Sip Posted May 4, 2003 Report Share Posted May 4, 2003 I had this argument with someone recently, and it got fairly heated and LOUD at some points! Just wondering what the "Armenian" perspective is on this. The whole question basically revolves around the success of cofeeshops as businesses and how Starbucks is taking over the entire US and maybe even the world ... even getting to a point of having mini-StarBuckses opening up inside larger Starbuckses. I was trying to make the point that those who spend time at these places, some pretending to be "working" (sometimes with laptops), "reading a book", or "browsing the newspaper" are often just there to see and be seen. It is usually not the love/need for coffee, but the need to be around others, especially in very impersonal large city settings (e.g. Los Angeles). With the same token, I was trying to explain to this friend that seeing a single girl at such a place is almost a sure sign of ultimate desparation and basically a request to be hit on. Maybe I was exagerating a bit but I strongly believe that the tremendous success of coffee-shops, especially in non-touristic big-urban-city settings is a sure sign of the loneliness people in general feel and their cry to make some sort of contact with another human being ... well, other than in the completely rediculous and down-right pathetic meat market of "bars", "clubs", and "electronics and computer stores" (last one was a joke!). Yes I do understand that sometimes friends that get together, or people on dates just go to a place like this to sit down and have a chat, much like any other food/consumable-related place. But I am talking more the people that have coffeeshops as part of their somewhat daily routine, not necessarily as part of an evening fun-time or pleasure activity. So what do you say? You really think people just go sit at a coffeeshop to drink a cup of coffee? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 Sip, I agree with you. Here in Toronto, it's the same scene. I think people sit in coffee shops mainly because they want to be around people, and some even go to flirt. LOL. Man, if you take a look at the people around you in the coffeeshop, you'll feel like everyone is out there to flirt with one another. I ABSOLUTELY HATE THAT. And that's why I hate coffee shops. And I really hate people who take their laptops to coffeeshops - I think they do it to show their laptops. LOL. I mean, OK, say if you're living in residence, and sometimes you feel the need to go out and be around people and work at the same time on your laptop, that's fine, but I know people who go to coffeeshops and open their laptops and they really don't need to do that. Besides, how can ANYONE do anything in a coffeeshop? I can't concentrate on anything while I'm in there. But I like going to coffeeshops with friends before going to a bar or whatever. Especially in the winter, where all you wanna do is get inside any shop after the walk from the subway station, I think coffeeshops are pretty cool at winter. And I love Starbucks' coffee. And they play Jazz all the time, which is pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 I agree. And I hate Starbucks. Although I do not think that tremendous success of starbucks has anything to do with the few who sit there and have coffee, but rather with the masses who walk in and get their coffee and walk out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyebruin Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 whil i agree that there are people who make these places their 2nd 'residence'!! i don't think there's anything pahtetic or desperate about a girl or anyone just sitting there and enjoying their coffee...it's the annoying people who keep talking and don't leave you alone that are the desperate ones!!!....but i don't see anything wrong with going somewhere where you meet someone you're attracted to and exchange numbers if they seem nice!!!...i mean how else are you supposed to meet people? (computers? maybe??? but you cannot feel chemistry over a computer screen; might happen once in a while...even heard of people getting married who met online...but chances of that happening everyday is miniscule!!)...i think the best way to have your coffe (and your cake too!!) and keep the pests away is to avoid eye-contact and GET ON YOUR CELL PHONE!!! if your friends can't be there, at least they can be there for you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted May 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 ... i don't think there's anything pahtetic or desperate about a girl or anyone just sitting there and enjoying their coffee...Just to clarify, I did not mean to imply that those who sit at coffee shops are pathetic. The pathetic comment was more in reference to singles bars and drunken idiots ... The point I was making was about the desparation and loneliness (very different from pathetic) ... and to clarify even more, I'm not even talking about "relationships", or anything serious ... just talking about basic social human contact. However, if you are at a coffee shop by yourself, there is a good chance someone who thinks like me (but not necessarily "looks" like me ) will hit on you! So BEWARE ... especially if he hasn't shaven for a couple of days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormig Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 ... especially if he hasn't shaven for a couple of days Way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nairi Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 It's so amazing how percepetions can change drastically from one country to the next. First of all, coffeeshops in Holland are the places where you buy hash/weed and sit down for a nice shmoke. Coffee-houses, on the other hand, are the places you guys call coffee shops. We also call them cafés here. Place you go for a cup of coffee, tea, and even beer in the afternoon when it's bad whether, to relax after shopping, to read a newspaper, or to just sit on a terrace in the summer. Nothing wrong with a girl sitting by herself in a café btw. I didn't even have a problem with that in Armenia! So much so that I started wondering what was wrong with me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nairi Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 But I am talking more the people that have coffeeshops as part of their somewhat daily routine, not necessarily as part of an evening fun-time or pleasure activity.Almost sounds like you have a problem with "addiction" in general and not coffee shops necessarily. Would coming to Hyeforum on a sickly regular basis qualify? Everyone has their weaknesses; no need to stigmatize, IMO. Besides it kind of makes me feel comfortable when I keep running into the same faces in a cafe. It was great, for instance, finding out that the owner and bartender of this bar we used to go as teenagers still hasn't changed! Even the people hadn't changed! I hadn't been to that place in more than four years, and yet you walk in and almost everyone (except the newcomers ) says hi to you. I love that. What I hate is the newcomer boys flirting with you just because you're alone with another girl!! Go Hyebruin! So true: it's the guys who are desperate, NOT the girls!!! Some guys just really CANNOT distinguish between pick-up bars and bars where people go for no other reason but to have a drink, chat and smoke. This reminded me of a club I was at a few years ago in America. I was having eye-contact with this really HOT guy I never thought I could stand a chance with when all of a sudden he came over and asked me to dance. When I said: "I'd rather talk to you", he WALKED OFF!!! WHY??? Am I the only one who's interested in getting to know the person I might potentially be sharing saliva and more with???? What is wrong with you guys???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted May 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 But I am talking more the people that have coffeeshops as part of their somewhat daily routine, not necessarily as part of an evening fun-time or pleasure activity.Almost sounds like you have a problem with "addiction" in general and not coffee shops necessarily. Would coming to Hyeforum on a sickly regular basis qualify? Everyone has their weaknesses; no need to stigmatize, IMO. Besides it kind of makes me feel comfortable when I keep running into the same faces in a cafe. Oh yah! Don't even get me started on why "internet forums" are growing like wild mushrooms everywhere! I mean people from all over the place just drop into these completely public forums, often sharing their most intimate thoughts and feelings ... that is also very related to this whole coffeeshop thing I was referring to so I agree with you.... and I don't think it's just an "addiction"... it's much deeper. It's becoming a way of life for many. Interestingly enough, Armenians are much more reserved and uptight from what I have seen at this forum. But in some of the car forums that I have been around for the last few years (also been a moderator in one) it is absolutely shocking what kinds of information people feel like they need to share, some of them desparate for help from complete strangers. And you know what, it often seems to help them in some strange way to be acknowledged by some other person whoever that may be, which has always been fascinating for me. I even remember this one occasion when we successfuly responded to a suicide cry and got one of the members that lived close to the individual to go and visit the person ... it did in fact turn out to be a true cry for help ... just mind boggleing .. but this one was with a very happy ending! So yes ... internet forums are also in some senses similar to the coffeeshop phenomena that I am referring to. And you know what, with the world continuing the way it is, with modernization, with the slow replacement of human-human interaction with human-machine and machine-machine interactions, I think the situation is going to escalate. People are much more dyanmic these days ... they move around due to jobs, opportunities, other factors, but are still bound by the good-old small village everyone knows everyone and close family attitudes. I really think modern societies will change a lot in the next few decades ... they have to ... humans are social creatures by nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted May 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 Am I the only one who's interested in getting to know the person I might potentially be sharing saliva and more with???? What is wrong with you guys????You should have told him that instead of "I rather talk"! (i.e. in my mind, I rather "just" talk and none of that other stuff) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyebruin Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 This reminded me of a club I was at a few years ago in America. I was having eye-contact with this really HOT guy I never thought I could stand a chance with when all of a sudden he came over and asked me to dance. When I said: "I'd rather talk to you", he WALKED OFF!!! WHY??? Am I the only one who's interested in getting to know the person I might potentially be sharing saliva and more with???? What is wrong with you guys???? now, what i would have done, was dance with the guy and try talking at the same time!!!....after a little while you'll see whether he's into you or just into any girl he meets that night!!!...(the latter is true 99.9999999999% of the time!!!)....by the way it's not just coffe-shops!! bookstores are even worse!!! i remember a while back as i was going through another single episode ....i was at barnes&noble just checking out some of the books on a weekend when this annnnnnnyoing armenian guy wouldn't leave me alone!!! and wouldn't believe my favorite lie either!!"i have a boyfriend"...all along i was avoiding even turning his way let alone having eye-contact!!...finally he just left! thank god!!...if a guy is hot and confident he'll approach in a way that is charming rather than annoying and if you're still not interested and he does not persist!!!....then that guy just scored points in the 'self-respect' category...ONLY!!!! ....guys have sooooo much to learn....it's like they need to learn to be themselves...(to a certain extent)!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accelerated Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 This reminded me of a club I was at a few years ago in America. I was having eye-contact with this really HOT guy I never thought I could stand a chance with when all of a sudden he came over and asked me to dance. When I said: "I'd rather talk to you", he WALKED OFF!!! WHY??? HAHAHAHA! what a f***ing champion! I was very drunk at the Armo party that was held last Saturday (check flyer), and this one chick tried to pick me up, not realising how gone I was.......like I cant even remmember her face.........LOL - sh!t I cant even remmember what I said, just the fact that it was really really funny The pathetic comment was more in reference to singles bars and drunken idiots Yes it sure is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted May 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 I was very drunk at the Armo party that was held last Saturday (check flyer), and this one chick tried to pick me up, not realising how gone I was.......like I cant even remmember her face.........LOL - sh!t I cant even remmember what I said, just the fact that it was really really funny Are you sure that the "chick" wasn't in fact the fire hydrant and the funny thing you said wasn't more like http://zr2.cs.ucla.edu/Sip/zr2/barf.gif Ahahahahaah LMAO dude! Too funny!!!! The one time a chick tries to pick you up and you're too wasted to respond or to remember! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accelerated Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 The one time a chick tries to pick you up and you're too wasted to respond or to remember! Not the first time mate! A couple of months ago I got stolcked by a chick at a nightclub (she was ugly but ). She followed me from one dance floor to another, groped my arse twice!, my groin too - as I was leaving <_< , I told one of my mates, never missing an opportunity to pay someone out, he went up to her and said something along the lines 'Stop touching my friend, he doesnt like you, your ugly' - should have seen the look on her face - HAHAHAHA Oh man! The details are comin back to me (from the armo party).........get a load of this........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accelerated Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 (edited) .......Anyhow hadnt been this drunk since like New Years, I think....yeah. There I am dancing with a friend next to our table (seven of us in total, but I couldnt sit anymore, they were ;playin a good song), after a little while this girl comes up to us from behind (cant remmember her looks, except that she had longish dark hair), she has a bolt (as in bolt & screw) in her hand..........man i cant remmember the conversation.......I went something like 'why have you got that bolt in your hand, why are you showing it to us'. Basically when people entered the bar, they were given a bolt(for girls) or a screw (for guys) of different sizes. And if you found a match for your bolt/screw, then you were meant talk to them etc. an excuse to pick up basically. But because our group was a mix of guys and girls, we were not given anything.....LOL....so I didnt have a clue. And when she came up I was totally surprised, and she spent 5 minutes explaining her actions (took long coz we were drunk.....obviously), and walked away at the end. I only realised the next morning (when I was sober) that that was an attempt to pick me up LOL. .......we were sort of celebrating my bday too. I got a nice Cuban cigar from one of the guys......very smooth Edited May 5, 2003 by Accelerated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted May 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 oh hahahahahahha ahahahah haaaaaaaaaaaaaa hahahahaahahaah That nut-and-bolt thing has got to be the CHEEEEEEEEEZIEST party idea I have ever heard oh ahahahah that's a true classic! Seriously ROFLMAO over here! Scary thing is, I'm sure someone must have thought it was a brilliant idea!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accelerated Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 Yeah! thats what it is. 'bolt-and-screw' LOL Scary thing is, I'm sure someone must have thought it was a brilliant idea!!! Yeah Armos man! what do you expect? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nairi Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 now, what i would have done, was dance with the guy and try talking at the same time!!!....after a little while you'll see whether he's into you or just into any girl he meets that night!!!...(the latter is true 99.9999999999% of the time!!!).... Well, him walking off kind of made it clear what he was really after... Goes to show that even good-looking guys can be desperate for a shag... I'm glad I didn't waste my time trying to find his true nature in a more subtle manner. I hate subtlety Get to the point from the start, no chit-chat BS, no flirting even. Guys only impress me when they're not trying to impress me. Everything else turns me off. Yes, even their good looks. No wonder they walk away from me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted May 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 ... Goes to show that even good-looking guys can be desperate for a shag. What do you mean "even"? I think the term "guy" just about said it all. The way I would fix that sentence is this: 1) Get rid of "even good-looking"2) replace "can be" with "are". Good night. Or as they say down-unda, good daaaay mayte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accelerated Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 Its pretty funny, Im at my best at picking up, when Im not trying to pick up.......LOL........sounds ludicrous I know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nairi Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 ... Goes to show that even good-looking guys can be desperate for a shag.What do you mean "even"? I think the term "guy" just about said it all. The way I would fix that sentence is this: 1) Get rid of "even good-looking"2) replace "can be" with "are". Good night. Or as they say down-unda, good daaaay mayte If you say so sweetie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accelerated Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 hahahaha - you two should get hitched! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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