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"The Office"

Never liked this "comedy". Fail to see what's so great about it. The fact that Gervais is a tool doesn't help its cause.

I watched an episode of Red Dwarf a few nights ago.

Rimmer: "Go up to red alert"

Kryten: "Are you quite sure sir? It does mean changing the bulb"


Good stuff.

I saw the same episode...

The bit where they attempt to eat with those twirly utensils is the best.

See, those are two different types of humour that highlight why people won't ever agree on whether something is good or not.

I found The Office to be one of the best things on television in recent years, not just best comedy but best things full stop.
Because it held a mirror up to 85% of people sitting in offices staring at monitors and having imaginary affairs with so-and-so, or wondering why they ended up there when they really want to do something else.
It's not funny for most of the time, and never in a punchline-pause-laugh way either that Red Dwarf is.

The two moments for me that sum up why I like The Office was Dawn talking about her life "I used to be an illustrator that did a bit of temping on reception...and...now...I say I'm a receptionist" and Tim turning down the offer to manage the office when Brent is sacked.
"It's just a little more work for a lot more money"
"Yeah but I've got nothing to spend it on"
"It'll only be a temporary thing"
"And that's what I thought about this job...ah...years ago"

Two moments that, in a few seconds, nail what an awful lot of people feel about their working lives.
I don't see it as a comedy, more of a warning about what will happen if you silently slide under the surface of life without at least trying to make it to shore. To just give up and spend your life working for a Brent or a Gareth, to be like Tim telling yourself that one day you'll do something but at the moment there's that bonus coming and you've got holiday booked and what about your savings and,selsgeisegjagppppppppppp

Weren't you an office drone at some perfume company? What're you doing now?

Edit: That sounded like an attack of some sort. It wasn't, just wondering is all.

Completely agree.

Not to Stryke

I was, no offence taken.
I was a Tim, always lying to myself that I was just there until I figured out what I was doing etc. Yet all the time I was there staring out the window and posting on here to kill time.

Now I'm a postman/trainee teacher.

Did The Office trigger you into that change? I'm always saying to my mates that the Office should be shown in Career seminars to university undergrads like me and six formers to warn them about what could happen if we don't have a clear idea of what to do with our lives sooner rather than later.

I've never worked or been in an office or had any of those experiences which is why it probably doesn't appeal to me. And no, Joey doesn't get me hard either. I'd rather have something a bit more offbeat like Peep Show, Moneky Dust or Brasseye.

But Goaty - isn't spending all your free time on an online game just as bad? And I'm not having a go at you - I have done, and continue to, 'waste' my life slumped in front of a telly/monitor, kidding myself daily that 'tomorrow things will change'.

It's as though the idea of a better life is enough to bring you temporary joy - you make plans to completely revamp your existence. "I'll do it tomorrow" always seems to be the answer, never today. And for today, you sit in smug happiness that tomorrow you'll change your life completely, and everyone else will see what a strong and dedicated person you are for following your dreams.

But something stops it from happening. It may or may not be as a result of your own poor decisions, but never the less, nothing happens. There's only so long you can go on making excuses for yourself, before you lose the will to even try and convince yourself anymore.

My job isn't what troubles me - it is a huge part of my life, and it isn't ideal, it is my squandered free time that bothers me most.

The Hibernator wrote:
> "Under weaknesses, you've put eczema..."

XD