Your worst encounter with a rat | James O'Brien - The Whole Show

This is a catch-up version of James O'Brien's live, daily show on LBC Radio from the 20th of December 2023.
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[@ChickenNugNugz2]

Worst encounter with a rat was when I was in a coffee shop and the local MP Johnny Mercer came in. Absolutely disgusting, they need rodent control.

[@Unchainedboar]

as a Canadian millennial i can explain perfectly why we dont prioritize work, its because working hard or slacking it doesnt matter you dont make enough to own a home or other things out parents could achieve, my go to line to the boomers is, "did you work hard for what you have? well i could work as hard as you did and not have a chance of having what you have"

[@ASOXO]

I'm leaving the UK because I don't want to work my whole life for a 2 bed apartment or a dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere while a MORTGAGE still costs £900 per month. I've seen house prices in and around Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal. I can empathise with your feelings.

[@BetjeWolff-v2s]

Nuance: 6 days of 9,5 hours working and the sunday to rest, except from obligatory to go to church in the morning and in the afternoon at 4. The introduction of one week holiday per year for all workers, wow !!. Teens: 6 days a week to school from 8-30 - 17.00 hrs and homework in the evenings. The month of august the only holiday. No tv., just the radio, no distractions. The boomers did not work 'harder', they made many more hours, like it was normal then, everyone worked constantly. But without the stress of headlines and production numbers. They were lucky that houseprices went up and up. Not all are comfortable and well of.

[@jayjaymoshows3696]

Because they climbed the ladder, then pulled it up behind them. Simple as that.

[@samreenahmed259]

James i can hear you for hours, you dont tolerate lies and shut the liars mouth immediately.. i would also thank you for reporting on Gaza war and confronting the liars.. thank you so much..please keep reporting on Palestine, they need the world to raise their voice for them and report the truth..

[@tq33ng]

i once found myself directly in the path of nigel farage when walking in london.traumatising.

[@DeniseWilliams-jr5xo]

I can't think of anything worse that having to be on the same path as Fartage.

[@TalesOfWar]

My sympathies.

[@DennisMoore664]

Talk about encountering something worse than a rat!

[@111doomer]

My head cannon is that Farage walks around like Pigpen. A cloud of stink lines following him around, stale beer, cigarette smoke and desperation sweat.

[@aequanimitas]

I feel the question is "who does prioritising work benefit?" It doesn't benefit us as individuals.

[@stevengerard7371]

I really appreciate this show and James O'Brien's humility and curiosity in particular. Sensible reality based commentary; refreshing.

[@vincehammond1282]

And a fine job you’re doing , truly a beacon of hope in this broken Britain. 😢

[@chrissouthgate4554]

And in the meantime, MPs are due a pay rise of £6000 taking their Salary to over £93000 + benefits a larger percentage rise than other public servants (without industrial action). So is anyone satisfied with their job performance? (Source, Express)

[@111doomer]

I'm Gen X and it's blatantly obvious why people are giving up on work. The UK economy has for living memory been set up to benefit asset holders and not workers. Work does not pay. Pay rises, particularly over the last thirteen years, but in general for as long as I can remember, have not kept in line with either inflation, and more importantly in line with the cost of living. This is not specific to the UK, most "Western" economies are having the same issue, but it is enhanced in the UK as we have been governed by parties that have done little to nothing to ameliorate this issue. Labour introduced tax credits, but this put more money into the owning class, it did not focus on supply side at all. It's also made worse by end stage capitalism as companies become more rapacious and governments allow them to. Workers are being told they need to work longer, despite the metrics being used to justify this having peaked at around 2005 to 2010. On top of which there is a growing realisation that a lot of people alive right now are going to have their lives massively impacted by climate change so working yourself to death may actually be pointless anyway. TLDR. End stage capitalism, climate change, populist right wing governments.

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

You're definitely doing a Public Service James. Keeping The UK informed. They're Lucky to have you.

[@middleman9183]

unlucky more like 😂

[@GGMC556]

Does his calm, soothing radio voice convince you that he's telling the twuth?

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

​​@@GGMC556No the Hard Facts he reports convinces me he's telling the truth.

[@middleman9183]

@@user-em6ie2be7x sacked from newsnight for bias

[@Mounhas]

@@middleman9183 “James O’Brien parts ways with BBC Newsnight rather than ‘wind neck in’ on Brexit and Trump” Jan 22, 2018.

[@MartyJackson]

I saw Steve Tuckwell in Uxbridge just after he took over from Boris. That was my most recent encounter with a rat.

[@SouthwesternEagle]

I have a pet rat. He's so sweet.

[@Jacky-Boy]

James you do a wonderful public service. You arm me with the tools to discuss political issues with people falling into the same thought traps as so many of your callers. One by one, I've been able to convince so many around be that they need to look closer at Starmer and Labour and not just believe the headlines that flash across their screens, and its thanks to your show.

[@ageoflove1980]

It is almost like a literal scene from 1984. The one moment we are all clapping for our nurses and doctors during the pandemic, Farage the hardest of all. And its almost like in the middle of that a note is passed and suddenly we are not at all at war with Eurasia but East Asia. We were always at war with East Asia!!! Boo!!! Down with doctors!!!

[@jacsavickas9822]

As an older millenial it's not a surprise that we're not making work a priority. Remember that most of us will never be able to retire and a sizeable number of us will be locked into renting for our entire lives. We most likely won't get a state pension, and it we ever do, we won't get to enjoy it because it's about the right time to be just getting into the heat death of human life on earth. What exactly is it we are supposed to be working our arses off for? First caller Mark and the texter are both spot on.

[@ronsmith-ug5jl]

James O'Brien with the work ethic part off your program you answered it yourself imagine having a job you can't stand and spending most of your life at it.. Wishing your life away can't wait for Friday. Working with people that are in the same boat and say I can't rate to retire.. Then that day comes and they die before even doing there dreams.

[@faderabanna]

James voice is just ❤

[@samreenahmed259]

James you are fearless and honest and i love this about you ❤️

[@garethjones2746]

It’s sick how they get parking tickets and all of this. We desperately need these skilled people. Makes me angry listening to all this.

[@Culky]

I can't even listen to the doctors segment, it makes me too angry knowing the catastrophic damage the Tories have done to the NHS, never mind their attempts to demonise doctors.

[@debramahoney7105]

I'm currently living the nightmare James 😢

[@kevinfarrell523]

Thank you!

[@sysrich]

My worst encounter with a rat? I saw Michael Gove walking around Nuremberg just after I lost my right to free movement. The disgusting creature was holding one of those touristy umbrellas with a print of the city all over it. Meanwhile I was off to the town hall to figure out whether I’d be able to travel back into Germany on account of the UK government not signing a deal with the EU and the German government having not yet figured how to adequately protect the Brits effectively abandoned on their shores.

[@johngamble967]

I fully appreciate your story,we were fortunate to get residency in Spain before the dim wits spoilt it for thousands of sain people..

[@arycosta7293]

I’m shocked how little they make.

[@GrandadGuitar]

The biggest story of National interest is Mone and Lord Bethel.

[@MaryMclare-sp6vx]

People don't strike for nothing james

[@hywelgething4943]

On Keir Starmer, being the devil's advocate doesn't mean you advocate the devil. Unlike right wing media and politicians at the moment.

[@martinaustin5316]

They clapped doctors when they needed them during COVID and now when doctors want to be paid a salary that befits their professionalism and skills, the Tories want to turn people against them. Junior should be removed from their title. Doctor are doctors and consultants are consultants. Junior belittles them.

[@Touhou-forever]

I was born in December of 1994 and I think that Life is important than work

[@BetjeWolff-v2s]

My worst encounter with a rat, being 9 months pregnant heaving myself out of the bus, waddling on the sidewalk. 5 Meters before me a evenly highly pregnant rat waddled quietly in the same direction. Hormonal instincts kicked in, emotions through the roof.

[@20shourya]

I lost it after 02:08:00 with all the ratman stories - hilarious!

[@ECECECECEC]

Millennials are more likely to have a family, certainly a partner so work is less important socially and more of an interference with their life. I’m genx and we’ll past needing social contact and let’s face it saving a 3 hour round trip in heavy traffic, lying in until you are due to start work, popping to the kitchen for a meal etcetera all saves time and money.

[@Batters56]

59:05 This so totally true with the accepted facts. The husband would be the breadwinner even in a factory job, but would earn enough on one wage to look after a housewife and multiple children. Perhaps even with keeping the lions share of his wages to himself. Now, in particularly poorly paid work, both parents can work long hours and still find themselves in poverty.

[@ilricettario]

Woderick my wild Rat is deeply offended.

[@wavydavy9816]

You've been watching Chris Packham 🤔 I watched an episode once where his introduction was 'Hi. Welcome to the Really Wild Show. I'm Chris Packham. Today we're going to looking at the reproductive cycle of the rare, wild water rat.' I'm sure he was in on it 🤷‍♂

[@martinobrien7110]

Daily Telegraph is unrecognisable to its former self .

[@Mounhas]

Agree totally. It once had scruples, fairness and journalists, now it’s a mail contender.

[@timk6181]

One came up into our toilet the other week. It was around 11 at night and I hadn't turned on the bathroom light. I saw something in the toilet and shined my phone light at it. There it was staring up at me out the bowl! Quite startling! Doesn't appear to be any more though, think it was just a freak incident

[@minui8758]

Jesus! That’s horrifying 😳

[@helicoptergunship]

Did you poo on it?

[@SthandwaM]

This has traumatised me.

[@janetmckenna_lowry]

Language is important, and "junior" diminishes the study and work the doctor has accomplished. If they have the credentials, they're a doctor, and should not be referred to as anything less.

[@wavydavy9816]

No word of lie. I was working in an empty house doing some building work and I was sleeping on the sofa (because I love my job). The rat man had been round, put some poison down around the large hole in the kitchen and told me to keep him updated. The very next morning as I walked into the kitchen there was a big fat rat, sat on the floor, eating some of the pellets. But before I even had a chance to say 'What am I gonna do?' he'd scampered back down the hole 🤷‍♂

[@fionaholland9191]

Skilled tasks that once were the role of doctors will be dumped on to lower grade roles who haven't had their level of training. Then when they make mistakes the blame will fall on them, not the government for dumping rhose tasks on them.

[@HelenIngram-r4j]

what is the job like. What is receiving the services of Junior Doctors like? As nothing compared to the services of Nurses, who by and large lead and take care of Junior Doctors. Now, I'm not here to undermind Junior Doctors, or their right to strike. Do it, by all means do it. But please, take nothing away from and support in all ways a fair and full pay raise of your supporting Nurses before, dare I say, you seek your own rise.

[@robertallardice8119]

Submariner Mordaunt at it again!😂😂

[@houseofmali2659]

I’ve noticed there always seems to be a resolve in Scotland/Ireland/Wales etc but never in England 😂 it’s always us that are behind on things and can’t agree on anything 😊

[@jacsavickas9822]

Ireland is a different country so not really part of this discussion. Northern Ireland is a mess though because the DUP can't stop picking fights over nothing, resulting in having no meaningful government for years.

[@AudreyHannah-n9n]

You should look at how little the gov pay the vast majority of there civil servants, who are normal workers and have had to have a pay uplift to meet the govt living wage

[@moniclare4214]

The third wave of deaths by tories and their robbing nhs .. Dr's are now so tired &in despair 15:20 they have had the stuffing knocked out of them

[@martinobrien7110]

Silly Season is upon us .

[@ECECECECEC]

If work was better paid rather than being cut in real terms, and if work was enjoyable rather than a hard slog with the continuous threat of disciplinary action, workers might be more engaged. I’m 56 and work has never been so bad. I actually took a small pension early, with the financial penalty and I will need to work longer, to maintain my income in real terms, the youngsters don’t have that option.

[@DirkPiddlemark]

From California: is LBC a television channel or just online?

[@edolen]

it's a UK radio show.

[@StuartBrown-jn9ns]

U tube but its about +12hrs later

[@yellowmonkee0]

It's a radio station that is also online.

[@firefox5926]

1:23:17 i would say its more likely they have made friends in other country like France etc where life work is better and and going hang on why cant we have that too ...wait why dont we have that already..

[@firefox5926]

2:09:03 have you considered trespassing the rat ? and if it still wont leave then get the court bailiff to evict it ?

[@Forget-me-not144]

Just 1 25th day in bed peepul, tea and toast available😁 not missing owt

[@nlole]

Mally was describing Gen Z.

[@iokuokrod]

we were living in the forest in our motorhome in northwestern bc, in the fall we began our road trip 1600 km road trip to Vancouver, in and around Quesnel bc we were traveling on a newly paved section of mountainous winding canyon highway without centerline or edge markings on the darkest, wettest, foggiest night limited visibility white knuckling my wife spoke "i'm scared" I said "something just ran across my leg" " what, what ran across your leg" " I don't know something just ran across my leg" now I'm really scared what was it" How am i supposed to know its dark, I can't take my eyes off the road". we stopped at a gas station to fill up while waiting i saw a mouse in the side mirror run from under the motorhome to the trash cans after the attendant finished as I was i saw the mouse in the side view running from the trash cans back under the motorhome, I then drove round the building and asked the attendant was that mouse running after the motorhome, He said yes it jumped up under your motorhome.

[@martee4297]

Ive forgotten more abtrats than you will ever know...

[@AngeliqueStP]

Forgotten how to write a sentence more like...

[@stewarthayhurst1079]

A lot of the rat problem is down to the tenants within council properties, I see it as a building surveyor for a local council

[@Louis16261]

Dectuple is 10x

[@firefox5926]

1:21:58 and that is part of the far lefts support of brexit

[@BetjeWolff-v2s]

Dear James, There was this huge difference that everyone was allowed to use their own responsibility and judgement to shape their job. People acted and judged and decided guided by their own conscience and could add their own creativity. People were merited on their personal talents and contibutions. A teacher was free to teach in her or his own way. A doctor could fill in his job in his own way. Life and work used to fall together. Except for 'uneducated' people who were producing for some industry, like welders and coal porters and harbour workers. There was a big rift there.

[@clarence_claymore.]

Lbc employees them

[@HelenIngram-r4j]

Dougie Howser?... no it doesn't James, not to people who use and rely on the NHS in order to live. Junior Doctors are important, they are the future Consultants, but they are not yet Consultants for a reason! They are yet to qualify. And meanwhile there are knowledgeable, fully qualified Nursing staff watching and ready to support their every move. When the Nursing staff know "Junior" is out of his or her depth, THEY call the Consultants in.

[@kathchandler4919]

You are totally mixing up STUDENT doctors with Junior doctors, Junior doctor is a misnomer, they have already passed all their qualifications...I mean, imagine your job, if you have one, after 13 years you'd see yourself as fully qualified to do that job, now take that scenario and , if you were a qualified doctor, you'd still be called Junior, just because there's nothing between Junior and Consultant!

[@HelenIngram-r4j]

@@kathchandler4919 there's experience Kath. There's experience. Junior's get it wrong, of course Consultant's do too. But the experience is everything in terms of responsibility. I'm mixing up nothing. I'm an experienced patient, I can tell you that.

[@kathchandler4919]

@user-gt2hr8yk4x as I said, and this is the main point fgs, they may be junior whilst 'learning on the job' during their first 5 years of the apprenticeship experienced at a University hospital but during even that time they become far more knowledgeable than nurses ever can...what most nurses have is a commonsense, down to earth view of their responsibility, after all, they are the intermediaries between the patient, their families and the doctors ...I have worked as a nurse as well as being a patient &, I tell you this, patients don't know the half. The ONLY medics the QUALIFIED nurse could ever feel he, or she could feel superior to or rather, have of any influence over, are 1st year medical students , after the 3rd year there's just a chasm between them , 13 years on it's dreadful that someone who's 'qualification' is admittedly an experience patient just thinks junior is the correct tag ...fact is they, the 'Juniors' are possibly far more foward thinking & 'up' on new treatments & cures than consultants !

[@tombartram7384]

Keir defended criminals but he was "only doing his job". Nice to know that lining your pockets will still be more important than what's morally right when he becomes pm.

[@steveharding643]

Thumbs down for maxsist clown otool 😂

[@alanchilds1456]

James and his mother in the thumbnail

[@Somia_836]

If you had any respect for your own mother you wouldn’t even think to disrespect anyone else’s

[@SthandwaM]

How old are you? Nine?

[@alanchilds1456]

@SthandwaM yes I'm nine 😁😁😁😁

[@jamescole8771]

James O'Brien = Pillock

[@trishameenaghan8009]

And......you're not...???

[@Jacky-Boy]

Bot

[@mystic_mimi21]

I think any IT or office based job should have the option to work remotely for some %. It is more disable friendly and makes a lot of sense. But have the option. I would love a 50/50 split as I do like a the routine, going out to work but also need adjustments, I get travel anxiety, have adhd, dyslexia so commenting isn’t ideal but would love to have colleagues and a place of work (I am a recent uni graduate job hunting hoping to go into museum work. We had contact hours of going to actual lectures, then self learning study which I did in cafes and libraries) so a similar structure would be amazing. I understand that this wouldn’t work for all sectors and job types