Commons

Cantab.

Anyone gone to lunch-time commons this summer? TBQH, I couldn't be bothered anymore. The atmosphere is ****e, the food is awful and the people who attend treat the whole affair with contempt. The way things are going, it won't be long before the tradition is discarded.

Had my dinner in M&S on a lovely outdoor balcony for €12.50 last Thursday -- a glass of wine, main course and a banana split for dessert. No sneering conversation and no plates thrown idly in front of me.

€18.50 is a total rip-off as far as price/quality goes.

Boston

18:50 is insane.

DublinWriter

Cantab. wrote: »

€18.50 is a total rip-off as far as price/quality goes.

For meat, cabbage and watery potatoes? You're kidding.

For that money, I'd expect to see several stuffed swans being carried to high table on silver platters à la Porterhouse Blue.

I had the chance to go when I was an undergrad in the 90's, but even then it seemed a rip-off at a tenner.

Jonathan

Is Cantab. a scholar or is he paying €18.50 for commons each day?

Cantab.

DublinWriter wrote: »

Porterhouse Blue.

Great book. Rorate Caeli bought me a copy last year!

Boston

Cantab isn't a schol.

Cantab. wrote: »

Great book. Rorate Caeli bought me a copy last year!

I'm glad you two made it work.

Pet

Cantab isn't a schol.

Bet it stings, too.

godtabh

Cantab. wrote: »

Anyone gone to lunch-time commons this summer? TBQH, I couldn't be bothered anymore. The atmosphere is ****e, the food is awful and the people who attend treat the whole affair with contempt. The way things are going, it won't be long before the tradition is discarded.

Had my dinner in M&S on a lovely outdoor balcony for €12.50 last Thursday -- a glass of wine, main course and a banana split for dessert. No sneering conversation and no plates thrown idly in front of me.

€18.50 is a total rip-off as far as price/quality goes.

Drinking on the job. Nice to see academic standards hasn’t slipped.

Paying €18.50 for lunch is unbelievable. I had to pay €11.50 for breakfast this morning as it was the only place open in Dublin airport this morning. Boots do a nice deal for €4 and it was exactly the same as I got for €11.50. Robbing bastards

Unregistered.

18.50 is mad money!!! Booo-hisssss down with Commons (cost)!

Cantab.

Pet wrote: »

Bet it stings, too.

Let me guess. Pet is a schol.

mathew

does the price not change when it becomes lunch?
I must go check it out. Apparently its a lot less formal than evening commons.

Boston

Cantab. wrote: »

Let me guess. Pet is a schol.

No, he's a Christian.

Podge_irl

Commons has always been hideously overpriced for what it is. Christmas commons is about the only time its worthwhile.

Cantab.

mathew wrote: »

does the price not change when it becomes lunch?
I must go check it out. Apparently its a lot less formal than evening commons.

How you could make summer commons any less formal than term-time commons is beyond me.

Cantab.

Podge_irl wrote: »

Commons has always been hideously overpriced for what it is. Christmas commons is about the only time its worthwhile.

Only if the chapel choir are singing carols and the boat club are there to join in the singing and throw brussel sprouts across the hall.

Podge_irl

mathew wrote: »

does the price not change when it becomes lunch?
I must go check it out. Apparently its a lot less formal than evening commons.

Well you don't have to wait til the fellows leave (unless you're the unfortunate sod saying grace) and its more of a carvery thing (except with no choice!). Grand for a quick lunch if you're not paying for it, extortionate if you are.

Kwekubo

When's it on? And when do you have to sign in?

Podge_irl

Its at 1305 and you have to sign in by 1100.

mathew

Whats the story with Christmas commons do you know Podge? (or anyone else for that matter)
Is there just one or is it every day a week before or something?
High demand for places I presume..

Cantab.

mathew wrote: »

Whats the story with Christmas commons do you know Podge? (or anyone else for that matter)
Is there just one or is it every day a week before or something?
High demand for places I presume..

The dates aren't confirmed yet. The Thursday/Friday (with choir) sittings sell out about a week or two after the dates are announced.

There's usually about 10 Xmas Commons every year. I went on a Tuesday night last December and the place was half empty (disappointingly, a group who booked decided not to turn up).

mathew

thanks

I presume it's free as normal for scholars. Do we get preferance places or anything?

HoboJesus

mathew wrote: »

thanks

I presume it's free as normal for scholars. Do we get preferance places or anything?

No, same deal as usual for when there are visitors.

Podge_irl

mathew wrote: »

Whats the story with Christmas commons do you know Podge? (or anyone else for that matter)
Is there just one or is it every day a week before or something?
High demand for places I presume..

There are 10 of them, more or less in a two week period (though there is the odd "normal" commons in the middle). Scholars sit up top as usual and don't get the wine unlike those who bought tickets. You do get the full Christmas meal though.

Cantab.

HoboJesus wrote: »

No, same deal as usual for when there are visitors.

Why do you refer to fellow students as "visitors"?

Cantab.

Podge_irl wrote: »

There are 10 of them, more or less in a two week period (though there is the odd "normal" commons in the middle). Scholars sit up top as usual and don't get the wine unlike those who bought tickets. You do get the full Christmas meal though.

That's just a precedent that's been set. There's no requirement for scholars to sit separate to the rest of the student populace. There's nothing to stop any student from sitting at the tables occupied by the scholars. There are no reserved places unless you pay for a group booking. You cannot however sit at the Fellows' table unless you're a Fellow or are invited.

Epic Tissue

Sounds a bit ****e tbh. Does it normally have a lot of people attending?

Cantab.

Epic Tissue wrote: »

Sounds a bit ****e tbh. Does it normally have a lot of people attending?

The reason it's ****e is because the people that attend happily accept poor standards.

You don't even get tea and coffee anymore. Another arbitrary precedent that's been set as a result of the scholars being unable to stand each other's company (they run off out back to their study desks as soon as the Fellows go upstairs for coffee). Why the junior common room is over the arse end of Goldsmith Hall is beyond me.

Podge_irl

Cantab. wrote: »

That's just a precedent that's been set. There's no requirement for scholars to sit separate to the rest of the student populace. There's nothing to stop any student from sitting at the tables occupied by the scholars. There are no reserved places unless you pay for a group booking. You cannot however sit at the Fellows' table unless you're a Fellow or are invited.

The places set out at the top tables correspond to the number of scholars attending and are intended for the scholars. The places set out at the other tables generally correspond to group bookings (few enough people would go by themselves, though if they are they would just sit with the scholars). Its just to make life easier for the catering staff. Precedents of course are what ultimately turn into the traditions you are so fond of.

Another arbitrary precedent that's been set as a result of the scholars being unable to stand each other's company (they run off out back to their study desks as soon as the Fellows go upstairs for coffee).

I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about things you don't know anything about.

Cantab.

Podge_irl wrote: »

The places set out at the top tables correspond to the number of scholars attending and are intended for the scholars. The places set out at the other tables generally correspond to group bookings (few enough people would go by themselves, though if they are they would just sit with the scholars). Its just to make life easier for the catering staff. Precedents of course are what ultimately turn into the traditions you are so fond of.

So you acknowledge that there are no reserved places then?

Podge_irl wrote: »

I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about things you don't know anything about.

I've been to Commons enough times to know that most scholars treat commons with the contempt it doesn't deserve.

HoboJesus

Cantab. wrote: »

Why do you refer to fellow students as "visitors"?

Because I hate anyone who isn't a scholar and wanted to make that clear by using the worst word for them I could think of: 'visitors'. :rolleyes:

Also for the sarcasm-immune, I was more referring to groups that visit the college from elsewhere and partake in commons.

JC 2K3

Hey, it's a free lunch, I'm not complaining.

/smug

btw, contempt? wtf?

Liquorice

Haven't made it in to lunchtime commons 'cause I'm working out UCD way, but during the year three courses for €18 seems like decent value. Then again, you can get better quality, cheaper one-course meals elsewhere. Who needs three courses as a regular thing?

JC 2K3 wrote: »

btw, contempt? wtf?

Didn't you get the memo? Scholars don't like to speak outside of tutorials, have lacklustre social skills and feel uncomfortable in the company of intellectual peers.

Optional post-commons tea/coffee sounds like a lovely idea, perhaps it could be started off the back of a society room and a few willing attendees? I know the chaplaincy is nearby and has a kettle, anywhere else?

JC 2K3

Liquorice wrote: »

Didn't you get the memo? Scholars don't like to speak outside of tutorials, have lacklustre social skills and feel uncomfortable in the company of intellectual peers.

I must say, I disagree. Some scholars I have encountered are so extroverted that they commonly look at others' shoelaces.

mathew

Liquorice wrote: »

Optional post-commons tea/coffee sounds like a lovely idea, perhaps it could be started off the back of a society room and a few willing attendees? I know the chaplaincy is nearby and has a kettle, anywhere else?

I'd go..

Cantab.

mathew wrote: »

I'd go..

It's a pity the SU don't campaign for a proper common room. Instead of that, they're off handing out promiscuity packs and waffling on about national student political issues that bear no relation to the goings-on in College whatsoever.

devinejay

Cantab. wrote: »

It's a pity the SU don't campaign for a proper common room. Instead of that, they're off handing out promiscuity packs and waffling on about national student political issues that bear no relation to the goings-on in College whatsoever.

How often do you fantasize about having power over trinity and turning it into it's own sovereign nation complete with customs checks in the front arch for the "riff-raff"? At least daily I'm assuming :D

DublinWriter

Cantab. wrote: »

It's a pity the SU don't campaign for a proper common room. Instead of that, they're off handing out promiscuity packs and waffling on about national student political issues that bear no relation to the goings-on in College whatsoever.

What's wrong with the existing JCR?

rjt

Liquorice wrote: »

Haven't made it in to lunchtime commons 'cause I'm working out UCD way, but during the year three courses for €18 seems like decent value. Then again, you can get better quality, cheaper one-course meals elsewhere. Who needs three courses as a regular thing?



Didn't you get the memo? Scholars don't like to speak outside of tutorials, have lacklustre social skills and feel uncomfortable in the company of intellectual peers.

Optional post-commons tea/coffee sounds like a lovely idea, perhaps it could be started off the back of a society room and a few willing attendees? I know the chaplaincy is nearby and has a kettle, anywhere else?

Count me in too.

Cantab.

rjt wrote: »

Count me in too.

Ever considered that people don't want to be disturbed by a bunch of scholars using the facility as a general purpose common room? Particularly when they already have their own common room.

Incidentally, there used to be a tea room in house 27. Very popular back in the mid 20th century I believe.

antiselfdual

Such arrogance...

Liquorice

Cantab. wrote: »

Ever considered that people don't want to be disturbed by a bunch of scholars using the facility as a general purpose common room? Particularly when they already have their own common room.

Incidentally, there used to be a tea room in house 27. Very popular back in the mid 20th century I believe.

Oh dear dear, aren't we a contrary Mary? The chaplaincy was just a suggestion of room-with-kettle-close-to-dining-hall, and is probably locked in the evenings so someone would have to get permission to use it anyway. And who said post-commons tea would be for scholars only? Although, admittedly, if it happened it would probably turn out to be an exclusively undergrad thing.

antiselfdual

Actually the Scholars' Committee do occasionally organise tea-and-coffee commons (I think there were two last year, so maybe very occasionally)... you could try contacting the Food and Drink reps about making it more regular or whatever.

Liquorice

antiselfdual wrote: »

Actually the Scholars' Committee do occasionally organise tea-and-coffee commons (I think there were two last year, so maybe very occasionally)... you could try contacting the Food and Drink reps about making it more regular or whatever.

Deadly buzz, I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to organise once the presence of a kettle was sorted. I'll give 'em a shout closer to term time, ta!

rjt

antiselfdual wrote: »

Such arrogance...

On the plus side, I got trolled by Cantab! I am now a man.

Cantab.

antiselfdual wrote: »

Actually the Scholars' Committee do occasionally organise tea-and-coffee commons (I think there were two last year, so maybe very occasionally)... you could try contacting the Food and Drink reps about making it more regular or whatever.

Food and Drink society? Surely you mean the JCR committee? It appears the SU have taken over this role, and surprise, surprise; have yet again failed miserably.

rjt

Cantab. wrote: »

Food and Drink society? Surely you mean the JCR committee? It appears the SU have taken over this role, and surprise, surprise; have yet again failed miserably.

I think he means the Food and Drink officers on the Scholars Committee.

Cantab.

rjt wrote: »

I think he means the Food and Drink officers on the Scholars Committee.

The Scholars can go organise whatever they want, the fact remains that the tea/coffee situation is a disgrace.

JC 2K3

This moment in my life is memorable in that it is the first time that I've heard someone refer to a lack of tea and coffee as a disgrace.

Cantab.

JC 2K3 wrote: »

This moment in my life is memorable in that it is the first time that I've heard someone refer to a lack of tea and coffee as a disgrace.

It's a disgrace because it's another drip-drip. Soon there'll be no starter, then there'll be no pudding, leaving sausage, beans and chips served on a plastic plate with plastic cutlery (self-service of course). Ultimately some liberal in power (with a degree from the NUI) will eventually decide that the whole affair is too "old fashioned" and doesn't fit in with Trinity's "21st vision" or some other such gobble-dee-gook.

Commons needs to be protected and nurtured, because if we don't (and yes, the students have some responsibility too); it will be gone within 10 years.

The Provost should start the process of reinvigoration by attending more often. You can be certain that the quality of the food would increase dramatically if the college officers actually participated in college life.

devinejay

JC 2K3 wrote: »

This moment in my life is memorable in that it is the first time that I've heard someone refer to a lack of tea and coffee as a disgrace.

In fairness it is in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I think, it's in the back somewhere.

JC 2K3

Cantab. wrote: »

It's a disgrace because it's another drip-drip. Soon there'll be no starter, then there'll be no pudding, leaving sausage, beans and chips served on a plastic plate with plastic cutlery (self-service of course). Ultimately some liberal in power (with a degree from the NUI) will eventually decide that the whole affair is too "old fashioned" and doesn't fit in with Trinity's "21st vision" or some other such gobble-dee-gook.

Commons needs to be protected and nurtured, because if we don't (and yes, the students have some responsibility too); it will be gone within 10 years.

The Provost should start the process of reinvigoration by attending more often. You can be certain that the quality of the food would increase dramatically if the college officers actually participated in college life.

Your wild extrapolations never fail to amuse me.