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ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022
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This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022

 

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Bob
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Bob replied on Sun, Oct 7 2012 1:32 AM

Well said,

not to mention that 2/3 of this planet population doesn't have such a luxury to be troubled with these problems and worries Sad

I think the main problem is that people are generally unhappy (no matter how rich or ViP'd) and incapable of enjoyment, on constant watch to compare with others.

Masses always assume that life style of others (such celebrities, rock or pop stars) or win in the lottery (and yes I'm talking the big win not few quid) will make their lives more enjoyable - the exact opposite seem proven to be the formula...

But yes it is fascinating to see other countries, cultures and societies and their views and life style and extremely depressing to see all good values disappearing and becoming uniform- but no point for me to spoil yet another thread

Bob

"Masses are always wrong and the individual is always right" or something like that (I'm old with holes in my head Wink) by Emile Ajar (Romain Gary)

 

9 LEE:

ablaumeise:
 

But most everything else is considered "showing off". It even starts with classic cars...

.... which is the total opposite in central London.  If you drive the latest Ferrari, Lamborghini or Bugatti you barely get a second look. People are bored of them.

However, if you drive a mint classic car people give you a thumbs up and a smile ..  They are considered 'individual' and for people with taste and style.

It's fascinating how we're all so different, yet live on the same planet ...  LOL

Lee

 

 

Don't worry - be Happy

Bob
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Bob replied on Sun, Oct 7 2012 1:48 AM

Ha ha, you are the odd one Lee Whistle

I find most of my life to be black sheep believing in golden rule (live and let other live - treat others the way you'd like to be treated) and not judging others and all that, despite how tricky and difficult it may turn out to be in times, but I'm glad that I haven't got a clue who are those people you've been talking about.... what's football anyway?  Smile

Wealth is state of mind (you can be rich being penniless and vice versa), you can be famous or known (but also for all the wrong reasons) and you can be intelligent, yet horrible person ... Confused

I'm with you, I sincerely wish everyone success fame and wealth (but know for fact, that none of that will automatically enhance their quality of life), if that's what they want, don't care if you drive Ferrari or walk and generally sort people into 2 categories: good and bad only

I feel satisfied with myself if I can sleep with myself (knowing I haven't knowingly hurt or cheat someone) and can look back without regrets and that makes me definitely the odd one  (perhaps it may have something to do with the fact they don't let me out much Big Smile)

bob

9 LEE:

As mentioned, I accept that - and also respect the culture of any country I visit, or talk to people from. I just find it strange, that's all.  

I  Maybe it's me who's the odd one ?!!?!!

Lee

 

 

Don't worry - be Happy

Bob
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Bob replied on Sun, Oct 7 2012 1:51 AM

It was you, who started this Unsure Smile

it's to deep Wink

stop the world I want to get out.....

bob

Søren Mexico:

I seam to have "invented" an interesting thread, its amazing to hear about the customs in other countries.

 

 

Don't worry - be Happy

Jeff
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Jeff replied on Sun, Oct 7 2012 2:49 AM

Well Bob, I don't think you're the most dour one here, I'm the one who thinks Ayn Rand, George Orwell, amd Aldous Huxley were all raging optimists. 

Jeff

I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus. Sad

elephant
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Jeff:

Well Bob, I don't think you're the most dour one here, I'm the one who thinks Ayn Rand, George Orwell, amd Aldous Huxley were all raging optimists. 

LOL Big Smile

BeoNut since '75

Bob
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Bob replied on Sun, Oct 7 2012 3:51 AM

Thanks, that make my day

;)

elephant:

Jeff:

Well Bob, I don't think you're the most dour one here, I'm the one who thinks Ayn Rand, George Orwell, amd Aldous Huxley were all raging optimists. 

LOL Big Smile

 

Don't worry - be Happy

landsberger
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Western Australia and the rest of the country is very much like the UK & USA, credit cards/debit cards for everything, yes even $2.00 items. $100 notes are always checked carefully and some areas even the $50's are suspect.

Rural not quite the same but then according to the statistics the average population desnsity of Australia is only 3 people per sq km

In some of the Perth suburbs you don't use public transport outside of peak hours at all. So carrying a bit of cash is not that safe and you get to know which areas to avoid. The mugging hotspots if you know what I mean.

Also here if you have got it "flash it" is getting to be the norm and if you haven't got it, just whine that it's "not fair" we are getting to be a very envious society.

But don't forget that Perth is the most isolated city in the world, the next major city Adelaide, is 2712 km away. Melbourne, 3438 km. Sydney, 4127 km, Brisbane, 4357 km ...

B&O is very thin on the ground here in WA!

John

Perth, Western Australia

chartz
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chartz replied on Mon, Oct 8 2012 8:37 AM

landsberger:

 $100 notes are always checked carefully and some areas even the $50's are suspect.

Same here in France about Euros. I had to do a Google image search to actually see what 100, 200 and 500 notes look like!

 

Jacques

elephant
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landsberger:
But don't forget that Perth is the most isolated city in the world, the next major city Adelaide, is 2712 km away. Melbourne, 3438 km. Sydney, 4127 km, Brisbane, 4357 km ...

Meanwhile on the east coast :-) I had an interesting weekend with credit and debit cards ... gastro pub declined to accept the AMEX card ("in 4 years we have never lost any business by not carrying American Express") ... and then later in the day the bank declined my debit card usage (I must have exceeded some daily limit!) and so I had to use a credit card !

Interestingly the publican was cursing cards that accrue "frequent flyer"/user points ... if a table has some one use such a card everyone wants the bill split so that each person can get their share of their points on their card 

I am not that fussed when I pay cash, but a friend benefits from aggregating a bill onto their credit card ... what I do dislike, is when someone waits until everyone has put their cash (including tips) into the pot, and then scoops it all up and pays with their card thus getting their benefits x 5 !

What the British would call "bad form" 

BeoNut since '75

Peter the Biker
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9 LEE:

ablaumeise:
 

But most everything else is considered "showing off". It even starts with classic cars...

.... which is the total opposite in central London.  If you drive the latest Ferrari, Lamborghini or Bugatti you barely get a second look. People are bored of them.

However, if you drive a mint classic car people give you a thumbs up and a smile ..  They are considered 'individual' and for people with taste and style.

It's fascinating how we're all so different, yet live on the same planet ...  LOL

Lee

 

Lee,

do you remember the showing off by a German guy with his vehicle on our Struer trip (the so called speed machine was Ferrari red, a cabrio, had a net seat (Ergomesh (c)) for one person only, 14 gears for the DIY drive)? Wink

http://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/t/1324.aspx?PageIndex=2

Peter the biker

 

Peter the biker

moxxey
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moxxey replied on Tue, Oct 9 2012 2:19 PM

9 LEE:

Cards used to be for showing off with in the UK in the 70's and 80's. In the 90's the swing to plastic started- and now i'd say almost all purchases are made on them. You just need to stand in the queue at the supermarket and watch to see that hardly anyone uses cash. 

Yes, this does make me smile. Young girls are particularly bad now for paying for anything - however small - by card. There's a bagel shop here in Bath and I often see someone order a cheap bagel and go to put it on their card, to be told there's a £5 min spend. As they have no cash, they then have to add a bottle of water or crisps to get over £5. It happens over and over again.

Walk in to Waitrose and I've seen people buy something for a £1 on their debit card. Often less. People in the UK rarely use cash these days, it all goes on their cards. Now we have contactless debit cards, it's an easy and quick swipe over the PDQ to pay! Too easy.

I think paying for everything by card gives young people a false impression of money. They spend too much and they often end up adding things to their order for the min spend. Surely this isn't a cost effective lifestyle?

moxxey
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moxxey replied on Tue, Oct 9 2012 2:24 PM

On a sidenote, don't get me started with American's and their cards.

In the UK, when we order goods over the internet, we have to prove that they didn't arrive and/or we've exhausted all discussions with the retailer, before the credit card company will consider a refund.

In the States, people order goods, decide it's not for them and ask for a full refund. When you explain that digital goods aren't refundable (downloadable video, audio etc), they threaten to cancel the order via their credit card company. And they do, too! In the States, you simply need to call your card company, rant and rave a bit and you get your cash back, in full. It's a bizarre situation. A user can purchase a movie, claim it didn't work and they aren't happy and the card company will refund. Almost morally wrong as it enables some customers to make digital purchases and then just get their cash back, without hassle. The retailer - such as our stores - can't get their money back and has to write off the order in full.

I will point out that this happens in NO other territory apart from the States. Sorry if I offend my American 'friends', but there is a real odd attitude over there, particularly with satisfaction. Aussies are much much more easily pleased :)

Bob
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Bob replied on Tue, Oct 9 2012 6:23 PM

where on the other end in UK people just download without paying at all - it appears.(in principle what you saying be the same as never paid at all for electronic goods) the problems is deeper than we dare to imagine, as it appears the attitude of getting "freebies"  is spreading to physical goods purchased on-line as well.

I was shocked hearing that illegal downloads of music in particular is the highest in UK from all the countries, yet wouldn't go as far to cast stereotypes upon nations (I personally don't know anyone doing it)... Unsure

Each system is easy to be abused as long no moral ropes exist ... it is almost impossible to explain to people that wrong (no matter how many are at it) remains to be wrong.

b

moxxey:

On a sidenote, don't get me started with American's and their cards.

In the UK, when we order goods over the internet, we have to prove that they didn't arrive and/or we've exhausted all discussions with the retailer, before the credit card company will consider a refund.

In the States, people order goods, decide it's not for them and ask for a full refund. When you explain that digital goods aren't refundable (downloadable video, audio etc), they threaten to cancel the order via their credit card company. And they do, too! In the States, you simply need to call your card company, rant and rave a bit and you get your cash back, in full. It's a bizarre situation. A user can purchase a movie, claim it didn't work and they aren't happy and the card company will refund. Almost morally wrong as it enables some customers to make digital purchases and then just get their cash back, without hassle. The retailer - such as our stores - can't get their money back and has to write off the order in full.

I will point out that this happens in NO other territory apart from the States. Sorry if I offend my American 'friends', but there is a real odd attitude over there, particularly with satisfaction. Aussies are much much more easily pleased :)

 

Don't worry - be Happy

chartz
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chartz replied on Tue, Oct 9 2012 7:01 PM

Mmmm... Interesting and a can of worms this.

In my younger days I used to save up to buy 45RPM singles or when funds allowed, the real McCoys that were the LP's!

Now it remains perfectly natural to pay for iTunes downloads or full price CD's or the odd LP.

However, no matter how hard I've tried, my 18 year old twins don't think the same way: music is free!

Naturally I pay my music with my MasterCard!

Jacques

moxxey
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moxxey replied on Tue, Oct 9 2012 7:34 PM

Bob:

where on the other end in UK people just download without paying at all - it appears.

I think that's a tad far-fetched. We're in the business you are talking about (you can see that from my "digital downloads" I mention above) and the UK is one of the countries where piracy is relatively low. US, UK, Canada, Germany and Australia are the strongest areas for legitimate digital purchases.

No idea where you think the UK is a source of digital piracy. Have you seen the stats for Southern European, Chinese and Eastern European territories?

I think you'll find from our experience of supplying digital content, the US customers are by far the worst bunch for demanding refunds. And when they don't get them, they simply call their credit card company to get their refund. American's are the only country where you're allowed to do this, so they take advantage of it. It's not about stereotyping, it's about how they complacently buy digital media - without testing - then simply ask for a full refund.

Here's some more detailed info: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_sof_pir_rat-crime-software-piracy-rate

UKs national piracy rate is about 6% higher than that of the States, but way behind most other countries and less than half the average of 59.9% - some EU countries are around 50%.

elephant
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elephant replied on Tue, Oct 9 2012 10:05 PM

moxxey:

Bob:

where on the other end in UK people just download without paying at all - it appears.

I think that's a tad far-fetched. We're in the business you are talking about (you can see that from my "digital downloads" I mention above) and the UK is one of the countries where piracy is relatively low.

My sons who are into iPhone development do not get great sales from the UK, they assert that this is because there is widespread jailbreaking and copying of iApps in the UK ... not sure if these are "facts" or just the opinion of a network of iPhone developers - and or course do not necessarily applying to copying of music, TV shows, and movies

BeoNut since '75

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