by John Warren
Ian is quite right of course, our language is in constant flux.
One of the main reasons for that probably being that it’s now become a world language (unless one unexpectedly finds oneself in France of course).
So, here we see Julie (from near Chicago) reading and understanding the language in a slightly different way to Ian. Not only that, her coffee drinking experiences over there in the States, differs slightly to those generally experienced over here. Contrary to popular belief, the American coffee drinker usually shows just about twice the consideration shown by their European counterparts. Nearly always clearing up their tables before leaving and the men generally being more polite to the ladies. Something which never seems to happen in England anymore (I stopped being considerate because of the strange looks I was getting from the female staff who probably thought I was only cleaning up because I fancied stroking a pussy – right word is it Ian?)
I’ve been happily frequenting Starbucks for more years than I can recall; right back to the Starsky and Hutch TV series in fact. An American girlfriend at the time took me into the branch where it all started (so she said) in Hollywood. However, in all the years and the hundreds of times I’ve sat and happily chatted in Starbucks, I’ve never once felt a load of left-wingers to be inside crowding the place. More a general mix of political opinion I’d say.
In England, it tends more to be mothers of every persuasion with noisy children lousing the room up with never ending screams and crying (the kids usually drink pop from bottles brought in – which nicely explains it). The other thing that finally put an end to my visits, is the man who pays for coffee to go (slightly cheaper) then takes up a table for himself and his f..king laptop. Never once, in my experience, have such offenders been told to leave. Probably because it’s not company policy to offend offenders.
Weird or what? They’ll prevent someone swearing quietly into a laptop but allow a thief to occupy a space he’s effectively gained by deception.
But there I go arguing against myself, for isn’t that precisely what left-wingers are good at?
But why do people use Starbucks so often; or any of the other coffee chains for that matter? My view is, that they do so because the coffee always (nearly always) tastes the same and the space you’ll find yourself sitting in (if the bastard with the lap-top has not planted his arse already) will seem familiar. You can usually bet on it. From Moscow to LA the coffee remains broadly consistent. It’s only downside is that it’s a global chain and therefore unremittingly, sickeningly pc.
That part is a shame for sure; but I wouldn’t know how to change it.
Not without bullets, bullets, bullets anyway. Sorry if the word offends.
