Whatever: The Open Lines Thread

[TigerLily]

I'm hoping this thread develops into sort of a wine bar, coffeehouse, discussion site. A place with no agenda. We can hangout and discuss and meander anywhere we want.  All topics covered in any other thread or totally new thoughts and ideas. Like friends who run into each other and just catch up on anything and everything. Gossip, questions, experiences. Art, Science, the Paranormal, the Normal. Your day. Deep philosophy to giggling at the absurd. And being absurd ourselves. Grab your favorite beverage. Settle into a comfy chair and chat. About whatever

Any thoughts? Good idea? Bad idea? Stupid idea? Waddaya guys think? I'll check back later to see if there is any interest

[Inglorious Bitch]

I'm hoping this thread develops into sort of a wine bar, coffeehouse, discussion site. A place with no agenda. We can hangout and discuss and meander anywhere we want.  All topics covered in any other thread or totally new thoughts and ideas. Like friends who run into each other and just catch up on anything and everything. Gossip, questions, experiences. Art, Science, the Paranormal, the Normal. Your day. Deep philosophy to giggling at the absurd. And being absurd ourselves. Grab your favorite beverage. Settle into a comfy chair and chat. About whatever

Any thoughts? Good idea? Bad idea? Stupid idea? Waddaya guys think? I'll check back later to see if there is any interest

I like the idea.

[Walks_At_Night]

Mrs. Walks_At_Night and I went out to dinner tonight,  We had a nice chat while waiting for our meal.  There were two ladies about our age that sat behind us and they did the same.   There was an older couple near us and they also appeared to have a nice conversation together.   Then a young, early 20's couple, apparently on a date, sat at the table next to us.   After ordering, they just sat there monkeying around on their cell phones and didn't interact with one another at all.  Seems unhealthy to me but maybe I'm just turning into a grumpy, old, get off my lawn kind of a dude? 



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[Inglorious Bitch]

  Seems unhealthy to me but maybe I'm just turning into a grumpy, old, get off my lawn kind of a dude? 

No. There's definitely something wrong with post millenials.

It's also a basic lack of manners. If you are engaged in a face to face conversation, that takes precedent over a text or phone call, barring an actual emergency.

[Walks_At_Night]

No. There's definitely something wrong with post millenials.

It's also a basic lack of manners. If you are engaged in a face to face conversation, that takes precedent over a text or phone call, barring an actual emergency.

It was rather weird. 

They seemed comfortable enough around one another so as to indicate it wasn't a first date and even if it was, there wasn't enough time for it to head South.   

[Inglorious Bitch]

It was rather weird. 

They seemed comfortable enough around one another so as to indicate it wasn't a first date and even if it was, there wasn't enough time for it to head South.

How's my good friend Morg? 

[Walks_At_Night]

How's my good friend Morg? 

He was naughty today.   I was doing some drywall repairs in the house today and he got into my drywall mud.  The Mrs. had to wrangle him and give him a bath.   

[KSM]

No. There's definitely something wrong with post millenials.

It's also a basic lack of manners. If you are engaged in a face to face conversation, that takes precedent over a text or phone call, barring an actual emergency.

Yep, and it's completely unnatural to sit across from someone, anyone and not speak let alone being buried into their little gadgets. Flat out weird.


While we're on dinner outings what does everybody tip? We're usually at the 20% mark when things are good but it infuriates me that they all tip out at the end of the night and share the wealth. It's pure fucking socialism. We actually had to force (I think her name was Erin) to accept a cash tip handed to her under the table last night and even then she was slightly uncomfortable about it. And that in itself pisses me off that she has become so socially conditioned to dole out to others what SHE deserved and earned!

Too much?

/Rant

[Inglorious Bitch]

He was naughty today.   I was doing some drywall repairs in the house today and he got into my drywall mud.  The Mrs. had to wrangle him and give him a bath.   

How cute!

[Rikki Gins]

Mrs. Walks_At_Night and I went out to dinner tonight,  We had a nice chat while waiting for our meal.  There were two ladies about our age that sat behind us and they did the same.   There was an older couple near us and they also appeared to have a nice conversation together.   Then a young, early 20's couple, apparently on a date, sat at the table next to us.   After ordering, they just sat there monkeying around on their cell phones and didn't interact with one another at all.  Seems unhealthy to me but maybe I'm just turning into a grumpy, old, get off my lawn kind of a dude? 



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You said it yourself Walks.  They were a young couple in their early twenties.  Us older folk shouldn't get mad at them.  Let them have their time in the sun.  They will probabley change in time.  Ageing does that, sadly.   

[Walks_At_Night]

Yep, and it's completely unnatural to sit across from someone, anyone and not speak let alone being buried into their little gadgets. Flat out weird.


While we're on dinner outings what does everybody tip? We're usually at the 20% mark when things are good but it infuriates me that they all tip out at the end of the night and share the wealth. It's pure fucking socialism. We actually had to force (I think her name was Erin) to accept a cash tip handed to her under the table last night and even then she was slightly uncomfortable about it. And that in itself pisses me off that she has become so socially conditioned to dole out to others what SHE deserved and earned!

Too much?

/Rant

I'm a 20% dude as well if everything is fine.   I admire your attempt to fight the madness.

[Inglorious Bitch]

Yep, and it's completely unnatural to sit across from someone, anyone and not speak let alone being buried into their little gadgets. Flat out weird.


While we're on dinner outings what does everybody tip? We're usually at the 20% mark when things are good but it infuriates me that they all tip out at the end of the night and share the wealth. It's pure fucking socialism. We actually had to force (I think her name was Erin) to accept a cash tip handed to her under the table last night and even then she was slightly uncomfortable about it. And that in itself pisses me off that she has become so socially conditioned to dole out to others what SHE deserved.

Too much?

/Rant

I agree with you on the tips thing. I waitressed in college and it pissed me off to have to share my tips with other waitresses who were rude to the customers or who were new and sucked. I left one job at an Italian restaurant I worked at because I had to share the tips with the owner and she only picked up a few tables at the beginning of the evening and at the end. I busted my ass the rest of the night.

[Walks_At_Night]

You said it yourself Walks.  They were a young couple in their early twenties.  Us older folk shouldn't get mad at them.  Let them have their time in the sun.  They will probabley change in time.  Ageing does that, sadly.

Oh I suppose so Rixx.  I see something similar at work with the young Engineers.   As soon as they hit a snag, they look the issue up on Google and usually have a solution right away and just move on.  Efficient?  You bet! Of course the issue is when the Googler doesn't spit out a solution.  Then some of the other gray hairs or myself get a visit as they are stuck.  What happens thirty years from now when everyone is looking for answers from the beast and no one is feeding them into it?     

[TigerLily]

Millennials and phones: While reading these posts, I got a mental picture of a few Ellgabbers sitting at the table with some of the Uninitiated. They were posting and chatting with us while their live companions looked on and fumed

Morg  sounds like such a character and so smart! I have mentioned this before but I once saw a doc on PBS about crows. Absolutely fascinating. Their mental acuity and ability to logic out resolutions to puzzles was off the charts. They beat every other kinds of animals including chimps (but excepting humans, I assume). The documentary was either Nature of NOVA, I believe. I'm a cat person but I once read a book where the protagonist got a raven companion. Ever since then I have wanted a raven. But never with 3 cats in the house

Tips: I tip 20% as a matter of form. I go out a lot with girlfriends and have been told that waitpersons  consider a gaggle of females as notoriously bad tippers. The younger the worse.  A friend educated me when we were still in high school, if the service is horrible tip a penny so the person knows you didn't forget but just didn't think the service was worth any more

I'm glad this seems to have gotten off to a good start. Nice exchanging thoughts with people I don't run into often enough. Have a nice evening, all

[Spookcat]

Millennials and phones: While reading these posts, I got a mental picture of a few Ellgabbers sitting at the table with some of the Uninitiated. They were posting and chatting with us while their live companions looked on and fumed

Morg  sounds like such a character and so smart! I have mentioned this before but I once saw a doc on PBS about crows. Absolutely fascinating. Their mental acuity and ability to logic out resolutions to puzzles was off the charts. They beat every other kinds of animals including chimps (but excepting humans, I assume). The documentary was either Nature of NOVA, I believe. I'm a cat person but I once read a book where the protagonist got a raven companion. Ever since then I have wanted a raven. But never with 3 cats in the house

Tips: I tip 20% as a matter of form. I go out a lot with girlfriends and have been told that waitpersons  consider a gaggle of females as notoriously bad tippers. The younger the worse.  A friend educated me when we were still in high school, if the service is horrible tip a penny so the person knows you didn't forget but just didn't think the service was who any more

I'm glad this seems to have gotten off to a good start. Nice exchanging thoughts with people I don't run into often enough. Have a nice evening, all

^^;;;;; Okay, I openly admit, I'm reading this on my tablet across the casual restaurant table from my husband who's playing his portable game.
For us, going out is more of a chance to just escape the solitary walls of our apartment. We can be among people with limited interaction so no fears of language or guest etiquette mistakes.
Just to note, it's greatly different when we're out with other people.