tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post4068984435390204558..comments2024-03-28T17:11:52.333+00:00Comments on The Pub Curmudgeon: Bipolar beerCurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-46275742178681624772015-05-17T22:18:37.260+01:002015-05-17T22:18:37.260+01:00By the way Mudgie - I would like this as a free-st...By the way Mudgie - I would like this as a free-standing article rather than one of your columns. John Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132845616834779091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-26835332611747181932015-05-17T10:53:38.902+01:002015-05-17T10:53:38.902+01:00Any group bonds both on what they love and what th...Any group bonds both on what they love and what they mutually hate.<br /><br />What bonds the labour party is as much a hatred of the tories as a love of a bigger state. Group behaviour normalizes certain interactions and they only appear mean spirited when they express hatred publicly to none group members.<br /><br />Likewise, the hatred of Fosters acts as a strong bind within the beardy group. They may not agree on everything, but at least they have that to unite them. You cannot take it away without fracturing the bonds of the group, which it turn strengthen the concept of common purpose.<br /><br />What you can do is realise how self defeating expressing negative views publicly is.<br /><br />By all means hate the Foster's, just don't go about calling Foster's drinkers "ignorami"<br />Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-73944210896009246882015-05-16T18:15:25.746+01:002015-05-16T18:15:25.746+01:00I think it was on Pete Brown's blog that I sai...I think it was on Pete Brown's blog that I said the fight started by CAMRA in St Albans in 1971 has, by and large, been won. As you rightly point out in your blog it's the establishments <i> where </i> Grog is drunk that needs to be preserved. The name they chose 40+ years ago is an anathema. When people ask me what the card is that I carry in my wallet, I sometimes just say it's preferable to wearing sandals and elbow patches.John Meddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10547777949324509522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-4522041806209311732015-05-16T15:40:42.305+01:002015-05-16T15:40:42.305+01:00I'm sure that can be arranged, John, probably ...I'm sure that can be arranged, John, probably by dramatically pruning paragraphs 3, 4 and 5. It would also look good in "Ale Cry", though I'm not sure whether its editors would be interested.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-70903887431042061322015-05-16T13:47:28.088+01:002015-05-16T13:47:28.088+01:00And I don't mean Ale Cry.And I don't mean Ale Cry.John Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132845616834779091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-82344933638388650792015-05-16T13:46:52.482+01:002015-05-16T13:46:52.482+01:00Something about half this size would make a good a...Something about half this size would make a good article in a certain local CAMRA magazine I can think of...John Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132845616834779091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-83400435389412141692015-05-16T09:39:59.462+01:002015-05-16T09:39:59.462+01:00What I have noticed is that there are proportion o...What I have noticed is that there are proportion of people that appear to want some sort of validation and respect and think consumer choices is a way to do this. They may like beer and as a result have gained a certain knowledge beyond the average chap. Much like a wine buff knows more and pays more than the average chap looking at the fiver a bottle shiraz in Tesco.<br /><br />This knowledge comes from enthusiasm. Everyone is quite knowledgable about things that interest them, from computers, cars, comics that the average person has scant interest in.<br /><br />If the interest is beer that person will likely join CAMRA as it produces an interesting beer magazine and offers discounts for stuff.<br /><br />They may have no interest in being involved and most active members wouldn't recognise them in the street. <br /><br />A portion, once well oiled may become a bit pub boorish and their CAMRA card is a sense of validation. The act of joining being something most drinkers don't bother with. These people don't listen to what campaign AGMs say. They firmly believe that A is crap, B is great and people that consume A are idiots. After a few they are keen to express this view. You can't stop them. They will always be with you. All you can really do is try and set a tone in your publications that counter that.<br /><br />In moving from a real ale campaign to a pub preservation campaign, maybe it's time for the beards to see pubs are more than just outlets for beer enthusiasts and appreciate why most people use pubs. As social spaces. Why many people are happy with a pint of lout and a game of darts or watching the footie, or having a meal.<br /><br />Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-11386900004150565942015-05-15T19:06:29.606+01:002015-05-15T19:06:29.606+01:00The message that CAMRA is pro-real ale and not ant...The message that CAMRA is pro-real ale and not anti-anything has always been the case, repeated by Colin Valentine, CAMRA National Chair, at the AGM in Norwich two years ago. Every mass member organisation has its very own Taliban, who are usually powerless but intensely irritating.Neville Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10923209266005338452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-52085490393843322352015-05-15T17:50:44.774+01:002015-05-15T17:50:44.774+01:00I significant portion of people will join the bear...I significant portion of people will join the beard club for the same reason they joined the Dennis the Menace club, for the furry Gnasher badge. Namely a silver card that denotes being part of a beer club for people that like Bitter and hate Fosters. The hating Fosters is as important to identity and club affiliation as liking the bitter.<br /><br />Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-51232232634213100552015-05-15T10:03:09.016+01:002015-05-15T10:03:09.016+01:00@py - not by me you don't. See here@py - not by me you don't. <a href="http://pubcurmudgeon.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/touch-of-class.html" rel="nofollow">See here</a>Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-18087663246085219352015-05-15T09:55:32.760+01:002015-05-15T09:55:32.760+01:00"it’s noticeable how nowadays it’s vanishingl..."it’s noticeable how nowadays it’s vanishingly rare to see any working-class man under 40 drinking ale, either real or keg."<br /><br /><br />Completely true - but how come every time I point this out I get told I'm delusional?pynoreply@blogger.com