Captain Barfheart
@gvigary.bsky.social
Raised up by the Peter Principle.
Emboldened by Dunning-Kruger.
Brought down by Murphy's Law.
Emboldened by Dunning-Kruger.
Brought down by Murphy's Law.
He's what we Brits call a wrong'un, right enough.
November 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
He's what we Brits call a wrong'un, right enough.
The housing markets, the banks, government finances, taxpayers, the world economy...
November 11, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The housing markets, the banks, government finances, taxpayers, the world economy...
Have you noticed that all the people who are against the licence fee are also those who were incensed when the BBC could no longer afford to give every pensioner a free TV licence, yet none if them have ever called for Netflix, Amazon, Apple or Disney+ to stream to the elderly for free?
November 11, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Have you noticed that all the people who are against the licence fee are also those who were incensed when the BBC could no longer afford to give every pensioner a free TV licence, yet none if them have ever called for Netflix, Amazon, Apple or Disney+ to stream to the elderly for free?
The only thing that could ever make me resent paying the licence fee is if a penny if it were to go to Trump. Scrapping the BBC for occasional missteps is like demolishing Stonehenge because it's got bird shit on it.
November 11, 2025 at 11:24 AM
The only thing that could ever make me resent paying the licence fee is if a penny if it were to go to Trump. Scrapping the BBC for occasional missteps is like demolishing Stonehenge because it's got bird shit on it.
Mine delights in telling me which European football match my local pub was showing the night before last.
November 10, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Mine delights in telling me which European football match my local pub was showing the night before last.
To be fair, I'd support banning that.
November 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM
To be fair, I'd support banning that.
I just hope all those people who'll lose their health insurance etc blame the Republicans for driving the process, not the Democrats because a few of them decided that having the whole govt (and SNAP) shut down was even worse.
But of course the promises on the ACA will be broken, we all know that.
But of course the promises on the ACA will be broken, we all know that.
November 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I just hope all those people who'll lose their health insurance etc blame the Republicans for driving the process, not the Democrats because a few of them decided that having the whole govt (and SNAP) shut down was even worse.
But of course the promises on the ACA will be broken, we all know that.
But of course the promises on the ACA will be broken, we all know that.
Really? I tried their underwear and the quality was kind of okay, but really nothing special.
November 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Really? I tried their underwear and the quality was kind of okay, but really nothing special.
Fondant Fancy Moth?
November 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Fondant Fancy Moth?
I too am the human equivalent of a "don't follow me or you'll end up at my house" bumper sticker.
November 9, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I too am the human equivalent of a "don't follow me or you'll end up at my house" bumper sticker.
And of course you can mock them in your speech too.
November 9, 2025 at 10:37 PM
And of course you can mock them in your speech too.
So you think everyone is evil if they have the means to be?
November 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
So you think everyone is evil if they have the means to be?
So what do you want? How will we move from the current situation to a utopia where we all live where we want to live at an entirely reasonable price, without anyone being inconvenienced on the way?
It's easy to wish for "perfection", but you need a realistic plan to actually make things happen.
It's easy to wish for "perfection", but you need a realistic plan to actually make things happen.
November 9, 2025 at 9:25 PM
So what do you want? How will we move from the current situation to a utopia where we all live where we want to live at an entirely reasonable price, without anyone being inconvenienced on the way?
It's easy to wish for "perfection", but you need a realistic plan to actually make things happen.
It's easy to wish for "perfection", but you need a realistic plan to actually make things happen.
In the university city where I live, student housing beyond the first year is a privatised Wild West, at least as exploitative and greed-driven as the normal residential equivalent.
And crazy property prices have led to many companies who did have homes for workers selling them off.
And crazy property prices have led to many companies who did have homes for workers selling them off.
November 9, 2025 at 9:16 PM
In the university city where I live, student housing beyond the first year is a privatised Wild West, at least as exploitative and greed-driven as the normal residential equivalent.
And crazy property prices have led to many companies who did have homes for workers selling them off.
And crazy property prices have led to many companies who did have homes for workers selling them off.
A friend of mine's parents died. Their house (a bungalow by the sea) meant a lot to my friend, who wants to retire there himself. He can't live there at present because of work and kids.
Why shouldn't he rent it out until he's ready to retire there?
Is he being "venal"?
Why shouldn't he rent it out until he's ready to retire there?
Is he being "venal"?
November 9, 2025 at 9:13 PM
A friend of mine's parents died. Their house (a bungalow by the sea) meant a lot to my friend, who wants to retire there himself. He can't live there at present because of work and kids.
Why shouldn't he rent it out until he's ready to retire there?
Is he being "venal"?
Why shouldn't he rent it out until he's ready to retire there?
Is he being "venal"?
If landlords are selling their properties because they can no longer make excessive profits, isn't that the desired outcome?
Yes, that has caused issues in the rental market - they're what's known as unintended consequences. Because it's never as simple as some people on this thread seem to think.
Yes, that has caused issues in the rental market - they're what's known as unintended consequences. Because it's never as simple as some people on this thread seem to think.
November 9, 2025 at 9:10 PM
If landlords are selling their properties because they can no longer make excessive profits, isn't that the desired outcome?
Yes, that has caused issues in the rental market - they're what's known as unintended consequences. Because it's never as simple as some people on this thread seem to think.
Yes, that has caused issues in the rental market - they're what's known as unintended consequences. Because it's never as simple as some people on this thread seem to think.
Put forward a way to increase government coffers that the people agree to, that sees effort and success fairly rewarded, that doesn't incur a huge debt burden for future generations, that doesn't destroy businesses or the environment, and that doesn't trigger rampant inflation.
I'll vote for you.
I'll vote for you.
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Put forward a way to increase government coffers that the people agree to, that sees effort and success fairly rewarded, that doesn't incur a huge debt burden for future generations, that doesn't destroy businesses or the environment, and that doesn't trigger rampant inflation.
I'll vote for you.
I'll vote for you.
Of course not.
Price fixing is wrong.
Abuse of financial muscle to exploit others is wrong.
But a sane, power-balanced private rental market is a good thing for society. When I lived in Holland, properties were privately owned, but government regulated the market and rents. Let's try that.
Price fixing is wrong.
Abuse of financial muscle to exploit others is wrong.
But a sane, power-balanced private rental market is a good thing for society. When I lived in Holland, properties were privately owned, but government regulated the market and rents. Let's try that.
November 9, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Of course not.
Price fixing is wrong.
Abuse of financial muscle to exploit others is wrong.
But a sane, power-balanced private rental market is a good thing for society. When I lived in Holland, properties were privately owned, but government regulated the market and rents. Let's try that.
Price fixing is wrong.
Abuse of financial muscle to exploit others is wrong.
But a sane, power-balanced private rental market is a good thing for society. When I lived in Holland, properties were privately owned, but government regulated the market and rents. Let's try that.
That sounds rather like jealousy. Not all landlords are out to exploit tenants. Not all treat their tenants badly.
I don't like that some people borrow £££ and get tenants to repay their mortgages, distorting the housing market.
But that's not all landlords.
I don't like that some people borrow £££ and get tenants to repay their mortgages, distorting the housing market.
But that's not all landlords.
November 9, 2025 at 8:50 PM
That sounds rather like jealousy. Not all landlords are out to exploit tenants. Not all treat their tenants badly.
I don't like that some people borrow £££ and get tenants to repay their mortgages, distorting the housing market.
But that's not all landlords.
I don't like that some people borrow £££ and get tenants to repay their mortgages, distorting the housing market.
But that's not all landlords.
Why do people reply to threads without reading them?
Sometimes people are NOT LOOKING to buy a house because they don't plan to stay where they are. Some people need somewhere to stay for a few months between selling one house and buying another, or while refurbishing the home they want to live in.
Sometimes people are NOT LOOKING to buy a house because they don't plan to stay where they are. Some people need somewhere to stay for a few months between selling one house and buying another, or while refurbishing the home they want to live in.
November 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Why do people reply to threads without reading them?
Sometimes people are NOT LOOKING to buy a house because they don't plan to stay where they are. Some people need somewhere to stay for a few months between selling one house and buying another, or while refurbishing the home they want to live in.
Sometimes people are NOT LOOKING to buy a house because they don't plan to stay where they are. Some people need somewhere to stay for a few months between selling one house and buying another, or while refurbishing the home they want to live in.
But promising it doesn't WIN you a majority.
That's for a number of reasons including biased media, pathological aversion to taxation, and influence bought by vested interests.
It might stink, but it's how the real world is. Sorry if I knocked some rose-tinted spectacles askew.
That's for a number of reasons including biased media, pathological aversion to taxation, and influence bought by vested interests.
It might stink, but it's how the real world is. Sorry if I knocked some rose-tinted spectacles askew.
November 9, 2025 at 7:39 PM
But promising it doesn't WIN you a majority.
That's for a number of reasons including biased media, pathological aversion to taxation, and influence bought by vested interests.
It might stink, but it's how the real world is. Sorry if I knocked some rose-tinted spectacles askew.
That's for a number of reasons including biased media, pathological aversion to taxation, and influence bought by vested interests.
It might stink, but it's how the real world is. Sorry if I knocked some rose-tinted spectacles askew.
The people who gave it the money that it needed to run the country?
November 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The people who gave it the money that it needed to run the country?
It's not a natural law, just how the world is, as shown by the fact that the Greens have not yet won a parliamentary majority.
November 9, 2025 at 7:35 PM
It's not a natural law, just how the world is, as shown by the fact that the Greens have not yet won a parliamentary majority.