Fancy ways of writing your name
Cooking on a Budget
2016.08.31 13:32 Cooking on a Budget
Budget-friendly recipes and related recipe discussions. Recipe posts must include the full recipe, not just a link to a video.
2009.07.31 17:21 ch00f juxtaposition
Items that weren't placed together deliberately, but it's fun that they were.
2011.09.14 22:59 geekgirlpartier Name That Song: For identifying and locating songs/artists/albums/genres
A subreddit for identifying a song/artist/album/genre, or locating a song/album in a legal way. May contain NSFW content. Please read the rules before posting. Thank you and good luck :)
2024.05.14 22:13 Thatsidechara_ter Fort Ko'Var Briefing (Northern Mountains Front)
 | [This post will function as the primary info-dump and planning post for the Siege of Fort Ko'Var. Let's get to it!] submitted by Thatsidechara_ter to war_for_Gryllus [link] [comments] Colenel Jethro Arvin looked around the Taronian 8th Regimental Headquarters at Waycross Road, surveying the plethora of attendees both junior and senior. It was a hell of a crowd; he hoped he didn't dissapoint. First, there was of course his own senior staff, all in physical attendence now that Major Quoke had rejoined them. Also present in-person was Lieutenant Lenore McPherson, Intelligence Officer of the Praetorian 27th, and the Valyrran Major Zero, who arrived with Major Quoke and now stood silently off to the opposite side of the room from the Taronians. There were also a plethora of attendees tuning in via hololith; Colonel Braithwaite and General Redlina herself plus a number of other Valyrran officers, presumably representing other elements to be allocated to the siege. There was also the lone small figure of a woman in a Minthelian jumpsuit; Arvin recognized her as the young aide who had guided him when he received orders from General Redlina to detain the Minthelian Lieutenant Sophy. It felt so long ago now. The final hololith attendee, however, Arvin did not recognize: he wore a long white coat adorned with various bits of webbing and equipment over knee-high leather boots, and a simple steel helmet with a gold Aquila on it atop his head. The man introduced himself as Colonel Lilzton, commander of Task Force Liberation, the loyalist PDF remnants to the north of the fort. Arvin hoped he would get to meet him in person some time. But now, everyone was assembled, and it was time for Colonel Arvin to begin his briefing. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending this briefing. We have a lot to get through, so I'll begin without delay..." INTRODUCTION: Covering an surface area of about 12.5 square kilometers, Fort Ko'Var, previously known as "Saint's Gate", serves as the primary bastion of resistance for the entirety of the northern mountains. It is carved directly out of the rock in many places, and as it's Imperial name suggests, it controls all passage along the north-south mountain road. Both the town of Kan'Shae and the base of operations for Task Force Liberation are nominally cut off to the north of the fort; for these reasons, the position must be captured if we are to secure victory in this region. THE TERRAIN: The geography surrounding Fort Ko'Var only makes it's capture more important. To the east and southeast lays an expanse of high peaks, jagged cliffs, and all manner of other hazardous terrain, such that getting a cohesive fighting force over it is all but impossible. To the east and northeast lies a river which continues uninterrupted to Westbridge Lake. It is believed to have been artificially-made by the fortress's builders to achieve 2 goals: 1) to prevent the bypassing of the fort by any kind of vehicular foe simply by driving around it, and 2) to supply the defenders with a ready source of clean drinking water, as the river ends in a large pool enclosed within the fortress itself. Thus, strategically-speaking, Fort Ko'Var is a natural chokepoint which provides the only way past these obstacles, both natural and man-made. Tactically-speaking, the ground surrounding the fort is wide open, providing little cover except for a handfull of foothills that could be used as staging grounds and observation posts. THE ROAD: The road which makes Fort Ko'Var so vital runs directly through the mountain in a tunnel just to the west of the bulk of the defenses; this tunnel is capped on both ends by reinforced blast doors rated to withstand at least some punishment from anything we have at our disposal, and is furthermore enclosed by 2 of the 3 defensive tiers of the fort. We can also assume the tunnel is rigged to blow at the defenders' discretion. Should this happen, the only road connection will be through the heart of the fortress itself, as there are connections on either side of the tunnel, winding up and then down an extensive series of switchback roads that would expose any vehicle to near-endless plunging fire from above. Needless to say, simply ignoring the fort and it's occupants is not an option if we wish to use this highway. THE TIERS: Fort Ko'Var is comprised of 3 main defensive tiers, each partitioned by 3 heavily-fortified walls. all of these are complete with bunkers, observation towers, and massive defensive hardpoints that make them formidable obstacles for any attacker, but each also has its quirks and weaknesses that might be exploited. The outer wall is comparable to a hive city's curtain wall, at least in construction if not in sheer thickness. It rises above the 1st, lowest defensive tier on a gentle slope; this tier is largely home to Fort Ko'Var's rank and file barracks, commodities and maintenence facilities. The inner wall is less a true wall, and more of a permacrete-reinforced cliff that rings around the 2nd Defensive Tier. The only way up without climbing is a handful of personnel entrances and the 2 roadways, one north and one south. This tier houses the primary vehicle and equipment storage facilities, additional support infrastructure, the secondary artillery batteries, the commoner prison facilities, as well several passageways leading to the road tunnel and beyond. Lastly, the Final Citadel is not a wall at all, but is instead a massive, adamantine-sheathed, armored plateau that sits at the very top of Fort Ko'Var, complete with countless weapons portholes, pillboxes, a partial mote, and a miniature voidshield enveloping it. Inside this last bastion is the fortress's command center, essential supplies storage, the VIP prison facilities, the majority of the fort's munitions storage capacity, and on top of it is positioned a ring of anti-aircraft emplacements as well as Fort Ko'Var's pride and joy: her primary artillery batteries. THE ARTILLERY: Aside from the countless other weapons systems protecting the fort, her main method of reaching out and touching her foes with extreme prejudice is, was, and always has been her artillery. These systems come in batteries of 4 weapons each, and every gun is housed in it's own 360-degree turreted bunker. For air cover, 8 Imperial-era Hydra Flak Batteries still play a key role in protecting the fortress, but these have been further supplemented by 2 batteries of T'au-made SAM launchers. These long-range munitions are deadly to any pilot who strays anywhere near the fort's airspace, and should not be tested lightly. The Hydra batteries, meanwhile, can also be turned towards anti-personnel duties easily enough, as well. Onto the ground-to-ground weapon systems, the local auxilia garrison will of course deploy light artillery such as mortars, but for precise, in-close bombardments that can pack real punch, Fort Ko'Var relies on it's 5 batteries of Bombast Field Cannons; I'm sure you're all familiar with that platform by now. But for more long-range needs, Fort Ko'Var relies on its primary armament of 4 batteries of "Earthquaker" Cannons, as the locals call them. These weapons are T'au-modified, extended-range variants of the venerable Earthshaker Cannon, and rebel reports have clocked it's maximum range with a standard powder charge at about 22 kilometers, increasing to 30 when supercharged. They pack the same firepower as an Earthshaker and, from what reports we have, roughly the same accuracy margins, as well. Put together, all of these weapons give Fort Ko'Var a potent array of long-range fires, with which it can engage both land and air targets with ease. However, there are some hints that at least 1 or 2 of the above-mentioned systems do not have the neccesary ammunition to operate optimally. The SAMs, in particular, most likely do not have a large number of missile reloads; thus, the xenos gunners may be less willing to fire valuable missiles at something they don't perceive as a threat. Pilots, take note. OTHER INFO: Based on rebel reports, Fort Ko'Var is normally home to about 20,000 personnel, with 15,000 in garrison and 5,000 patrolling the mountains at any given time. However, based again on the rebel intel we have, this force has a far-larger ratio of Fire Warriors to Auxilia, something like 2 T'au for every 3 Auxilia. From this we can infer that the T'au value this installation just as much as we do, and are invested in defending it. Unfortunately I can't get much more detailed than that; with the recent retreat of T'au troops all across the north, it could be that Fort Ko'Var is operating on a skeleton crew as manpower is transferred to other sectors, or it could be that it has been heavily reinforced by units retreating there. Therefore, be on your guard and ready to respond to any possible threat, battlesuits, tanks, superheavies, you get the idea. OTHER DETAILS: There are a few more things of note that I must make mention of. First off, back to that water pool. It is located right at the easternmost point of the fort in the 1st Defensive Tier; this might be a tactical weakness in their ability to get fresh water if they were pushed back to the upper tiers, but the estern tip of the Citadel also hangs out past the 2nd Tier, over this pool and extends downward [OOC: think something like the top tier Minas Tirith], enclosing a portion of the water for the final defensive tier's personal usage. Second, there is the main landing area. While a few smaller landing pads are scattered around the 2nd and 3rd Tiers, Fort Ko'Var's primary landing area is on the northern side of the 1st Tier, both bulging outwards and making a massive indent in the 2nd tier and the Citadel. Originally being designed for Tetrarch Heavy landers, this area is big enough to land a whole squadron of Mantas simultaneously. Lastly, there is the escape tunnel. As shown by Imperial records, Fort Ko'Var possesses a single passageway buried deep in the mountain, leading to a secret exit somewhere west or south of the fort. However, I am informed that our new-found local allies may hold the answer to it's location, in which case I believe immediate efforts should be made to cut off this last avenure for reinforcement or evacuation. THE PLAN: Fort Ko'Var is a stronge defensive position, but not impregnable if approached in the correct manner. Our basic battle plan is simple enough: Task Force Liberation attack from the north, while the Taronian 8th, Praetorian 27th, and elements of the Valyrran 1st attack from the south. We crush the xenos and the traitors between us, and meet in the middle. But that is, of course, more of an outline than an actual plan, and so I'd like to offer my own thoughts on the tactics to be employed. Fort Ko'Var's 3 defensive Tiers are very different from eachother, and thus will each require a different approach. The 1st Tier has the longest perimeter to coved, and also the least defenses; therefore, we should make our first strike fast and hard, overunning this first obstacle with haste and superior firepower. This has the added benefit of showing the enemy what we are capable of; with the traitor human Auxilia's morale breaking all across Gryllus, we may yet open up further weakpoints by forcing them to accept their inevitable defeat. The 2nd tier is... somewhat different. Carved from the rocky cliffs themselves, it will not be possible to simply breach it as you would a traditional wall, but this particular facet opens up... another avenue of attack which myself and Major Baxton have been discussing for some time. It is risky, and as of yet we are not completely sure it is pheasible, but I believe we should consider the option of tunneling into the second tier rather assaulting up it. The Final Citadel, quite frankly, will not be possible to capture quickly, not without a significant commitment of Astartes or other specialist forces. Therefore, unless one of the above is aquired and as much as it pains me to admit it, this final stage, at least, will most likely come to a plain and simple siege. I would recommend attempts be made to negotiate the remaining garrison's surrender and attempt to avoid needlessly wasting Guardsmen lives, but I do not think that this will bear much fruit considering the likelihood of the remaining troops by this stage being predominantly T'au. "That concludes my briefing on Fort Ko'Var; I hope to see all of you again for our inevitable victory toast in that fortress's command center." Colonel Arvin finished up. "I would also like to give my personal thanks to Colonel Lilzton and TF Liberation, as well Captains Pekala and Vanian's Rebel Companies for providing much of this information." "Now, with all of that said, I assume you all have questions or comments to make. The floor is now open..." |
2024.05.14 22:10 french_jc [M4F] Seeking Partner for Romantic Slow Burn Wholesome Roleplay
Are you ready to embark on a journey of love, passion, and intrigue? Join me in a roleplay experience where we'll explore the exhilarating thrill of the chase and the enchanting beauty of falling in love. I'm a seasoned roleplayer, eager to delve into the depths of character development and storytelling. If you're someone who enjoys crafting intricate plots and building meaningful connections between characters, then you're the partner I've been searching for. Together, let's weave a tale of romance that will leave us breathless and longing for more.
Some scenarios ideas:
1. Enigmatic Neighbors: In a quaint suburban neighborhood, a man in his forties moves in next door to a young woman in her twenties. Despite their age difference, there's an undeniable spark between them from the moment they meet. He's intrigued by her youthful energy and vibrant spirit, while she's drawn to his maturity and charm. However, beneath her confident facade lies a history of trauma from her teenage years, which has left her guarded and hesitant to open up to others. As they navigate the complexities of neighborly interactions, he becomes determined to unravel the layers of her past and show her that she deserves love and happiness. Could their budding romance heal old wounds and ignite a passion that transcends time and circumstance?
2. Rekindled Friendship: After fifteen long years of separation, two childhood best friends are reunited by chance. Despite the passage of time, their bond remains as strong as ever, and they quickly fall back into their familiar rhythm of laughter and shared memories. They've always shared a love for adventure and exploration, often dreaming of traveling the world together. In her teenage years, she was a tomboy, always eager to climb trees and explore hidden caves, but now she's transformed into a woman who exudes femininity and curves that captivate his attention. As they embark on new adventures and discover the depths of their connection, they find themselves drawn to each other in ways they never expected. Will they dare to take the leap from friendship to something more, or will fear of losing what they already have hold them back from true happiness?
3. Unexpected Romance: In a chance encounter, a self-conscious virgin in his twenties crosses paths with an older woman who exudes confidence and allure. Initially drawn to her out of a sense of admiration and curiosity, he finds himself captivated by her warmth and understanding. She, in turn, is touched by his vulnerability and innocence, seeing in him a reflection of her own past insecurities. As they navigate the complexities of desire and intimacy, they form a unique bond based on trust, acceptance, and a shared desire for exploration. Can their unconventional connection withstand the judgment of society and the doubts that plague their own minds?
4. Unconventional Desires: Amidst the tapestry of human relationships, an unconventional bond forms between two individuals drawn together by the primal instinct of nurturing and intimacy. In a world where taboos reign supreme, they find solace and fulfillment in the act of adult nursing or adult breastfeeding. Perhaps one is a nurturing caregiver seeking to provide comfort and sustenance, while the other is a willing recipient yearning for the intimate connection it brings. As they explore the depths of their desires and confront societal norms head-on, they discover a profound sense of belonging and acceptance in each other's arms. Will they dare to defy convention and embrace the uncharted territory of their unconventional love?
If you're interested in joining me on Discord for this roleplay adventure, know that I prefer to write in the first person point of view to fully immerse myself in the character's emotions and experiences. As a 44-year-old from Europe, I enjoy the dynamic of playing against a feminine character with nice curves. It may sound superficial, but it's my preference, and I know I won't fully enjoy the roleplay if she does not meet those criteria. Additionally, please note that all characters depicted in this roleplay are 18 years of age or older. Let's embark on a journey of love and discovery together, crafting a story where our characters' desires intertwine and their destinies collide in the most unexpected of ways.
submitted by french_jc to RoleplayPartnerSearch [link] [comments]
Some scenarios ideas:
1. Enigmatic Neighbors: In a quaint suburban neighborhood, a man in his forties moves in next door to a young woman in her twenties. Despite their age difference, there's an undeniable spark between them from the moment they meet. He's intrigued by her youthful energy and vibrant spirit, while she's drawn to his maturity and charm. However, beneath her confident facade lies a history of trauma from her teenage years, which has left her guarded and hesitant to open up to others. As they navigate the complexities of neighborly interactions, he becomes determined to unravel the layers of her past and show her that she deserves love and happiness. Could their budding romance heal old wounds and ignite a passion that transcends time and circumstance?
2. Rekindled Friendship: After fifteen long years of separation, two childhood best friends are reunited by chance. Despite the passage of time, their bond remains as strong as ever, and they quickly fall back into their familiar rhythm of laughter and shared memories. They've always shared a love for adventure and exploration, often dreaming of traveling the world together. In her teenage years, she was a tomboy, always eager to climb trees and explore hidden caves, but now she's transformed into a woman who exudes femininity and curves that captivate his attention. As they embark on new adventures and discover the depths of their connection, they find themselves drawn to each other in ways they never expected. Will they dare to take the leap from friendship to something more, or will fear of losing what they already have hold them back from true happiness?
3. Unexpected Romance: In a chance encounter, a self-conscious virgin in his twenties crosses paths with an older woman who exudes confidence and allure. Initially drawn to her out of a sense of admiration and curiosity, he finds himself captivated by her warmth and understanding. She, in turn, is touched by his vulnerability and innocence, seeing in him a reflection of her own past insecurities. As they navigate the complexities of desire and intimacy, they form a unique bond based on trust, acceptance, and a shared desire for exploration. Can their unconventional connection withstand the judgment of society and the doubts that plague their own minds?
4. Unconventional Desires: Amidst the tapestry of human relationships, an unconventional bond forms between two individuals drawn together by the primal instinct of nurturing and intimacy. In a world where taboos reign supreme, they find solace and fulfillment in the act of adult nursing or adult breastfeeding. Perhaps one is a nurturing caregiver seeking to provide comfort and sustenance, while the other is a willing recipient yearning for the intimate connection it brings. As they explore the depths of their desires and confront societal norms head-on, they discover a profound sense of belonging and acceptance in each other's arms. Will they dare to defy convention and embrace the uncharted territory of their unconventional love?
If you're interested in joining me on Discord for this roleplay adventure, know that I prefer to write in the first person point of view to fully immerse myself in the character's emotions and experiences. As a 44-year-old from Europe, I enjoy the dynamic of playing against a feminine character with nice curves. It may sound superficial, but it's my preference, and I know I won't fully enjoy the roleplay if she does not meet those criteria. Additionally, please note that all characters depicted in this roleplay are 18 years of age or older. Let's embark on a journey of love and discovery together, crafting a story where our characters' desires intertwine and their destinies collide in the most unexpected of ways.
2024.05.14 22:09 Euphoric_Staff2752 One of them has to freestyle to save your life... who are you choosing?
(From left to right) Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, Iggy Azalea, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Azealia Banks, CupcakKe, Saweetie
Here's the scenario... picture you're being held hostage, but these 9 women have volunteered to try to save you. The the only way you can get set free is if one of the rappes you choose can freestyle/write a verse on the spot and rap it.
Who are you trusting with the mission?
submitted by Euphoric_Staff2752 to azealiabanks [link] [comments]
Here's the scenario... picture you're being held hostage, but these 9 women have volunteered to try to save you. The the only way you can get set free is if one of the rappes you choose can freestyle/write a verse on the spot and rap it.
Who are you trusting with the mission?
2024.05.14 22:08 ThrowRa_Stark07 UPDATE - My (20F) aunt (48F) said I can only go live with my grandad if I come clean to him about my sexuality and relationship, do I tell him or do I stay with her? How would I tell him?
I've posted this last year and some things happened which made me quite proud and I'd like to share how things went. So recap and then update:
So... When I was little, I lived with my mom and stepdad, things were great and we were very happy. Then my mom passed when I was 7y, so I moved with my father and stepmom, things were complicated. Currently, I have no contact with him (he's not a good man nor a good dad), and I live with my aunt (since 2018) and her husband (he came along in 2019).
Me and my aunt had an amazing relationship, she was my favourite aunt and all that. However, things started to go wrong when I started living with her, I made the mistake of answering that yes, I wanted to be treated like her daughter along with her 2 sons (one my age and the other 3 years younger). I had a desperate "need" for a mothefather. She became a kind of "maunt" (mother+aunt), and her husband a "stepdad"... Oh how do I regret this
Well, she has a favourite son, the oldest. He's lazy, arrogant, disrespectful, a typical golden boy who got spoiled his whole life and now he doesn't give a damn about anything other than himself.
For being the other woman in the house, she constantly pushes house chores to me, instead of the boys (subconsciously, i believe), pretty much only asks me about things, where her sons are, if the dogs were fed, if the boys cleaned well whatever room they were supposed to, stuff like that, and she's also constantly very, very rude to me (at the point of her husband arguing with her about it). And I got this whole syndrome of everything being my responsibility and anxiety when it comes to her, which became extremely exhausting over the years.
I came out to her about my bissexuality about 4 years ago, i thought she would take it well. She didn't. She masks her disapproval, but she clearly doesn't like it. I was really let down, I genuinely thought she would be supportive and everything we expect, but she first got confused, then annoyed and has said some very hurtful thing over the years. Currently I have a gf (she's 22 years old), we've been dating for over a year. They don't like each other very much, my gf doesn't like her because of all the things she does to me. And my aunt doesn't care about my gf at all because... well, she a girl.
Ok, that's the context. Now here's what happened.
My aunt send some kind of agressive messages over something silly, and that caused my anxiety on fire for the gazillionth time, only that time I had enough. I called my other aunt (by consideration, she's married to my grandad) and asked for help (she knows everything that goes on), if i could move in with them, she said yes. I then replied my aunt with a text saying i had enough and would move in with my grandad. She got upset and said (among other things) that "i had her blessing to leave, even though i didn't ask for it". She called my grandma (we are very close), and my grandma sent me some awful audios of how disappointed she was, how I made my aunt sad, of what would people think, that i used to be such a sweet girl and now this, of how loving is a choice and i chose not to love my aunt, stuff like that. Aunt and her husband went to dinner with my grandad that night without my presence, and told them we had an amazing relationship, that she didn't knew what happened, that my problem was I couldn't take a "no" for an answer, etc.
Two days later, we sat down to talk, she told me to start, I said all I wanted. She then started saying how that kind of thing should not have been adressed through text (which I agree, but I had to text or I'd freak out), that she was harder on me than the boys because (in another words) the world was rough and she loved me the most.
And then her husband also spoke about how he understands both sides and blablabla, and said that i could go to my grandad, but that they felt like i should understand that i would only go because THEY allowed, if they didn't wanted, i would not go, no matter what my grandparents or aunt (grandad's wife) said. He basically wanted to state their power position.
(Since my mother's death, my whole family on her side feel responsible for me, so i see all of them in the same way. None of them are my mom and dad, they are in the same "level" to me and have the same "right"... Him saying that made me burn inside, like they're entitled to me, I don't belong to them or anyone. They're my aunt and "uncle", that's about it, they think they have something on me that they... Don't)
And then my aunt said that I could go, as long as I told my grandad about my sexuality and girlfriend. Now... He's kind of old fashioned and i'm scared he'll reject me... We have an amazing relationship, I have lunch with them every wednesday, and I'm the closest grandkid he has (the others aren't so invested). So I don't know if I tell him the truth and manage to leave (depending on his reaction) or if I don't risk it and stay in the toxic enviroment i'm in.
UPDATE - 14/05/2024
Hello! So, things got much worse before they got better. Let's give them names so the story telling will be easier, let's call my girlfriend Bea, my aunt Leah, her husband James and my "aunt" (my grandad's wife) Rachel.
I basically swallowed my anger because I couldn't bring mysef to speak to my grandad about my sexuality, my grandparents are the most important people in my life as they've always been there for me and I was terrified to be disliked by him. That was until december.
Early december I was leaving for work and before I left, I tried to "notify" my aunt that Bea would be spending Christmas and New Years with me and my siblings (note: my siblings had been looking forward to her being there, specially my brother and my SIL (Luke and Lyla), they made it a question that she'd go. I have 3 paternal siblings, so there's NO relation between them and my aunt Leah. We'd be staying in a city 3 hours away from mine at my brother and SIL's house, every year we do this). She immediately said "you know I don't like this", I said "yes", she then said "good morning" and I left for college.
The next morning, I was eating before going to work and Leah started talking about it and we started a conversation that developed into a fight. She said things like how dare I "notify" her, how that's not how things work and that it would not happen because THEY (she and James) don't feel confortable with this, how THEY think Luke wouldn't like this because "no one likes to have people over for a week" (he and Lyla were super pumped for Bea to go), how THEY don't know my girlfriend enough (come on, we had been dating for over a year already), how THEY wouldn't like me going with her to a stranger's house (in complete disregard to my point of view, it's my freaking brother, whom they met a couple times btw, not a stranger. But to them, the only meaninful point of view was theirs). She had even called my brother to basically "check my story", like?? She also said that we we're only teenagers (seriously, 22 and 20) , and I said "no, she isn't and neither am I!", she said she didn't say Bea was, I then said "and neither am I", she said I was, because I didn't act like and adult, then I got mad and talked about how I do literally everything around the house, always walk the dogs even when I get home tired at 10PM, even though they got there at 7PM, I help with groceries purchase, pay the water bill, clean the house, do the chores her boys lack to do, and when I'm not home, I'm either at work or college, but when she disagrees about something, she just puts me back in the "teenager box". And in the end, she said that my raising was not like this, this made me laugh in anger inside, she's been with me for 5 years, I'm 20 lol.
So that was it, I left for work and got a text from her, apologizing for being rough, saying that she loved me and wanted it to work, that they wanted to talk to me when I got home. I replied saying the same.
Later that day when we were all home, we gathered in the living room, I was literally against the wall and it intimidated me deeply. James started saying how much they loved me and wanted to see me happy, as they want that for all their children (aunt Leah has 2 boys, my cousins, and James has 3 girls). I then talked and expressed how I was feeling, then Leah started talking and basically said in a nicer tone the same things she said earlier, plus how they want me to be happy and want things to work for me, but they think it's too soon, they believe it's not the right time, they they, and therefore, despite being against what they want, I could take Bea, but only in ONE of the two holidays, which I could choose. I was in a bit of a shock (you see, me and Bea had bought the bus tickets a while earlier), had no support, against the wall, I was feeling purely defeated and tired, I only said "Christmas then...", she then said we would sleep in separate rooms and would not go on the 22th after work because "she had already allowed an extra night by allowing her to stay there until the 25th". I stayed in silence, they asked if there was anything I'd like to add, I said no. It wasn't a conversation, in no moment did they actually listened and considered me, they had their minds set way before we sat to talk. I went to my room and rolled all night in pure anxiety. This was thursday
Friday I was a wreck and went to Bea's house to check on her (she was sick that week) and to talk to her about what happened. She noticed something was off, I told her, she got mad and sad, we cried, etc. I went home feeling awful, my anxiety had been 100% all day long and I was in a really bad place and feeling deeply frustrated.
Saturday I woke up worse and decided that I had enough and was not having that anymore. I went outside and called grandad, talked about how I wasn't feeling well and asked what did he think about me leaving home, he said that their doors were always open and that I could just tell my aunt that "I was going to live with my grandad and that was it". I reframed the question asking what he though about me leaving to live alone, he then got worried and said that he didn't think that was necessary, that I had them and didn't need to do that. He then asked me to come over and talk to him and aunt Rachel. I accepted and told aunt Leah I'd sleep at grandad's.
I got there and ate a bit because I didn't want them extra worried, although I felt like throwing up at every bite. Everyone went to sleep and so did I. I woke up a bit later feeling worst, that's when I started to throw up, there was barely anything in my stomach and all I could do was throw up.
The next morning I was better and had already told aunt Rachel about what had happened, she found it absurd how things went (she had met Bea a while back and they clicked very well) and was upset about the things aunt Leah said. I decided to talk to grandad, I couldn't disappear with the subject again, specially now that he was worried sick about me.
So... I sat on the couch and told him what was happening, explained everything, told him that I'm like his stepson's MIL (she's married to a woman. It was the easiest way I found to introduce the topic), told him everything. He asked what I wanted him to do about it, I said that I just wanted him to still love me the same and remain normal with me, that I am still the same person and have always been this way, he just didn't knew about it, but that it changes nothing about me. Aunt Rachel then joined us and asked what he was thinking about it (she knows everything and is amazing to me), he said he wasn't pleased, but that it was my life and he had no say in it and that I should do what's right for me, said that if I wasn't gonna change, then neither would he. But basically, he got much more worried about my mental health than my sexuality, he said that the doors were still open and always would be for me, that he thought I needed a home and thinks they can offer me that. Aunt Rachel said that they wouldn't be obsessive after me, demanding to know every step I take and bossing everything like Leah did, that I have my graduation, I work, make my own money, am responsible, have my own life and am not a child, I'm a 20 year old adult and they would treat me as such.
So that was it. I went back "home" muchhh more confident and waited until nightfall because everyone was having a good time and I didn't want to spoil that. I realized aunt Leah and James were awake and went to talk to them, and that, my friends, is when hell went loose.
I started by saying I talked to my grandad about Bea and my sexuality, Leah asked how it went and I said it was great. Then I said they could talk to him (since they wanted to "decide" with him about my going), she said ok and asked when I wanted to go, I said that it could be in the same week since I was on vacation from college, she frowned, stood firmly and said "you know this won't change our decision about the holidays, right?" then it went boom, I said I didn't agree with them and that it wasn't right for them to dictate about such things. Told them their values and beliefs don't have to be mine, Leah asked "WHY NOT?", then I replied "because I have my own!".
Told them they were controlling and that made their kids lie to them, that since they liked to compare raisings (they criticized Bea's mom's raising because she gives her kids freedom to live their lives and fully trusts), then fine, I went on to say how Bea and her mom have an amazing relationship, full of love and trust, how Bea turned up great, works hard, just made it to psicology at university, helps immensely at home, and so has her sister. As for theirs? They raised their kids poorly, they are overbearing and that makes their kids not trusting them and lying a lot because of this necessity of them to control everything. I stated that the raising they gave their children was not my own, that I had multiple raisings and that no, they didn't "raise" me, I'm 20 and they've been with me for 5 years. Said that was clear, just look at the difference between me and her boys (I won't delve into this bit because it's not relevant, but the difference is nitid).
They said I couldn't take a no for an answer and that was my dad's fault, I said they didn't know what they were talking about, I know how it actually went whilst they made a story in their heads and believe it's the truth, since I knew how my dad used to tell my family one thing and do another.
They (again) said they wouldn't treat me like an adult because I did nothing to behave like one, I said that they didn't treat me as I deserved and they would always put me in the "teenager box" whenever I acted differently to what they thought was right (but I was adult enough to lend James almost 1k without Leah's knoledge lol).
She obviously tried to blame Bea, saying she was putting things in my head and that the last conversation was fine and now I was throwing a fit, I said that I said nothing else then because I felt cornered and realized it wasn't a conversation, it was them simulating one only to tell me what they were going to all along.
I told them they didn't know Bea because they didn't want to and I wasn't confortable bringing her as it was an enviroment unwelcoming to her, she then asked if i would go another year like this until I "felt confortable", I said yes, if that's what it took, that I didn't really need to introduce anyone if I didn't felt comfortable to it.
She once demanded to go meet Bea, after throwing a fit at my BIRTHDAY because Bea planned a day for me and my MIL wanted to make me lunch and they weren't invited, it was super uncomfortable. My aunt described this day as uncomfortable, in this argument I said "and about that day you guys met Bea and her mom? It was uncomfortable? OF COURSE it was, I TOLD you it would be! I told you that was barging in and no one wanted it!". Which Leah said that no, that wasn't the uncomfortable part, the uncomfortable was how Bea was "daring her, being all over me and kissing me in front of her, that she had to be respected!".... Lol, the being "all over me" was me shaking from the anxiety and Bea holding me to keep me in my feet, the "kissing" was ONE greeting kiss. And Bea did nothing "daring" towards Leah, believe me, if she had, aunt Leah would definitely know lol.
At the end, they asked if I was taking Bea, I said, yes, Leah said no, since she called my brother and told him how "things would go down" (amazes me everytime I remember this, she wanted to dictate how the holidays would go IN SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE). Lol, my brother was just texting me saying how Bea could go spend the whole holiday and we'd just say she left after Christmas. So it wasn't a very good argument on Leah's end. I said it was my business and I was sorry, but it was MY brother, MY family, MY relationship, MY life, and it wasn't up for them to dictate on it, they shouldn't feel comfortable or uncomfortable since it had NOTHING to do with them, and that my family who mattered in this were not only comfortable but very excited for Bea's presence.
I told them I knew I wasn't wrong since grandad and aunt Rachel agreed with me, so they could go ahead and talk to them if they wanted to. They ended up showing me their tumb and I left for my room.
Aunt Leah left to grandad's house in like, 5 minutes, cried to him and all. She got back, went in my room and in an ironic tone, said "sorry, I know I'm not your mother, stay with your raisings, I'm just glad and relieved my father wasn't as ok as you thought (her saying this seriously hurt me), he accepted for reasons ans beliefs he has, so go ahead and pack your bags this week, you're free to go. Sorry for the flaws, I was trying to get it right, be careful when you take that sticker off, don't ruin the painting." aaand she left.
The next day, grandad came and we took 90% of my stuff and I started officially living with him and aunt Rachel. Christmas was a bit awkward (my maternal family does this early Christmas so everyone's free on the 24th), but I was glooming feeling like the weight of the world had left my shoulders.
So... I went with Bea to spend the holidays with my family, my siblings, my SIL's parents and even my 1 year old nephew absolutely adored Bea, they now ask about her even before asking about me lol. My paternal grandmother loved her and was amazing, told my aunt (her daughter) that Bea was adorable and loving. It was amazing and I cannot imagine 2023 Christmas and New Year without Bea with us, she added sooo much.
Recently we've been to Luke's and Lyla's at Easter and made Easter eggs together, watched movies, went out, went to a family gathering where Bea, my uncles, cousins and grandmother (who was really happy to see her since Bea couldn't go to her birthday because she had to work) all got along really well.
We see each other frequently, living with grandad and aunt Rachel has been amazing, I'm finally gaining weight! MANY people have noticed it and it quite frankly scared me a bit, I had no idea it was so evident. But yeah, I'm doing great!
Grandad isn't ready to deal with this, so we don't talk about it. He doesn't like it and doesn't really understands, but he's doesn't meddle. Grandma (maternal) texted these days wanting to meet Bea (finally!), since she found out through aunt Rachel that me and Bea are still together and going strong for 1 year and a half already. I think she took it seriously now.
Anyway, it was hell, lol. But things turned out alright! Thank you for the people who commented in my first post, it was nice reading the comments and taking the options into consideration!
submitted by ThrowRa_Stark07 to relationship_advice [link] [comments]
So... When I was little, I lived with my mom and stepdad, things were great and we were very happy. Then my mom passed when I was 7y, so I moved with my father and stepmom, things were complicated. Currently, I have no contact with him (he's not a good man nor a good dad), and I live with my aunt (since 2018) and her husband (he came along in 2019).
Me and my aunt had an amazing relationship, she was my favourite aunt and all that. However, things started to go wrong when I started living with her, I made the mistake of answering that yes, I wanted to be treated like her daughter along with her 2 sons (one my age and the other 3 years younger). I had a desperate "need" for a mothefather. She became a kind of "maunt" (mother+aunt), and her husband a "stepdad"... Oh how do I regret this
Well, she has a favourite son, the oldest. He's lazy, arrogant, disrespectful, a typical golden boy who got spoiled his whole life and now he doesn't give a damn about anything other than himself.
For being the other woman in the house, she constantly pushes house chores to me, instead of the boys (subconsciously, i believe), pretty much only asks me about things, where her sons are, if the dogs were fed, if the boys cleaned well whatever room they were supposed to, stuff like that, and she's also constantly very, very rude to me (at the point of her husband arguing with her about it). And I got this whole syndrome of everything being my responsibility and anxiety when it comes to her, which became extremely exhausting over the years.
I came out to her about my bissexuality about 4 years ago, i thought she would take it well. She didn't. She masks her disapproval, but she clearly doesn't like it. I was really let down, I genuinely thought she would be supportive and everything we expect, but she first got confused, then annoyed and has said some very hurtful thing over the years. Currently I have a gf (she's 22 years old), we've been dating for over a year. They don't like each other very much, my gf doesn't like her because of all the things she does to me. And my aunt doesn't care about my gf at all because... well, she a girl.
Ok, that's the context. Now here's what happened.
My aunt send some kind of agressive messages over something silly, and that caused my anxiety on fire for the gazillionth time, only that time I had enough. I called my other aunt (by consideration, she's married to my grandad) and asked for help (she knows everything that goes on), if i could move in with them, she said yes. I then replied my aunt with a text saying i had enough and would move in with my grandad. She got upset and said (among other things) that "i had her blessing to leave, even though i didn't ask for it". She called my grandma (we are very close), and my grandma sent me some awful audios of how disappointed she was, how I made my aunt sad, of what would people think, that i used to be such a sweet girl and now this, of how loving is a choice and i chose not to love my aunt, stuff like that. Aunt and her husband went to dinner with my grandad that night without my presence, and told them we had an amazing relationship, that she didn't knew what happened, that my problem was I couldn't take a "no" for an answer, etc.
Two days later, we sat down to talk, she told me to start, I said all I wanted. She then started saying how that kind of thing should not have been adressed through text (which I agree, but I had to text or I'd freak out), that she was harder on me than the boys because (in another words) the world was rough and she loved me the most.
And then her husband also spoke about how he understands both sides and blablabla, and said that i could go to my grandad, but that they felt like i should understand that i would only go because THEY allowed, if they didn't wanted, i would not go, no matter what my grandparents or aunt (grandad's wife) said. He basically wanted to state their power position.
(Since my mother's death, my whole family on her side feel responsible for me, so i see all of them in the same way. None of them are my mom and dad, they are in the same "level" to me and have the same "right"... Him saying that made me burn inside, like they're entitled to me, I don't belong to them or anyone. They're my aunt and "uncle", that's about it, they think they have something on me that they... Don't)
And then my aunt said that I could go, as long as I told my grandad about my sexuality and girlfriend. Now... He's kind of old fashioned and i'm scared he'll reject me... We have an amazing relationship, I have lunch with them every wednesday, and I'm the closest grandkid he has (the others aren't so invested). So I don't know if I tell him the truth and manage to leave (depending on his reaction) or if I don't risk it and stay in the toxic enviroment i'm in.
UPDATE - 14/05/2024
Hello! So, things got much worse before they got better. Let's give them names so the story telling will be easier, let's call my girlfriend Bea, my aunt Leah, her husband James and my "aunt" (my grandad's wife) Rachel.
I basically swallowed my anger because I couldn't bring mysef to speak to my grandad about my sexuality, my grandparents are the most important people in my life as they've always been there for me and I was terrified to be disliked by him. That was until december.
Early december I was leaving for work and before I left, I tried to "notify" my aunt that Bea would be spending Christmas and New Years with me and my siblings (note: my siblings had been looking forward to her being there, specially my brother and my SIL (Luke and Lyla), they made it a question that she'd go. I have 3 paternal siblings, so there's NO relation between them and my aunt Leah. We'd be staying in a city 3 hours away from mine at my brother and SIL's house, every year we do this). She immediately said "you know I don't like this", I said "yes", she then said "good morning" and I left for college.
The next morning, I was eating before going to work and Leah started talking about it and we started a conversation that developed into a fight. She said things like how dare I "notify" her, how that's not how things work and that it would not happen because THEY (she and James) don't feel confortable with this, how THEY think Luke wouldn't like this because "no one likes to have people over for a week" (he and Lyla were super pumped for Bea to go), how THEY don't know my girlfriend enough (come on, we had been dating for over a year already), how THEY wouldn't like me going with her to a stranger's house (in complete disregard to my point of view, it's my freaking brother, whom they met a couple times btw, not a stranger. But to them, the only meaninful point of view was theirs). She had even called my brother to basically "check my story", like?? She also said that we we're only teenagers (seriously, 22 and 20) , and I said "no, she isn't and neither am I!", she said she didn't say Bea was, I then said "and neither am I", she said I was, because I didn't act like and adult, then I got mad and talked about how I do literally everything around the house, always walk the dogs even when I get home tired at 10PM, even though they got there at 7PM, I help with groceries purchase, pay the water bill, clean the house, do the chores her boys lack to do, and when I'm not home, I'm either at work or college, but when she disagrees about something, she just puts me back in the "teenager box". And in the end, she said that my raising was not like this, this made me laugh in anger inside, she's been with me for 5 years, I'm 20 lol.
So that was it, I left for work and got a text from her, apologizing for being rough, saying that she loved me and wanted it to work, that they wanted to talk to me when I got home. I replied saying the same.
Later that day when we were all home, we gathered in the living room, I was literally against the wall and it intimidated me deeply. James started saying how much they loved me and wanted to see me happy, as they want that for all their children (aunt Leah has 2 boys, my cousins, and James has 3 girls). I then talked and expressed how I was feeling, then Leah started talking and basically said in a nicer tone the same things she said earlier, plus how they want me to be happy and want things to work for me, but they think it's too soon, they believe it's not the right time, they they, and therefore, despite being against what they want, I could take Bea, but only in ONE of the two holidays, which I could choose. I was in a bit of a shock (you see, me and Bea had bought the bus tickets a while earlier), had no support, against the wall, I was feeling purely defeated and tired, I only said "Christmas then...", she then said we would sleep in separate rooms and would not go on the 22th after work because "she had already allowed an extra night by allowing her to stay there until the 25th". I stayed in silence, they asked if there was anything I'd like to add, I said no. It wasn't a conversation, in no moment did they actually listened and considered me, they had their minds set way before we sat to talk. I went to my room and rolled all night in pure anxiety. This was thursday
Friday I was a wreck and went to Bea's house to check on her (she was sick that week) and to talk to her about what happened. She noticed something was off, I told her, she got mad and sad, we cried, etc. I went home feeling awful, my anxiety had been 100% all day long and I was in a really bad place and feeling deeply frustrated.
Saturday I woke up worse and decided that I had enough and was not having that anymore. I went outside and called grandad, talked about how I wasn't feeling well and asked what did he think about me leaving home, he said that their doors were always open and that I could just tell my aunt that "I was going to live with my grandad and that was it". I reframed the question asking what he though about me leaving to live alone, he then got worried and said that he didn't think that was necessary, that I had them and didn't need to do that. He then asked me to come over and talk to him and aunt Rachel. I accepted and told aunt Leah I'd sleep at grandad's.
I got there and ate a bit because I didn't want them extra worried, although I felt like throwing up at every bite. Everyone went to sleep and so did I. I woke up a bit later feeling worst, that's when I started to throw up, there was barely anything in my stomach and all I could do was throw up.
The next morning I was better and had already told aunt Rachel about what had happened, she found it absurd how things went (she had met Bea a while back and they clicked very well) and was upset about the things aunt Leah said. I decided to talk to grandad, I couldn't disappear with the subject again, specially now that he was worried sick about me.
So... I sat on the couch and told him what was happening, explained everything, told him that I'm like his stepson's MIL (she's married to a woman. It was the easiest way I found to introduce the topic), told him everything. He asked what I wanted him to do about it, I said that I just wanted him to still love me the same and remain normal with me, that I am still the same person and have always been this way, he just didn't knew about it, but that it changes nothing about me. Aunt Rachel then joined us and asked what he was thinking about it (she knows everything and is amazing to me), he said he wasn't pleased, but that it was my life and he had no say in it and that I should do what's right for me, said that if I wasn't gonna change, then neither would he. But basically, he got much more worried about my mental health than my sexuality, he said that the doors were still open and always would be for me, that he thought I needed a home and thinks they can offer me that. Aunt Rachel said that they wouldn't be obsessive after me, demanding to know every step I take and bossing everything like Leah did, that I have my graduation, I work, make my own money, am responsible, have my own life and am not a child, I'm a 20 year old adult and they would treat me as such.
So that was it. I went back "home" muchhh more confident and waited until nightfall because everyone was having a good time and I didn't want to spoil that. I realized aunt Leah and James were awake and went to talk to them, and that, my friends, is when hell went loose.
I started by saying I talked to my grandad about Bea and my sexuality, Leah asked how it went and I said it was great. Then I said they could talk to him (since they wanted to "decide" with him about my going), she said ok and asked when I wanted to go, I said that it could be in the same week since I was on vacation from college, she frowned, stood firmly and said "you know this won't change our decision about the holidays, right?" then it went boom, I said I didn't agree with them and that it wasn't right for them to dictate about such things. Told them their values and beliefs don't have to be mine, Leah asked "WHY NOT?", then I replied "because I have my own!".
Told them they were controlling and that made their kids lie to them, that since they liked to compare raisings (they criticized Bea's mom's raising because she gives her kids freedom to live their lives and fully trusts), then fine, I went on to say how Bea and her mom have an amazing relationship, full of love and trust, how Bea turned up great, works hard, just made it to psicology at university, helps immensely at home, and so has her sister. As for theirs? They raised their kids poorly, they are overbearing and that makes their kids not trusting them and lying a lot because of this necessity of them to control everything. I stated that the raising they gave their children was not my own, that I had multiple raisings and that no, they didn't "raise" me, I'm 20 and they've been with me for 5 years. Said that was clear, just look at the difference between me and her boys (I won't delve into this bit because it's not relevant, but the difference is nitid).
They said I couldn't take a no for an answer and that was my dad's fault, I said they didn't know what they were talking about, I know how it actually went whilst they made a story in their heads and believe it's the truth, since I knew how my dad used to tell my family one thing and do another.
They (again) said they wouldn't treat me like an adult because I did nothing to behave like one, I said that they didn't treat me as I deserved and they would always put me in the "teenager box" whenever I acted differently to what they thought was right (but I was adult enough to lend James almost 1k without Leah's knoledge lol).
She obviously tried to blame Bea, saying she was putting things in my head and that the last conversation was fine and now I was throwing a fit, I said that I said nothing else then because I felt cornered and realized it wasn't a conversation, it was them simulating one only to tell me what they were going to all along.
I told them they didn't know Bea because they didn't want to and I wasn't confortable bringing her as it was an enviroment unwelcoming to her, she then asked if i would go another year like this until I "felt confortable", I said yes, if that's what it took, that I didn't really need to introduce anyone if I didn't felt comfortable to it.
She once demanded to go meet Bea, after throwing a fit at my BIRTHDAY because Bea planned a day for me and my MIL wanted to make me lunch and they weren't invited, it was super uncomfortable. My aunt described this day as uncomfortable, in this argument I said "and about that day you guys met Bea and her mom? It was uncomfortable? OF COURSE it was, I TOLD you it would be! I told you that was barging in and no one wanted it!". Which Leah said that no, that wasn't the uncomfortable part, the uncomfortable was how Bea was "daring her, being all over me and kissing me in front of her, that she had to be respected!".... Lol, the being "all over me" was me shaking from the anxiety and Bea holding me to keep me in my feet, the "kissing" was ONE greeting kiss. And Bea did nothing "daring" towards Leah, believe me, if she had, aunt Leah would definitely know lol.
At the end, they asked if I was taking Bea, I said, yes, Leah said no, since she called my brother and told him how "things would go down" (amazes me everytime I remember this, she wanted to dictate how the holidays would go IN SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE). Lol, my brother was just texting me saying how Bea could go spend the whole holiday and we'd just say she left after Christmas. So it wasn't a very good argument on Leah's end. I said it was my business and I was sorry, but it was MY brother, MY family, MY relationship, MY life, and it wasn't up for them to dictate on it, they shouldn't feel comfortable or uncomfortable since it had NOTHING to do with them, and that my family who mattered in this were not only comfortable but very excited for Bea's presence.
I told them I knew I wasn't wrong since grandad and aunt Rachel agreed with me, so they could go ahead and talk to them if they wanted to. They ended up showing me their tumb and I left for my room.
Aunt Leah left to grandad's house in like, 5 minutes, cried to him and all. She got back, went in my room and in an ironic tone, said "sorry, I know I'm not your mother, stay with your raisings, I'm just glad and relieved my father wasn't as ok as you thought (her saying this seriously hurt me), he accepted for reasons ans beliefs he has, so go ahead and pack your bags this week, you're free to go. Sorry for the flaws, I was trying to get it right, be careful when you take that sticker off, don't ruin the painting." aaand she left.
The next day, grandad came and we took 90% of my stuff and I started officially living with him and aunt Rachel. Christmas was a bit awkward (my maternal family does this early Christmas so everyone's free on the 24th), but I was glooming feeling like the weight of the world had left my shoulders.
So... I went with Bea to spend the holidays with my family, my siblings, my SIL's parents and even my 1 year old nephew absolutely adored Bea, they now ask about her even before asking about me lol. My paternal grandmother loved her and was amazing, told my aunt (her daughter) that Bea was adorable and loving. It was amazing and I cannot imagine 2023 Christmas and New Year without Bea with us, she added sooo much.
Recently we've been to Luke's and Lyla's at Easter and made Easter eggs together, watched movies, went out, went to a family gathering where Bea, my uncles, cousins and grandmother (who was really happy to see her since Bea couldn't go to her birthday because she had to work) all got along really well.
We see each other frequently, living with grandad and aunt Rachel has been amazing, I'm finally gaining weight! MANY people have noticed it and it quite frankly scared me a bit, I had no idea it was so evident. But yeah, I'm doing great!
Grandad isn't ready to deal with this, so we don't talk about it. He doesn't like it and doesn't really understands, but he's doesn't meddle. Grandma (maternal) texted these days wanting to meet Bea (finally!), since she found out through aunt Rachel that me and Bea are still together and going strong for 1 year and a half already. I think she took it seriously now.
Anyway, it was hell, lol. But things turned out alright! Thank you for the people who commented in my first post, it was nice reading the comments and taking the options into consideration!
2024.05.14 22:08 TempoABC3 Why women on dating apps are such assholes
All my fucking matches never fucking answer back after the first message. Dating app already are cancer for young men and society, but if women on these were more human, it would be at least a little better. How to not become an incel if the only way for shy introverted guys to find someone is through apps on which girls are assholes. I'M A FUCKING HUMAN, YOU AWFUL BITCH, PLEASE HAVE AT LEAST SOME CONSIDERATION FOR ME AND STOP IGNORING ME, OR DONT EVEN BOTHER MATCHING WITH ME. Seriously, how are you even surprised there so many incels nowadays.
I think the funniest app is Bumble, an app where it's the woman who have to send the first message IF ONLY THEY WOULD DO IT, and each time we bring the subject on internet, they says that its so difficult, NO FUCKING SHIT, HOW DO WE GUYS DO IT THEN ? Honestly, if women were at our place, they would kill themselves because of the loneliness.
Also, i already see the comments saying "your first message is just not original" and such but 1. Yes they are, they often are about someting on their profile, or something that they can reply on, 2. Its no excuse to ignore a human being (ignorance is painful) 3. these women are the first to not even send a message with more than 3 words.
So, in the name of every young virgin men like me, GO FUCK YOURSELVES.
submitted by TempoABC3 to lonely [link] [comments]
I think the funniest app is Bumble, an app where it's the woman who have to send the first message IF ONLY THEY WOULD DO IT, and each time we bring the subject on internet, they says that its so difficult, NO FUCKING SHIT, HOW DO WE GUYS DO IT THEN ? Honestly, if women were at our place, they would kill themselves because of the loneliness.
Also, i already see the comments saying "your first message is just not original" and such but 1. Yes they are, they often are about someting on their profile, or something that they can reply on, 2. Its no excuse to ignore a human being (ignorance is painful) 3. these women are the first to not even send a message with more than 3 words.
So, in the name of every young virgin men like me, GO FUCK YOURSELVES.
2024.05.14 22:05 Euphoric-Earth-4765 An inside look at the culture and ideology of Faith Comes By Hearing_PART 2
*Management style:
Not democratic/participative. Not transformational. Not Coaching. Very much Autocratic/Authoritative/Coercive. Sometimes Laissez-faire. Style depends on the department.
*Chain of command:
The ministry is seen as a church by top management. Top management are the “elders” and the CEO is the Senior Pastor. Then there is everybody else. So, confidence is put on their positions of authority. They are, in all sense and purposes, the “spiritual leaders”. They present themselves as having spiritual authority and, therefore, as being entitled to receive immediate agreement and unquestioned compliance.
Also, there are multiple management layers or chains which this quote sums up as well:
"When you become an admiral, you never have bad meals and you never hear the truth. there are all these layers of management and buffer layers and each one is afraid to tell unpleasant truth to the top levels.... “
Not a culture of authenticity where everyone on the team, including management, is encouraged, and expected to be who they are. There is a sense that top management puts up a false front, they seem to want to appear perfect. Illusions of invulnerability exist. They always lead well, they always make the right decisions, they never admit mistakes, etc. Want people to think they got it all together- all rainbows and lollipops. Do not exhibit vulnerability. Toxic positivity is also very much present: Everything is seen as “awesome”. So, there is judgment if you have a bad (not "everything is awesome") day.
The vertical chain of command, results in less collaboration, slow communication, lack of career growth, feelings of subordination, and decreased employee empowerment. Top management sets the rules and standards without any input from the “bottom” employees. Employee questions, concerns or ideas have to go up several steps of the chain of command so that upper management can address or approve. The bottom employees do not have the ability to make decisions related to their work or a particular situation. So, not everyone feels equal.
So, if you are not a spiritual leader, you are just basically told to submit and listen to those who are in authority over you because they are the people that “hear from God” and you are not and so whatever they say goes. And they set up a scenario where they basically kept those of us who were not spiritual leaders dependent upon them.
Many in management are overconfident and overestimate their abilities. They have a simple idea of how things are and how things work. Unfortunately, they make decisions that impact entire departments without gaining the needed knowledge.
The chain of command and lack of ongoing training also results in many employees being promoted so much that they max out their competence and will remain there until they leave or are let go. So, you end up with many in the role of management that lack the training and competence of the respective department. So, employees with the most authority are often not the most experienced and not adept in the particular field leading team members. And employees with the most experience and skills and knowledge and wisdom have the least (or no) authority.
Good leaders don’t always claim the “leader” title. Oftentimes, good leaders are those with more understated temperaments. Leadership is as much about listening as it is about telling. However, people with the most open and receptive personalities often do not have much authority.
Also, how the chain of command should operate when there is a unit that acted without proper authorization, it is not a junior authority who’s going to bear a responsibility for that, but somewhat of more senior status. And that’s true in any military or business or ministry operating by a code of ethics. So, if someone at the bottom of the chain is struggling, failing, or making mistakes, those at the top of the chain bear full responsibility. Everything stands or falls on leadership. Unfortunately, the chain at FCBH is not two directional.
There is also a sense that top management promotes employees who are least-competent but pose no risk to their own position (in-group bias) to management.
*Feedback:
Work environment or culture is not set up for employees to give honest feedback/opinions or to deliver bad news or to question or disagree with management.
Sample bias is also common. Management will send an email asking for feedback but they won't consider how only the people who are open to talking and sharing their opinions will participate while others won’t. Bias arises because employees with specific characteristics (e.g., extroverts) might be more likely to agree to participate than others, making the participants a non-representative sample. People with strong opinions or substantial knowledge about a specific topic may be more willing to give feedback than those without. Management does not follow up to determine why they are unresponsive or follow up frequently to reduce attrition.
Management claims they want to hear from employees, but they only want opinions and ideas on matters that are superficial or trivial. So, few employees give candid feedback on important and significant matters.
Top management does not involve employees in the change process when changes occur.
Management does not ask for honest feedback on their leadership or on decisions that are made that affect employees. Management will not ask how they are doing as leaders, what employees need from them. No regular check-ins or 1:1 on employees’ professional and personal well-being. Are employees stressed, disappointed or feeling burdened physically, emotionally or spiritually? No growth and career discussions.
Management will ignore most feedback, comments, suggestions even when it's common knowledge but will adamantly listen to employees who preface with "God told me to tell you..." Or “I felt God say …” or “God spoke to me and said…”
For example, management started focusing on Gen Z only after a few people claimed that “God told us that Gen Z are important for our future business growth.” In another instance, someone said “God gave us this word: we as a ministry need to really consider how everyone is wired, how each person is different. How people have different personalities.” Then, management affirmed this “word from God.”
If one employee brings something up to management it is often ignored and the employee is gaslighted. If two or more employees bring the same thing to management, then God is communicating something and they take it seriously (per Matt 18). Even if it is just coincidence or frequency bias.
*Groupthink/Conformity:
Groupthink, confirmation bias, in-group bias, illusions of unanimity, and self-censorship is very prevalent in the culture and especially in their meetings. There is a lot of direct pressure to not question, to conform, to agree with the views and personal convictions of the top management. Employees condemn those who disagree or question top management and they accept those who agree, creating immense pressure for conformity.
So, many employees frequently remain quiet, preferring to “keep the peace” rather than disrupt the uniformity. Employees are pressured to hide problematic information (especially from top management).
*Disagreements/Different perspectives:
Top management will also point out the working and living conditions of international employees to “encourage” local employees to not “complain” or give critical feedback or bring up legitimate problems (e.g., fumes or loud noises from construction in the building).
Management also often commits the "ends (or goals or vision) justify the means" fallacy: the work, the production and distribution of bibles (the ends) being done is more important, so employees shouldn't complain at all about the means or their working conditions (broken chairs, broken or inadequate equipment, poor work-life balance, bad management).
And, if management disagrees with you, with your observations, feedback, suggestions, or theology, they will often try to trump you with spirituality or vague meaningless spiritual terminology instead of using Scripture (properly interpreted), facts and reasoning.
In addition, top managers will take great offense when employees question or disagree with the directions and decisions they make. Dissent is not welcomed. Respectful debates/disagreement is not encouraged. Open discussion and alternative perspectives are not encouraged. Management does not value, support, or respect diverse opinions and ideas. They do not actively seek out different viewpoints. Do not allow people to speak their perspective, their thought of mind. So, there is no psychological safety. Employees do not feel comfortable expressing dissenting opinions without fear of retribution or judgment. Afraid of breaking the little glass image. People do not feel comfortable sharing setbacks, mistakes, failures. Management does not encourage open communication. Management often seeks agreement, instead of posing honest questions that challenge the status quo and provoke critical thinking and discussion. They do not encourage employees to challenge them. In fact, they are seen as a type of complaining or critical feedback and so are viewed as sin. This makes top management seem self-centered.
*Appeals to emotion: Guilt and Shame:
Top management often shares their personal opinions and convictions (e.g., spending money only when absolutely necessary, not accepting large gifts, not buying fancy items) as something everyone should do. It’s never direct. It's always through stories. Management loves stories. The personal convictions of management are presented as more than preferences.
For instance, top management encourages extreme frugality and poverty through their personal anecdotes #loudbudgeting and stories from international cultures. Think along the lines of: “we, here in America, have no right to be sad or to complain about things or to request better things or ask for accommodations or for more employee engagement because others (internationals) have it much worse.” Even wanting better equipment and supplies or asking for better working conditions is frowned upon (in some cases seen as a sin), even if your request helps you to do your job more effectively and makes the work better (a new whiteboard, a new office chair, better computers, etc.)
Example: “You should really try to come in to work even if you feel bad, even if you are snowed in and the roads are hazardous because people need to get our bibles. And our international employees work in much harsher conditions.”
You also get this feeling from the way they communicate that top management would rather not pay their employees. They would prefer it if everyone just worked for free because “we are on a mission from God. We are doing the Lord's work.” There is also a sense that employees should be more than willing to sacrifice their well-being, career goals, financial goals, personal goals for reaching people with their Bibles.
Leadership sets the example and expectations, so this all ends up making employees confused and feeling guilty and ashamed. Guilty and shameful about asks, spending money (even their own). Guilty and shameful about having nice things (new car, new phone, new tv), about making needs known, about sharing concerns regarding work, about asking for raises to keep up with cost of living, etc.
Example: An employee has continued to use an old whiteboard. It is so old it is hard to read and difficult to erase. Management likes to tell donors: “We don't spend money on everyday things like whiteboards…. Instead, we use that money for more bible recordings, for people to hear about Jesus.”
This also causes confusion. Every few months there is a meeting where management discusses how sitting on stores of money is bad, but spending it is also bad, but also not spending it is bad... "Being rich is bad. Money is bad. let's not accumulate money, that's bad. We must think about how people will see what we have. So we should look poor and not appear too frivolous." But top management is okay with receiving gifts from donors and other ministries. Management personally does not like to have nice “fancy” things, and as a ministry, they say FCBH should also not have nice fancy things, they should use the money for other more important things. They don't like when other ministries use their money for nice fancy things, but it's okay if other ministries give FCBH nice fancy things like tote bags, key chains, mugs, phone holders, lunch bags. Another example, it took them years to repaint the parking lot. It was at the point where people did not know where to park. Before repainting, management decided to remodel the hallways and install posters and multiple monitors with language stats.
There is also a subtle sense that producing audio and video bibles is the highest calling one can have. And it's implied that FCBH is the main means God uses to fulfill the great commission: “God needs FCBH to do these bible recordings or people (specifically unreached internationals) will go to hell.” So, top management hints that working anywhere else isn't really serving God (or at least, not serving God as well as one could if they worked somewhere else). They imply that working at this ministry is the only way to truly serve God and fulfill your calling. They also use this framing to guilt and shame employees into not quitting. Management implies that employees should not take opportunities to leave or take other jobs because getting the Bible to people is God’s highest calling for us as Christians:
“If anyone leaves FCBH, then they must not really understand the vision/calling. They are not committed to saving people. We should be willing to give up things to fulfill the calling. The apostles did not pursue better jobs and so God will provide if we need better pay, benefits, career. For those of us who join the ministry to hold true to get God's word to every person, it takes discipline because we have opportunities to do other things. I'm sure that Noah had problems with Builders because he probably had hundreds of people not thousands working on the ark. They started their own businesses and started side things going on. pretty soon they'll have no time to work with him on the ark. and you can have all kinds of diversionary things happen. and so we want to understand they focused in the ministry. and that's been one of the things that I've really tried to do is what did God tell me at the time this ministry began because I was not interested in this ministry. I was interested in living by faith and experiencing God through people and seeing people experience God. and when I was praying about that here in Albuquerque the Lord said bring my church together and make disciples. and then he also told me that when his people think the same they are one. so it's not a matter of getting rid of the buildings or the leaders but it's a matter of people thinking the same. They can go to different denominations, different buildings, have different teachers, and different preachers and leaders but once they think the same, they're one and that's what his objective was. and so that's when I felt like the Lord said get God's word to every person. So I'm challenging us to stay true to what God has called us to do. and every time somebody leaves the ministry there are reasons for leaving. but it startles me a little bit, because I think well we haven't, we haven't communicated the vision very well somehow because they didn't get it. like Noah building the arc. it it's a long project it's not a month or a year two years or three years. our immediate goal is 2033 and it means that we're committed to a cause. and that means some of us we give up something. I we've given up stuff we live in a small apartment and that's what we saw that God had us do and that's our lifestyle we we tone down our lifestyle to get the cause committed to the cause. and and I know that's difficult for some, in some cases maybe there's financial needs because of family growth and stuff there they just can't afford to work in the ministry. but sometimes it's a choice and every time somebody leaves it where it's actually a choice. I think we haven't communicated the mission very good the vision very good. I've been looking at is that could you imagine read reading the New Testament. and finding out that Peter about halfway through or Paul halfway through the ministry all of a sudden got a better job offer. and stopped their portion of the ministry they held the course no matter what happened. whether it was good or whether it was bad. Paul talks about this and sometimes we want to follow the Lord. but we don't impart on ourselves the same responsibilities that those disciples did. so when God Empower them is he empowering you in the same way. and you're making choices that maybe you shouldn't make that you will impart and say the Lord is leading me someplace else when in fact maybe it isn't. it's just a better offer. if the Bible in the New Testament was reading a little bit different than Stephen left the ministry at this point or James left the ministry at this point because of something I think we need to be very very careful and why I say that is that as we work internationally.”
SO, there is a lot of guilt and shame about leaving to pursue other interests or meet needs. Guilt and shame about wanting to leave to advance and develop professionally. For this reason, many remain “loyal” and stay at the ministry.
So there is lots of control and manipulation in the work culture.
*Weekly worship meetings:
These are mandatory and there are some legitimate concerns:
Top management seems to have misconceptions about true worship and worship experiences. They often reduce worship to singing by their communication, the way “worship” is used. Worship is seen as something we do on occasion - once a week, when we gather at work for the mandatory worship time. Top management, by ignoring other styles, seems to believe that there is a single style of worship which is correct for Christians.
And it seems like just about anyone can lead worship or be on the team: anyone that can play an instrument. Top management does not require a worship class or agreement to biblical principles concerning worship as a prerequisite for employees who desire to plan and lead worship experiences. So you end up with people who have different views/philosophies on the worship team. Unfortunately, many who lead do not take the time/effort to plan and lead worship experiences, to discern from songs that are better suited for individual or private worship from songs that are corporate or public worship, to discern songs that are controversial/questionable (have bad theology, weak theology), songs that are theologically ambiguous or songs that lean more towards “feminine” attributes. Most, if not all, of our modern “Christian” worship music is written at a simplistic level of understanding and comprehension. Most music tends to appeal to our emotions. Many songs appeal mostly to women. So there is a great need for teaching on the biblical principles concerning worship. Also a need to choose theologically balanced songs with music appropriate for the people. Unfortunately, many of the songs chosen are theologically incorrect (e.g., having elements from the Word Of Faith movement, New Apostolic Church, New Age). Songs are often not theologically balanced. Songs seem to be chosen for their emotional impact, to make employees feel good; many focus on just one aspect of God (e.g., love). Many promote self-centered worship.
Most of the worship leaders just sing the songs: They do not actually “lead” people into worship. They do not help people connect the lyrics of the song to where they are at in their personal life, to teach them something about God or help the people understand what this song means and what God wants them to get out of it, so they're not just singing songs and just doing, going through the motions or help them understand the depth and the richness of what lyrics mean and how it applies to their life. What matters to them seems to be whether songs are impactful, moving, and beautiful. (Whatever that means.) Whether songs make employees feel good. They don't seem to care whether the songs actually reflect truth: Do the lyrics line up with Scripture? Do the songs glorify self or God? How would new Christians or nonChristians interpret the song?
Theology is the study of God and it's very important doxology is an expression of praise to God so the point here is that all theologies should ultimately lead to doxology if theology doesn't lead to doxology then we've actually missed the point of theology so if you have theology without doxology you just have dead hold orthodoxy which is horrible. On the other side you have the people who say “forget about theology I just want to praise.” But if you have doxology without theology you actually have idolatry because it's just a random expression of praise but it's not actually informed by the truth of who God is so God is
concerned with both he's concerned with an accurate understanding of him and that accurate understanding of him leading to a response of praise adoration and worship towards him.
*Leadership quality:
Top management has more respect for donors and guests than their employees.
Management lacks basic core leadership principles/values:
Unfortunately, many employees are not given power or resources: Management just gives them the responsibility to get things done. Before responsibility is given, employees should be equipped: be empowered, have the authority, be given resources and have the experience. Employees are not empowered as individuals to solve their own problems using their own solutions. Micromanagement is often required every time the situation changes or problems arise. Employees are not inspired to act as leaders for themselves, delivering amazing performance without guidance. They have coaching sessions but only when there’s a problem. True coaching occurs regardless of whether the individual is crushing their goals or falling behind. Management does not seem to care about unlocking a person’s potential and getting the most of their performance. They seem only interested in producing more followers, not more leaders.
No method to hold management accountable to core values listed in their own Employee handbook. Employees are expected to abide by the procedures and rules described in the handbook but top management can choose to ignore it when it is convenient for them.
-Top management are NOT learners: No desire to develop and improve their skills.
-They do not ask employees: What’s one thing you see me doing—or failing to do—that you think I should change?
-They do not ask how they are doing as leaders. Or ask employees how they’re doing.
-They do not ask what employees need from management that they are not giving them.
-No performance evaluations for both management or non-managment.
-They often fail to emotionally connect with employees.
-They do not speak to employees' needs first.
-They do not focus on what they can put into people rather than what they can get out of them.
-They do not understand basic psychology, how people think and behave.
-They are often resistant to (and even hate) change: Perhaps because they fear losing control. In fact, new information, objective facts, research, stats, and even new ideas are often ignored in favor of what's easiest to do or because of tradition. If something has been done and “works”, top management does not see a reason to question it or to improve on it. If something was tried 5, 10, 20, even 50yrs before and failed, top management does not see a reason to try it again even if the exact circumstances have changed.
-They do not empower or give the means, the power or opportunity to do to employees.
-They do not trust others to follow through managing processes and performing tasks.
-They do not lead by example.
-They do not know when to move forward and when to back off, what to improve and how radical those improvements should be.
-They often fail to see options, and plan and prioritize.
-They fail to develop leaders around them.
-Their communication is often poor.
-Their listening is also poor: do not listen for more than facts, but also the feelings, meanings and undercurrents.
-They do not take the time to get to know the people they lead: no weekly check-ins which top organizations have to discuss how employees are doing professionally and personally. Management doesn't ask “what was good this week? What was not good this week? How is your well-being? How is your family?”
Competence in leadership skills is also poor.
-They are not teachable: not willing to keep learning, growing, improving in leadership and management practices: FCBH has a yearly “leadership” summit. But, the way it is set up, it reinforces weaknesses instead of challenging leadership growth.
The summit is also just for a select few in top management. Not every employee is seen as a leader so most employees are excluded.
Top managers attend the summit but there is no followup, no post accountability by other managers and especially by the employees that are under the managers. No discussion on how management will apply what was learned.
Some of the past speakers have had questionable characters and even questionable teachings (Judah Smith). Leadership qualifications and theological background seems to be ignored in favor of charismatics, dynamics, popularity.
-Top management does not take responsibility for their part of a disagreement or failure and apologize.
-They often embrace a victim mentality.
-They often limit yourself by your job title.
-They do not invest in better tools or processes.
-They are content with the status quo.
-They allow their past achievements to stagnate their desire to keep learning.
-There is a lack of discernment, finding the main cause of problems/issues.
-They do not anticipate problems.
-They do not accept the truth of the problem: Do not face up to the reality of the situation;
-They get bogged down in the details.
-They often avoid problems.
-They don’t deal well with problems.
-They do not have their team study all angles.
-They often do not value nontraditional thinking: Don’t embrace change, ambiguity and uncertainty well.
-They do not work well with differences.
-They do not have their own mentors or provide mentorship to others.
-They do not invest to improve their own professional or leadership skills.
-They are often insecure, constantly seek validation, acknowledgement and love.
-They limit employee's success and recognition:
-They do not seem interested in making people successful: Don’t attempt to remove barriers that prevent employees from being successful.
When a team succeeds, management will not give other people credit and instead take the credit themselves.
It seems like some of the people working there were given the title of management, the position, and that alone made them qualified. Management or leaders assume that their position alone qualifies them to make critical decisions where they may not have the best data, insight, wisdom, skill, experience. Just because one may have the word “manger” in the job title, does not automatically make them a great leader. Leadership is about dealing with people, and the dynamics between those people, and influencing people.
*Dead end career path:
For the most part, top management assumes that team members are fine and "settled", rather than taking the time to understand their true feelings and needs. They do not ask employees where they are struggling, where they are having trouble, what frustrates them the most?
Management does not seem interested in making employees better both personally or professionally. They do not have a growth plan or professional development plan for employees. No job related training. They do not provide what is needed to help employees to grow and improve. They don't provide opportunities for employees to apply their talents and expertise. They don’t ask how they can better support employees. Employees don’t check on each other.
One is expected to work until health deteriorates and skills become obsolete so you leave in a worse place than you started. For most employees, there is no long term future with the organization. Management does not let employees know how they are doing and what the future looks like for them. What the opportunities are. They do not take the time to learn from employees what they want to be. No honest conversations to understand employees goals and ambitions. So, because there is no growth or development plan, no career path, once your skills are outdated, they will probably let you go or they will keep you in the same position and your salary will max out.
Management does not coach employees on how to manage their time, priorities, and energy; no teaching on how to problem solve, or make better decisions, or how to set boundaries or how to minimize context switching and zoom fatigue.
submitted by Euphoric-Earth-4765 to u/Euphoric-Earth-4765 [link] [comments]
Not democratic/participative. Not transformational. Not Coaching. Very much Autocratic/Authoritative/Coercive. Sometimes Laissez-faire. Style depends on the department.
*Chain of command:
The ministry is seen as a church by top management. Top management are the “elders” and the CEO is the Senior Pastor. Then there is everybody else. So, confidence is put on their positions of authority. They are, in all sense and purposes, the “spiritual leaders”. They present themselves as having spiritual authority and, therefore, as being entitled to receive immediate agreement and unquestioned compliance.
Also, there are multiple management layers or chains which this quote sums up as well:
"When you become an admiral, you never have bad meals and you never hear the truth. there are all these layers of management and buffer layers and each one is afraid to tell unpleasant truth to the top levels.... “
Not a culture of authenticity where everyone on the team, including management, is encouraged, and expected to be who they are. There is a sense that top management puts up a false front, they seem to want to appear perfect. Illusions of invulnerability exist. They always lead well, they always make the right decisions, they never admit mistakes, etc. Want people to think they got it all together- all rainbows and lollipops. Do not exhibit vulnerability. Toxic positivity is also very much present: Everything is seen as “awesome”. So, there is judgment if you have a bad (not "everything is awesome") day.
The vertical chain of command, results in less collaboration, slow communication, lack of career growth, feelings of subordination, and decreased employee empowerment. Top management sets the rules and standards without any input from the “bottom” employees. Employee questions, concerns or ideas have to go up several steps of the chain of command so that upper management can address or approve. The bottom employees do not have the ability to make decisions related to their work or a particular situation. So, not everyone feels equal.
So, if you are not a spiritual leader, you are just basically told to submit and listen to those who are in authority over you because they are the people that “hear from God” and you are not and so whatever they say goes. And they set up a scenario where they basically kept those of us who were not spiritual leaders dependent upon them.
Many in management are overconfident and overestimate their abilities. They have a simple idea of how things are and how things work. Unfortunately, they make decisions that impact entire departments without gaining the needed knowledge.
The chain of command and lack of ongoing training also results in many employees being promoted so much that they max out their competence and will remain there until they leave or are let go. So, you end up with many in the role of management that lack the training and competence of the respective department. So, employees with the most authority are often not the most experienced and not adept in the particular field leading team members. And employees with the most experience and skills and knowledge and wisdom have the least (or no) authority.
Good leaders don’t always claim the “leader” title. Oftentimes, good leaders are those with more understated temperaments. Leadership is as much about listening as it is about telling. However, people with the most open and receptive personalities often do not have much authority.
Also, how the chain of command should operate when there is a unit that acted without proper authorization, it is not a junior authority who’s going to bear a responsibility for that, but somewhat of more senior status. And that’s true in any military or business or ministry operating by a code of ethics. So, if someone at the bottom of the chain is struggling, failing, or making mistakes, those at the top of the chain bear full responsibility. Everything stands or falls on leadership. Unfortunately, the chain at FCBH is not two directional.
There is also a sense that top management promotes employees who are least-competent but pose no risk to their own position (in-group bias) to management.
*Feedback:
Work environment or culture is not set up for employees to give honest feedback/opinions or to deliver bad news or to question or disagree with management.
Sample bias is also common. Management will send an email asking for feedback but they won't consider how only the people who are open to talking and sharing their opinions will participate while others won’t. Bias arises because employees with specific characteristics (e.g., extroverts) might be more likely to agree to participate than others, making the participants a non-representative sample. People with strong opinions or substantial knowledge about a specific topic may be more willing to give feedback than those without. Management does not follow up to determine why they are unresponsive or follow up frequently to reduce attrition.
Management claims they want to hear from employees, but they only want opinions and ideas on matters that are superficial or trivial. So, few employees give candid feedback on important and significant matters.
Top management does not involve employees in the change process when changes occur.
Management does not ask for honest feedback on their leadership or on decisions that are made that affect employees. Management will not ask how they are doing as leaders, what employees need from them. No regular check-ins or 1:1 on employees’ professional and personal well-being. Are employees stressed, disappointed or feeling burdened physically, emotionally or spiritually? No growth and career discussions.
Management will ignore most feedback, comments, suggestions even when it's common knowledge but will adamantly listen to employees who preface with "God told me to tell you..." Or “I felt God say …” or “God spoke to me and said…”
For example, management started focusing on Gen Z only after a few people claimed that “God told us that Gen Z are important for our future business growth.” In another instance, someone said “God gave us this word: we as a ministry need to really consider how everyone is wired, how each person is different. How people have different personalities.” Then, management affirmed this “word from God.”
If one employee brings something up to management it is often ignored and the employee is gaslighted. If two or more employees bring the same thing to management, then God is communicating something and they take it seriously (per Matt 18). Even if it is just coincidence or frequency bias.
*Groupthink/Conformity:
Groupthink, confirmation bias, in-group bias, illusions of unanimity, and self-censorship is very prevalent in the culture and especially in their meetings. There is a lot of direct pressure to not question, to conform, to agree with the views and personal convictions of the top management. Employees condemn those who disagree or question top management and they accept those who agree, creating immense pressure for conformity.
So, many employees frequently remain quiet, preferring to “keep the peace” rather than disrupt the uniformity. Employees are pressured to hide problematic information (especially from top management).
*Disagreements/Different perspectives:
Top management will also point out the working and living conditions of international employees to “encourage” local employees to not “complain” or give critical feedback or bring up legitimate problems (e.g., fumes or loud noises from construction in the building).
Management also often commits the "ends (or goals or vision) justify the means" fallacy: the work, the production and distribution of bibles (the ends) being done is more important, so employees shouldn't complain at all about the means or their working conditions (broken chairs, broken or inadequate equipment, poor work-life balance, bad management).
And, if management disagrees with you, with your observations, feedback, suggestions, or theology, they will often try to trump you with spirituality or vague meaningless spiritual terminology instead of using Scripture (properly interpreted), facts and reasoning.
In addition, top managers will take great offense when employees question or disagree with the directions and decisions they make. Dissent is not welcomed. Respectful debates/disagreement is not encouraged. Open discussion and alternative perspectives are not encouraged. Management does not value, support, or respect diverse opinions and ideas. They do not actively seek out different viewpoints. Do not allow people to speak their perspective, their thought of mind. So, there is no psychological safety. Employees do not feel comfortable expressing dissenting opinions without fear of retribution or judgment. Afraid of breaking the little glass image. People do not feel comfortable sharing setbacks, mistakes, failures. Management does not encourage open communication. Management often seeks agreement, instead of posing honest questions that challenge the status quo and provoke critical thinking and discussion. They do not encourage employees to challenge them. In fact, they are seen as a type of complaining or critical feedback and so are viewed as sin. This makes top management seem self-centered.
*Appeals to emotion: Guilt and Shame:
Top management often shares their personal opinions and convictions (e.g., spending money only when absolutely necessary, not accepting large gifts, not buying fancy items) as something everyone should do. It’s never direct. It's always through stories. Management loves stories. The personal convictions of management are presented as more than preferences.
For instance, top management encourages extreme frugality and poverty through their personal anecdotes #loudbudgeting and stories from international cultures. Think along the lines of: “we, here in America, have no right to be sad or to complain about things or to request better things or ask for accommodations or for more employee engagement because others (internationals) have it much worse.” Even wanting better equipment and supplies or asking for better working conditions is frowned upon (in some cases seen as a sin), even if your request helps you to do your job more effectively and makes the work better (a new whiteboard, a new office chair, better computers, etc.)
Example: “You should really try to come in to work even if you feel bad, even if you are snowed in and the roads are hazardous because people need to get our bibles. And our international employees work in much harsher conditions.”
You also get this feeling from the way they communicate that top management would rather not pay their employees. They would prefer it if everyone just worked for free because “we are on a mission from God. We are doing the Lord's work.” There is also a sense that employees should be more than willing to sacrifice their well-being, career goals, financial goals, personal goals for reaching people with their Bibles.
Leadership sets the example and expectations, so this all ends up making employees confused and feeling guilty and ashamed. Guilty and shameful about asks, spending money (even their own). Guilty and shameful about having nice things (new car, new phone, new tv), about making needs known, about sharing concerns regarding work, about asking for raises to keep up with cost of living, etc.
Example: An employee has continued to use an old whiteboard. It is so old it is hard to read and difficult to erase. Management likes to tell donors: “We don't spend money on everyday things like whiteboards…. Instead, we use that money for more bible recordings, for people to hear about Jesus.”
This also causes confusion. Every few months there is a meeting where management discusses how sitting on stores of money is bad, but spending it is also bad, but also not spending it is bad... "Being rich is bad. Money is bad. let's not accumulate money, that's bad. We must think about how people will see what we have. So we should look poor and not appear too frivolous." But top management is okay with receiving gifts from donors and other ministries. Management personally does not like to have nice “fancy” things, and as a ministry, they say FCBH should also not have nice fancy things, they should use the money for other more important things. They don't like when other ministries use their money for nice fancy things, but it's okay if other ministries give FCBH nice fancy things like tote bags, key chains, mugs, phone holders, lunch bags. Another example, it took them years to repaint the parking lot. It was at the point where people did not know where to park. Before repainting, management decided to remodel the hallways and install posters and multiple monitors with language stats.
There is also a subtle sense that producing audio and video bibles is the highest calling one can have. And it's implied that FCBH is the main means God uses to fulfill the great commission: “God needs FCBH to do these bible recordings or people (specifically unreached internationals) will go to hell.” So, top management hints that working anywhere else isn't really serving God (or at least, not serving God as well as one could if they worked somewhere else). They imply that working at this ministry is the only way to truly serve God and fulfill your calling. They also use this framing to guilt and shame employees into not quitting. Management implies that employees should not take opportunities to leave or take other jobs because getting the Bible to people is God’s highest calling for us as Christians:
“If anyone leaves FCBH, then they must not really understand the vision/calling. They are not committed to saving people. We should be willing to give up things to fulfill the calling. The apostles did not pursue better jobs and so God will provide if we need better pay, benefits, career. For those of us who join the ministry to hold true to get God's word to every person, it takes discipline because we have opportunities to do other things. I'm sure that Noah had problems with Builders because he probably had hundreds of people not thousands working on the ark. They started their own businesses and started side things going on. pretty soon they'll have no time to work with him on the ark. and you can have all kinds of diversionary things happen. and so we want to understand they focused in the ministry. and that's been one of the things that I've really tried to do is what did God tell me at the time this ministry began because I was not interested in this ministry. I was interested in living by faith and experiencing God through people and seeing people experience God. and when I was praying about that here in Albuquerque the Lord said bring my church together and make disciples. and then he also told me that when his people think the same they are one. so it's not a matter of getting rid of the buildings or the leaders but it's a matter of people thinking the same. They can go to different denominations, different buildings, have different teachers, and different preachers and leaders but once they think the same, they're one and that's what his objective was. and so that's when I felt like the Lord said get God's word to every person. So I'm challenging us to stay true to what God has called us to do. and every time somebody leaves the ministry there are reasons for leaving. but it startles me a little bit, because I think well we haven't, we haven't communicated the vision very well somehow because they didn't get it. like Noah building the arc. it it's a long project it's not a month or a year two years or three years. our immediate goal is 2033 and it means that we're committed to a cause. and that means some of us we give up something. I we've given up stuff we live in a small apartment and that's what we saw that God had us do and that's our lifestyle we we tone down our lifestyle to get the cause committed to the cause. and and I know that's difficult for some, in some cases maybe there's financial needs because of family growth and stuff there they just can't afford to work in the ministry. but sometimes it's a choice and every time somebody leaves it where it's actually a choice. I think we haven't communicated the mission very good the vision very good. I've been looking at is that could you imagine read reading the New Testament. and finding out that Peter about halfway through or Paul halfway through the ministry all of a sudden got a better job offer. and stopped their portion of the ministry they held the course no matter what happened. whether it was good or whether it was bad. Paul talks about this and sometimes we want to follow the Lord. but we don't impart on ourselves the same responsibilities that those disciples did. so when God Empower them is he empowering you in the same way. and you're making choices that maybe you shouldn't make that you will impart and say the Lord is leading me someplace else when in fact maybe it isn't. it's just a better offer. if the Bible in the New Testament was reading a little bit different than Stephen left the ministry at this point or James left the ministry at this point because of something I think we need to be very very careful and why I say that is that as we work internationally.”
SO, there is a lot of guilt and shame about leaving to pursue other interests or meet needs. Guilt and shame about wanting to leave to advance and develop professionally. For this reason, many remain “loyal” and stay at the ministry.
So there is lots of control and manipulation in the work culture.
*Weekly worship meetings:
These are mandatory and there are some legitimate concerns:
Top management seems to have misconceptions about true worship and worship experiences. They often reduce worship to singing by their communication, the way “worship” is used. Worship is seen as something we do on occasion - once a week, when we gather at work for the mandatory worship time. Top management, by ignoring other styles, seems to believe that there is a single style of worship which is correct for Christians.
And it seems like just about anyone can lead worship or be on the team: anyone that can play an instrument. Top management does not require a worship class or agreement to biblical principles concerning worship as a prerequisite for employees who desire to plan and lead worship experiences. So you end up with people who have different views/philosophies on the worship team. Unfortunately, many who lead do not take the time/effort to plan and lead worship experiences, to discern from songs that are better suited for individual or private worship from songs that are corporate or public worship, to discern songs that are controversial/questionable (have bad theology, weak theology), songs that are theologically ambiguous or songs that lean more towards “feminine” attributes. Most, if not all, of our modern “Christian” worship music is written at a simplistic level of understanding and comprehension. Most music tends to appeal to our emotions. Many songs appeal mostly to women. So there is a great need for teaching on the biblical principles concerning worship. Also a need to choose theologically balanced songs with music appropriate for the people. Unfortunately, many of the songs chosen are theologically incorrect (e.g., having elements from the Word Of Faith movement, New Apostolic Church, New Age). Songs are often not theologically balanced. Songs seem to be chosen for their emotional impact, to make employees feel good; many focus on just one aspect of God (e.g., love). Many promote self-centered worship.
Most of the worship leaders just sing the songs: They do not actually “lead” people into worship. They do not help people connect the lyrics of the song to where they are at in their personal life, to teach them something about God or help the people understand what this song means and what God wants them to get out of it, so they're not just singing songs and just doing, going through the motions or help them understand the depth and the richness of what lyrics mean and how it applies to their life. What matters to them seems to be whether songs are impactful, moving, and beautiful. (Whatever that means.) Whether songs make employees feel good. They don't seem to care whether the songs actually reflect truth: Do the lyrics line up with Scripture? Do the songs glorify self or God? How would new Christians or nonChristians interpret the song?
Theology is the study of God and it's very important doxology is an expression of praise to God so the point here is that all theologies should ultimately lead to doxology if theology doesn't lead to doxology then we've actually missed the point of theology so if you have theology without doxology you just have dead hold orthodoxy which is horrible. On the other side you have the people who say “forget about theology I just want to praise.” But if you have doxology without theology you actually have idolatry because it's just a random expression of praise but it's not actually informed by the truth of who God is so God is
concerned with both he's concerned with an accurate understanding of him and that accurate understanding of him leading to a response of praise adoration and worship towards him.
*Leadership quality:
Top management has more respect for donors and guests than their employees.
Management lacks basic core leadership principles/values:
Unfortunately, many employees are not given power or resources: Management just gives them the responsibility to get things done. Before responsibility is given, employees should be equipped: be empowered, have the authority, be given resources and have the experience. Employees are not empowered as individuals to solve their own problems using their own solutions. Micromanagement is often required every time the situation changes or problems arise. Employees are not inspired to act as leaders for themselves, delivering amazing performance without guidance. They have coaching sessions but only when there’s a problem. True coaching occurs regardless of whether the individual is crushing their goals or falling behind. Management does not seem to care about unlocking a person’s potential and getting the most of their performance. They seem only interested in producing more followers, not more leaders.
No method to hold management accountable to core values listed in their own Employee handbook. Employees are expected to abide by the procedures and rules described in the handbook but top management can choose to ignore it when it is convenient for them.
-Top management are NOT learners: No desire to develop and improve their skills.
-They do not ask employees: What’s one thing you see me doing—or failing to do—that you think I should change?
-They do not ask how they are doing as leaders. Or ask employees how they’re doing.
-They do not ask what employees need from management that they are not giving them.
-No performance evaluations for both management or non-managment.
-They often fail to emotionally connect with employees.
-They do not speak to employees' needs first.
-They do not focus on what they can put into people rather than what they can get out of them.
-They do not understand basic psychology, how people think and behave.
-They are often resistant to (and even hate) change: Perhaps because they fear losing control. In fact, new information, objective facts, research, stats, and even new ideas are often ignored in favor of what's easiest to do or because of tradition. If something has been done and “works”, top management does not see a reason to question it or to improve on it. If something was tried 5, 10, 20, even 50yrs before and failed, top management does not see a reason to try it again even if the exact circumstances have changed.
-They do not empower or give the means, the power or opportunity to do to employees.
-They do not trust others to follow through managing processes and performing tasks.
-They do not lead by example.
-They do not know when to move forward and when to back off, what to improve and how radical those improvements should be.
-They often fail to see options, and plan and prioritize.
-They fail to develop leaders around them.
-Their communication is often poor.
-Their listening is also poor: do not listen for more than facts, but also the feelings, meanings and undercurrents.
-They do not take the time to get to know the people they lead: no weekly check-ins which top organizations have to discuss how employees are doing professionally and personally. Management doesn't ask “what was good this week? What was not good this week? How is your well-being? How is your family?”
Competence in leadership skills is also poor.
-They are not teachable: not willing to keep learning, growing, improving in leadership and management practices: FCBH has a yearly “leadership” summit. But, the way it is set up, it reinforces weaknesses instead of challenging leadership growth.
The summit is also just for a select few in top management. Not every employee is seen as a leader so most employees are excluded.
Top managers attend the summit but there is no followup, no post accountability by other managers and especially by the employees that are under the managers. No discussion on how management will apply what was learned.
Some of the past speakers have had questionable characters and even questionable teachings (Judah Smith). Leadership qualifications and theological background seems to be ignored in favor of charismatics, dynamics, popularity.
-Top management does not take responsibility for their part of a disagreement or failure and apologize.
-They often embrace a victim mentality.
-They often limit yourself by your job title.
-They do not invest in better tools or processes.
-They are content with the status quo.
-They allow their past achievements to stagnate their desire to keep learning.
-There is a lack of discernment, finding the main cause of problems/issues.
-They do not anticipate problems.
-They do not accept the truth of the problem: Do not face up to the reality of the situation;
-They get bogged down in the details.
-They often avoid problems.
-They don’t deal well with problems.
-They do not have their team study all angles.
-They often do not value nontraditional thinking: Don’t embrace change, ambiguity and uncertainty well.
-They do not work well with differences.
-They do not have their own mentors or provide mentorship to others.
-They do not invest to improve their own professional or leadership skills.
-They are often insecure, constantly seek validation, acknowledgement and love.
-They limit employee's success and recognition:
-They do not seem interested in making people successful: Don’t attempt to remove barriers that prevent employees from being successful.
- They often feel threatened by accomplishments by employees who are not management:
When a team succeeds, management will not give other people credit and instead take the credit themselves.
It seems like some of the people working there were given the title of management, the position, and that alone made them qualified. Management or leaders assume that their position alone qualifies them to make critical decisions where they may not have the best data, insight, wisdom, skill, experience. Just because one may have the word “manger” in the job title, does not automatically make them a great leader. Leadership is about dealing with people, and the dynamics between those people, and influencing people.
*Dead end career path:
For the most part, top management assumes that team members are fine and "settled", rather than taking the time to understand their true feelings and needs. They do not ask employees where they are struggling, where they are having trouble, what frustrates them the most?
Management does not seem interested in making employees better both personally or professionally. They do not have a growth plan or professional development plan for employees. No job related training. They do not provide what is needed to help employees to grow and improve. They don't provide opportunities for employees to apply their talents and expertise. They don’t ask how they can better support employees. Employees don’t check on each other.
One is expected to work until health deteriorates and skills become obsolete so you leave in a worse place than you started. For most employees, there is no long term future with the organization. Management does not let employees know how they are doing and what the future looks like for them. What the opportunities are. They do not take the time to learn from employees what they want to be. No honest conversations to understand employees goals and ambitions. So, because there is no growth or development plan, no career path, once your skills are outdated, they will probably let you go or they will keep you in the same position and your salary will max out.
Management does not coach employees on how to manage their time, priorities, and energy; no teaching on how to problem solve, or make better decisions, or how to set boundaries or how to minimize context switching and zoom fatigue.
2024.05.14 22:02 azurecertified R Studio Help Reddit Data Science Course Assignment Project help Reddit Online Helper for R Studio Python Course Homework Reddit Pay Someone to take my R Studio Course Assignment Reddit Take my Python Assignment Reddit Python Exam Helper Online Reddit Data Analysis & Visualization Tool
R Studio Help Reddit Data Science Course Assignment Project help Reddit Online Helper for R Studio Python Course Homework Reddit Pay Someone to take my R Studio Course Assignment Reddit Take my Python Assignment Reddit Python Exam Helper Online Reddit Data Analysis & Visualization Tool
R Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) for R and Python. It is available in open source and commercial editions and runs on the desktop (Windows, Mac, and Linux).
If you are Unable to Handle Homework Assignments or full course online, Get paid help from Online Helpers at Hiraedu!
Contact Details for Hiraedu Helper:
WhatsApp: +1 (213) 594-5657
Call: +1 727 456 9641
Website: hiraedu. com
Email: info@hiraedu. com
Here are some of its key features:
Here are some of the things that students learn in an R Studio course:
Here are some examples of projects and assignments related to R Studio:
submitted by azurecertified to Statisticshelpers_ [link] [comments]
R Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) for R and Python. It is available in open source and commercial editions and runs on the desktop (Windows, Mac, and Linux).
If you are Unable to Handle Homework Assignments or full course online, Get paid help from Online Helpers at Hiraedu!
Contact Details for Hiraedu Helper:
WhatsApp: +1 (213) 594-5657
Call: +1 727 456 9641
Website: hiraedu. com
Email: info@hiraedu. com
Here are some of its key features:
- Console: RStudio IDE has a console that supports direct code execution.
- Syntax-highlighting editor: RStudio IDE has a syntax-highlighting editor that supports direct code execution.
- Plotting: RStudio IDE has tools for plotting.
- History: RStudio IDE has tools for history.
- Debugging: RStudio IDE has tools for debugging.
- Workspace management: RStudio IDE has tools for workspace management.
- Connect to company databases: RStudio IDE allows users to connect to their company databases.
- Enterprise support: RStudio IDE offers enterprise support, including priority support and a commercial license for organizations.
Here are some of the things that students learn in an R Studio course:
- Creating and using scripts: R Studio students learn how to create and use scripts which makes the steps you used in your analysis clear and can be inspected by someone else for feedback and error-checking.
- Functions of the various panes: Students learn about the functions of the various panes in RStudio.
- Concept of vectors: Students are introduced to the concept of vectors and the types of data that they can hold.
- Documentation: Students learn about the different ways that a user can access documentation in R and when to use them.
- Basic format for using an R function: Students learn the basic format for using an R function.
Here are some examples of projects and assignments related to R Studio:
- Data Visualization Project: Students create interactive visualizations using R Studio's ggplot2 and Shiny packages to explore and present insights from a dataset.
- Data Analysis Assignment: Students use R Studio to import, clean, and analyze a dataset, then create reports and visualizations to communicate their findings.
- Machine Learning Project: Students build predictive models using R Studio's caret and dplyr packages, and evaluate their performance using metrics like accuracy and F1 score.
- Data Scraping Assignment: Students use R Studio's rvest package to extract data from websites, then clean and visualize the data to answer research questions.
- Statistical Modeling Project: Students use R Studio to fit statistical models (e.g., linear regression, generalized linear models) to a dataset, and interpret the results.
- Data Storytelling Assignment: Students create interactive narratives using R Studio's Shiny package to communicate insights and findings from a dataset.
- Data Wrangling Project: Students use R Studio to clean, transform, and preprocess a large dataset, then create a report detailing their steps and decisions.
- Research Replication Assignment: Students reproduce a published study using R Studio, testing hypotheses and analyzing results.
- Survey Analysis Project: Students use R Studio to analyze survey data, creating visualizations and reports to summarize responses and identify trends.
- Time Series Analysis Assignment: Students use R Studio's forecast package to analyze and predict time series data, evaluating model performance and interpreting results.
2024.05.14 22:02 ConfusionEmpty3542 Echoes of Destiny: A Hint Of Things To Come.
Hello, glorious readers of EoD! Thank you for your patience in these two weeks' matters. My exams are now done, and that means I have a lot more time for writing. In order to reward your continued patience, I am planning something big next week. Here's a small hint: It's gonna take a long time for the ships to actually reach Sanctuary, so that means a lot of time for the Arxur commander and the CSSF commander to diss one another. The first chapter is going to be like one big rap battle.
First Chapter Next Chapter> (Coming soon)
The stars swirled above, labyrinthine in their structure and arrangement, the five moons casting an elegant light open the planet’s surface. A gleaming silver and gray object lays embedded in Mount Yth'Rathgor, searchlights scanning the surface and sky alike. Long convoys of trucks filed with materials lumber up the long, winding paths leading to the gate, the cumbersome and primitive internal combustion engines spitting out polluting gasses as they haul their cargo and passengers up the mountain side. As the leading truck reaches the gate, the mountain looms over the truck’s cabin, as the driver hands over his ID to the guard. A few seconds later, The trucks start flooding into the mountain’s hold.
Inside the base is a cavernous parking and cargo processing center, that feeds its resources into a hidden facility, buried deep under the hundreds of meters of rock. Screams of agony and pain echo through the halls, reverberations of the brutal and uncaring experiments that take place here. The bodies of the fallen are simply thrown into an incinerator, unthinking of the countless acts of trauma and suffering they endured. Reptilian eyes watch from the catwalks, making sure that the contaminated bodies are properly disposed of. More than one Arxur has thought about eating the bodies, but the risk of contamination is too great for such a prize.
This facility, known as Testing Center KL-1HC, is the development center for CHE. The Arxur themselves are immune to its behavioral effects, but the bodily processes are more affected. Contamination gradually leads to internal hemorrhaging, heart arrhythmias, and organ failure. Without immediate medical intervention, the mostly likely outcome is death. To the leaders of the Arxur, it is not worth all the time and money to save just one more replaceable life. Just another body thrown on the top of the brutal regime’s mountain of corpses.
In this facility, the commanders of the surrounding region come together, planning their vengeance against the unknown new aggressors that wiped an entire raid fleet off of the map. Probes detected the paths of the departing ships, and the exact pinpoint location of their destination was finally calculated. A main sequence star, a G2 type, is an excellent location for a possible base, being that they have a higher chance to contain habitable planets. They begin to construct a battle plan, using the forces shown at the Slaughter of Beta Jannik, as if it could be called any other name but a bloody massacre. After a few days of deliberations and simulations, the Arxur leaders quietly send their orders to the fleets harbored in gigantic fleet yards that orbit the many moons of this star system. One by one, the ships take on crew and supplies, before igniting their huge engines, and slowly gliding out of the many hangers, or undocking from umbilical-like docking ports. They begin to line up in formations, reporting in to their squadron leaders. It is not long before the fleet is ready.
Thousands of ships filled with hundreds of thousands of Arxur thirsting for the blood of those who would dare attack the righteous Arxur. They will pay for their insolence. There is no doubt that the property that they stole from the holds of the cattle ships will be there. They must be recovered, and the aggressors annihilated, for the Betterment of the Arxur race. They begin to move to the jump limit, in order to minimize the effects of the jump drives on the planet’s atmosphere. As they reach it, the Arxur commander broadcasts himself across the entire fleet’s comm links.
“Fellow Arxur, disciples of Betterment! Today, we stand upon the precipice of vengeance, our souls seething with the flames of righteous fury! Behold the scarred visage of our fleet, destroyed in Beta Jannik, once a beacon of our dominion, now reduced to naught but ashes and sorrow.
We gather here not as mere mortals, but as avatars of annihilation, sworn to deliver swift and merciless retribution upon those who dare defy our sovereignty. The Slaughter of Beta Jannik shall not go unpunished, for every drop of Arxur blood spilled shall be repaid a thousandfold!
To the aggressors who dared infringe upon our sacred flocks, heed my words and tremble! Your reckoning draws nigh, and the flames of damnation shall consume your very essence. No corner of the cosmos shall offer you refuge from our righteous fury!
We are the harbingers of oblivion, the heralds of eternal darkness. We shall rain down upon you a tempest of torment, and your cries of anguish shall echo throughout the void, a testament to the folly of challenging the might of the Betterment!
Let the heavens themselves bear witness to our wrath, for today marks the dawn of your demise! Prepare yourselves, for the Arxur fleet marches forth, and none shall escape the judgement of the Betterment! May our enemies cower in fear, for we are the instruments of their destruction!”
The Arxur cheer, and more than one cattle is sacrificed for good luck, and a good meal. The jump drives are charged, their coils glistening and pulsing with frantic energy as they prepare to breach the laws of the universe.
Something unexpected happens. The fleet splits in two, one smaller segment warping to the destination as planned, and the rest to a star close to the target. This is no error, nor a folly, but part of the plan. The smaller part is to scout out the system, relay the information back to the primary fleet, and then their assault the enemy, or start looking for their real base.
But, they do not know of the CSSF’s defenses. They have known that the Arxur would attack Sanctuary. After all, it is part of the plan. Lure the enemy fleet here, into the CSSF’s home territory, and then both gain more valuable information on the Arxur, as well as leaking the location of the home base of this attacking fleet. It also serves a third purpose. To drain the reserves of the enemy fleet stationed there, softening it up for a future CSSF assault.
The Arxur know none of this. But they will. Cowards hiding behind the facade of false warrior's valor. Their hollow threats echo in the void, mere whispers of delusion. The Arxur fleet may brandish its swords, but it lacks the spine to face true adversaries. Beware, for their arrogance shall be their undoing.
First Chapter Next Chapter> (Coming soon)
submitted by ConfusionEmpty3542 to NatureofPredators [link] [comments]
The stars swirled above, labyrinthine in their structure and arrangement, the five moons casting an elegant light open the planet’s surface. A gleaming silver and gray object lays embedded in Mount Yth'Rathgor, searchlights scanning the surface and sky alike. Long convoys of trucks filed with materials lumber up the long, winding paths leading to the gate, the cumbersome and primitive internal combustion engines spitting out polluting gasses as they haul their cargo and passengers up the mountain side. As the leading truck reaches the gate, the mountain looms over the truck’s cabin, as the driver hands over his ID to the guard. A few seconds later, The trucks start flooding into the mountain’s hold.
Inside the base is a cavernous parking and cargo processing center, that feeds its resources into a hidden facility, buried deep under the hundreds of meters of rock. Screams of agony and pain echo through the halls, reverberations of the brutal and uncaring experiments that take place here. The bodies of the fallen are simply thrown into an incinerator, unthinking of the countless acts of trauma and suffering they endured. Reptilian eyes watch from the catwalks, making sure that the contaminated bodies are properly disposed of. More than one Arxur has thought about eating the bodies, but the risk of contamination is too great for such a prize.
This facility, known as Testing Center KL-1HC, is the development center for CHE. The Arxur themselves are immune to its behavioral effects, but the bodily processes are more affected. Contamination gradually leads to internal hemorrhaging, heart arrhythmias, and organ failure. Without immediate medical intervention, the mostly likely outcome is death. To the leaders of the Arxur, it is not worth all the time and money to save just one more replaceable life. Just another body thrown on the top of the brutal regime’s mountain of corpses.
In this facility, the commanders of the surrounding region come together, planning their vengeance against the unknown new aggressors that wiped an entire raid fleet off of the map. Probes detected the paths of the departing ships, and the exact pinpoint location of their destination was finally calculated. A main sequence star, a G2 type, is an excellent location for a possible base, being that they have a higher chance to contain habitable planets. They begin to construct a battle plan, using the forces shown at the Slaughter of Beta Jannik, as if it could be called any other name but a bloody massacre. After a few days of deliberations and simulations, the Arxur leaders quietly send their orders to the fleets harbored in gigantic fleet yards that orbit the many moons of this star system. One by one, the ships take on crew and supplies, before igniting their huge engines, and slowly gliding out of the many hangers, or undocking from umbilical-like docking ports. They begin to line up in formations, reporting in to their squadron leaders. It is not long before the fleet is ready.
Thousands of ships filled with hundreds of thousands of Arxur thirsting for the blood of those who would dare attack the righteous Arxur. They will pay for their insolence. There is no doubt that the property that they stole from the holds of the cattle ships will be there. They must be recovered, and the aggressors annihilated, for the Betterment of the Arxur race. They begin to move to the jump limit, in order to minimize the effects of the jump drives on the planet’s atmosphere. As they reach it, the Arxur commander broadcasts himself across the entire fleet’s comm links.
“Fellow Arxur, disciples of Betterment! Today, we stand upon the precipice of vengeance, our souls seething with the flames of righteous fury! Behold the scarred visage of our fleet, destroyed in Beta Jannik, once a beacon of our dominion, now reduced to naught but ashes and sorrow.
We gather here not as mere mortals, but as avatars of annihilation, sworn to deliver swift and merciless retribution upon those who dare defy our sovereignty. The Slaughter of Beta Jannik shall not go unpunished, for every drop of Arxur blood spilled shall be repaid a thousandfold!
To the aggressors who dared infringe upon our sacred flocks, heed my words and tremble! Your reckoning draws nigh, and the flames of damnation shall consume your very essence. No corner of the cosmos shall offer you refuge from our righteous fury!
We are the harbingers of oblivion, the heralds of eternal darkness. We shall rain down upon you a tempest of torment, and your cries of anguish shall echo throughout the void, a testament to the folly of challenging the might of the Betterment!
Let the heavens themselves bear witness to our wrath, for today marks the dawn of your demise! Prepare yourselves, for the Arxur fleet marches forth, and none shall escape the judgement of the Betterment! May our enemies cower in fear, for we are the instruments of their destruction!”
The Arxur cheer, and more than one cattle is sacrificed for good luck, and a good meal. The jump drives are charged, their coils glistening and pulsing with frantic energy as they prepare to breach the laws of the universe.
Something unexpected happens. The fleet splits in two, one smaller segment warping to the destination as planned, and the rest to a star close to the target. This is no error, nor a folly, but part of the plan. The smaller part is to scout out the system, relay the information back to the primary fleet, and then their assault the enemy, or start looking for their real base.
But, they do not know of the CSSF’s defenses. They have known that the Arxur would attack Sanctuary. After all, it is part of the plan. Lure the enemy fleet here, into the CSSF’s home territory, and then both gain more valuable information on the Arxur, as well as leaking the location of the home base of this attacking fleet. It also serves a third purpose. To drain the reserves of the enemy fleet stationed there, softening it up for a future CSSF assault.
The Arxur know none of this. But they will. Cowards hiding behind the facade of false warrior's valor. Their hollow threats echo in the void, mere whispers of delusion. The Arxur fleet may brandish its swords, but it lacks the spine to face true adversaries. Beware, for their arrogance shall be their undoing.
2024.05.14 22:02 MjolnirPants Jerry and the Men in the Mirror: Part 6
Part 5
Gerard, God
Somewhere in time and space
He watched the passers-by as they moved about, following their daily routines, unaware of the fate that would shortly befall them. This was the time that fascinated Him the most. The moments before they finally understood that The Threat was here.
It was a sort of last hurrah, He thought. They didn't know it, but Gerard could nonetheless sense a sort of joi de vivre, a liveliness that simply didn't exist in prior times, and couldn't possibly exist in future ones. He watched mothers dote lovingly over their children, watched children hurl themselves into play with abandon, watched addicts take in their drugs like a drowning man would gulp for air. They might not known that there was no tomorrow for most of them, but they nonetheless seemed to put just a little bit of extra effort into everything.
Eventually, it came to an end, of course. It always did, no matter how many times He watched it. He saw happiness and mundanity give way to pain and suffering. Laughter was replaced by the screams of the dying. Life was replaced by death. The world replaced by destruction.
He sighed, leaving this timeline. He never watched the arrival of The Threat twice in the same timeline. There was nothing for Him to learn that way. His power was immense and total. He only had to witness The Threat once in each timeline to understand it.
Worst of all was the knowledge. The knowledge that He would only be able to save a single timeline. That all others would fall into ruin, destroyed and left to rot away. Only one could survive; the one that He chose. He could stop The Threat only once, for doing so would require Him to remain. Ever vigilant, ever ready to stop any recurrence.
He had to choose which timeline. That task was less than He feared, for now he knew that there were an infinite number of them. He could choose one with the right qualities, one whose nature would aid Him in His work. He realized then that He would, once He had chosen the proper timeline, finally watch The Threat come twice. Once, when He reviewed that timeline prior to choosing. And again, when He would stop it.
And stop it, He would. No other outcome was acceptable. He had already sacrificed too much. His mortality, His life, His happiness, His very soul itself. He had wrought Himself into a weapon, to strike down The Threat, and He would fulfill that purpose, no matter what.
----
Jerry Williams, Godslayer
Nibiru
We were sharks, swimming and darting among a school of fish. Gods and devas fled, screaming in terror as we flew through the swirling, chaotic energies that should have driven us -or at least my wife and daughter- mad within seconds. They had thought that their realm protected them.
Little did they know, we were already mad.
Inanna and I flanked a group of fleeing gods, preventing them from leaving this world, extending their essence into manifested bodies somewhere in one of the countless material worlds, or simply crossing the energy that was the core of their beings into the Spirit World. Here, in Nibiru, our divinities and demi-divinities gave us access to unlimited power. We seized it and wove nets with which to entrap those minor gods who could not find escape elsewhere, and had huddled here in fear of our coming.
As the group fled, we sped up, curving our course, which caused them to curve theirs, fearful of drawing too close to either of us. We moved slowly, carefully, angling them where we wanted them to go.
It wasn't long before the gaping maw of the Grandfather of the Gods came into view. Ixlublotl, the primordial god, the originator of divinity. The gods we herded realized their peril and turned to flee back the opposite direction, but there they found Aaina, burning towards them, screaming in rage and bristling with offensive energies.
Trapped, they had no choice. They attacked us. Emotions and thoughts, energy and matter, all of it flew at us in an orgy of sudden violence that churned the substrate of this world into a screaming chaos. All three of us linked our magics into a shield; a half-sphere of anti-magic that absorbed their attacks, sending the energy of which they were made back into into the swirling chaos around us.
They threw everything they had at us, a desperate last stand, driven by necessity and panic. All of it crashed against our defenses, the resulting streamers of magic filling the space around us with an all but impenetrable cloud. Hidden by that cloud, Ixy closed in.
By the time they realized that it was too late, it was over.
Ixy's physical body, that cloud-wrapped cacophony of maw-stalks, eye-stalks, spider-like legs and whipping tentacles, currently the size of a skyscraper, swept in, mouths snapping up the energies that were the cores of our quarry.
We came together when it was done. Inanna created a haven for us, allowing us to release the magic that held our bodies in stasis and protected us from the wild magic all around. It was a copy of our house, something she'd come up with a while back and shown to me with great pride. I had loved it, of course.
I sank into the loveseat with Inanna next to me as Aaina took the recliner.
"That's most of them," Aaina said.
"About thirty more," I replied. "And then we can start the next phase."
"Do either of you have any doubts about what we're doing?" she asked. I could see the indecision in her eyes. She was so young, and such a good girl. My heart broke at having dragged her into such dirty business.
"No," Inanna answered, her voice hard and confident.
"Yes," I added. "But at the end of the day, this is what needs doing."
Aaina looked back and forth between us, then nodded. None of us smiled.
----
Emily Windham, Wizard, Artificer
Fremont, Nebraska, at the corner of E 4th Ave and N Main St
Emily turned just in time to see the massive troll hit Jim Carmichael with a shoulder, sending the trooper flying before angling at her with no change in speed.
Acting on pure instinct, she conjured a wall of force between them. The troll slammed into it, shattering the magics that held it together with raw force, but the wall did its job, stopping the warrior in his tracks.
Emily snatched the rune-engraved knife off her belt and surged forward, jumping at the last second to put her in range of the troll's huge neck. The blade plunged in, and she released a quick burst of magic that made her legs and off hand sticky, allowing her to cling to the thing, too close for it to use its battleaxe on her.
She ripped the knife out and plunged it in again and again as the barbarian roared in pain and indignation at being hurt so badly by a foe so tiny. Emily grabbed his beard, yanking hard to bring his eyes to hers as she slammed the knife in and twisted, the magic in the blade telling her when it found his windpipe and carotid artery.
Blood sprayed, coating her face and shoulders. The troll's roars were cut off in a gurgling, breathy hiss. He stumbled, then fell. Emily rode him down, her eyes locked onto his, watching all hopes of victory, or even survival, fade from them. She lost herself in those eyes, in the mystery that was this troll's life, ending right before her. She saw the regrets, the crushed hopes, the shame of defeat and wondered at the context.
The impact as they hit the ground broke the spell.
Emily released the magic and stood up, instincts trained into her by the security troops and war wizards making her search for more threats before she could even process what had just happened. But there were no more threats. That had been the last one.
Greg Ramirez walked towards her, his rifle barrel pointed down, hanging from the sling in front of his armor and all the various attachments that he and the security troops referred to as their 'battle rattle'.
"Nice work," he said, eyeing the troll, who continued to gasp for air, the sound of his labored breaths reminding Emily of a pig squealing. She looked down, searching for that orgasmic feeling her bio-dad had so desperately wanted her to share with him, but not finding it. All she found was a sense of satisfaction, yet even that was too much.
Years of therapy, of telling her story to trained clinicians and listening to and internalizing their advice. All of it had helped her make friends and move among the normal people, but it had never erased that feeling of satisfaction. This was the fourth time she'd killed a sentient being, and each time, she felt the exact same way. It was a victory.
Her maudlin thoughts were interrupted by the bark of Greg's rifle. The troll's head jerked and deformed, a splattering of blood coming out as a .277 fury round drilled a hole straight through his temples. She glanced up to find Greg still eyeing her.
"You did good," he said, his expression showing some concern.
"I liked it," she said quietly, her eyes turning back.
"You liked killing him?" Greg asked. Emily nodded, wondering if she'd always be fucked up.
"I killed him," Greg said. "And I damn sure liked it."
Emily turned back, eyeing him with some interest. Greg was, in many ways, the opposite of her. Cool, confident, charming and just all-around well-adjusted. She hadn't ever imagined that he wound enjoy something like this.
"It means I won," he explained. "It means that big, badass motherfucker showed up here trying to bully us, and take whatever he wanted from us, and little old me stood up and said 'no', and when he tried to force the issue, I took his life away. It feels like justice. It feels like one less motherfucker trying to kill me and my friends. Damn straight I liked it."
Emily smiled. She didn't realized she had smiled until Greg smiled back.
"I read your psych eval," he went on. "I know you think you're fucked in the head, but I'm gonna tell you right now, you're not. You're a warrior, that's it. Bloodlust isn't a bad thing, if it can be controlled. Enjoying killing isn't a bad thing, if you're killing the people that need killing. Give yourself a break, girl."
He clapped her on the shoulder, then took the back of her head with his free hand and pressed her forehead to his.
"I'm gonna recommend you be allowed to join the war wizard roster. You're all trained up, you're prepared for it, and from what I've seen today, you're a fucking natural."
Without waiting for a response, he let her go and turned away, grabbing the radio fob on his armor and squeezing it.
"Black Lead, this is Black-Two Actual. All raiders at the target site are neutralized. We're commencing a sweep now, will report back in thirty mikes."
Emily smiled at his back as he walked away. A part of her reflected that he was a natural leader, knowing exactly what to say to her in that moment. Another part didn't care, because it worked. She glanced down at the troll again, and didn't see a victim.
She saw a victory.
----
Kathy Evenson, Professional
Somewhere in the ruins of an ancient city in the Seventh World
Kells shifted nervously as Kathy continued to cut chits from the electrical panel lid with the magical laser emerging from her fingertip. He held his machete, really a short sword, in one hand, and his dagger in the other.
"We really shouldn't be much longer, Kath," he said. Kathy had explained to him the difference between Kath and Kathy, and even hinted at the things she'd done while possessed by Pissface and calling herself 'Kath', and even gone into some detail about how much she hated the nickname. Kells hadn't cared. He simply agreed with her, then continued to call her 'Kath'.
And the truth was, she really didn't mind that much.
She wasn't quite sure why, though she could hazard a guess. The man was disarming to a great degree. He presented himself as a dirty wanderer, a simple, violent man who shouldn't be trusted as far as you could throw him. But within just a few minutes of meeting him, she'd seen the intelligence in his eyes and words. She had seen the integrity in his negotiations with her, and the ethics that had turned him protective when the Searchers had appeared.
And despite that protectiveness, he still managed to avoid being patronizing. When she'd told him how she planned to get his chits, he had warned her of the dangers, then agreed to come along without hesitation when she didn't change her mind. Kells was a good man, she thought, and if a good man wanted to call her Kath, she supposed she could let him reclaim the name from the hell it had once represented.
"It won't be much longer," she said. She already had over seven hundred, and this plate would bring her to eight hundred. She only needed five or six more. This deep in the ruins, there was an untouched electrical box on almost every building. Some had been corroded, but most were surprisingly intact.
As she cut the final strip into chits, a roar sounded. It was a gurgling, rasping roar, unlike anything she had ever heard before. Or rather, the first one had been unlike anything she had ever heard before. This was the third time she'd heard it, and it sounded closer than the last two.
"That's no good sign, right thur," Kells said.
Kathy finished, dumping the little squares of galvanized steel into her bag and standing up.
"Come on," she said. "We'll go a couple blocks away from whatever that was before I cut the next one."
"Aye," Kells agreed, his head swiveling on his shoulders as he followed her down the alley. Kathy took note of how spooked he was. He seemed more nervous here than he had with the Searchers right in front of him. She supposed that might have something to do with the nature of the threats. The Searchers were, regardless of power and reputation, mere humans. Whereas whatever was making that roar was clearly some sort of monster.
She led him six blocks in a direction away from the roar before she stopped to examine the buildings. They had moved into a downtown area, which was one of the reasons she had stopped. The buildings here were closer together, which should make the rest of her task quicker. She found a good cover and ripped the little padlock off, then pulled it open and off its hinges.
A mass of spiders rushed out of the electrical box. She jerked her hand away, but they ignored her, scurrying down the wall and vanishing into the cracks between the bricks, safe once again in enclosed darkness.
She began to cut as Kells again stood watch.
She hadn't even made it halfway through the panel when another roar sounded, even closer than the last, and from a different direction.
"Call it," Kells said. "Call it now, Kath. Better ye collect some more later on than deal with the beast makin' them sounds."
"What kind of beast?" Kathy asked. She kept cutting, but glanced up and around, not seeing anything but filthy, dilapidated alleys.
"Walkers, they call 'em," Kells said. "Like great spiders, but rottin' away, with bones stickin' out an' flesh hangin' off th'legs."
"Great spiders?" Kathy asked. "How big?"
"Bigger'n a building."
"You've seen them yourself?" Kathy asked.
"Only once," Kells said, his voice growing quieter. He seemed to be done speaking for a moment, staring around. But after a few seconds, he continued.
"Friend o'mine, name o' Gil. We used t'work together, he an' I. I were real new to runnin' a caravan crew back then, about ten years back. Gil were an old hand at it, though. Took me under 'is wing and taught me th'roads, as it were.
"Anyways, we'd taken a pair o' contracts. Rough ones, with a tight timetable. Merchants needed t'get to Freeman's Port post-haste. One faster'n th'other. Gil took that one, left me with the easier one, though that weren't t'say it were an easy job.
"We was in Craster's Holdfast at th'time, an smack in between there an' Freeman's Port were an ancient ruin. Big one, 'bout the size o' this'un, in fact. Normally, it took about a week t'travel between the two places, but if one were brave or foolhardy enough, they could cut through th'ruins an' make it in five days.
"Well, old Gil had that in mind. We left together, an' at th'place where ye normally would turn north t'go around the ruins, he led his caravan on straight. I prayed fer their safety that night, but never really believed anything would happen. Gil were an experienced caravaner, an' tougher'n anyone else I'd ever met.
"Two days later, we was walkin' this ridgeline north o'the ruins when somethin' called out t'me. Not sure what, exactly. I started lookin' south, scannin' the ruins, an' sure enough, I found Gil's caravan, walking down a wide road between th'largest buildings. They was movin' at quite a clip, I hav'ta say.
"I were tickled pink, at first. Because we'd made near as good a time as they had, despite movin' almost a day's north to skirt th'ruins. But as I watched, I realized that they weren't just travelin', they was runnin'."
Kells sighed, his eyes distant and full of old regrets.
"That's when I saw one. A great Walker, striding out o' th'deepest part o' th'ruins. The way it moved were like nothin' I ever seen before. It crawled along th'sides o' the ruins themselves, like a spider almost, but always with two or three feet on th'ground.
"It came fer th'caravan, and fell on 'em in a slaughter. I watched it breathe fire down on 'em, stompin' men flat with its feet an' scooping 'em up with its great claws."
He sighed again, then looked down. He tucked his sword under his armpit and used his hand to rub his eyes for a moment, before taking the blade up again.
"Killed 'em all, it did. Erry single one, as I live an' breath. An' when it were done, it went around, stompin' th'bodies flat. Never ate one, jes did all it could t'make sure that not a single survivor lived t'tell the tale. I were shook something fierce, I tell ya. Took me own caravan down off the ridge, t'avoid bein' spotted. We ended up arriving a day late, but to this day, I thank me lucky stars we made it at all."
Another sigh came, and Kathy heard the cracks in his voice as he continued on.
"Not Gil, though. Nor any o'them what worked for him, or th'merchant what hired him. A few years later, I worked up th'courage t'take a couple o'men into the ruins, t'find the bodies. I found bones dressed in Gil's clothes. I took his sword, which had survived, an' is th'one I carry to this day. I think Gil'd be pleased to know his blade had saved me life, quite a few times since."
Kathy finished cutting the cover up and stood to put her hands on Kells' shoulder.
"Thank you for telling me that," she said, her voice gentle. "I can tell it's an important story to you."
Kells nodded and sniffed once, then jerked his head in the direction away from the most recent roar. "I still think we should get out o' here, Kath," he said. "I'll face down the Searchers an' be happy o' a good death, should they take me. But them Walkers... They ain't warriors ye can face an' die with honor. One o'them things finds us, there ain't no fightin' it. We jes' die screaming, th'only consolation coming when it's all over."
Kathy weighed his words carefully. Kells knew this world far better than she did. And while she knew her own abilities far better than anyone here, she had to be mindful not to be too arrogant. Kells had told her how a single Walker had slaughtered an entire caravan of experienced fighters, led by an experienced leader.
"Okay," she said. She handed the bag to Kells. "There should be about eight hundred and fifty chits in there. You can count them out later, and I'll trust your count. After I find what I'm looking for, I'll collect the rest and we'll settle up."
"Good call," Kells said. He tied the bag off to his belt and walked to the corner of the building, peeking around. When he was satisfied, he nodded. Kathy joined him, and together, they made a beeline to the edge of the ruins.
They had made it about halfway out when another roar sounded, this one right on top of them. A rumbling crash sounded from her right, and Kathy turned to see rubble falling to the ground as something massive rose off the ground, two blocks over.
"Stars an' stones," Kells swore, then shouted "Run!"
submitted by MjolnirPants to JerryandtheGoddesses [link] [comments]
Gerard, God
Somewhere in time and space
He watched the passers-by as they moved about, following their daily routines, unaware of the fate that would shortly befall them. This was the time that fascinated Him the most. The moments before they finally understood that The Threat was here.
It was a sort of last hurrah, He thought. They didn't know it, but Gerard could nonetheless sense a sort of joi de vivre, a liveliness that simply didn't exist in prior times, and couldn't possibly exist in future ones. He watched mothers dote lovingly over their children, watched children hurl themselves into play with abandon, watched addicts take in their drugs like a drowning man would gulp for air. They might not known that there was no tomorrow for most of them, but they nonetheless seemed to put just a little bit of extra effort into everything.
Eventually, it came to an end, of course. It always did, no matter how many times He watched it. He saw happiness and mundanity give way to pain and suffering. Laughter was replaced by the screams of the dying. Life was replaced by death. The world replaced by destruction.
He sighed, leaving this timeline. He never watched the arrival of The Threat twice in the same timeline. There was nothing for Him to learn that way. His power was immense and total. He only had to witness The Threat once in each timeline to understand it.
Worst of all was the knowledge. The knowledge that He would only be able to save a single timeline. That all others would fall into ruin, destroyed and left to rot away. Only one could survive; the one that He chose. He could stop The Threat only once, for doing so would require Him to remain. Ever vigilant, ever ready to stop any recurrence.
He had to choose which timeline. That task was less than He feared, for now he knew that there were an infinite number of them. He could choose one with the right qualities, one whose nature would aid Him in His work. He realized then that He would, once He had chosen the proper timeline, finally watch The Threat come twice. Once, when He reviewed that timeline prior to choosing. And again, when He would stop it.
And stop it, He would. No other outcome was acceptable. He had already sacrificed too much. His mortality, His life, His happiness, His very soul itself. He had wrought Himself into a weapon, to strike down The Threat, and He would fulfill that purpose, no matter what.
----
Jerry Williams, Godslayer
Nibiru
We were sharks, swimming and darting among a school of fish. Gods and devas fled, screaming in terror as we flew through the swirling, chaotic energies that should have driven us -or at least my wife and daughter- mad within seconds. They had thought that their realm protected them.
Little did they know, we were already mad.
Inanna and I flanked a group of fleeing gods, preventing them from leaving this world, extending their essence into manifested bodies somewhere in one of the countless material worlds, or simply crossing the energy that was the core of their beings into the Spirit World. Here, in Nibiru, our divinities and demi-divinities gave us access to unlimited power. We seized it and wove nets with which to entrap those minor gods who could not find escape elsewhere, and had huddled here in fear of our coming.
As the group fled, we sped up, curving our course, which caused them to curve theirs, fearful of drawing too close to either of us. We moved slowly, carefully, angling them where we wanted them to go.
It wasn't long before the gaping maw of the Grandfather of the Gods came into view. Ixlublotl, the primordial god, the originator of divinity. The gods we herded realized their peril and turned to flee back the opposite direction, but there they found Aaina, burning towards them, screaming in rage and bristling with offensive energies.
Trapped, they had no choice. They attacked us. Emotions and thoughts, energy and matter, all of it flew at us in an orgy of sudden violence that churned the substrate of this world into a screaming chaos. All three of us linked our magics into a shield; a half-sphere of anti-magic that absorbed their attacks, sending the energy of which they were made back into into the swirling chaos around us.
They threw everything they had at us, a desperate last stand, driven by necessity and panic. All of it crashed against our defenses, the resulting streamers of magic filling the space around us with an all but impenetrable cloud. Hidden by that cloud, Ixy closed in.
By the time they realized that it was too late, it was over.
Ixy's physical body, that cloud-wrapped cacophony of maw-stalks, eye-stalks, spider-like legs and whipping tentacles, currently the size of a skyscraper, swept in, mouths snapping up the energies that were the cores of our quarry.
We came together when it was done. Inanna created a haven for us, allowing us to release the magic that held our bodies in stasis and protected us from the wild magic all around. It was a copy of our house, something she'd come up with a while back and shown to me with great pride. I had loved it, of course.
I sank into the loveseat with Inanna next to me as Aaina took the recliner.
"That's most of them," Aaina said.
"About thirty more," I replied. "And then we can start the next phase."
"Do either of you have any doubts about what we're doing?" she asked. I could see the indecision in her eyes. She was so young, and such a good girl. My heart broke at having dragged her into such dirty business.
"No," Inanna answered, her voice hard and confident.
"Yes," I added. "But at the end of the day, this is what needs doing."
Aaina looked back and forth between us, then nodded. None of us smiled.
----
Emily Windham, Wizard, Artificer
Fremont, Nebraska, at the corner of E 4th Ave and N Main St
Emily turned just in time to see the massive troll hit Jim Carmichael with a shoulder, sending the trooper flying before angling at her with no change in speed.
Acting on pure instinct, she conjured a wall of force between them. The troll slammed into it, shattering the magics that held it together with raw force, but the wall did its job, stopping the warrior in his tracks.
Emily snatched the rune-engraved knife off her belt and surged forward, jumping at the last second to put her in range of the troll's huge neck. The blade plunged in, and she released a quick burst of magic that made her legs and off hand sticky, allowing her to cling to the thing, too close for it to use its battleaxe on her.
She ripped the knife out and plunged it in again and again as the barbarian roared in pain and indignation at being hurt so badly by a foe so tiny. Emily grabbed his beard, yanking hard to bring his eyes to hers as she slammed the knife in and twisted, the magic in the blade telling her when it found his windpipe and carotid artery.
Blood sprayed, coating her face and shoulders. The troll's roars were cut off in a gurgling, breathy hiss. He stumbled, then fell. Emily rode him down, her eyes locked onto his, watching all hopes of victory, or even survival, fade from them. She lost herself in those eyes, in the mystery that was this troll's life, ending right before her. She saw the regrets, the crushed hopes, the shame of defeat and wondered at the context.
The impact as they hit the ground broke the spell.
Emily released the magic and stood up, instincts trained into her by the security troops and war wizards making her search for more threats before she could even process what had just happened. But there were no more threats. That had been the last one.
Greg Ramirez walked towards her, his rifle barrel pointed down, hanging from the sling in front of his armor and all the various attachments that he and the security troops referred to as their 'battle rattle'.
"Nice work," he said, eyeing the troll, who continued to gasp for air, the sound of his labored breaths reminding Emily of a pig squealing. She looked down, searching for that orgasmic feeling her bio-dad had so desperately wanted her to share with him, but not finding it. All she found was a sense of satisfaction, yet even that was too much.
Years of therapy, of telling her story to trained clinicians and listening to and internalizing their advice. All of it had helped her make friends and move among the normal people, but it had never erased that feeling of satisfaction. This was the fourth time she'd killed a sentient being, and each time, she felt the exact same way. It was a victory.
Her maudlin thoughts were interrupted by the bark of Greg's rifle. The troll's head jerked and deformed, a splattering of blood coming out as a .277 fury round drilled a hole straight through his temples. She glanced up to find Greg still eyeing her.
"You did good," he said, his expression showing some concern.
"I liked it," she said quietly, her eyes turning back.
"You liked killing him?" Greg asked. Emily nodded, wondering if she'd always be fucked up.
"I killed him," Greg said. "And I damn sure liked it."
Emily turned back, eyeing him with some interest. Greg was, in many ways, the opposite of her. Cool, confident, charming and just all-around well-adjusted. She hadn't ever imagined that he wound enjoy something like this.
"It means I won," he explained. "It means that big, badass motherfucker showed up here trying to bully us, and take whatever he wanted from us, and little old me stood up and said 'no', and when he tried to force the issue, I took his life away. It feels like justice. It feels like one less motherfucker trying to kill me and my friends. Damn straight I liked it."
Emily smiled. She didn't realized she had smiled until Greg smiled back.
"I read your psych eval," he went on. "I know you think you're fucked in the head, but I'm gonna tell you right now, you're not. You're a warrior, that's it. Bloodlust isn't a bad thing, if it can be controlled. Enjoying killing isn't a bad thing, if you're killing the people that need killing. Give yourself a break, girl."
He clapped her on the shoulder, then took the back of her head with his free hand and pressed her forehead to his.
"I'm gonna recommend you be allowed to join the war wizard roster. You're all trained up, you're prepared for it, and from what I've seen today, you're a fucking natural."
Without waiting for a response, he let her go and turned away, grabbing the radio fob on his armor and squeezing it.
"Black Lead, this is Black-Two Actual. All raiders at the target site are neutralized. We're commencing a sweep now, will report back in thirty mikes."
Emily smiled at his back as he walked away. A part of her reflected that he was a natural leader, knowing exactly what to say to her in that moment. Another part didn't care, because it worked. She glanced down at the troll again, and didn't see a victim.
She saw a victory.
----
Kathy Evenson, Professional
Somewhere in the ruins of an ancient city in the Seventh World
Kells shifted nervously as Kathy continued to cut chits from the electrical panel lid with the magical laser emerging from her fingertip. He held his machete, really a short sword, in one hand, and his dagger in the other.
"We really shouldn't be much longer, Kath," he said. Kathy had explained to him the difference between Kath and Kathy, and even hinted at the things she'd done while possessed by Pissface and calling herself 'Kath', and even gone into some detail about how much she hated the nickname. Kells hadn't cared. He simply agreed with her, then continued to call her 'Kath'.
And the truth was, she really didn't mind that much.
She wasn't quite sure why, though she could hazard a guess. The man was disarming to a great degree. He presented himself as a dirty wanderer, a simple, violent man who shouldn't be trusted as far as you could throw him. But within just a few minutes of meeting him, she'd seen the intelligence in his eyes and words. She had seen the integrity in his negotiations with her, and the ethics that had turned him protective when the Searchers had appeared.
And despite that protectiveness, he still managed to avoid being patronizing. When she'd told him how she planned to get his chits, he had warned her of the dangers, then agreed to come along without hesitation when she didn't change her mind. Kells was a good man, she thought, and if a good man wanted to call her Kath, she supposed she could let him reclaim the name from the hell it had once represented.
"It won't be much longer," she said. She already had over seven hundred, and this plate would bring her to eight hundred. She only needed five or six more. This deep in the ruins, there was an untouched electrical box on almost every building. Some had been corroded, but most were surprisingly intact.
As she cut the final strip into chits, a roar sounded. It was a gurgling, rasping roar, unlike anything she had ever heard before. Or rather, the first one had been unlike anything she had ever heard before. This was the third time she'd heard it, and it sounded closer than the last two.
"That's no good sign, right thur," Kells said.
Kathy finished, dumping the little squares of galvanized steel into her bag and standing up.
"Come on," she said. "We'll go a couple blocks away from whatever that was before I cut the next one."
"Aye," Kells agreed, his head swiveling on his shoulders as he followed her down the alley. Kathy took note of how spooked he was. He seemed more nervous here than he had with the Searchers right in front of him. She supposed that might have something to do with the nature of the threats. The Searchers were, regardless of power and reputation, mere humans. Whereas whatever was making that roar was clearly some sort of monster.
She led him six blocks in a direction away from the roar before she stopped to examine the buildings. They had moved into a downtown area, which was one of the reasons she had stopped. The buildings here were closer together, which should make the rest of her task quicker. She found a good cover and ripped the little padlock off, then pulled it open and off its hinges.
A mass of spiders rushed out of the electrical box. She jerked her hand away, but they ignored her, scurrying down the wall and vanishing into the cracks between the bricks, safe once again in enclosed darkness.
She began to cut as Kells again stood watch.
She hadn't even made it halfway through the panel when another roar sounded, even closer than the last, and from a different direction.
"Call it," Kells said. "Call it now, Kath. Better ye collect some more later on than deal with the beast makin' them sounds."
"What kind of beast?" Kathy asked. She kept cutting, but glanced up and around, not seeing anything but filthy, dilapidated alleys.
"Walkers, they call 'em," Kells said. "Like great spiders, but rottin' away, with bones stickin' out an' flesh hangin' off th'legs."
"Great spiders?" Kathy asked. "How big?"
"Bigger'n a building."
"You've seen them yourself?" Kathy asked.
"Only once," Kells said, his voice growing quieter. He seemed to be done speaking for a moment, staring around. But after a few seconds, he continued.
"Friend o'mine, name o' Gil. We used t'work together, he an' I. I were real new to runnin' a caravan crew back then, about ten years back. Gil were an old hand at it, though. Took me under 'is wing and taught me th'roads, as it were.
"Anyways, we'd taken a pair o' contracts. Rough ones, with a tight timetable. Merchants needed t'get to Freeman's Port post-haste. One faster'n th'other. Gil took that one, left me with the easier one, though that weren't t'say it were an easy job.
"We was in Craster's Holdfast at th'time, an smack in between there an' Freeman's Port were an ancient ruin. Big one, 'bout the size o' this'un, in fact. Normally, it took about a week t'travel between the two places, but if one were brave or foolhardy enough, they could cut through th'ruins an' make it in five days.
"Well, old Gil had that in mind. We left together, an' at th'place where ye normally would turn north t'go around the ruins, he led his caravan on straight. I prayed fer their safety that night, but never really believed anything would happen. Gil were an experienced caravaner, an' tougher'n anyone else I'd ever met.
"Two days later, we was walkin' this ridgeline north o'the ruins when somethin' called out t'me. Not sure what, exactly. I started lookin' south, scannin' the ruins, an' sure enough, I found Gil's caravan, walking down a wide road between th'largest buildings. They was movin' at quite a clip, I hav'ta say.
"I were tickled pink, at first. Because we'd made near as good a time as they had, despite movin' almost a day's north to skirt th'ruins. But as I watched, I realized that they weren't just travelin', they was runnin'."
Kells sighed, his eyes distant and full of old regrets.
"That's when I saw one. A great Walker, striding out o' th'deepest part o' th'ruins. The way it moved were like nothin' I ever seen before. It crawled along th'sides o' the ruins themselves, like a spider almost, but always with two or three feet on th'ground.
"It came fer th'caravan, and fell on 'em in a slaughter. I watched it breathe fire down on 'em, stompin' men flat with its feet an' scooping 'em up with its great claws."
He sighed again, then looked down. He tucked his sword under his armpit and used his hand to rub his eyes for a moment, before taking the blade up again.
"Killed 'em all, it did. Erry single one, as I live an' breath. An' when it were done, it went around, stompin' th'bodies flat. Never ate one, jes did all it could t'make sure that not a single survivor lived t'tell the tale. I were shook something fierce, I tell ya. Took me own caravan down off the ridge, t'avoid bein' spotted. We ended up arriving a day late, but to this day, I thank me lucky stars we made it at all."
Another sigh came, and Kathy heard the cracks in his voice as he continued on.
"Not Gil, though. Nor any o'them what worked for him, or th'merchant what hired him. A few years later, I worked up th'courage t'take a couple o'men into the ruins, t'find the bodies. I found bones dressed in Gil's clothes. I took his sword, which had survived, an' is th'one I carry to this day. I think Gil'd be pleased to know his blade had saved me life, quite a few times since."
Kathy finished cutting the cover up and stood to put her hands on Kells' shoulder.
"Thank you for telling me that," she said, her voice gentle. "I can tell it's an important story to you."
Kells nodded and sniffed once, then jerked his head in the direction away from the most recent roar. "I still think we should get out o' here, Kath," he said. "I'll face down the Searchers an' be happy o' a good death, should they take me. But them Walkers... They ain't warriors ye can face an' die with honor. One o'them things finds us, there ain't no fightin' it. We jes' die screaming, th'only consolation coming when it's all over."
Kathy weighed his words carefully. Kells knew this world far better than she did. And while she knew her own abilities far better than anyone here, she had to be mindful not to be too arrogant. Kells had told her how a single Walker had slaughtered an entire caravan of experienced fighters, led by an experienced leader.
"Okay," she said. She handed the bag to Kells. "There should be about eight hundred and fifty chits in there. You can count them out later, and I'll trust your count. After I find what I'm looking for, I'll collect the rest and we'll settle up."
"Good call," Kells said. He tied the bag off to his belt and walked to the corner of the building, peeking around. When he was satisfied, he nodded. Kathy joined him, and together, they made a beeline to the edge of the ruins.
They had made it about halfway out when another roar sounded, this one right on top of them. A rumbling crash sounded from her right, and Kathy turned to see rubble falling to the ground as something massive rose off the ground, two blocks over.
"Stars an' stones," Kells swore, then shouted "Run!"
2024.05.14 22:00 Vegetable-Ad4309 Why is Islamophobia synonymous with bigotry?
I really need to preface this by saying I don’t support harassment and violence towards muslims simply because of their beliefs. Believe what you want, I really don’t care. That I believe is a form a bigotry and I have no kind of support for it. My question is more based in the fact that why must I respect a way of life/ideology that is very blatantly false, and more often that not endangers the lives of people who don’t believe in it. When apostates are to be executed, sex slavery is very much a thing, domestic violence is nearly encouraged, and crimes against people like women, children, disbelievers, queer and trans people, and many more (I can’t be bothered to name all of em) are justified, why would I not feel any kind of distain or even hatred for your ideology. And why should be associated with bigots simply because I view your ideology as stupid and hateful. I genuinely believe that not just islam but religion, and other kinds of cults shouldn’t have a place in society, and actively going against them shouldn’t force the label of bigot on you.
submitted by Vegetable-Ad4309 to exmuslim [link] [comments]
2024.05.14 22:00 VivaldiVerao Body of the unidentified Brazilian woman who spent 24 years in a coma is buried
Edit: Original post was deleted due to being a repost. Check the first post here. This is an update post https://www.reddit.com/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/1bfnp5o/unknown_woman_is_hit_by_a_car_and_has_lived_in_a/
Clarinha has been buried at Maruípe Municipal Cemetery today, May 14th, at 1:45 PM. Her funeral was attended by hospital staff who took care of her. Coronel Jorge Potratz, the doctor who watched over her during these last 24 years stated "It is a great relief to close this chapter, allow her spirit to rest properly. The cycle is closing, but her story remains open." He placed a white rose in her hands before the casket was closed.
She'll have a tombstone with her picture, the name "Clarinha" and a bible verse that still has not been choosen.
My write-up on the case:
Okay, so it's my first write-up here. I had always wondered why Jane/John doe cases were so famous in English speaking countries, while here in Brazil lots of unindentified people pass away everyday and no one bats an eye. We don't even have a name like "Jane doe" for those people, I think.
Well, there's a notorious case of an unindentified woman who passed away recently that caught my attention. On June 12th, 2000, a woman who had been hit by a car was brought to São Lucas State Hospital in Vitória, Espírito Santo state. It was lovers' day in Brazil (our version of Valentine's) and she was a white woman who didn't have any form of identification on her. I wish I could find more details on the incident, but I can't. She was rescued by an ambulance and was uncouncious when she got to the hospital, and spent the next 24 years that way.
It was noted she had a c-section scar, which meant she had had at least one child, but no one ever came to look for her. They tried to identify her so she could receive some sort of pension, but they weren't able to. On the next year, she was transfered to the Military Police Hospital and has been there ever since, under the care of Dr. Jorge Potratz, and has been named Clarinha by hospital staff. Dr. Jorge had been taking care of her as if she's his own daughter, paying for personal care items for her with his own money. Besides that, Brazil's Unified Health System allowed her to be hospitlized for the past 24 years without anyone having to pay for her healthcare. She didn't need any kind of life support besides a feed tube due to problems in swallowing caused by the accident. A doctor noted that in the scale for comas, which goes up to 15, she's around 7 or 8.
On 2016, TV show Fantástico did a segment about her, which brought the attention to the case. Several missing people families came from all over the country to check on her, but it was no success. A woman from Minas Gerais state thought she could be her missing sister. Her sister left the town of Ipanema on 1999 stating she was going to sell clothes. She left all her documents and 2 kids behind. It wasn't her.
They tried to take her fingerprints, but since her hands remained closed as a result of the accident, her fingertips got all roughed up and they were unable to get a clear print. Norma, a nurse who took care of her, said she called the name of a missing person who was thought to be her and Clarinha opened her eyes for a moment, the article doesn't specifies but I think it was proven it wasn't her.
Clarinha passed away on March 14th, 2024 after sufferig bronchoaspiration (no idea of what it is). They think she was around 40 or 50 years old. The police compared her DNA and figerprints to 12 missing people cases and found no match. Dr. Jorge Potratz took care of all the legal requirements for her to not be buried as an unindentified person.
Personal comments I have regarding the case:
https://g1.globo.com/es/espirito-santo/noticia/2024/05/09/clarinha-ultimo-dna-da-negativo-e-corpo-de-paciente-nao-identificada-ja-pode-ser-enterrado.ghtml
https://g1.globo.com/es/espirito-santo/noticia/2024/03/15/morre-clarinha-paciente-misteriosa-internada-em-coma-ha-mais-de-20-anos-no-es.ghtml
https://g1.globo.com/espirito-santo/noticia/2016/04/resultados-de-dna-dao-negativo-para-possiveis-parentes-de-clarinha.html
https://g1.globo.com/espirito-santo/noticia/2016/01/clarinha-vai-passar-por-tratamento-para-recuperar-digitais-no-es.html
https://g1.globo.com/espirito-santo/noticia/2016/01/mulher-em-coma-ha-15-anos-ainda-nao-foi-procurada-em-hospital-do-es.html
https://g1.globo.com/espirito-santo/noticia/2016/01/clarinha-em-coma-ha-15-anos-no-es-e-procurada-30-vezes-em-1-dia.html
https://g1.globo.com/espirito-santo/noticia/2016/01/me-ensina-todo-dia-diz-medico-de-paciente-em-coma-ha-15-anos.html
https://www.agazeta.com.bes/cotidiano/despedida-e-enterro-de-clarinha-tem-data-e-local-para-acontecer-em-vitoria-0524
https://www.folhavitoria.com.bgeral/noticia/05/2024/paciente-misteriosa-clarinha-sera-enterrada-na-terca-14-em-cemiterio-de-vitoria
https://g1.globo.com/es/espirito-santo/noticia/2024/05/09/clarinha-ultimo-dna-da-negativo-e-corpo-de-paciente-nao-identificada-ja-pode-ser-enterrado.ghtml
https://g1.globo.com/es/espirito-santo/noticia/2024/05/14/clarinha-paciente-misteriosa-que-ficou-em-coma-por-24-anos-e-enterrada-no-es-ciclo-vai-se-fechar-mas-historia-dela-segue-aberta.ghtml
submitted by VivaldiVerao to UnresolvedMysteries [link] [comments]
Clarinha has been buried at Maruípe Municipal Cemetery today, May 14th, at 1:45 PM. Her funeral was attended by hospital staff who took care of her. Coronel Jorge Potratz, the doctor who watched over her during these last 24 years stated "It is a great relief to close this chapter, allow her spirit to rest properly. The cycle is closing, but her story remains open." He placed a white rose in her hands before the casket was closed.
She'll have a tombstone with her picture, the name "Clarinha" and a bible verse that still has not been choosen.
My write-up on the case:
Okay, so it's my first write-up here. I had always wondered why Jane/John doe cases were so famous in English speaking countries, while here in Brazil lots of unindentified people pass away everyday and no one bats an eye. We don't even have a name like "Jane doe" for those people, I think.
Well, there's a notorious case of an unindentified woman who passed away recently that caught my attention. On June 12th, 2000, a woman who had been hit by a car was brought to São Lucas State Hospital in Vitória, Espírito Santo state. It was lovers' day in Brazil (our version of Valentine's) and she was a white woman who didn't have any form of identification on her. I wish I could find more details on the incident, but I can't. She was rescued by an ambulance and was uncouncious when she got to the hospital, and spent the next 24 years that way.
It was noted she had a c-section scar, which meant she had had at least one child, but no one ever came to look for her. They tried to identify her so she could receive some sort of pension, but they weren't able to. On the next year, she was transfered to the Military Police Hospital and has been there ever since, under the care of Dr. Jorge Potratz, and has been named Clarinha by hospital staff. Dr. Jorge had been taking care of her as if she's his own daughter, paying for personal care items for her with his own money. Besides that, Brazil's Unified Health System allowed her to be hospitlized for the past 24 years without anyone having to pay for her healthcare. She didn't need any kind of life support besides a feed tube due to problems in swallowing caused by the accident. A doctor noted that in the scale for comas, which goes up to 15, she's around 7 or 8.
On 2016, TV show Fantástico did a segment about her, which brought the attention to the case. Several missing people families came from all over the country to check on her, but it was no success. A woman from Minas Gerais state thought she could be her missing sister. Her sister left the town of Ipanema on 1999 stating she was going to sell clothes. She left all her documents and 2 kids behind. It wasn't her.
They tried to take her fingerprints, but since her hands remained closed as a result of the accident, her fingertips got all roughed up and they were unable to get a clear print. Norma, a nurse who took care of her, said she called the name of a missing person who was thought to be her and Clarinha opened her eyes for a moment, the article doesn't specifies but I think it was proven it wasn't her.
Clarinha passed away on March 14th, 2024 after sufferig bronchoaspiration (no idea of what it is). They think she was around 40 or 50 years old. The police compared her DNA and figerprints to 12 missing people cases and found no match. Dr. Jorge Potratz took care of all the legal requirements for her to not be buried as an unindentified person.
Personal comments I have regarding the case:
- They did collect her DNA and probably still have it. Yeah, genetic geneology could help solve the case, but it's not that common here in Brazil due to being extremely expensive.
- She was buried, which means her body can still be exumed if needed.
- She was not on life support, the only medical care she needed was being fed through a feeding tube, which was probably how she ended up dying. "Turning off life support" would mean letting her slowly starve to death.
- In one of the G1 articles I posted down here, there's a picture of her with her eyes open. They're brown.
- Yeah, she could be foreign, as well as she could be Brazilian. There's the human trafficking theory going around and I wanted to note that this kind of thing happens a lot in Brazil, people are trafficked from one state to another, she could very well be one of those cases, although I think someone would have said something at this point. I
- "Imagine the cost of keeping her alive for that long!!!!" Free healthcare, don't worry about that. Really.
- Maybe some international attention would help solving this, that's why I'm making this update post.
https://g1.globo.com/es/espirito-santo/noticia/2024/05/09/clarinha-ultimo-dna-da-negativo-e-corpo-de-paciente-nao-identificada-ja-pode-ser-enterrado.ghtml
https://g1.globo.com/es/espirito-santo/noticia/2024/03/15/morre-clarinha-paciente-misteriosa-internada-em-coma-ha-mais-de-20-anos-no-es.ghtml
https://g1.globo.com/espirito-santo/noticia/2016/04/resultados-de-dna-dao-negativo-para-possiveis-parentes-de-clarinha.html
https://g1.globo.com/espirito-santo/noticia/2016/01/clarinha-vai-passar-por-tratamento-para-recuperar-digitais-no-es.html
https://g1.globo.com/espirito-santo/noticia/2016/01/mulher-em-coma-ha-15-anos-ainda-nao-foi-procurada-em-hospital-do-es.html
https://g1.globo.com/espirito-santo/noticia/2016/01/clarinha-em-coma-ha-15-anos-no-es-e-procurada-30-vezes-em-1-dia.html
https://g1.globo.com/espirito-santo/noticia/2016/01/me-ensina-todo-dia-diz-medico-de-paciente-em-coma-ha-15-anos.html
https://www.agazeta.com.bes/cotidiano/despedida-e-enterro-de-clarinha-tem-data-e-local-para-acontecer-em-vitoria-0524
https://www.folhavitoria.com.bgeral/noticia/05/2024/paciente-misteriosa-clarinha-sera-enterrada-na-terca-14-em-cemiterio-de-vitoria
https://g1.globo.com/es/espirito-santo/noticia/2024/05/09/clarinha-ultimo-dna-da-negativo-e-corpo-de-paciente-nao-identificada-ja-pode-ser-enterrado.ghtml
https://g1.globo.com/es/espirito-santo/noticia/2024/05/14/clarinha-paciente-misteriosa-que-ficou-em-coma-por-24-anos-e-enterrada-no-es-ciclo-vai-se-fechar-mas-historia-dela-segue-aberta.ghtml
2024.05.14 22:00 Lovinsunshine97 Gratitude journal *(daily scheduled post)*
We are all familiar with prating gratitude. It is an overly used concept that many times can turn int o a form of “toxic positivity” and this is far from what I want to do here. What is to be grateful anything?
I believe it is a feeling in a warm tan color in my chest, that makes me smile and think “I am happy I am here to see/experience this.” Maybe it is a religious experience to you, maybe you feel like thanking God or the universe for the opportunity to be here right now.
Another interesting thing is, you don’t have to feel grateful about big life changing experiences only, sometimes I am just grateful for McDonald’s, or for my cat, my friends and family for being there for me. Some days I’m grateful for having to strength to take a shower or drinking a glass of water. You can be grateful about anything.
Practicing gratitude helps us guide our minds into a more positive way of thinking. It doesn’t mean you can’t complain (I love complaining lol) but it helps us thinking about the good things we are actually able to experience.
If this seems too hard for you right, try to modify it to fit your needs: try to write down one complain you have about your day, and battle it with one or two that you feel grateful or happy for. We are all in different stages of our journey. You’re loved and respected, and your feelings are valid.
Now tell me, what are you grateful for today? What are you complain you want to battle with a good thought?
submitted by Lovinsunshine97 to BipolarWomenWithCats [link] [comments]
I believe it is a feeling in a warm tan color in my chest, that makes me smile and think “I am happy I am here to see/experience this.” Maybe it is a religious experience to you, maybe you feel like thanking God or the universe for the opportunity to be here right now.
Another interesting thing is, you don’t have to feel grateful about big life changing experiences only, sometimes I am just grateful for McDonald’s, or for my cat, my friends and family for being there for me. Some days I’m grateful for having to strength to take a shower or drinking a glass of water. You can be grateful about anything.
Practicing gratitude helps us guide our minds into a more positive way of thinking. It doesn’t mean you can’t complain (I love complaining lol) but it helps us thinking about the good things we are actually able to experience.
If this seems too hard for you right, try to modify it to fit your needs: try to write down one complain you have about your day, and battle it with one or two that you feel grateful or happy for. We are all in different stages of our journey. You’re loved and respected, and your feelings are valid.
Now tell me, what are you grateful for today? What are you complain you want to battle with a good thought?
2024.05.14 22:00 AutoModerator Weekly Abortion Debate Thread
Greetings everyone!
Wecome to Abortiondebate. Due to popular request, this is our weekly abortion debate thread.
This thread is meant for anything related to the abortion debate, like questions, ideas or clarifications, that are too small to make an entire post about. This is also a great way to gain more insight in the abortion debate if you are new, or unsure about making a whole post.
In this post, we will be taking a more relaxed approach towards moderating (which will mostly only apply towards attacking/name-calling, etc. other users). Participation should therefore happen with these changes in mind.
Reddit's TOS will however still apply, this will not be a free pass for hate speech.
We also have a recurring weekly meta thread where you can voice your suggestions about rules, ask questions, or anything else related to the way this sub is run.
ADBreakRoom is our officially recognized sister subreddit for all off-topic content and banter you'd like to share with the members of this community. It's a great place to relax and unwind after some intense debating, so go subscribe!
submitted by AutoModerator to Abortiondebate [link] [comments]
Wecome to Abortiondebate. Due to popular request, this is our weekly abortion debate thread.
This thread is meant for anything related to the abortion debate, like questions, ideas or clarifications, that are too small to make an entire post about. This is also a great way to gain more insight in the abortion debate if you are new, or unsure about making a whole post.
In this post, we will be taking a more relaxed approach towards moderating (which will mostly only apply towards attacking/name-calling, etc. other users). Participation should therefore happen with these changes in mind.
Reddit's TOS will however still apply, this will not be a free pass for hate speech.
We also have a recurring weekly meta thread where you can voice your suggestions about rules, ask questions, or anything else related to the way this sub is run.
ADBreakRoom is our officially recognized sister subreddit for all off-topic content and banter you'd like to share with the members of this community. It's a great place to relax and unwind after some intense debating, so go subscribe!
2024.05.14 21:59 Intelligent-Sky2695 My experience + EMOTIONS with aid access
For reference & a bit of a back story, I am 19 years old living in the United States. I know that sharing this experience with you all can be beneficial because I feel like a lot of women are going to feel so many emotions so not only am I going to tell you a bit about the way this impacted my body physically, I am going to share how I came to the conclusion that this is what is best for me and my life. I just want women to know you’re never alone in your emotions no matter what anyone is telling you/how you’re feeling. & if you’re looking for directions on how to properly receive the pills, this is not for you. I am just trying to share my personal experience :)
So, I found out that I was pregnant in the beginning of April. I know when I ovulate and I know when I had sex, so I was almost 4 weeks when I found out. I went through an entire process of emotions, including maybe thinking that this was meant to happen. In the beginning, I wouldn’t say I was excited. Just fucking terrified. For reference as well, I have borderline personality disorder which greatly affected my decision.
After weeks of back and forth with myself about what to do, I decided it was best that I should go through with abortion. As someone who grew up in not the best environment, I knew that my decision was right. I’m currently unmedicated, not in therapy and without a job. I may be crazy, but I have sense. My decision made all the sense and I knew it was right for me.
I ordered the pills after following every step through the process which was extremely simple. (Also thought I should mention that I do not live somewhere where abortion is legal AT ALL, which also terrified me. But after some reading, I found out how discreet this was, which made me feel tremendously better.)
I received the pills about 6ish days after I received the shipping information. April 30th, which is when I was 8 weeks & 3 days, I took the first pill which is the mifepristone. Within 24 hours I had no bleeding. Around the 24 hour mark I noticed a clear fluid on my underwear. I took 800mg ibuprofen 2 hours before I took this misoprostol. Put the 4 in my mouth for the 30 minutes. Around the 20 minute mark of having these in my mouth, I started feeling pretty severe back pain. Around 1 hr after these dissolved, I noticed some bleeding.
So now onto how these made me feel physically. About an hour and 30 minutes into this process, I was having diarrhea. I started to sweat pretty bad and was doubled over on the toilet from the cramps. I knew that they could be pretty severe but in all honesty nothing prepared me for this. I was crying because of how bad I felt. The whole time I was pretty nauseous but didn’t throw up until about the 6 hour mark. I tried to sleep it off but I just couldn’t. It hurt so bad and it all honesty I would compare it almost to kidney stone pain (I’ve had 4) I just laid on the bathroom floor crying. I took some more ibuprofen and Tylenol and slept for an hour. Woke up and felt slightly better and just made sure I ate and drank a shit ton of water. The cramps were still there but now felt like mild period cramps. After this I fell asleep for the night and when I woke up I physically felt fine. The cramps were a simple 2/10 for the pain.
I bled and had pretty bad clots for about 6 days. Day 7, I went to the bathroom and that’s when I saw the fetus on my bad. I’m not going to lie, this is pretty traumatic. Again I was almost 9 weeks along so if you know how a fetus develops, then you will know what I saw. I cried for a minute, took some deeps breaths and went to takes a nap. Woke up and felt better about this. Bled lightly for around 2 days after passing the fetus, so in total bled for around 9 days.
It’s been 2 weeks since taking this medicine and deciding to do this. Mentally, I feel much better than expected. In all honesty I feel nothing much more than relief because I know I made the right decision and choice for me. I was scared that I would feel regret, but I really don’t which kinda makes me feel shitty.
I decided to write this because I want you to know that you are making the right decision for you, and only you’re able to make that decision. Do not let anyone’s opinions deter you from doing what’s right for your well being. And just know, the physical pain is temporary.
With all love, I hope that this finds whoever needs it. You are loved, cared for and appreciated. If you are alone during this process and need someone to talk to or ask questions, I am here. And there are plenty of helpful resources as well.
Stay well and safe. <3
submitted by Intelligent-Sky2695 to abortion [link] [comments]
So, I found out that I was pregnant in the beginning of April. I know when I ovulate and I know when I had sex, so I was almost 4 weeks when I found out. I went through an entire process of emotions, including maybe thinking that this was meant to happen. In the beginning, I wouldn’t say I was excited. Just fucking terrified. For reference as well, I have borderline personality disorder which greatly affected my decision.
After weeks of back and forth with myself about what to do, I decided it was best that I should go through with abortion. As someone who grew up in not the best environment, I knew that my decision was right. I’m currently unmedicated, not in therapy and without a job. I may be crazy, but I have sense. My decision made all the sense and I knew it was right for me.
I ordered the pills after following every step through the process which was extremely simple. (Also thought I should mention that I do not live somewhere where abortion is legal AT ALL, which also terrified me. But after some reading, I found out how discreet this was, which made me feel tremendously better.)
I received the pills about 6ish days after I received the shipping information. April 30th, which is when I was 8 weeks & 3 days, I took the first pill which is the mifepristone. Within 24 hours I had no bleeding. Around the 24 hour mark I noticed a clear fluid on my underwear. I took 800mg ibuprofen 2 hours before I took this misoprostol. Put the 4 in my mouth for the 30 minutes. Around the 20 minute mark of having these in my mouth, I started feeling pretty severe back pain. Around 1 hr after these dissolved, I noticed some bleeding.
So now onto how these made me feel physically. About an hour and 30 minutes into this process, I was having diarrhea. I started to sweat pretty bad and was doubled over on the toilet from the cramps. I knew that they could be pretty severe but in all honesty nothing prepared me for this. I was crying because of how bad I felt. The whole time I was pretty nauseous but didn’t throw up until about the 6 hour mark. I tried to sleep it off but I just couldn’t. It hurt so bad and it all honesty I would compare it almost to kidney stone pain (I’ve had 4) I just laid on the bathroom floor crying. I took some more ibuprofen and Tylenol and slept for an hour. Woke up and felt slightly better and just made sure I ate and drank a shit ton of water. The cramps were still there but now felt like mild period cramps. After this I fell asleep for the night and when I woke up I physically felt fine. The cramps were a simple 2/10 for the pain.
I bled and had pretty bad clots for about 6 days. Day 7, I went to the bathroom and that’s when I saw the fetus on my bad. I’m not going to lie, this is pretty traumatic. Again I was almost 9 weeks along so if you know how a fetus develops, then you will know what I saw. I cried for a minute, took some deeps breaths and went to takes a nap. Woke up and felt better about this. Bled lightly for around 2 days after passing the fetus, so in total bled for around 9 days.
It’s been 2 weeks since taking this medicine and deciding to do this. Mentally, I feel much better than expected. In all honesty I feel nothing much more than relief because I know I made the right decision and choice for me. I was scared that I would feel regret, but I really don’t which kinda makes me feel shitty.
I decided to write this because I want you to know that you are making the right decision for you, and only you’re able to make that decision. Do not let anyone’s opinions deter you from doing what’s right for your well being. And just know, the physical pain is temporary.
With all love, I hope that this finds whoever needs it. You are loved, cared for and appreciated. If you are alone during this process and need someone to talk to or ask questions, I am here. And there are plenty of helpful resources as well.
Stay well and safe. <3
2024.05.14 21:59 Skysplitsss The last message
For background, I’ve been one month no contact with him, during wich he called and texted me a lot. He emailed me that some promises were forgotten and that he did not have time to send me a long message even though he wish he could.
Here is the response I will never send him
« Unsurprisingly, I do have some time to devote to a long message. I didn't write it earlier because I don't feel I owe you an explanation, but I need to put an end to this story. I want you to know that this will be the last message you'll receive from me, and I'm not interested in any further exchanges, nor in your response or reaction to this one. I'm sorry it's come to this, but I'll block you once it's sent because I don't really trust you to respect this decision.
I don't understand what promises you're mentioning. Over the past few months, you've told me on several occasions that you didn't want me to expect anything from you and that I shouldn't trust anything you say. You've told me and made me believe a lot of things. But there was never anything between us, not even friendship, not even respect. Maybe you meant that I still believed in us and that I'd always be there to prove it. And it was true, I waited for you to come back, for you to come back after ignoring me several times, I hoped that something would change and that you'd take an interest in me, that you'd devote a little time to me, that you'd notice that your ambiguous behavior was hurting me, that my efforts would be reciprocated and then I hoped that we could remain friends in a relationship that was never right or fair for me.
I'm sorry because these promises no longer hold. I don't feel happy in a relationship of any kind where the imbalance is so strong that I don't have the right to a little empathy and kindness. All the times I've expressed what was wrong, it was never to change you or make you a better man as you apparently thought, it was because I could no longer continue on this path. You blamed me for your ambiguity ("if you get into my game, it's your fault") and for everything that went wrong (according to you, it was my fault that we didn't see each other, my fault that we got hot, my fault that the exchanges were flat), you didn't give me any space when I walked away from you, you didn't respect my limits (in our last conversation, after telling you that I didn't want anything with you and that it had hurt me too much, you followed up a few minutes later with ambiguous messages and photos), you arrogantly criticized every aspect of my life (entourage, work, salary, personal interests, personality... ), you've stood me up several times, you've told me in black and white that you had no time for me and no desire to find any. So why are you so insistent today and won't let me go? How could you think it would last?
I stayed for a long time because I really liked you when we met, I thought you had a lot of good qualities and I wanted to keep in touch because I was convinced we'd get on well together. Unfortunately, I never found that person after having searched for him in every possible way, and I discovered another person I'd rather not have met. I mourned both of them.
I don't even know how to end this message, as I don't feel I know you after all. So I just hope you'll understand my last message, which would ironically be the first time. »
submitted by Skysplitsss to UnsentLettersRaw [link] [comments]
Here is the response I will never send him
« Unsurprisingly, I do have some time to devote to a long message. I didn't write it earlier because I don't feel I owe you an explanation, but I need to put an end to this story. I want you to know that this will be the last message you'll receive from me, and I'm not interested in any further exchanges, nor in your response or reaction to this one. I'm sorry it's come to this, but I'll block you once it's sent because I don't really trust you to respect this decision.
I don't understand what promises you're mentioning. Over the past few months, you've told me on several occasions that you didn't want me to expect anything from you and that I shouldn't trust anything you say. You've told me and made me believe a lot of things. But there was never anything between us, not even friendship, not even respect. Maybe you meant that I still believed in us and that I'd always be there to prove it. And it was true, I waited for you to come back, for you to come back after ignoring me several times, I hoped that something would change and that you'd take an interest in me, that you'd devote a little time to me, that you'd notice that your ambiguous behavior was hurting me, that my efforts would be reciprocated and then I hoped that we could remain friends in a relationship that was never right or fair for me.
I'm sorry because these promises no longer hold. I don't feel happy in a relationship of any kind where the imbalance is so strong that I don't have the right to a little empathy and kindness. All the times I've expressed what was wrong, it was never to change you or make you a better man as you apparently thought, it was because I could no longer continue on this path. You blamed me for your ambiguity ("if you get into my game, it's your fault") and for everything that went wrong (according to you, it was my fault that we didn't see each other, my fault that we got hot, my fault that the exchanges were flat), you didn't give me any space when I walked away from you, you didn't respect my limits (in our last conversation, after telling you that I didn't want anything with you and that it had hurt me too much, you followed up a few minutes later with ambiguous messages and photos), you arrogantly criticized every aspect of my life (entourage, work, salary, personal interests, personality... ), you've stood me up several times, you've told me in black and white that you had no time for me and no desire to find any. So why are you so insistent today and won't let me go? How could you think it would last?
I stayed for a long time because I really liked you when we met, I thought you had a lot of good qualities and I wanted to keep in touch because I was convinced we'd get on well together. Unfortunately, I never found that person after having searched for him in every possible way, and I discovered another person I'd rather not have met. I mourned both of them.
I don't even know how to end this message, as I don't feel I know you after all. So I just hope you'll understand my last message, which would ironically be the first time. »
2024.05.14 21:58 Rorytree 27M Ireland/Anywhere - Weird guy looking for weird friends!
Forgive me for how bad this is because I'm awful at writing posts especially about myself but I'd love to meet some cool people and have some chilled chats about anything!
Here is some basic information about me if you're interested:
I'm Rory from the North Of Ireland and yes, I've got a weird accent
I currently work for the government, unfortunately I'm not a spy or anything exciting like that
I love music and I'm always going to gigs but my taste changes all the time, Some of my favourites lately are IDLES, Viagra Boys, The Smile, and Fleet Foxes. I also love sharing songs and playlists so feel free to send them my way
I'm a big traveller and love going on adventures especially to new places
I'm a bit of a gamer and play PS5/PC but I'm a bit of a loner in that department and would be down to play with some new people
I have a unhealthy addiction collecting vinyls
I'm constantly rewatching the same tv shows such as the office, it's always sunny in philadelphia, peep show, and the thick of it but I'm open for more recommendations
I enjoy reading books or watching documentaries on true crime and Irish history because I'm a loser
If none of the above interests you I have two dogs who are the best bois in the world and I can just provide pictures of them
I don't know else to say and feel like I've rambled on enough so hit me up if you'd like to! Have a good day! :)
submitted by Rorytree to friendship [link] [comments]
Here is some basic information about me if you're interested:
I'm Rory from the North Of Ireland and yes, I've got a weird accent
I currently work for the government, unfortunately I'm not a spy or anything exciting like that
I love music and I'm always going to gigs but my taste changes all the time, Some of my favourites lately are IDLES, Viagra Boys, The Smile, and Fleet Foxes. I also love sharing songs and playlists so feel free to send them my way
I'm a big traveller and love going on adventures especially to new places
I'm a bit of a gamer and play PS5/PC but I'm a bit of a loner in that department and would be down to play with some new people
I have a unhealthy addiction collecting vinyls
I'm constantly rewatching the same tv shows such as the office, it's always sunny in philadelphia, peep show, and the thick of it but I'm open for more recommendations
I enjoy reading books or watching documentaries on true crime and Irish history because I'm a loser
If none of the above interests you I have two dogs who are the best bois in the world and I can just provide pictures of them
I don't know else to say and feel like I've rambled on enough so hit me up if you'd like to! Have a good day! :)
2024.05.14 21:58 Euphoric-Earth-4765 An inside look at the culture and ideology of Faith Comes By Hearing PART 1
If you are thinking about working at or if you are thinking about donating to Faith Comes By Hearing/Hosanna [https://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com](https://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/) you should consider the following. Having worked at Faith Comes By Hearing myself for decades, you should be aware of their culture and ideology. (Arranged from most important to least.)
\*Treatment of the Bible:
Grammatical, historical and cultural context as well as literary genre are all ignored by top management. So, Scripture is often misquoted and misused:
Ignoring basic, common sense guidelines, rules for interpreting the Bible results in misinterpreting, misunderstanding, and misapplying the Bible. Management ignores the fact that observation (what the text says) must always come before interpretation (what the text means); and interpretation always comes before application (how the text applies to me). They do not consider the Bible text objectively first: They treat the text subjectively or relatively or assume what the passage text means. And they ignore the fact that a text cannot mean today what it never could have meant to the original authors and original readers. Exegesis is often contrasted with “eisegesis”; the Greek preposition εἰς means “into,” and hence eisegesis means reading your own meaning into the text. Bible study is not reading your personal theology into some biblical passage. Bible study is letting the text talk to us; we are the listeners, not the talkers. Many Christians just want to know what the Bible “means to me.” If you stop to think about it, this just is not possible. We must do the hard work of learning the author’s original meaning first, and without that we can’t ever know “what it means to me.” A text cannot mean what it never meant.
\*Feelings and experiences rule:
There is a focus by top management on personal experiences and feelings instead of a studied period of reflection: Emotional, simple, popular teaching instead of intellectually careful and doctrinally precise teaching. Bible studies go straight to the question, “What does this passage mean to me?” while bypassing the prior question, “What does the passage say and why do I think my interpretation is correct?” Management promotes and allows employees to get away with applying an understanding of a passage that is based on vague feelings or first impressions and not on the hard work of reading the context, verifying with commentaries and using study tools such as concordances, Bible dictionaries, and the like because a careful exercise of reason is not important in understanding what the Bible actually says for management. Besides, it takes work! For management, Christianity is identified with subjective feelings, sincere motives, personal piety, and blind faith. Management tests the truth not by a careful application of our God-given faculties of thought, or even by biblical mandates (for example, 2 Corinthians 10:5), but rather by private subjective experiences. For the most part, theoretical reason is just not part of the culture at FCBH. In fact, top management will often spiritualizing normal, everyday things like advice, facts, common knowledge:
Example during a meeting, the CEO said he saw a full moon, then clouds formed & covered the moon, then clouds dissipated. He then said he felt God say: "I can turn nothing into something; something into nothing; turn this ministry into something & if it goes thick & blocks Jesus; it has to diminish.”
So, personal, subjective experiences that top management shares equals truth that employees must agree with or at least accept as true.
Also, time is money, but management uses their mandatory meetings to discuss controversial or complex topics (e.g., fasting, communion, tithing, personal stewardship of money, helping the homeless, how to create more interaction with remote workers, how to retain employees, how to hire more Gen Z employees, past trauma), most of which are unrelated to the actual work. Then they ask employees (most of which have no authority to get things changed/done) what their opinion is about the controversial or complex topic, instead of consulting with professionals or experts.
So, top management will read a bible verse (not a paragraph, not a chapter, a verse; usually out of context) using a version of the Bible that is almost a paraphrase. Then share something personal that happened to them, something they did or saw or experienced or a personal conviction that is not related to the verse. Then explain how they felt about it, how they interpreted it. Then they will ask employees (especially internationals) to share similar experiences. And, then if no one shares or comments or speaks, management makes employees feel guilty: Along the lines of “So, God is not working in your life?”
Example: “I felt God give me this verse about gossip. Let me share with you some personal stories about gossip…. This is how I see it. Now, in the last 5 min of our time, I want people to share. I especially want input from internationals. Does anyone have anything to say about this? No, one? Is God not speaking to you? How can God not be moving and speaking? This is unreal….”
Top management will often use a reader response or subjective biblical interpretation: “This is what I think this verse means. What do you think this verse means? What stood out to you? What did you learn? What is God asking you to apply?” This is a very self-centered way to interpret Scripture. The focus is all about you. What you think. What you feel. But, “The Bible is not about you.” - Timothy Keller. And this leads to people looking at the same verse and coming up with completely different interpretations. Everybody seems to have an opinion on what the Bible says/teaches.
So, instead of discovering what the original author said to the original readers. They will take Biblical concepts (e.g., called to ministry; felt led by the Spirit; God spoke to me; felt peace) and then add new meanings to them which the original author did not intend. This is dangerous since it leaves employees with doubt, disillusionment, disappointment, discouragement, and false hope and can leave them with unmet, unrealistic, and false expectations. Top management will also take subjective, unclear biblical principles or non-essentials, or personal convictions and make them scriptural authority and then judge other Christians who do not agree. They will treat the Proverbs as promises. They will also not make an effort to distinguish between Biblical principles and practices which are relative, time bound, culturally subjective, Biblically illustrated (not commanded). They will often make hasty generalizations. They will beg the question. They will commit special pleading, dictionary simpliciter, reductive, faulty analogy and many other fallacies. They will also allegorize promises in Scripture and spiritualize all principles. They assume that all historical narratives have individual identifiable moral application. God’s word should be taught clearly, not in a distorted manner. Top management will proof text and use religious words to promote their agenda.
And top management will encourage others to have this view/philosophy of Bible interpretation. Many incorrectly interpret the Bible and do not even realize it.
I pray to God that this bad method of interpretation is not being taught to internationals, to people who have never had bibles, who do not have biblical discernment, who don't know any better.
\*Inductive Bible study and internationals:
Hermeneutics has been defined as the science and art of biblical interpretation. Hermeneutics helps us understand the Bible. It is a science because there are specific rules the interpreter must follow. It is an art because it takes years of practice to develop the ability to employ those rules properly. There is a difference between a novice and a seasoned interpreter. Hermeneutics has two basic steps, finding what the text meant to its original audience, and then seeing how it applies to our current situation. Unfortunately, many people (Americans included), impose their own personal experiences, theology, and modern culture on to the Biblical text.
Fortunately, God has allowed us (especially Americans) to have Bible dictionaries, commentaries, handbooks, atlases, etc., to help us with correct hermeneutics, to understand the essential historical and cultural information - the context of the original author and readers of the Bible. We have tools that shed light on the text and help us to arrive at the correct interpretation. When you read a commentary, it will provide checks and balances against your possible mistakes. They can answer questions that a reading of the text can never provide or ask questions that you may never think of asking. Unfortunately, many international people groups do not have access to these tools (or even access to mature, trained, and experienced Christians and pastors). And even if they do have access to resources, they may not know how to use them properly (i.e., limitations of commentaries).
Grammatical-Historical Method or Inductive Bible study can easily be done with printed or digital Bibles. But how can a person do this with audio and video Bibles? This is critical especially for international people groups that do not have access to (and may never have) print Bibles.
False gospels and heresies are popular in illiterate people groups because they are not taught discernment or how to evaluate Scripture and the thoughts of others for themselves. People with ulterior motives misuse Scripture and end up influencing the illiterate.
If these Bible Films and audio Bibles are considered to be actual Bible Translations – video and audio translations of the Bible and the equivalent to and sometimes a replacement for print scripture – then should we also make it a point to teach people who are watching and listening to our video and audio Bible translations Biblical hermeneutics (historical-grammatical interpretation)? How to study the Bible properly for themselves?
My experience has been that many non-Christians (and Christians) misquote or misinterpret the Bible because they do not know how to actually read and study it on their own to find out what the text actually meant to the original author and audience and seeing how it applies to their current situation.
There are many ways to study the Bible, and there are many excellent study aids available to help you with specific books of the Bible. But the most important thing you need to remember is that to find out what the Bible says, you need to read it yourself in a way that will help you discover what it says, what it means, and how you are to apply it to your life. And the best way to do this is through the process called inductive study. Inductive study doesn’t tell you what the Bible means or what you should believe. Instead, it teaches you a method of studying God’s Word that can be applied to any portion of Scripture at any time.
Inductive Bible study draws you into personal interaction with the Scripture and thus with the God of the Scriptures so that your beliefs are based on a prayerful understanding and legitimate interpretation of Scripture.
\*Artistic freedom concerns:
Another concern is with the artistic freedom or personal preference when it comes to audio and video Bible media (when these function as replacements for print Scripture). How much can be taken before you compromise the historical accuracy or the meaning and understanding of the original message? A good translation must be faithful to the historical situation and not change the cultural background. In Bible Translation, the translator’s first job is to study the text carefully to discover the correct meaning (what the original author wanted to communicate). Do international people groups understand that the “artistic freedom” (e.g., how the film is lit, the key shots, angles it shoots from, close-ups, point of view, sets, locations and props, editing, the dialogue and the actors’ performance and emotions, wardrobe choices, soundtrack, visual transitions, reference shots), the visuals and sound, are all NOT inspired?
Biblical and Orthodox Christianity teaches that All Scripture (not just some) is inspired by God who utilized the human element within man to accomplish this without error.The very WORDS (not just the ideas, even parts of letters, and sometimes the tense of verbs) are a result of the mind of God expressed in human terms and conditions. The Bible IS fully true in all that it teaches or asserts to be true (including historical and scientific matters). Only the original documents (autographs) are completely free from error. Does FCBH make an effort to explain this to people groups? If not, then there will be conflict when the visuals and sounds that are added do not match the Biblical text. There will be confusion, doubt, disillusionment, disappointment, discouragement, false hope when people are confronted with unmet, unrealistic, and false expectations.
So, using audio and especially video as Bibles should come with some teaching of the basic principles of film criticism, the doctrine of inspiration (difference between artistic freedom and the Word of God), and inductive Bible study or Bible interpretation.
\*Communicating the truth:
They employ a presuppositional and fideistic/experiential approach to evangelism: In the many testimonies that are shared, many of the people who receive the audio bibles say they believe in Jesus because FCBH gave them bibles that are in their native language. Makes you wonder what would happen if the audio was from the Quran or book of Mormon. Would they believe in anything as long as it was in their own language? FCBH does not seem to make sure people are actually believing facts. There seems to be no appeals to evidence and reason for the truthfulness of the Christianity. One should become a Christian and believe that Jesus is God because it is true (from reason, historical evidence, archaeological evidence, theistic arguments) and not because the Bible one reads is in a certain language. You should follow Jesus because He is God and proved it; not because He speaks your language.
\*Hearing from God?
Many in management practice “hearing from God” and then claim God said something specific and personal to them and to the ministry. This practice uses God's name in vain. And often use God to avoid personal responsibility - “I heard from God; God told me; I felt led; God spoke to me…” They then put what happens on God, so they avoid any personal responsibility if it does not come to pass. They make Christianity out to be personal, private, and a matter of “how I feel about things.” Many Christians actually feel spiritually sub-standard and defeated because for them “the heavens have been silent”. This can be debilitating, and it’s profoundly unfair to employees if their only shortcoming is entertaining a false expectation of what a relationship with God entails. Conversations are often littered with casual references to one’s latest revelations without any sense of the gravity of the assertion, or any sense of responsibility to justify the claim. Even Jesus Himself didn’t presume to speak for God without compelling evidence. But, management takes personal opinions and spiritualize them as if they were God’s word to give divine authority to impulses or thoughts that drift through their minds. To say “God is telling me” gives feelings an authority the Scripture does not justify and virtually ends debate. You can’t argue with the person if God supposedly gave the command. Trusting inner feelings is not biblical. It’s confusing at best, and dangerous at worst.
And with certain requests from employees, when top management does not want to do something, they will respond by saying things like: “I need to pray about it first. Sorry, I do not feel led. I need to get confirmation first. I need to have peace about it first. I need to hear from God first.” But with other things, with things they want to do, they do not need to pray about it first, do not need to feel led, do not need to get confirmation first, do not need to have a peace about it first, do not need to hear from God first. When management does not want to do something, they pass the responsibility off to God (“We cannot…. because God didn’t tell us to do it. Didn't get confirmation.”); but when they do want to do something, they don't seek God and do what they want (“We have decided and are going to… and we don’t need to ask God for guidance or permission”).
submitted by Euphoric-Earth-4765 to u/Euphoric-Earth-4765 [link] [comments]
\*Treatment of the Bible:
Grammatical, historical and cultural context as well as literary genre are all ignored by top management. So, Scripture is often misquoted and misused:
Ignoring basic, common sense guidelines, rules for interpreting the Bible results in misinterpreting, misunderstanding, and misapplying the Bible. Management ignores the fact that observation (what the text says) must always come before interpretation (what the text means); and interpretation always comes before application (how the text applies to me). They do not consider the Bible text objectively first: They treat the text subjectively or relatively or assume what the passage text means. And they ignore the fact that a text cannot mean today what it never could have meant to the original authors and original readers. Exegesis is often contrasted with “eisegesis”; the Greek preposition εἰς means “into,” and hence eisegesis means reading your own meaning into the text. Bible study is not reading your personal theology into some biblical passage. Bible study is letting the text talk to us; we are the listeners, not the talkers. Many Christians just want to know what the Bible “means to me.” If you stop to think about it, this just is not possible. We must do the hard work of learning the author’s original meaning first, and without that we can’t ever know “what it means to me.” A text cannot mean what it never meant.
\*Feelings and experiences rule:
There is a focus by top management on personal experiences and feelings instead of a studied period of reflection: Emotional, simple, popular teaching instead of intellectually careful and doctrinally precise teaching. Bible studies go straight to the question, “What does this passage mean to me?” while bypassing the prior question, “What does the passage say and why do I think my interpretation is correct?” Management promotes and allows employees to get away with applying an understanding of a passage that is based on vague feelings or first impressions and not on the hard work of reading the context, verifying with commentaries and using study tools such as concordances, Bible dictionaries, and the like because a careful exercise of reason is not important in understanding what the Bible actually says for management. Besides, it takes work! For management, Christianity is identified with subjective feelings, sincere motives, personal piety, and blind faith. Management tests the truth not by a careful application of our God-given faculties of thought, or even by biblical mandates (for example, 2 Corinthians 10:5), but rather by private subjective experiences. For the most part, theoretical reason is just not part of the culture at FCBH. In fact, top management will often spiritualizing normal, everyday things like advice, facts, common knowledge:
Example during a meeting, the CEO said he saw a full moon, then clouds formed & covered the moon, then clouds dissipated. He then said he felt God say: "I can turn nothing into something; something into nothing; turn this ministry into something & if it goes thick & blocks Jesus; it has to diminish.”
So, personal, subjective experiences that top management shares equals truth that employees must agree with or at least accept as true.
Also, time is money, but management uses their mandatory meetings to discuss controversial or complex topics (e.g., fasting, communion, tithing, personal stewardship of money, helping the homeless, how to create more interaction with remote workers, how to retain employees, how to hire more Gen Z employees, past trauma), most of which are unrelated to the actual work. Then they ask employees (most of which have no authority to get things changed/done) what their opinion is about the controversial or complex topic, instead of consulting with professionals or experts.
So, top management will read a bible verse (not a paragraph, not a chapter, a verse; usually out of context) using a version of the Bible that is almost a paraphrase. Then share something personal that happened to them, something they did or saw or experienced or a personal conviction that is not related to the verse. Then explain how they felt about it, how they interpreted it. Then they will ask employees (especially internationals) to share similar experiences. And, then if no one shares or comments or speaks, management makes employees feel guilty: Along the lines of “So, God is not working in your life?”
Example: “I felt God give me this verse about gossip. Let me share with you some personal stories about gossip…. This is how I see it. Now, in the last 5 min of our time, I want people to share. I especially want input from internationals. Does anyone have anything to say about this? No, one? Is God not speaking to you? How can God not be moving and speaking? This is unreal….”
Top management will often use a reader response or subjective biblical interpretation: “This is what I think this verse means. What do you think this verse means? What stood out to you? What did you learn? What is God asking you to apply?” This is a very self-centered way to interpret Scripture. The focus is all about you. What you think. What you feel. But, “The Bible is not about you.” - Timothy Keller. And this leads to people looking at the same verse and coming up with completely different interpretations. Everybody seems to have an opinion on what the Bible says/teaches.
So, instead of discovering what the original author said to the original readers. They will take Biblical concepts (e.g., called to ministry; felt led by the Spirit; God spoke to me; felt peace) and then add new meanings to them which the original author did not intend. This is dangerous since it leaves employees with doubt, disillusionment, disappointment, discouragement, and false hope and can leave them with unmet, unrealistic, and false expectations. Top management will also take subjective, unclear biblical principles or non-essentials, or personal convictions and make them scriptural authority and then judge other Christians who do not agree. They will treat the Proverbs as promises. They will also not make an effort to distinguish between Biblical principles and practices which are relative, time bound, culturally subjective, Biblically illustrated (not commanded). They will often make hasty generalizations. They will beg the question. They will commit special pleading, dictionary simpliciter, reductive, faulty analogy and many other fallacies. They will also allegorize promises in Scripture and spiritualize all principles. They assume that all historical narratives have individual identifiable moral application. God’s word should be taught clearly, not in a distorted manner. Top management will proof text and use religious words to promote their agenda.
And top management will encourage others to have this view/philosophy of Bible interpretation. Many incorrectly interpret the Bible and do not even realize it.
I pray to God that this bad method of interpretation is not being taught to internationals, to people who have never had bibles, who do not have biblical discernment, who don't know any better.
\*Inductive Bible study and internationals:
Hermeneutics has been defined as the science and art of biblical interpretation. Hermeneutics helps us understand the Bible. It is a science because there are specific rules the interpreter must follow. It is an art because it takes years of practice to develop the ability to employ those rules properly. There is a difference between a novice and a seasoned interpreter. Hermeneutics has two basic steps, finding what the text meant to its original audience, and then seeing how it applies to our current situation. Unfortunately, many people (Americans included), impose their own personal experiences, theology, and modern culture on to the Biblical text.
Fortunately, God has allowed us (especially Americans) to have Bible dictionaries, commentaries, handbooks, atlases, etc., to help us with correct hermeneutics, to understand the essential historical and cultural information - the context of the original author and readers of the Bible. We have tools that shed light on the text and help us to arrive at the correct interpretation. When you read a commentary, it will provide checks and balances against your possible mistakes. They can answer questions that a reading of the text can never provide or ask questions that you may never think of asking. Unfortunately, many international people groups do not have access to these tools (or even access to mature, trained, and experienced Christians and pastors). And even if they do have access to resources, they may not know how to use them properly (i.e., limitations of commentaries).
Grammatical-Historical Method or Inductive Bible study can easily be done with printed or digital Bibles. But how can a person do this with audio and video Bibles? This is critical especially for international people groups that do not have access to (and may never have) print Bibles.
False gospels and heresies are popular in illiterate people groups because they are not taught discernment or how to evaluate Scripture and the thoughts of others for themselves. People with ulterior motives misuse Scripture and end up influencing the illiterate.
If these Bible Films and audio Bibles are considered to be actual Bible Translations – video and audio translations of the Bible and the equivalent to and sometimes a replacement for print scripture – then should we also make it a point to teach people who are watching and listening to our video and audio Bible translations Biblical hermeneutics (historical-grammatical interpretation)? How to study the Bible properly for themselves?
My experience has been that many non-Christians (and Christians) misquote or misinterpret the Bible because they do not know how to actually read and study it on their own to find out what the text actually meant to the original author and audience and seeing how it applies to their current situation.
There are many ways to study the Bible, and there are many excellent study aids available to help you with specific books of the Bible. But the most important thing you need to remember is that to find out what the Bible says, you need to read it yourself in a way that will help you discover what it says, what it means, and how you are to apply it to your life. And the best way to do this is through the process called inductive study. Inductive study doesn’t tell you what the Bible means or what you should believe. Instead, it teaches you a method of studying God’s Word that can be applied to any portion of Scripture at any time.
Inductive Bible study draws you into personal interaction with the Scripture and thus with the God of the Scriptures so that your beliefs are based on a prayerful understanding and legitimate interpretation of Scripture.
\*Artistic freedom concerns:
Another concern is with the artistic freedom or personal preference when it comes to audio and video Bible media (when these function as replacements for print Scripture). How much can be taken before you compromise the historical accuracy or the meaning and understanding of the original message? A good translation must be faithful to the historical situation and not change the cultural background. In Bible Translation, the translator’s first job is to study the text carefully to discover the correct meaning (what the original author wanted to communicate). Do international people groups understand that the “artistic freedom” (e.g., how the film is lit, the key shots, angles it shoots from, close-ups, point of view, sets, locations and props, editing, the dialogue and the actors’ performance and emotions, wardrobe choices, soundtrack, visual transitions, reference shots), the visuals and sound, are all NOT inspired?
Biblical and Orthodox Christianity teaches that All Scripture (not just some) is inspired by God who utilized the human element within man to accomplish this without error.The very WORDS (not just the ideas, even parts of letters, and sometimes the tense of verbs) are a result of the mind of God expressed in human terms and conditions. The Bible IS fully true in all that it teaches or asserts to be true (including historical and scientific matters). Only the original documents (autographs) are completely free from error. Does FCBH make an effort to explain this to people groups? If not, then there will be conflict when the visuals and sounds that are added do not match the Biblical text. There will be confusion, doubt, disillusionment, disappointment, discouragement, false hope when people are confronted with unmet, unrealistic, and false expectations.
So, using audio and especially video as Bibles should come with some teaching of the basic principles of film criticism, the doctrine of inspiration (difference between artistic freedom and the Word of God), and inductive Bible study or Bible interpretation.
\*Communicating the truth:
They employ a presuppositional and fideistic/experiential approach to evangelism: In the many testimonies that are shared, many of the people who receive the audio bibles say they believe in Jesus because FCBH gave them bibles that are in their native language. Makes you wonder what would happen if the audio was from the Quran or book of Mormon. Would they believe in anything as long as it was in their own language? FCBH does not seem to make sure people are actually believing facts. There seems to be no appeals to evidence and reason for the truthfulness of the Christianity. One should become a Christian and believe that Jesus is God because it is true (from reason, historical evidence, archaeological evidence, theistic arguments) and not because the Bible one reads is in a certain language. You should follow Jesus because He is God and proved it; not because He speaks your language.
\*Hearing from God?
Many in management practice “hearing from God” and then claim God said something specific and personal to them and to the ministry. This practice uses God's name in vain. And often use God to avoid personal responsibility - “I heard from God; God told me; I felt led; God spoke to me…” They then put what happens on God, so they avoid any personal responsibility if it does not come to pass. They make Christianity out to be personal, private, and a matter of “how I feel about things.” Many Christians actually feel spiritually sub-standard and defeated because for them “the heavens have been silent”. This can be debilitating, and it’s profoundly unfair to employees if their only shortcoming is entertaining a false expectation of what a relationship with God entails. Conversations are often littered with casual references to one’s latest revelations without any sense of the gravity of the assertion, or any sense of responsibility to justify the claim. Even Jesus Himself didn’t presume to speak for God without compelling evidence. But, management takes personal opinions and spiritualize them as if they were God’s word to give divine authority to impulses or thoughts that drift through their minds. To say “God is telling me” gives feelings an authority the Scripture does not justify and virtually ends debate. You can’t argue with the person if God supposedly gave the command. Trusting inner feelings is not biblical. It’s confusing at best, and dangerous at worst.
And with certain requests from employees, when top management does not want to do something, they will respond by saying things like: “I need to pray about it first. Sorry, I do not feel led. I need to get confirmation first. I need to have peace about it first. I need to hear from God first.” But with other things, with things they want to do, they do not need to pray about it first, do not need to feel led, do not need to get confirmation first, do not need to have a peace about it first, do not need to hear from God first. When management does not want to do something, they pass the responsibility off to God (“We cannot…. because God didn’t tell us to do it. Didn't get confirmation.”); but when they do want to do something, they don't seek God and do what they want (“We have decided and are going to… and we don’t need to ask God for guidance or permission”).
2024.05.14 21:58 ReserveAggressive458 If Destiny is a Gnome, where is his treasure??? [Effort Post]
![If Destiny is a Gnome, where is his treasure??? [Effort Post]](https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/PJ-LryxrLpgs101AjGX7YeKyD4yT76Y184PP0KOsunI.jpg "If Destiny is a Gnome, where is his treasure??? [Effort Post]") | Brothers, submitted by ReserveAggressive458 to Destiny [link] [comments] Destiny IS a gnome. Gnomes have treasure. Where is his, and, most importantly, how can we get it? I have recently come into possession, via my contacts in Budapest, of an ancient tome from the 16th century: Ex Libro de Nymphis, Sylvanis, Pygmaeis, Salamandris et Gigantibus, etc by the great Paracelsus. In his writings, Paracelsus describes the nature of the those creatures that lay "outside the cognizance of the light of nature" - a category under which the "mountain people" or the "Gnomi" fall. Hidden at the end of the book, this passage caught my eye: ... gnomes, pygmies and mami guard the treasures of the earth, the metals and similar treasures. Where they are, there are tremendous treasures, in tremendous quantities. They are guarded by such people, are kept hidden and secret so that they may not be found until the time for it has come.IF Destiny is a gnome, then he must be guarding a tremendous quantity of tremendous treasure. In this post I shall shed some light on Destiny's nature and reveal the first clues as to where his treasure lies. Some of you, virgins all, may be skeptical of the central claim that Destiny is a gnome. Perhaps Professor Hasan's esteemed judgement is simply not good enough for you. But check out what Paracelsus has to say: Nobody should wonder that there are such creatures. For God is miraculous in his works which he often lets appear miraculously. For these things are not daily before our eyes but very rarely; and we see them only in order that we may know of their existence, for they exist, and yet appear to us as in a dream. The great wisdom of God cannot be fathomed, nor can his great miraculous works be fathomed, not more than is needed to recognize our creator in his miraculous deeds.Do you honestly believe you can fathom the "great miraculous works" of God? Yeah, I didn't think so. How do I know we can trust Paracelsus? Because he was the biggest turbo-nerd ever when it came to gnomes. There is more bliss in describing the origin of the giants than in describing court etiquettes. There is more bliss in describing Melusine than in describing cavalry and artillery. There is more bliss in describing the mountain people underground than in describing fencing and service to ladies.I rest my case. While you were taking to ladies, Paracelsus was describing gnomes. Before we dive into where we can find Destiny's treasures, it is crucial to first understand what he is, his abilities and his potential motivations. Paracelsus tells us that gnomes are neither spirit or man, but instead a mixture of both. This is because, like the beasts of the earth, gnomes do not have souls and yet still have many of the qualities of man. He goes on to state "they (gnomes) are to man like a monkey ... resembling man most in gestures and actions" noting that "Christ died and was born for those who have a soul." This clearly places gnomes as lesser than man in the eyes of God. Characteristics Despite the lack of soul, it is clear that Paracelsus is of the opinion that gnomes can be deceptively human-like, consider the following observations he makes of their people and character and I include supporting evidence of his gnomic nature:
Paracelsus identifies the following abilities in gnomes:
There is one overriding motivation for all creatures who lack a soul: to acquire one. Luckily for spirits, the acquisition of a soul is not a complex process as God explicitly laid down the rules for gain union with Himself through us. Simply put, a gnome can gain a soul by entering into marriage with a human. From this it follows that they woo man, and that they seek him assiduously and in secret. A heathen begs for baptism and woos it in order to acquire his soul and to become alive in Christ. In the same way, they seek love with man, so as to be in union with men. With them all intelligence and wisdom are outside the qualities of the soul, and not the soul. And so they receive the soul, and their children also, by virtue of Adam’s fruit, freedom and power, which holds and carries them to God.Destiny is trying to bang his way into a soul. Across these three categories, I have proven beyond any doubt that Destiny meets the criteria of a gnome. If he is a gnome, then where is his treasure? WHERE IS HIS GNOME TREASURE???I hate it break it to you, but: I don't know.That's why I'm here with you degenerates and not on a private yacht in the Caribbean. I have some clues, but I need your help to put them together and narrow down the search. In return I promise you a percentage of the treasure proportionate to the aid you lent. Trust me, bro. Now, I know what you're thinking: "If Destiny is a gnome, and therefore knows the future, why would he stand by and let us steal his precious treasure?" This is why you failed out of day care. The first quote I gave you said "[The treasures] are kept hidden and secret so that they may not be found until the time for it has come." Well guess what, it's time has come and Destiny can legally no longer hide it from us. Here's what I know so far:
This is it lads. Somewhere in this map is the final piece of the puzzle. The proverbial 'X' that marks the spot. Let's get that bag. |
2024.05.14 21:58 Skysplitsss The last message
For background, I’ve been one month no contact with him, during wich he called and texted me a lot. He emailed me that some promises were forgotten and that he did not have time to send me a long message even though he wish he could.
Here is the response I will never send him
« Unsurprisingly, I do have some time to devote to a long message. I didn't write it earlier because I don't feel I owe you an explanation, but I need to put an end to this story. I want you to know that this will be the last message you'll receive from me, and I'm not interested in any further exchanges, nor in your response or reaction to this one. I'm sorry it's come to this, but I'll block you once it's sent because I don't really trust you to respect this decision.
I don't understand what promises you're mentioning. Over the past few months, you've told me on several occasions that you didn't want me to expect anything from you and that I shouldn't trust anything you say. You've told me and made me believe a lot of things. But there was never anything between us, not even friendship, not even respect. Maybe you meant that I still believed in us and that I'd always be there to prove it. And it was true, I waited for you to come back, for you to come back after ignoring me several times, I hoped that something would change and that you'd take an interest in me, that you'd devote a little time to me, that you'd notice that your ambiguous behavior was hurting me, that my efforts would be reciprocated and then I hoped that we could remain friends in a relationship that was never right or fair for me.
I'm sorry because these promises no longer hold. I don't feel happy in a relationship of any kind where the imbalance is so strong that I don't have the right to a little empathy and kindness. All the times I've expressed what was wrong, it was never to change you or make you a better man as you apparently thought, it was because I could no longer continue on this path. You blamed me for your ambiguity ("if you get into my game, it's your fault") and for everything that went wrong (according to you, it was my fault that we didn't see each other, my fault that we got hot, my fault that the exchanges were flat), you didn't give me any space when I walked away from you, you didn't respect my limits (in our last conversation, after telling you that I didn't want anything with you and that it had hurt me too much, you followed up a few minutes later with ambiguous messages and photos), you arrogantly criticized every aspect of my life (entourage, work, salary, personal interests, personality... ), you've stood me up several times, you've told me in black and white that you had no time for me and no desire to find any. So why are you so insistent today and won't let me go? How could you think it would last?
I stayed for a long time because I really liked you when we met, I thought you had a lot of good qualities and I wanted to keep in touch because I was convinced we'd get on well together. Unfortunately, I never found that person after having searched for him in every possible way, and I discovered another person I'd rather not have met. I mourned both of them.
I don't even know how to end this message, as I don't feel I know you after all. So I just hope you'll understand my last message, which would ironically be the first time. »
submitted by Skysplitsss to UnsentLetters [link] [comments]
Here is the response I will never send him
« Unsurprisingly, I do have some time to devote to a long message. I didn't write it earlier because I don't feel I owe you an explanation, but I need to put an end to this story. I want you to know that this will be the last message you'll receive from me, and I'm not interested in any further exchanges, nor in your response or reaction to this one. I'm sorry it's come to this, but I'll block you once it's sent because I don't really trust you to respect this decision.
I don't understand what promises you're mentioning. Over the past few months, you've told me on several occasions that you didn't want me to expect anything from you and that I shouldn't trust anything you say. You've told me and made me believe a lot of things. But there was never anything between us, not even friendship, not even respect. Maybe you meant that I still believed in us and that I'd always be there to prove it. And it was true, I waited for you to come back, for you to come back after ignoring me several times, I hoped that something would change and that you'd take an interest in me, that you'd devote a little time to me, that you'd notice that your ambiguous behavior was hurting me, that my efforts would be reciprocated and then I hoped that we could remain friends in a relationship that was never right or fair for me.
I'm sorry because these promises no longer hold. I don't feel happy in a relationship of any kind where the imbalance is so strong that I don't have the right to a little empathy and kindness. All the times I've expressed what was wrong, it was never to change you or make you a better man as you apparently thought, it was because I could no longer continue on this path. You blamed me for your ambiguity ("if you get into my game, it's your fault") and for everything that went wrong (according to you, it was my fault that we didn't see each other, my fault that we got hot, my fault that the exchanges were flat), you didn't give me any space when I walked away from you, you didn't respect my limits (in our last conversation, after telling you that I didn't want anything with you and that it had hurt me too much, you followed up a few minutes later with ambiguous messages and photos), you arrogantly criticized every aspect of my life (entourage, work, salary, personal interests, personality... ), you've stood me up several times, you've told me in black and white that you had no time for me and no desire to find any. So why are you so insistent today and won't let me go? How could you think it would last?
I stayed for a long time because I really liked you when we met, I thought you had a lot of good qualities and I wanted to keep in touch because I was convinced we'd get on well together. Unfortunately, I never found that person after having searched for him in every possible way, and I discovered another person I'd rather not have met. I mourned both of them.
I don't even know how to end this message, as I don't feel I know you after all. So I just hope you'll understand my last message, which would ironically be the first time. »
2024.05.14 21:57 DrinkMoreCodeMore Bittrex claims scam
Email FROM:
from: Bittrex-Inc Alerts noreply@everbridge.net
reply-to: Bittrex-Inc Alerts conf-6643123e3eb8c766692d89b1-6643122633aaf41e00901161@smtpic-ne.prd1.everbridge.net
Email SUBJ: Your Bittrex-Inc assets can now be transferred.
Email BODY:
1 - https://t.co/Lrsh4Biu62 (url in email)
view source of this lander:
2 - https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmY3nvzB3k7vyrp2q9i6ZfpLW87aNSd1GjYDv2E6N3DZSG/
view source of this lander:
3 - https://claim-bittrex.com/ (final landing page atm)
https://whois.domaintools.com/claim-bittrex.com
Sneaky scam bc it inboxes on Gmail perfectly. A lot of people will get hit w this one. Stay safe ✌️
submitted by DrinkMoreCodeMore to CryptoScams [link] [comments]
from: Bittrex-Inc Alerts noreply@everbridge.net
reply-to: Bittrex-Inc Alerts conf-6643123e3eb8c766692d89b1-6643122633aaf41e00901161@smtpic-ne.prd1.everbridge.net
Email SUBJ: Your Bittrex-Inc assets can now be transferred.
Email BODY:
Dear Bittrex User,URLs:
We hope this message finds you well. We are writing to inform you about an URGENT concern. As you may already know, Bittrex has made the difficult decision to shut down our exchange services after filing forbankruptcy. However, it's come to our attention that before platform shutdown, the account registered with your email address had a remaining balance of above $1,250 USD, and we want to ensure a smooth process for you to access these funds. Failure to access will result in a complete forfeiture of all remaining assets held by Bittrex.
Access Process:
To access remaining assets, please follow these steps:
Access Period: The access window will be open for a limited time, and it is crucial that you initiate your access as soon as possible. The access period begins on 05/14/2024 and ends on 05/19/2024.
- Head over to the Bittrex access portal found in this email.
- Initiate the account owner verification steps.
- Enter the access amount and the destination address (if applicable).
- Review the access details and confirm the transaction.
To get started, simply click the button below to visit the access page and begin the access process:
[Initiate Access] (linked to t.co URL)
Please be aware that after the access period expires, your remaining funds will become inaccessible, so it is crucial to complete your access within the specified time frame.
If you encounter any difficulties during the access process or have questions, Bittrex Inc. has established an information line for interested parties: 888-481-3704 (US & Canada toll free) and 747-293-0010 (International). You can also send an email to BittrexInquiries@omniagnt.com
1 - https://t.co/Lrsh4Biu62 (url in email)
view source of this lander:
redirects tohttps://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmY3nvzB3k7vyrp2q9i6ZfpLW87aNSd1GjYDv2E6N3DZSG/
2 - https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmY3nvzB3k7vyrp2q9i6ZfpLW87aNSd1GjYDv2E6N3DZSG/
view source of this lander:
redirects to
3 - https://claim-bittrex.com/ (final landing page atm)
https://whois.domaintools.com/claim-bittrex.com
Dates Created on 2024-05-14
Registrar PDR Ltd. d/b/a PublicDomainRegistry.com
Name Servers ALEX.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM (has 22,453,950 domains)
GABRIELLA.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM (has 22,453,950 domains)
NS1.BITDOMAIN.BIZ (has 462 domains)
NS2.BITDOMAIN.BIZ (has 462 domains)
NS3.BITDOMAIN.BIZ (has 462 domains)
NS4.BITDOMAIN.BIZ (has 462 domains)
2024.05.14 21:57 Skysplitsss The last message I will never send
For background, I’ve been one month no contact with him, during wich he called and texted me a lot. He emailed me that some promises were forgotten and that he did not have time to send me a long message even though he wish he could.
Here is the response I will never send him
« Unsurprisingly, I do have some time to devote to a long message. I didn't write it earlier because I don't feel I owe you an explanation, but I need to put an end to this story. I want you to know that this will be the last message you'll receive from me, and I'm not interested in any further exchanges, nor in your response or reaction to this one. I'm sorry it's come to this, but I'll block you once it's sent because I don't really trust you to respect this decision.
I don't understand what promises you're mentioning. Over the past few months, you've told me on several occasions that you didn't want me to expect anything from you and that I shouldn't trust anything you say. You've told me and made me believe a lot of things. But there was never anything between us, not even friendship, not even respect. Maybe you meant that I still believed in us and that I'd always be there to prove it. And it was true, I waited for you to come back, for you to come back after ignoring me several times, I hoped that something would change and that you'd take an interest in me, that you'd devote a little time to me, that you'd notice that your ambiguous behavior was hurting me, that my efforts would be reciprocated and then I hoped that we could remain friends in a relationship that was never right or fair for me.
I'm sorry because these promises no longer hold. I don't feel happy in a relationship of any kind where the imbalance is so strong that I don't have the right to a little empathy and kindness. All the times I've expressed what was wrong, it was never to change you or make you a better man as you apparently thought, it was because I could no longer continue on this path. You blamed me for your ambiguity ("if you get into my game, it's your fault") and for everything that went wrong (according to you, it was my fault that we didn't see each other, my fault that we got hot, my fault that the exchanges were flat), you didn't give me any space when I walked away from you, you didn't respect my limits (in our last conversation, after telling you that I didn't want anything with you and that it had hurt me too much, you followed up a few minutes later with ambiguous messages and photos), you arrogantly criticized every aspect of my life (entourage, work, salary, personal interests, personality... ), you've stood me up several times, you've told me in black and white that you had no time for me and no desire to find any. So why are you so insistent today and won't let me go? How could you think it would last?
I stayed for a long time because I really liked you when we met, I thought you had a lot of good qualities and I wanted to keep in touch because I was convinced we'd get on well together. Unfortunately, I never found that person after having searched for him in every possible way, and I discovered another person I'd rather not have met. I mourned both of them.
I don't even know how to end this message, as I don't feel I know you after all. So I just hope you'll understand my last message, which would ironically be the first time. »
submitted by Skysplitsss to abusiverelationships [link] [comments]
Here is the response I will never send him
« Unsurprisingly, I do have some time to devote to a long message. I didn't write it earlier because I don't feel I owe you an explanation, but I need to put an end to this story. I want you to know that this will be the last message you'll receive from me, and I'm not interested in any further exchanges, nor in your response or reaction to this one. I'm sorry it's come to this, but I'll block you once it's sent because I don't really trust you to respect this decision.
I don't understand what promises you're mentioning. Over the past few months, you've told me on several occasions that you didn't want me to expect anything from you and that I shouldn't trust anything you say. You've told me and made me believe a lot of things. But there was never anything between us, not even friendship, not even respect. Maybe you meant that I still believed in us and that I'd always be there to prove it. And it was true, I waited for you to come back, for you to come back after ignoring me several times, I hoped that something would change and that you'd take an interest in me, that you'd devote a little time to me, that you'd notice that your ambiguous behavior was hurting me, that my efforts would be reciprocated and then I hoped that we could remain friends in a relationship that was never right or fair for me.
I'm sorry because these promises no longer hold. I don't feel happy in a relationship of any kind where the imbalance is so strong that I don't have the right to a little empathy and kindness. All the times I've expressed what was wrong, it was never to change you or make you a better man as you apparently thought, it was because I could no longer continue on this path. You blamed me for your ambiguity ("if you get into my game, it's your fault") and for everything that went wrong (according to you, it was my fault that we didn't see each other, my fault that we got hot, my fault that the exchanges were flat), you didn't give me any space when I walked away from you, you didn't respect my limits (in our last conversation, after telling you that I didn't want anything with you and that it had hurt me too much, you followed up a few minutes later with ambiguous messages and photos), you arrogantly criticized every aspect of my life (entourage, work, salary, personal interests, personality... ), you've stood me up several times, you've told me in black and white that you had no time for me and no desire to find any. So why are you so insistent today and won't let me go? How could you think it would last?
I stayed for a long time because I really liked you when we met, I thought you had a lot of good qualities and I wanted to keep in touch because I was convinced we'd get on well together. Unfortunately, I never found that person after having searched for him in every possible way, and I discovered another person I'd rather not have met. I mourned both of them.
I don't even know how to end this message, as I don't feel I know you after all. So I just hope you'll understand my last message, which would ironically be the first time. »
2024.05.14 21:57 digitalnomader1 Romantic Fiction Writer - Casual Mobile Game - "Digital Text Adventures"
Romantic Fiction Writer - Casual Mobile Game - "Digital Text Adventures"
Role
Initial project is $1000USD.
You work remotely. You track your own time. You will begin with an initial project, and can expand to part-time, then full-time as our need grows.
About Us:
Team of 5. We have marketing and engineering already covered. We are a small team of indie developers, we have previously built and sold three software companies and are working on a new venture in the consumer application space. We are based out of the US & Portugal.
Timeline
We are looking to hire ASAP and are interviewing candidates up to Tuesday May 21st
Apply at https://forms.gle/4HP7EAafrXmrb9qk9
submitted by digitalnomader1 to HireaWriter [link] [comments]
Role
- You will work in a writers room under a Creative Director and the Game Designer. We are looking to round our skillset, as our current team is experienced in sci-fi/fantasy game and narrative design but need someone who can write in the romance genre in particular.
- We want someone who can write from a female point of view i.e. understand interactions from a male to female, or female to male perspective.
- We want someone who LOVES text messaging their friends in humorous / flirty ways, as a core mechanic for this game will be simulating that experience. We believe the best consumer experiences are designed from real consumers themselves.
- Experience working on a choice-driven narrative game (nice-to-have)
Initial project is $1000USD.
You work remotely. You track your own time. You will begin with an initial project, and can expand to part-time, then full-time as our need grows.
About Us:
Team of 5. We have marketing and engineering already covered. We are a small team of indie developers, we have previously built and sold three software companies and are working on a new venture in the consumer application space. We are based out of the US & Portugal.
Timeline
We are looking to hire ASAP and are interviewing candidates up to Tuesday May 21st
Apply at https://forms.gle/4HP7EAafrXmrb9qk9