The hot takes and unpopular opinions
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@Kruse said in The hot takes and unpopular opinions:
UK vs NZ vs Aus pubs... I've come to the conclusion that there's shit ones, and good ones (with character) - in each country... but in each country, the "flavour" of the good/shit is slightly different.
In the UK - you get the corporate bland shit like Wetherspoons, Slug/Lettuce, All-Bar-One, etc. Even, to a lesser extent, the 'chain country pubs' - Harvesters was one, I think? "Hungry Horse"? Some others... those places in the countryside - that are big bland chain attempts at replicating the "good". And then the good - the classic village pubs, hitting your head on crossbeams every time you go for a piss. Sometimes a beer-garden on a canal.
NZ - it's nearly the reverse, in the North Island at least. Just off the top of my head - really shitty bland country pubs, with some farming tools on the wall in an attempt to be "character" - but really... shit beers on tap, and just... country-bogan. And a very few decent bars in some of the cities. Although I'm probably prejudiced, as most of the bars I frequent - in my 2 years back in-country, I'm already known to the staff, and typically get staff/hospo discount.
South Island - might be reversed again? Some classic country pubs - my recollection of Chch bars (admittedly-pre-earthquake) - was decidedly Slug/Lettuce/All-Bar-One-esqueAus - I don't have a wide experience... but my feel was more of a UK pattern.... plenty of shit "glossy/corporate bars" in towns, with some fucking cracker country pubs... and in Melbourne at least, some quirky fucking-random country-type-pubs in the middle of the city.
have to say, i cant think of too many chains or corporate pubs in Aus, all seem independent (around me anyway), so they either are or they're putting in some effort to hide the fact they are part of a chain
and i love a craft beer pub, will often have a different schooner with each round...when i just want to drink the same beer all night i'll buy a slab and drink at home
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@dogmeat said in The hot takes and unpopular opinions:
I'm not a dog person at all but they are 'dog friendly' which is unusual in NZ.
Ugh, I hate dog friendly pubs and cafes, and all of them in Sydney basically are. Nothing worse when you you're having a quiet beer or eating brunch and some dog comes over and starts licking you or two little dogs decide to have a fight right next to you.
Again this is another dog owners thing as opposed to the dogs themselves.
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@dogmeat said in The hot takes and unpopular opinions:
@Nepia Totally agree. My local makes sure the dogs are under control. They are expected to sit quietly under the table or leave. The one time I've seen two dogs snap at each other the owners were asked to leave and not bring their dogs back.
Give it time. NZ has been dog unfriendly for so long that well socialised dogs aren't the norm and even as numbers increase there is a period while you have to socialise them and they will get triggered.
Dog friendly pubs in the UK are a great sign of the place being human friendly as well. Our local was often more dogs than people on some week nights and if a dog showed any sign of being on edge they soon got the side eye from the regulars and settled down.
I don't take my lab to the pub often now as for some reason he will randomly decide to announce himself to other dogs approaching. He is very well socialised and has no problem with other dogs, is part of a 'wolf pack' thing and a big softy. I just don't want to have to put him in a situation where he feels a need to react. No idea what started him thinking that way as it is the only situation he feels unsure in.
Owners just need to understand if there dog fits into the environment. -
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@dogmeat said in The hot takes and unpopular opinions:
@Nepia Totally agree. My local makes sure the dogs are under control. They are expected to sit quietly under the table or leave. The one time I've seen two dogs snap at each other the owners were asked to leave and not bring their dogs back.
Good. Annoying dogs are complete dickheads.
Even the âfriendlyâ ones.
No, strangely enough I donât want your big dog jumping up, smashing me in the nuts and licking my face just cos he wants to be friends.
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New Zealand has some really obnoxious dog owners who seem to have got themselves a dog because they want to make some kind of statement rather than a companion. I recently saw a tradie looking bloke calling out a patched Mob guy because he didnât pick up his dogâs shit - he ran up and handed him a bag and told him if he was too embarrassing to clean up after his dog he was missing the point of having one and was a useless human being. It looked like it was all on for a bit because the sparky wasnât backing down. Balls of steel.
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@JC yeah nothing worse than people who get a pet (dog or cat) and then do jack shit to look after them...not desexing them, not giving proper shelter and giving them exercise...those numpties are the ones that let thier dogs bark in the backyard chained to thier house and shout at them to shut up when they bark, or are untrained or socialised and roam the streets not able to deal with walkers/runners or other dogs
Apparently there is a fair bit of gang activity on the dog baiting side of things going on in NZ presently, which is just horrific really.
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Re your Lab, does he still have his bollocks? Apparently itâs quite a thing for neutered dogs to react poorly to intact ones.
Just a thought.
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@Frank said in The hot takes and unpopular opinions:
You know who is overrated - pretentious wan-kers going on about their exclusive wine and beer collections.
Agree. As do a lot of people. So I've moved the chat from this wonderful thread to the other one.
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@Catogrande said in The hot takes and unpopular opinions:
Re your Lab, does he still have his bollocks? Apparently itâs quite a thing for neutered dogs to react poorly to intact ones.
Just a thought.
Could be. But still only in a situation like that. Heâs often around entire dogs.
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The following people suck.
People who think travelling a lot makes them interesting people. Nah mate, you're still a boring c-unt.
People who treat travelling as a competitive sport.
People who call themselves vegetarian but still eat seafood and/or chicken.
People who call their home country the best place to live in the world. How the fuck would you know?
Teenagers.
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@TeWaio said in The hot takes and unpopular opinions:
@MN5 said in The hot takes and unpopular opinions:
Food related.
South Africans do the best BBQs. Problem is they know it and go on about it.
Steak is HEAPS better than Lamb.
Crayfish is overrated and WAY overpriced.
Whitebait is too.
A really good Indian curry is, if anything, underpriced.
Thai curry is too.
All excellent shouts, especially crayfish. Do love me some lamb though, even if its a solid second to steak.
Oysters are a bit overrated. Scallops, despite being incredibly popular, totally justify it. And a feed of moules frites in France or Belgium is a near religious experience.
Agree Oysters overrated and slimey. Muscles all day cooked, smoked or raw if I am with Grandad.
Have heard South African barbecue is good but have yet to try it. A wine distributor in Cali said he would put one on for us one day but we haven't got the invite.
I'll eat Crayfish ,shrimp or crab any day. Love it.
Lamb with mint sauce is great and with fat. Add salt as well. All meat needs some fat for flavor and juiciness?
Hate Cats. Smelliest craps around and your cat bin doesn't help. Independent so they need to be outside and hunt mice for their lunch.
Dogs okay but I have kids so would rather spend money on the humans. Plus they are smelly as well and need weekly baths. And people who think dogs are there children or grandchildren need therapy and it is not essential that I meet your beasts. Had dogs and cried when I had to put them down just don't need them impeding on my life anymore.
Now I love curry, Indian or Thai.
Hate greasy Chinese noodles though.
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Thorn-proof garden gloves aren't
English/British brambles (blackberry bushes) are the spawn from Satan's garden
The wind will blow in the wrong direction or it will rain, once your bonfire is going well.
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@Victor-Meldrew put gorse in the blackberry category except I love blackberries.
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@broughie said in The hot takes and unpopular opinions:
Hate Cats. Smelliest craps around and your cat bin doesn't help. Independent so they need to be outside and hunt mice for their lunch.
Cats are awesome. Intelligent, friendly, clean, incredibly athletic animals. They become very attached to you, will rush up to you and greet you, purr and lick you hand but, unlike dogs, won't wait to be be given an order - they have dignity. Magnificent creatures who can happily survive without you but prefer your company.
Not that dogs aren't great. My farmer mate has a black Lab who is always with him and their relationship is wonderful, but for me, they are a bit too needy and subservient.
