REALLY baaaad pickup lines...

Chaszmyr Mae'Val · Post by **Chaszmyr Mae'Val** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:02 am

I gotta confess the only reason I don't buy Starbucks coffee anymore is Mr. Hernia

Hmmm... chat-up lines of death....

"Hi, I'm a lesbian furry cat girl who likes penises. Will you be my friend?"

I DIDN'T USE THIS ONE!!!

Aeridus · Post by **Aeridus** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:11 am

Indigo Violent wrote:
gealachtine wrote:I'm not sure donating to good works makes up for putting 12 stores in a 2 mile radius. It's like saying "Hey! We're part of the Corporate Whore, but we'll put the money into something which will cause people to look the other way for raping their wallets and squashing the local Mom&Pop stands."
True, I find it bloody annoying how many Starbucks are around, and I usually go to the local places (that haven't been stomped out of business yet), but I don't blame Starbucks for this. They found a formula that works and they capitalised on it.
No, who I blame are the people who make that kind of behavior profitable. Starbucks wouldn't put up stores across the street from each other if people stopped buying their coffee. They build where there's demand, and people flock to it.

Plus they capitalize on Americans being too bloody lazy. >.<

I had to move TWO shopping carts out of a parking spot today so I could park there. It's not that hard to at least move shopping carts to an out of the way place people. >.<

Honor · Post by **Honor** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:35 am

gealachtine wrote:I'm not sure donating to good works makes up for putting 12 stores in a 2 mile radius. It's like saying "Hey! We're part of the Corporate Whore, but we'll put the money into something which will cause people to look the other way for raping their wallets and squashing the local Mom&Pop stands."

Indigo beat me toit, but that's always been my opinion... Blaming Starbucks because they have a brazillion stores is like blaming pollution for the existence of cars.

Small coffee houses say "Starbucks put me out of business!" Somebody's gotta tell 'em: "No, dude... Your customers put you out of business by choosing Starbucks over you. Which means, in a way, that you put you out of business, by insisting on not giving your customers what they wanted."

I'd have a wholly different opinion if it was like Wal-Mart... If Starbucks was using large-scale purchasing power to undersell local businesses so badly that they just couldn't compete... But, dude... They're coffee if expensive! I pay $4.26 for my coffees, after tax. That's not underselling -anyone-.

My rule, which is the golden rule of all consumerism, is "give me what I want." There are these little coffee houses on campus, and they make me something -like- a mocha frap... it still doesn't taste quite right... But I buy 'em anyway. There's another local place on my way home from work/school, but they give me this snooty look when I tell them what I want. So Starbucks gets my money, they get nothing.

And yeah... Sell-out weenie democrats make me sick... But in this country at this time... Saying you wont support democrats because some (ok, most) of them aren't liberal enough? What are your other options? Republicans & non-starters. We're the party. We shape the party. The right answer, I feel, is to whip the democrats into shape... Not just turn our backs on the process.

Grass-roots is a great foundational concept, but if you never move beyond the grass roots, all you ever get is grass and dirt.

Aeridus · Post by **Aeridus** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:02 pm

I can get delicious hot chocolate on campus for 35 cents out of a vending machine (cup, water, milk, and extra sugar all combined for you)... and it tastes a hundred times better than the crap Starbucks shovels out.

I may not drink coffee but I'm very picky about my hot chocolate.

Awkwardschoolgirl · Post by **Awkwardschoolgirl** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:31 pm

squidflakes wrote:
swordsman3003 wrote:I've never tried to ask a girl out....is it that hard?
No. Not at all. Go up to them, introduce yourself "Hi, I'm <your name here>. You're quite attractive and I'd like to get to know you better. Would you like to get <coffee/lunch/dinner/a drink> with me sometime?"

And if she says no. Smile, and say something polite. A good first impression, even if the girl doesn't take you up on your offer, is always a plus.

Or, Squiddy's second plan of action: bring on the tentacles!!!!! *giggle*

But for serious, us girls appreciate honesty more than anything else really... Unless of course you're really, really good at lying and we think you're being honest well then I guess you're free... but then you get tangled up in this meaningless ball of lies and end up screwing shit up... but you'll probably get laid a few times. *shrug* Whatever floats your boat I guess...

Gealachtine · Post by **Gealachtine** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:43 pm

Honor wrote:
gealachtine wrote:I'm not sure donating to good works makes up for putting 12 stores in a 2 mile radius. It's like saying "Hey! We're part of the Corporate Whore, but we'll put the money into something which will cause people to look the other way for raping their wallets and squashing the local Mom&Pop stands."
Indigo beat me toit, but that's always been my opinion... Blaming Starbucks because they have a brazillion stores is like blaming pollution for the existence of cars.

Small coffee houses say "Starbucks put me out of business!" Somebody's gotta tell 'em: "No, dude... Your customers put you out of business by choosing Starbucks over you. Which means, in a way, that you put you out of business, by insisting on not giving your customers what they wanted."
I'd have a wholly different opinion if it was like Wal-Mart... If Starbucks was using large-scale purchasing power to undersell local businesses so badly that they just couldn't compete... But, dude... They're coffee if expensive! I pay $4.26 for my coffees, after tax. That's not underselling -anyone-.

My rule, which is the golden rule of all consumerism, is "give me what I want." There are these little coffee houses on campus, and they make me something -like- a mocha frap... it still doesn't taste quite right... But I buy 'em anyway. There's another local place on my way home from work/school, but they give me this snooty look when I tell them what I want. So Starbucks gets my money, they get nothing.

Actually that's not true on a big scale either. They get put out of business when the economy of the neighborhood goes from the lower family end to the richer yuppie income. Starbucks comes in with Walmart and other corp chains - the value of the neighborhood is considered "better real estate" and the rents go up. Mom and Pop refuse to charge as much as Starbucks so that they won't lose their customers to greasy spoons and can no longer afford their rent. When 9 out of 10 M&P regulars leave their local shop - it's usually to a greasy spoon diner for $2 bottomless - not to $5 onetime cup Starbucks. Regulars are our bread and most M&P's treat them like royalty. (They usually come in and apologize for not being able to be a customer anymore, they hug the owners and employees, promise to keep in touch and do, even after the shop is closed.)

I've watched this happen, back and forth many times for the last 10yrs in downtown Denver, where I live. Rich people move in, take over, renovate and try to force all the poor "scum" out of the neighborhood - including and especially the residents. They bring more chains, change the local economy and force the local shop's regulars to move away. (Urban developers actually target certain neighborhood blocks, buy the old buildings, kick everyone out - demolish and build huge new condos. We have so many new gargantuan condo buildings - the skyline is completely altered, the mountain view is gone (On Denver's Capital Hill - there is a law against building something above a certain height because of the view! So they built all the way around us.

)

When you have a neighborhood of hippies, elderly, freaks and geeks replaced by upperclass young urban professionals - they close. Yups tend to perpetuate the consumeristic monster of the US. As I said before, I'm a non-materialist, non-consumerism type of person. If I can't find what I want outside of a corporate giant, I go without or I make it myself.

honor wrote:And yeah... Sell-out weenie democrats make me sick... But in this country at this time... Saying you wont support democrats because some (ok, most) of them aren't liberal enough? What are your other options? Republicans & non-starters. We're the party. We shape the party. The right answer, I feel, is to whip the democrats into shape... Not just turn our backs on the process.

Just because I won't back Democrats doesn't mean I've turned my back, if they don't shape up - most liberals I know across the nation would prefer to just vote Republican and get the bullshit out of the way. Kerry was a stooge, I think he should be hung from Liberty's torch. Democrats are no better than Republicans now, it feels like: will I vote republican or republican? Hmmm. I'd rather vote Whigs. Yes the people make up the party - so when are people going to stop backing idiots, give the third party a big hand in and a big "Take a flying F" to the two bullies? How about when they stop being consumer crybabies and letting the media dictate what information they know. Our education and level of knowledge is laughable compared to the rest of the 1st World and even much of the 2nd World countries. My platonic life-partner works for free press in DC and we're both huge activists. I am Green Party and very active.

honor wrote:Grass-roots is a great foundational concept, but if you never move beyond the grass roots, all you ever get is grass and dirt.

Sweet!

No, I understand where you are coming from and I know that where I'm coming from might be dumbfounding. I have been planning a self-sustaining earthship community with friends for a while now, hopefully we'll find good land soon. I don't want to grow into something huge and overpowering unless it's revolution on any level. I'd be happy if civilization came crashing down around our ears - but it's not time yet for that. Too many things have to happen first, before those of us who want a peaceful life away from cities and corporations can actually have that. So we fight from the ground level in an attempt to not become like the monsters we are fighting, it's back-breaking, tireless, rewardless and every little victory is celebrated like we became king's of the world. But we never stop, never give up, never cease being the squeaky wheel and it's getting results. Not national media results - because that would admit we've got a foothold in some way. The results are like the fires in Indonesia, underground, hot and fast to spread, slow simmering to burn out all of the crap holding the big guys in place. The fall will be Nero level, it will happen when we tell corporations to bite it and mean it.

Well that was a political rant I guess I've had stored for a while...

Xnapalmxmorningx · Post by **Xnapalmxmorningx** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 4:01 pm

Oh god all this talk about Starbucks coming in a taking over is like the horrors of the the Walgreens plauge in Tucson. There are so FRICKING MANY it is becoming a joke. I drive down one of the main streets and pass three in a 15 min time period.
I love my local hole-in-the-wall coffee shop, Safehouse. They don't care if you spend the whole day there, wonderful free internet, the baristias will make you anything you want, and it's open till 2am.

E~Man · Post by **E~Man** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 6:44 pm

*points and laughs mockingly at Starbucks...*

Up here in Canada we have Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ Starbucks tried to break into the Canadian market (I've only seen 'em in a bookstore chain called Chapters) Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ pretty much buttraped Starbucks for the attempt...

As for small coffee houses, there might have been some in the big cities, but until Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ came along I suspect Canadians pretty much brewed our own.

If you want to argue market saturation, I'll put up Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ up against anyone. In my city of Cambridge, Ontario there are at least 17 shops and Cephalopod knows how many kiosks in various gas stations...all this in a city of 90-thousand+ people, and the stores are always busy.

On a final note, the Wendy's chain bought out the Canadian owners of Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ and now at this time Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ is thoroughly buttrapin' the Wendy's restaurants in terms of market share.

Indigo Violent · Post by **Indigo Violent** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 6:51 pm

E~Man wrote:Up here in Canada we have Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ Starbucks tried to break into the Canadian market (I've only seen 'em in a bookstore chain called Chapters)

You're not looking in the right places then, my friend. Although I think Starbucks has caught on much more out here on the Coast, close to Eeeeevil Corporate Starbucks HQ in Seattle. Of course we have Timmie's here, but not in such abundance.

E~Man · Post by **E~Man** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 7:01 pm

You may be right...I haven't been out west yet.

What part of B.C. are you in Indigo?

Ce6 · Post by **Ce6** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 10:38 pm

Indigo Violent wrote:
E~Man wrote:Up here in Canada we have Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ Starbucks tried to break into the Canadian market (I've only seen 'em in a bookstore chain called Chapters)
You're not looking in the right places then, my friend. Although I think Starbucks has caught on much more out here on the Coast, close to Eeeeevil Corporate Starbucks HQ in Seattle. Of course we have Timmie's here, but not in such abundance.

Tim Hortons may be losing a tiny bit of ground on the west coast, but they've already begun the U.S. invasion. I know of at least one in Flint, Michigan and I'm sure there are more closer to or in Detroit. It's only a matter of time before they get over here to Chicago.

Gealachtine · Post by **Gealachtine** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 12:33 am

E~Man wrote:*points and laughs mockingly at Starbucks...*

Up here in Canada we have Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ Starbucks tried to break into the Canadian market (I've only seen 'em in a bookstore chain called Chapters) Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ pretty much buttraped Starbucks for the attempt...

As for small coffee houses, there might have been some in the big cities, but until Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ came along I suspect Canadians pretty much brewed our own.

If you want to argue market saturation, I'll put up Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ up against anyone. In my city of Cambridge, Ontario there are at least 17 shops and Cephalopod knows how many kiosks in various gas stations...all this in a city of 90-thousand+ people, and the stores are always busy.

On a final note, the Wendy's chain bought out the Canadian owners of Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ and now at this time Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~ is thoroughly buttrapin' the Wendy's restaurants in terms of market share.

Actually, a friend got me addicted to Tim Hortons - bringing it back down here from her visits home (I'm getting a bunch for my birthday! Squee!).
I got the feeling from her, Tim Hortons is like Wenchell's down here. (Wait a minute, Wenchell's coffee got really good, comparative to what it was...maybe Tim Hortons started shipping their stuff down and conquering that way!

) I swap between my locally roasted and Tim Hortons ~all hail the almighty Timmies!~

So I bow down and say - as long as I give into Tim Hortons, I cannot make my prior argument any longer. I did not realize they saturated Canada to that point.

Honor · Post by **Honor** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 2:03 am

Ah yes... I remember the Tim Hortons... They were -everywhere-. It was like waffle houses in Florida. (I have no idea why... but in Florida, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a fucking Waffle House. There are more Waffle House resturants in Florida (150) then there are in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas, combined)

I just checked, out of curiosity. There are 50 Starbucks stores within 50 miles of Cambridge Ontario... There are almost as many Tim Hortons within 10 miles.

Somebody likes the coffee, huh?

Kingofthemorlocks · Post by **Kingofthemorlocks** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:53 am

Ahhh...Timmy Ho's. We've got a bunch around here.

To be honest, I like Dunkin' Donuts better.

Nithos · Post by **Nithos** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 11:49 am

Oi, just used mapquest to find starbucks locations near my home... nearly 150 in less than 25 miles... and in my experiance, there's at least one independant coffee shop between any two starbucks, and a competetor's chain for every third or so (i.e. Coffee People). All hail Portland, Seattle's little sister in coffee consumption. Just for the record, I prefer the indy shops, but starbucks is everywhere, and I can't resist the purty signs

Queenhank · Post by **Queenhank** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 11:57 am

You have no idea how wierd it is to live near Seattle and NOT drink coffee. People practically shove it down my throat.

Indigo Violent · Post by **Indigo Violent** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 1:38 pm

E~Man wrote:What part of B.C. are you in Indigo?

Victoria. City of old people and heroin junkies.

Awkwardschoolgirl · Post by **Awkwardschoolgirl** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 2:18 pm

kingofthemorlocks wrote:Ahhh...Timmy Ho's. We've got a bunch around here.

To be honest, I like Dunkin' Donuts better.

I'm not a big Tim Horton's fan either... *shrug* They've got pretty good sandwiches though... and well, it's hard to go wrong with a donut.

RavenxDrake · Post by **RavenxDrake** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 3:51 pm

Dunkin' Donuts?

Them's Fighting words around here.... Krispy Kreme(the greatest doughnut in the world) was born in my backyard(not literally, but in my home state) and, while Dunkin' Donuts has better coffee, I'll take week old Krispy Kremes to Hot Dunkin Donut Doughnuts any day.

Then again, who goes to Dunkin' Donuts for just Coffee anyway, that's why we have Starbucks.

Awkwardschoolgirl · Post by **Awkwardschoolgirl** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 3:53 pm

Oh god, I almost came at the mention of Krispy Kremes... *drool* I'm gonna have to go buy one now... Well later when I'm walking over to my friends house...