Guardian readers have responded to recent articles with a mix of humor and frustration, coining new terms and challenging practices in retail, travel, and politics.
Introducing 'iRate': The Dystopia of Post-Purchase Reviews
In response to Stuart Heritage's list of words describing our tech dystopia (18 August), reader Elli Woollard of London proposes the term 'iRate'. This describes the experience of making an online purchase and, before even removing the packaging, receiving an email asking 'How was it for you?'. Follow-up emails arrive days later if the buyer fails to review every detail of the transaction. The process continues with repeated requests until the consumer is 'left wanting to throw your purchase and/or your laptop across the room,' according to Woollard.
School Holiday Scam: Profiteering Over Penalties
Reader Max Fishel of Bromley, London, responded to the article 'Cheap travel is not a defence: the parents facing court for school absences in England' (15 August). Fishel argues that instead of criminalizing parents who take children on holiday during term time due to lower costs, authorities should address the 'blatant profiteering by travel firms charging inflated prices during school holidays.'
Cinema Kissing and the Bright Torch Solution
Regarding the letters on kissing in the back row of cinemas (16 August), reader Trish Cockayne of Lymm, Cheshire, recalls her local cinema in the 1960s, the Elysian in Cheadle Hulme. It featured double seats at the end of every row, and usherettes with 'very bright torches' to deter amorous behavior.
Barking Mad: A Joke on Borough Rankings
Responding to the article 'Barking mad? How people in England’s ‘least friendly’ borough feel about the ranking' (19 August), reader Dr. Glyn Thompson of Leeds shares a joke from a friend who lived in Barking. The friend once described a mutual acquaintance as 'a bit East Ham,' explaining the phrase meant 'one stop short of Barking.'
Champagne Populism: Richard Tice's Climate Solution
Reader Martin Shipway of Parly, France, reacts to Richard Tice's answer to climate change, as reported in letters (18 August). Tice's suggestion, 'Let them drink English sparkling wine,' prompts Shipway to ask if this is what might be called 'champagne populism.'
