Special edition Stanley cups

[theninthwall]

So these pics came across my local community's Facebook group this morning. People are lined up outside of Target for a special edition Starbucks Stanley cup. Retail is $50 and they are apparently marking them up to $200+ on Marketplace and eBay.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

And here I thought this was going to be a hockey related thread.

[getsorted]

I have several Stanley "dupe" mugs (because I deal with promo items and our suppliers/prospective suppliers keep bringing them to us. I've only been in my job 18 months and already have a cabinet full of promo insulated mugs of various types!). They do keep things cold for days on end, but they're so unwieldy and inconvenient! The craze makes no sense to me. But they are absolutely one of our most popular promo items ever. People are crazy about them.

Trends, and I say this as someone whose job is to a certain degree to know and care about them, are so stupid.

[RetiredAt63]

And here I thought this was going to be a hockey related thread.

Me too.

They are not the "real thing" until there are riots.

[glacio09]

I have several Stanley "dupe" mugs (because I deal with promo items and our suppliers/prospective suppliers keep bringing them to us. I've only been in my job 18 months and already have a cabinet full of promo insulated mugs of various types!). They do keep things cold for days on end, but they're so unwieldy and inconvenient! The craze makes no sense to me. But they are absolutely one of our most popular promo items ever. People are crazy about them.

Trends, and I say this as someone whose job is to a certain degree to know and care about them, are so stupid.

I have a friend who gets a bunch of cups for free as well and has a great idea on what to do with them. She takes one on vacation with her and gets as many stickers as she can while she's there. Mostly brewery and running races but any memorable place that has a sticker she will get. Most of them end up free or at most $1. Then she uses that sticker covered cup until her next vacation when it gets placed on a cabinet in her dining room. It's a great "memory book" of each vacation that ends up fairly cheap. They still take up a fair amount of room but at least it's travel souvenir and not just straight consumerism.

I don't have nearly as many free cups, but I have started dedicating certain stickers to certain ones so that they feel more special.

[Chris Pascale]

How many times do you have to fill up that stanley cup before you've used less energy than a recyclable paper one?

[Metalcat]

I have several Stanley "dupe" mugs (because I deal with promo items and our suppliers/prospective suppliers keep bringing them to us. I've only been in my job 18 months and already have a cabinet full of promo insulated mugs of various types!). They do keep things cold for days on end, but they're so unwieldy and inconvenient! The craze makes no sense to me. But they are absolutely one of our most popular promo items ever. People are crazy about them.

Trends, and I say this as someone whose job is to a certain degree to know and care about them, are so stupid.

So, so unbelievably stupid.

When I was younger and dumber I cared a lot about being seen with expensive purse brands. I didn't have any money to actually feel wealthy, so carrying around a conspicuous symbol of wealth, like a Louis Vuitton bag, was the next best thing to feel wealthy. Classic consumerist bullshit.

But then the Longchamp bag trend happened and it hit me how fucking stupid it was. People were paying $200 for a nylon bag with a handle that looked exactly like the collapsible shopping bag my grandma used at the market.

Women I knew were losing their shit to show off their "fancy" nylon grocery shopping bags as if they were a luxury fashion item. They were literally only considered "fancy" because they were conspicuously weirdly expensive for what they were.

That was the moment I realized how fucking dumb I had been all along caring about stupid purse brand trends.

Now it all seems totally insane to me.

A few years ago a friend posted her 11 year old's Christmas wishlist and I just about choked on my water when I saw that her #1 underlined gift was a Hydroflask brand water bottle. What kind of 11 year old wants a water bottle for Christmas??

[getsorted]

I have several Stanley "dupe" mugs (because I deal with promo items and our suppliers/prospective suppliers keep bringing them to us. I've only been in my job 18 months and already have a cabinet full of promo insulated mugs of various types!). They do keep things cold for days on end, but they're so unwieldy and inconvenient! The craze makes no sense to me. But they are absolutely one of our most popular promo items ever. People are crazy about them.

Trends, and I say this as someone whose job is to a certain degree to know and care about them, are so stupid.

So, so unbelievably stupid.

When I was younger and dumber I cared a lot about being seen with expensive purse brands. I didn't have any money to actually feel wealthy, so carrying around a conspicuous symbol of wealth, like a Louis Vuitton bag, was the next best thing to feel wealthy. Classic consumerist bullshit.

But then the Longchamp bag trend happened and it hit me how fucking stupid it was. People were paying $200 for a nylon bag with a handle that looked exactly like the collapsible shopping bag my grandma used at the market.

Women I knew were losing their shit to show off their "fancy" nylon grocery shopping bags as if they were a luxury fashion item. They were literally only considered "fancy" because they were conspicuously weirdly expensive for what they were.

That was the moment I realized how fucking dumb I had been all along caring about stupid purse brand trends.

Now it all seems totally insane to me.

A few years ago a friend posted her 11 year old's Christmas wishlist and I just about choked on my water when I saw that her #1 underlined gift was a Hydroflask brand water bottle. What kind of 11 year old wants a water bottle for Christmas??

Hahaha, I had a fake Longchamp bag and it got so many compliments. Then the handle broke off and I couldn't un-see how it was basically, like, an oversized bank bag?

Hydroflask had an entire look based around it a couple of years ago. Your friend's kid may have been a "VSCO girl." It's over and done now but here in midwestern marketing, we are still making promo stickers based on that aesthetic!

[RetiredAt63]

I was the weird teen who didn't care about that stuff.  Which is why I went into Biology instead of economics/accounting.  Labs are hard on fancy stuff.  And business-style clothes.  So we are not expected to wear them.  Freedom!!!

Yes, I was not part of the "in" crowd.   ;-)

[getsorted]

Just sent to me:

[Metalcat]

I was the weird teen who didn't care about that stuff.  Which is why I went into Biology instead of economics/accounting.  Labs are hard on fancy stuff.  And business-style clothes.  So we are not expected to wear them.  Freedom!!!

Yes, I was not part of the "in" crowd.   ;-)

Hey now, plenty of us lab folks were slaves to fashion. I had my lab coats custom tailored.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

I was the weird teen who didn't care about that stuff.  Which is why I went into Biology instead of economics/accounting.  Labs are hard on fancy stuff.  And business-style clothes.  So we are not expected to wear them.  Freedom!!!

Yes, I was not part of the "in" crowd.   ;-)

Hey now, plenty of us lab folks were slaves to fashion. I had my lab coats custom tailored.

Note to self: design and sew my own lab coat. Make it involve something completely ridiculous like tiered sleeves with handmade lace, or an Elizabethan collar.

[crocheted_stache]

I was the weird teen who didn't care about that stuff.  Which is why I went into Biology instead of economics/accounting.  Labs are hard on fancy stuff.  And business-style clothes.  So we are not expected to wear them.  Freedom!!!

Yes, I was not part of the "in" crowd.   ;-)

This was me but engineering. No skirts, no makeup, and many of my colleagues are equally practical, although some do choose spendy cars.

I did follow one trend, because I liked it at the time. In sixth grade the thing was to get these plastic baskets for all your pencils. I spent $6 of my allowance, which felt pretty expensive at the time. (They're now just another plastic object you'd find at any dollar store, and I was aware that the price I paid was an up-charge.) That basket is still in my bathroom drawer with another similar one that I think I found at a garage sale. They're now holding combs, brushes, and nail clippers. I guess I got my money's worth.

I won't be standing in line for a cup, but I've persuaded one coworker to use a durable cup I already had in place of a daily throwaway coffee cup. I could begin to see a trendy cup paying for itself if it let you pass off ice water or coffee from home as something you surely paid $9 for at the coffee shop.

If I decide I "need" one, I'm going to use the giveaway ones I already have.

[Just Joe]

I deleted an earlier wordy post. DW and I have years old metal drink containers we use daily. Camelback bottles for water and stainless Thermos  sippy cups for coffee. Paid for themselves years and years ago now. I'll bet they are 8-9 years old at this point. Nickel coffee from home and ice water from the fridge. Mine look like they live in a shop, which they do. She takes better care of her's.

Work with several people who do the styrofoam cup thing many times a day. I mean I get the less to worry about, doesn't matter if you lose it, etc. 

I still prefer the buy it once and use it for years (or a lifetime) method.

Edited to add: coworker stopped by the other day. Apparently they had lost their brand new Yeti cup in their travels around the office and parking lot.

[MayDay]

I do not understand the Stanley cup trend.

I converted my work building from disposable cups to reusable. I convinced the VP to stop stocking paper cups, and keep a small supply just for VIP guests. Then we filled a cupboard in the break room with miscellaneous mugs and thermoses. Anyone who forgot their own reusable cup can borrow from the sharing cupboard indefinitely or for the day.

Now I can unload any duplicates to work and know they will be used and keep paper or plastic cups out of a landfill.

I have two teens and I will say they both use the crap out of their water bottles, and destroy them frequently. A hydro flask or whatever other water bottle is a regular birthday gift for this reason. A quick Google says if they use it 50 to 500 times before destroying or losing it it's better for the environment, so as long as it gets used I definitely have no guilt.

[Metalcat]

Here's an article explaining the genesis of the Stanley water bottle trend. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/jan/12/stanley-cups-tumblers-water-bottle-trend

Evidently the Hydroflask trend was more targeted to teens (I didn't know this) and the Stanley trend was more targeted to their moms, with the key feature being that it is ginormous, can fit in a car cup holder, and has a straw, which makes it easier to use while driving than a water bottle that has a twist lid.

There was a key marketing moment that Stanley realized that they could pivot from being a manly "unbreakable" camping accessory to a fashion trend for women.

The real key to understanding this is not the sustainability element, but the beauty influencer angle. The fixation on water vessels as fashion accessories comes from the age-old indoctrination of women to believe that they must drink as much as humanly possible for the sake of youthful skin and weight loss.

The Guardian article outlines how the Stanley influencer starting point was the "hydration" community on social media.

Marketing the concept that we're all fat and ugly because we don't drink enough water has been a thing for decades, and that we must learn to overcome our natural urges and shove as much water down our gullets as possible to combat puffiness and bloating is a relentless message sent to women.

As the Guardian article outlines, Fiji water was one of the first brands to really make this "hydration" fixation into a luxury fashion statement. The reusable water bottle trend is just the more sustainable version of that, although the article smartly challenges how sustainable a trend is when the marketing is designed to make women buy TONS of these stupid things in different colours.

I personally *have to* drink a lot of water. I'm on a medication that if I don't drink a lot of water every day, the meds don't work and my kidneys will be damaged. So I have an enormous 2L water bottle with me at most times.

It's pink and it at each 250ml/1C increment, it has motivational phrases encouraging me to gulp down more water. It ends with "YOU ARE GREAT!"

It's fucking ridiculous.

But for years and years women have been indoctrinated to believe that we cannot depend on our own thirst signals and must overcome them and flood our systems with water else we will look older, fatter, and uglier.

This isn't about sustainability, although that's definitely an angle of the marketing. This is about toxic beauty standards. This is about an outward display of a woman's perceived commitment to those beauty standards, which have been perversely packaged as "health."

Not to say that people drinking more water is a bad thing. Have at it folks, enjoy your water, but there's absolutely a fucked up cultural messaging behind why the fuck water bottles are a status symbol.

[lhamo]

I hate cups with straws/sippy cup type spouts -- they are so hard to keep clean!

One of the youtubers I watch sometimes (Emily D. Baker, former prosecutor who follows high profile legal cases especially stuff having to do with pop culture) is a huge Stanley fan.  That's how I knew they were a thing before this latest explosion.  The company is based in Seattle.  I hope they can survive this wave of popularity and it doesn't swamp them -- they went from doing 70 million something in business a couple years ago to over 750 million in 2023.  I hope they have a plan for when the trend-setters shift to something else. 

Personally I prefer a good old Thermos.  I inherited the huge Helly Hanson branded one I got for my son in 2015 and used that for the last 3-4 years.  Then it fell out of my backpack side pocket and the lid cracked.  My new one is an ice blue color in a smaller size.  I love how I can fill it with ice in the summer and the ice will last all day even as I refill it with water.  It does have a plastic spout under the flip-top lid, but the hole is big enough that it is easy to clean.

[getsorted]

can fit in a car cup holder

But they DON'T fit in a cupholder! Or at least not in mine.

[Metalcat]

can fit in a car cup holder

But they DON'T fit in a cupholder! Or at least not in mine.

I've never actually seen one in the wild, so I have no idea. I'm just going on how they're marketed.

Or, as the Guardian article says, you can just buy accessories to help with that.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/money/g44213028/stanley-cup-accessories/

[getsorted]

can fit in a car cup holder

But they DON'T fit in a cupholder! Or at least not in mine.

I've never actually seen one in the wild, so I have no idea. I'm just going on how they're marketed.

Or, as the Guardian article says, you can just buy accessories to help with that.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/money/g44213028/stanley-cup-accessories/

What unholy nonsense is this.

[Metalcat]

can fit in a car cup holder

But they DON'T fit in a cupholder! Or at least not in mine.

I've never actually seen one in the wild, so I have no idea. I'm just going on how they're marketed.

Or, as the Guardian article says, you can just buy accessories to help with that.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/money/g44213028/stanley-cup-accessories/

What unholy nonsense is this.

Oh come now, who doesn't need a lip balm holder and a monogram charm for their giant water jug??

[RetiredAt63]

How did I miss all the women must drink all that water?  I too need to drink a lot, my doctor and I figured out I had a gout attack because I had several times been a bit dehydrated.  Now I watch my water intake like a hawk watches a mouse.

I got the David'sTea water holder because the straw is great for having a sip as needed at choir.  The straw is removable and comes with a brush to clean it.  Before that my water bottle was a small 7-UP bottle that got reused and reused (and washed and washed).  Bottles for carbonated drinks are much sturdier than the one use plastic water bottles.

But mostly I do my drinking at home - tea in a cup and water in a glass is much nicer.

[sonofsven]

Yeah, I read that Guardian article, pretty funny. I use re-purposed 16 oz GT Kombucha glass bottles for all my "water needs". If 16 ounces isn't enough, I bring two. What a concept.
I prefer drinking water from glass, not metal.
A big re-purposed vodka or gin bottle makes a great work water bottle-good conversation starter!

[Metalcat]

How did I miss all the women must drink all that water?  I too need to drink a lot, my doctor and I figured out I had a gout attack because I had several times been a bit dehydrated.  Now I watch my water intake like a hawk watches a mouse.

I got the David'sTea water holder because the straw is great for having a sip as needed at choir.  The straw is removable and comes with a brush to clean it.  Before that my water bottle was a small 7-UP bottle that got reused and reused (and washed and washed).  Bottles for carbonated drinks are much sturdier than the one use plastic water bottles.

But mostly I do my drinking at home - tea in a cup and water in a glass is much nicer.

You've mentioned many times that you didn't spend your life following trends. I think a lot of women here wouldn't have been as subjected to that nonsense because this community attracts a lot of people who have always eschewed nonsense.

But as someone raised by a model and heavily invested in my younger years in every single aspect of fighting off any possible sign of imperfection? Yep, you can bet I absorbed the "drown yourself in water" messaging. I remember it as early as 12 years old , but I don't think I started actively carrying a water bottle around until I was 16.

It's a whole thing. Every women's magazine, beauty book, weight loss system, etc promoted that you have to drink "at least [insert their version of enough water]"

Shit like this is literally everywhere for women who subject themselves constantly to "beauty wisdom."

https://www.pureluxemedical.com/blog/7-ways-drinking-water-helps-improve-skin#:~:text=Reduces%20Wrinkles,drink%20little%20amounts%20of%20water.

Like sure, if you don't drink water, you will probably look worse. This isn't "bad" advice. I'm just making the point that to understand the cultural basis of why a water bottle is a status symbol, it's important to understand that it's coming from beauty culture and girls and women being conditioned to be afraid of the ugliness consequences of being *gasp* under-hydrated.

The fact that *checks notes*..."drinking literal water" turned into being less about functioning as a human organism and more about cellulite and wrinkles is, just, disturbing.

[RetiredAt63]

You've mentioned many times that you didn't spend your life following trends. I think a lot of women here wouldn't have been as subjected to that nonsense because this community attracts a lot of people who have always eschewed nonsense.

If we are being frugal we don't spend a lot on magazines, I suppose, so miss a lot of the messaging.  And same with TV.

I just didn't "get" the women's magazines.  Given a choice, I would always go for a gardening magazine over a "women's" magazine.


I don't mention it as a "good" thing.  Being bad at "performing femininity" created social problems.  I was in the geek/nerd group in high school, was a late bloomer for dating, etc.  I have often wondered if I am neurotypical (once the word became common) because I have always wanted an operator's manual for society.  I had to learn how to interact with people when it seemed to come so naturally to others.  It definitely affected my career options.  It definitely gave me some social anxiety.

I have no idea how much was upbringing (older parents who were teens and young adults in the Depression) and how much was built-in.  The interesting thing is that my DD now has an official ADHD diagnosis, and I saw nothing unusual in her while she was a child, she seemed pretty typical to me.  There were a lot of times she drove Ex up a wall with behaviours that didn't bother me at all.  So ADHD?  Some form of autism?  Something else?  Whatever, I have learned to cope.

But I will always be bewildered by all the female "must-haves".  I can always think of more fun/useful things to spend my money on.

[Metalcat]

You've mentioned many times that you didn't spend your life following trends. I think a lot of women here wouldn't have been as subjected to that nonsense because this community attracts a lot of people who have always eschewed nonsense.

If we are being frugal we don't spend a lot on magazines, I suppose, so miss a lot of the messaging.  And same with TV.

I just didn't "get" the women's magazines.  Given a choice, I would always go for a gardening magazine over a "women's" magazine.


I don't mention it as a "good" thing.  Being bad at "performing femininity" created social problems.  I was in the geek/nerd group in high school, was a late bloomer for dating, etc.  I have often wondered if I am neurotypical (once the word became common) because I have always wanted an operator's manual for society.  I had to learn how to interact with people when it seemed to come so naturally to others.  It definitely affected my career options.  It definitely gave me some social anxiety.

I have no idea how much was upbringing (older parents who were teens and young adults in the Depression) and how much was built-in.  The interesting thing is that my DD now has an official ADHD diagnosis, and I saw nothing unusual in her while she was a child, she seemed pretty typical to me.  There were a lot of times she drove Ex up a wall with behaviours that didn't bother me at all.  So ADHD?  Some form of autism?  Something else?  Whatever, I have learned to cope.

But I will always be bewildered by all the female "must-haves".  I can always think of more fun/useful things to spend my money on.

Well, I for one can say that I'm very happy to be free of the programming. It wasn't fun to be perpetually on the lookout for the next thing that I needed to protect myself from ugliness.

Seriously, just stupid stupid shit.

[RetiredAt63]

You've mentioned many times that you didn't spend your life following trends. I think a lot of women here wouldn't have been as subjected to that nonsense because this community attracts a lot of people who have always eschewed nonsense.

If we are being frugal we don't spend a lot on magazines, I suppose, so miss a lot of the messaging.  And same with TV.

I just didn't "get" the women's magazines.  Given a choice, I would always go for a gardening magazine over a "women's" magazine.


I don't mention it as a "good" thing.  Being bad at "performing femininity" created social problems.  I was in the geek/nerd group in high school, was a late bloomer for dating, etc.  I have often wondered if I am neurotypical (once the word became common) because I have always wanted an operator's manual for society.  I had to learn how to interact with people when it seemed to come so naturally to others.  It definitely affected my career options.  It definitely gave me some social anxiety.

I have no idea how much was upbringing (older parents who were teens and young adults in the Depression) and how much was built-in.  The interesting thing is that my DD now has an official ADHD diagnosis, and I saw nothing unusual in her while she was a child, she seemed pretty typical to me.  There were a lot of times she drove Ex up a wall with behaviours that didn't bother me at all.  So ADHD?  Some form of autism?  Something else?  Whatever, I have learned to cope.

But I will always be bewildered by all the female "must-haves".  I can always think of more fun/useful things to spend my money on.

Well, I for one can say that I'm very happy to be free of the programming. It wasn't fun to be perpetually on the lookout for the next thing that I needed to protect myself from ugliness.

Seriously, just stupid stupid shit.

2 sides of the same coin.  You fit in but it was a lot of work.  I didn't fit in and stopped trying early to do the work since the results were so poor.     

We are both FREE!!!!!!!

[markbike528CBX]

can fit in a car cup holder

But they DON'T fit in a cupholder! Or at least not in mine.

My car has ZERO cupholders, so I'm glad I'm not missing out.
It also has
no real glove compartment, 
no multi-speed intermittent windshield wiper,
no GPS or other navigation or entertainment screen ,
no Bluetooth, 
only one 12V plug,
no limited slip differential,
and cost 48K in 2000 (85K with inflation). 

Of course I didn't pay that much, got it used in 2011.
It does have two trunks.    Guesses invited.

[Metalcat]

can fit in a car cup holder

But they DON'T fit in a cupholder! Or at least not in mine.

My car has ZERO cupholders, so I'm glad I'm not missing out.
It also has
no real glove compartment, 
no multi-speed intermittent windshield wiper,
no GPS or other navigation or entertainment screen ,
no Bluetooth, 
only one 12V plug,
no limited slip differential,
and cost 48K in 2000 (85K with inflation). 

Of course I didn't pay that much, got it used in 2011.
It does have two trunks.    Guesses invited.

But...with no cup holder, how do you stay hydrated???

[RetiredAt63]

can fit in a car cup holder

But they DON'T fit in a cupholder! Or at least not in mine.

My car has ZERO cupholders, so I'm glad I'm not missing out.
It also has
no real glove compartment, 
no multi-speed intermittent windshield wiper,
no GPS or other navigation or entertainment screen ,
no Bluetooth, 
only one 12V plug,
no limited slip differential,
and cost 48K in 2000 (85K with inflation). 

Of course I didn't pay that much, got it used in 2011.
It does have two trunks.    Guesses invited.

But...with no cup holder, how do you stay hydrated???

Hmm, you know how they say on the internet they can't tell that you are a dog?  Or a cat?  Maybe markbike528CBX is a camel?

[markbike528CBX]

can fit in a car cup holder

But they DON'T fit in a cupholder! Or at least not in mine.

My car has ZERO cupholders, so I'm glad I'm not missing out.
It also has
no real glove compartment, 
no multi-speed intermittent windshield wiper,
no GPS or other navigation or entertainment screen ,
no Bluetooth, 
only one 12V plug,
no limited slip differential,
and cost 48K in 2000 (85K with inflation). 

Of course I didn't pay that much, got it used in 2011.
It does have two trunks.    Guesses invited.

But...with no cup holder, how do you stay hydrated???

Hmm, you know how they say on the internet they can't tell that you are a dog?  Or a cat?  Maybe markbike528CBX is a camel?

Not a camel, not even with just one hump.
On long trips DW hands drinks to me. She doesn’t like driving it, but she gets MUCH better mileage when she does :-)
Also, it has no automatic transmission, so all appendages are to busy at times to handle a hydration system.

[Metalcat]

can fit in a car cup holder

But they DON'T fit in a cupholder! Or at least not in mine.

My car has ZERO cupholders, so I'm glad I'm not missing out.
It also has
no real glove compartment, 
no multi-speed intermittent windshield wiper,
no GPS or other navigation or entertainment screen ,
no Bluetooth, 
only one 12V plug,
no limited slip differential,
and cost 48K in 2000 (85K with inflation). 

Of course I didn't pay that much, got it used in 2011.
It does have two trunks.    Guesses invited.

But...with no cup holder, how do you stay hydrated???

Hmm, you know how they say on the internet they can't tell that you are a dog?  Or a cat?  Maybe markbike528CBX is a camel?

Not a camel, not even with just one hump.
On long trips DW hands drinks to me. She doesn’t like driving it, but she gets MUCH better mileage when she does :-)
Also, it has no automatic transmission, so all appendages are to busy at times to handle a hydration system.

So clearly, you are not the target market for the Stanley. Doesn't even sound like you would even feel compelled to customize it with a monogram charm of your initial.

[getsorted]

I had two aluminum water bottles from Goodwill for years. They were lightweight and durable. One was orange and one was green; I didn't realize until after I bought it that the design didn't just say "TAP," it said, "I'D TAP THAT," in swirly letters. Which was funny because my four-year-old had been carrying it everywhere.

Now the 4yo is 10 and loses water bottles and caps like they're disposable. I'm pretty sure his school throws everything away except coats because there's never anything else in the Lost & Found, which is maddening (the attrition rate of socks is also outrageous).

[dividendman]

And here I thought this was going to be a hockey related thread.

Me too.

They are not the "real thing" until there are riots.

Does this count? https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/hoards-people-stampede-stores-stanleys-269481

[TheGrimSqueaker]

I used to own a mug with a screw-on top and a translucent, reusable plastic straw. I used it every day. One day I took it from its usual place next to the sink and removed the lid, filled it up, and was about to take a sip when I noticed something moving in the straw. I looked closer. Yep. Spider. Had the straw been opaque it would have ended up in my mouth.

Oh, hell, no. With extra commas,,,, because,,, hell,,,, no.  I freaked out and tossed the mug, straw and all, despite the fact it was perfectly good. The gross-out was just too strong.

Because of this experience, I will never use an opaque straw. Or any straw. I drink directly from the cup, mug, or glass like a damn barbarian. But at least I'm not consuming any live spiders.

[Metalcat]

I used to own a mug with a screw-on top and a translucent, reusable plastic straw. I used it every day. One day I took it from its usual place next to the sink and removed the lid, filled it up, and was about to take a sip when I noticed something moving in the straw. I looked closer. Yep. Spider. Had the straw been opaque it would have ended up in my mouth.

Oh, hell, no. With extra commas,,,, because,,, hell,,,, no.  I freaked out and tossed the mug, straw and all, despite the fact it was perfectly good. The gross-out was just too strong.

Because of this experience, I will never use an opaque straw. Or any straw. I drink directly from the cup, mug, or glass like a damn barbarian. But at least I'm not consuming any live spiders.

I think you win this thread

[RetiredAt63]

I'm so glad my straws are transparent!

[GuitarStv]

I'm so old that I remember a time when children could survive the day at school with just the public fountain.  Now my son is required to bring *two* metal re-usable bottles every day with him.  It doesn't surprise me that people have started getting weird about these things . . .

[erp]

I feel almost certain that I've missed the point of this thread.

I know what the Stanley Cup is, but how are these water things connected? Do they have team logos or something? I think I might have officially transitioned to the point where I no longer understand what's happening on the internet at all.

[Metalcat]

I'm so old that I remember a time when children could survive the day at school with just the public fountain.  Now my son is required to bring *two* metal re-usable bottles every day with him.  It doesn't surprise me that people have started getting weird about these things . . .

There's an article about that too

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.upworthy.com/amp/teacher-explains-how-90s-kids-never-had-water-bottles-in-school-and-somehow-we-survived-2666935995

[Metalcat]

I feel almost certain that I've missed the point of this thread.

I know what the Stanley Cup is, but how are these water things connected? Do they have team logos or something? I think I might have officially transitioned to the point where I no longer understand what's happening on the internet at all.

Are you a woman who frequents beauty/health instagram/tiktok channels?

If no, then no,.you are not meant to understand the hype.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

I feel almost certain that I've missed the point of this thread.

I know what the Stanley Cup is, but how are these water things connected? Do they have team logos or something? I think I might have officially transitioned to the point where I no longer understand what's happening on the internet at all.

That's a 5-minute major. To the penalty box with you!

[Askel]

I feel almost certain that I've missed the point of this thread.

I was thinking the same until I saw the following. 

I'll be in line in front of Target tomorrow.  :D 

[erp]

I feel almost certain that I've missed the point of this thread.

I was thinking the same until I saw the following. 

I'll be in line in front of Target tomorrow.  :D

... this is a gamechanger. I'll be there at 1:50 AM!

[lhamo]

I predict that if you can defer your desire for a perogie warmer for another 6-12 months, you will be able to pick up more Stanley cups than you have room to store for cheap at your local thrift store.  These things are going to be the beanie babies of the 2020s -- once the fad makers move on to something else people will be ditching them left and right.

I seriously hope the company has built the inevitable fall off into their business plans.  It would be really sad to see them fail due to how fickle market trends can be....

[GuitarStv]

These things are going to be the beanie babies of the 2020s

*cough cough NFTs cough cough*

[erp]

These things are going to be the beanie babies of the 2020s

*cough cough NFTs cough cough*

You know the old saying - "NFTs can't keep your perogies warm"

[solon]

At the doctor's office this morning, the receptionist had a Stanley cup, complete with name badge thingy, and straw cap that looked like a puppy thingy. I couldn't wait to run over here and tell you all.

She wasn't otherwise into health/beauty.

[jinga nation]

I prefer Project Farm's testing video of various cups, including the Stanley. It is a very good cup per the results, but there are cheaper alternatives too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S51X9h6K6g

[Metalcat]

At the doctor's office this morning, the receptionist had a Stanley cup, complete with name badge thingy, and straw cap that looked like a puppy thingy. I couldn't wait to run over here and tell you all.

She wasn't otherwise into health/beauty.

How can you possibly know this??