Wernham Hogg Forum

Dananiel · Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:14 pm I was mugged today. Very slowly, and very politely.

Within a one mile distance, three separate people asked me for change. One man who looked quite smart, but a bit dodgy looking all the same asked me for a pound for his car. Odd. Then somebody with no teeth asked me for 50p because the phone ate his money, apprently. Then some woman asked me for change because she was lost.

And the worst part is, I gave them all money. I think it cost me about three quid all in all. I really should just say no, but I tend to think that if you're on the street asking people for change, you're probably the kind of person that might floor me with a jack and rape my corpse. That, and the fact that there's always the possibility that the person genuinely does need the money and isn't just collecting smack dollaz (yes, dollaz). Not that that means they don't need it, of course. But y'know.

I need to make myself more...stingy looking. Perhaps I could walk around dressed like Scrooge. I can't work out if I get targeted because I look all foppy and non-threatening or if they just ask everybody.

Although on a side note, as I walked through Bristol for the last time (until I come home!) I was surprised at how much anonymous artwork is up on buildings, walls, bins, everything. And nearly all of it is complete shit. It's mostly all around the St Pauls area, where there's this swanky Banksy one of a teddy in a riot but that area is swarming with copycats now. One was squares of a little girl clenching her fist with words like "GIVE" and "POWER" in each square. It's in that multicolour pop art style-thing. I'm sure whoever did it thinks it's brilliant and subversive and everything, but it doesn't actually mean anything. I'm sure it means something to them and I'm sure they can intellectually talk shit about it for hours, but it just looks like a vacuous nonsense. Either make something relevant or do something that actually looks interesting.

IN CONCLUSION: ALL ART IS SHIT.

BILLY V2.0 · Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:20 pm

i'm constantly being asked for change/fags and i pretty much always give them what they want. even when i'm with other people, the stranger will direct the request towards me as i'm an easy target. i suppose i don't look very aggressive or anything so that's why. i don't really mind, but when i was mugged a few years ago it started off with "can you spare 50p mate?" and ended up in them clearing my wallet and taking my phone. a friend of mine's work colleague was asked for a fag a few weeks ago and gave it, then got his head kicked in and had to go to hospital.

we have those shitty stencil street art things around here as well. they are completely pointless. there was a good stalin stencil around the corner but the building recently got bulldozed.

doesn't going out depress you? on a 10 minute walk home from work today i was shouted at by 2 gangs of kids, and had a pikey ask me for a cigarette, then a lighter, then ask if he can keep the lighter, which obviously i let him. then i got a bus to my friend's house and had to listen to a group of girls who were probably no older than 15 discuss their sex lives, and how they 'banged' a girl up. society is crumbling

Dananiel · Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:24 am

The stabbings and the muggings and rapings and murders are one thing but shit art is quite another. Who the hell still does those pop art things anyway?

Pah. · Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:21 am

hah, just say sorry mate and move on, stop being so soft! its not your fault theyre crackheads. i paid double whatever everyone else did tonight getting the cab home, and i still ended up apologising and asking them if thats alright. of course its alright, tight bastards!

(halfway through that post i went to turn the hall light off and walked into a door. painful experience, it hurts loads and i'm scared i'll wake up with a black eye. shit. i so will cos i'll only sleep for a few hours cos its nealry six now and i've got to be in for an indcution tomorrow morning. fuck. honey made me sick)