# And here's your Dec. rants thread - Merry Christbitchmas! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 1, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693 "2011-12-01T13:07:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/121 "2011-12-05T21:39:00Z")
**Mom-of-Andrew** , I agree with the others who’ve said that it’s time to cut conversations with these idiots. “We’ll call you when we have more news” leaves you in control of the contact. “They’re doing as well as can be expected” is a good response. Otherwise, don’t answer their calls, and focus on what’s important for you and your family right now. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/122 "2011-12-05T21:56:31Z")
Sometimes people are pushy like that because people don’t always ask even though help is offered the first time (I try not to ask multiple times in a single conversation, though I may ask again in a different conversation), but if you truly don’t need anything it’s a pain in the butt. If they keep pushing, I’d fabricate some excuse like ‘oh, someone’s at the door/on the other line/I have to go blah blah\*, thanks again for the offer I will let you know if we need anything’ say goodbye and hang up. Be polite but firm, shut them down and hang up. It will save your sanity. Once they have the info they need (what you and yours decide of course, not what they think they need to know) and have made their offer of help (whether you accept or not) you don’t have to engage beyond that, especially since you don’t really know them right? If you seem brisk, it’s understandable with everything happening, if they get butthurt about it, well you have things to do and you’ve given them all they need to know. \*Blah blah being anything from walk the dog or put the casserole in the oven to pick up Mom from the hospital for example. How can they be so selfish to keep you on the line when you have so much to do to help your parents? ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/123 "2011-12-05T22:28:36Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Excellent =) And I don’t know very many people who do like pease pudding … so you can make something else to go on the table in its place =) I had no idea what pease pudding is, so I went to Wikipedia. The entry for this dish contains this sentence: > [@](#): > > [In Southern England it is usually served with faggots](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pease_pudding). :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Obvious)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/124 "2011-12-05T22:56:00Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > So, are you going to insist that she get another car, or are you just going to get yourself a new girlfriend? Neither. She loves her car, and can’t afford another one at the moment anyhow. Instead, I’m going to bitch and moan about lousy design while I know little about it myself, while learning what to remove, and how, so that I can keep an eye on it. ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/125 "2011-12-05T22:58:26Z")
I’m in Indiana, Moonlitherial, and I can’t see Shredder Guy coming out this way in the winter, but there are here casinos which he has not yet been banned from. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/126 "2011-12-05T23:32:48Z")
**MoA** , one I used a lot in similar circumstances was “Hangin’ in there”. It seemed to get the message across without sounding quite as formal. Yes, some people are asking again about helping because they think that you’re just being polite by refusing. Others are just trying to feel like they belong. I dunno why people do that, but they do. Were it me, I’d probably have quit answering the phone by now, and my message would say something like “check facebook for updates”. But I’m rude like that. Keep venting, that’s what we’re here for. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/127 "2011-12-05T23:47:44Z")
> [@Mom-of-Andrew](#): > > More than words can say. I really would go off on some of bro’s friends – not Mom & Dad’s friends, who can say the exact same meaningless thing but are sincere enough to be comforting. Bro’s friends (especially, but not limited to, Dipshits the first and the second) are just so needy right now. Sample conversation: _Is there anything you need?_ No, thank you. The hospital is taking really good care of us. [end of convo w/ Mom & Dad’s friends – bro’s friends go on] _No, really, there must be something you need._ Believe me, if we had something you could do, I’d call you first. _Well, can I bring you something by?_ (My Mom has a ‘hospital visiting bag’ with more snacks and supplies than the supply room on this wing) No, I think we’re covered. Really, I’ll call if we think of something. \* Are you suuuuure?\* Yes, thank you, I’m sure. _Actually, now that you mention it, he spent some time in Billings Montana about fifteen years ago, and the night before he collapsed, he mentioned a favorite T-shirt that he left in a storage unit there. I think it would really help him to have it. Here’s the key…_ ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/128 "2011-12-05T23:50:00Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > I had no idea what pease pudding is, so I went to Wikipedia. The entry for this dish contains this sentence: [Here’s an advert for faggots](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y136zBVjBg) - just to put things into context. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/129 "2011-12-05T23:52:31Z")
Feel free to vent here at will M-o-A. We are here for you. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/130 "2011-12-06T00:41:16Z")
What **Rick** said. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/131 "2011-12-06T00:53:44Z")
Listen up, Calgary driver idiots - you bitched for decades about the City not clearing the streets after a snowfall, and now the City has finally come up with a plan to do so. I do not want to hear ONE more person on the news whining about how they don’t know where they’re going to park their car when they are required to move it so the snow route can be properly cleared. Find a way. The streets have to get cleared, and cars have to be moved to do a proper job. Get over it. ETA: I forgot to lambast the assholes who aren’t planning to move their cars in spite of being parked on a snow route. We’re going to see some _serious_ towing around here soon. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/132 "2011-12-06T02:10:31Z")
Mixed signals suck. Well actually they don’t suck. They don’t do anything but confuse me. May have been moved to the friend zone but I will get out of there. ---
**Author:** ![Tess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@Tess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tess)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/133 "2011-12-06T02:28:14Z")
Around June someone mentioned Tiger Woods’ cheating on his wife and you immediately said, “That’s what she gets for hiring a hot nanny.” In September your wife left you for some guy and you’ve bitched and moaned for three solid months, asking how she could do this to you. At Halloween you gripped about how all the women in short costumes were sluts, then gawked at each and every one. Even while you were married you made no secret of the fact you checked out everything in a skirt. Yesterday someone’s bragging about messing around with a married guy and you laugh like it’s a fucking joke? You honestly feel you’re above whatever standards you’ve set for everyone else, don’t you? I’d point this out to you, but you have this amazing ability to ignore and talk over anyone who tries to interfere with your version of reality. I’d beat you upside the head just to shut you up but in two weeks I never have to see you again. I’d rather hold off than risk spending Christmas in lock up. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/134 "2011-12-06T04:21:17Z")
Annnnd… **How I Met Your Mother** has jumped the baby shark. Because it is not possible for there to be a legitimately childfree person on television. :mad: :dubious: ☹ ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/135 "2011-12-06T04:25:15Z")
Now look here, fuckers. I am heartily sick and tired and fed up to the teeth with having to do my Christmas shopping and everybody else’s too. My family nags the fuck out of me every year to update and expand my Amazon list, despite the fact that there’s really nothing in particular I want. And they freak out about not getting that exact item, even though I tell them repeatedly that pretty much everything on the damn list is just stuff Amazon suggested that seemed like a good idea at the time. Will a single goddamn one of _them_ make an Amazon list to make things as easy and convenient for me as they demand I make things for them? Not just no, but FUCK NO. Because there’s not really anything they want. Not even a vague idea of anything. And now my mother has sent me an email saying that there’s nothing on the 45 item list I’ve wracked my brain to come up with that really turns her crank and I need to pick out other things she could buy me. Really? WTF is _wrong_ with you? Jesus Christ on a goddamn cracker, people. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/136 "2011-12-06T04:33:26Z")
Dear mostly wonderful husband, We have a lovely working agreement about household chores. You hate doing laundry, I hate doing dishes. When we made this agreement, I TOLD YOU I was a spaz, and I wouldn’t be held accountable for shit left in your pockets. I don’t use pockets. You are really good about this - I’ve only washed your wallet once or twice in all our lovely years of marriage, and I don’t think there’s been anything in any pockets for at least 6 months or so. WTF did you go and put a fucking LOLLIPOP IN YOUR GODDAMN POCKET FOR??!!! Where on EARTH did you even GET a FUCKING LOLLIPOP to PUT in your FUCKING PANTS? What-The-Fuck! I was going to have a nice evening of Finishing my Final Project in grad school - you know - the one due in three days, where I’m working overtime every day and have holiday shindigs scheduled with family and friends every night until then? But no, I get to paw through sticky hot dried laundry and find a NASTY ASS half-melted SUCKER and then wash that load two more times to get all the GODDAMN STICKY SHIT off of all our clothes, and then take a shower to get it off of ME. Aaaaaand, you’re not even home so I can yell at you. Goddamnit. I need a drink. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/137 "2011-12-06T04:41:07Z")
I hate the cold weather. When it gets below 70 I start to shiver. Unfortunately my husband’s job’s here in NJ so here we stay. I shall have to take consolation for my cold feet with five pairs of socks, a thick bathrobe and my huband’s large and warm heart. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/138 "2011-12-06T04:55:09Z")
Note to self: the next time I share an article on Facebook that may rouse those friends of mine who, in real life, I wouldn’t even consider discussing politics with, I humbly request that the universe “Gibbs smack” me before I do, and I go back to posting 80’s lyrics and movie quotes. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/139 "2011-12-06T05:17:14Z")
> [@Mom-of-Andrew](#): > > Dipshit the first: > > Dipshit the second: Dipshit 1, and Dipshit 2 those were characters in an unpublished Dr. Suess book for adults, right? I hope the dipshittery has decreased. If not come back and vent some more. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693/140 "2011-12-06T05:17:22Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Annnnd… **How I Met Your Mother** has jumped the baby shark. Because it is not possible for there to be a legitimately childfree person on television. :mad: :dubious: ☹ Of course not - nobody could possibly be happy without reproducing, dontchaknow? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-heres-your-dec-rants-thread-merry-christbitchmas/604693.md?page=8)