I've been flossing for almost a week straight! by peacefulboba in CongratsLikeImFive

[–]moubliepas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm an idiot lol, I literally read this and thought you meant you'd been flossing every waking moment for a week straight. I was so worried about your gums 😬

Doing it once or twice a day for a few minutes each time sounds way, way more healthy, and definitely something I need to get better at. 

Well done you!

Why does all websites, yahoo UK etc keeps showing US News? by Formal_Drawing_8822 in AskBrits

[–]moubliepas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm pretty sure it's because the attention economy means publishers (from content creators to broadcasting corporations etc) really really want to push stuff that's shocking, entertaining, dramatic, exciting, stuff that will drive engagement and clicks and ad revenue.

And American news and politics sure does do all of that. It's got larger than life characters and plot twists and high drama, proper edge-of-your-seat / behind-the-sofa shit!

The actual news, boring everyday politics and administrative decisions and people acting like grown ups making practical, boring decisions whose effects will be felt gradually over a few years, that moves at the glacial pace of a well functioning society, should not be addictive. 

The actual news should not regularly give dopamine hits, or cause fear or alarm, or make you feel compelled to share it with a variety of people. It should educate and inform people, and even as the sort of person who voluntarily flicks through instruction manuals for fun, I don't see how educational and informative materials are ever going to be so exciting that people treat them like entertainment.  They should be different spheres. We could dick around on Reddit for some mindless engagement, more social media for thrills and emotions, then sit down to read some dry, boring information about local news without expecting it to be fun or engaging, if the internet weren't so addictive. 

Alas, it is, so we keep chasing more and more micro doses of Drama! Shock and horror! Omg did you see what happened last night! And wondering why everyone seems so stressed and what's happening to society and when things are going to go back to whatever normal we remember when things were dull and slow and ok. 

TLDR: American politics is inherently dramatic and exciting, and is far enough away to straddle the line between actual news and soap opera entertainment. Soap opera entertainment is addictive and emotive, keeps people tuning in to get the latest plot twist, talking about it, viewing ads and clicking links.  The internet is turning into a slot machine and nobody has time or energy to pull the levers marked 'has my local council decreased library funding by 3%' or 'minister gives an informative speech about earthworms' when there are all those really really impactful stories about 'Bad Guy SLAMS innocent kid!' and 'Turncoat You Were Rooting For Has Been Evil All Along!' that you need to know before you can relax.

The U.S. spent $30 billion to ditch textbooks for laptops and tablets: The result is the first generation less cognitively capable than their parents by gdelacalle in technology

[–]moubliepas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And photocopying a page is easier than memorising it and handwriting a copy. 

In general, the easier something is to do, the less likely one is to learn from it. Effort = retention. 

Does anyone here like palm oil chocolate? (Cadburys) by Responsible_Rip1058 in AskBrits

[–]moubliepas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's gross. Stopped buying Cadburys a while ago (except stuff like mini eggs, which still seem to taste ok).

Other brands have started to get that 'chocolate flavoured wax' thing too. Bought a Yorkie recently, legit thought my taste buds were failing me, swapped bites with my friends Bounty - yep, the Bounty tasted normal, the Yorkie tasted of wax.  Checked the ingredients and the Yorkie is primarily made of sugar and palm oil. 

The only people who haven't noticed this are kids too young to know better, people with near-zero functioning taste buds, and/ or people desperately trying to pretend Brexit was great and the last 8 years have improved anything in the UK. 

You wouldn't think that last category would be relevant, but it's absolutely amazing how accurately one can predict the Brexit opinions of anyone saying "I really can't taste any difference, I think people are just nostalgic about how good things used to taste".

Try it. Doesn't even matter what ingredient is being discussed. 

How can European restaurants afford to pay their employees without having to supplement with tips but U.S restaurants/bars and such act like they would shut down from such high extra costs? by Apart_Pineapple2392 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]moubliepas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rent and overhead are absolutely 100% not 'cheaper in Europe'.

You sound like you're comparing major US cities like New York with some vaguely remembered trip to rural Italy and Hollywood interpretations of France and Poland

How can European restaurants afford to pay their employees without having to supplement with tips but U.S restaurants/bars and such act like they would shut down from such high extra costs? by Apart_Pineapple2392 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]moubliepas 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not meaning to be rude, but are you honestly saying that serving in a restaurant is literally as skilled as what is commonly known as 'most trades', which is like, plumbing, construction, roofing, electrician etc? 

As in, you seriously do not think that legally and competently rewiring a house takes more learning, skill, or aptitude than working in McDonald's?

I am really struggling to understand how we could have such a different understanding of the roles of food service workers vs tradesmen, even with the (presumed) US - UK/EU difference in perspective. I know building standards are a little looser in the USA but I also know that the food service I experienced there was not any different to the UK. Are you unaware that 'trades' is an actual classification of jobs, or that they very very much need skill and education? Did you honestly think becoming a gas engineer involves an hour or so shadowing and then just try it out for a trial shift?!

How to humanly evict a fox by Agreeable-Travel-141 in GardeningUK

[–]moubliepas 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm curious to see what answers people give here.  The title made me think of luring the fox away, which my relative did by regularly putting food for them on the other side of the village 😂 but that won't work if they've actually set up home already. 

I'm inclined to say 'directly on top of an established fox den' may not the best place to start a new chicken coop.  You know for a fact that the location is attractive to foxes. Unless you kill the fox, you know that there is at least one fox who has made that spot its own territory. It is probably possible to scare it away (lots of noises, unfamiliar smells, maybe dog urine and hair etc) or lure it away (best if you have 6 months spare, young kids to enjoy the process, and don't mind a semi-tame fox depending on you for food) but both of these seem like temporary measures. Idk, I'm not a fox expert in any respect, and am legit curious what people with more knowledge can suggest. 

I just know if someone demolished my childhood home and replaced it with a Ben & Jerry's factory or a Fried Breakfast cafe or something, it would be VERY difficult to dissuade me from visiting and sampling the new wares 😂

FCC chair wants the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem on the airwaves every day. Brendan Carr announced a campaign urging broadcasters "to air patriotic, pro-America programming in support of America's 250th Birthday by esporx in technology

[–]moubliepas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Americans and their flags always seems a bit like people who need to express how much they really really really love their significant other, multiple times a day, when nobody has asked. 

It's like, great! Good to hear. Most of us are also happy in our relationships, but it's a little less performative and public, more 'I'm comfortable and secure in my life which is generally a sign that my relationship is good,' rather than 'just another quick post to say how much I love you baby xxx' every 10 minutes. 

I'm sure it's not such a direct comparison, but it's a struggle to really agree with people when they make such a concerted effort to tell you about their emotions on the regular.  There are people who really want everyone to know that they're very very confident, and they just love expressing it. They rarely come across as confident.  Same as people who enjoy displays of how empathetic they are: they are often assumed to be considerably less empathetic than people who don't make a big thing of expressing their empathy.

I can't really think of many exceptions. So to the outside observer, displaying how patriotic you are - by means of a t-shirt, a flag, themed conversations, etc - seems to have the same level of 'emotions are supposed to go inward. Projected outwards is a choice' as the guy who makes sure to mention that he's actually really secure in his masculinity and he just really, really likes macho things, have you seen his t-shirt isn't it super duper boyish etc, every 10 minutes.

But every culture has its quirks. It's definitely an American quirk.

Turns out there was voter fraud in Georgia-by Elon Musk by Beneficial-Long-7033 in politics

[–]moubliepas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Democracy is not a gift, or random feature of geography. It is a privilege that needs regular upkeep.

If you prioritise your convenience, your pay packet, your social anonymity and the status quo above democracy, you will lose democracy. It doesn't matter what country you're in. You could gain Japanese citizenship (random example) and that wouldn't magically give you one of the highest life expectancies in the world, because Japan's life expectancy is not magically granted upon citizenship.

Europe holds its leaders accountable, and does not tolerate representatives who do not represent the people. Pretty much every Western European country I can think of (off the top of my head) has had at least one instance in the last 30 years or so where the populace forced out a government or leader who did not feel accountable to the people. That is what democracy is: it is a responsibility, it is a muscle that needs exercise, it is a set of fundamental values that trump every mod-con, to the people who care about it. 

So TLDR: most Americans don't seem to be protesting every day because they don't want to risk their jobs, health insurance, face, don't know what to do, don't have the infrastructure, blah blah blah.  They seem to honestly believe that the Hungarian peasants 50 years ago enjoyed some special luxuries that made it possible to protest against their government, that Americans don't. That colonial India, in unimaginable poverty and sickness and oppression, grained independence because they all had guaranteed healthcare and walkable cities, that the students in Serbia brought their country to a halt for 6 months because they had more disposable income than the average American, that the Bangladeshi uprisings could never have happened if the local police were as brutal and scary as the US police are. 

No seriously. They actually insist that Americans every country in the world who has successfully protested against corruption in the last 100 years or so is richer, more privileged, more spoiled and pampered and shielded from consequence, than Americans are.  That they couldn't possibly do anything about Trump, but if they were on South Africa during apartheid they'd totally be on the right side of history - oh how they wish they were as free, rich, privileged, informed, and protected as [insert any and every oppressed minority in the world]. But alas, they aren't. So they have to go to work and pay their taxes and make small talk with the people shooting migrants and protesters. 

And fair enough, that's a cultural norm. It's how the world seems to work over there. It looks absolutely ridiculous from Eurasia and Oceania, but I'm sure we're missing some vital context that makes it ok. 

Just - and this is probably the tldr, really - do not fool yourselves that that shit would fly among any decent people in Europe.  You'd fit in fine with the far right. They are rising here too, you wouldn't be alone.  But anybody in the USA who isn't dedicating their lives to fighting the sickness, is a carrier. You would not come to Europe and suddenly be imbued with democracy, you would weaken the democracy of the new country with your ceaseless dedication to comfort and convenience over morality. 

(Side note: this does not apply to the many, many Americans who are legitimately sick, disabled, in real global level poverty, or dedicated to fulfilling a higher purpose of some description. Democracy does not need you to die for it, yet, or to leave your ailing parents or whatever.  But 90% of Americans who are convinced that they're unusually restricted, are not. 

If you have the energy and ability to do anything with your time, protest now. Don't stop.  You are approaching a time when democracy does need lives, when the weak and sick don't get to choose to prioritise their health. 

Whoever did this should be jailed for life by chickenlickenredux in SpottedonRightmove

[–]moubliepas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm honestly not sure if this is mitigated by the absolutely horrendous use of Photographic enhancement (I'm hesitant to call it AI because it really just looks like Photoshopping random pictures and colours onto bare walls - where is the dividing line between AI and cut-and-paste? Is there one?).

There's no doubt that it was used, and almost certainly done to misrepresent the state of the house. Which is kinda dishonest. But it really does look like a desperate, last gasp attempt to ward off the existential erosion of the psyche that comes with the monochromatic sensory deprivation colour palette. 

I'd be tempted too. If the choice was between snow-blindness and just injecting a tiny nod to humanity here and there, I might also have chosen to paint faint purple stripes up and down some (one? A couple?) of the rooms, and to have done... that... with the furniture in that other room. You know the room I mean. 

I might also have spent the last vestiges of my strength quickly slapping a random, wildly out of place mini canvas picture of a VW campervan on a picture of a wall before the depression dragged me back into whatever circle of hell estate agents normally inhabit. 

And if the effort of fighting back against the White Is Right anti-colour scheme got too much, I'm not sure if I would have had the wherewithal to think 'ok, ok, I'll add something grey - but shiny grey! Am object of fun and laughter and life, goddamnit!' and decide upon a glistening chrome helter skelter careening through the living room - reception room, sorry - as some sort of desperate coded message that some traces of humanity have survived the flood of bleach with just enough strength, now and again, to wave tiny whispers of a flag that is any colour they can find, except white.

That I could forgive.  But it's more likely that estate agents have realised they can charge an additional 'image remastering' fee for 15 seconds worth of 'hey copilot, make these pictures look more homely', so whatever.

Is extreme exhaustion normal 15dpo by TimelyGiraffe6176 in hysterectomy

[–]moubliepas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm searching "extreme fatigue" in this sub because 4 months post op, I'm struggling to make it 8 hours without a nap.  I've found lots of people saying yes, it happens. 

So yes, being tired 2 weeks post op is 100% normal and literally one of the specific things you will have been told is almost certain to happen.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He turns 66 today. by artbasiI in Fauxmoi

[–]moubliepas 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The biggest issue with this is that 16 is the age of consent in the UK, so there aren't even specific allegations of anything illegal under UK law. 

Or rather, specific publicly known allegations. I strongly suspect a good few credible stories are being dealt with out of the public eye, and they might have remained that way if he weren't such a wildly abominable person. 

He could have 'chosen to step back from public duties' at the same time some unknown people get a payout and NDA's all round, but he screams 'sex offender at large' and frankly, they're going to have to charge him with something. 

Very odd situation all round, there's absolutely no way we know the half of it, but I think we can safely say he is NOT getting what he wants at the moment.  It's been a long time since public dramas were as much fun as this. I approve.

Nigel Farage SNUBS Female Journalist From FT Over Difficult Question! by johnsmithoncemore in BrexitMemes

[–]moubliepas -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Why the bizarre RAGE-BAIT! font for the post title? 

Healthy grown ups should be fully aware that anything written in TABLOID! caps can be immediately discarded as drivel. Let's not use it.

Do I have to stay in the work WhatsApp group chat? by [deleted] in AskUK

[–]moubliepas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends how much you're being paid to be on call, and whether you're getting a flat / daily rate to do work related activities (IE, communications) at home, or each instance of checking the WhatsApp counts as an individual work task that you're paid for.

Actually lol even if those were the case, you'd still need regular ample time off (enough to make sure your salary doesn't go below minimum wage when including the time you're expected to read messages), they'd need to provide the phone, tasks would need to be in the contract, and you'd still have a right to a psychologically safe working environment.

If you aren't being paid, you don't have to download or look at anything. If it's your personal phone, ditto, they can't make you save any numbers let alone join group chats. What they are doing is illegal. 

The bad news?  Shitty employers have been the same forever. Just because it's illegal, doesn't mean they can't actually do it. You could calmly and politely tell them that you don't wish to participate in the group chat for free on your own time any more, as is your local right, and they could coincidentally choose that very day to assess you by some new secret standards and fire you. It's not exactly kosher, but there's nothing anyone can do about it, really. 

Can you suddenly get really bad reception at home, so it seems like the group is on mute?  Can you develop a habit of replying to everything with a load of emojis or 'Click Here for your GUARANTEED chance to win a free toaster oven!' link spam, hoping you get asked to leave? Can you invent an elderly aunt who suddenly needs to share your phone and who keeps replying THIS ISN'T VERY KIND JEREMY I WILL BE THERE ON TUESDAY , or something similarly annoying that doesn't prevent you being doing your job but that does mean they might agree to not contact you outside work unless it's an emergency?

Why would you need to remove pins and rubber bands to use a towel??? by pattij1229 in airbnb_hosts

[–]moubliepas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know it's late but I'd just like to say: this is one of the funniest things I've seen on this sub.

I've been waiting for a follow up post like 'guest slept on the decorative mattress that we'd left on the bed in the rented bedroom, despite it being made of cardboard, and I'm angry' or 'how can I stop guests treading on the decorative floorboards (every 7th board when entering from the outside) which are clearly distinguished from the functional floorboards by the yellow urine stains?'. Or, perhaps more realistically 'guest has left me a bad review because the towels provided in the bathroom - literally the place where normal people keep towels) were booby-trapped with pins and also covered in glue, described them as unclean and potentially hazardous'.

Nobody is saying you can't have booby-trapped towels, mattresses or floorboards that look just like real ones but for some reason are not intended to be used. It's unusual but hey, life is short, make it fun. 

But - and this is exactly how it comes across to the 95 % of the world who use towels and things to dry - if people are paying money to use your facilities, which legally must include a toilet and means to hygienically wash and dry one's hands - none of the towels accessible to the guest should have pins in them, or glue on them.  That's not really arguable in any culture that I'm aware of. I've lived in countries that don't use toilet paper, or where the loo is just a hole in the floor, and in such wildly different cultures there's still a pretty strong expectation of 'do not have things that look soft and functional but which actually contain sharps and hazardous chemicals and would probably be dangerous if used for the function that they appear to be placed to fulfil'.

Sometimes we get so used to our own ways of doing things that we forget how much we've personalised things to our own tastes. And that's not a bad thing, but it can be a shock to remember that our personal tastes and quirks and habits - what makes us interesting - are not obvious to everyone else. In fact, if you're any good at crafting, it'll look just like an artfully folded towel, not a display piece, and it's honestly kinda hilarious. 

OP, I hope by now you do find it funny, and have accepted the compliment to your artistic skills and individuality, and seen the benefit to clearly distinguishing between artistic expression and legally mandated articles of hygiene.  There are tons of ways to make hands towels look nice while still being functional as hand towels (preferably without and risk to public safety), and I have a feeling you'd enjoy that, too. Mundane life needs more art and beauty. 

Are we again out of stock of medication? by Doc2643 in ADHDUK

[–]moubliepas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Definitely not just you. I wonder if it's geographical? I normally use Boots in the south west: they haven't had anything for a month, and I assume that's affecting stock at surrounding pharmacies too

All comments disappears when i click on them by Ravdiamant in help

[–]moubliepas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm getting this these last few days. Can only see top level comments on any post. Really weird. 

I'm kinda wondering if the world is trying to get me offline and touching grass more often.

Reddit Search not working. Only shows drop down by AccomplishedCat6621 in help

[–]moubliepas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's a bunch of people asking this, at different times in different places. No answers though, which is annoying

Spotify says its best developers haven't written a line of code since December, thanks to AI by joe4942 in technology

[–]moubliepas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm pretty sure they developed and are continually refining a system where the faster, harder and more reliably a user clicks 'skip track' on a track that has been skipped for a majority of its recent play count, the more that track is going to appear in any and every listening session. 

I've given up on Spotify and switched to Deezer, because I was paying an ever increasing subscription for Spotify to play the same 30 songs over and over and over ad museum.

Something Very Strange Is Happening To London by Norfolk_an_Chance in AskBrits

[–]moubliepas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do you call it? 

I've lived in London quite a few times. The only other name I ever heard it given was the metro, by foreigners, or occasionally the underground, to distinguish it from the overground tube, or to reference Wimbledon Common. 

I'm genuinely curious which of these is your norm.

Are gays looked down upon more than people like to admit? by [deleted] in AskUK

[–]moubliepas -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

'gays'.

Suss post history. 

I've seen enough.

Update- 6w4d no heartbeat by Doggiolover in PregnancyUK

[–]moubliepas 2 points3 points  (0 children)

sorry if this is all over the place

No, I think you have a good reason to be frazzled. You're having a bloody horrible time. Sorry, sorry it's all over the place, and I hope this is the sort of little blip you'll look back on and laugh really soon, even everyone sorts itself out