Vicky Goes On (Again)

Author: vicsto

  • Complimenting Strangers

    Life is really hard, isn’t it? I am so often annoyed and annoying. Know why? Because I am a person and people are too much. Therefore I am too much and so are you. OK, so we agree life is hard and people are the worst but we are here one time (that we know of) so I don’t want to make it any harder, if at all possible. I try to be understanding and nice but sometimes I just am not. But sometimes, I am. And I spread that around by being nice and paying people compliments. I know, it is a bit weird but do you know what? The smile I get out of people is so great that it’s one of the most selfish selfless acts you can do for free.

    On a Sunday a few weeks ago in the beating London sun (and we can talk more about how the heat is different in London but another time) I grumpily went to Sainsbury’s to grumpily do my grocery shopping and grumpily sit in a park for a hot and bothered grumpy sit down to gather my strength to get to my flat to grumpily put away my now warm and grumpy groceries. To be clear – I was in a mood. Then, I was walking down the road and I saw a lady wearing an amazing orange dress and I thought, ‘you know what? I should tell her her dress is amazing. It’d make her smile and it might make me not want to cry/die/scream/make me feel lighter about the stupid planet we’re on’ so I said,

    “Excuse me? Sorry”

    And she looked at me like ‘WHAATT??’ (fair reaction)

    And I said, “I just wanted to tell you that I love your dress. Orange is one of my favourite colours and it looks great on you.”

    And she BEAMED. And she thanked me and we both went about our day a little happier with the world. And if that ain’t nice I don’t know what is.

    One other time I care to mention just because it was funny, really: I was getting off the bus and an elderly West Indian bloke was getting off in front of me and I loved his trainers so much I couldn’t even help myself but say, “Oh my God, I love your trainers!!” and he looked at me, looked at his trainers and exclaimed, “ZARA! Can you believe it? Thanks! You should have a look for yourself!” And I told him I would and I felt a little better. And I know to look at Zara if I want new trainers.

    Anyway, the moral of this story is – pay a stranger a (genuine) compliment. You will both love it.

    Disclaimer: please use caution when talking to strangers. You know what the world is like. Use your common sense. Don’t compliment strangers at bus stops at 2am like the man at Seven Sisters did to me the other night and then he seemed annoyed when I told him I was not drunk when he asked me, “are you drunk? I’m drunk.”
    Reader, I was drunk.

  • ChatGPT can be helpful, I guess

    Listen, listen, listen, hear me out, shh, wait, I know, I know, I agree but shh, hush, wait, HOLD UP.

    I do not like AI. I do not like that AI is being put into, onto, and around everything. What is the point? Why do we need smart fridges which are connected to the internet? And then you’re going to put an AI in it? What for? I am sick of everything being an app. But…

    BUT. Sometimes you can use ChatGPT (other language models are available. Probably.) for stuff and it’s OK.

    This week I have made ChatGPT tell me approximately how many calories are in all the meals I am going to eat (not helpful if you have an eating disorder but I just have disordered eating so that’s fine) and I also did a Spanish tarot card spread (prompt, if you would like to do this yourself, “please do a tarot spread using Spanish playing cards”) and it said some stuff and I was satisfied for 15 minutes which is 15 minutes of satisfaction I needed on a Monday morning. In the past I have used it to create a ‘sticker’ that I could not find on the WhatsApp sticker choices (prompt I used “sophisticated British fox” because I was talking about London foxes. Obviously.) and I feel that it appealed to the reader in a way I wouldn’t have been able to. I have also asked it to improve this paragraph in a job application I was writing and sent it the paragraph and used maybe 5% of what it said. But that 5% was helpful. I mean, I got the job.

    I think, much like using search engines to try to find the information you need it really, ultimately, comes down to the user. And we all know what users are like.

    All that being said, I do not like Big Tech bros being you know how they are and Big Tech companies shaping our world. I have watched ALL of Black Mirror several times, thanks. And I don’t want that. All THAT being said, I for one welcome our AI overlords when they decide to turn on humanity. Thanks Alexa/Siri/the other one/Cortana/Sklorp et cetera

  • TikTok BrainRot

    TikTok BrainRot

    My name is Vicky and I am an addict.

    I am addicted to scrolling on TikTok and I know that is lame, and stupid but here we are.

    At least I’m honest. I tell people, “oh, no, I don’t have a TV in my bedroom. I just scroll on TikTok in bed for 75 hours a night.” And whilst I vacuum my flat. And whilst I do the washing up. And cook. And on the toilet. Oh and when I’m on the Overground. And when I’m brushing my teeth.
    I have this thing where my phone tells me a weekly report of what I’ve been up to on my phone and let me tell you, PHONE, that is none of my business (most used app is TikTok, second most used app is Matchington Mansion – a whole other story which I may or may not go into at a later date) but what am I supposed to do with that information? Do you use that information to change your phone habits? I should get a dumbphone. Smartphones are the worst thing that have happened to me. I google every random question that floats into my head. Is that really helpful? OK, it means I will never again have to spend several years trying to remember what the theme tune to Twin Peaks sounds like (thanks YouTube) but am I any happier? Are any of us?
    I have heard, as I am sure many of you have, that there is a new trend of “rawdogging” which is not the original meaning of that term, where people are just being. Just existing. And, like, I am happy for y’all but I am not built for that.
    When I was at school I had a backpack filled with novels, and notebooks, a CD walkman, a tape walkman, tapes, CDs, playing cards. I have clearly always needed to be distracted. Maybe I need medication.
    OK, so if I get rid of my smartphone we all know I am just going to go back to carrying all my stuff around again like that trash goblin in Labyrinth and I don’t have the back of a young woman any longer. Maybe I should put a limit on the TikTok app?

    The Junk Lady
    (me when I finally get rid of my Smartphone)

    Is that any way to live? I bought a Kindle which I carry around (I am filled with good intentions) but it has been 3 weeks and I have still not finished reading this book that I am trying to read. But maybe that’s the author’s fault? Ever think of that?
    I don’t know what to do. If you have any suggestions I am open and willing to consider them.
    Kthanksbye.