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StingLikeABee · 22nd Dec 2012, 13:13

Having worked within the National Health Service, I've seen the madness that happens every year in the build up to Christmas. That madness is people getting drunk and then proceeding to get involved in fighting, anti social behaviour, becoming suicidal or generally getting themselves hurt. I witnessed first hand the sheer stupid and frequently nasty turn that many people take when drunk, and was assaulted, both verbally and physically a few times myself whilst working in the NHS. It never got to me too much, because I like to think I can look after myself, but you don't go to work to be abused by those you are trying to help.

Our local police force set up a Twitter account on which they tweeted incidents that occurred in a 24 hour period, namely Mad Friday which is the last Friday before Christmas, where it's traditional for people to go out and get hammered. Many businesses and their employees turn out for a staff booze up. Many town centres here in the UK can end up virtual war-zones at times, with drunken fights and incidents sporadically occurring regularly. The Twitter feed was full of incidents that were drink related. It's been nearly 20 years since I was working on the front line of public service, and it seems things have got much worse than it was then and it was no picnic then!).

I like a good drink, and I do get drunk occasionally, but I don't insist on making a prat of myself, or spoiling other peoples fun when I am drunk. Especially at this time of the year, when good will unto others is supposed to be the norm. It's a shame that this seems to go out of the window for many of those who do get plastered. This Christmas, as with every other Christmas, I'll be raising a glass to all our public service workers everywhere, who keep us safe and help when we are in danger, in appreciation of the work they do for us all!

Merry Christmas everyone, and I hope it's an enjoyable and safe one

Fishlock · 22nd Dec 2012, 16:23

That's nice to hear, thank you.

I'll be there, on our local seafront, dealing with said people, on Christmas day. Hopefully few people wish to spend their Christmas in a cold, dirty cell.

Cthippo · 24th Dec 2012, 05:40

Depends on if you see alcohol as the symptom or the disease.

I tend to see it more as the former. People are stressed around Christmas time, they drink to try to relax, but it lowers their inhibitions and so they end up expressing their stress by punching someone's face in. That's the view from the driver's seat of a taxi cab anyway.

Nexxo · 24th Dec 2012, 06:32

And I'll join you in raising a glass to my NHS colleagues who will be nursing and doctoring away on the wards as usual, and their patients who even then will be having their chemotherapy (or recovering from such). Cancer is always busy. Even on Christmas. Let's hope that next year they have a better one.

Mankz · 24th Dec 2012, 07:00

Im showing cheer by volunteering at a homeless soup kitchen tonight. I missed my flights home, so no cheer for me, might as well spread some luurve.

...I hate commercialised christmas.

Landy_Ed · 24th Dec 2012, 07:29

Behaving myself on the xmas "spirit" front, but actually feeling quite xmassy. Having a 5 year old banging on about asking santa for an x-wing fighter helps though!

Shirty · 24th Dec 2012, 08:48

Christmas spirit = my breath this morning, after a jug of scrumpy.

StingLikeABee · 24th Dec 2012, 13:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexxo

And I'll join you in raising a glass to my NHS colleagues who will be nursing and doctoring away on the wards as usual, and their patients who even then will be having their chemotherapy (or recovering from such)...

Cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mankz

Im showing cheer by volunteering at a homeless soup kitchen tonight. I missed my flights home, so no cheer for me, might as well spread some luurve.

...I hate commercialised christmas.

That's very commendable, and if more people thought about those less fortunate than themselves, then the world would be a much happier place.

Regards Christmas being commercialised, I agree. The true sentiment of Christmas seems to have been lost over the years, and has been replaced with rampant greed and commercialism. I'm an athiest, but I have always interpreted Christmas as being a time of sharing, reflection and togetherness. To me it means that I get to spend time with my family, appreciating the love they and I share, and celebrate this on Christmas Day. My kids do get spoiled somewhat at Christmas, but my wife and I live within our means and don't go overly mad. We try to play down the presents aspect, and to make Christmas full of good memories for our children. I hope that they grow up appreciating the sentiment of Christmas much more than the anticipation of presents.

adidan · 5th Jan 2013, 10:49

TBH I think we should appreciate things all year round, not just at a specified time of year.

Brooxy · 5th Jan 2013, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by adidan

TBH I think we should appreciate things all year round, not just at a specified time of year.

+Rep for this sentiment. Unfortunatly a lot of people won't appreciate things at all, even at Christmas. Sad really, every day is there for the taking. People are just so happy to waste it though...

KidMod-Southpaw · 8th Jan 2013, 19:33

Don't know whether this relates, but it was of course the first day back at school for me. Queue the masses of 15 and 16 year olds spending the day showing off about their presents. I think the worst one was "My parents got divorced so they both had to get me something. My mum got me piles and my dad got me piles!

Unrelated, piles just sounds wrong. And if that makes you happy kid, I feel sorry for you.

Ok, a bit of showing off is normal I guess, but this was just bad, especially considering these people spent christmas on their phones and didn't bother to be with family. I fully accept that I'm a money- grabbing silly at the best of times, but these people thought their amount of presents were the only thing in the world that matters. Hopefully it'll dry up tomorrow. I don't like seeing people literally throwing their new tablets around on the bus.

Oh well, I guess if it breaks, their parents will just replace it. Try learning the value of something, as well as the price.

Elton · 9th Jan 2013, 09:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by KidMod-Southpaw

Don't know whether this relates, but it was of course the first day back at school for me. Queue the masses of 15 and 16 year olds spending the day showing off about their presents. I think the worst one was "My parents got divorced so they both had to get me something. My mum got me piles and my dad got me piles!

Unrelated, piles just sounds wrong. And if that makes you happy kid, I feel sorry for you.

Ok, a bit of showing off is normal I guess, but this was just bad, especially considering these people spent christmas on their phones and didn't bother to be with family. I fully accept that I'm a money- grabbing silly at the best of times, but these people thought their amount of presents were the only thing in the world that matters. Hopefully it'll dry up tomorrow. I don't like seeing people literally throwing their new tablets around on the bus.

Oh well, I guess if it breaks, their parents will just replace it. Try learning the value of something, as well as the price.

I dunno, I received almost nothing. Outside of TheGreatSatan's gift of AC3, and my two friends giving me CS:GO, Far Cry 3 and Frozen Synapse (Thank you Naphta) I've asked for little and I'm okay with that. Even though I've worked my face off this winter. I think being alive is good enough.

That and I'm just waiting on a good GPU deal as I got myself a decent bit of cash. But there's a disconnect between getting things and just appreciating the holidays. Honestly, I'm just glad that there's a day off. I'm too busy studying or working to really be concerned about what others give me. Although I do try to get some folks gifts.

Mankz · 9th Jan 2013, 10:16

I got some jelly beans, a satsuma, some humorous post-it notes, letter writing paper and a new suit. All of which I either wanted/needed/are a traditional.

I'd rather have small things throughout the year which I truly need or want, rather than material goods for material goods sake on a specified day once a year.

KidMod-Southpaw · 9th Jan 2013, 17:46

I hardly resent them if not even feel sorry for them. I just really enjoyed spending good time with the family, even if we can't all see each other at the same time. Considering there's been a lot of divorces in my family tree, I'd hardly consider 2 lots of presents anything nice, much prefer the family time I can get.

Elton · 9th Jan 2013, 19:19

I didn't spend much time with anyone. Quiet holidays this year. Just too much to do.

NethLyn · 13th Jan 2013, 14:20

As I worked up until Xmas Eve morning the season was a rush and blur, slept after boxing day, my brother worked over it so we also saw each other the Eve but only properly caught up yesterday, just seemed busy busy busy, this year when it's midweek and there's at least one day's time to slow down, it'll be better.

BLC · 22nd Jan 2013, 18:05

My partner's mother is an A&E nurse (quite an experienced one, and now a nurse practitioner), and I do not envy her task come Christmas & New Year; UWH Cardiff is pretty busy most of the time, but it's utter bedlam at that time of year.

I have infinite respect for the NHS and its staff.

22nd Dec 2012, 13:13	#1
StingLikeABee Supermodder Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 297	Xmas Cheer - Or a distinct lack of it? Having worked within the National Health Service, I've seen the madness that happens every year in the build up to Christmas. That madness is people getting drunk and then proceeding to get involved in fighting, anti social behaviour, becoming suicidal or generally getting themselves hurt. I witnessed first hand the sheer stupid and frequently nasty turn that many people take when drunk, and was assaulted, both verbally and physically a few times myself whilst working in the NHS. It never got to me too much, because I like to think I can look after myself, but you don't go to work to be abused by those you are trying to help. Our local police force set up a Twitter account on which they tweeted incidents that occurred in a 24 hour period, namely Mad Friday which is the last Friday before Christmas, where it's traditional for people to go out and get hammered. Many businesses and their employees turn out for a staff booze up. Many town centres here in the UK can end up virtual war-zones at times, with drunken fights and incidents sporadically occurring regularly. The Twitter feed was full of incidents that were drink related. It's been nearly 20 years since I was working on the front line of public service, and it seems things have got much worse than it was then and it was no picnic then!). I like a good drink, and I do get drunk occasionally, but I don't insist on making a prat of myself, or spoiling other peoples fun when I am drunk. Especially at this time of the year, when good will unto others is supposed to be the norm. It's a shame that this seems to go out of the window for many of those who do get plastered. This Christmas, as with every other Christmas, I'll be raising a glass to all our public service workers everywhere, who keep us safe and help when we are in danger, in appreciation of the work they do for us all! Merry Christmas everyone, and I hope it's an enjoyable and safe one

24th Dec 2012, 05:40	#3
Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 5,540	Depends on if you see alcohol as the symptom or the disease. I tend to see it more as the former. People are stressed around Christmas time, they drink to try to relax, but it lowers their inhibitions and so they end up expressing their stress by punching someone's face in. That's the view from the driver's seat of a taxi cab anyway. __________________ Notice: If we see you flaming we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate measures - The Bit-Tech Fire Brigade.

24th Dec 2012, 06:32	#4
Nexxo There is no rep for awesomeness. Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 22,516	And I'll join you in raising a glass to my NHS colleagues who will be nursing and doctoring away on the wards as usual, and their patients who even then will be having their chemotherapy (or recovering from such). Cancer is always busy. Even on Christmas. Let's hope that next year they have a better one. __________________ "You actually hope to achieve your ideals, I just use mine as an excuse to hate everything" --specofdust "Right wing Republicans, all the murderousness of nut-job Iranian ayatollahs, none of the bearded coolness" --specofdust

24th Dec 2012, 08:48	#7
Shirty Good news everyone! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Salisbury, UK Posts: 5,636	Christmas spirit = my breath this morning, after a jug of scrumpy. __________________ 2500K \| Corsair H55 \| HIS 7950 \| 8GB XMS3 \| 128GB Crucial M4 \| Samsung 2TB \| ASRock H77M-ITX \| Corsair CX500M \| White Bitfenix Prodigy \| Dell U2311H \| Creative T6060s \| Ducky G2 Pro TKL (Reds) \| Logitech G500 Why.

5th Jan 2013, 10:49	#9
adidan CPC_refugee Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Outside your house. Posts: 10,090	TBH I think we should appreciate things all year round, not just at a specified time of year. __________________ Don't do today what you can put off until tomorrow Battlefield 3 adidan_uk BF3 Stats i7 3770 3.4GHz // Asus P8Z77-M // Scythe Big Shuriken // Gainward 570 Phantom // 8Gb G.Skill Ripjaws 1600MHz // 250Gb Samsung 840 // 650W Be Quiet Dark Power Pro // Lian Li V351b Apache Filled // Samsung T220 22" // W7 64

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22nd Dec 2012, 16:23	#2
Fishlock .o0o. Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: England Posts: 871	That's nice to hear, thank you. I'll be there, on our local seafront, dealing with said people, on Christmas day. Hopefully few people wish to spend their Christmas in a cold, dirty cell.

24th Dec 2012, 07:00	#5
Mankz dat steak Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SW1H Posts: 13,519	Im showing cheer by volunteering at a homeless soup kitchen tonight. I missed my flights home, so no cheer for me, might as well spread some luurve. ...I hate commercialised christmas.

24th Dec 2012, 07:29	#6
Landy_Ed Ultramodder Join Date: May 2009 Location: In a cold dead place Posts: 1,142	Behaving myself on the xmas "spirit" front, but actually feeling quite xmassy. Having a 5 year old banging on about asking santa for an x-wing fighter helps though!

8th Jan 2013, 19:33	#11
KidMod-Southpaw Making You Feel Old Since 2010 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Wigan Posts: 9,881	Don't know whether this relates, but it was of course the first day back at school for me. Queue the masses of 15 and 16 year olds spending the day showing off about their presents. I think the worst one was "My parents got divorced so they both had to get me something. My mum got me piles and my dad got me piles! Unrelated, piles just sounds wrong. And if that makes you happy kid, I feel sorry for you. Ok, a bit of showing off is normal I guess, but this was just bad, especially considering these people spent christmas on their phones and didn't bother to be with family. I fully accept that I'm a money- grabbing silly at the best of times, but these people thought their amount of presents were the only thing in the world that matters. Hopefully it'll dry up tomorrow. I don't like seeing people literally throwing their new tablets around on the bus. Oh well, I guess if it breaks, their parents will just replace it. Try learning the value of something, as well as the price. __________________ Project Logs: Refraction - Steampunk Flash Drive Silverstone PS07 - Asus M4A88TD M EVO - AMD X6 1055T - Asus 7790 Cu 1GB - 8GB Corsair Vengeance - Xonar DG - M4 128GB - Frio - Antec 650W - Dell U2312HM X2 - Poker MX Red - Sennheiser HD 598 - IcyBox3219 (WD Red 1TB X2) "The fear in my eyes when my lass almost opened contacts, and with the name Alessandro, yours comes up very near the top." - Blazza181

9th Jan 2013, 10:16	#13
Mankz dat steak Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SW1H Posts: 13,519	I got some jelly beans, a satsuma, some humorous post-it notes, letter writing paper and a new suit. All of which I either wanted/needed/are a traditional. I'd rather have small things throughout the year which I truly need or want, rather than material goods for material goods sake on a specified day once a year.

9th Jan 2013, 17:46	#14
KidMod-Southpaw Making You Feel Old Since 2010 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Wigan Posts: 9,881	I hardly resent them if not even feel sorry for them. I just really enjoyed spending good time with the family, even if we can't all see each other at the same time. Considering there's been a lot of divorces in my family tree, I'd hardly consider 2 lots of presents anything nice, much prefer the family time I can get. __________________ Project Logs: Refraction - Steampunk Flash Drive Silverstone PS07 - Asus M4A88TD M EVO - AMD X6 1055T - Asus 7790 Cu 1GB - 8GB Corsair Vengeance - Xonar DG - M4 128GB - Frio - Antec 650W - Dell U2312HM X2 - Poker MX Red - Sennheiser HD 598 - IcyBox3219 (WD Red 1TB X2) "The fear in my eyes when my lass almost opened contacts, and with the name Alessandro, yours comes up very near the top." - Blazza181

9th Jan 2013, 19:19	#15
Elton Proud Model M User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: California Posts: 7,809	I didn't spend much time with anyone. Quiet holidays this year. Just too much to do. __________________ There's good ideas and then there's terribly great ideas.

13th Jan 2013, 14:20	#16
NethLyn Hypermodder Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: London Posts: 918	As I worked up until Xmas Eve morning the season was a rush and blur, slept after boxing day, my brother worked over it so we also saw each other the Eve but only properly caught up yesterday, just seemed busy busy busy, this year when it's midweek and there's at least one day's time to slow down, it'll be better. __________________ Intel=Fast, AMD=Cheap.

22nd Jan 2013, 18:05	#17
BLC ARM Evangelist Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 2,171	My partner's mother is an A&E nurse (quite an experienced one, and now a nurse practitioner), and I do not envy her task come Christmas & New Year; UWH Cardiff is pretty busy most of the time, but it's utter bedlam at that time of year. I have infinite respect for the NHS and its staff. __________________ What's that? You don't care about my site? I don't care that you don't care - I'm going to spam you with the link anyway. Why yes, I do have a YouTube channel on which I put out Minecraft videos on a somewhat "regular" basis, thank you for asking.