# Winter's a-coming! Season of Death Mini-Rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 18, 2010, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833 "2010-09-18T09:03:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 67
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1321 "2010-12-22T01:25:38Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Never underestimate how completely stupid the public is. Upselling works, you wouldn’t even believe how much it works. Simply cut them off and say “no thanks”. They won’t be offended. I generally give them a grade on their upsell “_Nice try, but that’s only an A-Minus_ upsell.\*” Delivered in a wry tone of voice, it gets more than a few of laughs from the clerks. Hell, on some truly A-Plus efforts, I’ve allowed them to persuade me, so long as I don’t take a major hit in the wallet. Not the kids’ fault they gotta toe the corporate line. \*I never grade less than an ‘A-Minus’ - their manager might be in earshot. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1322 "2010-12-22T03:28:38Z")
You’re right, it’s entirely my fault. You are entirely blameless here. No point in even suggesting that we might have both played a part in how things turned out. No, my fault. You want tell your brother? What’s he going to do, drive over here and kick my ass? You know what, I’ll just stand there and take it. I should, seeing as how it’s **all my fucking fault**. Christ, this is fucking stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1323 "2010-12-22T04:42:09Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > You’re right, it’s entirely my fault. You are entirely blameless here. No point in even suggesting that we might have both played a part in how things turned out. No, my fault. > > You want tell your brother? What’s he going to do, drive over here and kick my ass? You know what, I’ll just stand there and take it. I should, seeing as how it’s **all my fucking fault**. > > Christ, this is fucking stupid. What is? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1324 "2010-12-22T04:48:41Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > What is? Is it peas? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1325 "2010-12-22T05:39:07Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > What is? This fucking stupid thing. ---
**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 22, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1326 "2010-12-22T05:56:34Z")
Is it your penis? ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1327 "2010-12-22T15:32:49Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > The person was just doing her job and had no choice in the matter and I have no control on my own over the store policy. If I’m going to get in a lather over something it had better be an issue worth fighting for. It’s entirely possible to stand up for your own rights without being rude. Merely saying, “No, thank you,” to a fucking Wal-Mart receipt checker isn’t rude. If you’d said, “Fuck off, bitch,” and shoved her out of the way, \*then \*you’d be rude. I hate to go all slippery slope, but we’d get a lot of rights back if people who actually fucking knew better wouldn’t constantly let them be taken away out of the ridiculous fear that it’s somehow \*mean \*to \*politely insist \*on being treated in the way you’re _legally fucking entitled to_. > [@Ludovic](#): > > Do you presume me of such low intelligence that I am not aware of this? We didn’t think you were stupid, just ignorant. Since, you know, you appeared to be \*completely fucking oblivious \*as to (a) the basic concept of upselling; and (b) the fact that it generates a lot of revenue; because (c) other people actually buy stuff when it’s suggested; so (d) companies \*require \*their sales staff to engage in it. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Is it your penis? That \*would \*in fact make everything his fault… ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1328 "2010-12-22T15:52:06Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > You’re right, it’s entirely my fault. You are entirely blameless here. No point in even suggesting that we might have both played a part in how things turned out. No, my fault. > > You want tell your brother? What’s he going to do, drive over here and kick my ass? You know what, I’ll just stand there and take it. I should, seeing as how it’s **all my fucking fault**. > > Christ, this is fucking stupid. Dammit, **Ashtar** , whaddya do _this_ time? Soooo o o o … don’t keep us in suspense here. Did your … brother-in-law? I’m guessing? come over and whup some Lordbutt? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1329 "2010-12-22T18:36:09Z")
Since I ranted here, it’s only fair I share a couple of photos of a few select atrocities. A car once parked here. [http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Pictures/1012/Life\_Sucks\_02.jpg](http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Pictures/1012/Life_Sucks_02.jpg) 10 feet down, we struck water. [http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Pictures/1012/Life\_Sucks\_03.jpg](http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Pictures/1012/Life_Sucks_03.jpg) Chipmunk tunnel (typ.) [http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Pictures/1012/Life\_Sucks\_04.jpg](http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Pictures/1012/Life_Sucks_04.jpg) From nearly a dozen feet underground, inspecting a steel pier. [http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Pictures/1012/Life\_Sucks\_06.jpg](http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Pictures/1012/Life_Sucks_06.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1330 "2010-12-22T18:40:14Z")
Una, it’s not too late for the Christmas miracle of a hundred pounds of high explosives. Any new developments? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1331 "2010-12-22T18:52:57Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Dammit, **Ashtar** , whaddya do _this_ time? I was born with a penis. > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Soooo o o o … don’t keep us in suspense here. Did your … brother-in-law? I’m guessing? come over and whup some Lordbutt? Nah, and it wouldn’t come to that. But isn’t it annoying when girls say they’re going to tell their big brother on you? Like he’s going to beat me up out by the jungle gym, ya know? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1332 "2010-12-22T19:38:46Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > From nearly a dozen feet underground, inspecting a steel pier. > [http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Pictures/1012/Life\_Sucks\_06.jpg](http://www.coalgoddess.net/files/Pictures/1012/Life_Sucks_06.jpg) Did they think they were building Hoover Dam? I wonder if all of that concrete has fully cured over the decades 🙂 What the heck is there 12 feet of concrete doing under a residential home? Perhaps if you start digging horizontally, you will find a former resident’s home-brew dungeon/torture chamber. ---
**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 22, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1333 "2010-12-22T20:01:11Z")
Or the skeletal remains of Jimmy Hoffa. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1334 "2010-12-22T20:01:53Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > Since I ranted here, it’s only fair I share a couple of photos of a few select atrocities. What is that I don’t even ---
**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 22, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1335 "2010-12-22T20:03:10Z")
OR the skeletal remains of **Shot From Guns**. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1336 "2010-12-22T20:25:34Z")
Excuse me? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1337 "2010-12-22T20:33:52Z")
Whoa, this is just showing some photos, nothing directed at anyone, anything, or nothin’. Just showing the Stygian depths which lie under the foundations which have helped made this the worst Christmas ever for us. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1338 "2010-12-22T20:35:04Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > Did they think they were building Hoover Dam? I wonder if all of that concrete has fully cured over the decades 🙂 > > What the heck is there 12 feet of concrete doing under a residential home? (bangs fist on table) That’s what _I_ want to know! ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1339 "2010-12-22T20:39:38Z")
Personally, I’m hoping you bust through to a fallout shelter containing the skeletized remains of the house’s previous inhabitants. Bonus points if any of the canned goods are still edible! ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/1340 "2010-12-22T21:06:33Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > What the heck is there 12 feet of concrete doing under a residential home? Sealed over Hellmouth. _Formerly_ sealed over Hellmouth. :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833.md?page=66) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833.md?page=68)