Coxford_lou

Not at all - it's very easy. I just wait at the bar looking a bit lonesome with an empty glass, then reject any men that approach me until I find the ones with the Southampton accents. Never fails.

Hiya Turks! Thanks, I'll gladly continue doing whatever the hell I want. You stick to being an old f*art.

You're just jealous you weren't invited. Loser.

I'm getting worried that you keep worrying we'll be put off by you joining us. Is there something you need to warn us about first?!

Hi Special K - I don't think that was the assumption at all. In fact Pap has expressed a similar point of view as you, and I get that. The point was made in response to Jeff's view that all you need to do to get what you want is work hard. Whereas, I think that's an overly simplistic point of view. But there's no judgement there on whether you should have that aspiration or not in the first place. Only that if you do, there are a lot of elements conspiring against you. My experience of my estate was pretty claustrophobic, but very entertaining.. Whereas I often find middle class areas pretty soulless. I guess that's southern life for you.

LOL!! Good job Chalet, I'm with you on that one!

I'm happy to confirm, Jeff is definitely in his early 30s.

Ha! That was a convenient little twist at the end of your sentence.

You didn't check out those leaked photos on Twitter?! I admit I did, though I know it was really wrong of me to do so. And I think disgusting they were leaked in the first place.

Oh well - another time!

Bloody Jeff again! You coming along to Spurs, JB?

"cocks-for-lou" :( Who started the lapdog rumour anyway? Now look what you've done!

Well I think that's fine and dandy for you, but if you want to have a wider impact on social change, bashing people over the head for not working hard enough when they're down on their luck, when all around them they can see opportunities they're excluded from, is possibly not the best or most fair strategy. Not everyone is like you or your parents. I always find it strange when people pick on those in poverty as being the root of our problems, when actually we're all much closer to this state, than we are to being millionaires. You'd think we'd empathise more, or hedge our bets more towards this group in case one day things go t*ts up and we end up in the same place. It happens, very easily.

If you're born/brought up on a council estate it's pretty darned hard to get out of it. Everything is conspiring against you in the same way that everything is conspiring for you if you are sent to a private school. Regardless of your abilities or talents. A lot of that is soft stuff - from understanding your own potential, to have goals and aspirations, to going to a school that can get the best out of you, to having confidence in a job interview, and not doubting yourself when the going gets tough. Some of it is more practical - not having money to take risks like more affluent classes can. Some of it is prejudice - employers only considering people from Oxbridge backgrounds. Working hard comes off the back of all of this, but on its own it's not enough. Since Universities became less elitist, it has certainly open things up a bit, but only so far.

Don't get all smug with me KRG. Just cos you're younger and prettier. And everyone has seen you naked.

Nooooo Jonnyboy - the one time you want to meet up is when I'm not gonna be there!

HA! The politics thread is actually making me laugh for once... Brilliant!

Ah, yes good point. Might be a bit of tactical voting!

BBB, you should know by now anyone posting naked nuns are out of my gang. Bearsy's gang will welcome you with open arms I believe. Your choice will depend on where your priorities lie. Fake women, or the real thing. Only you can decide.....

Wow. This is making me want to like John Terry now. God please no.

I can do the 6th too.

So many backhand compliments towards Hodson! What an ar*e!

I could the 5th.

Oh my god. That is pretty much exactly how I imagine Bearsy. Maybe with a nicer sofa.

While Bearsy likes to give off a bit of a Co-op vibe, my suspicion is he's more Waitrose.