"Am I the only one who thinks..."

[Kindness King]

Am I the only who thinks video game credits are far too long? I won Batman: Arkham City recently, and while it was a spectacular game, the wait through the credits (I didn't want to risk skipping an extra scene) was excruciating. I clocked in over 12 minutes before it was over, it was ridiculous. I don't think the Lord of the Rings movies have credits that long.


Also, am I the only one tired of the Jock = Bully stereotype? First, not every jock in school is a mean bully. Heck, my best friends in high school were jocks (and I had a variety of friends then from different cliques)!


In fact, nerds can be really terrible bullies too. It would be nice to see a show, book, or game that changes things up a bit, but so far the only example I've seen is the Rockstar game Bully.

Whenever you buy a video game, or a DVD set of a TV series, and you bring it up to the checkstand, and the clerk suddenly erupts into a loud "WOW!! I'M A HUGE FAN OF THIS THING, CAN I TALK WITH YOU ABOUT IT FOR THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES???" .......does anyone else besides me get really embarrassed?

I don't want to talk to the clerk. At all. I just want to buy my thing and go. Out of all the restrictive, draconian rules they enforce on retail workers, why is "Thou shalt not go into a fanboy spasm and make things incredibly awkward" never on that list? Because there have been times when I've deliberately looked online for an item instead, just to avoid the potential for this happening.

It's even worse when I'm buying my first game from a long series, or a set of a TV show I've never watched before but am trying on recommendation. "Wow, you must be a big fan of such and such, right?" What am I supposed to say, "no"? That would make things even more awkward. "Oh, then it must be a gift, you must hate it, huh?" NO, I'M INDIFFERENT AT THE MOMENT, YOU MORON, CAN YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?? That's what I want to scream at them, but I probably wouldn't receive good service from that point.

Sorry, but as someone who tries to give common courtesy whenever possible, especially waitstaff and clerks, I find that attitude unnecessary and selfish.


Some people either just get bored with their job, or have had far too many rude customers that sometimes it brightens their day when they see someone with a possible shared interest to talk to. Just talking to a clerk even just for a moment can really brighten their mood, especially if they are there in the first place as a last resort. Not to mention they probably don't want to be there anymore than you do.


Why would talking to someone just for a couple of minutes be such an inconvenience?

 

[chalmers]

^I don't know dude, I'm the same way, in that I don't really like making small talk with the clerks like that, I just want to complete my transaction and go on my way. It's the same way when I'm getting my hair cut or I'm at the dentist, I don't want to hear any of your b.s., just do the job that you're there to do and let me go do my own thing.

And it's not being rude to the people, it's not like I'm telling them to eff off or anything. I still have manners and the capability to feign kindness, and usually issue the standard "thank you" or "have a good day" as I'm leaving. I just don't feel like talking to them in any capacity other than those simple gestures.

 

[SilentBat18]

But whats the big deal with making small talk about something two people like? I would rather have a friendly cashier who compliments me on my purchases than one who simply hates me for being a customer since im making them work. Small talk iant a long winded conversation and no one is being rude. Its short, pleasant and to the point.

 

[Peter Paltridge]

But whats the big deal with making small talk about something two people like? I would rather have a friendly cashier who compliments me on my purchases than one who simply hates me for being a customer since im making them work. Small talk iant a long winded conversation and no one is being rude. Its short, pleasant and to the point.

Small talk wasn't the phenomenon I was describing. They can say "how are you feeling today," and stuff like that, everyone gets those. It's when I accidentally buy something they're obsessed with that I get embarrassed, because then they don't shut up. Quite often, I don't share their fanaticism and there's no easy way to say that.

 

[Shawn Hopkins]

I know it's just that you're shy, Peter, and that you don't mean anything by it, but you have to think of the clerk's feelings. They're in a subservient position. When you won't even chitchat with them for a minute about something it appears you both have a shared interest in, they probably think you think you're too good to talk to a lowly clerk. I've been in customer service and even lowlier positions before, so I go out of my way not to treat people like robots who are just there to perform a service.

I'm starved for human contact anyway, so I like when people talk to me, especially about geeky stuff. Maybe they have something interesting to say. If it's something they know more about than you, you don't have to pretend to be the expert, just say, "No, I just thought it looked interesting and wanted to try it. So why do you like it?" At worst you've spent five minutes chatting, at best you've made a friend at the store who will be more likely to help you out when you need something.

 

[Storm Eagle]

Small talk wasn't the phenomenon I was describing. They can say "how are you feeling today," and stuff like that, everyone gets those. It's when I accidentally buy something they're obsessed with that I get embarrassed, because then they don't shut up. Quite often, I don't share their fanaticism and there's no easy way to say that.

I've had that happen to me before, but not to the extent you're talking about. I'll talk with them about it, but I'd also be careful not to hold up the line.

I only really get annoyed if they question or criticize your purchases, or in the case of fast food restaurants, your order. I think I remember the latter happening to me once. I made an order and the girl behind the counter might have said "that's all you're getting?". Just get my damn order together. I didn't ask for your opinion.

Another similar case I had was when I was trying to call Dell's customer service about something and I kept getting transferred from one department to another. One of the people I got told me something about my name upon me mentioning it. Maybe I wouldn't have had a problem with her doing that if I hadn't been getting the runaround though.

 

[Destiny of Awe]

Am I the only middle-school age (as of this post) girl who thinks Cartoon Network is cool? Or watches "Gumball" for that matter?

 

[Shawn Hopkins]

Am I the only one tired of puff media pieces about how Taylor Swift farts butterflies and poops kittens? I actually like her, but it's just getting sickening.

 

[SilentBat18]

Am I the only one tired of puff media pieces about how Taylor Swift farts butterflies and poops kittens? I actually like her, but it's just getting sickening.

i'd rather see that kind of stuff than Lindsay Lohan's downward spiral to rock bottom, or anything about Miley Cyrus. Taylor Swift does no wrong and i hope it stays that way.

 

[Shawn Hopkins]

i'd rather see that kind of stuff than Lindsay Lohan's downward spiral to rock bottom, or anything about Miley Cyrus. Taylor Swift does no wrong and i hope it stays that way.

Well, if the lyrics to "Dear John" mean what they obviously seem to, she did John Mayer. That's definitely doing something, or someone, deeply wrong.

But at least she really, really regretted it, so that's more in the mistake category.

 

[Silverstar]

Am I the only middle-school age (as of this post) girl who thinks Cartoon Network is cool? Or watches "Gumball" for that matter?

I watch The Amazing World of Gumball, and I'm a 42 year-old male.

But I do kind of know what you're going through; often I feel like I'm the only person in my age group who doesn't hate the current Cartoon Network. On the other site I'm on, The Big Cartoon Database, whenever the subject of CN comes up, all everyone does is gripe and moan about how bad they think all of the current shows are and how much better the Cartoon-Cartoon era shows were. In fact, those guys pretty much hate on every cartoon made after 1999, except for the Disney/Pixar movies.

Is it any wonder why I hardly ever go there anymore?

 

[stephane dumas]

Am I the only one who like these old tv jingles slogans like "Stand up and tell em You're from Detroit" (from ABC's affiliate WXYZ-7) and "Happyness is" from CKCK-TV, a CTV tv station in Regina, SK.
[video=youtube;ycUpITiEkj0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycUpITiEkj0&feature=related[/video]
[video=youtube;bdEkUfs4R-Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdEkUfs4R-Q[/video]

Also, am I the only one who enjoy these vintage commercials? (the 2nd one is in French who was broadcasted in Quebec, Canada)
[video=youtube;du4__WVjU1g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du4__WVjU1g[/video]
[video=youtube;GJ839PHHyn8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ839PHHyn8[/video]

 

[SilentBat18]

Well, if the lyrics to "Dear John" mean what they obviously seem to, she did John Mayer. That's definitely doing something, or someone, deeply wrong.

But at least she really, really regretted it, so that's more in the mistake category.

hm, true... i guess i'll rephrase: she can do wrong but she's smart enough to realize it's a mistake; reputation is not ruined completely. That makes her smarter than most celebrities *cough* kim kardashian *cough*

 

[AJ Skyterra]

hm, true... i guess i'll rephrase: she can do wrong but she's smart enough to realize it's a mistake; reputation is not ruined completely. That makes her smarter than most celebrities *cough* kim kardashian *cough*

Didn't she date Jake Gyllenhaal too? I heard about their breakup on the news one day and was like,"wait...they dated???"

Anywhooo, am I the only one who doesn't like Tyler the Creator/Odd Future? He's guess starring on Regular Show, had something on AS and everyone thinks he's the future of hip hop. I think it's a pretty cool act they have going on to gain this much attention bun just don't dig the music at all.

 

[Shawn Hopkins]

Am I the only one who thinks it's in terrible taste that they're still running this current Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season even though this is the year that one of the husbands committed suicide? Yeah, I know you've got the film in the can and all, but who would want to watch it knowing it's just one long, depressing foreshadowing of a tragedy.

 

[CyclonatorZ]

Am I the only one who thinks it's in terrible taste that they're still running this current Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season even though this is the year that one of the husbands committed suicide? Yeah, I know you've got the film in the can and all, but who would want to watch it knowing it's just one long, depressing foreshadowing of a tragedy.

I still don't understand why anyone would want to watch these kinds of shows period.

 

[Peter Paltridge]

Am I the only prude who wishes every single character on television would wait to have sex until marriage? The very last show I've ever heard of that displayed such a thing, and treated it with any respect at all, was 7th Heaven, and that show sucked.

I don't believe in censorship. I'm just saying when I watch TV these days, and see everybody jump into bed on the first date, and relentlessly mock anybody who believes differently.......I feel so alone.

 

[Storm Eagle]

Am I the only prude who wishes every single character on television would wait to have sex until marriage? The very last show I've ever heard of that displayed such a thing, and treated it with any respect at all, was 7th Heaven, and that show sucked.

I don't believe in censorship. I'm just saying when I watch TV these days, and see everybody jump into bed on the first date, and relentlessly mock anybody who believes differently.......I feel so alone.

That's just fiction, so I don't really have a problem with the characters copulating even if they're not married to each other. By the way, do you really think they're mocking those who feel differently?

Anyway, nobody should be looked down upon or patronized just because they haven't had sex, whether it's by choice or not.

 

[Destiny of Awe]

Anywhooo, am I the only one who doesn't like Tyler the Creator/Odd Future? He's guess starring on Regular Show, had something on AS and everyone thinks he's the future of hip hop. I think it's a pretty cool act they have going on to gain this much attention bun just don't dig the music at all.

Meh, Tyler the Creator is ok, I guess.

With that aside,

I don't want to talk to the clerk. At all. I just want to buy my thing and go. Out of all the restrictive, draconian rules they enforce on retail workers, why is "Thou shalt not go into a fanboy spasm and make things incredibly awkward" never on that list?

You know what I find creepy? Clerks who just keep smiling at their customers.....​without blinking.

I watch The Amazing World of Gumball, and I'm a 42 year-old male.

What I meant to say when I said "or watches Gumball for that matter" was "am I the only middle school age girl who watches it."

Am I the only one who likes vanilla milk? (Nesquik keeps making it; someone else besides me has to be drinking it)

Am I the only one who prefers CGI Ninja Turtles to 4 guys in foam rubber costumes?

Am I the only artist who prefers the new Strawberry Shortcake and Holly Hobbie character designs over the older ones?

Am I the only one who thinks the Fantastic Four are cool?

Am I the only one who doesn't worship the cartoons from the '90's as though they're the nectar of the gods? (Sure, the '90's produced some great toons, I can't and won't deny that, but there are great and lousy shows from every decade.) And for that matter, am I the only person who doesn't think the cartoons from this decade, the '00's, are all bad?

Am I the only one who finds the characters on Arthur to be creepy rather than cute?

Am I the only one who doesn't consider Batman to be the eptiome of awesomeness?

Ahem..

yes
maybe
yes
maybe
maybe
yes
NO.

 

[bobbybop]

Am i the only one who thinks syndrome alter ego name Buddy Pine is ironic?
He is called buddy then he ends up being a villian so not a buddy