The long march of the moaners

[Baron von Lotsov]

I'm not sure the guv benefit from complaints.  They are constantly making cuts and short of staff.  But I believe in the principle that if no one complains, everyone would be taken advantage of.  An example I have encountered is on my driving test.  On my first test, I was failed for the most absurd reason I can imagine.  It was raining and I was doing 28 along a 30 speed limit.  They said it was too slow.  That pushed me over the maximum fail points.  I wrote a letter of complaint, saying it was absolutely unacceptable, and while they were processing that letter, my second test arrived, I did worse than the first, but was given a pass.  I believe they only passed me because they could not justify the first fail, and didn't want any trouble.  The threat of trouble gets things done.

Ah yes they screwed me over my driving test when I was a kid because the bastards didn't like the look of me. They kept on failing me for spurious reasons (didn't look properly was one). I never put a complaint in. I just drove without licence, tax or insurance for 15 years before I decided to pay the fee again, and fortunately they clocked on that if they didn't pass me this time then chances are they would never get another opportunity. A driving examiner can tell if you have been driving for 15 years! The other officials got 15 years of shit from this. Once or twice they tried to fine me but I didn't pay them. You know what they say about the Scotts. Well I gave em a piece of my mind alright. It's one of the main reasons I hate officials today.

[Scott777]

It depends on whom we are talking about. From the complainant's point of view it can be worse than a waste of time, but for the government it is their business. They get paid on the work they do. The more rules there are, the more work there is to do, so given the law of supply and demand, it pushes their wages up.



Sure they could not give a toss about 90% of complaints, but if they select the ones they agree with, then they use those complaints to further their objectives, but all the time they are out of the causal loop. They are mere officers of the government, listening hard to the proles and giving strength to their voice... Ho hum. It all looks so reasonable except for one sleight of hand which they never ever talk about.



This is the Long March.

I'm not sure the guv benefit from complaints.  They are constantly making cuts and short of staff.  But I believe in the principle that if no one complains, everyone would be taken advantage of.  An example I have encountered is on my driving test.  On my first test, I was failed for the most absurd reason I can imagine.  It was raining and I was doing 28 along a 30 speed limit.  They said it was too slow.  That pushed me over the maximum fail points.  I wrote a letter of complaint, saying it was absolutely unacceptable, and while they were processing that letter, my second test arrived, I did worse than the first, but was given a pass.  I believe they only passed me because they could not justify the first fail, and didn't want any trouble.  The threat of trouble gets things done.

[Baron von Lotsov]

I'm a bit confused.  What trouble?



Complaining to a guv dept. is a waste of time, unless you are prepared to create a stink, no matter how much they will pretend your complaint is important to them.

It depends on whom we are talking about. From the complainant's point of view it can be worse than a waste of time, but for the government it is their business. They get paid on the work they do. The more rules there are, the more work there is to do, so given the law of supply and demand, it pushes their wages up.



Sure they could not give a toss about 90% of complaints, but if they select the ones they agree with, then they use those complaints to further their objectives, but all the time they are out of the causal loop. They are mere officers of the government, listening hard to the proles and giving strength to their voice... Ho hum. It all looks so reasonable except for one sleight of hand which they never ever talk about.



This is the Long March.

[Scott777]

Here's a weird one. Normally in real life, if you complain to soemone then it is trouble. Like say you go to your greengrocers about the greens not being green enough, the propriator would be a bit mifffed. You would then see he does something and the trouble blows over. Compare this to a government department. This is where things get counter-intuitive. 1) They advertise for complaints. 2) When they get one they seem to be keener than usual and will listen very carefully to your complaint, but insist it must be in writing.



I figured on why this is, but I wonder first what others make of this apparent contradiction.

I'm a bit confused.  What trouble?



Complaining to a guv dept. is a waste of time, unless you are prepared to create a stink, no matter how much they will pretend your complaint is important to them.

[Scott777]

The Australians didn't call us whinging POMs for nothing.

If it's not the weather, it's the flu, or they've got trouble with a parking ticket. Moan moan moan. I prefer the optimistic view, hence my perseverance with a certain thread, which has lasted 2 forums and more than 18 months waiting. Must go and update it.

Pessimism isn't quite the same as moaning.  I try to be an optimistic complainer.

[Baron von Lotsov]

Alright, well we'll have to answer that if it is coming from the Aussies. First of all the Englishman's view of them is like you have a hospital surgeon doing an operation with a can of larger looking really, really confident.



So there was this Aussie who did "tear-down reviews" of electronic gadgets out of a Shenzhen underground market. To the wise man this is seen as treacherous ground, and especially when your blog is a top of the pops. So it went like, hey you would never believe this.I paid $10 and there must be at least $150 worth of chips in it, and to prove it I look em up on 10000 qty prices for factory suppliers. To the keen eye one noticed when the knob on the instrument was turned the display crapped out. Aussie chirps in, ah must just be one of those cruddy cheap switches. Hmm, think about that one.



Anyhow after an hour of looking like some woman having a baby, this Aussie declares it bargain of the century. It was found to be a copy of an instrument normally sold for about $300. This guy had about 200 000 viewers who were potential customers. Very very fast the Shenzhen market price lept from 10 - 20 - 40- 60 to even 100 or more dollars, which was still a bargain. The first one was like one of the better ones, but they were a totally u/s with unservicable firmwear faults. The chances are they were bought as a job jot for scrap. I mean as scams go this scam was a masterpiece. Who says the Chinese are not smart eh? He was hypemonger of the year, said he only did the blog for the money. !



Edit: here he is. $9 actually.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3h02BDPMJw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3h02BDPMJw

[Barry]

The Australians didn't call us whinging POMs for nothing.

If it's not the weather, it's the flu, or they've got trouble with a parking ticket. Moan moan moan. I prefer the optimistic view, hence my perseverance with a certain thread, which has lasted 2 forums and more than 18 months waiting. Must go and update it.

[Baron von Lotsov]

As they say, Americans tend to be positive and outward thinking, while the Brits tend to be negative and inward looking.  Sounds about right.  Personally, moaning has great advantages.  Would we have such freedom from tyranny if not for demanding what is right?  If you don't complain, you get the same every time.



I could have a good moan about Xmas now, but breaking with my tradition: Merry Brrrr Xmas and a happy new independence year.

 :santa:

Here's a weird one. Normally in real life, if you complain to soemone then it is trouble. Like say you go to your greengrocers about the greens not being green enough, the propriator would be a bit mifffed. You would then see he does something and the trouble blows over. Compare this to a government department. This is where things get counter-intuitive. 1) They advertise for complaints. 2) When they get one they seem to be keener than usual and will listen very carefully to your complaint, but insist it must be in writing.



I figured on why this is, but I wonder first what others make of this apparent contradiction.

[papasmurf]

As they say, Americans tend to be positive and outward thinking,

You mean brash and gobby?

[Scott777]

As they say, Americans tend to be positive and outward thinking, while the Brits tend to be negative and inward looking.  Sounds about right.  Personally, moaning has great advantages.  Would we have such freedom from tyranny if not for demanding what is right?  If you don't complain, you get the same every time.



I could have a good moan about Xmas now, but breaking with my tradition: Merry Brrrr Xmas and a happy new independence year.

 :santa:

[johnofgwent]

Since the original post on this thread is a prime example of moaning, it can only get better as it goes on . . .



. . . Unless So-and So,  Whassis Name or Guess Who decide to post replies, that is!



So my question is this:  Does moaning about 'moaning' count as moaning in itself?

Well, I would say there is a (possibly limited) amount of flexibility between a stiff upper lip and a moan.



To express disappointment (once) or to add one's voice to such, or perhaps to admit to being "a bit miffed" is allowed once but is definitely getting towards the end of the range and to make repeated attempts to drive home this view definitely places you in the moaner category...



As to what "a bit miffed" means, well, my grandfather was not in the research facility in North East London when the germans put a V2 on it in vain hope of destroying the radar stuff he and others were working on. They were on the south coast deploying it at the time, so dodged the bullet - or should i say bloody great rocket..., however, he had managed to blag a case of rather good scotch from somewhere and it was locked away for the team to toast the success of their endeavour...  God knows where they got it from, but hearing the larks that team got up to, they probably begged, or maybe actually nicked it from winston's private stash. Thet went up int he blast of course, and he said he was indeed "a bit miffed" about that.

[Barry]

Since the original post on this thread is a prime example of moaning, it can only get better as it goes on . . .



. . . Unless So-and So,  Whassis Name or Guess Who decide to post replies, that is!



So my question is this:  Does moaning about 'moaning' count as moaning in itself?

Good point, well made.  :hattip

[Baron von Lotsov]

Good grief, that is enough to drive anyone to despair. It is very worrying that so many nasty bastards exist.

I was what you call beyond despair.



Recalling what Oscar Wilde once said: "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but the highest form of intelligence" I decided to amuse myself. I took on the guise of this mad professor, who like a helpful doctor diagnosing their problems, I proposed novel solutions. It had them in fits.



I never bothered reading the article. I was like- straight to the comments.



The trouble is this Daily Mail malady has spread, and is now affecting people in the Telegraph, The Times; and even the FT, the last outpost of common sense in this country is now inhabited by loons too.

[cromwell]

Oh bollocks.

And it's working now,I should really have a good moan now about people not posting properly

 :-P  ::

[Borchester]

Dunno,probably tell you tomorrow moaning

Oh bollocks.