[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Poor mite, sounds like an absolute clusterfuck in terms of organisation making an already fraught thing worse. Sorry to read QT.

I think it's worth trying just with you in the park - if he can have fun like that, maybe its worth building on. If he still hates it without all the external stuff of other people looking, organisation, pressure etc then I think that might be a clearer answer.

[QuickTidal]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 29 May 2026 - 12:16 PM, said:

Poor mite, sounds like an absolute clusterfuck in terms of organisation making an already fraught thing worse. Sorry to read QT.

I think it's worth trying just with you in the park - if he can have fun like that, maybe its worth building on. If he still hates it without all the external stuff of other people looking, organisation, pressure etc then I think that might be a clearer answer.

Yeah, for sure. I think that's definitely what I'm going to try.

[Abyss]

Cause, on 29 May 2026 - 06:44 AM, said:

So continuing my adventures as someone who doesn't carry cash. Ever. I think it's a habit from South Africa.

I was at an Indian restaurant and after my meal I asked for the bill. The waiter brought a machine to the table and he told me to skip the tip. I said I was happy to tip. He explained that the restaurant keeps the tips if they are not cash. I told the waiter that was illegal and he shrugged resigned.

I know it's illegal. There was a recent story about a restaurant that did the same thing. Eventually got reported and the state fined them. I think the restaurant closed.

So while I want to fight for workers rights I also feel it's not my place to report it if they know it's illegal and have chosen not to report it themselves. I don't want to report wage theft and end up costing them their jobs instead.

I typically ask and if i get anything other than a clear 'yes we do' i either don't or leave cash if i'm carrying. Ive also started paying more attention to bills since i spotted 'service charge', 'convenience charge' and 'local improvement fund charge' on some bills. Some can't be avoided and were even noted in small print on the menu - k fine, some they waive if you make it a thing. I particularly liked where I said i would pay cash so they would waive the 'convenience fee' but they couldn't explain what was convenient about it, or waive it. I don't make a point of picking these fights bcs they rarely change anything but every now and then i get annoyed/curious/bored enough to bother.

[Tiste Simeon]

Argh QT that sounds hideous. We have an annual kids sporting event here and in the weeks leading up to it the kids all do sports to them play on the day (it's called the Manx Youth Games and it's a really great thing)

My kid loved doing cricket (ew) and we supported him every week and on the day itself. But the thing that makes it a success is that the people organising it are involved, communicative and have a whole host of volunteers to help. So there's a plan. Kids at that age (my son is 7 and his year group is the youngest allowed) do not pay that much attention for long and so there needs to be planning and organising from the get go.

What you described has none of that and I'm baffled that they would not postpone it if all 3 decided not to be there!