NationStates Jolt Archive

What activities give you joy? Get your mind at least partially out of the gutter...it can't all be about sex! But seriously, be it a hobby, an occasional thing, or something you are lucky enough to be doing for a living...what makes you feel RIGHT?

For me it is music. Not all music...but nothing is more likely to uplift me than listening to, and playing music, particularly music with a message. I could spend my entire life doing nothing more that enjoying, and making music. It drives me insane sometimes how incredible music can make me feel. It is the perfect vehicle for so many things...for politics, for history, for sharing of experiences, for expressing and mirroring a myriad of emotions. There is literally nothing that feels better to me than playing music with people, or listening to others play, when you just get into that space where you don't even need to think about it anymore...it just surrounds you completely.

*sighs*

I LOVE aviation. I love climbing into my Piper Cherokee 140, take off and just gaze at the earth from 3,000 - 6,000 feet. It's just beautiful from the air. I also love traveling to new places, going to fly ins to meet new people etc. I also love playing The Matrix Online, but that's just because I love the triology.

Whitewater rapids in a canoe, holding hands, hockey, and the rush of opening a new Transformer.

I love commercial aerocraft. And trams. Ad power. And nationstates. ANd my family. ANd my friends.

What activities give you joy? Get your mind at least partially out of the gutter...it can't all be about sex! But seriously, be it a hobby, an occasional thing, or something you are lucky enough to be doing for a living...what makes you feel RIGHT?
Well, since it can't be sex ( :p )...

[ not necessarily in this order ] writing a moving poem, being able to comprehend a concept outside my fields of expertise, being able to help someone who truly needs it, being with my family, backpacking in the mountains, attaining a goal I set for myself, overcoming some sort of obstacle in my life, joking and laughing with my family or friends, playing with my grandchildren ... lots of things. I'm actually a pretty joyful person, truth be known. :)

Relaxing and watching a Red Sox game. Baseball season is very near! :)

I like crosswords, but only those made for children. The grown-up ones are boring.

I like crosswords, but only those made for children. The grown-up ones are boring.
Somehow I expected....more....

...but okay.

My family/friends, ballet, travel.

I love spending time with my family, especially when they visit the States (from Poland). As far as spending time with my friends, I haven't gotten to lately. With school winding down and work just starting to take off I've been so busy studying, I've been neglecting my friends =\. Hopefully with my residency starting soon the studying will die down just a bit and give me some more free time. When it comes to ballet, (something I've been passionate about for 19 years now) I can think of no better feeling (for me) then being onstage and expressing myself through ballet. The music, the movement of your body, the costumes and just the general energy that surrounds the audience make it an amazing experience. As far as travel, I LOVE seeing new places and meeting new people!

Somehow I expected....more....

...but okay.

I can't answer sex, and I can't answer medicine, as those two are basically my life, so I'm left with very little, aren't I? I do like exercise, but I guess that doesn't count.

Talking with a dear friend.

Ballet, flying, white-water rafting...and um...cross word puzzles! See, I'm learning things about you people I may never have known otherwise!

....I can't answer medicine....

Medicine is a totally different joy for me....I don't know how to describe it, heh.

Extreme ironing.

It's like regular ironing but I'm listening to Death Metal.

I can't answer sex, and I can't answer medicine, as those two are basically my life, so I'm left with very little, aren't I? I do like exercise, but I guess that doesn't count.
Practicing medicine isn't something that gives you joy? Or is it just because it's your profession that you think it doesn't count? Is there any profession you could see yourself being truly content (not just content...happy) with? Why wouldn't exercise count? Why are you so down today, Fass?

The one thing I enjoy more than anything else is car racing.

Karts mainly, but I've raced others as well. Don't have the money to do it more often than only occasionally.

And I really enjoy music I like. Especially discovering new music I like.

Extreme ironing.

It's like regular ironing but I'm listening to Death Metal.
Hahahaha...I used to listen to gangster rap when I cleaned the house, but it bothers my kids now, so I just blast assorted weird music with less swearing:)

running bare feet through the woods without knowing or caring where you are. Listening to the chittering of the birds the rustling of the leaves, looking at the endless sea of green and brown, and breathing in uncontaminated fresh air.

Lots of things bring me joy, yesterday though I had a rather joyful moment, I had cleaned the house, and the girls were out with my mother in law, my husband was at work, and the dog was asleep.....I just stretched out on the couch with a glass of iced tea and a good book and it was nice......
no stress, no noise, nothing to do but lay around and read, best 30 minutes of the whole week so far.

Proving people wrong, and being right.

Working on my 1972 Z28 and blasting clay pigeons with any of my firearms brings me joy. Actually, putting holes in just about any target is fun. ;)

Practicing medicine isn't something that gives you joy? Or is it just because it's your profession that you think it doesn't count?

It brings me immense joy, and, yes, I can't pick it because it's what I do. It's kind of pathetic, really.

Is there any profession you could see yourself being truly content (not just content...happy) with?

I love cooking and I love languages, so I guess being a chef abroad would make me happy if I didn't do what I do now.

Why wouldn't exercise count?

It's too perky to like, and I'm not a perky person. So while I do like it, I can't own up to it fully.

About why I'm, so low, it really is very personal. I can't share here.

-all the little victories of being a husband and father.
Seeing your wife and kids happy, content,healthy with places to go and things to do.

-sex... quickies, hard fast banging nooners whenever the opporotunity presents itself. or long passionate lovemaking after looking foward to and leading up to it all day

making other people laugh.

Sex, nude female flesh.

music-all kinds. Movies. A good books. Taking that good book down to the beach any time of year and smoking a good cigar while reading it.

cooking & eating.

my job. sunflowers perfume

paintballing. a fire in the fireplace to lay in front of.


depending on my mood, the slightest things can make me happy.

Playing a great computer game.

Making major progress on one of my freetime projects.

Telling people terribly terrible, awfully awful puns. (the worse, the better!)

My (twisted, dark, and otherwise quite unusual, as well as pretty wide) sense of humor.

Philosophising something to death, reaching an intresting conclusion. Also, putting together a bunch of conclusions into a simple, neat statement.

Gaining more understanding of my psyche by analyzing my own thoughts. Not to mention successfully modifying my emotional response and/or desires.

It brings me immense joy, and, yes, I can't pick it because it's what I do. It's kind of pathetic, really.

Its not pathetic. Normally when people ask me what my hobbies are, I completely bypass ballet and go straight to medicine. Its pretty much 95% of my life right now, so its something that means a great deal to me.

:fluffle: for Fass :)

It brings me immense joy, and, yes, I can't pick it because it's what I do. It's kind of pathetic, really. Hardly! Most people dream of being able to work at something that gives them joy! If my job were to make music and I still loved it, I certainly wouldn't think that it didn't count!
No problem. Hope it works out!

Philosophy. Reading. Writing. Arguing, sometimes. Music, rarely, but when so to a stronger degree than the others.

Waking up and looking into the eyes of my beautiful girlfriend

writing a song, record it and hear it the first time is half worth an orgasm...

A big screen TV, a video game system, blaring music, potato chips, soft drinks and loud laughter. THAT is my definition of revelry.

Its not pathetic. Normally when people ask me what my hobbies are, I completely bypass ballet and go straight to medicine. Its pretty much 95% of my life right now, so its something that means a great deal to me.

:fluffle: for Fass :)

It is, too, pathetic! It really erodes one's ability to be interesting. I keep it a secret when meeting new people for as long as possible.

Hardly! Most people dream of being able to work at something that gives them joy! If my job were to make music and I still loved it, I certainly wouldn't think that it didn't count!

Thanks for the guilt.

Thanks for the guilt.
Any day, you freak!

I'd be much happier knowing my doctors really loves his or her work, than wondering if the guy about to deliver my baby is miserable in his job and actually wants to be a painter....

It is, too, pathetic! It really erodes one's ability to be interesting. I keep it a secret when meeting new people for as long as possible.


Well.....I do that too. I change the subject when I meet people and they ask me what I do. But I mostly do it with guys who I'm either dating or interested in, due to the fact that when I mention med school they start doing the math in their heads.....and it always comes up equaling "the amount of time spent having fun - zero".

Well.....I do that too. I change the subject when I meet people and they ask me what I do. But I mostly do it with guys who I'm either dating or interested in, due to the fact that when I mention med school they start doing the math in their heads.....and it always comes up equaling "the amount of time spent having fun - zero".
Good point. I wouldn't marry a doctor. Not unless I was fine with never seeing my spouse.

The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters.

I LOVE aviation. I love climbing into my Piper Cherokee 140, take off and just gaze at the earth from 3,000 - 6,000 feet. It's just beautiful from the air. I also love traveling to new places, going to fly ins to meet new people etc. I also love playing The Matrix Online, but that's just because I love the triology.


Stuck in my 2-33.....flying is awesome, especially in a glider. No noise, just wind, rushing past the canopy, pretty epic.:)

Snowboarding is cool to. I love to just hike out and just head down some untouched powder , the sensation is unbelievable. Just like floating I guess.

Good point. I wouldn't marry a doctor. Not unless I was fine with never seeing my spouse.

Yea. =\

When I get asked to do things I have to think....."Did I study for that pediatric endocrinology exam? Yes. Did I study enough?....."

Which leads to me calling my friends and telling them I can't go out, for the 6th weekend in a row, heh.

The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters.
Only if you're a Viking, or at very least a Goth of some variety. ;)

Well.....I do that too. I change the subject when I meet people and they ask me what I do. But I mostly do it with guys who I'm either dating or interested in, due to the fact that when I mention med school they start doing the math in their heads.....and it always comes up equaling "the amount of time spent having fun - zero".

Haha, it's the exact opposite for me - all the women get even more eager to hit on, if you're a guy, and for me, that's not desirable.

Joy?

Making someone laugh, especially my wife, but anybody really...

Listening to my favorite music or singing a song.

Standing outside in a good strong wind, looking at the clear blue sky.

Imagining that I am flying to the edge of the universe, snug in the cockpit of my self-designed starship, at ludicrous speed.

;) :D :eek: :) :cool:

Looking through, buying, and listening to music.
<Is jealous of those of you who play and record music.>
Food. Sleeping. Reading. Writing.
There are others, but those are the main ones.

The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters.
Isn't it actually 'to kill your enemies and hear the lamentations of their women'?

not having essays/presentations/exams to do. otherwise - going out with friends or learning to play new tunes on my guitar or making dinner out of odds and ends and discovering ive made an awesome meal.

These days? Booze. Lots and lots of booze.

Isn't it actually 'to kill your enemies and hear the lamentations of their women'?
Actually it's mongolian goblidy gook. But this is the short english version I like. There's a longer one that involves riding horses and shit too, but meh, just gimme the wives and daughters, I don't want to be a conquest pig.

And if you're refering to the Conan version I'm pretty sure it's "to crush." But I can't tell over Horner's dramatic score.

And if you're refering to the Conan version I'm pretty sure it's "to crush." But I can't tell over Horner's dramatic score.
I am referring to that version in fact. I know I misquoted it...it is a favourite quote of one of my brothers:)

For me it's hiking. I love just getting out into the countryside, and climbing above the bustle of everyday life. When you're out on the fells, nothing really matters, you just relax into the walk and everything else takes backstage. I love the adrenaline rush you get during exposed sections, the way it focuses your mind on now, the way that everything pales in significance compared to the next few moves. I love sleeping bag warmth, it's better than any duvet. What I love most of all is when you get to the top, just stopping and looking around. Even when you can't see past your nose and it's blowing a gale, there is always time just to stop and be there. And when it's clear...

Reading and writing, i love words; helping people, i'm in my element when i feel like i'm doing something important and worthwhile; travelling, though i don't get to do it as much as i'd like.

Watching jolt take over 1300 of my posts :mad:

Other than that, writing stories, creating and editing my music.

For me it is music. Not all music...but nothing is more likely to uplift me than listening to, and playing music, particularly music with a message. I could spend my entire life doing nothing more that enjoying, and making music. It drives me insane sometimes how incredible music can make me feel. It is the perfect vehicle for so many things...for politics, for history, for sharing of experiences, for expressing and mirroring a myriad of emotions. There is literally nothing that feels better to me than playing music with people, or listening to others play, when you just get into that space where you don't even need to think about it anymore...it just surrounds you completely.

Completely agree. One of my favorite pasttimes is putting on a pair of those monsterous headphones that look like earmuffs, turning on some music, and closing my eyes. There is nothing there buy music and my thoughts. Hell, if a good song catches me at the right time it can give me goosebumps.

Bringing pain to others.
This isn’t a joke. I really enjoy seeing others suffer terrible emotional trauma, especially when I cause it.

Bringing pain to others.
This isn’t a joke. I really enjoy seeing others suffer terrible emotional trauma, especially when I cause it.


:rolleyes:

escapism (mostly in the form of TV shows like Star Trek and 3rd Rock) and, lately, amy.
prior to that, drugs.

Viewing and making art (especially 3D art), listening to and playing music, juggling (though poorly skilled atm), being with my friends.

Also escapism, in the form of fantasy literature and occasional drug use. There is of course overlap with art and music here.

escapism (mostly in the form of TV shows like Star Trek and 3rd Rock) and, lately, amy.
prior to that, drugs.
Drugs = escapism. (when not abused stupidly)

:rolleyes:
:upyours:

:upyours:

Why are you always such an ass? Dont give me that lame ass smiley.

:upyours:

Internet tough guy

Internet tough guy


There's only one.....;)

Why are you always such an ass?
Because I enjoy it.
Dont give me that lame ass smiley.
I fight smilies with smilies.
Internet tough guy
Damn strait.

.

Damn strait.

Yeah. I bet you are 4'3, 92 lbs and use an inhaler every 30 minutes.

Relaxing and watching a Red Sox game. Baseball season is very near! :)
Same, but replace red with white.

Yeah. I bet you are 4'3, 92 lbs and use an inhaler every 30 minutes.
I take this to mean you assume I don’t act the same way in RL that I do on the internet. You’d be wrong. I do.
A great many people hate me for it, but a great many appreciate my ability to supposedly say and do what they were thinking. Why just today I made suicide jokes at an emo and laughed in his face when he attempted to hit me.

I take this to mean you assume I don’t act the same way in RL that I do on the internet. You’d be wrong. I do.
A great many people hate me for it, but a great many appreciate my ability to supposedly say and do what they were thinking. Why just today I made suicide jokes to an emo and laughed in his face when he attempted to hit me.


Oh calm down delia...you cant be all bad. I was just rolling my eyes at you. No need for you to have given me the finger. Lets punch each other in the face and make up-k?


Joy- the sound of my children's laughter and the sight of a smile on their faces. Music.....ah sweet music. I listen to everything from classical to hip hop and I love every minute. You should see me singing in the car. I get busted at red lights all the time by other drivers.:D

Upsetting Undelia.

Upsetting Undelia.
Oh, all of us neo-cons take joy in it when we are not murdering babies/ pushing old ladies into wells.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Good books, good music, Renaissance Faire, friends, cats, dogs, fire in the fireplace on a rainy day.

Seeing all my fears of something bad happening wash away as I step onto a jet plane. Getting a window seat near the wing or engine (I like the sound of jet engines). Seeing my excitement crawl upwards as the plane is pushed back and begins to taxi. My traffic-induced impatience soothing away as the pilot recieves the "cleared for takeoff" instruction. The g-forces pulling me back while the ground zips by faster and faster and the plane lifts into the air and the houses and cars and trees recede from view and the wind rocking the plane gently.

That gives me joy. :)

Sadly, I haven't flown for a year or two now. :(

Joy? Life gives me joy. The chilly breeze sneeking in through my slightly open window, and the sound of tree branches creaking. Buds that suddenly appear on all the trees one day when winter has been long enough.

My family, and their love for me. Flying. Flowers. Cheesecake. The sound of an unexpected stream gurgling as I go for a walk in the woods. The bright, glittering lights in Times Square at night. Opening doors for strangers. The smell that bursts out when someone opens the door of the bakery as I stroll by. Smiling at people and having them smile back.

My new baby nephew's tendency to giggle when he is sleeping. A warm cat curled up against my leg while I am reading. Scuba diving. Writing. Cucumber scented perfume. Smart people. Fresh snow. Discovering a new trick on my computer. Phone calls from people I like. Creating art.

And so many more things. I do my best to find joy in everything I do.

Cheese sandwiches

tennis...

What activities give you joy? Get your mind at least partially out of the gutter...it can't all be about sex! But seriously, be it a hobby, an occasional thing, or something you are lucky enough to be doing for a living...what makes you feel RIGHT?

For me it is music. Not all music...but nothing is more likely to uplift me than listening to, and playing music, particularly music with a message. I could spend my entire life doing nothing more that enjoying, and making music. It drives me insane sometimes how incredible music can make me feel. It is the perfect vehicle for so many things...for politics, for history, for sharing of experiences, for expressing and mirroring a myriad of emotions. There is literally nothing that feels better to me than playing music with people, or listening to others play, when you just get into that space where you don't even need to think about it anymore...it just surrounds you completely.

*sighs*
V
Playing with my mustela furota gives me joy. It probably would to a great number of y'all as well. *nods emphatically*
^
As does learning more things that help me understand everything i can know in my current state/phase. And on occasion, sharing what i find.
I also enjoy a good gig, and finding people on line with quick wits and bizarre senses of humour, who engage in the great digital dance of anonymity. NOTE: Sarkhaan, Grave_n_Idle, Peechland *props*
On occasional rant as well.

EDIT: I should also add Monty Python, Futurama, and my 80's/jest&jape CD mixes always seem to turn my mood. *nods*

Cheese sandwiches
In the American Pie/Me, Myself & Irene sense?
:eek:

There are quite a few...

tattoos and piercings. I really just enjoy it. Call me a masochist, but damn if it isn't a great release.
Tied to that, art. Drawing, painting, sculpting, looking at art.
Listening to my roommate talk in his sleep...I mean, what? Sorry...he just said something about strippers and it caught my ear.
um...music. Listening to music that can change how I feel at any time...writing some, playing trumpet, singing.
theater...seeing plays, acting (although, I don't do that much) and backstage work
coffee
good conversation with good friends. It is my favorite pasttime to sit and talk about everything and nothing and walk away with a headache because you thought so hard.
helping other people. I really just love to make other peoples lives better.
joking around. Ask straughn.
watching a sunset or sunrise. The day I was leaving for college, I climbed a mountain with a group of friends at 3 AM. We had coffee and just sat in silence...heard the birds come out, and then watched the most amazing sunrise of my life.

Watching my children do stuff. Being a Mum. Walking in the lovely countryside around my home on a nice day. Going on holiday. Coming home. My friends. Driving along in the car with all the kids singing 'Highway to hell' or Queen etc, very loudly and badly. Paddling in the sea. Sitting in my garden on a summer evening when all the lawn is mown and listening to the birds. Getting pleasantly drunk with good company. waking in the morning to fresh snow. Being held all night in a loving embrace. Watching people open the gifts I gave them at Christmas. Being alive. :D

Ooh, i should mention MXC, Mythbusters (as if i hadn't already alluded to that here), and The Daily Show/The Colbert Report.

Playing hockey. When played properly, it is a beautiful game.

Beating Barcelona is up there... but that particular well may continue to be dry for several seasons to come.

Reading gives me joy, as does relaxing (NS is good for that).

I almost forgot spending time with friends and family.

Joy bringing happenings in my life: the random conversations with exotic people that I meet in the random conversations.

Cricket, Rugby, Other sports, New Zealand's Mighty Contribution in Wars, Mucking about and Sheep.

Reading about British history.

*sigh*

Where have they gone, these strong men?
Where have they gone, these proud women?
Into the shades of time,
Into the silence of the past.

What activities give you joy? Get your mind at least partially out of the gutter...it can't all be about sex! But seriously, be it a hobby, an occasional thing, or something you are lucky enough to be doing for a living...what makes you feel RIGHT?

For me it is music. Not all music...
Composing and well, yes, ah, giving pleasure. Nothing guttery 'bout that, is there?

Music and the company of a good dog.

Extreme ironing.

It's like regular ironing but I'm listening to Death Metal.

In addition to Extreme Ironing, I also enjoy Hardcore Folding. This activity is similar to Extreme Ironing but I replace the Death Metal music with Hardcore Punk and I fold instead of iron. It's a good work out.

Yeah. I bet you are 4'3, 92 lbs and use an inhaler every 30 minutes.


*L* To an insult like that, you should add "and shake like an over-bred Shih tzus"

Oh, all of us neo-cons take joy in it when we are not murdering babies/ pushing old ladies into wells.

old ladies belong in wells.

Reading about British history.

*sigh*

Where have they gone, these strong men?
Where have they gone, these proud women?
Into the shades of time,
Into the silence of the past.
I assume the irony of using a French phrase to describe London isn't lost on you? :p

The Daily Show/The Colbert Report.

i never miss them... :D

For me it is music. Not all music...but nothing is more likely to uplift me than listening to, and playing music, particularly music with a message. I could spend my entire life doing nothing more that enjoying, and making music. It drives me insane sometimes how incredible music can make me feel. It is the perfect vehicle for so many things...for politics, for history, for sharing of experiences, for expressing and mirroring a myriad of emotions. There is literally nothing that feels better to me than playing music with people, or listening to others play, when you just get into that space where you don't even need to think about it anymore...it just surrounds you completely.

Hey, I was thinking the same thing.

women and rum and food

In addition to Extreme Ironing, I also enjoy Hardcore Folding. This activity is similar to Extreme Ironing but I replace the Death Metal music with Hardcore Punk and I fold instead of iron. It's a good work out.

True Hardcore bastards never fold OR iron!

True Hardcore bastards never fold OR iron!

Yeah and they don't breathe either! Rock!!

\m/

True Hardcore bastards never fold OR iron!

I think you might be confusing hardcore as a whole with crust.

Am I the only one here that recalls the kids rubbing margarine and cigarette ash into their combats?

My dogs give me joy.

My dogs, but I'm not with them much anymore.

Outside of that there's studying philosphy. After hours I just sit on the couch and look over at my desk cluttered with books, theories, and notes like some kind of mad scientist. That makes me happy strangely enough. Also making a big break makes me float for days on end.

I think you might be confusing hardcore as a whole with crust.

Er, looking at pics of The Damned, The Adolescents, Husker Du, and the Misfits... I can't say that it looks like any of those guys fold or iron. :p

Er, looking at pics of The Damned, The Adolescents, Husker Du, and the Misfits... I can't say that it looks like any of those guys fold or iron. :p

Well I do, and I enjoy it. So there. :P

Well, beyond the obvious (NS duh!);)

I would claim three things: - success of any manner
-music + literature
-certain forms of socialising

The concept of joy is a hopeless fantasy, at least for someone like me. The only thing that could really make me happy is if I gained some kind of talent for something to make my life worth living.

zoloft. ;)

It also gives me side effects that get in the way of some joyful opportunities though. :(

Music.

My cats.

Reading literature.

Writing literature.

Humour (especially my own).

Discovery in general.

Mountain climbing.

Friends, both in real life and on NS. ( :fluffle: )

[You get the idea. I try to stay a happy person in general.]

Apart from sex? I can't really think of anything. Family guy perhaps.

What brings me joy you ask?
Other then the usual video games, reading, and history.
Tanks.
I absolutly love those things.
I know, I'm weird, but somebody's gotta love them.

Really.. isn't it coo cute?
http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/cnowe/panther_g_01.jpg

PT
Automatic Firearms
Enlightened Debate
The look on a NooB's face the first time doing a HALO
The look on a NooB's face after his first HALO
Many more things

Porn. Reading. Gaming. Hiking. Relaxing. Swimming. Tending my garden. Observing the creatures in my backyard. Being in a forest. Alone time. Rain. Thunder.

The concept of joy is a hopeless fantasy, at least for someone like me. The only thing that could really make me happy is if I gained some kind of talent for something to make my life worth living.
Find it then, it probably won't find you.

My happiest dream is where I end up dieing in the snow after defeating my mortal foe in a sword fight. That dream never disapoints.

I assume the irony of using a French phrase to describe London isn't lost on you? :p

Non, mon amis. It's also horribly ungrammatical.

I've made it my mission to seriously abuse the French language until they give us back Aquitaine, Burgundy and Normandy.

I guess... hating the French gives me a deep seated joy that it would take a great deal to dispell. I can read the newspaper and see the collapse of British society, I can look at the financial times and see the collapse of the British economy and hell, our schools are taking a good shot at killing our history.

But then I just think 'Agincourt' and know that no matter how bad it gets, we'll always be better than the French. Its the warm fuzzy certainty you can only taste by knowing that you are the superior lifeform.

Yep, rabid nationalism. The drug that will never die.

But then I just think 'Agincourt' and know that no matter how bad it gets, we'll always be better than the French.
Because of something that happened 600 years ago? :confused:

Because of something that happened 600 years ago? :confused:
Just gotta be a conservative viewpoint. ;)

My son first and foremost. Music second.

Because of something that happened 600 years ago? :confused:


Yep. Why not? History defines us as a culture and how we learn and react to our cultural history is part of what defines us as an individual. I've studied warfare, made it my passion, in the same way some people study football and make it theirs. They're never going to step onto a pitch, but they'll feel the deep throbbing rush of victory as their team scores as well as the abyssal depths of misery when their opponents succeed. They are as equally divorced from the reality of the game as I am from the reality of history. But our passionate observance, our focused expertise all mean that we can derive great delight merely from something that has taken place, whether it be contemporary on a pub television screen or historically in a book.

Could you not have picked something a bit more recent and relevent? Like...Waterloo, or Trafalgar. (Haha..recent...you get the idea)

Could you not have picked something a bit more recent and relevent? Like...Waterloo, or Trafalgar. (Haha..recent...you get the idea)

Oh, well, Agincourt was just an example. There are loads more and each one highlights some aspect of my culture that I just delight in.

Once, a viking raiding party was being chased back to it's boats by the English army. A single berserker stood a on a bridge to cover their retreat. Every man who fought him was struck down.

Finally, one English soldier had had enough. He crept under the bridge, sloshing through the mud, blood and remnants of his deceased brethren. Through the slats of the wooden bridge, he could see the beserker cut down another of his comrades. Foam dripped from the enormous vikings mouth, while blood dripped from the vikings enormous axe. Sweat stinging his eyes, the English soldier tightened his grip on his spear. With a brief mutter to Jesus as well as a half dozen unauthorised former deities, he thrust the spear upward through the slats.

Apparently, to this day, people from the nearby town still bake special festival pies in celebration.

We British are sneaky bastards who'll never lose if we just let our brains do the work and aren't afraid to get our hands dirty. And I revel in it.

Edit: If you want contemporary, there is a story I heard from Basra about a British patrol cut off from their base by an angry gun wielding mob. They holed up in a small building and waited for re-inforcements. Unfortunately, they run out of ammo before the cavalry arrived. So they did the what the enemy would never expect and undertook what will probably be the last ever British bayonet charge. It totally dispersed the crowd.

HOW FREAKING AWESOME IS THAT?! Much better than watching an overpaid footballer score a goal.