I fought the mall....

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #1 22-12-2009, 10:03 PM

......And the mall won!
I hate shopping malls. Even when its not Christmas, I hate these monuments to gluttony and superficiality. The tinned music, too loud and different in every shop. Glaring neon lighting. Being sprayed with malodorous "eaux de toilette" meant to entice something to something else, screaming infants, the insane, the belligerent, the indifferent, and worst of all the trogging. From A to B to C then back to A 'cuz I forgot item D. Any convenience that was originally the impetus behind these monstrosities, has long been superceded by their soul-sucking consumerism, their inconvenient infrastructure and the general malaise of being stuck in a giant telephone booth with 10,000 sweaty people.

While almost every shop assistant was perfectly pleasant, and one even dosed me up with free coffee, I can't get over the feeling that humans should not be doing this. I mean, I like bright, shiny, expensive stuff but I certainly don't need it. Quite frankly I'd rather have a pair of hand-knitted socks! We should all be ambling around our local shops buying artisinal whatsits and making presents out of hessian cloth.
Oh well, thats my Christmas whinge.
Yours?

DavidU (Dave) · #2 22-12-2009, 10:35 PM

Beautifully put Peter, your words reflect my sentiments exactly.
How about the lost hour looking for a park 1/2 a kilometer from the shops before you even get in

casstony · #3 22-12-2009, 10:41 PM

I sympathise Peter. Too much consumption. I have in-laws who go into debt at Xmas in order to deliver twenty presents to each of their children, most of which go unappreciated and have to be thrown away to make space for more presents in the not too distant future. People just don't appreciate how wonderful it is to have a roof/four walls/non-dirt floor, running hot/cold water and electricity; these are real, worthwhile luxuries that are better when not filled with plastic crap from China. Geez Peter, there must be some place where people like us can go to be safe from all the weirdos out there

DavidU (Dave) · #4 22-12-2009, 10:47 PM

Put it this way. Ten years ago Christmas with a blended family became so expensive complex and political I stopped having Christmas altogether.
Best thing I ever did.

bloodhound31 · #5 23-12-2009, 10:11 AM

How about celebrating Christmas for what it is intended for? The birth of our Lord and Saviour, the Son of God, Jesus Christ?

If you don't believe in it, then go back to work? I don't take other religion's holidays off....

multiweb (Marc) · #6 23-12-2009, 10:34 AM

Woooaaa.... this thread is in need of serious Xmas spirit.

Peter, don't like the Mall? Don't go there.

Ric · #7 23-12-2009, 10:37 AM

Well put Baz, even though I'm not religous I still think people miss the whole point of Christmas.

To me it's not about who has the biggest and best present etc, it's about catching up with friends and family and spending time together.

And some quality astro time clouds permitting.

I also went to the local mall as well yesterday, I was only there for a few hours but blimey what a rat race. I was glad to get back to the serenity of the farm.

Cheers

casstony · #8 23-12-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric

......, it's about catching up with friends and family and spending time together.
Cheers

A nice, universal reason for celebrating Xmas encompasing everyone, irrespective of religion.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #9 23-12-2009, 11:09 AM

I went Christmas shopping with my girlfriend last week. She spent around 2 hours in each shop we went into. I was brain dead before leaving the first store. Her temper was edging on psychotic.
Oh what a wonderful time we had.
I'm skipping Christmas this year.

Ric · #10 23-12-2009, 11:18 AM

Seeing as Peter mentioned "canned music" have anyone noticed how all our favourite tunes from the 70's and 80's are now starting to creep into shopping mall music.

Can't wait until Deep Purple make the list with a horribly synthesised version of "Smoke on the Water".........

that_guy (Tony) · #11 23-12-2009, 11:31 AM

When do you know when you are getting old??

When you hear your favourite song at the mall!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

DavidU (Dave) · #12 23-12-2009, 12:14 PM

I find it a bit depressing hearing store music that I helped produce.
I feel old.

PCH (Paul) · #13 23-12-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloodhound31

How about celebrating Christmas for what it is intended for? The birth of our Lord and Saviour, the Son of God, Jesus Christ?

If you don't believe in it, then go back to work? I don't take Ramadan off....

Well said Baz - my hat off to you sir

JimmyH155 · #14 23-12-2009, 01:33 PM

As my 20 year old son said to me last night whan I came home with a $100 piece of cheese. "There are wants and needs, Dad. That cheese is a want!"
He aint seen nothin' yet. I am going out after posting this to the CHOCOLATE shop.

AAAAGGGGHHHH
But I agree, PCH, it is first and foremost a religious festival, and should be celebrated as such.

Terry B · #15 23-12-2009, 10:30 PM

I'm currently on holidays staying in Newcastle.
My wife seems to like shopping and I don't- now ain't that a surprise.

The current method of solving this is I drop her at the mall and I then take the kids ice skating a few kms down the road. My kids and I love the skating. We don't have to go shopping and it keeps the kids out of my wifes hair to get presents etc.
Everyone wins.

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #16 24-12-2009, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Woooaaa.... this thread is in need of serious Xmas spirit.

Peter, don't like the Mall? Don't go there.

Nearest place in 100 kilometers to get my Father-in-law's fave cheese.

(Roi de Valle fwiw).
I don't like the doctor either but needs must.

GrahamL · #17 24-12-2009, 06:38 AM

I find them mostly harmless, but have never gone to a large one around this time of year .

For good times in the mall these 3 simple steps work a treat

1/ most important .. take carefull note of the colour number and level
you have parked the car in.. messing up this bit can make for a tense time later on.

2/On the prelim incurrsion note were the book shop is
(the only shop you may find something to purchase).. and the kebab shop because none of them make a bad kebab.

3/In a little time suggest to your partner that you should split up and meet back right here in a given time .. when they have shuffled off
you make good use of the spot you have chosen by sitting yourself down at that internet screen in front of you, feed in the coins and spend a few stress free hours on IIS and cloudy nights

footnote : when you first sit down have a look over your shoulder at some of the shops around you, as when you get busted later sitting at that screen and quized did you actually look at any of them you can honestly answer .. yes .

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #18 24-12-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightstalker

I find them mostly harmless, but have never gone to a large one around this time of year .

For good times in the mall these 3 simple steps work a treat

1/ most important .. take carefull note of the colour number and level
you have parked the car in.. messing up this bit can make for a tense time later on.

2/On the prelim incurrsion note were the book shop is
(the only shop you may find something to purchase).. and the kebab shop because none of them make a bad kebab.

3/In a little time suggest to your partner that you should split up and meet back right here in a given time .. when they have shuffled off
you make good use of the spot you have chosen by sitting yourself down at that internet screen in front of you, feed in the coins and spend a few stress free hours on IIS and cloudy nights

footnote : when you first sit down have a look over your shoulder at some of the shops around you, as when you get busted later sitting at that screen and quized did you actually look at any of them you can honestly answer .. yes .

You are awarded the title "King of the Mall"!
MC
Peter

WarpSpider74 (Derek) · #19 24-12-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightstalker

.. and the kebab shop because none of them make a bad kebab.

Oooooooooh, after yesterday's shopping spree I must disagree with you on this point

I'm not feeling so well this morning

Fossil (Jonathan) · #20 24-12-2009, 02:18 PM

What's a mall ???