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  4. Christmas Shopping (or: A Note on Apathy)

Christmas Shopping (or: A Note on Apathy)

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  • J Jon Newman

    Went shopping today, I though i'd make a list of the various rants. 1: Why does everyone leave their christmas shopping to the last minute? Does stuff get exponentially cheaper the closer it is to the day? 2: Why is it, that no matter how comfortable with yourself you are, you always feel uncomfortable shopping in the womens department for your mother/spouses christmas present, and that you always have to announce to the assistant that the clothes you are buying are not for you? 3: Why is it so hard for people to just stand out of the way when you try to squeeze your trolley past them because they are too busy talking? 4: Who decides what utter crap gets scheduled for TV on christmas day? 5: Why out of 8 large retail clothes shops do they all have exactly the same 3 items and never what you want? 6: Why does everyone decide that "If I go early, I'll beat the crowds!". Don't they realise that by everyone going early, the crowds start earlier??! 7: Why is Scrooge seen as a bad man? 8: Why do people cover their houses in lights? I mean, a wreath on the door a tree in the front room and maybe some candle lights in the window, but having light formations of Santa and the reindeer on your roof, and huge snowmen that light up in your front lawn, every inch of fencing is covered in twinkiling lights and every tree in the immediate area is lit up enough to dry the leaves out and kill the poor thing. 9: Who in the HELL invented blow up Santa's??? 10: Why is there a shop on Bold Street dedicated to nothing but the aforementioned lights and inflatable santas? That has christmas carols bellowing out of the door? I think I need to lay down for a minute.


    Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]

    S Offline
    S Offline
    Shog9 0
    wrote on last edited by
    #8
    1. You've never heard? While there's Life, there's Hope. In this case, there's the Hope that you might Die before Christmas, and thus get out of shopping. 2) Yes, this is certainly a sad, sad behavior. Fight against it next time, by loudly announcing the name and size of each item you pick up, followed by "i hope this isn't too tight on me". 3) We're busy talking here - find somewhere else to push your cart. 4) The same people who decide on the utter crap that gets scheduled on TV the other 364 days of the year. 5) It's a conspiracy - if they allowed people to easily buy giant nutria hats and corduroy night gowns, then they'd never sell anything else! 6) These are the people with no Hope (see #1). And people with no Hope tend to do stupid things. 7) An incompetent biographer. 8) You must also have noticed: the people who do this tend to put them up early... See #6. 9) The same person (in HELL, of course) who invented the other blow up humans. 10) Never been to Bold Street, but taking #6 and #9 into account, i would say that this is a Gateway to HELL, for those who have no Hope. ;) Z

    no one puts flowers

    on a flower's grave

    J R 2 Replies Last reply
    0
    • J Jon Newman

      Went shopping today, I though i'd make a list of the various rants. 1: Why does everyone leave their christmas shopping to the last minute? Does stuff get exponentially cheaper the closer it is to the day? 2: Why is it, that no matter how comfortable with yourself you are, you always feel uncomfortable shopping in the womens department for your mother/spouses christmas present, and that you always have to announce to the assistant that the clothes you are buying are not for you? 3: Why is it so hard for people to just stand out of the way when you try to squeeze your trolley past them because they are too busy talking? 4: Who decides what utter crap gets scheduled for TV on christmas day? 5: Why out of 8 large retail clothes shops do they all have exactly the same 3 items and never what you want? 6: Why does everyone decide that "If I go early, I'll beat the crowds!". Don't they realise that by everyone going early, the crowds start earlier??! 7: Why is Scrooge seen as a bad man? 8: Why do people cover their houses in lights? I mean, a wreath on the door a tree in the front room and maybe some candle lights in the window, but having light formations of Santa and the reindeer on your roof, and huge snowmen that light up in your front lawn, every inch of fencing is covered in twinkiling lights and every tree in the immediate area is lit up enough to dry the leaves out and kill the poor thing. 9: Who in the HELL invented blow up Santa's??? 10: Why is there a shop on Bold Street dedicated to nothing but the aforementioned lights and inflatable santas? That has christmas carols bellowing out of the door? I think I need to lay down for a minute.


      Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]

      M Offline
      M Offline
      Michael P Butler
      wrote on last edited by
      #9

      Jonny Newman wrote: Why does everyone leave their christmas shopping to the last minute? Does stuff get exponentially cheaper the closer it is to the day? According to news reports, consumers are getting smarter. They know that this is the biggest of time of year for retailers. They also know that retailers reduce prices to help reduce the stock-levels after the new year. Therefore consumers are leaving shopping till the last minute and therefore retailers are having to start their sales before the traditional post Christmas period. People power at work. Jonny Newman wrote: 3: Why is it so hard for people to just stand out of the way when you try to squeeze your trolley past them because they are too busy talking? Best strategy is to just say excuse me in a loud voice and then push through anyway. They soon move out of the way. ;-) Michael Snow is lying on the ground, and in the air the sleigh bells sound, The frosted patterned window panes, it's British summer time again. No, it's not, It's Christmas - Santa Claus in on the Dole (Spitting Image 1986)

      J 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • S Shog9 0
        1. You've never heard? While there's Life, there's Hope. In this case, there's the Hope that you might Die before Christmas, and thus get out of shopping. 2) Yes, this is certainly a sad, sad behavior. Fight against it next time, by loudly announcing the name and size of each item you pick up, followed by "i hope this isn't too tight on me". 3) We're busy talking here - find somewhere else to push your cart. 4) The same people who decide on the utter crap that gets scheduled on TV the other 364 days of the year. 5) It's a conspiracy - if they allowed people to easily buy giant nutria hats and corduroy night gowns, then they'd never sell anything else! 6) These are the people with no Hope (see #1). And people with no Hope tend to do stupid things. 7) An incompetent biographer. 8) You must also have noticed: the people who do this tend to put them up early... See #6. 9) The same person (in HELL, of course) who invented the other blow up humans. 10) Never been to Bold Street, but taking #6 and #9 into account, i would say that this is a Gateway to HELL, for those who have no Hope. ;) Z

        no one puts flowers

        on a flower's grave

        J Offline
        J Offline
        Jon Newman
        wrote on last edited by
        #10

        You really do have all the answers. Though I'd hate to go shopping with you :-S In regard to Bold Street, it was funny that most people on the side of the street with the shop, crossed over and walked on the other side, as if worried that they might be snatched in by the huge santa doll in the doorway.


        Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]

        S 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • B brianwelsch

          Roger Wright wrote: tasteless ... pink flamingo statues / lawn jockeys Whaaa?:wtf: In certain circles, I think, its a sign that you've made some good fiscal choices and things are looking up. "Did you see? The Farnsworth's have a pink flamingo family in the yard." "Well, la-deee-daaa"

          "Things are not what they seem. Nor are they any different."

          BW CP Member Homepages

          R Offline
          R Offline
          Roger Wright
          wrote on last edited by
          #11

          Lawn Jockey[^] Pink Flamingo Lawnware[^] The true nadir in American taste! "No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public" - H. L. Mencken

          B 1 Reply Last reply
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          • M Michael P Butler

            Jonny Newman wrote: Why does everyone leave their christmas shopping to the last minute? Does stuff get exponentially cheaper the closer it is to the day? According to news reports, consumers are getting smarter. They know that this is the biggest of time of year for retailers. They also know that retailers reduce prices to help reduce the stock-levels after the new year. Therefore consumers are leaving shopping till the last minute and therefore retailers are having to start their sales before the traditional post Christmas period. People power at work. Jonny Newman wrote: 3: Why is it so hard for people to just stand out of the way when you try to squeeze your trolley past them because they are too busy talking? Best strategy is to just say excuse me in a loud voice and then push through anyway. They soon move out of the way. ;-) Michael Snow is lying on the ground, and in the air the sleigh bells sound, The frosted patterned window panes, it's British summer time again. No, it's not, It's Christmas - Santa Claus in on the Dole (Spitting Image 1986)

            J Offline
            J Offline
            Jon Newman
            wrote on last edited by
            #12

            "Best strategy is to just say excuse me in a loud voice and then push through anyway. They soon move out of the way. " I Think it is just human nature of the less intelligent or inbred, not to stand in the space either side of the main aisle, but instead to stand where all the trolleys are more likely to pass and force them to bypass and go into the smallest gaps.


            Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]

            R 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • J Jon Newman

              You really do have all the answers. Though I'd hate to go shopping with you :-S In regard to Bold Street, it was funny that most people on the side of the street with the shop, crossed over and walked on the other side, as if worried that they might be snatched in by the huge santa doll in the doorway.


              Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]

              S Offline
              S Offline
              Shog9 0
              wrote on last edited by
              #13

              Jonny Newman wrote: as if worried that they might be snatched in by the huge santa doll in the doorway :laugh::laugh: Z

              no one puts flowers

              on a flower's grave

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • R Roger Wright

                Lawn Jockey[^] Pink Flamingo Lawnware[^] The true nadir in American taste! "No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public" - H. L. Mencken

                B Offline
                B Offline
                brianwelsch
                wrote on last edited by
                #14

                Roger Wright wrote: Pink Flamingo Lawnware[^] :-D Did you read the reviews? People love their flamingoes.

                "Things are not what they seem. Nor are they any different."

                BW CP Member Homepages

                R 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • B brianwelsch

                  Roger Wright wrote: Pink Flamingo Lawnware[^] :-D Did you read the reviews? People love their flamingoes.

                  "Things are not what they seem. Nor are they any different."

                  BW CP Member Homepages

                  R Offline
                  R Offline
                  Roger Wright
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #15

                  Mencken was a very observant man...:-D "Another day done - All targets met; all systems fully operational; all customers satisfied; all staff keen and well motivated; all pigs fed and ready to fly" - Jennie A.

                  B 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • S Shog9 0
                    1. You've never heard? While there's Life, there's Hope. In this case, there's the Hope that you might Die before Christmas, and thus get out of shopping. 2) Yes, this is certainly a sad, sad behavior. Fight against it next time, by loudly announcing the name and size of each item you pick up, followed by "i hope this isn't too tight on me". 3) We're busy talking here - find somewhere else to push your cart. 4) The same people who decide on the utter crap that gets scheduled on TV the other 364 days of the year. 5) It's a conspiracy - if they allowed people to easily buy giant nutria hats and corduroy night gowns, then they'd never sell anything else! 6) These are the people with no Hope (see #1). And people with no Hope tend to do stupid things. 7) An incompetent biographer. 8) You must also have noticed: the people who do this tend to put them up early... See #6. 9) The same person (in HELL, of course) who invented the other blow up humans. 10) Never been to Bold Street, but taking #6 and #9 into account, i would say that this is a Gateway to HELL, for those who have no Hope. ;) Z

                    no one puts flowers

                    on a flower's grave

                    R Offline
                    R Offline
                    Roger Wright
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #16

                    Shog9 wrote: "i hope this isn't too tight on me". I like to hold them up and ask the salesgirl, "Do you think this will make me look fat?" Turnabout is fair play. It's also fun to shop for shoes. When I was buying cross-training shoes (whatever happenned to just plain sneakers?), I tracked down a young salesman and asked him if I am required to cross-dress while wearing cross-training shoes. Some expressions are just priceless to watch.:-D "Another day done - All targets met; all systems fully operational; all customers satisfied; all staff keen and well motivated; all pigs fed and ready to fly" - Jennie A.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • J Jon Newman

                      "Best strategy is to just say excuse me in a loud voice and then push through anyway. They soon move out of the way. " I Think it is just human nature of the less intelligent or inbred, not to stand in the space either side of the main aisle, but instead to stand where all the trolleys are more likely to pass and force them to bypass and go into the smallest gaps.


                      Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]

                      R Offline
                      R Offline
                      Roger Wright
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #17

                      Jonny Newman wrote: human nature of the less intelligent or inbred I think of it as a herd instinct, common to most ruminants. Aisle herds have other unpleasant habits, as well. "Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is a major contributor to global warming. In fact, globally, livestock are the largest source of methane from human-related activities – and in the U.S., the third largest source. Livestock production can also result in emissions of nitrous oxide, a very potent greenhouse gas, and carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas." - From the EPA's Ruminant Livestock Efficiency Program[^] "Another day done - All targets met; all systems fully operational; all customers satisfied; all staff keen and well motivated; all pigs fed and ready to fly" - Jennie A.

                      1 Reply Last reply
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                      • R Roger Wright

                        Mencken was a very observant man...:-D "Another day done - All targets met; all systems fully operational; all customers satisfied; all staff keen and well motivated; all pigs fed and ready to fly" - Jennie A.

                        B Offline
                        B Offline
                        brianwelsch
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #18

                        A man may be a fool and not know it -- but not if he is married. -HL Mencken I guess to prove his point, I went through the reviews looking for one written by some guy named Mencken. :-O

                        "Things are not what they seem. Nor are they any different."

                        BW CP Member Homepages

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • J Jon Newman

                          Went shopping today, I though i'd make a list of the various rants. 1: Why does everyone leave their christmas shopping to the last minute? Does stuff get exponentially cheaper the closer it is to the day? 2: Why is it, that no matter how comfortable with yourself you are, you always feel uncomfortable shopping in the womens department for your mother/spouses christmas present, and that you always have to announce to the assistant that the clothes you are buying are not for you? 3: Why is it so hard for people to just stand out of the way when you try to squeeze your trolley past them because they are too busy talking? 4: Who decides what utter crap gets scheduled for TV on christmas day? 5: Why out of 8 large retail clothes shops do they all have exactly the same 3 items and never what you want? 6: Why does everyone decide that "If I go early, I'll beat the crowds!". Don't they realise that by everyone going early, the crowds start earlier??! 7: Why is Scrooge seen as a bad man? 8: Why do people cover their houses in lights? I mean, a wreath on the door a tree in the front room and maybe some candle lights in the window, but having light formations of Santa and the reindeer on your roof, and huge snowmen that light up in your front lawn, every inch of fencing is covered in twinkiling lights and every tree in the immediate area is lit up enough to dry the leaves out and kill the poor thing. 9: Who in the HELL invented blow up Santa's??? 10: Why is there a shop on Bold Street dedicated to nothing but the aforementioned lights and inflatable santas? That has christmas carols bellowing out of the door? I think I need to lay down for a minute.


                          Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]

                          P Offline
                          P Offline
                          peterchen
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #19
                          1. Mostly members of the "Jesus didn' die for shopping" anti-consumerism movement group, and proud. We shun and defy the whole pseudoclerical sales pitch starting with the fall of the leaves.* The last-minute-purchases are a little technical problem with that attitude (since we found preset-exchange is inherentl mutual), but we are working on ways to rectify this. 2) Ummmm... You got caught once, right? ;P 3) Ohhh... those Trolley-Pushers!!! Ignoring the most christmas-like thing on this earth: a nice nigh-before-christmas chat with a fellow in the "prewrapped gifts" aisle! Don't get me started on them! 4) Me. I actually quite like it. You not? 5) What does this have to do with Christmas? 6) It's not my fault they always follow me! 7) NOW you are talking! Go Scrooge Go Go Go!!! 8) "My dad got more lamps than your dad" 9) Not Me. And I deeply regret. 10) Out of the door?! Now talk about evil! Don't mis the presents ;)

                          Flirt harder, I'm a coder.
                          mlog || Agile Programming | doxygen

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                          • P peterchen
                            1. Mostly members of the "Jesus didn' die for shopping" anti-consumerism movement group, and proud. We shun and defy the whole pseudoclerical sales pitch starting with the fall of the leaves.* The last-minute-purchases are a little technical problem with that attitude (since we found preset-exchange is inherentl mutual), but we are working on ways to rectify this. 2) Ummmm... You got caught once, right? ;P 3) Ohhh... those Trolley-Pushers!!! Ignoring the most christmas-like thing on this earth: a nice nigh-before-christmas chat with a fellow in the "prewrapped gifts" aisle! Don't get me started on them! 4) Me. I actually quite like it. You not? 5) What does this have to do with Christmas? 6) It's not my fault they always follow me! 7) NOW you are talking! Go Scrooge Go Go Go!!! 8) "My dad got more lamps than your dad" 9) Not Me. And I deeply regret. 10) Out of the door?! Now talk about evil! Don't mis the presents ;)

                            Flirt harder, I'm a coder.
                            mlog || Agile Programming | doxygen

                            J Offline
                            J Offline
                            Jon Newman
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #20

                            peterchen wrote: 2) Ummmm... You got caught once, right? No, but I still fear I might... peterchen wrote: 5) What does this have to do with Christmas? Read the post title again....I was shopping for presents.


                            Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]

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                            • J Jon Newman

                              peterchen wrote: 2) Ummmm... You got caught once, right? No, but I still fear I might... peterchen wrote: 5) What does this have to do with Christmas? Read the post title again....I was shopping for presents.


                              Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]

                              P Offline
                              P Offline
                              peterchen
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #21
                              1. :laugh: 5) meaning: Isn't this the case outside christmas season as well??

                              Flirt harder, I'm a coder.
                              mlog || Agile Programming | doxygen

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                              • P peterchen
                                1. :laugh: 5) meaning: Isn't this the case outside christmas season as well??

                                Flirt harder, I'm a coder.
                                mlog || Agile Programming | doxygen

                                J Offline
                                J Offline
                                Jon Newman
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #22
                                1. Yes however outside of the christmas season you can always say "They may have stock next week, i'll come back then."

                                Jonathan 'nonny' Newman blog.nonny.com [^]

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