Mar 5, 2024
Related Recs
🚆
Ok it’s way more expensive than it should be (even with a railcard) but it’s cool that we can just get on a train and go pretty much anywhere in the country. No focussing on the road, no finding somewhere to park. Trainpal is good for cheaper tickets. Might get the metro to the coast this weekend…
Nov 6, 2024
💭
So, okay. I’m a sucker for trains. I think they are nice and comfy, and Switzerland, where I currently study and live, is said to have one of the best train systems in the world so it’s basically law to like this particular mean of transportation over there... but even then, when I used to live in Paris, there was something about the subway that made it so very often relaxing to me— even during (the evil and ever so obnoxious) PFW.
So, to all of those who cannot see it and refuse to catch a vibe, here’s a little breakdown on what makes train rides so goddamn cool and how to make them better if you still think they suck after all this.
PROOF THAT TAKING THE TRAIN IS COOL
- First of all, I don’t want to brag, but the SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français, France’s very own messy-ass train company) sends you a yearly breakdown of the CO2 you save by taking the train instead of driving everywhere like a dumb dumb. (Yes, I do not have my driver’s licence yet. No, I am not bitter about it at all). And let me tell you, if Katy Perry et al. took a train to space instead of riding J*ff B*zos’ d*ck, maybe we’d have had a chance surviving climate change. For one, I did my part by figuratively crossing the country a whole lottatimes in breaststroke (I am aware this is not the most accurate way to calculate length but I’ll happily treat it as fact). So, yeah, fuck you Blue Origins.
- Second and maybe the most important point : Do you even know how much time you can save by doing things you really need to do in the train??? Do you????
I am not even kidding, this is the perfect way to multitask if you’re a college student or a WFH type of lad. Train rides can be boring, sure I’ll concede. But bring a good book you’ve been trying to read but didn’t have the time to or your computer and you’re set for the next X hours you would otherwise be spending trying not to fall asleep at the wheel of your shitty 2014 Fiat 500 (again I’m not bitter just ecologically aware...ish).
- Last point: landscapes. Few are the places where you get to see so much whilst doing so little for it. It’s like hiking for lazy people. Love it.
SO YOU ARE A HEATHEN— AND REFUSE TO ADMIT THAT YOU ARE WRONG ABOUT TRAIN RIDES? HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO MAKE YOURS MORE FUN!
- A good playlist : can and will make almost anything 1000 times better. Here’s mine if you‘re too busy being so cool driving your cool person car (NOT. BITTER.) to make your own train mixtape and enjoy the ride.
- Crosswords : chances are, if you’re in the train, there’s an old person in your immediate vicinity. Ask them to help you out on the hard words instead of checking the answer sheet at the back of the book. Then, if (and only if!) they match your vibe, ask them their life story. You‘ll get reheated, well-infused tea AND a heightened sense of self for not checking out the answer sheet. You‘re welcome.
-Last but not least, and my favourite game to play ever, find the hottest person on the train : If there’s one, congrats! You can now ogle away and make up stories about your life together after they inevitably catch your gaze, ‘coz let’s face it, if you thought you were discrete you were anything but (Trains are smaller than you’d think and there’s not so many people that you wouldn’t recognise them when you inevitably take the same bus home afterwards. If you noticed them, they probably noticed you back at some point). If there’s no hot people on your train— congrats as well! It means it’s probably you. Boom, free dopamine boost. Go on with your day feeling like sex-on-rails.
To conclude, we should all fuck with trains. Except when there‘s a tuna sandwich involved in any way, shape or form. Fuck you if you are a tuna in the train person.
Apr 18, 2025
🚂
I only take flights over oceans, and have avoided short-haul flights for about 5 years now. It’s the combination of deep environmental guilt, but also tbh I just *really* enjoy train travel. I just took the train from London to Venice Italy which was incredible—sunset over the alps. European trains are so much further ahead than American trains, which is silly when you think about the whole railroad race / baron situation in the late 1800s. America could have had such a cool rail network. I took the train from LA to San Francisco last year and it took 15 hours. FIFTEEN! and the only food on board was soggy hot dogs. Nein danke. Pls send your rail execs to Europe for some on-the-tracks research. It's just so much more stress-free to walk into a station in the middle of a city, taking time to read as fields and forests speed by, a chic little snack and then, boom, you arrive right in the middle of another city as if nothing happened.
Sep 22, 2022
Top Recs from @lucius
Alright y'all, standards have gotten a little lax around here and rec quality has taken a dip (I'm including myself in this). Here are some pointers for High Rec Standards.
ANATOMY OF A REC:
TITLE—This is the rec or recommendations. This is NOT a lead in. Type exactly what you're recommending here. What appears in the Title should finish this sentence, "I recommend _____."
BODY—This supports the rec and anything goes. Supporting statements, supporting essays, additional recs, you can get silly, you can pontificate. You can do anything you want. Except putting the main rec down here. Where does it go? That's right. In the Title 👆
IMAGE—No rules. Add one to preference. It can be relevant or a non sequitur.
LINK—I highly recommend links but it's not as important as the Title or Body. If you are recommending something that has an online presence (music, movies, websites, products, etc.), Piffies want to click on it immediately. Don't make us google. Be kind a leave a link.
EMOJI—No rules. Express yourself.
ANTI-RECS:
They exist and they are valid recs. "Anti-Rec: _____" clearly communicates this is something best avoided. But a better way format this type of Rec is to use a modifier or verb that flows with "I recommend _____." Ex. I recommend... Not Eating Tacks, Avoiding Area X, Leaving Off the Anchovies, etc.—(Formatting Anti-Recs this way first recommended by tyler the Creator)
ANATOMY OF AN ASK:
TITLE—This is the question or topic of the Ask. Asks can solicit advice or start a discussion. You have some flexibility here because the Ask is expected to be expounded upon in the body if it needs more context. Just be clear. Again, this is not a lead in. Be direct and ask the question or state the topic.
BODY—Provide more context. Narrow the recommendation field. Add relevant links. Remember, the Ask goes in the Title 👆
EMOJI—No rules. Express yourself.
ANSWERING AN ASK—Recs on Asks can break style as dictated by the Ask. If the Ask is looking for Recs, give Recs following style. If it's asking for opinions, give your opinion. Asking for links? Give links! Respond however you would respond some someone IRL. Asks start a conversation so you can be more conversational. But keep in mind that these Recs will appear in the main feed. So where you can maintain Rec style, do so.
Example: WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT LETTERBOXD TOP 4?
A response to this with High Rec Standards would look something like this:
TITLE—Lists your current Letterboxd top 4. You are recommending these four movies.
BODY—Free reign here. Drop your Letterboxd @. Talk about the movies. Make a quip. Emoji. Relevant links. Nothing.
IMAGE—Optional. Screenshot of your top four. Frame from a movie. Dealer's choice.
LINK—Add your Letterboxd profile only if you want to be found.
EMOJI—Whatever. But it'd be nice if it was relevant.
DISCLAIMER:
This is a living community document! These are only my recommendations for a foundation. Debate and Discussion of proper style are Encouraged. Any editions and changes to the PI.FYI STYLE GUIDE will be notated with attribution.
Changelog:
07.26.2024—Clarified a Rec is not limited to one recommendation. Recs can recommend multiple things. Thanks to shegoestoanotherschool for identifying the issue. / Added guidance for Anti-Rec format.
02.11.2025—Moved SpongeBob Bubble Blowing Technique video link from the top level into the body ("some pointers") so the embed wouldn't override the High Quality instructional graphic.
Jul 25, 2024
🐸
This combo has just been here the whole time?!
Feb 6, 2025
🥯
i will eat one every day i do not give a fuck anymore
Jan 30, 2024