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Xmas Cheer - Or a distinct lack of it?

Discussion in 'Serious' started by StingLikeABee, 22 Dec 2012.

  1. StingLikeABee

    StingLikeABee What's a Dremel?

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    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 :thumb:
     
  2. Fishlock

    Fishlock .o0o.

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    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.
     
  3. Cthippo

    Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag

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    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.
     
  4. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    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.
     
  5. Guest-23315

    Guest-23315 Guest

    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.
     
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  6. Landy_Ed

    Landy_Ed Combat Novice

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    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!
     
  7. Shirty

    Shirty W*nker! Super Moderator

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

    :lol:
     
  8. StingLikeABee

    StingLikeABee What's a Dremel?

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    Cheers :thumb:


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

    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.
     
  9. adidan

    adidan Guesswork is still work

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

    Brooxy Loser of the Game

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    +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...
     
  11. KidMod-Southpaw

    KidMod-Southpaw Super Spamming Saiyan

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    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.
     
  12. Elton

    Elton Officially a Whisky Nerd

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    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.
     
  13. Guest-23315

    Guest-23315 Guest

    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.
     
  14. KidMod-Southpaw

    KidMod-Southpaw Super Spamming Saiyan

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    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.
     
  15. Elton

    Elton Officially a Whisky Nerd

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

    NethLyn Minimodder

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    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.
     
  17. Byron C

    Byron C Multimodder

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    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.
     

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