So trivial, yet it really ticks you off.

[tonyb]

“Puyallup,” by the way, is pronounced “pew” (like the place you park your rump in church); “Al“ (like Alan’s nickname); “up” (opposite of down).
So it’s ‘‘pewALup,“ with the emphasis on the second syllable.

You’re welcome.

 

[Trenchfriend]

I repeat myself, but when in an interviews comes "ad-hoc", "systemic", "sustainable", I'm out...

 

[Edward]

So-called "experts" in human behavior have noted that the average human has no interest in anything that pre-dates their own existence. "World War II? No, I was born in 1987; I couldn't care less about that." Fortunately, I think most of the members here have an active interest in semi-recent history like the eras of World Wars I and II, and other specific areas of history that pique their curiosity for one reason or another. So, yes, I think that lack of interest has something to do with a dwindling membership.

I suspect there's an element of seoarating out the U and non-U to this, by design.

 

[GHT]

It seems that even the English struggle with this: https://www.countrylife.co.uk/comme...e-belvoir-featherstonhaugh-and-bagehot-227460

That link is succinct in the articulation of British Class society and snobbery. It permeates throughout our society. You might be forgiven for assuming that the left wing political party, who, by the name: "Labour Party," labour being a euphemism for those who earn their living by their labours, would be well and truly divorced of such pretentiousness. Don't kid yourself.

During WW2, the political parties put politics aside and merged to form a national government. The Labour Party leader, Clement Atlee, became deputy prime minister to Winston Churchill. That's Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee of Walthamstow, Viscount Prestwood. A right working class name if ever there was one.

Meanwhile the prime minister, Winston Churchill was: The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill. The reason Churchill had the title, "Sir," is because he had been made a Knight of the Garter.

A Knight of the Garter is a member of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in the British honours system. The Order, founded in 1348 by King Edward III, is a prestigious and exclusive group, recognising individuals for their distinguished service to the Crown, the nation, or the Sovereign.

Does snobbery still exist? You bet it does. Once more we have a left wing government, the Labour Leader and now prime minister is one, Kier Starmer. That's Sir Kier Starmer, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

The Order of the Bath is a special Order of Knights which recognises the work of senior military officials and civil servants. To be a Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order is recognised as the highest British military order obtainable. Historic figures who have been members of the Order include Nelson, Wellington, Earl Haig and Lord Kitchener.

Getting back to K/N's amusing point of names:
Henry St. John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke was an English politician, government official and political philosopher. How would pronounce St. John? Go to the top of the class if you said: "Sinjun."

 

[Trenchfriend]

It's April, summer warmth is winking at the horizon and our german rail system starts to malfunction... So hello, omnibus.

 

[KILO NOVEMBER]

That link is succinct in the articulation of British Class society and snobbery. It permeates throughout our society. You might be forgiven for assuming that the left wing political party, who, by the name: "Labour Party," labour being a euphemism for those who earn their living by their labours, would be well and truly divorced of such pretentiousness. Don't kid yourself.

During WW2, the political parties put politics aside and merged to form a national government. The Labour Party leader, Clement Atlee, became deputy prime minister to Winston Churchill. That's Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee of Walthamstow, Viscount Prestwood. A right working class name if ever there was one.

Meanwhile the prime minister, Winston Churchill was: The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill. The reason Churchill had the title, "Sir," is because he had been made a Knight of the Garter.

A Knight of the Garter is a member of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in the British honours system. The Order, founded in 1348 by King Edward III, is a prestigious and exclusive group, recognising individuals for their distinguished service to the Crown, the nation, or the Sovereign.

Does snobbery still exist? You bet it does. Once more we have a left wing government, the Labour Leader and now prime minister is one, Kier Starmer. That's Sir Kier Starmer, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

The Order of the Bath is a special Order of Knights which recognises the work of senior military officials and civil servants. To be a Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order is recognised as the highest British military order obtainable. Historic figures who have been members of the Order include Nelson, Wellington, Earl Haig and Lord Kitchener.

Getting back to K/N's amusing point of names:
Henry St. John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke was an English politician, government official and political philosopher. How would pronounce St. John? Go to the top of the class if you said: "Sinjun."

Thanks for the reference. Your note on "Sinjun" reminded me of an episode of Brokenwood, a police/mystery series made and set in New Zealand. One episode featured the murder of an amateur actor in community theater production of Romeo and Juliet, set in the small town of Brokenwood.

The director of the play (in civilian life the town postman) was, unsurprisingly, full of himself. His over-the-top posh pronunciation of his own name (Ralph St. John) caused an eye-roll from the detectives investigating the murder. Yes, he called himself "Raif Sinjun". Everyone else in town called him "Ralph" , as in "Ralph Kramden", or "Mister Saint John". Snobbery exported to the Antipodes.

 

[tonyb]

^^^^^^
I must remain mindful of this unfortunate tendency of mine to engage in a sort of anti-snobbery, which is itself awfully akin to that which it is ostensibly opposed. It can become its own kind of scorekeeping.

However, I suffer no compunction whatsoever over my disdain for “slumming.”

 

[GHT]

The advancement of time by one hour Is a very old tradition, dating back to 1916. The idea back then was to save fuel by having more daylight in the evening. It was essentially, a war effort. In WW2, the UK advanced the time by two hours, but nowadays is it really necessary? I am still find watches that our an hour "slow."

 

[Trenchfriend]

@Frunobulax
Was Manfred Mann's Chicago Institute referring to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Institute_of_Technology ?

Motto: "Transforming Lives. Inventing the Future."

Or "Equifax"??

WTH!!

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

A watch that I had listed on eBay sold for $300 today and the buyer paid. I thought great, I need the money! But something told me this was too good to be true. Five or ten minutes later the buyer messaged me asking if it was a men’s watch and how big was the case. She admitted that she should have asked but didn’t think to do so.

I replied that indeed it was and that the case was 50mm. She then asked me to cancel the order because she has small wrists and the watch was too big for her!

If you’re going to invest in some big ticket item, do your freaking research! Ask questions or Google it instead of leading the seller on! It wouldn’t have been so bad if she had asked me about it beforehand and then decided not to buy it. But it really ticks me off when I thought I made the sale only for the money to be practically snatched away from me! I had that watch on eBay for a few years and it’s probably going to take another few years for it sell.

 

[tonyb]

^^^^^^
Yeah, that’s gotta be annoying.

 

[BobHufford]

She then asked me to cancel the order because she has small wrists and the watch was too big for her!

I had something similar last week when a eBay hat buyer read “Size 7, 2-3/8” brim” as a size 7-3/8 and had me cancel the order after purchase.

 

[Turnip]

A watch that I had listed on eBay sold for $300 today and the buyer paid. I thought great, I need the money! But something told me this was too good to be true. Five or ten minutes later the buyer messaged me asking if it was a men’s watch and how big was the case. She admitted that she should have asked but didn’t think to do so.

I replied that indeed it was and that the case was 50mm. She then asked me to cancel the order because she has small wrists and the watch was too big for her!

If you’re going to invest in some big ticket item, do your freaking research! Ask questions or Google it instead of leading the seller on! It wouldn’t have been so bad if she had asked me about it beforehand and then decided not to buy it. But it really ticks me off when I thought I made the sale only for the money to be practically snatched away from me! I had that watch on eBay for a few years and it’s probably going to take another few years for it sell.

Maybe you might just add some very basic Information about that watch such as dimensions, weight, materials used in case and glass, movement…

Just a few minutes effort, avoiding such fun in future.

 

[KILO NOVEMBER]

Automated call directors from Hell!
Last week I ordered a product (well, two, actually) from The Territory Ahead. We have a history of their inability to deliver products ordered and sure enough, one of the two pairs of pants I ordered (which the web site said were in stock when I placed the order) did not ship.

Strike One.

The vendor chose FedEx SmartPost (an ironic name if ever there was one) for delivery. Following the FedEx tracking web site information for the pants that did ship I see that the parcel has been sitting at one of their depots in Ohio for the past six days. The tracking web site still insists that the delivery will occur today, in Florida. Fat chance!

Strike Two.

FedEx dares you to call their customer service center. You get an automated call director that seems to be programmed to anything but connect you with an actual human. Three tries at that number all ended in an announcement that I wouldn't be connected to a human, followed by a disconnect.

Strike Three, YERRR OUT!

Here's the transcript of my "chat" with the virtual assistant:


FedEx Virtual Assistant


Hello, I'm the FedEx Virtual Assistant. I'm here to help you with your questions regarding FedEx® services.
You: How do I reach a human?


To better assist you, would you please explain why you would like to contact customer support?
You: Because you aren't useful with respect to this matter.

I need more information. Would you please repeat your question in a different way?
You: Connect me with a human agent.

Click here to contact a FedEx customer service representative by phone.
You: Click here

You can contact a FedEx Customer Service representative by calling 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339.

Enroll in FedEx Delivery Manager to customize your delivery preferences, manage delivery times and locations, and keep track of your deliveries.
You: Your automated replies are useless.

It looks like my suggestions haven’t been helpful. Click here to search on our website, or please try rephrasing your question.
You: Why has my package been sitting in Ohio for six days instead of being delivered?

Your package is still on its way. A signature is not required for delivery.
Please note that packages receive periodic scans and tracking updates as they move through our system. It is possible for a shipment not to have scans for a couple of days if it is being processed at a facility or in transit, especially during periods of long travel to reach its destination.
You can get status updates for your package to get the latest information.
Is there anything else I can help you with?

• I need help with something else
• No thanks, I'm all done

You: You haven't helped with anything so far. Why do you think I'd ask for "anything else" when you are useless?

It looks like my suggestions haven’t been helpful. Click here to search on our website, or please try rephrasing your question.
You: I need help with something else

Of course, what else can I help you with?
You: Why is my package sitting in Ohio for six days instead of moving toward delivery?

Your package is still on its way. A signature is not required for delivery.
Please note that packages receive periodic scans and tracking updates as they move through our system. It is possible for a shipment not to have scans for a couple of days if it is being processed at a facility or in transit, especially during periods of long travel to reach its destination.
You can get status updates for your package to get the latest information.
You: You are not paying attention.

Are you looking for…

• I’d like to provide feedback to FedEx
• You: I’d like to provide feedback to FedEx

I understand that you would like to provide feedback to FedEx. 


Is your feedback about a FedEx employee?

• Yes
• No

You: No


Ok, and is this in regards to:

• redacted
• New tracking number
• No tracking number

You: redacted



What type of feedback?

• Compliment
• Complaint

You: Complaint

Are you the:

• Shipper
• Recipient
• Other

You: Recipient


Can I get your FIRST name?
You: redacted

And your LAST name
You: redacted

In a few words, tell me the details of your complaint.


You: According to your tracking system, my package has been sitting at one of your locations in Ohio for six days instead of moving toward delivery. You tell me that scheduled delivery is today. If the package really is still in Ohio, that isn't possible. Your phone system has repeatedly blocked me from speaking to a human in order to voice my complaint. Your service is very bad.

Sorry, I'm having trouble entering your feedback. Feel free to contact customer support for more help.
You: contact customer support

Click here to contact a FedEx customer service representative by phone.
You: Click here

You can contact a FedEx Customer Service representative by calling 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339.

Enroll in FedEx Delivery Manager to customize your delivery preferences, manage delivery times and locations, and keep track of your deliveries.
You: We both know that I can't reach a human by calling that number. Stop lying to me.

Click here to contact a FedEx customer service representative by phone.
You: No more lies!

I understand that you would like to provide feedback to FedEx. 


Is your feedback about a FedEx employee?

• Yes
• No

You: No

Ok, and is this in regards to:

• redacted
• New tracking number
• No tracking number

You: redacted
Are you the:

• Shipper
• Recipient
• Other

You: Recipient


Can I get your FIRST name?
You: Not again. We've already done this dance.

And your LAST name
...

 

[tonyb]

I laugh because it’s either that or cry.
Among the reasons I have my current cell provider is their US-based, actual live human customer service. On the couple-three occasions I’ve availed myself of that service my “issues” were addressed quickly and satisfactorily.