Photo: Juan Pablo Serrano | Pexels
In 2018, wandering through Norfolk’s Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, Dave Clark’s eye was caught by a litter bin dressed up like a Fab ice lolly. Dave, who has since amassed thousands of bin pics, was recognized in 2022 as the Dull Men’s Club’s Anorak of the Year. ‘Celebrating the ordinary’ has been the DMC’s motto since it was founded almost 40 years ago. The club’s Facebook group now counts more than 1.7 million ‘dullsters’ worldwide. “A dullster is someone who enjoys mowing their lawn or washing their car or painting a fence,” says DMC co-founder and assistant vice-president Leland Carson. “They’re finding joy in little things, in those small moments.” At a time when the safety of online spaces is in the spotlight, the DMC stands out as one that guarantees a warm welcome. The odd bit of gentle ribbing is about as mean as it gets. In a world where aesthetics and extravagance rule the digital roost, there’s clearly quiet satisfaction to be found in the ordinary. “I’ve a folder full of screenshots of people saying: ‘I love this place. I can come here and relax’,” says Carson. “We’re often held up as an example of where all the other Facebook groups should be. It’s a non-toxic environment.”
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