Something has been winding me up recently. It’s not a major world issue or some kind of life or death problem, more a little annoyance. I hate little annoyances.
It’s registration forms on websites. This doesn’t apply to all sites, just those that you’re paying for a product or service and they insist on you registering first. Take Virgin trains for example. I never use Virgin Trains but have to use them this week for work. I went to the site, found my ticket and tried to buy it. Only problem is that they want all of my details when all they really need is a phone number, credit card and email address. And they only need them once for that transaction as I don’t intend using the service again anytime soon.
Instead, they want my full address and other details that they just don’t need. It’s obvious why they do it, so they can mail me with offers and info and sell my details to 3rd parties. Only problem is that I always uncheck those boxes. I’m not interested in a half price special to Runcorn or discounted entry to Chester Zoo. All I want to do is buy 1 return ticket, get my train and be done with it.
Dominos pizza do it well. They give you the option to register to make future purchases easier, but they don’t insist on it. I guess the point is that I have an option to use another pizza company, but by the way our rail network is set up, I have to pay Branson to use the rail network that our taxes have paid for. Branson knows this so we doesn’t have to give us the option not to register.
The net result (pun very much intended) is that my web experience is slowed down and I dislike Virgin Trains before I’ve even used the service. As I mentioned, I’m not against all registration. If I’m getting a service or content for free then chances are I’ll give my details as a trade off. When a money grabbing billionaire want to sell my details and market to me, even though I’m forced to use ‘their’ trains, well that’s a different story.
Update
To make matters worse, Branson also charges for using wifi on his trains. £4.90 an hour. How is that justified? A web cafe charges around £1 an hour tops. Why is it nearly 500% more on his/our train? The East Coast line provides it for free. As a further kick in the teeth it is impossible to get anything approaching a decent signal on O2 anywhere on the 2 hour journey I made to Chester. Guess what, you have to register again to use the web with him!
I want my web back Branson, stop demanding my details and give me free/reasonable priced wifi. It’s most ridiculous thing you’ve done since your guest appearance in Baywatch
Thursday 28 January 2010
Wednesday 20 January 2010
Pubs part 2
Following swiftly on from the Thai Food issue, my next problem with pubs is thus:
I was in Amsterdam recently for a trip away with some mates. One of the things that really stood out for me was the how different each bar, cafe and coffee shop was. Each had their own style, music and atmosphere. The owners and staff were all friendly and helpful and you could tell that they really bought into the place that they worked.
Contrast that with London, and England as a whole, and you'll find that the majority of what we can offer are bland homogenised chain pubs. They generally have the same sticky carpet, worn seats and staff with a glazed look on their face. There are some notable exceptions, the Queen's Larder in Holborn and the Red Lion in Yorkshire, but by and large it's the same cheap prices and poor quality offering across the board.
Of course, there are times that I've been to these places and had a great time, mainly as a student. But now when I see the places I think that I'd rather just go home. Or (and I'm writing this as quietly as possible) go for a coffee instead. Actually scrap that last idea, that's ridiculous. If you glance into a wetherspoons or such like you'll see 2 types of people.
1. Students.
2. Pensioners
As the majority of the population sits within the 2, I don't think it's a big demand to want a nice pub serving varied beers at a reasonable price. I don't want to stand next to a drunk 70 year old who has clearly used his trousers as his toilet all day, or share a table with loud students spouting their opinions with no understanding of what the issues are or how little other people care about their views.
I'd like the decor to match the area or owner's personality. Food is covered in this link but in short it should not be Thai. I expect I'll have a little rant about gastro pubs one day, however, any pub that serves a burger but has no ketchup should be banned. 32 Great Queen Street I mean you!
So, in short, independent pubs are good. Chain pubs are bad. Phew I feel more relaxed now.
I was in Amsterdam recently for a trip away with some mates. One of the things that really stood out for me was the how different each bar, cafe and coffee shop was. Each had their own style, music and atmosphere. The owners and staff were all friendly and helpful and you could tell that they really bought into the place that they worked.
Contrast that with London, and England as a whole, and you'll find that the majority of what we can offer are bland homogenised chain pubs. They generally have the same sticky carpet, worn seats and staff with a glazed look on their face. There are some notable exceptions, the Queen's Larder in Holborn and the Red Lion in Yorkshire, but by and large it's the same cheap prices and poor quality offering across the board.
Of course, there are times that I've been to these places and had a great time, mainly as a student. But now when I see the places I think that I'd rather just go home. Or (and I'm writing this as quietly as possible) go for a coffee instead. Actually scrap that last idea, that's ridiculous. If you glance into a wetherspoons or such like you'll see 2 types of people.
1. Students.
2. Pensioners
As the majority of the population sits within the 2, I don't think it's a big demand to want a nice pub serving varied beers at a reasonable price. I don't want to stand next to a drunk 70 year old who has clearly used his trousers as his toilet all day, or share a table with loud students spouting their opinions with no understanding of what the issues are or how little other people care about their views.
I'd like the decor to match the area or owner's personality. Food is covered in this link but in short it should not be Thai. I expect I'll have a little rant about gastro pubs one day, however, any pub that serves a burger but has no ketchup should be banned. 32 Great Queen Street I mean you!
So, in short, independent pubs are good. Chain pubs are bad. Phew I feel more relaxed now.
Tuesday 19 January 2010
Pubs part 1
So it's been a little time since I last blogged and you'll be pleased to know that I'm still as grumpy as ever. The delay is mainly down to my laptop setting on fire as I was using it (it's old and the fan gave way). No new laptop yet so the next post may be similarly late. Apologies.
The Pub. A fantastic place. To be honest. one of my favourites. A great pub is a place that you'd happily spend, hours, days, weeks of your life in.
In the winter they have the warmth of an open fire, strong ale and red cheeked people escaping the cold and catching up on gossip. During summer they have beer gardens, BBQs, live football on TV and a refreshing, thirst quenching larger (spritzer for the ladies).
However, there are 2 major things that are spoiling them for me right now. I'll discuss one now and return to deal with the next one later on. I'm sure the suspense is killing you.
Right, so. Here's my problem. You're out on a freezing cold day shopping/going to the football/having a walk/insert what you like to do outside here, and you feel peckish. You remember there's that lovely old pub round the corner that you've been meaning to go into for ages and it might be perfect for a bit of pub grub. You get all excited a picture a nice sausage and mash or pie and chips in your head and pick up the pace. The cold doesn't seem so bad anymore as you round the corner and see the pub. Then you notice the dreaded sign. One that has plagued you on many a lunch time trip out the office. "Thai Food Served Here". Your heart shatters, head drops and the cold feels more biting than it ever did before. This was not what you'd imagined.
Before you start saying "I like Thai food, it's an interesting and exciting mix of Indian and Chinese", I'd like to point out that I kind of like Thai food. In fact I find it an interesting and exciting mix of Indian and Chinese.
My problem is that this is a pub. Not a Thai restaurant. I'm all for diversification amongst publicans who battle against insolvency but this is not the way to go. Pub food should be pub food. Pie and chips, fish and chips, scotch eggs at the bar. Simple.
The quality of the Thai food you get in pubs is awful and standardised. No interesting flavours, vibrant colours or imaginative combinations. It makes a good pub bad and I will avoid giving it custom out of principle.
Publicans of Britain please take heed (I'm sure there are loads of you reading my blog), if you serve Thai food I shall not frequent your establishment.
The Pub. A fantastic place. To be honest. one of my favourites. A great pub is a place that you'd happily spend, hours, days, weeks of your life in.
In the winter they have the warmth of an open fire, strong ale and red cheeked people escaping the cold and catching up on gossip. During summer they have beer gardens, BBQs, live football on TV and a refreshing, thirst quenching larger (spritzer for the ladies).
However, there are 2 major things that are spoiling them for me right now. I'll discuss one now and return to deal with the next one later on. I'm sure the suspense is killing you.
Right, so. Here's my problem. You're out on a freezing cold day shopping/going to the football/having a walk/insert what you like to do outside here, and you feel peckish. You remember there's that lovely old pub round the corner that you've been meaning to go into for ages and it might be perfect for a bit of pub grub. You get all excited a picture a nice sausage and mash or pie and chips in your head and pick up the pace. The cold doesn't seem so bad anymore as you round the corner and see the pub. Then you notice the dreaded sign. One that has plagued you on many a lunch time trip out the office. "Thai Food Served Here". Your heart shatters, head drops and the cold feels more biting than it ever did before. This was not what you'd imagined.
Before you start saying "I like Thai food, it's an interesting and exciting mix of Indian and Chinese", I'd like to point out that I kind of like Thai food. In fact I find it an interesting and exciting mix of Indian and Chinese.
My problem is that this is a pub. Not a Thai restaurant. I'm all for diversification amongst publicans who battle against insolvency but this is not the way to go. Pub food should be pub food. Pie and chips, fish and chips, scotch eggs at the bar. Simple.
The quality of the Thai food you get in pubs is awful and standardised. No interesting flavours, vibrant colours or imaginative combinations. It makes a good pub bad and I will avoid giving it custom out of principle.
Publicans of Britain please take heed (I'm sure there are loads of you reading my blog), if you serve Thai food I shall not frequent your establishment.
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