In Today's News - Whining

Winnipeg is either going through an extremely slow news period or else the tendency to focus on the insignificant is just the way things are going.  It seems we have become a society of whiners.  The smallest complaint is news worthy and somehow it always seems to be someone else’s fault.

What’s brought about this line of thought is two specific news stories broadcast during last night’s evening news hour. 

The first was a number of people complaining about the snow left behind by street cleaning and the fact that they would have to shovel their own walks.  Hate to point this out but its Manitoba if you weren’t expecting snow you’re an idiot. My driveway is 100 feet long, I get tired of shoveling the snow and the remnants from street clearing and yes I do complain from time to time but it’s really not newsworthy.

The second I can no longer remember, what can I say the ole’ memory is slipping….wait I remember. It was complaints about store reward cards and that not all deals on their websites are available in all markets.  Well different markets have different availability seems like this should be a no-brainer.  It seems like something that you may grumble about to a friend in passing but it’s not really newsworthy.

To me it just highlights what seems to be an ever growing epidemic, rampant whining.  Every issue we face seems to be blown out of proportion, annoyances are now considered to be actual issues that someone else needs to step in and fix.   

I think this is where it really rubbed me the wrong way that not only did these individuals feel the need to complain in such a big way but that they seemed to expect it as a right that someone else should fix what they perceived as an issue.  

For the issue of snow clearing Manitobans pay enough taxes without more of our tax dollars going to clear snow from peoples walkways.  If you want to own a home you need to understand that it comes with certain maintenance requirements and that yes snow shoveling is one of those.

As for loyalty cards market differences are just that market differences not a personal affront and if you disagree with a company’s practices don’t shop there it really is just as simple as that.  Crying it’s not fair that one person is able to get something you are not is rather on the childish side.

I suppose this post could also be considered whining but hey it’s my blog I can whine if I want to. I think the difference is that I’m also not going to try to get it on the 6 o’clock news.

Getting fired up

Reading the news this morning I came across a story about a fire which may have been intentionally set in a warming hut made of hay for ice skating at The Forks.  Now I’m not trying to jump to conclusions but what the frick? Seriously now, why? It’s these types of stories that really get my blood boiling. How does someone even think something like that is a good idea? It’s disappointing to feel such shame in humankind and realize people are capable of destroying others hard work like that.

I suppose it is possible the fire was unintentional perhaps a careless smoker not realizing hay is just a little bit flammable.  That really doesn’t sound much better but it would be easier to believe someone may just be an idiot versus someone intentionally being that disrespectful of others.

I’m disappointed we hadn’t gone to see the huts earlier; we were going to check them out this weekend. I realized that they were open just as Winnipeg hit its yearly cold snap so we put off going. This hut was part of an international art and architecture competition with over 130 entries.  It was one of five winning contributions from a team in New York named hay(v)en hut.   I’m sure it was interesting and I wish I’d seen it.