LS Dilemma: Can a relationship work if you don’t get on with their friends?

You can tell a lot about a person from the friends they have. Your girlfriend might be the most friendly, charismatic and beautiful character you’ve ever laid eyes on, yet if you found out she was BFFs with an angry bunch of militant Nazi racists (for example) then I think you’ll probably admit it’s cause for concern. Probability dictates that your situation will most likely be a little less extreme than my example, but the point remains: a relationship is built on commonality. Naturally, if you like your partner enough to want to enter into a relationship with them, then theoretically you should get on with their friends too. However, a relationship does not always equal identical views, tastes and humour (and it would be worrying if it did). You may not get on with their friends but that’s not to say you can’t retain a bond with them on another level. Just remember who it is you’re in a relationship with.

LS Dilemma: Is the Leeds Uni and Leeds Met rivalry still relevant?

Every Wednesday night at the sweaty, scantily-clad hellhole that is Vodka Nationwide, the DJ loves nothing more than to rouse the crowd into a competitive frenzy, attempting to stir up a rivalry between the otherwise likeminded clubber-students of Leeds: “GI’US A CHEER IF YOU’RE AT THE MET” (loud woos), “Okay GI’US A CHEER IF YOU GO TO LEEDS UNI” (some boos, several woos) and finally “GI’US A CHEER ALL YOU LEEDS TRINITY LOT” (mostly silence; loud roar from one corner).

Based on one’s perceived superiority and the other’s humble pride, university rivalry is not something by any means unique to Leeds (Sheffield/Hallam, Nottingham/Trent, Southampton/Solent etc. etc.). People do love a good opposition to chant abuse at. Since the initial fresher’s week bus-banter of ‘Your Dad works for my Dad n-naa na na’ and the like, the Uni/Met rivalry seems to have mostly fizzled out. My friendship group in Leeds is made of a mix of students from both Universities and it’s never given a second thought.

The rivalry is generally in good humour and only particularly evident at the odd trashy club night or Varsity matches (where University competitiveness is mandatory). Still, perhaps in the name of peace and love and all that, we should all join hands, join forces and pick another rival? Another city altogether, maybe? Sheffield will do. Or Manchester. Both are close enough to be considered ‘rivals’ yet far enough away for us to have time to hide, should things turn violent. 

Mo

Another year, another Movember, another bitter reminder of my inability to grow anything close to the sort of epic 70’s porn-star lip fur I dream of. I might hit puberty one of these days but in the mean time prostate cancer is still a right bitch. Please donate all the pennies you can to me/the academy teams’ Mospace. 

http://uk.movember.com/mospace/654582/

Super. Awesome. Cheers.

Unremarkable things bent by Uri Gellar

an ear

the truth

a knee

the rules

an elbow

spoons

(Source: mcsweeneys.net)