What are your unpopular opinions? (Vol. 2)

What are your unpopular opinions? (Vol. 2)

Author
Discussion

Captain Smerc

3,021 posts

116 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
Kuwahara said:
Captain Smerc said:
Star Wars was/is complete ste, all of it.
It’s complete dogst ,throw in Harry Potter while we’re at it…
yes Harry fecking Potter

President Merkin

2,966 posts

19 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
To be fair to Star Wars, Lucas always maintained it was for kids & it wasn't his fault if grown ups watched it.

cheesejunkie

2,575 posts

17 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
President Merkin said:
To be fair to Star Wars, Lucas always maintained it was for kids & it wasn't his fault if grown ups watched it.
I saw the man walking around Belfast once. I knew it was him but doubted myself if it really was him. Then I saw on the news that evening that George Lucas was walking around Belfast.

I'm glad I didn't make a complete bell end of myself by going up to him but I could very easily have done it.

Star Wars is for kids but kids grow up and the universe has moved beyond George's creative abilities.

I'm an adult but love shows like "the bad batch" as I can watch them with children.

Kuwahara

844 posts

18 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
ntiz said:
This will probably go quite badly but let’s give it a go.

I don’t get what the big deal about 9/11 is?

Totally understand that it was a horrific day in history that no doubt affected a lot of peoples lives. I’m sure it dramatically shook the people of New York and family of those people.

What I don’t get is the whole it changed the USA forever and changed every Americans life. Did it really affect your average guy living in say Arizona with no friends or family within 1000 miles of New York. It would have been a shock etc but change their life?

They went to war after but it’s not the first or last time they will pack off to invade somewhere.

It’s the weight that’s hung on it I don’t understand. I was also only 11 when it happened so maybe it didn’t hit me like it did adults at the time.
I’ve often asked myself the same question…what is so different to the world now from them ,thousands of dead Iraqis and allied service people aside ,seems to take an age to get through security at an airport but that’s about it ,people get on with life myself included as ,well it just goes on ….

The people directly effected would say otherwise which is totally understandable but outwith that…



2xChevrons

3,189 posts

80 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
Zumbruk said:
ntiz said:
This will probably go quite badly but let’s give it a go.

I don’t get what the big deal about 9/11 is?

Totally understand that it was a horrific day in history that no doubt affected a lot of peoples lives. I’m sure it dramatically shook the people of New York and family of those people.

What I don’t get is the whole it changed the USA forever and changed every Americans life.
Americans are taught from from birth that the USA is the greatest country in the world, has the greatest military in the world, is the free-est country in the world, that it is plain superior to every other country on Earth in all respects. "9/11" showed this to be the bks it is. It came as a great shock to many Americans.
yes

To add: it was the first time serious 'military level' death/destruction by foreign 'forces' had arrived on the US mainland since 1812, and the first time American civilians had a genuine reason to fear for their safety from a foe since the Civil War (yes, there was the Cold War where nuclear annihilation hung over the world, but on the day of 9/11 itself there was genuine short-term fear that what happened in New York and DC was only the start of a major campaign of terrorism).

To divert slightly: I once shared a house with a Latvian person, and they said that when they first moved to the UK. When they'd been here a couple of months and went to the city park on a summer's day. After they'd been there, sitting on the grass listening to music, for an hour or so they had the sudden realisation that, for the first time in their life, they were absolutely safe from Russian tanks rolling in and overthrowing the government of where they lived. It was something they weren't even conscious of, but it was a background anxiety they had carried around with them all through their youth and into young adulthood. But now they were on an island off north-western Europe and it was physically impossible.

It was the opposite of that for Americans on 9/11. Americans have always, by dint of geography, been culturally, politically and physically isolated from the rest of the world. They're a global superpower but as far as the Average Joe and Average Jane are concerned, that all happens 'out there', and they are safe in their land of spacious skies, amber waves of grain, purple mountains, from sea to shining sea. Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. America is Different. America is Special. Bad People Can't Get Us Here. 9/11 changed that mindset and punctured an entire population's sense of security, order and safety.

9/11 also marked the true end of the 1990s in a cultural sense. The Soviet Union was gone. The Cold War was over. Eastern Europe was free. All the big existential, ideological questions had been answered - the future was socially liberal, democratic consumer capitalism for all. Big Macs, Cokes and Chevys all round! America had utterly squashed Iraq in Gulf War 1 with its unparalleled technological, logistical, economic and military might. America was the unchallenged superpower - economic, political, military - of the world. There was an economic boom and living standards were rising across the board. Americans had never had so much spare cash and so much spare time. The stuffy, bland, Leave It To Beaver conservatism of the Reagan years was over, and now there was MTV and The Simpsons. There were gay people in public and on TV, and feminism had gone from being a joke to being an accepted norm. The new millennium was approaching and computers, the internet and technology was this exciting new frontier of information, knowledge and business opportunities. The American Dream was back!

9/11 brought that sense of optimism, security, certainty and purpose to a sudden halt and the nation became scared, fearful, paranoid, jumpy, vengeful and uncertain.

I can't remember who said it, but they said that if you want to understand modern America you need to look at the Columbine Shooting (1999) to see how that changed how America saw itself at home, and 9/11 to see how that changed how America saw itself in the world.

Zumbruk

7,848 posts

260 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
2xChevrons said:
{good stuff}
Well said.

Blown2CV

28,811 posts

203 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
Kuwahara said:
ntiz said:
This will probably go quite badly but let’s give it a go.

I don’t get what the big deal about 9/11 is?

Totally understand that it was a horrific day in history that no doubt affected a lot of peoples lives. I’m sure it dramatically shook the people of New York and family of those people.

What I don’t get is the whole it changed the USA forever and changed every Americans life. Did it really affect your average guy living in say Arizona with no friends or family within 1000 miles of New York. It would have been a shock etc but change their life?

They went to war after but it’s not the first or last time they will pack off to invade somewhere.

It’s the weight that’s hung on it I don’t understand. I was also only 11 when it happened so maybe it didn’t hit me like it did adults at the time.
I’ve often asked myself the same question…what is so different to the world now from them ,thousands of dead Iraqis and allied service people aside ,seems to take an age to get through security at an airport but that’s about it ,people get on with life myself included as ,well it just goes on ….

The people directly effected would say otherwise which is totally understandable but outwith that…
because previously they believed they were invincible rulers of the world previously, clearly, and 9/11 somewhat dented that belief.

Mr Penguin

1,171 posts

39 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
ntiz said:
This will probably go quite badly but let’s give it a go.

I don’t get what the big deal about 9/11 is?

Totally understand that it was a horrific day in history that no doubt affected a lot of peoples lives. I’m sure it dramatically shook the people of New York and family of those people.

What I don’t get is the whole it changed the USA forever and changed every Americans life. Did it really affect your average guy living in say Arizona with no friends or family within 1000 miles of New York. It would have been a shock etc but change their life?

They went to war after but it’s not the first or last time they will pack off to invade somewhere.

It’s the weight that’s hung on it I don’t understand. I was also only 11 when it happened so maybe it didn’t hit me like it did adults at the time.
On the other end of the scale, Danny Dyer has this to say https://pbs.twimg.com/media/COnId5fWIAArkB3?format...

Danny Dyer said:
Can't believe its been nearly 11 years since them slags smashed into the twin towers it still freaks my nut out to this day

Legacywr

12,127 posts

188 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
Drag artists are as disturbing as clowns.

Abbott

2,391 posts

203 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
Legacywr said:
Drag artists are as disturbing as clowns.
There was a drag queen on BBC lunchtime news talking about Paul O Grady.
It was very disturbing and a million miles away from Lily Savage

Stick Legs

4,905 posts

165 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
Captain Smerc said:
Kuwahara said:
Captain Smerc said:
Star Wars was/is complete ste, all of it.
It’s complete dogst ,throw in Harry Potter while we’re at it…
yes Harry fecking Potter
Marvel & DC.

If you are over 18 then by all means watch it but wearing the merchandise makes you look like a loser.


Zarco

17,846 posts

209 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
Mr Penguin said:
ntiz said:
This will probably go quite badly but let’s give it a go.

I don’t get what the big deal about 9/11 is?

Totally understand that it was a horrific day in history that no doubt affected a lot of peoples lives. I’m sure it dramatically shook the people of New York and family of those people.

What I don’t get is the whole it changed the USA forever and changed every Americans life. Did it really affect your average guy living in say Arizona with no friends or family within 1000 miles of New York. It would have been a shock etc but change their life?

They went to war after but it’s not the first or last time they will pack off to invade somewhere.

It’s the weight that’s hung on it I don’t understand. I was also only 11 when it happened so maybe it didn’t hit me like it did adults at the time.
On the other end of the scale, Danny Dyer has this to say https://pbs.twimg.com/media/COnId5fWIAArkB3?format...

Danny Dyer said:
Can't believe its been nearly 11 years since them slags smashed into the twin towers it still freaks my nut out to this day
laugh

DodgyGeezer

40,439 posts

190 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
Stick Legs said:
Captain Smerc said:
Kuwahara said:
Captain Smerc said:
Star Wars was/is complete ste, all of it.
It’s complete dogst ,throw in Harry Potter while we’re at it…
yes Harry fecking Potter
Marvel & DC.

If you are over 18 then by all means watch it but wearing the merchandise makes you look like a loser.

I see no difference between cos-play and people wearing 'replica' football (or pick whatever sport) shirts

Stick Legs

4,905 posts

165 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
DodgyGeezer said:
Stick Legs said:
Captain Smerc said:
Kuwahara said:
Captain Smerc said:
Star Wars was/is complete ste, all of it.
It’s complete dogst ,throw in Harry Potter while we’re at it…
yes Harry fecking Potter
Marvel & DC.

If you are over 18 then by all means watch it but wearing the merchandise makes you look like a loser.

I see no difference between cos-play and people wearing 'replica' football (or pick whatever sport) shirts
Absolutely.

deckster

9,630 posts

255 months

Thursday 30th March 2023
quotequote all
Stick Legs said:
DodgyGeezer said:
I see no difference between cos-play and people wearing 'replica' football (or pick whatever sport) shirts
Absolutely.
There's a massive difference. Pretend footballists wear the kit because they are devoid of imagination or original thought, and put on their team's shirt because it brings a sense of tribal belonging to their otherwise meaningless lives, and to exclude others who wear a different colour.

Whereas cosplayers are supremely geeky yet caring and dedicated souls who express themselves through their artistic skill and creativity as a mark of inclusivity to a rich and diverse culture.

bennno

11,644 posts

269 months

Thursday 30th March 2023
quotequote all
deckster said:
Stick Legs said:
DodgyGeezer said:
I see no difference between cos-play and people wearing 'replica' football (or pick whatever sport) shirts
Absolutely.
There's a massive difference. Pretend footballists wear the kit because they are devoid of imagination or original thought, and put on their team's shirt because it brings a sense of tribal belonging to their otherwise meaningless lives, and to exclude others who wear a different colour.

Whereas cosplayers are supremely geeky yet caring and dedicated souls who express themselves through their artistic skill and creativity as a mark of inclusivity to a rich and diverse culture.
Football fans turn up to support their team and wear the teams colours, or a replica shirt, whilst socialising and letting off a bit of steam at the weekend.

Cosplay by comparison is a weird form of fancy dress, pretending to be a pretend person along with lots of others pretending to be pretend people. En masse in the NEC or such like. Nerdism personified.


Kuwahara

844 posts

18 months

Thursday 30th March 2023
quotequote all
bennno said:
Football fans turn up to support their team and wear the teams colours, or a replica shirt, whilst socialising and letting off a bit of steam at the weekend.

Cosplay by comparison is a weird form of fancy dress, pretending to be a pretend person along with lots of others pretending to be pretend people. En masse in the NEC or such like. Nerdism personified.
A work colleague is big time into Comic con and some of her conversations are borderline needs sectioned under the Mental Health act….

President Merkin

2,966 posts

19 months

Thursday 30th March 2023
quotequote all
People who lift derogtaory phrases straight from Clarkson then accuse others of lacking imagination get on my tits.

Edited by President Merkin on Thursday 30th March 09:25

deckster

9,630 posts

255 months

Thursday 30th March 2023
quotequote all
bennno said:
Football fans turn up to support their team and wear the teams colours, or a replica shirt, whilst socialising and letting off a bit of steam at the weekend.

Cosplay by comparison is a weird form of fancy dress, pretending to be a pretend person along with lots of others pretending to be pretend people. En masse in the NEC or such like. Nerdism personified.
Last time I went to a football match was one where they allocated an area of the ground to local schools and sold tickets at a discount specifically aimed at children.

Imagine my joy when sitting with my primary-age kids next to the opposition fans who serenaded us with expletives and "you're a load of fking useless wkers" throughout the match.

Give me nerds over football fans "socialising" and "letting off steam" any day of the week.

bennno

11,644 posts

269 months

Thursday 30th March 2023
quotequote all
deckster said:
Last time I went to a football match was one where they allocated an area of the ground to local schools and sold tickets at a discount specifically aimed at children.

Imagine my joy when sitting with my primary-age kids next to the opposition fans who serenaded us with expletives and "you're a load of fking useless wkers" throughout the match.

Give me nerds over football fans "socialising" and "letting off steam" any day of the week.
There’s you problem, you took your primary age kids and sat next to the away fans.

Try taking them to comic con at the NEC all dressed as Spider-Man and report back.