The Saga of Tim & Freya
August 23, 2012 4:35 PM Subscribe
The Saga of Tim & Freya : Comedian Janey Godley's real-time reportage of a breakup on a train.
"Ø Couple on train before it’s even moved have fallen out over "her inability to accept the truth" this will be fun. @VirginTrains."
"Ø Couple on train before it’s even moved have fallen out over "her inability to accept the truth" this will be fun. @VirginTrains."
I don't know if this is real or not, but I've seen equally bizarre behavior in public, and in fact on trains. Freya must have been a Manic Pixie Dream Girl when she was in a good mood, and/or high.
posted by Countess Elena at 4:49 PM on August 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 4:49 PM on August 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Freya is a pretty fitting name for a Manic Pixie Dream Girl.
posted by shortyJBot at 4:56 PM on August 23, 2012
posted by shortyJBot at 4:56 PM on August 23, 2012
Tim's last comment is an incredible bit of understatement.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 4:57 PM on August 23, 2012
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 4:57 PM on August 23, 2012
Oh god just reading that gave me cold sweats and flashbacks, we've all known a Tim and Freya, and we've all sent this fight ( there is only one fight ) happen.
posted by The Whelk at 5:00 PM on August 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 5:00 PM on August 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Jesus. That was really unpleasant to read.
posted by brundlefly at 5:00 PM on August 23, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by brundlefly at 5:00 PM on August 23, 2012 [7 favorites]
Comedian Janey Godley doesn't know how to use English in her blog and doesn't really know how to report overheard drama in English or how to make any of this interesting.
"He (Tim) is staring at floor Freya is eating a sandwich in a furious chompy manner as if it was his limp cock ( am guessing)" = the failure to process even such simplistic human behaviour in a funny way ("limp cock", "am guessing"), while using desperately irritating turns of phrase ("furious chompy manner") is the mark of the rag ends of the Edinburgh Fringe. Avoid this comedian and whatever train she is on.
posted by cincinnatus c at 5:02 PM on August 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
"He (Tim) is staring at floor Freya is eating a sandwich in a furious chompy manner as if it was his limp cock ( am guessing)" = the failure to process even such simplistic human behaviour in a funny way ("limp cock", "am guessing"), while using desperately irritating turns of phrase ("furious chompy manner") is the mark of the rag ends of the Edinburgh Fringe. Avoid this comedian and whatever train she is on.
posted by cincinnatus c at 5:02 PM on August 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
You are of course a master of Shakespearian wit in bursts of 160 characters or less, authored in real time (and probably on a crappy phone keyboard).
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:03 PM on August 23, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:03 PM on August 23, 2012 [8 favorites]
Why the hell would you name your kid Freya? That's like naming your yacht "Reef".
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:04 PM on August 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:04 PM on August 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
A few months ago I witnessed a hilarious public break-up (which included a girl screaming "SUCK MY DICK, CRAIG!" in a crowded restaurant and an "I only thought this sort of thing happened in the movies"-style food fight), but it didn't occur to me to live-tweet it. I could have been internet famous!
posted by "But who are the Chefs?" at 5:13 PM on August 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by "But who are the Chefs?" at 5:13 PM on August 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
You are of course a master of Shakespearian wit in bursts of 160 characters or less, authored in real time (and probably on a crappy phone keyboard).
When I said I was laughing at her blog, I really was laughing at her blog (as linked in the main post), which demonstrates such a devastatingly awful ear for language and life and fun that I'd love to hear it quoted back at me in refutation.
It's pretty obvious that all of the posts are more than 160 characters and authored in less than real time. It's also obvious the author is an unfunny bore. The twitter posts of Tim and Freya (if they exist) could not fail to be more arresting than this. I am on their side.
posted by cincinnatus c at 5:18 PM on August 23, 2012
When I said I was laughing at her blog, I really was laughing at her blog (as linked in the main post), which demonstrates such a devastatingly awful ear for language and life and fun that I'd love to hear it quoted back at me in refutation.
It's pretty obvious that all of the posts are more than 160 characters and authored in less than real time. It's also obvious the author is an unfunny bore. The twitter posts of Tim and Freya (if they exist) could not fail to be more arresting than this. I am on their side.
posted by cincinnatus c at 5:18 PM on August 23, 2012
Why the hell would you name your kid Freya? That's like naming your yacht "Reef".
In Norse mythology, Freyja (Old Norse the "Lady") is a goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, gold, seiðr, war, and death.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:20 PM on August 23, 2012 [8 favorites]
In Norse mythology, Freyja (Old Norse the "Lady") is a goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, gold, seiðr, war, and death.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:20 PM on August 23, 2012 [8 favorites]
Lord, what a drama queen.
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:21 PM on August 23, 2012
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:21 PM on August 23, 2012
It's pretty obvious that all of the posts are more than 160 characters and authored in less than real time.
You can find the original tweet stream here.
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:24 PM on August 23, 2012
You can find the original tweet stream here.
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:24 PM on August 23, 2012
That was incredibly intrusive and mean-spirited.
That's right. Those two shouldn't have been arguing like that in public.
posted by MegoSteve at 5:26 PM on August 23, 2012 [6 favorites]
That's right. Those two shouldn't have been arguing like that in public.
posted by MegoSteve at 5:26 PM on August 23, 2012 [6 favorites]
Freya is eating a sandwich in a furious chompy manner as if it was his limp cock ( am guessing)
Is that how they have oral sex in Scotland? I don't want to go there any more.
posted by Blue Meanie at 5:30 PM on August 23, 2012
Is that how they have oral sex in Scotland? I don't want to go there any more.
posted by Blue Meanie at 5:30 PM on August 23, 2012
Apparently the saga of Tim and Freya has been staged as a play.
posted by ook at 5:37 PM on August 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by ook at 5:37 PM on August 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have to agree that the writing on her 'Award-winning online Blog' is pretty hard to stomach:
And still the sun shone, the cobbles glittered and venues over heated and people sweated and beer was sold in swimming pool quantity’s to fringe going guzzlers. The reviews came out, hopes were dashed, shows were lauded and some comedians affected a swagger that they didn’t arrive with. They are set for glory....
I watched one well known bloke off the telly give a press photographer who asked him to turn to the left -a right hard time shouting “mate just take the picture eh?” the photographer basically threw his hand up clicked and said “fine” then turned to me and added “won’t be my fault his photo looks like shit” The famous bloke (who didn’t know me obviously- why would he?) glared at me (he thought I was the photographers assistant) and said “how hard is it to do your job?” I kinda felt for the bloke, he was besieged by young girls demanding a photo and a press man demanding a decent photo...fuck it must be hard being that famous....all that fixing your hair for photo’s and being rude for no good reason...mind you one person got his name wrong and walked away shouting “it’s not him, it’s the wanker that looks like him” people can be cruel and justice can be swift.
posted by mannequito at 5:56 PM on August 23, 2012
And still the sun shone, the cobbles glittered and venues over heated and people sweated and beer was sold in swimming pool quantity’s to fringe going guzzlers. The reviews came out, hopes were dashed, shows were lauded and some comedians affected a swagger that they didn’t arrive with. They are set for glory....
I watched one well known bloke off the telly give a press photographer who asked him to turn to the left -a right hard time shouting “mate just take the picture eh?” the photographer basically threw his hand up clicked and said “fine” then turned to me and added “won’t be my fault his photo looks like shit” The famous bloke (who didn’t know me obviously- why would he?) glared at me (he thought I was the photographers assistant) and said “how hard is it to do your job?” I kinda felt for the bloke, he was besieged by young girls demanding a photo and a press man demanding a decent photo...fuck it must be hard being that famous....all that fixing your hair for photo’s and being rude for no good reason...mind you one person got his name wrong and walked away shouting “it’s not him, it’s the wanker that looks like him” people can be cruel and justice can be swift.
posted by mannequito at 5:56 PM on August 23, 2012
Can nobody do or say anything anymore without someone twatting it to the entire planet?
I second this. Dear god, it's difficult to read an entire twitter stream of other people's drama. And yet this is somehow more comprehensible than that "crazy dude on a plane that Cary Elwes's brother saw" thread.
(And why did I read them both? How bored am I?)
But that said, what the fuck is up with this "I might be pregnant" crap? Jeebus Christ. Good for Tim for walking off.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:57 PM on August 23, 2012
I second this. Dear god, it's difficult to read an entire twitter stream of other people's drama. And yet this is somehow more comprehensible than that "crazy dude on a plane that Cary Elwes's brother saw" thread.
(And why did I read them both? How bored am I?)
But that said, what the fuck is up with this "I might be pregnant" crap? Jeebus Christ. Good for Tim for walking off.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:57 PM on August 23, 2012
Or am I being a stick in the mud?
No. Broadcasting a stranger's bad day for your own entertainment is disgusting behavior. Those people are helping build a world full of wannabe paparazzi, where everyone is constantly living with the threat of their fifteen minutes of fame happening on the worst day of their lives.
I don't think you're being a stick in the mud. I think the people who facilitate and enable this sort of thing are scum.
posted by mhoye at 7:04 PM on August 23, 2012 [9 favorites]
No. Broadcasting a stranger's bad day for your own entertainment is disgusting behavior. Those people are helping build a world full of wannabe paparazzi, where everyone is constantly living with the threat of their fifteen minutes of fame happening on the worst day of their lives.
I don't think you're being a stick in the mud. I think the people who facilitate and enable this sort of thing are scum.
posted by mhoye at 7:04 PM on August 23, 2012 [9 favorites]
Eh, I thought it was pretty funny.
posted by Diablevert at 7:29 PM on August 23, 2012
posted by Diablevert at 7:29 PM on August 23, 2012
"rabbit fingers" = "air quotes"
posted by Sidhedevil at 8:24 PM on August 23, 2012
posted by Sidhedevil at 8:24 PM on August 23, 2012
"Thank you!"
posted by Miko at 8:31 PM on August 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Miko at 8:31 PM on August 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
This is a serious question: Can someone who thinks this is funny explain where the humor is?
I got completely sucked in by the story, and couldn't read it without imagining what the fight must have looked like in person. And in my imagination, it's not funny, it's just terribly uncomfortable. I understand that things that are unfunny in real life can become funny in retellings, and I can imagine how a theatrical interpretation of this fight might be funny. But there's an immediacy to the initial live reporting that seems to obliterate the humor in it for me.
posted by compartment at 8:43 PM on August 23, 2012
I got completely sucked in by the story, and couldn't read it without imagining what the fight must have looked like in person. And in my imagination, it's not funny, it's just terribly uncomfortable. I understand that things that are unfunny in real life can become funny in retellings, and I can imagine how a theatrical interpretation of this fight might be funny. But there's an immediacy to the initial live reporting that seems to obliterate the humor in it for me.
posted by compartment at 8:43 PM on August 23, 2012
So is this something I'd have to be open to new experiences to understand?
(compartment, I agree - it was funny in a horrible observational comedy way but it was also very invasive and creepy)
posted by Sebmojo at 8:49 PM on August 23, 2012
(compartment, I agree - it was funny in a horrible observational comedy way but it was also very invasive and creepy)
posted by Sebmojo at 8:49 PM on August 23, 2012
Yeah, that creepy feeling happens when you gaze deep into the mirror of narcissism and realize you have finally found what you are always looking for; a view straight into your soul.
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 9:44 PM on August 23, 2012
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 9:44 PM on August 23, 2012
Moral of the story? Leave your drama at home, and don't bring it into public places - the world may be live tweeting/blogging you.
Brought to you by - someone uncomfortable being around public fights in environments I can't escape.
posted by el io at 10:21 PM on August 23, 2012
Brought to you by - someone uncomfortable being around public fights in environments I can't escape.
posted by el io at 10:21 PM on August 23, 2012
Ø Meanwhile am shaking my head at him mouthing the word LIAR.
Ø He isn't looking at me I must not get involved.
This is funny.
posted by Catch at 10:50 PM on August 23, 2012
Ø He isn't looking at me I must not get involved.
This is funny.
posted by Catch at 10:50 PM on August 23, 2012
I have vowed to start using "Was it Oasis?" as a retort in more situations, whether or not it's appropriate. Because it almost never is.
posted by knile at 12:34 AM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by knile at 12:34 AM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
People make you suffer listening to crazy drama in a public place where you can't escape from (ie train)? They are fair game.
This happened to me on the way back from a festival. I started singing this improvised song describing the situation. First to myself... then louder. After say five or six verses they must have realised the subtle eerie high pitched sort of pisstake Craig-David falsetto voice singing about lost chances of discussing things in good faith at appropriate times, where did it all go wrong, we never wanted it to be ugly. Fighting on a train. Was about THEM. They shut up.
posted by yoHighness at 8:35 AM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
This happened to me on the way back from a festival. I started singing this improvised song describing the situation. First to myself... then louder. After say five or six verses they must have realised the subtle eerie high pitched sort of pisstake Craig-David falsetto voice singing about lost chances of discussing things in good faith at appropriate times, where did it all go wrong, we never wanted it to be ugly. Fighting on a train. Was about THEM. They shut up.
posted by yoHighness at 8:35 AM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
This is a serious question: Can someone who thinks this is funny explain where the humor is?
Well, it could be just that my soul has grown scarred and callous, so take it with a grain of salt, of course. But to me what makes it funny is who you imagine yourself as in the scenario. Like, if there was a hidden camera focused on the comedian's face, watching her reaction to the whole thing --- the anxiety, the amusement, the shifts in sympathy and flickers of outrage --- is funny. The role of outsider being reluctantly drawn into this uncomfortable social situation is a comic one --- we've all been there.
Imagining yourself as the person involved in the argument is less funny --- I put myself in Tim's shoes, I cringe in embarrassment for him. But reading the twitter blow-by-blow made think more of how I would feel if I were the comedian in that situation.
Oddly, and I can't really explain how my brain works in this respect as I'm now considering the matter, watching reality TV tends to make me put myself in the subjects' shoes and feel horribly, cringingly embarrassed for them, which is why I don't watch much of it.
posted by Diablevert at 10:27 AM on August 24, 2012
Well, it could be just that my soul has grown scarred and callous, so take it with a grain of salt, of course. But to me what makes it funny is who you imagine yourself as in the scenario. Like, if there was a hidden camera focused on the comedian's face, watching her reaction to the whole thing --- the anxiety, the amusement, the shifts in sympathy and flickers of outrage --- is funny. The role of outsider being reluctantly drawn into this uncomfortable social situation is a comic one --- we've all been there.
Imagining yourself as the person involved in the argument is less funny --- I put myself in Tim's shoes, I cringe in embarrassment for him. But reading the twitter blow-by-blow made think more of how I would feel if I were the comedian in that situation.
Oddly, and I can't really explain how my brain works in this respect as I'm now considering the matter, watching reality TV tends to make me put myself in the subjects' shoes and feel horribly, cringingly embarrassed for them, which is why I don't watch much of it.
posted by Diablevert at 10:27 AM on August 24, 2012
That was awesome.
posted by bq at 5:15 PM on August 23 [+] [!]
That was incredibly intrusive and mean-spirited.
posted by lalex at 5:18 PM on August 23 [4 favorites +] [!]
Both of these can be true.
People make you suffer listening to crazy drama in a public place where you can't escape from (ie train)? They are fair game.
Also this. Sometimes my ex and I would have one of our eventually-marriage-ending fights on the front porch, and even though we didn't get shouty it should have been obvious to anyone watching that we were arguing. Sometimes the next door neighbors would come home and I'd catch them out of the corner of my eye very deliberately not looking in our direction. Every now and then, I imagine running into them and eventually getting around to asking, "Remember when you'd come home and [redacted] and I were having a fight right in front of the whole block? Did you go inside and talk about it, or even make fun of us? It's totally cool, I would've."
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:37 PM on August 24, 2012
posted by bq at 5:15 PM on August 23 [+] [!]
That was incredibly intrusive and mean-spirited.
posted by lalex at 5:18 PM on August 23 [4 favorites +] [!]
Both of these can be true.
People make you suffer listening to crazy drama in a public place where you can't escape from (ie train)? They are fair game.
Also this. Sometimes my ex and I would have one of our eventually-marriage-ending fights on the front porch, and even though we didn't get shouty it should have been obvious to anyone watching that we were arguing. Sometimes the next door neighbors would come home and I'd catch them out of the corner of my eye very deliberately not looking in our direction. Every now and then, I imagine running into them and eventually getting around to asking, "Remember when you'd come home and [redacted] and I were having a fight right in front of the whole block? Did you go inside and talk about it, or even make fun of us? It's totally cool, I would've."
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:37 PM on August 24, 2012
No. Broadcasting a stranger's bad day for your own entertainment is disgusting behavior.
Personally, I think that airing your dirty laundry on public transport like a narssicistic, arrogant, selfish douchemonkey with poor impulse control is disgusting behaviour.
The poor people they imposed upon have every right to find what comedy they can.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 8:01 AM on August 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
Personally, I think that airing your dirty laundry on public transport like a narssicistic, arrogant, selfish douchemonkey with poor impulse control is disgusting behaviour.
The poor people they imposed upon have every right to find what comedy they can.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 8:01 AM on August 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
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Or am I being a stick in the mud?
YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN! (There.)
posted by chuq at 4:45 PM on August 23, 2012 [8 favorites]