Saturday 19 May 2012

A trip to town: a review

With the revision period upon us I have had a few excursions into Leeds city centre in recent weeks. This has led me to make the following observations. I have also installed a rating system to thoroughly convey my unnecessary judgement and criticism of the everyday people I am surrounded by.

1 = ought to be banned from the use of public places/generally leaving the house
10 = a perfect unobtrusive shopping companion

Group #1

Any man/woman with a pram and/or any other small children. A large group of offenders who struggle (in vain) to control their herds of children so that in turn they do not notice quite how much they are getting in everyone else’s way with their silly state-of-the-art-and-over-priced push chairs and mass of Marks and Spencer’s shopping bags.

6/10 – to be fair, it’s not entirely their fault.

Group #2

Scores of children who I’m sure ought to be at school. Life qualifications besides the GCSEs they are not getting include:
  • A strong commitment to the cause and to generally gaining the attention of those surrounding them.
  • Enthusiasm and encouragement – creating a lot of noise and getting everybody involved.
  • The ability to work well in a team.
  • Reliability. They will always be there.

2/10 – if you are aware of your children/siblings doing this, please lock them up.

Group #3

Slow walkers. PLEASE. We are here because we have things to do today, not tomorrow.

4/10 – only because I feel this might be a slightly hypocritical judgement, otherwise it would be 1.

Group #4

Meanderers. Probably the worst category to be anywhere near. We’ve all encountered them. They’re the ones that make you look like an idiot – they walk at exactly the same pace as you and just slightly in front of you. You have to do an awkward skip/jog/walk to overtake and just at the crucial moment when you’re almost parallel to them, they swerve into the bloody fast lane and cut you up for everyone to see. Piss off, nobody wants you here.

0/10 – and only because my scale doesn’t go lower than that.

Group #5

The young professionals. General busy-bodies who think they’re worlds ahead of you just because they have a briefcase and a take-out coffee. More often than not they can be found talking slightly more loudly than is necessary into their company telephones and they walk with a distinct air of arrogance. One day I will knock into you and spill your coffee.

You score 6/10 – in their defence, they have actually got a job so they’re currently doing better than me.

Group #6

Weird unnecessary hands-free phone people. Two types – those who talk into headsets and those who listen to music out loud. Yeah you walk down the street with all that swag and your magic phone but you don’t realize that you listen to shit music and you look like twat.

4/10 – it’s so bizarre that they might have a social disorder so I feel bad scoring any lower than that.

Group #7

Charity workers/general do-gooders. They make you feel inadequate not only because you are not volunteering like they are, but also because you can’t afford to donate £1 a month to those less fortunate than you, despite the fact you are out on an entirely self-indulgent shopping spree with money that is not your own and is meant to be spent on food and rent.

9/10 – because I am projecting self-hatred onto good people.

Moral of the story is: go back to the library.

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