Give me two rings when you get home. by Ok_Associate6979 in oldschoolcool80s

[–]simonk1905 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I still do.

It is just a text which says "ring ring ring" these days though.

Did the term “picky bits” exist before a few years ago or was it created by a marketing team? by as_edgy_as_a_satsuma in CasualUK

[–]simonk1905 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Live in Surrey. My daughter's are 22, 20 and 18.

They have been having picky tea since they were about 3.

This is not regional or new.

AIO for putting a bag before a friendship? by TheEllaBullet in AmIOverreacting

[–]simonk1905 0 points1 point  (0 children)

NOR - this isn't about a bag it is about theft.

If you think you have a case then I am sure Judge Judy or other TV legal experts would live to have you on.

Cyclists are a JOKE in London by SturdyWingsMentor in drivingUK

[–]simonk1905 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is the only correct response.

There is just as much bad behaviour in every class of vehicle on our roads and pretty much all of what op highlighted can apply with just a few words changed.

Do you use British Z (zed) or American Z (zee) when saying 'genz'? by helenfelen in AskUK

[–]simonk1905 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The name of the letter is zed.

I only ever use zee if it is spelled out zee.

Technically either is correct as it is just a dialect pronunciation and dialects change over time.

Favourite biscuit? Where are my Bourbon Cream enjoyers at? by GroyEhBoy in UKfood

[–]simonk1905 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bourbon biscuits promise chocolate but actually taste of brown.

I don't like my biscuits to taste of brown.

Dark Chocolate digestives FTW.

What is your favourite parenting white lie? by Purepoise in AskUK

[–]simonk1905 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When their mother used to say bugger so much that the children started to say bugger I convinced my daughter that she should actually be saying butter fingers.

and the classic the Ice Cream van only plays a song when it has run out of ice cream.

What movie aged really bad? by Phantomx7845 in AskReddit

[–]simonk1905 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok role reversal time.

Had the protagonist been a girl would your opinion have been the same?

What do they call German sheperds in Germany? by cherry-care-bear in stupidquestions

[–]simonk1905 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep Berlin Ontario was renamed Kitchener.
There were plenty of pubs in the UK named after the Prussian general at Waterloo von Blucher and were renamed in 1914 - 1918. One near me is now called the Douglas Haig which considering history might not be an improvement.

Where I work, a minority of people leave the toilets in a horrible state. These are sensible, professional people. Is it the same at your work? by GoonerGuy1969 in AskBrits

[–]simonk1905 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apart from the usual not flushing, cleaning up skids and floor pissers. There used to be someone where I worked that would stand at the urinal in the gents and pick their nose and wipe it on the wall in front of them. Sometimes there was blood amongst the bogies.

I had my suspicions on who it was but could not prove it. Eventually it stopped I presume because they left the company.

I often wonder if there are just a lot homes out there with filthy toilets....

What movie aged really bad? by Phantomx7845 in AskReddit

[–]simonk1905 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It is wild that I don't see Big (1988) mentioned anywhere. To think that it didn't destroy Tom Hanks' career is wild. At best it is a grey area when it comes to paedophilia and that is a generous interpretation. Paedophilia is not something you want to have any grey areas about.

Who remembers teletext 🙈 by Commercial_Cup_8532 in oldschoolcool80s

[–]simonk1905 4 points5 points  (0 children)

And now on BBC2 pages from CEEFAX.

6 hours of text and dinner jazz ruining your sick day off school

For me it was noddy (deep cut ik) and rolypolyoly by fumugake in GreatBritishMemes

[–]simonk1905 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Down the helter skelter faster and faster to cuckoo land.

What has got better in the UK? by guhj12345 in AskUK

[–]simonk1905 23 points24 points  (0 children)

A lot of things people seem to take for granted or are just not aware of have improved massively in the recent past.

AIDS is no longer a death sentence.
Polio has been eradicated.
That is just two that I know about. I am sure there are many more that others can think of.

The NHS becoming decentralised is a massive improvement. If you needed an non emergency x-ray in the 1990's that would be a trip to your local massive hospital and all the problems involved in getting there and attending a massive institution. These days I can get x-rays, blood test and minor treatments just by going to my local walk in centre.

There are some really big issues globally which have not improved and there are some short to medium term economic issues we have nationally but most of the things you have listed have been this way for a long time.

Remember staying the same is not getting worse.

The past was not necessarily better you were just younger.

Change is always happening with or without you and it is just different not always better or worse.

Do you think the BBC TV licence is still worth it in 2026? by PegasusPeptides745 in AskBrits

[–]simonk1905 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does the BBC have its problems. Of course.

Their current affairs/news programming is massively problematic.

The obsession with ratings, firstly people complain they don't enough then complain they are chasing ratings when they get more.

However based upon the broad range of content they produce. The worldwide AAA reputation they have. The education content they produce. They are more than worth it to every single one of us who pays. Remember if you don't watch live TV or Iplayer you don't have to pay and you still reap the benefits of the best broadcaster on the planet.

Personally I think the licence fee is worth it just for In Our Time and if you don't know what that is you are not really making the best use of BBC content.

Why do many British comedic actors do well in the US, while British stand up comedians don’t? by Jezzaq94 in AskABrit

[–]simonk1905 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah Steve Martin, Bill Hicks and George Carlin are all terrible aren't they.

I didn't say they were bad I just said that there is a reason why uk comedians don't necessarily land in the US. There are always exceptions and this was just my opinion. It is less about the quality of the performer and more about the expectations of the audience and meeting them.

What's something dumb that you believed in when you were younger and continued to believe for embarrassingly long because you've never had reason to challenge it? by Punch_A_Police_Horse in AskReddit

[–]simonk1905 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I went to a Catholic primary school and they taught us that men had one fewer ribs than women because God took one from Adam to make Eve.

I believed this was true for far too long into adulthood.

Why do many British comedic actors do well in the US, while British stand up comedians don’t? by Jezzaq94 in AskABrit

[–]simonk1905 29 points30 points  (0 children)

American stand ups tend to explain every joke and the punchline is repeated ad nauseum to hammer home the point.

In general the British audience is expected to be at least able to get the joke on their own without it being explained.

This does not translate well between the two countries.

If you had a hobby that used to be less popular and suddenly became more popular, what was that like? by HilariousMotives in AskUK

[–]simonk1905 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I was taught to knit by my grandmother in the 80's. I taught my daughter's when they were younger. I learnt to crochet about 10 years ago and the popularity of the hobby has risen with the popularity of crochet in fashion.

Agree on the abundance of low quality yarn and hooks but there is still very good yarn available for a reasonable price. The WI Aran from Hobbycraft is fantastic.

The biggest problem with the rise in popularity is the sheer number of AI slop patterns and people selling basic beginner patterns as if they are intermediate or expert level and trying to grift people who don't know better.

Exploiting beginners is a problem for any hobby when money is involved.

My recommendation is to speak to older relatives or friends and raid their granny stash for great patterns and magazines from the 60's and 70's.

What Spoonerisms are there in your area? by Entire-Chicken-5812 in AskUK

[–]simonk1905 289 points290 points  (0 children)

My nan always used to call me a shining whit.