The Vent and Rant Thread

[DMcCunney]

There is a yearly event in the US called Santa Con, with instances of it in many places. NYC is one of them.

The protocol is apparently that you pledge an amount to charity, then dress as Santa Claus and go out bar crawling, having a drink in each place you encounter. Dress varies, from Santa caps to full Santa suits. Participants are male and female, though it seems to be primarily a young person's activity. It's also cross cultural, and folks from cultures where Santa is not a cultural artifact, like India, join in.

As the day goes on, the Santas get progressively sloshed. (The MTA has already announced that Santas who are too drunk won't be allowed aboard commuter trains back to the suburbs, after unfortunate incidents in prior years.)

There are an assortment of establishments in my neighborhood where you can drink, and the Santas are beginning to swarm.

I think I'm pretty much staying home today...
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Dennis

[Cinisajoy]

Sounds like a silly reason to get sloshed.
Well now it is entirely possible that one of the "charities" that will benefit from this will be the LEOs.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by doubleshuffle

You might call yourselves "Patricians" then, but I'm pretty sure the rest of the world would call you "Patsies." Not that I'd object.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by issybird

What bugs me are the PC types who don't let Americans call themselves what they want, insisting that they can't be Americans because the feelings of the Bolivians and Brazilians will be hurt. Context is everything; moreover I don't care if Peruvians want to call themselves Americans and leave out the defining and logical "South" part. I've noticed that Canadians have no problem with calling us Americans and that it's the last appellation they'd use for themselves, lest they be confused with the evil south of the border.

Well, FWIW, I have someone who works here, a Canadian, who does seem to object; she asserts quite seriously that she's an American, too, and she's far, far, FAR from being PC. (Truth be told, anyone who is/was PC would not last too long around here. We don't have a lot of time for delicate sensibilities. Our clients suck up all that delicate sensibility-time.)

So...I admit, I've tried to adjust my phrasing, but it's quite true that if you've said "I'm American," for <mumble> years, it's hard to instantly stop saying that and insert "I'm from the US," instead. There's no good appellation for that, either, unlike "American." I'm a "Unity?" A "Stateswoman?" (Well...)...A "US-er?" (That just goes all kinda wrong places). Hmph.

Hitch

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Sounds like a silly reason to get sloshed.

Any excuse to get sloshed is a good one if you like to get sloshed to begin with.

Another popular in NYC is celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

In Mexico, it's not a national holiday. It's important and noticed only in the Puebla state where the event it commemorates took place. (The event was the defeat of a French army by Mexican troops. It was the first time in some time that a French army had been defeated.)

In NYC, it's an excuse for a Cinco de Mayo party at a bar, likely accompanied by drinking too much bad tequila.

Well now it is entirely possible that one of the "charities" that will benefit from this will be the LEOs.

I'm not quite sure the police think it's a benefit. They can probably think of things they'd rather be doing than herding Santas in need of direction.

The bars will certainly benefit. Money is money, and who cares if the patron is wearing a Santa suit? (There is a BBQ joint down the block from me that's a sports bar, and has windows that can be opened to the outside in decent weather. If I step outside, I can hear the celebrating Santas from here.)
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Dennis

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Any excuse to get sloshed is a good one if you like to get sloshed to begin with.

Another popular in NYC is celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

In Mexico, it's not a national holiday. It's important and noticed only in the Puebla state where the event it commemorates took place. (The event was the defeat of a French army by Mexican troops. It was the first time in some time that a French army had been defeated.)

In NYC, it's an excuse for a Cinco de Mayo party at a bar, likely accompanied by drinking too much bad tequila.


I'm not quite sure the police think it's a benefit. They can probably think of things they'd rather be doing than herding Santas in need of direction.

The bars will certainly benefit. Money is money, and who cares if the patron is wearing a Santa suit? (There is a BBQ joint down the block from me that's a sports bar, and has windows that can be opened to the outside in decent weather. If I step outside, I can hear the celebrating Santas from here.)
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Dennis

I was thinking the fines and assorted other money that goes along with PI & DUI.
But no I wouldn't want to herd drunk Santas either.
Oh hey, you want to come down her for the Mexican Drunk Fest in May. Over half the town will be drinking heavily and another quarter will just be doing their usual case or three a day.
Oh and I just got a headache from even thinking about tequila.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Hitch

So...I admit, I've tried to adjust my phrasing, but it's quite true that if you've said "I'm American," for <mumble> years, it's hard to instantly stop saying that and insert "I'm from the US," instead. There's no good appellation for that, either, unlike "American." I'm a "Unity?" A "Stateswoman?" (Well...)...A "US-er?" (That just goes all kinda wrong places). Hmph.

Hitch

Wow. Why should you adjust your phrasing, from describing yourself within your own country with the appellation in general use? Who's being the rude and arrogant, uh, alien? *cough* Whatever happened to, "When in Rome"?

Seriously, if someone pulled that on me, my reaction would be along the lines of, "Go with that, honey, if it makes you happy and good luck with forcing a change on over 300 million of my countrymen. But you're opening yourself up to being misunderstood at a minimum as well as to the charge of being too dim to get that words can have different legitimate meanings, eh?"

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I was thinking the fines and assorted other money that goes along with PI & DUI.

The city gets the revenue, but I don't think it directly benefits the NYPD. I don't think the accounting works that way.

But no I wouldn't want to herd drunk Santas either.

Or drunk anything else, really.

Oh hey, you want to come down her for the Mexican Drunk Fest in May. Over half the town will be drinking heavily and another quarter will just be doing their usual case or three a day.

So you take random blood samples and they'll have a proof content?

Oh and I just got a headache from even thinking about tequila.

My usual tipple is single malt whisky, but an old friend who is a single malt drinker introduced me to Agave tequila, stating that it's now the only kind he'll stock at home. Much of what is commonly offered in the US is swill, and the Mexicans will laugh at the stupid gringos for drinking it. But the Agave variety is quite potable. I had him bring a couple of bottles to a scotch party I hosted to broaden the gathered palettes, and various folks got "So this is what makes tequila worth drinking!" expressions after trying it.
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Dennis

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by issybird

Wow. Why should you adjust your phrasing, from describing yourself within your own country with the appellation in general use? Who's being the rude and arrogant, uh, alien? *cough* Whatever happened to, "When in Rome"?

Seriously, if someone pulled that on me, my reaction would be along the lines of, "Go with that, honey, if it makes you happy and good luck with forcing a change on over 300 million of my countrymen. But you're opening yourself up to being misunderstood at a minimum as well as to the charge of being too dim to get that words can have different legitimate meanings, eh?"

My personal opinion is if someone doesn't like the way I say or do something, that is their problem not mine.
Sorry was interrupted.
They can either get over it or live with it. I won't know the difference anyway.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by issybird

Wow. Why should you adjust your phrasing, from describing yourself within your own country with the appellation in general use? Who's being the rude and arrogant, uh, alien? *cough* Whatever happened to, "When in Rome"?

Seriously, if someone pulled that on me, my reaction would be along the lines of, "Go with that, honey, if it makes you happy and good luck with forcing a change on over 300 million of my countrymen. But you're opening yourself up to being misunderstood at a minimum as well as to the charge of being too dim to get that words can have different legitimate meanings, eh?"

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

My personal opinion is if someone doesn't like the way I say or do something, that is their problem not mine.
Sorry was interrupted.
They can either get over it or live with it. I won't know the difference anyway.

I work with her daily. It's a small courtesy, to my way of thinking. I don't have a correlating example, of something that would go in the other direction (in which I'd be offended or whatever, by something a Canadian person would say), offhand, but to me, it's very minor skin off my nose. If it were something else, and it was a big deal to ME, sure, I'd be "tough," but it's not. It's just remembering to say one thing, when accustomed to saying another.

I don't mind small amendments, for the sake of politeness. Now, I'll debate big topics to the death, if they matter on a much larger scale, and are being PC-ed to death, (non-existence, because folks don't want to be labeled bigots or racists or sexists or you-name-it), but this just isn't one of them. Canadians and other folks on this side of the globe consider themselves "Americans" as much as we do. And if you think about it--North America, South America--they have every right.

My post was actually more about the fact that other than "American," there really isn't any good short appellation. "United States Citizen" is just ridiculously long. US-er is, as I mentioned, bad and unfortunate at the same time. And as I mentioned, she's not remotely PC. At ALL. So...as I said, seems a small enough thing to be courteous about it.

It's not quite "when in Rome," because we're ALL in Rome--no?

Hitch

[Cinisajoy]

Oh ok. Now I understand.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Oh ok. Now I understand.

:-) Oh, trust me, it's hard for me, too. I tend, generally, to be more like you, and less like that, (I know!!! Who woulda thunk that, from my nice, gentle posts here, eh????), but sometimes, all that whapping and cracking by the nuns of St. Ignatius Loyola just creeps through my leathery hide. Somewhere, an ancient nun is cracking an evil smile, having had this read to her by some (much nicer than me) volunteer.

Hitch

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I work with her daily. It's a small courtesy, to my way of thinking.

<SNIP>

Canadians and other folks on this side of the globe consider themselves "Americans" as much as we do. And if you think about it--North America, South America--they have every right.

Hitch

Sure they do. Just as we have every right to refer to our nationality as being American. The two should be able to coexist, without being made an issue of by the non-American Americans, if you catch my drift, or by Americans who are not citizens of the USA, if I need to spell it out. And I think it takes chutzpah to take the stance, inside the USA, that Americans somehow shouldn't call themselves Americans, because that term applies to all of the residents of the western hemisphere.

Courtesy goes both ways, y'know? And it's up to the guest resident to abide by local custom, as for a Canadian in Arizona. The USAn, when in South America, say, needs to observe local custom and preference and adopt whatever awkward locution serves, because that truly is courtesy and respect for the customs of the country. But domestically? Nope.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by issybird

Sure they do. Just as we have every right to refer to our nationality as being American. The two should be able to coexist, without being made an issue of by the non-American Americans, if you catch my drift, or by Americans who are not citizens of the USA, if I need to spell it out. And I think it takes chutzpah to take the stance, inside the USA, that Americans somehow shouldn't call themselves Americans, because that term applies to all of the residents of the western hemisphere.

Courtesy goes both ways, y'know? And it's up to the guest resident to abide by local custom, as for a Canadian in Arizona. The USAn, when in South America, say, needs to observe local custom and preference and adopt whatever awkward locution serves, because that truly is courtesy and respect for the customs of the country. But domestically? Nope.

Issy:

I don't disagree, in any way, manner, shape or form. I would solely add that she's in our Toronto office. :-) She telecommutes. Therefore, only her image and voice (in our video conf.) are actually in Arizona.

Thanks!
Hitch

[Cinisajoy]

You know there are two other questions that bug me more.
What is your religion? What is your sexual orientation?
Now the second one I don't always mind. It depends on who is asking and how they are asking.
One will get a correct answer and the other will get why is it any of your business.