Saturday 7 November 2009

Grumpiness Is Good For You



Normally I totally ignore crap that I hear on the news or read in the paper about how something is good or bad for you. Over the years, most of my guilty pleasures have been put aside in favour of health (both physical and mental).

You find something enjoyable (like a massive burger with tons of mayo) and the experts inform you that you will keel over if you eat them all the time. Another pleasure, beer, is much maligned also. I used to be able to drink my 21 units a week with a smile on my face – now, they (those faceless buggers who are trying to rule my life with fear) tell me that I am a binge drinker if I have three pints in one evening.

I love to watch a little bit of TV – but even that is bad for my mind.

What’s worse, the number of mixed messages we get from “experts” is contradictory and changes from second to second. Take the much maligned egg:

In the 70’s - "Eat as many as you can – go to work on an egg"

In the 80’s and 90’s – “AARRRGGHH!!! CHOLESTEROL!!! SALMONELLA!!! STOP EATING EGGS!”

Now? Eggs are a good source of protein!!

So, am I supposed to eat eggs or not?

Anyway, back to the plot - I stumbled across this link on the BBC website:

Feeling Grumpy Is Good For You

I must admit that I didn’t read the full article because the headline told me all that I needed to know. I would react in a similar way if I read headlines like:

“Eat More Cheese! You Are Guaranteed To Live To Be 150!”

“Experts Say That We Are Not Drinking Enough Beer!”

“Rock Music Is Therapeutic And Good For The Soul - Particularly If Very Loud!"

Sadly, we never see such headlines but “Feeling Grumpy Is Good For You” is the closest I have seen.

Before I go on, let me reassure you, dear reader, that I am a happy person with a positive outlook on life. I wake up everyday and I feel good to be alive. I want to live a long and happy life and see and experience just about everything that is good in the world.

However, I am a grumpy old git.

I’ve often wondered why I feel so happy even when I am in the middle of an enormous rant about something I’ve seen on the news. It has puzzled me that I can stand on my soapbox and pontificate about everything that is wrong in the world with a huge grin on my face and a feeling of euphoria in my heart. My mind is cleared of all the cobwebs; ranting is a spring clean for the brain. Being grumpy is therapeutic. I’ve known this for years.

Now I know it’s true – and nobody will convince me otherwise.

Many things make me happy but being a grumpy old man is one of the more pleasurable aspects. Until now, I honestly thought that I was a walking paradox; I appear to be totally angry and depressed yet I am absolutely delighted. I used to think that I had a split brain, the two halves balancing each other out as I ranted.

As well as giving myself immense pleasure by putting the world to rights, others, bizarrely, also enjoy my grumpy monologues. Certain people wind me up on purpose, knowing exactly which buttons to push to get me started:

Ill-deserved knighthoods

Politicians lying through their teeth

Strictly Come Dancing

Office politics

The state of music in the world today

Premiership footballers

The X Factor

Chirpy morning TV presenters

Radio DJs

The list is endless.

I can enter into a world where I am King and everybody else is my subject and must listen even if they don’t want too. Some people chuckle; others roll their eyes and say “he’s off again”. Some people even ignore me.

I don’t care. Ranting soothes my soul. Grumpiness makes me feel happy. I know that sounds absurd but it is absolutely true.

Mrs PM occasionally chuckles when “I go off on one”. She will sit there and smile as I preach about the state of the world and how I would rectify the situation if I had the omnipotence I secretly desire. Sometimes I go too far and my tirade of abuse is cut short when she says something like “Shut up – for the sake of my SANITY if nothing else!!!”

And now the BBC has confirmed something that I have known deep down for years; being grumpy is good for you. It focuses the mind and sharpens my razor tongue. And I am happier as a result.

When Mrs PM reprimands me for being a grumpy old git I can now turn to here and say, with my hand on my heart:

“Grumpiness is good for me – the BBC told me so. I shall continue to rant and I shall continue to moan. The TV will not get a reprieve. You should try it some time.”

I will spread the word. I will tell people that instead of bottling up their frustrations they should let it all out and rant away. There is nothing wrong with being grumpy.

Moan to your friends. Here a few topics that push my buttons – I’ve posted about some of them already:

Starbucks opening a new coffee shop five minutes walk away from another one.

The ever increasing price of petrol.

People yelling into their mobile phones saying things like “I’m on a bus – I’ll be there in thirty minutes. I’ll call you in ten minutes just to let you know where I am.”

The one-sided scare-mongering science that makes us believe the world is going to end if we don’t switch off our lights in time.

Dreadful romantic comedies that all have the same plot.

So-called celebrities who preach to their fans – the biggest offender being Bono.

The cult of celebrity and the pointlessness of people like Paris Hilton who are famous for absolutely nothing.

Overpaid, cheating prima-donna footballers.

The ego of every single contestant on the Apprentice. One particular comment a year or two ago quite literally made me spill a cup of tea over my crotch: “I am the best salesperson in Europe” – NO YOU BLOODY WELL ARE NOT!!!!!!!

Vegetarians who preach to me about eating meat. I don’t mind vegetarians but don’t give me a hard time just because I eat pork.

Overpriced restaurants serving crap food.

Contemporary art

Business bullshit: “What do you mean STEP UP TO THE PLATE? WHAT BLOODY PLATE?”

Christmas commercials in October.

People who ask stupid questions.

Talentless celebrities who expect special treatment “just because they are Britney Spears”

Over the top political correctness – she is female therefore she is a chairwoman NOT a CHAIRPERSON

Dreadful TV commercials particularly involving celebrities saying “because you’re worth it”

Novels that are supposedly literary masterpieces but in reality are as boring as hell and are only top of the bestsellers list because nobody understands the dreary monotonous story.

Ridiculous fashion and the fact that an elite bunch of idiots are telling Mrs PM that I should wear ridiculous clothes – “It’s the fashion Dave – your clothes are SO OVER!!”

Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and any other day when I have to waste money on cards just because some faceless elite are trying to rob me of my hard earned cash.

Over the top TV commercials for new pop stars “Winky Booger’s new album – the most anticipated recording of 2009. Winky opened his soul to the world.” Winky’s music is CRAP!

People who tell me that I look unhealthy because I haven’t spent my life sunbathing.

Over-zealous Health and Safety.

That’s plenty to keep you going, if you are anything like me. In fact, it has almost certainly given me a couple of ideas for future blog posts.

See what I mean?

I want to take a leaf out of Gordon Gecko’s book. I want to inspire you all.

The Plastic Mancunian says:

Grumpiness Is Good

Happy ranting – you know it makes sense.

16 comments:

Robin Easton said...

It's good to know that one is solidly on the road to health, health through grumpiness. I can see the book already. May I suggest a few titles?

The Way of the Grump:Finding Inner Peace Through Grumpiness.

The Seven Steps to Grumpiness

"Are We Eradicating Grumpiness?"

The Four Grumpy Agreements

The Grump Within

The Grump Diet

How to Get Fit and Stay Grummpy

The Law of Grumpiness

Be the Grump You Want to See in the World.

A New Grump: Awakening Your Life's Grump

The Evolution of Grump

"Naked in Grump"

"Five Perspective on Grumpiness"

"Four Portals to Grumpiness"

SBDG: The Silent But Deadly Grump.

ROFL!!! Hahahahahahahahahah!! Oh maaan, I have such a blast here!!!!!

Onward and upward to greater and better grumpiness!! Peace to all Grumps. :)))

bingkee said...

I don't think grumpiness is good but it's an emotion that can be controlled like anger. It's an emotion so it's not really good nor bad, but if left uncontrolled, that could be disastrous.

We have a choice to be affected or not and if affected, we have a choice to simmer it down.
If a person is grumpy all the time, it can be annoying. It's like being around a "child" who cannot be pleased.
But that's only my opinion. This is because nobody around me likes a grumpy behavior that lasts for than 5 minutes.
I remember my father who kept reminding us , "Life is too short to be morose and to rant about mundane stuff." My father was a man of calm spirit no matter what tribulation you may hand in to him. Too bad he died at the age of 47.The good thing about how he spent those 47 years on this earth, he never spent a minute grumbling about things that don't matter.

As you;ve said, "Cheers!"

Sandie lee said...

LOL...too funny. I'm also a grumper...griper...whatever. Long live us grumps :)

Stunatra said...

This is awesome. Feeling grumpy can be good for you. Well that explains why it feels good to be grumpy once in awhile. Great entry and thanks for the article! I couldn't have found it at a better time, me being grumpy. Now I have something to be cheerful about being grumpy!

River said...

"Ridiculous fashion"
HAH!
If any of those "fashion experts" could see me in the get up that I get around in, they'd die on the spot.
Comfort is the way to go.
Keep ranting.

Anonymous said...

The key thing about living with a grumpy person is to not take his ranting or moaning for serious. And never ever try to answer or worse try to sustain a conversation. My husband told me this and he's a very grumpy person.

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Robin,

Some great titles there. I would love to see a self-help book on grumpiness.

I particularly like "The Grump Within".

Mind if I steal that from you?

:0)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Bingkee,

You have made a valid point about controlling grumpiness - it can be annoying I agree.

However, when I moan, I do it with a smile on my face and inject a little humour into my rants - that's why people wind me up on purpose - because I make them laugh.

One thing's for certain - I am not morose and I hope I'm never remembered as such.

:-)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Sandie,

I second that! Long live grumps!!

:0)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Stunatra,

It was great for me to discover the article too - now I have a valid excuse.

:0)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi River,

I've been dying to write a post about fashion and I will do very soon. It's one of those subjects that makes me marvel at the gullibility of some people.

Fun times blogging ahead.

:0)

Cheers

PM

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Aluajala,

I totally agree; Mrs PM never takes me seriously. To be honest, I don't even take myself seriously.

:0)

Cheers

PM

Kath Lockett said...

Feel better now?
Maybe Mrs Mancunian can smile during your next rant and say, "I like long walks - especially when they're taken by people who annoy me." :)

Plastic Mancunian said...

G'Day Kath,

Yes indeed.

:0)

Cheers

PM

Robin Easton said...

My dear PMG (Plastic Mancunian Grump), You many use any title here you want because I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see you do a book titled "The Grump Within". I get bored reading, but it is a book I would chew my way through. You HAVE to write it.

I keep telling you...you have riches at your finger tips. Your wit ROCKS!!! So go for it dude and do what you do best: blow out all the stale air with your sassy, blunt and fresh wit. :)))

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi Robin,

Maybe I will,

:0)

Cheers

PMG