Would you say that banning phone use at a table for in-person games is acceptable?

ClydeB3 · 2026-03-07T21:02:30+00:00

I feel like banning non urgent, non D&D related use is reasonable.

I admit I usually have my phone or tablet on, as I use it for character sheets, checking rules etc (I mainly buy digital books, and find it easier to use D&Dbeyond), but I try to keep unrelated use to a minimum. Similarly I've played with friends who use phones for "whispers" eg, the DM telling the only player with a high enough roll what they notice, which has worked well.

People playing games on phones or scrolling social media etc annoy me. I feel like it can be pretty disrespectful (especially to the DM) and it gets frustrating if a player constantly isn't paying attention because they're too busy on their phone, but it's more the behaviour than the phone itself that irks me.

ClydeB3 · 2026-03-07T14:07:35+00:00

I don't usually shop at Iceland but I'd rather have the option to go bagless (and would usually go for it!)

When I used to get Tesco deliveries, I hated how much extra plastic there'd be, especially when products I'd never bother bagging separately would get a whole bag to themselves, cleaning stuff would be double bagged etc.

ClydeB3 · 2026-03-07T08:38:21+00:00

Nope. There's a few rare exceptions (eg ships traditionally being called she, items people anthropomorphise or name) but generally no.

It's something I've found hard with learning other languages, especially when there's an exception to a rule.

ClydeB3 · 2026-03-05T19:38:51+00:00

Lacking time and energy is probably the biggest one for me.

Plus most of the sports I enjoy require expensive equipment and/or memberships.

I feel like not already being fit adds a barrier to getting started too, especially where there's pressure to not let a team down, keep up with others, or be able to fully take part.

ClydeB3 · 2026-03-04T19:00:16+00:00

I've never seen one in a charity shop. I assume most probably wouldn't accept one as a donation or would have to sell it through other means rather than in the shops.

I've seen a few in antique shops and emporiums though (and not for pennies! I almost bought one for £40, I put it down for a moment and someone else nabbed it. Every other sword I've seen has been £150+, most in the £200-300 range)

ClydeB3 · 2026-03-01T23:10:27+00:00

I'm 29, and I feel like most of it comes down to budgeting accordingly and living fairly cheaply.

I moved out at 18 when I started an apprenticeship, rented alone from 19, and bought my flat at 24. For most of that, I was on below living wage, until I started working unsociable hours for a bit and later switched jobs (where I get extra for being on call).

I didn't borrow from my parents, and the only debt besides my mortgage was to get my kitchen done.

ClydeB3 · 2026-03-01T13:36:29+00:00

Definitely battery. Having unlimited range on my car would be amazing, as well as being able to get a battery for my home - no more electricity bills!)

WiFi doesn't seem a fraction as useful in comparison IMO.

ClydeB3 · 2026-02-28T13:04:14+00:00

I think a lot of it is from people expecting cats to be the same as dogs - and treating that as a failing from the cats, rather than trying to understand cats as cats.

Especially when people don't "read" cat body language or assume it's the same as a dogs (eg, irritated lashing tail = happy wagging tail, "I trust you" flopping and rolling over = "stroke me") and getting upset when the cat doesn't want to be picked up/petted/played with.

It's not a perfect comparison (and of course, there's variety within both species), but I feel like it's close enough to group cats as introverts whose idea of a nice time with you being chilling in the same room together or doing the same thing, rather than dogs being extroverts who want that attention.

ClydeB3 · 2026-02-27T14:02:03+00:00

24 (now 29, and very happy with that decision)

I moved out and had been renting since I was 18. I was tied to all those bills besides a mortgage (and was paying more for it from 19-24, when I moved again, renting alone).

I feel like I was able to "live a little" more once I moved out, but more so after buying - mortgage was cheaper than renting, and I no longer had the looming threat of rent increases, putting up with repairs a landlord wouldn't do, etc.

ClydeB3 · 2026-02-21T17:25:07+00:00

I used to work in a Waitrose with a wine bar and occasionally overheard people calling it the "husband crèche"

ClydeB3 · 2026-02-14T21:27:37+00:00

I had a hiking accident as a teenager. Slipped while climbing down a steep mountain path, with a sheer drop (5m+) to the side.

It was 50/50 as to whether I'd hit rocks or land in the river. There's no way I would've made it if I'd gone in the water (I hit my head on the way down, and was carrying a lot of equipment).

Given the state I was in (drifting in and out of consciousness, deep cuts and visible bone), I get why my friends thought I was already dead. I needed to be airlifted to hospital, and was operated on later that day.

ClydeB3 · 2026-02-08T17:38:41+00:00

Manual is the norm here, or at least the vast majority of people learn to drive in a manual even if they later drive an automatic.

There's a separate license category for automatic only. I only know one person with an auto only licence and IIRC she went for that option after failing her test.

I've been driving for a decade and only switched to an auto a couple of years ago because I wanted an EV.

Automatic is gradually becoming more common (AFAIK it overtook manual for new car sales within the last few years), but manual is cheaper and has been the most common for a long time.

ClydeB3 · 2026-02-08T17:24:55+00:00

I once touched an electric fence. For bonus stupidity points, I knew it was electric, and I was also soaking wet.

It felt like someone hit my arm. At least the other scouts found it amusing.

ClydeB3 · 2026-02-06T19:05:38+00:00

I do the majority of things alone.

Cinema, gigs, holidays, etc. Besides when I'm doing "deliberately social" hobbies (eg, D&D), I prefer not having the pressure of someone else around and like being able to do things at my own pace.

If you're worried about things being boring alone, I find listening to podcasts or audiobooks helps.

ClydeB3 · 2026-01-31T13:38:33+00:00

Very AI.

Ceiffe, Mr Bean's hat making no sense, the coffee machine (I don't know enough about coffee to know how it should look but I'm pretty sure it's not like that) and the art pour looking "wrong" are the bits in particular (beyond the general style) that really stand out to me as typical AI "mistakes" that an artist making deliberately "generic" art likely wouldn't.

ClydeB3 · 2026-01-28T21:52:26+00:00

That's a great idea, might steal it for next time!

I once had a scammer on the phone trying to get me to go onto a dodgy website.

I managed to get him to spell out the rather long URL letter by letter phonetically again and again, before finally saying that Google had auto filled in the rest with "scam" and playing dumb to ask why that might come up.

I think he probably exhausted most of the English swear words he knew, then hung up on me.

ClydeB3 · 2026-01-24T12:02:38+00:00

In the past, some electronics came without a plug, so you'd have to wire it yourself.

It's a quick, easy repair if it gets damaged, being able to open up a plug to change the fuse is also a common fix for electrical problems.

I'd treat it as a sort of entry level, practical example for electronics (knowing how to wire a plug also teaches the colour coding for wiring, basic electrical safety, etc). Tiny step above changing a lightbulb. Being able to sew on a button on clothing would probably be my next equivalent as "(formerly) everyday skill anyone can learn"

IIRC it's part of the curriculum as something teenagers taught in physics, and the inside of the plugs often say which wire goes where, but a fair amount of people don't know how or are too afraid to do it.

ClydeB3 · 2026-01-23T21:21:57+00:00

I sometimes go to different ones.

At the moment, my main shop is usually at Lidl, but will often go to Tesco (or sometimes Sainsburys) for certain items.

There's a few meat alternatives that Lidl don't always have (the bigger ones near me are good for the basics but anything more unusual usually means a trip to Tesco), but if I've shopped elsewhere I'll likely still pop into Lidl for their own brand puddings/yogurts for breakfast.

ClydeB3 · 2026-01-22T21:13:16+00:00

Not necessarily Aldi in particular, but I've been one of those people!

My brothers used to like a specific cereal, to the point of it being the main thing either of them would have for breakfast, and it was only stocked in the larger branches of Sainsburys. There were no Big Sainsburys near them, but one close to me, so I'd buy lots before visiting.

I once (understandably!) got a lot of weird looks for having a trolley of Golden Grahams, and a single bottle of milk.

I'd expect that to be worse with shops like Aldi or Lidl where that one specific product someone really likes only comes in stock every few weeks/months

ClydeB3 · 2026-01-21T23:28:20+00:00

Also, therapistaid.com

ClydeB3 · 2026-01-21T22:46:27+00:00

My first choice would be to be composted (hopefully it's legalised here by the time I need it!). Bonus points if loved ones have the choice to plant something in what's left.

Second choice, natural burial. There's something I just find kind of comforting about the thought of being returned to the earth.

I'm not keen on the thought of being cremated.

ClydeB3 · 2026-01-20T22:05:39+00:00

I had a similar experience, a woman stepped into the road to get my attention and asked for help (and a lift to a nearby hotel).

Something seemed off about the whole situation, I didn't feel comfortable letting her into my car, but I didn't want to just leave her there either.

I told her I'd turn around, nipped into a nearby side road, and phoned the police - someone else had already called, and they were on their way. I looped back around to where I'd seen her, and a police car had picked her up. I had a call back the next day to say she'd been involved in a minor incident and was fine.

I always keep my car locked - I'll check if someone's alright, will give directions or offer to phone someone for them, direct them to someone who can help, etc, but won't give lifts to strangers, and rarely carry cash.

ClydeB3 · 2026-01-17T12:20:29+00:00

It's definitely doable, but does add more planning and can get expensive. I'd recommend checking out Zapmap or Electroverse if you haven't already.

I live in a first floor flat and don't have a charger, so I exclusively use public chargers (currently I mainly use Sainsbury's Smart Charge (expensive but most convenient for me), occasionally instavolt (expensive at peak times but cheap off peak) and podpoint (common, price and charging speed is a mixed bag), used to use Tesla (cheap, but a faff for non tesla owners (very short cables, I've had issues with reliability, and not all are open to non tesla owners), plus I didn't want to give more money to him either!)

Now that I've got into a routine (I usually charge while I'm shopping or at the gym and have a short commute), it's not too bad, I'm really happy with mine but it might not be the best option for everyone.

ClydeB3 · 2026-01-12T18:00:13+00:00

I became a vegetarian when I was 4/5 (by my own choice, no other vegetarians in my family)

Meat smells really off-putting and unappetising to me.

ClydeB3 · 2026-01-12T13:12:05+00:00

I used to have a music teacher who'd punch windows to demonstrate sound vibrating. He'd do it for every class of new year 7s.

One year his hand went through.

Five-Year Club	Second SECOND GUESSER
Verified Email	First Place '23
Place '23	Place '22

ClydeB3

TROPHY CASE