Overheard on Facebook

[dragoncar]

My friends are idiots. One posted this:

(Text in case the link breaks: Saving 20 odd dollars a week by not going to Dunkin Donuts for coffee isn't going to help when the working poor's real problem is worrying about being able to still make rent if they miss work due to the flu, so let's stop pretending like this "junior piggybank savers/guilt the poor out of simple comforts" technique is a viable solution to the problem of stagnating wages and skyrocketing living costs.)

I am completely 100% on board federally mandatory paid sick leave. And I'll be honest, it's for selfish reasons. I don't want sick people serving me food or stacking my produce or delivering my packages, plus if I wouldn't take a job without paid sick leave why should anyone else.

But $20/week is $1,040 a year. Or, more practically, two weeks of full-time, post-tax take home pay at $15/hour. There's your sick leave. Right there. You don't even have to wait for Congress to do anything.

This hit my feed, too.  It was all I could do to refrain from commenting with something very similar to what you've said.  It would not have been received well.

But muh donuts!

Seriously, though, does anyone really spend over $20 per week at Dunkin Donuts?  How is that possible?  Have they reached Starbucks prices?

[randymarsh]

But muh donuts!

Seriously, though, does anyone really spend over $20 per week at Dunkin Donuts?  How is that possible?  Have they reached Starbucks prices?

A large coffee even at DD is still almost $3. So if they go every single day and buy a breakfast item just twice a week...yikes.

Someone on reddit.com/r/personalfinance once said they started using Mint and found they were spending ~$300 at Starbucks every month. :-----0

[MgoSam]

But muh donuts!

Seriously, though, does anyone really spend over $20 per week at Dunkin Donuts?  How is that possible?  Have they reached Starbucks prices?

A large coffee even at DD is still almost $3. So if they go every single day and buy a breakfast item just twice a week...yikes.

Someone on reddit.com/r/personalfinance once said they started using Mint and found they were spending ~$300 at Starbucks every month. :-----0

That's $10/day, or $15 if you only go during work days. How the hell do you spend that much, short of buying for your colleagues?

edit: That said, it's great that the guy is realizing this and can now work on reducing that. This could be $300 that he's now able to add to his stash each month, plus as he's likely buying the sugary stuff, he might drop weight and feel loads better.

[dragoncar]

I have a colleague who buys an ice coffee and a breakfast sandwich every single morning. On weekends he takes his grandkids and they each get a pastry of choice. I'm sure he spends $20 per week.

I admit I spend more than $20/week on fast food (barely).  But I'm not poor.  And coffee/doughnuts from a generic non-luxury shop should be like $2/day max.  I guess this makes me an old fogey -- "in my day coffee was a buck and donuts were $0.50! (you can still get out of McDonalds for $2, I bet)

[Ann]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is it really as common as it is made out to be? 

Even when I went through times of being awful and ate out every day for two weeks, I didn't eat at the same place every single time (that is much worse than going to Starbucks, but what I'm having a hard time conceptualizing is the repetitious  monotony, not the spendypants gluttony).

I wonder what the median number of times per week regular Starbucks customers go to Starbucks?

[HairyUpperLip]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures by not going to  Starbucks.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is that really as common as is made out to be? 

Even when I went through times of being awful and ate out every day for two weeks, I didn't eat at the same place every single time (that is much worse than going to Starbucks, but what I'm having a hard time conceptualizing is the repetitious  monotony, not the spendypants gluttony).

I wonder what the median number of times per week regular Starbucks customers go to Starbucks?

I would guess 7-10 times per week.

[Uturn]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is it really as common as it is made out to be? 

My former roommate used to get Starbucks at least once, sometimes twice a day.  Worse than that, he would drive past the one 4 blocks away to get to the one 2 miles away because they had better coffee. 

[theadvicist]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is it really as common as it is made out to be? 

My former roommate used to get Starbucks at least once, sometimes twice a day.  Worse than that, he would drive past the one 4 blocks away to get to the one 2 miles away because they had better coffee.

These are probably the same people who complain endlessly about how 'busy' and 'hectic' modern life is. I have lots of friends who are always exhausted from going from here to there to there, and documenting it endlessly on their iphone. I'm like, "hmmm, my life isn't hectic at all", as I recline in my garden reading a book. Probably because I make my own coffee in my kitchen rather than driving 2 miles for it.

[Sibley]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures by not going to  Starbucks.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is that really as common as is made out to be? 

Even when I went through times of being awful and ate out every day for two weeks, I didn't eat at the same place every single time (that is much worse than going to Starbucks, but what I'm having a hard time conceptualizing is the repetitious  monotony, not the spendypants gluttony).

I wonder what the median number of times per week regular Starbucks customers go to Starbucks?

I would guess 7-10 times per week.

So, just based on two coworkers: Morning coffee, 5 days a week. Afternoon coffee, 3-5 days a week (sometimes meetings get in the way). That's just what I see, no idea about weekends.

One of those coworkers was on medical leave for about 3 months recently - preventable type stuff if you eat a decent diet and get some exercise. She also frequently eats fast food for lunch and is overweight.

The other coworker goes to the gym almost daily. Not a problem. But, he's a member of the $300 a month gym across the street instead of the $20 a month gym in the building. Why? Cause the one in the building doesn't have a basketball court. Oh, and yeah, he can't play basketball because he messed up his shoulder. How? Playing basketball.

[Hedge_87]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures by not going to  Starbucks.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is that really as common as is made out to be? 

Even when I went through times of being awful and ate out every day for two weeks, I didn't eat at the same place every single time (that is much worse than going to Starbucks, but what I'm having a hard time conceptualizing is the repetitious  monotony, not the spendypants gluttony).

I wonder what the median number of times per week regular Starbucks customers go to Starbucks?

I would guess 7-10 times per week.

So, just based on two coworkers: Morning coffee, 5 days a week. Afternoon coffee, 3-5 days a week (sometimes meetings get in the way). That's just what I see, no idea about weekends.

One of those coworkers was on medical leave for about 3 months recently - preventable type stuff if you eat a decent diet and get some exercise. She also frequently eats fast food for lunch and is overweight.

The other coworker goes to the gym almost daily. Not a problem. But, he's a member of the $300 a month gym across the street instead of the $20 a month gym in the building. Why? Cause the one in the building doesn't have a basketball court. Oh, and yeah, he can't play basketball because he messed up his shoulder. How? Playing basketball.

WHAT! is that real or are you exaggerating? I used to play pick up games of basketball down at the YMCA a couple times a week. It was a good way to get cardio in and not be stuck running or biking for long periods of time. My membership was paid for by my employer but would have really considered paying a monthly fee for access to the basketball courts. obviously not $300 a month. The Y also had a pool and a pretty decent but crowded free weights area.

[dragoncar]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures by not going to  Starbucks.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is that really as common as is made out to be? 

Even when I went through times of being awful and ate out every day for two weeks, I didn't eat at the same place every single time (that is much worse than going to Starbucks, but what I'm having a hard time conceptualizing is the repetitious  monotony, not the spendypants gluttony).

I wonder what the median number of times per week regular Starbucks customers go to Starbucks?

I would guess 7-10 times per week.

So, just based on two coworkers: Morning coffee, 5 days a week. Afternoon coffee, 3-5 days a week (sometimes meetings get in the way). That's just what I see, no idea about weekends.

One of those coworkers was on medical leave for about 3 months recently - preventable type stuff if you eat a decent diet and get some exercise. She also frequently eats fast food for lunch and is overweight.

The other coworker goes to the gym almost daily. Not a problem. But, he's a member of the $300 a month gym across the street instead of the $20 a month gym in the building. Why? Cause the one in the building doesn't have a basketball court. Oh, and yeah, he can't play basketball because he messed up his shoulder. How? Playing basketball.

WHAT! is that real or are you exaggerating? I used to play pick up games of basketball down at the YMCA a couple times a week. It was a good way to get cardio in and not be stuck running or biking for long periods of time. My membership was paid for by my employer but would have really considered paying a monthly fee for access to the basketball courts. obviously not $300 a month. The Y also had a pool and a pretty decent but crowded free weights area.

I'm sure a $300/mo gym is full of business prospects, attractive women, and includes pools, saunas, steam rooms, spas, various sport courts, etc.  Maybe subsidized food.  It's getting into country club territory.  Obviously it's ridiculous to pay that just for basketball but maybe the friend isn't explaining the real reasons (status?)

[MgoSam]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures by not going to  Starbucks.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is that really as common as is made out to be? 

Even when I went through times of being awful and ate out every day for two weeks, I didn't eat at the same place every single time (that is much worse than going to Starbucks, but what I'm having a hard time conceptualizing is the repetitious  monotony, not the spendypants gluttony).

I wonder what the median number of times per week regular Starbucks customers go to Starbucks?

I would guess 7-10 times per week.

So, just based on two coworkers: Morning coffee, 5 days a week. Afternoon coffee, 3-5 days a week (sometimes meetings get in the way). That's just what I see, no idea about weekends.

One of those coworkers was on medical leave for about 3 months recently - preventable type stuff if you eat a decent diet and get some exercise. She also frequently eats fast food for lunch and is overweight.

The other coworker goes to the gym almost daily. Not a problem. But, he's a member of the $300 a month gym across the street instead of the $20 a month gym in the building. Why? Cause the one in the building doesn't have a basketball court. Oh, and yeah, he can't play basketball because he messed up his shoulder. How? Playing basketball.

WHAT! is that real or are you exaggerating? I used to play pick up games of basketball down at the YMCA a couple times a week. It was a good way to get cardio in and not be stuck running or biking for long periods of time. My membership was paid for by my employer but would have really considered paying a monthly fee for access to the basketball courts. obviously not $300 a month. The Y also had a pool and a pretty decent but crowded free weights area.

I'm sure a $300/mo gym is full of business prospects, attractive women, and includes pools, saunas, steam rooms, spas, various sport courts, etc.  Maybe subsidized food.  It's getting into country club territory.  Obviously it's ridiculous to pay that just for basketball but maybe the friend isn't explaining the real reasons (status?)

Yeah, depending on your area there's quite a bit of varieties in the qualities of gyms. I used to be a member of LA Fitness for $20/month, which was essentially free after insurance deductible (12 visits), but the facilities were absolute shit, the employees couldn't care less, and yeah. I used to be a member of Lifetime Fitness which has a few different levels, the basic one was going to be around $55/month for me, and that included access to a few different facilities. These are WAY better than LA Fitness, and most of them are 24 hours, which is nice when you have trouble sleeping and feel like working out. The next level above is even nicer, the facilities are much better and I felt like the employees were way better. Then they have at least one or two more premium levels that included access to better gyms, I believe one includes having someone there to wash your clothes while you shower...and one premium level is there solely because it includes a location in downtown Minneapolis where the Timberwolves players also work out.

[10dollarsatatime]

My friends are idiots. One posted this:


(Text in case the link breaks: Saving 20 odd dollars a week by not going to Dunkin Donuts for coffee isn't going to help when the working poor's real problem is worrying about being able to still make rent if they miss work due to the flu, so let's stop pretending like this "junior piggybank savers/guilt the poor out of simple comforts" technique is a viable solution to the problem of stagnating wages and skyrocketing living costs.)

I am completely 100% on board federally mandatory paid sick leave. And I'll be honest, it's for selfish reasons. I don't want sick people serving me food or stacking my produce or delivering my packages, plus if I wouldn't take a job without paid sick leave why should anyone else.

But $20/week is $1,040 a year. Or, more practically, two weeks of full-time, post-tax take home pay at $15/hour. There's your sick leave. Right there. You don't even have to wait for Congress to do anything.

This just came up on my page, and I replied with math.  Friend went on the rant about stagnating wages and poor people not just being lazy.  I replied again.  With the same math.  Which won't change the country's problems, but certainly mean that people can help themselves while they're waiting for that change.  I haven't heard back from that one yet.

[merula]

I wish I could respond with math. The issue is that these are friends from college, where I got a business degree and they got social science degrees. In college, I was "the conservative" in the group for arguing that stock market participation is not inherently evil.

And now, any argument around money is "Merula doesn't know what it's like because she has a good job." Despite the fact that I can point to $200 in monthly spending that the original poster has that I don't, just from what she posts to fb. (Three subscription boxes and an energy drink habit. Not to mention the fact that her kids have twice the toys mine do.)

[10dollarsatatime]

I wish I could respond with math. The issue is that these are friends from college, where I got a business degree and they got social science degrees. In college, I was "the conservative" in the group for arguing that stock market participation is not inherently evil.

And now, any argument around money is "Merula doesn't know what it's like because she has a good job." Despite the fact that I can point to $200 in monthly spending that the original poster has that I don't, just from what she posts to fb. (Three subscription boxes and an energy drink habit. Not to mention the fact that her kids have twice the toys mine do.)

Most of my friends ended up with theater degrees like mine, so I can math at them all I want.  Also... the one who posted it, I haven't seen in 10 years, and we weren't that great of friends to begin with.  I decided I was ok offending him with math.

[PencilThinStash]

I wish I could respond with math. The issue is that these are friends from college, where I got a business degree and they got social science degrees. In college, I was "the conservative" in the group for arguing that stock market participation is not inherently evil.

And now, any argument around money is "Merula doesn't know what it's like because she has a good job." Despite the fact that I can point to $200 in monthly spending that the original poster has that I don't, just from what she posts to fb. (Three subscription boxes and an energy drink habit. Not to mention the fact that her kids have twice the toys mine do.)

Most of my friends ended up with theater degrees like mine, so I can math at them all I want.  Also... the one who posted it, I haven't seen in 10 years, and we weren't that great of friends to begin with.  I decided I was ok offending him with math.

I understand being offended by stagnating wages and skyrocketing COL. Those are bad things. But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm a lot of fun at parties, in case you couldn't tell.

[nobodyspecial]

But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm offended by gravity
But I'm a physicist

[Dollar Slice]

But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm offended by gravity
But I'm a physicist

Physicists have every right to be offended by gravity.

[With This Herring]

But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm offended by gravity
But I'm a physicist

A physicist, eh?  Perhaps you will appreciate this little nugget:
Bahfest: Louie Terrill - Halting Terrestrial Rotation: The Benefits

BAHFest is a celebration of well-argued and thoroughly researched but completely incorrect scientific theory. Additional information is available at http://bahfest.com/

BAHFest, short for "Festival of Bad ad Hoc Hypotheses," is meant to be entirely humorous.  Please don't take any of it seriously.

[Tjat]

But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm offended by gravity
But I'm a physicist

Physicists have every right to be offended by gravity.

Well I'm not a physicist and while I always find gravity attractive, I am a little put off by it's weakness.

[BTDretire]

But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm offended by gravity
But I'm a physicist

Gµv=8πG(Tµv+P∧gµv)

That should ease your concerns.  :-)

[COEE]

This one was on my wall today:

Just an observation open to your opinion if you'd like:
Traveling through Colorado recently, I realized the difference between the south and the rest of the country. Location after location, we were seeing where, when waving at people in camp grounds when there was nobody else around ... and when some were nice enough to let us into traffic lines, they showed no response. NONE! When going through doors, there was little effort to hold doors open ... even for [SO]. To top it all off, we were presented with the most welcoming of all liberal gestures one day.  [SO] was getting a couple of items in a supermarket while I waited outside in the truck. Instead of the big rig taking up a parking space, I found a big open space off to the side of all the other cars. When I thought [SO] might be exiting the store, I pulled up to where I thought she might exit. 5 minutes passed and I drove around instead of double parking in everyones way. I did this twice. On my third time around, keep in mind I'm trying to be courteous here ... I see this 20'ish year old LOOSER leaving the parking lot hollering "FUCK TEXAS!!". You know the kind of guy. The kind driving a 20 year old import car, it's beat up, big muffler, different colored fenders, ratty looking dirty rims and straight up ghetto. Stunned, I immediately thought "Todays modern Liberal". Is this what America has turned into? Haters who do nothing to better themselves yet hate anyone who has nice material things that they worked hard for??! I think so. I'm still trying to figure out if its just a liberal thing or a Colorado thing. In hind sight, I think its both ... since on the way back in Texas, we stopped at many stores where doors where held open while we said thank you, [SO] had a conversation with two women, total strangers.... in one of the store restrooms, I was nodded at by many along with countless other gestures of kindness and politeness we saw nothing of in Colorado. I pack a lot of things I might need when camping. Can anyone tell me where I can get some thick skin for todays America?

I love how he bragged about his gas guzzler 'big rig', drove around the parking lot 3 times while waiting for his SO, assumed this other person was a vagrant or something, and berated his 20 year old car. 

I'm temped to post this back on his wall...
"I think this 'LOOSER' got it right... FUCK TEXAS."

Honestly, I lived in Houston for 13 years... and I'm so glad I left.  The pollution, trash, big rigs, traffic, humidity, and racism (yes, racism is HUGE there - still) all make me sick.

[edit] AND I forgot to mention that he posted this jewel to confirm his stupidity.

[ender]

"No, haters today prefer to berate people on social media to assert their moral superiority and feel good about their lives, while caring far too much what other people think about them."

[LeRainDrop]

I love how he bragged about his gas guzzler 'big rig', drove around the parking lot 3 times while waiting for his SO, assumed this other person was a vagrant or something, and berated his 20 year old car. 

In fairness to your friend, the Colorado dude took the first swipe when he spontaneously shouted out, "Fuck Texas!"  That was pretty asshole-ish.

[Alf91]

Friend of mine posted a photograph of her brand new car today and commented on how expensive it was. At first I was envious (I don't have a vehicle), but then I thought, nope, no way do I want those outrageous monthly payments (not to mention gas, parking, maintenance, etc) - I am content with my bicycle and my two feet (with a little public transit here and there).

[COEE]

I love how he bragged about his gas guzzler 'big rig', drove around the parking lot 3 times while waiting for his SO, assumed this other person was a vagrant or something, and berated his 20 year old car. 

In fairness to your friend, the Colorado dude took the first swipe when he spontaneously shouted out, "Fuck Texas!"  That was pretty asshole-ish.

No doubt it was an asshole thing to do! 

I don't know the other guys side of the story, but I if I had sat there and watched this 'big rig' with CO plates full of camping gear take up multiple parking spaces with his motor running, drive up to the front of the store, park for 5 minutes at the front of the store with his motor running and forcing people to walk/drive around him, and then take two laps like it was Texas Motor Speedway, all while blowing black smoke in everyone's face, I would have probably thought the same thing... maybe not been so outspoken about it, but I would have thought the same thing.  And then I would have got in my rusted out, but paid for, '97 Jeep.

These things don't usually happen in Colorado - and when they do - about 50% of the time - you guessed it - out of state plates.

[notquitefrugal]

I'm offended that the guy was offended by the comment "fuck Texas." I hated Austin and have no desire to go back there. San Antonio was OK. Houston has a decent airport but that's all I've seen of it.

[Ann]

I'm offended that the guy was offended by the comment "fuck Texas." I hated Austin and have no desire to go back there. San Antonio was OK. Houston has a decent airport but that's all I've seen of it.

But basically, anytime someone tells you to go fuck yourself, it is MEANT to be offensive.  If you were traveling and (assuming you were American) someone told you to "Fuck the US", wouldn't you perceive that as a rude gesture?  Would you be offended?  Maybe not.  But surely you recognize that it is rude even if you don't agree with US policy.

[Pooperman]

His big rig gets better gas mileage than my car. Sad but true. On the other hand, my car cost $4k, and his probably is costing hike twice that every year.

[zephyr911]

It may be cheaper, but I don't want strangers touching my stuff :-)  maybe they could combine it with a house cleaning service

How exactly would strangers clean your house without touching your stuff?

[LeRainDrop]

It may be cheaper, but I don't want strangers touching my stuff :-)  maybe they could combine it with a house cleaning service

How exactly would strangers clean your house without touching your stuff?

They should wear white gloves, naturally ;-)

[MostlyBearded]

Background - this friend works for the most volatile 'fire employees for nothing at a moments notice' boss that I have ever met, he also has 2 children under 6 years old. Told me once about how he managed to get out of paying 2k debt on a credit card using some loophole but ended up with the worst credit report I have ever seen! Moaned for months about the cost of renting in our town but collects expensive trainers, treats himself and his family frequently. Overall earns a slightly above average income but never EVER EVER has any money due to ridiculous consumer spending habits...

"Anyone I know work in car sales on here that can source BMW, Audi, Mercedes financing based on affordability as opposed to credit scores?"

[jinga nation]

But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm offended by gravity
But I'm a physicist

Physicists have every right to be offended by gravity.

Gravity is quite the downer. If you stop resisting you'll go 6 ft deeper.

[dragoncar]

It may be cheaper, but I don't want strangers touching my stuff :-)  maybe they could combine it with a house cleaning service

How exactly would strangers clean your house without touching your stuff?

They don't

[MgoSam]

It may be cheaper, but I don't want strangers touching my stuff :-)  maybe they could combine it with a house cleaning service

How exactly would strangers clean your house without touching your stuff?

They don't

Maybe it's a situation like the one a young Forrest Gump faced....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By2TkhcnOv4

[notquitefrugal]

But basically, anytime someone tells you to go fuck yourself, it is MEANT to be offensive.  If you were traveling and (assuming you were American) someone told you to "Fuck the US", wouldn't you perceive that as a rude gesture?  Would you be offended?  Maybe not.  But surely you recognize that it is rude even if you don't agree with US policy.

I agree that it's rude. But Texas is one of the ruder places I've visited[1], so I figure the guy would be used to it.

[1] Actually, I've noticed that the South as a whole relies upon the "southern hospitality" bullshit to get tourist dollars.

[dragoncar]

But basically, anytime someone tells you to go fuck yourself, it is MEANT to be offensive.  If you were traveling and (assuming you were American) someone told you to "Fuck the US", wouldn't you perceive that as a rude gesture?  Would you be offended?  Maybe not.  But surely you recognize that it is rude even if you don't agree with US policy.

I agree that it's rude. But Texas is one of the ruder places I've visited[1], so I figure the guy would be used to it.

[1] Actually, I've noticed that the South as a whole relies upon the "southern hospitality" bullshit to get tourist dollars.

Hey now, at least the guy was doing something to "better himself" such as holding doors open and walking through open doors.

[SwordGuy]

But basically, anytime someone tells you to go fuck yourself, it is MEANT to be offensive.  If you were traveling and (assuming you were American) someone told you to "Fuck the US", wouldn't you perceive that as a rude gesture?  Would you be offended?  Maybe not.  But surely you recognize that it is rude even if you don't agree with US policy.

I agree that it's rude. But Texas is one of the ruder places I've visited[1], so I figure the guy would be used to it.

[1] Actually, I've noticed that the South as a whole relies upon the "southern hospitality" bullshit to get tourist dollars.

The south was a lot more polite before all the Yankees moved down here.   :)

[nobodyspecial]

The south was a lot more polite before all the Yankees moved down here.   :)

When it was just the French and Mexicans ?

[Warlord1986]

But basically, anytime someone tells you to go fuck yourself, it is MEANT to be offensive.  If you were traveling and (assuming you were American) someone told you to "Fuck the US", wouldn't you perceive that as a rude gesture?  Would you be offended?  Maybe not.  But surely you recognize that it is rude even if you don't agree with US policy.

I agree that it's rude. But Texas is one of the ruder places I've visited[1], so I figure the guy would be used to it.

[1] Actually, I've noticed that the South as a whole relies upon the "southern hospitality" bullshit to get tourist dollars.

The south was a lot more polite before all the Yankees moved down here.   :)

This. Virginia's been overrun already, we should take steps to save the rest.

[Goldielocks]

Background - this friend works for the most volatile 'fire employees for nothing at a moments notice' boss that I have ever met, he also has 2 children under 6 years old. Told me once about how he managed to get out of paying 2k debt on a credit card using some loophole but ended up with the worst credit report I have ever seen! Moaned for months about the cost of renting in our town but collects expensive trainers, treats himself and his family frequently. Overall earns a slightly above average income but never EVER EVER has any money due to ridiculous consumer spending habits...

"Anyone I know work in car sales on here that can source BMW, Audi, Mercedes financing based on affordability as opposed to credit scores?"

Lol. Cash, baby.

[MgoSam]

I wish I could respond with math. The issue is that these are friends from college, where I got a business degree and they got social science degrees. In college, I was "the conservative" in the group for arguing that stock market participation is not inherently evil.

And now, any argument around money is "Merula doesn't know what it's like because she has a good job." Despite the fact that I can point to $200 in monthly spending that the original poster has that I don't, just from what she posts to fb. (Three subscription boxes and an energy drink habit. Not to mention the fact that her kids have twice the toys mine do.)

Most of my friends ended up with theater degrees like mine, so I can math at them all I want.  Also... the one who posted it, I haven't seen in 10 years, and we weren't that great of friends to begin with.  I decided I was ok offending him with math.

I understand being offended by stagnating wages and skyrocketing COL. Those are bad things. But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm a lot of fun at parties, in case you couldn't tell.

Indeed, two weeks ago one of the instructors at my gym was talking about cutting weight for a fight and mentioned, "It's really easy to drop 5 pounds when I'm at 280, but it gets much harder than when I'm at 260." He's fairly lean so I can understand, but I commented by saying that 'well that makes sense because when you are lighter, each pound is a higher percentage." He looked at me with a glossy look and said, "I hate percentages," and walked away.

I'm also a blast at parties!

[Basenji]

I'm also a blast at parties!

Wanna sit in the corner with me and pet the host's cat/dog?

[MgoSam]

I'm also a blast at parties!

Wanna sit in the corner with me and pet the host's cat/dog?

Oh it's over if I find out that they have a dog, screw humans I don't mind spending my time at the party playing with the dog(s).

[Basenji]

I'm also a blast at parties!

Wanna sit in the corner with me and pet the host's cat/dog?

Oh it's over if I find out that they have a dog, screw humans I don't mind spending my time at the party playing with the dog(s).

Word

[barbaz]

But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm a lot of fun at parties, in case you couldn't tell.

"But evolution is only a theory!" Which is true. I mean, it is only a theory, it's good that they say that. I think, it gives you hope, doesn't it? That... that maybe they feel the same way about the theory of gravity, and they might just float the fuck away.

[AlanStache]

Re Texas:  I have traveled a lot and people are people everywhere I have been.  Some are nice some are asses.  I dont think it is much of a stretch to think that Big-Rig-Texan-Man went into CO with a sour attitude and maybe locals were reacting to that.  Or the locals were applying local politeness customs that differed from TX customs. 

When I was an exchange student they told me to remember the saying: "not good, not bad, just different."  There are probably reasons they do things the way they do and they dont need some outsider coming in and telling them to do everything differently 1.5 days after arriving.

Things are different in different places, just accept that and go with the flow.  "When in Rome" and all that...

Big-Rig-Texan-Man may have wanted to go out and see the world and expected it to be the same as home, this does not work. 

Living in the South I have seen locals talk a big game about politeness/etiquette and southern hospitality then sucker punch someone.  Not that people elsewhere dont get close to someone then go in for the kill. 

[MgoSam]

Anyone seen the FB post titled "Make Monsanto Mad!!" with the ingredients to a simple weed killer (epsom salt, vinegar, dish detergent, etc)?  Good tip, cheaper and very MMM way to tend the yard, but it really tipped something over in me considering who shared it this time. 

This was posted by an idiot relative who must be the dumbest woman I have ever met.  She loves to harp all about this kind of greenie-mama earth stuff and loves to share posts that are all about Sticking it to The Man and railing against Big Corporations. 

Meanwhile she smoked and drank her way through two pregnancies and has idiot children to show for it--no kidding, one has all the physical and mental markers of prenatal alcohol syndrome, both are adults now and are really messed up losers who can't stray too far from the Jack Daniels or the bong to work or get some education and skills.  I just can't deal with the self-righteous bullshit she is always spewing when the one thing she had 100% control over was just too hard to do, i.e. cut the booze and smicks while hatching the brood. 

I would love to point this out to her in response to her most ridiculous "they are poisoning us!" posts, but I just can't.  She is not worth dealing with the fallout from everyone she is linked to.  BTW, no, she has not adopted clean living in the last 25 years and is making up for harming her kids--she still smokes and tokes and guzzles as much as ever.  And her house is a hoard, filthy, disgusting, full of crap.  She is just crazy I guess.

So she isn't allowed to post ways for people to DIY on clean products?

[Paul der Krake]

Anyone seen the FB post titled "Make Monsanto Mad!!" with the ingredients to a simple weed killer (epsom salt, vinegar, dish detergent, etc)?  Good tip, cheaper and very MMM way to tend the yard, but it really tipped something over in me considering who shared it this time. 

This was posted by an idiot relative who must be the dumbest woman I have ever met.  She loves to harp all about this kind of greenie-mama earth stuff and loves to share posts that are all about Sticking it to The Man and railing against Big Corporations. 

Meanwhile she smoked and drank her way through two pregnancies and has idiot children to show for it--no kidding, one has all the physical and mental markers of prenatal alcohol syndrome, both are adults now and are really messed up losers who can't stray too far from the Jack Daniels or the bong to work or get some education and skills.  I just can't deal with the self-righteous bullshit she is always spewing when the one thing she had 100% control over was just too hard to do, i.e. cut the booze and smicks while hatching the brood. 

I would love to point this out to her in response to her most ridiculous "they are poisoning us!" posts, but I just can't.  She is not worth dealing with the fallout from everyone she is linked to.  BTW, no, she has not adopted clean living in the last 25 years and is making up for harming her kids--she still smokes and tokes and guzzles as much as ever.  And her house is a hoard, filthy, disgusting, full of crap.  She is just crazy I guess.

So she isn't allowed to post ways for people to DIY on clean products?

I think it's the ironically misplaced activism that is annoying.

Kind of like the evangelical Christians who found Jesus after 3 divorces, or that fat coworkers who lectures everyone in the office about sugar.

[merula]

Kind of like the evangelical Christians who found Jesus after 3 divorces, or that fat coworkers who lectures everyone in the office about sugar.

You know Rush Limbaugh?!