"They text me an address, and I join their boys’ night out. They spend the first half hour metaphorically slapping their dicks on the table and handing me a measuring tape. They talk about money, mostly, and body counts. I’ve seen this play a thousand times, but only the artless complain that the National Theatre still commissions Shakespeare. They calm down once they realise I am innumerate."
Steve writes that politics is unattractive and unappealing then proceeds to tell you his politics.
That said, who cares if politics is "unattractive"? There are many things that are unattractive about human civilization, then what?
Also, I could only get through the first 30 sentences or so of this piece because the dialouge of these 20 something dudes is banal and boring. Your best pieces are, in fact, about politics. Or a mix of politics and personal. The personal is political afterall. But the thoughts and ramblings of dudes like this is not it.
You were lamenting your earlier estrangement from the Labour Party. Perhaps you could as a theme song adapt "the Old Red flag" and replace it with your own but to the same tune and call it "The rejected Greek Nag !
2,000 years ago? Not even. “The Greek Slave” statue by Hiram Powers got a whole bunch of British and American men to fight for our honor in the 1800s. 😂
Well, it seems to be a weekend of pure ego. Status and selfishness, I guess.
It’s not for me to say these things are intrinsically bad, which is why I ask if my response is what you expect.
Maybe it’s just a portrait of a world that doesn’t suit me in particular, but it seems to be something that would universally be considered unpleasant.
I mean, do any of these people actually like each other? It felt like a group of rivals trying to outdo each other in a superficially friendly way.
“A group of rivals trying to outdo each other in a superficially friendly way” is how some groups of friends relate to each other. Eating, drinking, sex and late nights of politics and poetry would sound good to a lot of people, and it’s as accurate a summary of the weekend described as yours. Trading ribbing and insults and outrageous comments back and forth is a valid way to build and display friendship. https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/04/23/friendship-is-countersignaling/
My friends and I engage in that too, a lot. But this came across as more vindictive than that, to me. Like I say, the friendships come across as superficial.
But you’re right: that’s just my perspective. And the author has presented only hers; perhaps there’s more to it than I’m seeing.
I'm not that Steve either, but I appreciate his candor - I love reading about your sexscapades, you're not only hilarious but refreshingly honest. 10/10
Sounds like you had an interesting time this weekend Stella. You don't however say whether or not you enjoyed it. I presume, (and I am presuming) that you did or why else would you spend time with these fellas? Either way, I'm glad the Welsh weather stayed nice for you as seen by the photograph above as every time I used to travel to Portmeirion in North Wales, the weather didn't always behave itself.
Oh and I'm not the Steve you mention as the reason you posted this essay. I'm in the UK and I don't know your writing style just yet -- I am taking your essays on face value right now; though I am learning believe me.
Oh, yeah, you're not that Steve, in case anyone is wondering. Though I have graciously redacted that Steve's full name. And yes, weather was lovely and we had a jolly good time, did nothing but drink, eat, read.
"They text me an address, and I join their boys’ night out. They spend the first half hour metaphorically slapping their dicks on the table and handing me a measuring tape. They talk about money, mostly, and body counts. I’ve seen this play a thousand times, but only the artless complain that the National Theatre still commissions Shakespeare. They calm down once they realise I am innumerate."
I just laughed out loud.
thanks
Steve writes that politics is unattractive and unappealing then proceeds to tell you his politics.
That said, who cares if politics is "unattractive"? There are many things that are unattractive about human civilization, then what?
Also, I could only get through the first 30 sentences or so of this piece because the dialouge of these 20 something dudes is banal and boring. Your best pieces are, in fact, about politics. Or a mix of politics and personal. The personal is political afterall. But the thoughts and ramblings of dudes like this is not it.
Thanks, I actually find writing (and reading) about dating quite boring.
Probably the vast majority of dates that humans are subjected to right now are boring.
omg Steve 😭😂
who is Steve?
oh yeah, lol, just realised who, sorry haha
Westminster must be full of overwhelmingly ugly people
the world is, but some have beautiful souls
As the late American Sen McCain put it: "If Washington is a Hollywood for ugly people, Hollywood is a Washington for the simpleminded."
The English were never known to be a goodlooking lot.
you know my views on that
You were lamenting your earlier estrangement from the Labour Party. Perhaps you could as a theme song adapt "the Old Red flag" and replace it with your own but to the same tune and call it "The rejected Greek Nag !
gosh do I sound that bad
2,000 years ago? Not even. “The Greek Slave” statue by Hiram Powers got a whole bunch of British and American men to fight for our honor in the 1800s. 😂
Sounds normal
This all sounds horrendous. Is that what you expect us to think of it?
What do you mean?
Well, it seems to be a weekend of pure ego. Status and selfishness, I guess.
It’s not for me to say these things are intrinsically bad, which is why I ask if my response is what you expect.
Maybe it’s just a portrait of a world that doesn’t suit me in particular, but it seems to be something that would universally be considered unpleasant.
I mean, do any of these people actually like each other? It felt like a group of rivals trying to outdo each other in a superficially friendly way.
“A group of rivals trying to outdo each other in a superficially friendly way” is how some groups of friends relate to each other. Eating, drinking, sex and late nights of politics and poetry would sound good to a lot of people, and it’s as accurate a summary of the weekend described as yours. Trading ribbing and insults and outrageous comments back and forth is a valid way to build and display friendship. https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/04/23/friendship-is-countersignaling/
My friends and I engage in that too, a lot. But this came across as more vindictive than that, to me. Like I say, the friendships come across as superficial.
But you’re right: that’s just my perspective. And the author has presented only hers; perhaps there’s more to it than I’m seeing.
I'm not that Steve either, but I appreciate his candor - I love reading about your sexscapades, you're not only hilarious but refreshingly honest. 10/10
Sounds like you had an interesting time this weekend Stella. You don't however say whether or not you enjoyed it. I presume, (and I am presuming) that you did or why else would you spend time with these fellas? Either way, I'm glad the Welsh weather stayed nice for you as seen by the photograph above as every time I used to travel to Portmeirion in North Wales, the weather didn't always behave itself.
Oh and I'm not the Steve you mention as the reason you posted this essay. I'm in the UK and I don't know your writing style just yet -- I am taking your essays on face value right now; though I am learning believe me.
Oh, yeah, you're not that Steve, in case anyone is wondering. Though I have graciously redacted that Steve's full name. And yes, weather was lovely and we had a jolly good time, did nothing but drink, eat, read.