Shop Truths, Phrases, Tales; and Outright Lies

[Philip Davies]

Veering off into a snowdrift, or herd of snowflakes, IDK.
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If, by “snowflakes” you refer to those of a sensitive disposition, (like me), you could call them a herd. But there is no real collective noun for snow flakes (putting on my mortar board), just “snow”. I’ve seen “flurry” used, though.
Words are my stock in trade, I used to tell students, when they complained about difficult words. But I always tried to signify their meaning with synonyms.
Yesterday, I tried to do internet banking. It would not let me. I phoned them. They said they will post me a leaflet! I said it would be easier to write to head office. The youth found a way to do it, he alleged. He would put me through to another team. Ten minutes’ silence ensued. I wrote a letter to head office. It took 10 minutes. The call lasted 37 minutes.

[Frank S]

Herd, Flock, Gaggle, Pack, Congress, School, Swarm, Hive, ETC. each of these words are already tightly associated with how we describe several groups or the assemblage of various beings and species. We break down our age groups by classing ourselves with words like Boomers, Xer's, millennials, gen Z, and so forth. When it comes to political persuasions terms like, Left, Right, Moderate, Progressive, Conservative, Liberal, Libertarian, often wind up with secondary descriptive words such as Radical, Socialist, Communist, Ultra, and more. I won't even attempt to understand the latest movement of describing genders with the whole pronoun thing, likewise I will refrain from delving into how people of all races colors creeds and religions often use words to describe persons not of the same volition as they are, Heck, while growing up some kids learned about some of my family's ancestry tagged me as half breed, it made me the cool kid though amongst my peers. For them to actually have a kid in their midst who had some native American blood was to them something of a status symbol. Don't mess with us or the Comanche will stomp your butt. or you can't beat us at this game because the Cherokee knows strategies you've never heard of. While in the Army one of the guys who was in my platoon once called me an Apple, He said I was red on the outside but white on the inside I don't remember why or what brought it up though.
Now when it comes to adding a vernacular to persons we think of as thin skinned, snowflake has become the term often used, to make this plural, the word snowflakes is used, however this seems to be a little under descriptive when portraying the derogative nature in describing a bunch of thin-skinned persons, as not being offensive enough to describe them. I'm sure someone will come up with the appropriate negative integer to tag on the label. Once this happens the word snowflake will become the next descriptive to be stricken from group speak.

[MeJasonT]

Umm degenerate, i like that word, i use it every day all be it the German word Kuntz as in degenerate artists that were hated by Mr A Hitler esq. The other is Retard, as in to go backwards or slow down. The annoying woke brigade attempting to change our language is going to realise that insults wont stop just because you change language. Bunch of birth givers (technically would mean calling them a bunch of paternal women). Alleged common people using slang and abbreviated words to describe a person or an event does not mean we are ignorant or stupid, they will certainly find out the hard way that we are in fact educated. If i must resort to Philosophy or Latin to exert my annoyance at someone so be it. nil sine labore, poor little chicken chokers. Oh and the best thing is that FB's Al Gore Rhythm cant keep up.

[MeJasonT]

All the poor women called Karen Oh and yes it is correct to use gender. apparently there are now 300 genders and that we should take into consideration a persons choice to be non binary, yeah but the science does not add up. We come from 2 chromosomes 1 male 1 female so yes you could get a she, he or he, she but not 300 variants. if they don't want to be considered male or female then they have to accept that they cant change DNA, guess what no male or female chromosome = no baby. What a person chooses to be or considers themselves as is entirely up to them, that's the great thing about living in a free society. I am getting a tad annoyed that by building an all inclusive society they have decided to exclude those who are binary and disagree with their doctoring. That is not being inclusive. When did education become so limp.

[Toolmaker51]

If, by “snowflakes” you refer to those of a sensitive disposition, (like me), you could call them a herd. But there is no real collective noun for snow flakes (putting on my mortar board), just “snow”. I’ve seen “flurry” used, though.

By no means Phillip. This meme expounded on the millennial anti-theft device, a manual transmission. The real "snowflakes" are nearly our fault collectively, for not exposing them to mechanical crafts, handwork, that hands-on engineering mindset.
If I were to profile one such as yourself, it would not be "snowflake"; there nothing but good associations with kind-thoughtful-generous-helpful-considerate people, and looking in the right places, are in short supply.

That's far different from who can't generate torque on a screwdriver or hold up their end moving a dining table through a doorway. Frank S liked my branding of "those pink-fingered" twiddlers.

[Toolmaker51]

All the poor women called Karen Oh and yes it is correct to use gender. apparently there are now 300 genders and that we should take into consideration a persons choice to be non binary, yeah but the science does not add up. We come from 2 chromosomes 1 male 1 female so yes you could get a she, he or he, she but not 300 variants. if they don't want to be considered male or female then they have to accept that they cant change DNA, guess what no male or female chromosome = no baby. What a person chooses to be or considers themselves as is entirely up to them, that's the great thing about living in a free society. I am getting a tad annoyed that by building an all inclusive society they have decided to exclude those who are binary and disagree with their doctoring. That is not being inclusive. When did education become so limp.

MeJasonT! Long time no see, I'd wondered about not seeing you pop up lately.

It'll be a cold day you know where before any of the 300 (as of 08:39 Central Daylight Time) will convince me to address them any fraction out of my perception, other than 'it'. There 2 genders, hence 2 groups of applicable labels. Nature allows certain mix-ups, just as in any mass produced item. The predominate feature is what it is.
To demand equality or considerations of any type is void when somebody adopts outsider. It is now 08:45, I'll bet 28 more classifications exist.

[Toolmaker51]

Instruments and tool-wise, I buy American, Continental, Japanese, and former USSR from a guy in Bulgaria. Some folks are incensed by other imported goods, I'm one. Because we appreciate quality. So what happens when that passion breaks down? Part of this stems from lackadaisical American ownership/ management of appreciated brands, unwilling to provide a reasonable degree of customer interaction.
Or maybe my expectations are too high?


I found a great deal on a tapping stand, missing all the tap bushings. Sure, could DIY those, but that is a lot of square broaching and odd-size reaming. On April 28th found their website via brand name. It's very brief, barely descriptive, and no part lists. I called and messaged the inbox.
No reply.
By May 13th, table still available, emailed instead.
August 8th, inbound email had non-priced part lists, with inconspicuous reference to the bushings, which have to be among sought after replacements, no?
To not promote the subject company, what follows are copy/ paste of emails, redacted of any identifying references.

May 13: I sent,
Good Afternoon;
After examining website, cannot find a parts list for Model XX-x. I'm looking for replacement tap holders, possibly die holders as well.
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August 8th, I receive 3 pdf's, without any kind of "Thank You for inquiring..." or justification, wife was sick, on vacation, dog ate my email....... nothing.

I asked,
May 13, 2022!
Almost 3 months?

Just how small is a company, marketing across a few online vendors, commissions or conducts their own castings - Blanchard grinding - fabrication of table frames - utilize commercial components - painting said products; without minding at least two incoming customer requests for information?
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August 9th, the reply, still without any solicitation or signature;
I guess we aren’t worth doing business with then.
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(must be wonderful rolling in dough, insolent at the same time. No biggie, what's a few $100 bucks and a bit of promotional exposure worth?)

so I replied,
Not when parts missing from an otherwise good deal was in May.
Your lack of concern isn't much of an endorsement either.

(I don't expect a reply.)

This like I'm throwing a plate at a waitress for slightly raw hash browns, or buttered toast after ordering dry?

[Frank S]

I had a recent similar experience with a company I have been doing business with for several years now. Always purchased their product online by merely filling out the request order sheet scrolled down to pay now then clicked on my pay option. Never had any problem always got the items I had ordered, that is until very recently. A while back I needed to reorder some things, went through the procedures as I had always done, but no pricing had shown up throughout the form. Instead, the extended line always showed PQR, OH great, I'm thinking now not only did their special-order products require a price quotation request but their standard line items do as well I thought. I called the antiquated 1-800 number listened to the automated voice drone on and on until finally getting to the sequence of numbers for me to contact a salesman sorry salesperson. get voice mail box. back to the nice sounding automated voice listen once again, try another number sequence, same thing once again. I do these 4 or 5 times because I really need to place my order. Finally in desperation I decide to try another route asked for employment opportunities low and behold I get a human on the line. I ask her not to put me on hold or transfer me but tell me if there are any salesp0erssons available with whom I can place an order. She seems aghast, "OH MY GOD SIR" yes from my desk I can see at least 3 who are just sitting at their desks not on their phones. our stupid new call routing system automatically routes sales inquiries to whomever it wants it seems, but it is supposed to automatically route to the next available person whose line is free. If you would like I can buzz one of them to pick up and take your order but before I do write down my extension if you ever have a problem again just punch in my number and I will be more than glad to connect you. I thanked her and told her she was most helpful. To this she replied ever sense the 2020 election their prices have been inn such a daily flux they had to lock down their online ordering system and it was costing them dearly they try to give their customers the best possible price for their purchases, but it is proving to be more of a headache than anyone could imagine. She also gave me 4 salespersons extension numbers to keep for my future use. Since them I have made a few more orders and have not had any problems al be it I still have to do my ordering during their business hours instead of at my leisure which was usually at night.

[Toolmaker51]

Really, who of us hasn't?

I guess those without phone service, maybe.....