Topic: The Chit-Chat Thread

@NintendoByNature I consider 6-7 dollars for a meal, ready to eat and warm to be perfectly reasonable for fast food these days. We're paying for the service as well as the food itself and people working in those restaurants already make next to nothing.

But McDonald's is a special case - it's not food, it's poison that is all but guaranteed to make me sick. I'd almost pay NOT to eat it at this point. I'd literally skip a meal, or just get something to drink, if it were the only option.

@Heavyarms55 I guess that makes sense about service and all that. While that's not super expensive, It makes it seem that way when you can get better options for the same price is all. But most of the signature items on the menu are actually upwards of 8 and 9 bucks so still, it can get pricey. It's usually slopped together and like you said, afterwards leaves you feeling sick.

@Heavyarms55 It's just really sad how they can so predictably change the world to one that benefits them by simply making sure everyone that grows up is familiar with one format, and then just wait until everyone who remembers anything else dies off, then bingo, new world, of your own creation!

The idea that you and anyone younger than you have been so fully conditioned for a disposable-everything world is beyond depressing. Meanwhile when I buy something and it breaks after 7 years my thought is "It's brand new, this shouldn't be anywhere close to breaking!" (wearable parts like controllers and such aside, of course.)

Of course parts could break. Using a washing machine as probably the most classic example, it's all bout how it's built. They used to...heck even in the 90's....build them (they are categorized as "durable goods" meaning large purchases that last a long time, and are factored into inflation etc as such) to last 20+ years. Sure, a motor or belt, or gearing, or gasket or such could fail. And a failure of something might take another part or parts with it. But the actual machine endured and endured. Any parts that failed like that were designed to be replaceed. There was working space between parts, they were bolted in with common fasteners, the design was such that it was meant to be kept in service indefinitely and any component that failed could be replaced indefinitely (and prior to that things like pumps and valves weren't even replaced, they were repaired/rebuilt!)

Commercial equipment is still built in that way. Mostly....though even that's changing.

Fast forward to today, I remember a good, I don't know 15 years ago or more an interview with a Whirlpool exec saying they no longer build them to last 20 years, but 8-10 because "most people prefer to remodel and change colors and designs in that time." Oh, great, a bunch of rich people like throwing out perfectly good things to change colors so you just don't bother making them last anymore so that one no longer has a choice? Great!

Now, today, the same washing machines, are not built for repair. The drums are made of thin aluminum. They corrode in the water, they disintegrate, that can't really be repaired without total disassembly that costs more than a new machine. But before that even happens the electronics boards tend to fail in a few years. The drop in replacement costs so much, and installation requires so much disassembly any repair service tells you it's cheaper to just throw it out and buy a new one. It's designed to be thrown in a landfill every few years.

That's just the biggest, most obvious example. But it applies to everything. Outdoor furniture. The old stuff? Build of high grade PVC, cast aluminum, other quality materials. I have a set from my grandparents from 40+ years ago...it may not look the prettiest, the metals form oxides and discolor in time, but it's still functional. Meanwhile the set I bought 3 years ago made of cheap Chinese powder-coated steel is already rusting through and ready for the landfill. Past ready.

The machines, and equipment lasted forever. It may have needed parts and repairs, but the machine was designed to facilitate being repaired as part of it's primary design. Anyone with a screwdriver and a lick of sense could repair their own stuff. Today we have security screws even on semi-repairable things.

And if you want quality, durability, and repair-ability? You buy commercial machines for about 5x the price of consumer. They're big, hot, noisy, and energy inefficient, but they do last! Then the "greenies" will whine about energy efficiency. That's great, you have your nifty energy efficient petrolium made consumer good you'll dump in a (Canadian) landfill in 2 years while you have another one flown in from Guang Dong. I'll still be throwing a handful of long-lasting parts into my "energy guzzler" every 5+ years until I'm dead ,and it won't budge from this spot, no jet fuel or bilge pumps required. Who's being wasteful again?

That's the really sad part. The same people that adopted the disposable import plastic society are the same ones that will whine about energy use, recycling, saving the planet, blah blah blah. Idiots still haven't figured out that we were already half way to their goal before they managed to discard the way things already worked and change it to something worse.

I should have a bonfire of polystyrene cups to celebrate their genius.

Edit: Actually there's a past example of the opposite. Back in the 50's or so, Japan was first getting into the industrial export world, and their products......were pretty awful. They didn't last at all, constantly broke, and were generally disposable. Which was EXTREMELY bad in that period of time. Thus the invention of the phrase "getting japped"....basically getting conned into buying cheap garbage that was guaranteed to fail - getting ripped off. So "Made in Japan" had the same connotation "Made in China" has today (or worse, given today people have accepted disposable goods, and back then people hadn't.) Of course Japan was just failing to perfect their copy & improve methodology and later got it perfect to the point "Made in Japan" implies as-good-or-better-than anything stamped "Made in USA/Germany/etc." China on the other hand....just doesn't seem to care, and that's a long-standing cultural mentality there. And the world seems to have embraced that philosophy. Shiny new colors sell.

@Heavyarms55 Yeah, I guess that's true. I know that I myself am always very careful with my consoles and handhelds, and I clean them every now and then, so I also take care of them in that regard, and I'm certainly not accusing everyone that does have issues of bad care or neglect, but in the back of my mind, I'm always wondering about these things, because I simply can't be THAT lucky that ALL of my consoles, handhelds and even various home computers (Commodore Amiga's) are all still in near mint condition and full working order, while others go through several consoles in one generation.

Something about that just doesn't add up, and of course, my version of being careful with stuff is different from other people's. I mean, seriously: if any of my consoles or handhelds has a scratch on it, I already start freaking out, figuratively speaking...

On a side note: I've never gotten sick from McDonald's food. I actually went there quite recently with a couple of friends, to get some burgers before watching the latest Spider-Man movie.

Could also be a case of them using slightly different "poisons" in the various areas around the world, much like how soft drink companies also use different ingredients in different areas. (for example: in the US, Coca Cola is made with corn syrup, while over here in Europe, regular sugar is used)

Either that, or my stomach is lined with concrete...

@Ninfan Well, those are the official numbers, so I tend to put more faith in that than any old YouTube video.
I actually did see that video in my recommended videos list, but I haven't watched it.

@Tyranexx More dressed down than jeans and a T-shirt? Must have been a redneck wedding, then...

@Link-Hero That's a good description of what might happen.
Guess we'll just have to use our imagination, then.

@Anti-Matter Yeah, we saw you hysterically typing "Eject" in the chat about a dozen times during the stream, and far as I'm concerned, it was just about the most annoying and childish thing about the whole Direct.

It's perfectly fine if you don't like something, but there's no need to be weird about it or to constantly share your dislike with everyone. The rest of us were actually enjoying all the games, and negativity takes away from that.

@NEStalgia I was born in ‘85, but I still think things should last awhile. That’s clearly evident by my adoration for older vehicles 😂. But yeah, I’ve got appliances that are repairable as opposed to replaceable, down to fans, vacuums, and lawn equipment. Not only does it give me something to do and provide a more fulfilling sense of ownership, but learning to repair things is still a wonderful experience for me. One grandpa actually had a “repair shop” when he retired. The kind that people brought in all sorts of stuff and he tinkered till it worked again. That’s likely where I get it from.

@NEStalgia You just KNOW that when you're busy typing away on your own comment, and it suddenly gets pushed all the way down so that you have to scroll back to it, to be able to continue typing, that a NEStalgia text wall has been posted...

Completely agreed with your point, though.

@RedderRugfish We don't have those over here, but we do have Burger King and KFC, both of which actually have better food than McDonald's, in my opinion, but I do often like the limited time specials at McDonald's, such as the seasonal menus or holiday menus, which usually come with special burgers that they don't offer otherwise.

TB is always a solid bang for your buck. Call me crazy, and this may be a regional thing in the Midwest, I honestly have no clue. But, burger kings tacos are crazy good. Not like actually Mexican restaurant good. But better than a regular taco bell taco. People laugh at me every time I order them, but they just have this crunchy tortilla shell that's hard to describe.

Speaking of items failing prematurely. My water heater constantly goes out and it's only 3 years old. For some reason the pilot light ignitor never works as it should. Ended up calling rheem and finally complaining since it tends to go out ever 3 to 4 months. I end up taking out the pilot assembly and sanding down the thermocouple and cleaning up the remaining area in hopes of it working. It didn't work the other day, so I called. I actually broke a tin wire too, that needs to be replaced from constantly having to take out the pilot assembly. Parts are supposed to arrive by today. And they better. I've had to take a cold shower everyday since Friday.

@HobbitGamer Yeah! And that's the other thing with repairable goods. The second hand market! When people get tired of the style or appearance or want new features, the old ones can be sold and just begin their second life. Can't think of many people that would even consider a used Samsung appliance after 2 years, let alone 10.... We've been remolded for corporate growth targets. And then we can pay a tax for saving the planet. Which will fund the very people who broke it.

@RedderRugfish Sadly we have no Taco Bells here, and the one or two that did pop up promptly closed. We instead have a Panera on Every. Single. Corner.

Speaking about McDonald burger....
There is a Special Limited time Indonesian flavor burger and side dish during August.

Only available in Indonesia. 😉

@Anti-Matter i dont eat meat, but for the ones they like it, its good

@DenDen off topic, I know your a mana guy. Just started final fantasy adventure yesterday and im a couple hours in. Really enjoying it thus far. Reminds me an awful lot of a topdown 2d zelda, which is a good thing( my favorite series). Its just like links awakening. Heck there's even breakable walls in dungeons!

I love Taro ice cream. It's kinda hard to find here.

@NEStalgia great post about the washing machines and i completely agree. Nowadays they make them so you can’t repair them. They are all welded on from all corners of the panel except the back. So to open the washing machine, you have to break the metal weldings first. They are made to replace not repair

@1UP_MARIO Then when you do break open the panels, there’s an expensive circuit board that costs nearly the price of a used washer. Ridiculous.

@HobbitGamer lol true. I did fix mine but let’s just say the wife wasn’t happy. It worked but the corner panels were full of brackets and screws

@1UP_MARIO hey, function over form 😂 still better than dropping a grand outright.

@NintendoByNature - Yeah, I’ve since learned a little more about it. It’s going to be an entire entertainment complex. It’s a Japanese company called Round1, I guess they already have over 30 of these around the country. They’re moving in to a 120,000 SF retail space (It’s 2.75 levels, an old Carson’s department store), and they’ll have bowling, billiards, games of skill, a kid’s area, restaurant and bar, and a large dedicated space for arcade and pinball. Sounds kind of like a Dave & Busters, but I’m excited about the arcade. It’s close to home as well. Should be ready in 2021.

I’m going to be about 65-70% of the way to Chicago this weekend. I’m meeting college friends in Michigan City to hang out on the beach and tell embellished stories about poor choices we made when we were young.

Edit - Oof, sorry to hear about the water heater. Cold showers are the worst. Mine blew on my birthday last year and a piece of rusty metal plugged the drain valve. I couldn’t get my plumber until Monday, so I spent the entire weekend using the shop vacuum to suck up gallons of water as it seeped out in my crawlspace.

@bimmy-lee man, that sounds pretty sweet. I just want to find an old style arcade with all the old stuff packed in. We have Dave and busters out here but meh.

I've been to Michigan city before, it's really fun. A buddy of mine had a Sumer home there and we used to, of course, do stupid things. All fun though nonetheless. I hope you have a good time.

Yea the water heater..... blasted thing. Can't believe I'm having all these troubles after only 3 years.

Happy Tuesday! Hopefully it's not as wet and stormy for everyone else as it's been here.

There's a Taco Bell here, but that's emergencies only. I'd rather eat at almost any other fast food joint nearby. This particular location is pretty meh.

The McDonald's closest to me isn't much better, but the one closer to the interstate is decent. Fast food is more of a once in a while thing with me these days.

@ThanosReXXX It wasn't quite a redneck wedding. I've been to an intentional one before lol. There was no dress code per se, but unless instructed otherwise I typically show up in nicer clothes that I'm comfortable in.

I had a heck of the time finding the church though. It was near the area I grew up in, but I had never had a need to go to that particular neck of the woods before. Google Maps on my phone had the correct road in the end, it just kept getting confused on the exact address since the numbering out there is weird. XD