issue 09 / volume 41 opinions // 19 Don't be that guy: A whole latte trouble » Why it’s always too early to be pretentious over coffee Mercedes Deutscher Staff Writer Fe many, coffee is the only thing that gives them sanity in the morning. Feeling tired? Drink coffee. Want something more? Grab a latte. Really desperate? Take shots of espresso. While it may not matter to you where you get your coffee, it matters to some. Take That Guy, for example. They will only go to some organic, free trade, vegetarian café on Commercial Drive to get their triple shot, half decaf, soy milk, no whip, no foam, sugar-free vanilla latte— all in their own personal cup. Ordering this drink isn’t the issue, however, That Guy will then shove their caffeinated and pretentious view upon everyone they see, especially if the victim isn’t drinking the same coffee they are. Dost thou order a coffee from Tim Hortons? Your coffee dough. : is like water, and an overly : funded scheme to make you : seem “more Canadian” and : patriotic. Do you drink Starbucks? : Starbucks coffee is too strong : and tastes like dirt water. Why : would you pay $5 to buy froma : previously unethical company? : Do you know how much sugar : goes into a Frappuccino? Blenz? You've got to be kidding! You must’ve been : desperate and really rolling in Don't even get That Guy started if you don't carry a : personal cup. You might as : well join the “We hate the > environment” club. Why should it matter what > customers. So many factors are in play : when people decide where to : get their coffee. For someone : who likes simple beverages at : alow price, they may choose : Tim Hortons. Someone who : enjoys customization may visit : Starbucks. Someone who is : looking for some unique flavours : not found in either of the larger : chains may opt for a coffee from : Blenz. A person who prefers : to support local businesses or : just has an out-of-the-ordinary : favourite coffee shop will visit : their choice café instead of a : corporate one. Perhaps where you get coffee : is dependent on convenience. : Not for me though. When I go : to the campus in the morning, : I will stop inside the Starbucks : in New Westminster Station : because I prefer Starbucks to the : : Tim Hortons d tairs. M : brand of coffee you like to drink? : nd Pea : The truth is that it shouldn’t. : Drink the coffee that makes you : happy. After all, each chain of : cafés (as well as locally owned : cafés) have something special : about them that draws in : best friend, however, would opt : for Tim Hortons instead. Neither of our choices in : coffees are better than the other, : because our favourite coffee is : the best to us. When we wake up : in the morning, coffee is often : the first thing on the mind. : Shouldn't that first sip be what is best for us and not for That Guy? Drink on, comrades. Image by Thinkstock So lame it just might work » How the stupidest technology can catch on : to get the pretty girl to look at : me, I feel like ’'m knotting a bow : tie for a business-casual kind of : party. I feel lame. Elliot Chan Opinions Editor M opinions @theotherpress.ca his is not a criticism of any individual or organization, but rather the designs that come from an embarrassing collective demand. I’m talking about technology such as the selfie stick. You know, the elongated pole that people use to take pictures of themselves. Honestly I don’t mind it, the same way I don’t mind someone wearing a fanny pack, or socks and sandals. We can all do whatever we want; however, I’m surprised that technology has gone from innovative to awkward. I’m as comfortable implementing hashtags into my social media posts as lam making cold calls on the phone. There is just something about the action that I still can’t buy into. For lack of a better phrase, when I do use hashtags to further my social media reach, I feel like ’m trying too hard. I feel like I’m trying to show off in an audition, I feel like I’m trying I know I shouldn't because : itis just technology, and hell : everyone is doing it. In fact, : some might say I’m stupid for : not using selfie sticks to take : my pictures and hashtagging : my photos #SelfieStick on : Instagram. Even that sentence : caused me to cringe a bit. For a while, I watched as : some “fortunate” individuals : walked around town with : Google Glass on their face. : They did whatever they did, : smiling and explaining what : they were doing while they : were doing it, and it was all fun : and merriment. However, one : day Google Glass’s popularity : plummeted and now I rarely : see it around. Perhaps it was : because those who were wearing : it were deemed “Glassholes” : and that led to problematic : interactions. Like Bluetooth : earpieces, you cannot look cool : wearing it while walking down : the street because you just : don’t need it. You look stupid, : arrogant, and lazy. Technology, tools, and : metadata tags are useful in : situations where they are : actually necessary. In my mind, : there needs to bea purpose for : something to be “cool.” It’s not : cool hashtagging every word : in your Twitter post, even if : it’s done ironically, because : that post will ultimately affect : nobody. However, if you are : expressing your opinion, : offering insight, or promoting : something of value, then : hashtags are great because you : give someone who is searching : #Cupcakes a place for them : to find cupcakes, recipes for : cupcakes, or your opinion on : a brand of cupcakes. If you : are driving a car, Bluetooth is : wonderful. If you want to get a : group picture without excluding : someone, selfie sticks are the : grand solution. And if you have : other friends with Google Glass, : it would be awesome to interact : through that wearable platform. : However, people are using : technology for reasons that are : beyond me, and that is why so : many of us consider them lame. THE OTHER PRESS IS AIRING STAFF REPORTER Do you love interviewing? Are you great at covering events and taking pictures? The Other Press is hiring a Staff Reporter! The Staff Reporter is responsible for reporting on college news for the News section on a weekly basis. The successful applicant will be responsible for two to three quality, original news articles each week—finding news, conducting interviews, and taking photos. Must haves: - Experience and familiarity with conducting interviews and news-style writing - Interest in student and community news and events - Strong writing skills - Digital photography skills (equipment is provided) Pay: $260/month Interested? Send writing samples, cover letter, and resumé to editor@theotherpress.ca by February 27 at 11:55 p.m. Interviews will take place on March 2.