The Room 101 thread - for things you hate or just having a bloody good moan

[Rusty]

That's certainly what the experience was like ten years ago when I was forced into the things.

I think a significant part of my distaste for clubbing was the fact that I absolutely *hate* drunk people unless I'm similarly drunk enough not to care.

The only nightclub that was good was the local 'metal' nightclub. The people in there actually cared for the music and it wasn't a meat fest of people trying to look for an easy lay for the night.

[Snowy]

Revealing a bit of my dim and distant past, I 'experimented' with mood-altering substances when I was younger, quite a lot of them. Thankfully I came out the other side OK. I was around for the birth of acid house and its gestation (with the introduction of MDMA) into the rave scene. There was a tiny window, about a year or two at most, where the clubs and people that were part of the scene were just fucking awesome. Nobody cared what anyone looked like, no bouncers, no price-gouging drinks as everyone was drinking water and best of all everyone was absolutely off their tits and loving one another so no wankers and no attitude.

Then Castlemorton happened in 1992, the tabloids found out about what we had been doing and immediately pilloried us, but worst of all was that a cool little scene went mainstream. Castlemorton was actually the start of that - because the tabloids found out about the festival on day 1, with paparazzi taking pics of us from helicopters, by day 3 (with the papers publishing on day 2) there were armies of people descending on the place, mostly pissheads, and the whole feel of it changed literally overnight.

Anyhow, before long you had dedicated 'rave clubs' charging insane amounts for bottled water, bouncers on the door, fashion dedicated to a scene that was already a corpse etc. From then on every nightclub experience has been shit in comparison to those early glory days, whether in shitty old warehouses, open fields or really early clubs like Labrynth in London.

Mind you, the last one was fucking years ago, am 50 in a month and can't think of anything I would less like to do!

[Mantis]

I haven't been clubbing in the conventional sense for a long time. There are a couple of more upmarket clubs in the city which have separate rooms so you can go sit down and actually hear each other speak if you don't want to dance. I've been to a couple of them because some people always want to have the option to dance, but I've kept to the quieter areas for some time now. I go out to be sociable with my friends, not dance around like a lunatic looking for skirt. I much prefer finding nice beer gardens to sit outside nowadays.

I went to an underground rave a few years ago which was very similar to what you described from the early 90s, Ian. It wasn't a huge thing, I think it wasn't widely publicised to avoid attracting the usual club pissheads. As far as I'm aware it only ever happened once at that location, almost certainly wasn't entirely legal, but it was excellent.

[Snowy]

I have come across some fun events post Castlemorton and they do tend to be one-off and quite low-key. They are the exception though, rather than the halcyon days of the late 80s/early 90s.

I recently heard that the latest club trick is to charge a quid to access the smoking terraces (and I thought the lollipop and aftershave dispensing wankers sat in the toilets were as low as they could go) - words can't describe how much I loathe that mentality, that all enjoyment must come at a financial premium.

[Sly Boots]

I have come across some fun events post Castlemorton and they do tend to be one-off and quite low-key. They are the exception though, rather than the halcyon days of the late 80s/early 90s.

I recently heard that the latest club trick is to charge a quid to access the smoking terraces (and I thought the lollipop and aftershave dispensing wankers sat in the toilets were as low as they could go) - words can't describe how much I loathe that mentality, that all enjoyment must come at a financial premium.

No, you see, they're taking an active role in caring for the health and wellbeing of their valued customers by discouraging an unhealthy habit, while also upholding their right to make their own choices as responsible adults, for their convenience naturally.

I've been writing shit like this for too long -_-

[Snowy]

You forgot that collecting a small token amount helps to maintain facilities for those individuals who require them...

Shoot me now.

[arqueturus]

I quite enjoy a club just to laugh at all the fuckwits in there. Like you Snowy, I'm a bit of a veteran (47 this year) although I wasn't deeply into any club culture back in the day, I just love the music.

I do like the fact that most Pubs are (were ) open to what was pretty much standard club hours so that's where I frequent if I'm out 'properly' these days.

I did go and see Underworld at the Village Underground in December 2018 and that was class, so many old folks having a great time - I think I was close to being the youngest in the place. Proper under the the arches club that was pretty much brass tacks basic.

[Wrathbone]

(and I thought the lollipop and aftershave dispensing wankers sat in the toilets were as low as they could go)

Fun fact - one of the last times I ever went to something resembling a club, a friend bought some off-brand (and possibly illegal) viagra from the toilet guy and then spiked another friend's drink with it. In retrospect it was a really awful thing to do, but it was one of the few times I was genuinely entertained in a club.

[Sly Boots]

You forgot that collecting a small token amount helps to maintain facilities for those individuals who require them...

Shoot me now.

Haha. Corporate culture, can't beat it

[Drarok]

The only nightclub that was good was the local 'metal' nightclub. The people in there actually cared for the music and it wasn't a meat fest of people trying to look for an easy lay for the night.

The rock/metal places always seem so much more inviting and friendly. I don't think I've ever seen a fight in the ones I used to frequent though I have no doubt that they happen.

I had to head into the city (Birmingham) if I wanted anything like that. In my hometown there were plenty of gigs by crap local bands (I was in several) in dingy venues, and two pubs that all the rock/metalheads went to, and that was your lot.

Regular clubs have always been awful for me, too crowded, not my kind of music, and tons of dickheads. I remember the last time I went to the hometown one which was open late enough (the pubs were all shutting, some friends were headed there as the only place left open). I got there before my mates so sat near the bar with a beer so they'd see me. Some dickhole came up with his meathead mates, took a swig of my drink, and said "yeah, wha' you gon' do 'bout ih?" – clearly looking for a fight. I got up, walked out, and never went back.

Utter shit.

--

Now, can we mention toilet attendants? What the fuck? Who started this awful trend, and why the fuck would I want some shit aftershave from a dude who spends all night in the bogs? I can wash and dry my own hands as well, thanks very much. Fuck off!

[arqueturus]

Now, can we mention toilet attendants? What the fuck? Who started this awful trend, and why the fuck would I want some shit aftershave from a dude who spends all night in the bogs? I can wash and dry my own hands as well, thanks very much. Fuck off!

And to add something to this. It makes me genuinely uncomfortable - the implied servility of it sits very badly with me.

[Achtung Englander]

I am genuinely sorry for them. You must hit rock bottom if your day job is to stay all day in a toilet. Holy christ.

[Animalmother]

Aye I hate it. When it's in almost every pub or club bathroom when every patron loathes it and makes loads not wash their hands. It has to be some organised gang thing

[Rossell]

People who buy bright pink cars. Nothing more to add there.

[Alan]

People who buy bright pink cars. Nothing more to add there.

I’m fine with that but it’s when they put massive eye lashes on the lights