Complaints never sounded so good

What really makes you mad?

When I pulled up to the UT Arlington Fort Worth Center Gallery for the Complaint Departments second gathering there were drinks in hand and bagpipes playing next door for a wedding.  While the event is still a budding operation, everyone seemed to be right at home and who wouldn't when strangers convene to vent their frustrations over a nice cold beverage.

The idea brought such a huge smile to my face when I first heard about it.  An hour and a half of alcohol and complaining?  Sign me up!  It was sort of crazy to think that people would be able to get along so well and bond over shared complaints about the everyday world.  Work bring you down, neighbors dog leave their mark on your lawn or someone steal your parking spot?  It's all relative at the Complaint Department.

Assimilation

Initially when I walked up, I was greeted and then when I told them about the twitter story I was producing they pointed me in the direction of three people.  I talked to all three like they were in charge as I explained myself, but it turned out only one of them was in charge and the other two were complaining.  Needless to say I was a tad embarrassed.  I was told the best way to get the story would be to grab a drink and leave my complaints at the cork board for their culmination into a lyric later on to be placed on YouTube.

I had no clue what to expect when I first opened up my Shiner, but it was really easy to mingle with complete strangers and have them listen to my ceaseless complaints.  The area was set up in two stages; one inside the gallery where the snacks and drinks were located and the second was outside were tables were set up and cork boards lined the wall to place your complaints on them.

The time spent there seemed to fly by too fast as after three beers it was time to start stacking chairs.  I offered to help out as did most of the other patrons.  While we were doing all that, I heard the best complaint of the day.

"My biggest complaint is that none of these are complaints."

Now, I don't know who said it, but it was the most quotable one of the night and definitely made me laugh because it showed me how absolutely anything can rub us the wrong way.  Not even the complaints are safe at the Complaint Department.

The extras

Head over to my twitter @Zamora_Gabe to see the whole remote story and for more information on the Complaint Department visit their website at www.thecomplaintdeptfw.com.  Leave your complaints in the comments and maybe I'll see you out there next month for the next event!