People on BE do let 'personal' get the best of their analysis...especially when it comes to life's fortunes..

I agree - but some people have the dice loaded against them from the start.

It MUST be hard when everything goes against you, in the same way it is easier when you find a lot of the boxes ticked effortlessly. It's a snowball effect - I've got luckier and luckier as I have got older. It all seemed to start in late adolescence. But looking back, there were foundations laid before hand - by my parents actually. (Don't knock 'em until you revisit their legacy later in life!)

What I don't get are people who want to be battlers.

Well I read it as people who are happy to live in squaller. And some people are, and I bet if you asked them, they would say they are happy with their 'lot'. So everyone is happy,

The only small problem is.... we all pay for them.

But I don't want to sound like a Daily Mail reader, so I'll leave it there.

JTL

Give us a hug.

I think we should have one big group hug - coming together of the bosems.

You leave my bosom out of this, it isn't used to being close to people

Thats OK we can suffocate the boys between us. They will have to send out a search party as Jack and Badge will be missing in action and lost in an un- moderated part of BE.

That is very true.

And Yes, I am happy with my 'lot' these days

Winning a £million on Ernie, might make me a bit happier though

I don't really believe the 'dice loaded against you' thing. I struggled through my twenties, worked hard, but I was getting nowhere and was completly broke (eating dry toast for all my meals). So I tried moving to Germany and got a well paying job.

And so on and so forth, things kept going up.

I'm not trying to give some sob story, but life can be a struggle, and some people just can't be arsed struggling and they become whingers.

JTL

Just the webcam then?

And some struggle and do everything they can to get a step up but outside influences jump in and smack them back down again but they still don't whinge but they've most definitely not chosen to be where they are at that point.

In the words of my daughter, 'judgemental, much'.

I'm happy with my lot. There is plenty that is shit but I believe it will turn around at some point. I've been happy with my lot all my life, always refused to let the 'downs' take over. I'm alive, my family have 'relatively' good health, life is good but with major shit bits. Sounds fair enough at this moment in time.

Anyone venturing into my cleavage would have to be careful, the last adventurer vanished without trace Someone Badge's size might never be seen again

You're not wrong, but most people who study these things know that life chances are reduced for some. You might have pulled yourself up by your bootstraps but some can't and after a series of failures give up. I also think people who have done well often forget the myriad of people left behind.

Some people replace the norms of society with their own norms. This is classic Chav behaviour. They can't achieve at school, so replace its culture with their own which they can do well with. In their eyes, it's the correct culture. It's a vicious circle.

Yip, same here. In the famous words of tumbawumba 'I get knocked down, but I get up again'

If you are not dead, then get on with it ( the advice given to me by a nurse 6 weeks ago after I broke 3 ribs)

JTL

i know a chap who is worth billions,still has his share of strife though,

i think lifes what you make it,money dont bring you happiness,with or without the dosh,your still the same person...