Jonathan Wilson in the Guardian today arguing that Slot's unwillingness to drop him is the main reason for their struggles.

I'm actually thinking of watching it again. I feel like I may have missed certain gradations of its horror.

Hahaha! Colon!!

'Him a wicked and a wild...'

Like you (I assume?), I was working in a record shop when they came on the scene. They were one of the first bands that made me feel the generation gap. Not how I imagined it would happen (God, this is TOO MUCH) but more in a sort of 'Seriously? *This* is what you skinny-trousered youths are into??'

That was...quite something.

Jesus, Luke!!

Those can't be the actual lyrics?! Tell me you've made that up!

I like it when they say 'This call is being monitored for training purposes'! I'm always like 'GOOD. I hope you notice how insanely, furiously at-my-wits-end with impotent rage I sound!!'

Totally. Similarly, I worked in shops for years and I am *ridiculously* polite to retail workers because I know how one rude, nasty, unreasonable person can ruin your day. But it's really hard sometimes.

Anyway, I apologised to the nice O2 person at the end of the call for my earlier, grumpier demeanour - and we parted on good terms. But blimey, working in those places, constantly dealing with people who will be at best irritable and at worst, raging ALL DAY must be so draining.

I don't think that's really my fault given the absurd obstructions and endless waits and random hanging ups of phones I was put through. But it wasn't the fault of the person who eventually helped me either. These things seem almost set up to make us mean to each other.
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One of the most deeply pathetic people in Britain. And at the moment, that's an incredibly competitive field.

It's so hard because I want to wash my hands of them completely. But some version of the Labour party (probably in some sort of progressive coalition) remains our best/only hope of avoiding hard right horror like we've never seen after the next election. But they make it so hard to defend them.

I'd forgotten all about Daubney! One of the many lovely things about being off X is these god-forsaken oxygen stealers just drift out of your consciousness...

I mean, they're still planning to have a conference...