Is the Dull Men's Club actually... quite interesting?

In the late 1980s, a group of friends gathered in a bar near Central Park in New York City. They were flipping through a magazine filled with stories about boxing, wrestling, and judo. One of the friends, feeling a bit left out, remarked, 'We don’t do any of those things. ' This simple comment sparked a conversation that would lead to the creation of the Dull Men's Club, a group that celebrates the ordinary and the mundane aspects of life. Fast forward to today, and we find a connection between these friends and a man in England who recently opened a smooth Mars Bar. When he shared a picture of it on Facebook, it caught the attention of the media and went viral, linking the two stories across the Atlantic. Grover Click, the head of the Dull Men's Club, is now 85 years old and was one of those friends in the bar. He recalls how the idea for the club came about when someone jokingly suggested they were 'kind of dull. ' They started doing silly activities, like racing elevators and organizing a bus tour that went nowhere. Grover moved to England in 1996, and his nephew helped him create a website for the Dull Men's Club. This website has since grown into a Facebook group with 1. 5 million members, where people of all ages share their observations and interests without fear of being ridiculed. The club has strict rules against politics, religion, and swearing, creating a safe space for members to express themselves. Recent posts have included discussions about the design of the £2 coin, before-and-after pictures of brass instrument repairs, and even how long it takes to fill a water bottle. One member humorously shared that it takes him 47 seconds to refill his water bottle each morning, and he often counts to 47 with his eyes closed while doing it. The Dull Men's Club is more than just an online community; it also has a newsletter, a calendar of events, and real-life meet-ups. They even give out awards, such as the Anorak of the Year, which recognizes the most dedicated members. This year, the award went to Tim Webb, a 68-year-old man from Orpington, London, who has gained attention for his unique pothole art. Tim started taking pictures of potholes in his area, placing plastic ducks in them to draw attention to the road defects. His project began after he noticed a pothole that had not been repaired properly. After speaking with a council official, he learned about a humorous suggestion from a political party to highlight potholes with plastic ducks. Tim embraced this idea and began photographing potholes with various visual jokes, including a toad in a pothole with a caption that read, 'This is my favorite Sunday dish. ' He estimates he has photographed between 100 and 150 potholes, and while the art is the fun part, he also keeps a detailed spreadsheet of road defects to help push for repairs. Grover Click encouraged Tim to join the Dull Men's Club after seeing his creative pothole pictures online. Tim accepted the Anorak of the Year award with good humor, emphasizing that he does this work not for fame or money, but to make a positive impact in his community. Another notable member of the Dull Men's Club is Rachel Williamson, who was awarded Anorak of the Year in 2021. During the first Covid lockdown, Rachel, a retired police detective, noticed a long queue outside a chemist and wanted to bring some joy to the situation. She decided to knit sparkly hats for post boxes in her town, and her first creation was a hit. Since then, she has topped over 300 post boxes and has even sent her creations to other parts of the UK. Rachel feels honored to be part of the Dull Men's Club, even though she is a woman. She believes that having hobbies is essential and that they can bring happiness to people. Grover Click, the founder of the club, has come to realize that the members are doing something meaningful. They have found purpose in their hobbies, which gives them a reason to get out of bed in the morning. He refers to this sense of purpose as 'ikigai,' a Japanese term that signifies a motivating force in life.