The private school boy.
The first thing this boy asked his flatmates was probably how to wash a plate, and while everyone laughs at him they probably love him too, if only because heâs fun to make fun of. Whilst everyone else is drinking the two litre bottles of Lambrini that they picked up for three pounds he is probably casually swigging away at one of the bottles of Dom PĂ©rignon his Mummy bought him for getting into Uni. Youâd be jealous, but his generosity, naivety and willingness to drive you around make him one of your best friends.
The lad.
This species goes hand in hand with a beer belly and a desire to boast about their unquenchable thirst for alcoholic beverages. They will often be spotted surrounding by braying friends, desperately trying to display a macho persona. Unfortunately the high calorie count of beer often leaves these lads somewhat larger around the midriff, and their many nights out on the town will leave them wishing theyâd spent a tiny bit longer in the library come results day. Fortunately for them, theyâre usually funny, have good stories and sort themselves out in time to join a sports team and salvage their bodies.
The wannabe lad
You can hear his braying laugh a mile off, heâs super friendly and at first youâll think heâs great fun. After a while youâll realise that his âhilarious banterâ is in fact just an example of worldly ignorance, and that heâs no fun sober. The inevitable post-lash vomit sessions coupled with the bad hygiene apparently engrained in the wannabe lad mentality often leads to a somewhat grimy individual, not to mention the need for a trip to the clinic and a deep clean of the bed sheets.
Both of these types of âladâ generally have a heart of gold (probablyâŠmaybe⊠sometimes) and just need to be fed a bit more Judith Butler and a lot less porn and Geordie Shore.
The gap yah guy.
This boy probably missed Freshers Week to spend a few extra weeks in whatever exotic location he was in, but doesnât fail to constantly remind you that it was worth it for the âenlightenmentâ he feels and âcultural experiencesâ he had. Whilst youâre not sure what the cultural significance of getting drunk on a beach in Thailand is, or even how spending a year and thousands of pounds to do so is significantly different from going to university in Cornwall, it canât be denied that this guy is entertaining. He is a good guy to bring to parties if you want to ensure that there are no awkward silences. Until, that is, he talks about the perils of hostel sex. Awkward.Â
The eco warrior
Initially their passion will attract you to them and when they tell you that theyâre vegan because âanimals are just like people, manâ youâll find yourself agreeing with them. However after a few weeks of hanging out of them youâll realise that giving up bacon sandwiches and smelling of patchouli isnât worth it for anyone or anything.
The silent one
Even if you live with this guy youâll probably only see him twice a term. You arenât entirely sure how they are surviving seeing as youâve never once seen them in the kitchen, despite the inside of their fridge somewhat magically always being full. After a few weeks of knocking on their door with no answer the realisation that no one you know has seen the inside of their room hits you and youâre slightly scared that there might be a dead body in there.
The arty hipster
Youâll probably fancy this guy to start with, they have dreadlocks and tattoos and bringing them home would probably result in your dad fainting. However, eventually their artistic pretensions, which would only just be acceptable if they actually studied an arts subject, start to grate on you. If you choose to find them funny, as opposed to annoying, youâll probably have a friend for life, and access to a wardrobe full of brilliantly colourful trousers.
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No boys were harmed in the writing of this article.
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