mine!

Just asking.

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 07:26 AM

The same question could well be asked of you Michael.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 07:30 AM

Lefty?

Moi!

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 08:26 AM

"Do you guys actually *enjoy* being such a parcel of selfrighteous·lefty·prigs

— or is it just some sort of frightful but irresistible compulsion you can't fight?

— which would of course bring it well within the parameters of this well-took-off thread of mine!

Just asking.

≈M≈"

Ahah! A Daily Mail reader!

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 10:09 AM

i may have a problem with my number thing. i always choose an odd number rather than an even . i won't get out of bed at eg. 8.04 and would need to wait a minute, while feeling slightly cross with myself for missing the optimum time of 7.59. listening to music i have volume 5 or 7 etc etc. anyway i had an eye test yesterday and the optician asked a series of questions 'which is the sharper image -number 3 or 4?.....5 or 6?.....7 or 8? i found it difficult to answer with the even numbers and even answered 'not sure' on a couple of occasions when really the answer was (not very)clearly another even.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 11:02 AM

Lefty? I'm no southpaw.

As I recall, Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse's Self Righteous Brothers were nearer to Michael's outlook on life.

"But if those Muslims come trying to get through our cousin's fence looking for work, I'd say Oy! ayrab! No! You may have been here before 1948 with your different lifestyle to ours but when nurse hears my ... Oh. Nurse, I've got over excited again... Any fresh Jim jams?"

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 11:08 AM

No, sorry Steve, wrong! I used to read the Mail for a while back in the 50s for Wally Fawkes' brilliant 'Rufus' [later renamed 'Flook'] strip, but never bought it -- it would be in college reading room or such that I would read it. But my regular papers over the years have fluctuated between The Guardian, for which I wrote regular E.Anglian theatre & folk reviews for ¼C or so, & The Times, whose degeneration under Charlie Gorbals & subsequently I much deplore, but whose crossword, as a dedicated lifelong cruciverbalist, I have always preferred. At one time, before early retirement, I even afforded both.

Might be of driftish interest to know that Maurice Rosenbaum, the Daily Telegraph's long time folk critic, was a member of the Communist Party, while I, as will be patent to my regular readers, er, wasn't. At one Cambridge Fest when he was there for Tele & I for the Gdn, we gravely agreed that if there was any sense or justice in the world, we'd simply swap papers; but alas that is not the way the world is constituted!

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 11:13 AM

... but my point was, that I do always find so rebarbative, the way that leftwing oriented people will always sound off in that tone, and with that air, of somehow having the monopoly of all the virtue that exists in this sad old world, while the rest of us must be consigned to Outer Darkness for not sharing in their oh·so·virtuous weltanschauung.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 11:15 AM

Not bothering to read Muskibumz's facetiousnesses at the moment...

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 11:34 AM

But as the left campaign for more fairness and for redistribution, and the right deal in privilege and self-interest, how can it be any other way?

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 12:05 PM

Don't get me started, please, on how the left theoretically motivated by love for all mankind, which somehow nevertheless always appears to find its expression in the most peculiarly hate-filled of apostrophe to such who do not chance to share their shibboleths of 'redistribution' & [what they regard as] 'fairness'... Trouble is that leftwing governments always contrive to blow it by finding no other means of remaining in power than killing off the opposition...

That'll do. Told you not to get me started, innit...!

But IMO it'd bloody better be {to adopt & adapt your own useful formulation} "any other way".

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 12:14 PM

Steve, I disagree very much with your comments about both right and left. Not all of those to right of centre are motivated by self interest, nor are all of those on the left dedicated to fairness..I have seen some very ugly "left wings`responses to many issues, including freedom of speech.
   I think there are very few people who are stridently one or the other.
    Your above observations go some way to proving Michaels point.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 12:52 PM

I was winding the old right-wing reprobate up, that's all. You don't really think I see the world in such simplistic terms, do you? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 12:56 PM

Well, Steve, I had hoped not.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 01:32 PM

Of course you do, you witless little lefty booby, you! Subtlety is unknown to leftibumz...

Tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock....

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 02:23 PM

Got him... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 02:28 PM

Sez-U, Bumface! .... ☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 02:36 PM

Excuse ME!!!

Bum face is your pillow talk name for me, you two timing old goat.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: gnu
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 03:57 PM

Some like to turn fun and interesting threads or any other threads into topics other than intended in the OP (see above). Is it a habit? Is it a troll thing? Whatever, it's not only irrational and otiose but requireD some, and by some, as many know, ME, to go absolutely Wildebeeste in a 'likewise' fashion. I couldn't help it. Especially if someone tried to hijack MY thread or crap on my friends in whatever manner without cause. But, I was cured... well it may happen again... by one of the mods. She said, and I paraphrase, "Would you fuck off with that? They are trolls. Don't feed the trolls." Mind you, it took me a while, nay, years, to simply ignore trolls because I also have another habit and that habit is being polite but never allowing others to be rude without being backed the fuck up.

Nowadays, I just don't say much or start threads much. It's a good habit.

P.S. Swipe rolls MUST feed AWAY from the wall. This is not a habit. It's common sense. See above. WTF do you not get about that shit?

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 04:21 PM

...... I've just checked the house. Five toilets. ......

Five ???   What size of family do you have that needs a house with 5 toilets?


Three rolls to the back, two to the front. The front ones being the two my responsible adult would make use of. The others put there by the cleaner.

Conclusion?

The cleaner should be given training in the correct way to install toilet rolls or should be replaced by one who knows how to do the job properly.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 05:07 PM

Sorry, Popgun-presh·presh: but never promised you my very whole & exclusive ❤.

Why, what would my wife say!?

≈x·M·x≈

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 05:48 PM

When my best friend farts, he always says, " that smells fairly decent".
It does not smell that "decent" to me.
Could it be a matter of different perspectives?
Or, could my senses be really off?

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 06:02 PM

I find this "bum-face" thing quite intriguing. There are some ineffably beautiful bums, usually clad in tight denim and subjected to wonderful deportment, all round Bude, even in winter. If my face was as beautiful and slinky as some of those delectable, peachy, silky-skinned bums, Michael (and I've seen a few), I'd be well happy. Incidentally, skinny is good, but so is nice cover. Now if you said scrotum-face I might not be quite so accommodating...

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 01:55 AM

There are only two of us in the house, Doug. Although we do consume ample fibre in our diet...   The cleaner needs no training, I'm with her on this one. She's well trained anyway. Brings me continuous cuppas when our paths collide.

Which is more than Michael ever does... Or his lazy nurse.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Thompson
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 01:57 AM

I wish Musket and MGM Lion would get a room. They obviously have deeply important and intimate things they need to talk about together.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 03:05 AM

Do I detect a note of jealousy there?

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 03:15 AM

There are three of us in this relationship and I'm not the one who gets to bed bath him.

Anyway, he says he never reads my posts, which I'm cool about because I never used to read his reviews. Colin Irwin wrote of the soundtrack to my youth.

Oh, just realised one of my habits. Winding silly old men up just to get a reaction.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 04:12 AM

I sometimes read your posts, Poppy. Often good-4-a-laff. Free country innit.

Tick-tock.....

Ah, dear old Colin Irwin. He was wind·up-able if anyone; once spent an entire full-page Melody Maker column attacking one of my Guardian reviews. Never so flattered in all my puff. Nice guy socially iirc; spent pleasant evening drinking & rapping with him and a few others at the pre-First Edinburgh Folk Festival press launch, I recall.

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 04:29 AM

Oh, just realised one of my habits. Winding silly old men up just to get a reaction.

This is from one of the group who resort to deliberate confusion because they say you should attack the argument, not the person. Your childish and oft-repeated jibes do you, or the other members of Team Musket, no credit.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: akenaton
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 07:12 AM

Well said Sir!

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 07:50 AM

Correct Doug. Well said, other than the bit about the pet worm agreeing with you, for which you have my sympathies.

Address the topic every time. Just like I do. Just like Musket does and come to think about it, presumably Musket too. (I have no idea usually which of the other Muskets is posting. It's fun answering for them though. Kind of a double wind up if you get my drift which you obviously don't.)

Snag is, you see, and Akenhateon chipping in serves my point admirably, the topic tends to get lost.

Then it's time to wind up silly old sods who post the most outrageous claptrap. Some of them actually believe their own bullshit you know. Fascinating.

I have myself a little list
It seems that Chadwick is the one I missed

On the other hand, I don't try to get a reaction from the worm. I just read with dismay when he posts. At long last though, the moderators see bigotry for what it is. Don't encourage him, he gets threads closed you know...

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 09:23 AM

Poor old Popguns. How pathetic, when you come to think of it, to spend all that time self-presenting as professional ɷ-holes just to get a reaction. Mustn't mock; so let's all pity the poor little dears...

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 10:03 AM

Chalk another up.

Too easy really.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 11:26 AM

Hi To try to get somewhere close to the original thread:-

I always sleep on the left side of the bed.

It started when I was very young and my younger brother and I slept two in the bed after baby sister turned up.

I had the left-hand side because as the elder brother I could reach the light switch which was on the left of the room.

I have since then always slept on the left ( even when sleeping alone).

I still do it whether we are at home or away on holiday etc.

I wonder if this is why my politics are of the left.....??

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 11:37 AM

... and now the Popguns just have to have the last word. Just like everybody's mother-in-law innit.

Chalk another up.
Too easy really.

Whorrr! Cor! Wowzer! The brilliance! The inspiration! The earthshattering dooferus!


As I said B4

Howper-thetic!

☺☺☺〠〠〠☹☹☹

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 01:33 PM

Michael, not for the first time I cannot help but think Pot, Kettle, Black.

If you really want to minimise such comments perhaps you should refrain from them yourself.

Just an idea, me old cock sparrow.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 02:15 PM

You're getting a bit repetitive yr dear old self, Raggy, for that matter. See my reply to yr last such [similarly ill-judged & misplaced] comment:- 09 mar 0730am.

I daresay you mean well; tho what you may possibly imagine to be yr qualifctns to sit in judgment on my chosen courses of action...!

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 02:21 PM

I would, tho, direct your attention back to that fine French proverb about the animal that is très méchant because lorsqu'on l'attaque il se défend...

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 03:05 PM

You may attack back Michael but have you ever stopped to consider that a more rational response might be more effective.

Just asking, me old love.

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 05:18 PM

Not sure what you mean by "attacking back", Mr Untidy·Whiskas. You officiously intervened in some dialogues in which I was engaged with third parties, proffering your unasked opinions as to my techniques of discussion; and, upon being, not particularly truculently or impolitely informed that your unsolicited opinions are not of particular interest to me, whimper pathetically that you are being 'attacked'.

'Paranoia' is the word which arises unbidden to my mind.

Now, if you would be so kind, as the current cant phrase is for the re injunction I have for you:

be so good as to

B U T T    O U T

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 05:26 PM

As to your apostrophising me as your 'old love' BTW. Sorry, but I am afraid you are just not my type --- ahhhh, errrm, er --- Ducky.

With kindest regards nevertheless


≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: Irrational or otiose habits & routines
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Mar 16 - 05:49 PM

In your dreams