Off Topic Thread 4.0

mfceiling

Ah lads you're killing me here. I'm an unashamed Gervais fan. Remember watching the first episode of the office the first night it went out and thought WOW...this is new and it is brilliant.

To be fair his stuff (bar extras) did go downhill a bit after that and I'll admit that afterlife wasn't particularly good but if I'm ever in need of a laugh I'll rewatch the office or extras or even his early podcasts.

mfceiling

mfceiling wrote: »

Ah lads you're killing me here. I'm an unashamed Gervais fan. Remember watching the first episode of the office the first night it went out and thought WOW...this is new and it is brilliant.

To be fair his stuff (bar extras) did go downhill a bit after that and I'll admit that afterlife wasn't particularly good but if I'm ever in need of a laugh I'll rewatch the office or extras or even his early podcasts.

I find him funny at times, humourless and crass at others. I imagine in some circles in holywood he'll be less popular than the Royal Irish Constabulary...!

errlloyd

Yeah, I'm a fan I think. Maybe he is a hypocrit, but I'm not sure he'd deny that if you asked him.

Most importantly he's not standing there pretending its okay that hardly any women or minorities got nominated. Or that many Hollywood elite have been revealed as scum bags recently.

Humour is subjective. I find him self indulgent, crass and hilarious. I can see why people can't stand him. I'm a bit of a fanboy.

hahashake

Deleted User wrote: »

Humour is subjective. I find him self indulgent, crass and hilarious. I can see why people can't stand him. I'm a bit of a fanboy.

I don't have to agree with or even like someone to find them funny either. A lot of humour is insincere and/or absurd so critiquing the perceived qualities of the vessel is kinda missing the point.

Buer

I'm fairly ambivalent on Gervais. He can be quite irritating but also entertaining at times. I'm surprised people are so critical at his performance the other night in relation to hypocrisy. These are jokes. They're not meant to be taken seriously or someone's genuine politics or opinions attacked thereafter. As he said at the start of his monologue....these are just jokes. They don't mean that Gervais sees himself as better or above others in the room or that he believes everyone in the room is a reprobate. It's an award ceremony where multi-millionaires get together in a room in Beverley Hills to congratulate one another. If it's not the time for a bit of fun to be poked at people then when is?

irishbucsfan

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Just to play Devil's advocate - aren't netflix a fairly conscientious company?

Sure. And the streaming arms of the others are fairly conscientious as well I’m sure given the tiny exposure that tech companies have to that sort of mischief if they want to.

But for him to stand there and heavily criticise those companies who are his biggest competitors and also enthusiastically commend films made by his employer is not a good look imo.

Not to mention him now going around and blocking anyone on Twitter who now make genuinely funny and often not at all mean jokes about him. He’s cowardly

b.gud

Anyone here got Siro broadband, if so what are your thoughts on it? It looks like it's recently become available to me and was thinking about switching from Virgin Media

Media in the UK is incredibly ugly. Vicious even.

Bullied the royal couple out of the country and now calls them 'quitters'.

I'm surprised people are ok with it. Enjoy it even.

Really gotten very nasty the last decade.

Buer

Deleted User wrote: »

Really gotten very nasty the last decade.

It was nasty long, long before 2010.

A large portion of us have just stopped being so tolerant and accepting of it as "just how it is".

Zzippy

Deleted User wrote: »

Really gotten very nasty the last decade.

It's been nasty since at least 1989, as Liverpool can attest.

prawnsambo

The only difference is it's become more overt. They're not even bothering to be subtle about it now.

Buer

prawnsambo wrote: »

The only difference is it's become more overt. They're not even bothering to be subtle about it now.

They really weren't shy about it back in the 80s, either. That's when The Sun was in its pomp and was able to throw the most damaging and absurd accusations out. Hillsborough, Thatcher, the Falklands, AIDS etc. They openly went after politicians who didn't fit their right wing agenda and actively propped up the Tories. And keep in mind, they had far more influence in British society than any newspaper has today.

Dave_The_Sheep

I wonder how much the voting trends in Liverpool reflect the lack of influence that the Sun has in that particular city, or if it's really that simple.

steves2

b.gud wrote: »

Anyone here got Siro broadband, if so what are your thoughts on it? It looks like it's recently become available to me and was thinking about switching from Virgin Media

I got it in over a month ago, saving a good bit of money compared to Virgin. Had a couple of problems at the start with siro outages in our area and had to get the router replaced but grand now. We are with Vodafone. The speed is faster than Virgin but obviously never hit 1Gbit on wireless, don't regret moving.

b.gud

steves2 wrote: »

I got it in over a month ago, saving a good bit of money compared to Virgin. Had a couple of problems at the start with siro outages in our area and had to get the router replaced but grand now. We are with Vodafone. The speed is faster than Virgin but obviously never hit 1Gbit on wireless, don't regret moving.

Thanks I took the plunge yesterday and switched, figured I could always back out if I got a load of bad feedback all of a sudden, so good to hear that it worked for you

It would take a lot for me to leave virgin. Most reliable internet I've ever had and consistently so over a long period of time.

errlloyd

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It would take a lot for me to leave virgin. Most reliable internet I've ever had and consistently so over a long period of time.

I've almost always regretted leaving the times I've left.

I have my Virgin internet and my desktop plugged into it by ethernet instead of using WiFi and I basically get 100% of the advertised speed all the time. I might have had to reset the router thing once or twice but that's it.

steves2

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It would take a lot for me to leave virgin. Most reliable internet I've ever had and consistently so over a long period of time.

Yeh I have to say I had few problems with them but like all the other service companies they don't value you unless you're a new customer. I could go back to Virgin in a year and still get a better deal than they offered me recently.

steves2

steves2 wrote: »

Yeh I have to say I had few problems with them but like all the other service companies they don't value you unless you're a new customer. I could go back to Virgin in a year and still get a better deal than they offered me recently.

I've always gotten decent deal from them. When it comes to renewal I ring up to cancel and stick to that until someone with the word 'retention' in their job title ends up on the phone to me. Then it's a one way trip to discountsville.

Mines up soon actually... based on this thread I'll tell them I'm switching to Siro

b.gud

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I've always gotten decent deal from them. When it comes to renewal I ring up to cancel and stick to that until someone with the word 'retention' in their job title ends up on the phone to me. Then it's a one way trip to discountsville.

Mines up soon actually... based on this thread I'll tell them I'm switching to Siro

Funny enough that's exactly what I was doing. I figured I'd have a look at other offers just for bargaining power and cane across the siro offer. The price difference, coupled with the speed difference was too much not to give it a shot

Synode

Ordered all the parts for my first computer build. I'll be using it for work only as I don't game at all anymore. I was going to buy one off the shelf but the prices were ridiculous for the spec. The parts I bought (thanks to advice on the building forum here) should give me a very decent spec for far less than what I'd pay. Fingers crossed I don't **** it up

Synode

Synode wrote: »

Ordered all the parts for my first computer build. I'll be using it for work only as I don't game at all anymore. I was going to buy one off the shelf but the prices were ridiculous for the spec. The parts I bought (thanks to advice on the building forum here) should give me a very decent spec for far less than what I'd pay. Fingers crossed I don't **** it up

Built mine over the holidays. Absolute brute, delighted with it. Hope yours go well!

sydthebeat

Synode wrote: »

Ordered all the parts for my first computer build. I'll be using it for work only as I don't game at all anymore. I was going to buy one off the shelf but the prices were ridiculous for the spec. The parts I bought (thanks to advice on the building forum here) should give me a very decent spec for far less than what I'd pay. Fingers crossed I don't **** it up

built my home PC 8 years ago with the help of that forum, and its still going strong.

swiwi_

After watching "Focus on the troubles" it's amazing to see power sharing on the table again.

Anyhoo, tech-wise, I haven't built my own computer. Too lazy...and perfectly happy with my iMac TBH. Was not that impressed with my iPhone SE (shiiiit battery life) but the iPhone XR I have now is fantastic. Android smandroid - I like airplay...especially to the Sonos surround system I got myself...had to get an HDMI splitter because the TV would only send out stereo and not Dolby sound from it's HDMI-CEC port or it's optical ports. Pretty impressed with Sonos - didn't spend too much and it works well and sounds good to my tone-deaf ears. Sure, I'm sure if you buy proper audio gear you get better sound...but the money spent goes up astronomically.

Oh, and after 21 years of loyal service, I replaced my Longines watch with an Oris Aquis Date...Oris is still an independent Swiss watch company, not swallowed up by Swatch, LVMH etc...and I always wanted an automatic watch rather than quartz. Pretty damn happy with it so far, although if I had to wear a shirt every day, I'd get a dress watch rather than a diver.

Happy New Year to all and sundry.

irishbucsfan

Happy new year Swiwi!

Synode

swiwi_ wrote: »

Oh, and after 21 years of loyal service, I replaced my Longines watch with an Oris Aquis Date...Oris is still an independent Swiss watch company, not swallowed up by Swatch, LVMH etc...and I always wanted an automatic watch rather than quartz. Pretty damn happy with it so far, although if I had to wear a shirt every day, I'd get a dress watch rather than a diver.

I recently bought a Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music watch. Have to say one of my favourite purchases ever. You can save music onto it so can do exercise without having to carry a phone or other device (just need Bluetooth earphones). It also gathers a serious amount of information on daily activity and night time sleep. Bought it primarily as a golf rangefinder but find I'm using it for everything else more

swiwi_

Synode wrote: »

I recently bought a Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music watch. Have to say one of my favourite purchases ever. You can save music onto it so can do exercise without having to carry a phone or other device (just need Bluetooth earphones). It also gathers a serious amount of information on daily activity and night time sleep. Bought it primarily as a golf rangefinder but find I'm using it for everything else more

Yeah there's a watch out there for everyone. I looked initially at Hamilton and Frederique Constant, then Mido before settling on Oris.

I went off Garmin when I had one of their GPS which stopped working (think the circuit board unglued from the screen) and they didn't want to know about it. By then smartphones were available with google maps and I didn't really need a Garmin anymore. But I think their watches are supposed to be pretty good if you are looking for the sport functions.

sydthebeat

RIP Neil Peart.


Incredible drummer

prawnsambo

The Iranians have owned up to shooting down PS752. Missile battery operator mistakenly identified it as a cruise missile.

thomond2006

NFL time again!

It's difficult to see any of the home teams losing, I have a feeling Vikings @ SF has the best chance of an upset. Playoff debut for Jimmy G and that Vikings D was sensational last week.

Buer

49ers with a comfortable win based on Thomond's thoughts.

awec

Just watched the first episode of that don’t fcuk with cats show.

That was one of the most uncomfortable and messed up tv episode I’ve ever seen.

This show is intense.

Rigor Mortis

awec wrote: »

Just watched the first episode of that don’t fcuk with cats show.

That was one of the most uncomfortable and messed up tv episode I’ve ever seen.

This show is intense.

I have to say, i found the online warriors to be really hard to like

Synode

It's a crazy show and story. Enjoyed it though.

Watching Parks and Recreation on Prime at the minute. Great show

Dave_The_Sheep

Synode wrote: »

Watching Parks and Recreation on Prime at the minute. Great show

Really must finish that. Thoroughly enjoyed the first few series, must get back into it.

Former Former

awec wrote: »

Just watched the first episode of that don’t fcuk with cats show.

That was one of the most uncomfortable and messed up tv episode I’ve ever seen.

This show is intense.

Oh it gets worse. Or better. I'm not sure which.

All kinds of f**ked up.

Squidgy Black

Rigor Mortis wrote: »

I have to say, i found the online warriors to be really hard to like

Definitely. Just comes across as sort of sad. Especially when they were banging on about how the police force were incompetent or whatever for not listening to a random group of people posting on a Facebook group.

errlloyd

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Definitely. Just comes across as sort of sad. Especially when they were banging on about how the police force were incompetent or whatever for not listening to a random group of people posting on a Facebook group.

I guess spoilers but also

especially because they didn't achieve anything, in fact they actively encouraged him. For all of their "where is that electric outlet from" snooping, the only reason they found him was because he intentionally leaked his name to their group.

I am uncomfortable with true crime documentaries. In a direct way I know he's in a prison somewhere ****ing delighted that Netflix made a documentary about him. And in an indirect way I know there is another psycho out there who is like "ahh cool, this is all I need to do to get Netflix to make a documentary about me"

thomond2006

Buer wrote: »

49ers with a comfortable win based on Thomond's thoughts.

It's going that way. The Vikings build their offense on Dalvin Cook. It's no surprise that SF are up by 14 while Cook has been shut out of the game to this point.

Podge_irl

9ers not terrible at running the ball...

thomond2006

Podge_irl wrote: »

9ers not terrible at running the ball...

The OL is overwhelming.

stephen_n

thomond2006 wrote: »

NFL time again!

It's difficult to see any of the home teams losing, I have a feeling Vikings @ SF has the best chance of an upset. Playoff debut for Jimmy G and that Vikings D was sensational last week.

Looks like you were right, obviously you didn’t bet on it.

thomond2006

stephen_n wrote: »

Looks like you were right, obviously you didn’t bet on it.

I took all the home teams in an accumulator. The current game was the matchup I was most worried about.

Long way to go yet in this one but the Vikings aren't built to chase leads.

thomond2006

Vikings fumble a punt. This could turn ugly now.

Podge_irl

Podge_irl wrote: »

9ers not terrible at running the ball...

They may never pass again.

stephen_n

thomond2006 wrote: »

I took all the home teams in an accumulator. The current game was the matchup I was most worried about.

Long way to go yet in this one but the Vikings aren't built to chase leads.

Think your bets fvcked to be honest.

thomond2006

stephen_n wrote: »

Think your bets fvcked to be honest.

1 down, 3 to go.

Podge_irl wrote: »

They may never pass again.

It's hard to see how GB or Seattle can slow that running game down.

Dave_The_Sheep

Deleted User wrote: »

Some of it was below the belt. Some of it was genuinely very funny. Plenty of idiots in society, some of them become rich and famous and get in front of causes in a smug, hypocritical almost entitled fashion.

But there are plenty of people in that crowd who have done a lot of good and plenty before them like Paul Newman. These are the ones who will be dejected over comments like this which is the only reason I'd take issue. You can't just blanket dismiss and malign an entire room of do gooders because some of them will be genuine honest to god do gooders.

I only got around to watching this tonight. Some it was close to the bone alright, for sure, but I don't think he's actually tarring everyone there with the same brush. Of those people in the room, I suspect most of them are not like Paul Newman. Gervais isn't having a go at people like that. He can't be expected to tailor his jokes to take account for the minority.

This room is filled with people who are living in a different world to the rest of us, and at that stage that includes himself, let's not kid ourselves. He's rich, but he's also in a position of host which lets him take the shots he's taking. I don't know the man personally, but he does strike me as much less of a Hollywood celebrity than many of those caught on camera during that speech, he seems to have retained a bit of who he used to be. He's not perfect by any metric, but he's a hell of a lot better than most of the "Hollywood elite" from what I can tell. And if that's what it takes to take shots at the others, then I'm ok with that.

Very few celebrities (much like very few people) are genuinely altruistic, they're just very rich and have good PR teams. Most of them got their riches through an industry rife with Weinstein and, let's be honest, Epstein type characters, and you'd be deluded to think they were ignorant of everything that went on. And if you ignore and turn a blind eye, you deserve to get criticised for it, and Gervais highlights that.