The power of self-referentiality

[hirez]

Perhaps it's just me, but I don't wonder that the sort of people who bang on about all the things they used to do are much better off being ignored.

Comments

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

I caught up with an old friend recently and muttered something about it being 'a blast from my faintly disreputable past'. He was offended til I pointed out that my present is probably WAY more disreputable!

[quercus.livejournal.com]

I went to the pub this week to fettle someone's violet wand machine (I love our local - you plonk a megger down on the table and they just ask if you need a better light).

Ended up talking to someone else entirely about Murray & Vern. That was a surprise.
(They probably know JH-R (Whitby, naturally), but didn't know SFC)

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Play party this weekend, rubber party next month (no I won't be wearing rubber, makes me look like a binbag full of spam). Life's OK, y'know?

Back in the day it was more of a rollercoaster, but these days I enjoy the ride more, and the view's better.

[diffrentcolours]

I have developed a habit of despairing loudly and publically when I relay an amusing anecdote that I realise is more than five years old. In my defence, my friends have started pointing out when I relay an anecdote that's of more modern vintage. I appreciate my friends, they make me feel less old and boring.

[sammason.livejournal.com]

I used to bang on about myself but I've stopped now ;-)

[bmlg.livejournal.com]

Isn't that the purpose of blogs and LJs? To concentrate anecdotes into the aether and keep them from conversations?

[hirez.livejournal.com]

There's that, too.

I think what I meant is that there are people who'll go 'I used to to do (thing) and now I do (other thing)' and then there are those who are all 'I used to do (thing) and now I don't do anything, but you should totally listen to me bang on about (other thing that you're doing) because it's just like (thing), no really it is.' which I suppose boils down to 'I coulda been a contender...'

[jendama.livejournal.com]

I've found that when someone goes on about what they used to do (and not what they're currently doing), a good way to shut them up is to respond "Hmm, yes, I see. So, how are you adding value to the world now?" That usually shuts them up quickly.

[ingaborg.livejournal.com]

That was my secondary school! All the senior teachers used to bang on endlessly about all the great things they did when it was a grammar school (hostelling trips in the Lake District, building raku kilns, etc etc). Not one of them would do a damn thing for we students of the day, at what was then a very posh comprehensive. I loathed them. And it made me feel cynical and cheated. On the plus side, I went out and did lots of fun things under my own steam the moment I had the chance.

[red-mel.livejournal.com]

i used to have a waist line and full nights sleep....

[hazeii.livejournal.com]

I used to bang on about *exactly* the same thing!