People who need a good slap

GreyPilgrim

Wow. I didn't expect such a response. Posting a link to that story was just a response to the ridiculous nature of the story.

"Needs a good slap"... Is there no room for any sort of linguistic 'licence' anymore....? I was in no way advocating physical violence when I titled that post "needs a good slap". If anyone takes offence at this, then I sincerely apologise. But really, if we begin to strip all metaphors, wordplay etc out of everything we write JUST IN CASE the literal interpretation offends someone, we'll be left with something rather dry and bland along the lines of the shipping forecast.

By opening herself up to the media in this way, the lady is presenting herself to the world as vacuous, shallow and superficial and must be aware she is inviting criticism. I'm sure she has hidden depths but I make no apologies for my opinions, because well, they're mine. By "Needs a good slap", I was advocating some sort of reality check. I wonder if she was exposed to some EXTREME poverty for a year, maybe in a homeless shelter or a refugee camp and saw some real suffering, she might suddenly think "oh christ, this has really put my shoe fetish into perspective. Why was I spending mental airtime worrying whether to choose '...ones that match and others which are pure works of art...', or that 'my ultimate shoe dream would be to own a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels' ". She may actually even appreciate the "slap"(*)

Sometimes this forum has a worying habit of turning on people who express an opinion that is contrary to the majority. Maybe we should all reach a consensus on opinions outside of the forum before we actually post a topic, just in case we offend someone. That sounds like a really good laugh.

Come on guys...everyone who can honestly say they have never ever judged anyone negatively for something they have said or done, come down from the moral high ground and put your hands up.

---

(*) remember, this is not a literal slap.

GreyPilgrim

flowerofscotland wrote:

but I am encouraged to see that many others have taken issue and made some great counter arguments.

Why does that fact that other people are agreeing with you make you happy, FOS? Is it a confidence thing? I'm quite happy with mine, despite the fact that everyone else seems to disagree. Thats what makes discussing things fun....

rog2

GreyPilgrim wrote:

Wow. I didn't expect such a response. Posting a link to that story was just a response to the ridiculous nature of the story.

"Needs a good slap"... Is there no room for any sort of linguistic 'licence' anymore....? I was in no way advocating physical violence when I titled that post "needs a good slap". If anyone takes offence at this, then I sincerely apologise. But really, if we begin to strip all metaphors, wordplay etc out of everything we write JUST IN CASE the literal interpretation offends someone, we'll be left with something rather dry and bland along the lines of the shipping forecast.

By opening herself up to the media in this way, the lady is presenting herself to the world as vacuous, shallow and superficial and must be aware she is inviting criticism. I'm sure she has hidden depths but I make no apologies for my opinions, because well, they're mine. By "Needs a good slap", I was advocating some sort of reality check. I wonder if she was exposed to some EXTREME poverty for a year, maybe in a homeless shelter or a refugee camp and saw some real suffering, she might suddenly think "oh christ, this has really put my shoe fetish into perspective. Why was I spending mental airtime worrying whether to choose '...ones that match and others which are pure works of art...', or that 'my ultimate shoe dream would be to own a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels' ". She may actually even appreciate the "slap"(*)

Sometimes this forum has a worying habit of turning on people who express an opinion that is contrary to the majority. Maybe we should all reach a consensus on opinions outside of the forum before we actually post a topic, just in case we offend someone. That sounds like a really good laugh.

Come on guys...everyone who can honestly say they have never ever judged anyone negatively for something they have said or done, come down from the moral high ground and put your hands up.

---

(*) remember, this is not a literal slap.

I think most of us took this thread in the way it was intended. If we can't have a laugh once in a while, life would be dreary indeed.:rolleyes:

GreyPilgrim

rog2 wrote:

I think most of us took this thread in the way it was intended. If we can't have a laugh once in a while, life would be dreary indeed.:rolleyes:

Good, cos I really love it when people accuse me of advocating spousal abuse!!!!

ZTD

GreyPilgrim wrote:

Good, cos I really love it when people accuse me of advocating spousal abuse!!!!

What's that? Is that the same thing as wife-swapping?

kessik

GreyPilgrim wrote:

By opening herself up to the media in this way, the lady is presenting herself to the world as vacuous, shallow and superficial and must be aware she is inviting criticism.

Yes, but there are plenty of people who are not criticising her, the same people who say it's her own money to spend as she wishes. You know nothing of this girl other than that she loves shoes and saves her money to buy them. To imply that this is superficial and say that you're sure she has hidden depths seems to me to be sheer snobbery. If I was to say to you that when I was doing my degree I could spend up to £50 at a time OF MY OWN MONEY on an art book that I'd coveted would you think I was shallow and vacuous too? Or would that be different somehow?
I appreciate that your comments are your own opinion but to suggest that this girl needs to spend a year in extreme poverty because she likes buying shoes seems a bit....well, extreme if you ask me. Let's be honest, she could stop buying shoes tomorrow and world poverty wouldn't be eradicated.
I am curious to know how you spend your disposable income...perhaps you'd like to post it so we can all pick over your consumer habits!!!!;)

lazy&indebt

Lighten up man!!! I agree, spending all her money on shoes is better than spending it on heroin or something but I'm pretty sure the OP meant their comment to be tongue in cheek and thought that (as DFW) that we could all have a good laugh at it and be proud of ourselves for not being as materialistic as this girl.
I don't care what she spends her money on...I just don't understand what the attraction is with shoes!

GreyPilgrim

kessik wrote:

I was to say to you that when I was doing my degree I could spend up to £50 at a time OF MY OWN MONEY on an art book

bloody students. Thats my tax money your spending mate - rein it in a bit huh? Can you not buy your drawing pads somewhere cheaper?

lazy&indebt

GreyPilgrim wrote:

bloody students. Thats my tax money your spending mate - rein it in a bit huh? Can you not buy your drawing pads somewhere cheaper?

Better than buying 20 pints of lager or 167 tins of baked beans
(not that I am steroetyping students of course!)

GreyPilgrim

kessik wrote:

You know nothing of this girl other than that she loves shoes and saves her money to buy them. To imply that this is superficial and say that you're sure she has hidden depths seems to me to be sheer snobbery.

She was happy to portray herself to the entire world as a person whose life revolved around shoes. Whose ambition was to own a pair of expensive shoes. Where the most important thing in her life is shoes. This equals a vacuous, superficial person. Please Discuss

kessik wrote:

If I was to say to you that when I was doing my degree I could spend up to £50 at a time OF MY OWN MONEY on an art book that I'd coveted would you think I was shallow and vacuous too? Or would that be different somehow?

Of course it's different. You're elevating your mind, broadening your horizons. I image that what you do brings a lot of pleasure to other people. She...buys shoes.

kessik wrote:

Let's be honest, she could stop buying shoes tomorrow and world poverty wouldn't be eradicated.

True, but that wasn't the claim I was making. What it MAY do however is stop perpetuating the myth that women are empty headed bimbo's with brains so tiny that they can only handle things like nail varnish and eye shadow. Women suffered to get the rights they have today. Girls like this belittle their efforts somewhat.

kessik wrote:

I am curious to know how you spend your disposable income...perhaps you'd like to post it so we can all pick over your consumer habits!!!!;)

I'm afraid it's not very exciting, but I'm more than happy to give a complete breakdown if anyone wants it that badly. Around 50% of it is currently being shoved into mine and my wife's ISA and savings which is going towards a mortgage. Aside from the usual household bills, groceries, the odd bottle of wine / curry, clothes (and I'm a primark jeans and t-shirt / par of trainers that have lasted years type of guy), christmas / birthday gifts, that speeding fine I had last month... I spend every available penny on books, because I am of the opinion (call me a snob again if you like) that you can never have enough books.

Maybe you can accuse me of being no different to the shoe lady in that I'm obsessed by books...but I'd disagree. Hopefully they're doing me some good and creating a good impression on my daughter so that she doesn't end up being the type of empty headed person that has no greater idol in life than Imelda Marcos.