Just saw an argument on Discord about someone accusing another poster of never having attended VMI because the accused cannot send an immediate response of his time there. Even when the accused poster sent photographed pro, he was still getting yacked at that he's a fraud because anyone could take photos of stuff online and edit it and other accusations of that nature. It took a mod intervening and indeed confirming the Discord poster really did serve in VMI after verifying records and details sent by DM for things to finally calm down.........
Now this reminds me of something I once saw on Yahoo Answers of someone accusing a poster who was making criticism towards military martial arts esp MCMAP int he martial arts section of the site of never having served in the marines. Forget the fact it had nothing to do with the topic and the one making the accusation was a civilian himself who never enlisted and not a military history buff or reads into military science but he was someone who practises martial arts for a hobby with blackbelt in two styles....... He was accusing the other poster who was criticizing the state of MCMAP and other military hand to hand combat system of never having been an actual marine on the basis that.................... He referred to himself as a former marine in the OP. The blackbelt then started stalking his profile and accusing him of lying about other stuff based on minor inconsistencies and being a sock puppet of another person who posts on the martial arts subsection, etc It turn into a real crapstorm fast as the OP was revealing actual hard codes and other numbers that I recognized myself as the child of a coastguard person who's dad has a lot of friends in the other branches as real military units and other jargon. The whole thread became a nasty exchange of insults, accusations, and other stuff until the Yahoo Answers mod deleted the posts and temp banned both users.
The blackbelt was so insistent on how "once a marine always a marine" that he refuses any evidence to ex-Marine offered of his service because the blackbelt literally believed someone who served in the marines would never refer to himself as an "ex marine", "former marine", and that real marines would also never say "I'm no longer serving in the USMC" and other stuff of that nature.........
You know whats funny? One of my dad's poker and drinking partners served in the USMC which I know for sure because he'd show his ID as he entered the military basis and for discounts and one time he was in the uniform for local events alongside my dad...... And now he'd actually say he's an ex-marine whenever other people would ask if he ever served! On top of none of his other buddies from the units he was deployed to feel insulted that he'd use the term ex-marine!
But it does remind me too of an old man who was being insulted around by person who recently got out of bootcamp as a fraud about his war stories and serving in Vietnam because he didn't use specific terms like MOS or that he didn't use MCI to refer to rations issued in the field. Or that he doesn't remember that the helicopters were called Huey and just simply call them "war copters". To the point this recruit even hired a detective (or did he call a friend who knew investigation skills? don' know it was so long ago when I was in Middle school I think) to investigate this old man and find evidence to lock him up for fraud. It turns out the old man really did serve in Vietnam and wasn't lying at all when he said his career in the Nam was being a janitor (though he did see some bad situations with his own eyes including people getting hit by explosives). The biggest irony being that the whole reason the fresh bootcamp graduate even begin to assume he was doing stolen valor was because he never used MOS once when he was stating about choosing the janitor assignment.
But all this does make me want to ask a question. If someone who says he had served in the military couldn't immediately remember specific stuff like the number of the unit he served in or how to lock and unlock safety on a gun is that an automatic redflag hat he's fake? That the fact a 90 year old man doesn't remember how to fold his uniforms and tie his boots despite saying he was in Normandy during WWII? Or that someone would forget the creed that "once a marine, always a marine" saying he's no longer in the marines, is it fair to hold that against him that he typically refers to himself as former USMC? That someone doesn't know the name of his platoon's lieutenant even though he served for over 30 years something that should make you assume he's a BS artist?
I ask because its quite common to see this on the internet where if someone doesn't know DD214 so he's a liar who never served or that someone doesn't know about that cow statue in Fort Pickett at a bus stop is a sign he wasn't stationed there 8 years ago and other such stuff. And as my anecdotes show it isn't limited to online message boards either. When yesterday my uncle came home by plane, while chatting with him he was so surprised to learn from me that his base back in California has a BX which he never knew is another example and why I feel the need to ask about this. Granted from what he tells me, my uncle works in some white collar style jobs and he doesn't really hang out in the base just going home immediately after work along with his wife packing his lunches but really this makes me wonder if incidents of former vets and even people actually serving right now is not just an outlier I witnessed IRL but something thats not unrealistic as a wider thing? How does this go for other people esp civilians accusing former servicemen and currently enlisted of being liars because they don't get specific details correct like Navy SEALs doing training every now and then in Virginia Beach or that Nellis Airforce Base actually does have some airborne training assets including dropping soldiers in the sky in real parachuting? That a 35 yer old man who wasn't so enthusiastic about his enlistment not knowing the name of the colonel of his brigade despite serving in that unit for 5 years not the quick proof that someone is lying about his military records thats so common in internet discussions?

Just saw an argument on Discord about someone accusing another poster of never having attended VMI because the accused cannot send an immediate response of his time there. Even when the accused poster sent photographed pro, he was still getting yacked at that he's a fraud because anyone could take photos of stuff online and edit it and other accusations of that nature. It took a mod intervening and indeed confirming the Discord poster really did serve in VMI after verifying records and details sent by DM for things to finally calm down.........
Now this reminds me of something I once saw on Yahoo Answers of someone accusing a poster who was making criticism towards military martial arts esp MCMAP int he martial arts section of the site of never having served in the marines. Forget the fact it had nothing to do with the topic and the one making the accusation was a civilian himself who never enlisted and not a military history buff or reads into military science but he was someone who practises martial arts for a hobby with blackbelt in two styles....... He was accusing the other poster who was criticizing the state of MCMAP and other military hand to hand combat system of never having been an actual marine on the basis that.................... He referred to himself as a former marine in the OP. The blackbelt then started stalking his profile and accusing him of lying about other stuff based on minor inconsistencies and being a sock puppet of another person who posts on the martial arts subsection, etc It turn into a real crapstorm fast as the OP was revealing actual hard codes and other numbers that I recognized myself as the child of a coastguard person who's dad has a lot of friends in the other branches as real military units and other jargon. The whole thread became a nasty exchange of insults, accusations, and other stuff until the Yahoo Answers mod deleted the posts and temp banned both users.
The blackbelt was so insistent on how "once a marine always a marine" that he refuses any evidence to ex-Marine offered of his service because the blackbelt literally believed someone who served in the marines would never refer to himself as an "ex marine", "former marine", and that real marines would also never say "I'm no longer serving in the USMC" and other stuff of that nature.........
You know whats funny? One of my dad's poker and drinking partners served in the USMC which I know for sure because he'd show his ID as he entered the military basis and for discounts and one time he was in the uniform for local events alongside my dad...... And now he'd actually say he's an ex-marine whenever other people would ask if he ever served! On top of none of his other buddies from the units he was deployed to feel insulted that he'd use the term ex-marine!
But it does remind me too of an old man who was being insulted around by person who recently got out of bootcamp as a fraud about his war stories and serving in Vietnam because he didn't use specific terms like MOS or that he didn't use MCI to refer to rations issued in the field. Or that he doesn't remember that the helicopters were called Huey and just simply call them "war copters". To the point this recruit even hired a detective (or did he call a friend who knew investigation skills? don' know it was so long ago when I was in Middle school I think) to investigate this old man and find evidence to lock him up for fraud. It turns out the old man really did serve in Vietnam and wasn't lying at all when he said his career in the Nam was being a janitor (though he did see some bad situations with his own eyes including people getting hit by explosives). The biggest irony being that the whole reason the fresh bootcamp graduate even begin to assume he was doing stolen valor was because he never used MOS once when he was stating about choosing the janitor assignment.
But all this does make me want to ask a question. If someone who says he had served in the military couldn't immediately remember specific stuff like the number of the unit he served in or how to lock and unlock safety on a gun is that an automatic redflag hat he's fake? That the fact a 90 year old man doesn't remember how to fold his uniforms and tie his boots despite saying he was in Normandy during WWII? Or that someone would forget the creed that "once a marine, always a marine" saying he's no longer in the marines, is it fair to hold that against him that he typically refers to himself as former USMC? That someone doesn't know the name of his platoon's lieutenant even though he served for over 30 years something that should make you assume he's a BS artist?
I ask because its quite common to see this on the internet where if someone doesn't know DD214 so he's a liar who never served or that someone doesn't know about that cow statue in Fort Pickett at a bus stop is a sign he wasn't stationed there 8 years ago and other such stuff. And as my anecdotes show it isn't limited to online message boards either. When yesterday my uncle came home by plane, while chatting with him he was so surprised to learn from me that his base back in California has a BX which he never knew is another example and why I feel the need to ask about this. Granted from what he tells me, my uncle works in some white collar style jobs and he doesn't really hang out in the base just going home immediately after work along with his wife packing his lunches but really this makes me wonder if incidents of former vets and even people actually serving right now is not just an outlier I witnessed IRL but something thats not unrealistic as a wider thing? How does this go for other people esp civilians accusing former servicemen and currently enlisted of being liars because they don't get specific details correct like Navy SEALs doing training every now and then in Virginia Beach or that Nellis Airforce Base actually does have some airborne training assets including dropping soldiers in the sky in real parachuting? That a 35 yer old man who wasn't so enthusiastic about his enlistment not knowing the name of the colonel of his brigade despite serving in that unit for 5 years not the quick proof that someone is lying about his military records thats so common in internet discussions?

Just saw an argument on Discord about someone accusing another poster of never having attended VMI because the accused cannot send an immediate response of his time there. Even when the accused poster sent photographed pro, he was still getting yacked at that he's a fraud because anyone could take photos of stuff online and edit it and other accusations of that nature. It took a mod intervening and indeed confirming the Discord poster really did serve in VMI after verifying records and details sent by DM for things to finally calm down.........
Now this reminds me of something I once saw on Yahoo Answers of someone accusing a poster who was making criticism towards military martial arts esp MCMAP int he martial arts section of the site of never having served in the marines. Forget the fact it had nothing to do with the topic and the one making the accusation was a civilian himself who never enlisted and not a military history buff or reads into military science but he was someone who practises martial arts for a hobby with blackbelt in two styles....... He was accusing the other poster who was criticizing the state of MCMAP and other military hand to hand combat system of never having been an actual marine on the basis that.................... He referred to himself as a former marine in the OP. The blackbelt then started stalking his profile and accusing him of lying about other stuff based on minor inconsistencies and being a sock puppet of another person who posts on the martial arts subsection, etc It turn into a real crapstorm fast as the OP was revealing actual hard codes and other numbers that I recognized myself as the child of a coastguard person who's dad has a lot of friends in the other branches as real military units and other jargon. The whole thread became a nasty exchange of insults, accusations, and other stuff until the Yahoo Answers mod deleted the posts and temp banned both users.
The blackbelt was so insistent on how "once a marine always a marine" that he refuses any evidence to ex-Marine offered of his service because the blackbelt literally believed someone who served in the marines would never refer to himself as an "ex marine", "former marine", and that real marines would also never say "I'm no longer serving in the USMC" and other stuff of that nature.........
You know whats funny? One of my dad's poker and drinking partners served in the USMC which I know for sure because he'd show his ID as he entered the military basis and for discounts and one time he was in the uniform for local events alongside my dad...... And now he'd actually say he's an ex-marine whenever other people would ask if he ever served! On top of none of his other buddies from the units he was deployed to feel insulted that he'd use the term ex-marine!
But it does remind me too of an old man who was being insulted around by person who recently got out of bootcamp as a fraud about his war stories and serving in Vietnam because he didn't use specific terms like MOS or that he didn't use MCI to refer to rations issued in the field. Or that he doesn't remember that the helicopters were called Huey and just simply call them "war copters". To the point this recruit even hired a detective (or did he call a friend who knew investigation skills? don' know it was so long ago when I was in Middle school I think) to investigate this old man and find evidence to lock him up for fraud. It turns out the old man really did serve in Vietnam and wasn't lying at all when he said his career in the Nam was being a janitor (though he did see some bad situations with his own eyes including people getting hit by explosives). The biggest irony being that the whole reason the fresh bootcamp graduate even begin to assume he was doing stolen valor was because he never used MOS once when he was stating about choosing the janitor assignment.
But all this does make me want to ask a question. If someone who says he had served in the military couldn't immediately remember specific stuff like the number of the unit he served in or how to lock and unlock safety on a gun is that an automatic redflag hat he's fake? That the fact a 90 year old man doesn't remember how to fold his uniforms and tie his boots despite saying he was in Normandy during WWII? Or that someone would forget the creed that "once a marine, always a marine" saying he's no longer in the marines, is it fair to hold that against him that he typically refers to himself as former USMC? That someone doesn't know the name of his platoon's lieutenant even though he served for over 30 years something that should make you assume he's a BS artist?
I ask because its quite common to see this on the internet where if someone doesn't know DD214 so he's a liar who never served or that someone doesn't know about that cow statue in Fort Pickett at a bus stop is a sign he wasn't stationed there 8 years ago and other such stuff. And as my anecdotes show it isn't limited to online message boards either. When yesterday my uncle came home by plane, while chatting with him he was so surprised to learn from me that his base back in California has a BX which he never knew is another example and why I feel the need to ask about this. Granted from what he tells me, my uncle works in some white collar style jobs and he doesn't really hang out in the base just going home immediately after work along with his wife packing his lunches but really this makes me wonder if incidents of former vets and even people actually serving right now is not just an outlier I witnessed IRL but something thats not unrealistic as a wider thing? How does this go for other people esp civilians accusing former servicemen and currently enlisted of being liars because they don't get specific details correct like Navy SEALs doing training every now and then in Virginia Beach or that Nellis Airforce Base actually does have some airborne training assets including dropping soldiers in the sky in real parachuting? That a 35 yer old man who wasn't so enthusiastic about his enlistment not knowing the name of the colonel of his brigade despite serving in that unit for 5 years not the quick proof that someone is lying about his military records thats so common in internet discussions?

Just saw an argument on Discord about someone accusing another poster of never having attended VMI because the accused cannot send an immediate response of his time there. Even when the accused poster sent photographed pro, he was still getting yacked at that he's a fraud because anyone could take photos of stuff online and edit it and other accusations of that nature. It took a mod intervening and indeed confirming the Discord poster really did serve in VMI after verifying records and details sent by DM for things to finally calm down.........
Now this reminds me of something I once saw on Yahoo Answers of someone accusing a poster who was making criticism towards military martial arts esp MCMAP int he martial arts section of the site of never having served in the marines. Forget the fact it had nothing to do with the topic and the one making the accusation was a civilian himself who never enlisted and not a military history buff or reads into military science but he was someone who practises martial arts for a hobby with blackbelt in two styles....... He was accusing the other poster who was criticizing the state of MCMAP and other military hand to hand combat system of never having been an actual marine on the basis that.................... He referred to himself as a former marine in the OP. The blackbelt then started stalking his profile and accusing him of lying about other stuff based on minor inconsistencies and being a sock puppet of another person who posts on the martial arts subsection, etc It turn into a real crapstorm fast as the OP was revealing actual hard codes and other numbers that I recognized myself as the child of a coastguard person who's dad has a lot of friends in the other branches as real military units and other jargon. The whole thread became a nasty exchange of insults, accusations, and other stuff until the Yahoo Answers mod deleted the posts and temp banned both users.
The blackbelt was so insistent on how "once a marine always a marine" that he refuses any evidence to ex-Marine offered of his service because the blackbelt literally believed someone who served in the marines would never refer to himself as an "ex marine", "former marine", and that real marines would also never say "I'm no longer serving in the USMC" and other stuff of that nature.........
You know whats funny? One of my dad's poker and drinking partners served in the USMC which I know for sure because he'd show his ID as he entered the military basis and for discounts and one time he was in the uniform for local events alongside my dad...... And now he'd actually say he's an ex-marine whenever other people would ask if he ever served! On top of none of his other buddies from the units he was deployed to feel insulted that he'd use the term ex-marine!
But it does remind me too of an old man who was being insulted around by person who recently got out of bootcamp as a fraud about his war stories and serving in Vietnam because he didn't use specific terms like MOS or that he didn't use MCI to refer to rations issued in the field. Or that he doesn't remember that the helicopters were called Huey and just simply call them "war copters". To the point this recruit even hired a detective (or did he call a friend who knew investigation skills? don' know it was so long ago when I was in Middle school I think) to investigate this old man and find evidence to lock him up for fraud. It turns out the old man really did serve in Vietnam and wasn't lying at all when he said his career in the Nam was being a janitor (though he did see some bad situations with his own eyes including people getting hit by explosives). The biggest irony being that the whole reason the fresh bootcamp graduate even begin to assume he was doing stolen valor was because he never used MOS once when he was stating about choosing the janitor assignment.
But all this does make me want to ask a question. If someone who says he had served in the military couldn't immediately remember specific stuff like the number of the unit he served in or how to lock and unlock safety on a gun is that an automatic redflag hat he's fake? That the fact a 90 year old man doesn't remember how to fold his uniforms and tie his boots despite saying he was in Normandy during WWII? Or that someone would forget the creed that "once a marine, always a marine" saying he's no longer in the marines, is it fair to hold that against him that he typically refers to himself as former USMC? That someone doesn't know the name of his platoon's lieutenant even though he served for over 30 years something that should make you assume he's a BS artist?
I ask because its quite common to see this on the internet where if someone doesn't know DD214 so he's a liar who never served or that someone doesn't know about that cow statue in Fort Pickett at a bus stop is a sign he wasn't stationed there 8 years ago and other such stuff. And as my anecdotes show it isn't limited to online message boards either. When yesterday my uncle came home by plane, while chatting with him he was so surprised to learn from me that his base back in California has a BX which he never knew is another example and why I feel the need to ask about this. Granted from what he tells me, my uncle works in some white collar style jobs and he doesn't really hang out in the base just going home immediately after work along with his wife packing his lunches but really this makes me wonder if incidents of former vets and even people actually serving right now is not just an outlier I witnessed IRL but something thats not unrealistic as a wider thing? How does this go for other people esp civilians accusing former servicemen and currently enlisted of being liars because they don't get specific details correct like Navy SEALs doing training every now and then in Virginia Beach or that Nellis Airforce Base actually does have some airborne training assets including dropping soldiers in the sky in real parachuting? That a 35 yer old man who wasn't so enthusiastic about his enlistment not knowing the name of the colonel of his brigade despite serving in that unit for 5 years not the quick proof that someone is lying about his military records thats so common in internet discussions?

Just saw an argument on Discord about someone accusing another poster of never having attended VMI because the accused cannot send an immediate response of his time there. Even when the accused poster sent photographed pro, he was still getting yacked at that he's a fraud because anyone could take photos of stuff online and edit it and other accusations of that nature. It took a mod intervening and indeed confirming the Discord poster really did serve in VMI after verifying records and details sent by DM for things to finally calm down.........
Now this reminds me of something I once saw on Yahoo Answers of someone accusing a poster who was making criticism towards military martial arts esp MCMAP int he martial arts section of the site of never having served in the marines. Forget the fact it had nothing to do with the topic and the one making the accusation was a civilian himself who never enlisted and not a military history buff or reads into military science but he was someone who practises martial arts for a hobby with blackbelt in two styles....... He was accusing the other poster who was criticizing the state of MCMAP and other military hand to hand combat system of never having been an actual marine on the basis that.................... He referred to himself as a former marine in the OP. The blackbelt then started stalking his profile and accusing him of lying about other stuff based on minor inconsistencies and being a sock puppet of another person who posts on the martial arts subsection, etc It turn into a real crapstorm fast as the OP was revealing actual hard codes and other numbers that I recognized myself as the child of a coastguard person who's dad has a lot of friends in the other branches as real military units and other jargon. The whole thread became a nasty exchange of insults, accusations, and other stuff until the Yahoo Answers mod deleted the posts and temp banned both users.
The blackbelt was so insistent on how "once a marine always a marine" that he refuses any evidence to ex-Marine offered of his service because the blackbelt literally believed someone who served in the marines would never refer to himself as an "ex marine", "former marine", and that real marines would also never say "I'm no longer serving in the USMC" and other stuff of that nature.........
You know whats funny? One of my dad's poker and drinking partners served in the USMC which I know for sure because he'd show his ID as he entered the military basis and for discounts and one time he was in the uniform for local events alongside my dad...... And now he'd actually say he's an ex-marine whenever other people would ask if he ever served! On top of none of his other buddies from the units he was deployed to feel insulted that he'd use the term ex-marine!
But it does remind me too of an old man who was being insulted around by person who recently got out of bootcamp as a fraud about his war stories and serving in Vietnam because he didn't use specific terms like MOS or that he didn't use MCI to refer to rations issued in the field. Or that he doesn't remember that the helicopters were called Huey and just simply call them "war copters". To the point this recruit even hired a detective (or did he call a friend who knew investigation skills? don' know it was so long ago when I was in Middle school I think) to investigate this old man and find evidence to lock him up for fraud. It turns out the old man really did serve in Vietnam and wasn't lying at all when he said his career in the Nam was being a janitor (though he did see some bad situations with his own eyes including people getting hit by explosives). The biggest irony being that the whole reason the fresh bootcamp graduate even begin to assume he was doing stolen valor was because he never used MOS once when he was stating about choosing the janitor assignment.
But all this does make me want to ask a question. If someone who says he had served in the military couldn't immediately remember specific stuff like the number of the unit he served in or how to lock and unlock safety on a gun is that an automatic redflag hat he's fake? That the fact a 90 year old man doesn't remember how to fold his uniforms and tie his boots despite saying he was in Normandy during WWII? Or that someone would forget the creed that "once a marine, always a marine" saying he's no longer in the marines, is it fair to hold that against him that he typically refers to himself as former USMC? That someone doesn't know the name of his platoon's lieutenant even though he served for over 30 years something that should make you assume he's a BS artist?
I ask because its quite common to see this on the internet where if someone doesn't know DD214 so he's a liar who never served or that someone doesn't know about that cow statue in Fort Pickett at a bus stop is a sign he wasn't stationed there 8 years ago and other such stuff. And as my anecdotes show it isn't limited to online message boards either. When yesterday my uncle came home by plane, while chatting with him he was so surprised to learn from me that his base back in California has a BX which he never knew is another example and why I feel the need to ask about this. Granted from what he tells me, my uncle works in some white collar style jobs and he doesn't really hang out in the base just going home immediately after work along with his wife packing his lunches but really this makes me wonder if incidents of former vets and even people actually serving right now is not just an outlier I witnessed IRL but something thats not unrealistic as a wider thing? How does this go for other people esp civilians accusing former servicemen and currently enlisted of being liars because they don't get specific details correct like Navy SEALs doing training every now and then in Virginia Beach or that Nellis Airforce Base actually does have some airborne training assets including dropping soldiers in the sky in real parachuting? That a 35 yer old man who wasn't so enthusiastic about his enlistment not knowing the name of the colonel of his brigade despite serving in that unit for 5 years not the quick proof that someone is lying about his military records thats so common in internet discussions?

**Find us in Call of War**
League of Freedom- Eagle Division 🦅
League of Freedom- Union Division 🇺🇸
​
​
Join the League of Freedom (CoW) Discord Community for Call of War! This is a server dedicated to The League of Freedom though we do have a guest role (citizen). 🫡
​
🦅 Progress through the ranks of valor from within the League of Freedom. Assemble alongside the Fathers of unity under the banner of the Eagle. Embrace your destiny, forge unbreakable bonds, and unleash the spirit of the Eagle on the battlefield.
Enlist now and soar to victory! 🏆
​
🌟 Most Recent Internal Champion: Achilles
Events:
🪖 AvA (0-0)
🌍 Global Internal Conflict
🗓️ Internal Games once a month
🪙 VC Poker Night (Showdown)
​
Current number of divisions: 2
🦅 Eagle Division
🇺🇸 Union Division
​
​
Invite Link : https://discord.gg/C2UDCCN3P5

Pessoal, estou com um problema gravíssimo para resolver, e por mais que dê voltas à internet, não encontro solução à vista ... Sei que o Reddit não é a melhor plataforma para encontrar este tipo de ajuda, mas estou desesperado.

• 41 anos, 12º ano, nunca trabalhou nem nunca descontou, fraca constituição física (origem genética), pouca/nenhuma tolerância a situações de stress (irrita-se/entra em paranoia com facilidade sob pressão), grandes dificuldades de contacto/relacionamento com outras pessoas, algumas dificuldades de aprendizagem exacerbadas por idade e anos de inatividade, problemas mentais derivados de vários distúrbios de ordem familiar e financeira ao longo dos últimos 20 anos, acentuada falta de motivação e auto-estima, sentido criativo quase nulo.
  
• Sabe lidar com computadores (ambiente Windows, aplicações Office, um pouco mais avançado do que "ótica de utilizador", não sabe programar), tem casa própria e algum (pouco) dinheiro restantes de herança do pai, vive com a mãe, é ela que trabalha e "segura o barco" mas já tem 70 anos.
  
• Planeia tirar um curso profissional universitário (2 anos com estágio) quando abrirem vagas para ano lectivo 2024, mas duvida que o dinheiro chegue para o concluir (propinas, transporte, etc) - basicamente situação "All-in" em termos de poker, sem ter a mão segura.
  

Como evitar que acabe a vida como sem-abrigo?
Primeiro que tudo, obrigado por todos os comentários e sugestões, mesmo os dos idiotas que só sabem dizer mal do próximo e que mais valia ficarem calados (estamos no reddit, há sempre infelizes e invejosos prontos a espalhar toxicidade à mínima oportunidade).
Segundo, para os que apresentaram sugestões realistas e sérias, os meus sinceros agradecimentos.
Aqui vai um esclarecimento: fiquei nesta situação porque tive de cuidar do meu pai durante cerca de 20 anos, até à sua morte. Ele teve um acidente e ficou paraplégico quando eu andava no 2º ano de universidade. Um dos maiores medos dele era que a família o atirasse para um lar ou instituição quando perdesse a "independência" (andar, comer pela própria mão, tratar da higiene pelos seus próprios meios, etc). No início, foi difícil porque ele entrou em paranoia, estava convencido que o iamos mesmo institucionalizar. Não o fizemos, em vez disso pedimos apoio governamental/institucional, e, como a minha mãe já tinha trabalho estável, decidimos que ela continuava a trabalhar e eu ficava a tomar conta dele em casa. Com o passar do tempo, a paranoia deu lugar à demência, eu tinha de estar sempre por perto para o acalmar, noites incluídas ... Já faleceu, deixou casa, carro e uma conta bancária bem abonada como herança (dividida com a minha mãe e com o governo, como é de lei).
O carro já foi, enrabado por um autocarro devido a um condutor certificado e incompetente, que justamente assumiu toda a culpa, mas infelizmente a lei está feita de modo a que carros "velhos" batidos vão para a sucata em vez de serem reparados - veio uma indemnização pouco maior que o valor comercial do carro que só dá para comprar um chaço sabe-se lá em que condições. De salientar que o carro estava mecanicamente impecável, aquilo era meter gasolina, dar à chave e andar, folha de inspeção sempre limpinha e revisões em dia. A casa precisou de substanciais obras de reabilitação, foi quase todo o dinheiro da herança nisso. A depressão causada por ter perdido o meu pai, aliado à drenagem de sanidade mental derivada de 20 anos a levar com a demência dele, cegou-me até recentemente, quando me apercebi que, quando a minha mãe falhar vai ser o descalabro total.
No que toca a trabalhos que envolvem contacto com pessoas, sempre foi um dos meus maiores pavores - caixas de supermercado, call-centers, empregado de mesa, cenas do género. Tenho uns tiques de tal forma enraizados, que de certeza me iriam dar sérios problemas nesse tipo de trabalhos, tipo mandar carvalhadas aleatórias quando algo começa a correr fora do planeado, exacerbado quando submetido a situações de pressão...
Um Continente abriu aqui perto de casa, recentemente, e eu enviei imediatamente uma candidatura com CV, disponibilizando-me para uma posição de repositor de stocks, qualquer regime de turnos. Sem resposta. Quando vou lá fazer alguma compra, é só brasileirada jovem nas caixas e nos balcões. I'm like, wtf?
Cada vez percebo menos este mercado de trabalho ...

Já pensou receber conselhos dos maiores pensadores da humanidade? Não, eu não estou falando de um GPT que emula o jeito de um grande filósofo. É muito mais profundo que isso.
Cada uma das grandes mentes da história possui uma forma bem específica de se abordar um problema. Na edição de hoje da Newsletter do Moa eu vou te ensinar um modo simples de se aproveitar dessas formas e resolver seus problemas de forma muito mais efetiva.

"O que você quer da vida?"

Durante muito tempo eu não consegui me encaixar no mundo. O caminho tradicional não me apetecia.
A minha trajetória profissional seguiu a trajetória desenhada para o brasileiro classe média padrão. Fiz ensino fundamental, depois fiz ensino médio, depois fiz faculdade, depois consegui um estágio na minha área, depois fui efetivado nesse estágio. Aos 20 anos de idade eu consegui o tão sonhado primeiro registro na minha CLT.
Confesso que, nessa época, eu estava até que satisfeito com essa trajetória. Eu era apaixonado por computadores desde os meus 6 anos de idade. Estudei em um ótimo colégio. Tirava boas notas sem muito esforço. Consegui uma vaga em uma universidade federal também sem muito esforço. Com menos de 20 anos já trabalhava com algo que eu amava. Nada mal, certo?
No começo tudo é novidade. A novidade é legal… ela te faz olhar somente para o lado bom das coisas. Mas, como tudo na vida, havia um lado ruim.
De fato, tive muita sorte de trabalhar com ótimos programadores no meu início de carreira. Construímos projetos muito legais. Sei, inclusive, que tem um projeto meu em produção até hoje, mais de 10 anos depois da minha saída. Mas, nem tudo são flores…
O local onde trabalhava era praticamente uma repartição pública. O salário era baixo e praticamente não havia cobrança. No começo isso era ótimo, mas, depois de um certo tempo, eu fiquei muito acomodado. Parte de mim gostava dessa vida boa, mas parte de mim ansiava por desafios.
Então decidi trocar de emprego. Fui para uma nova empresa, num estilo completamente diferente. Enquanto no primeiro emprego eu entrava e saia a hora que bem entendia, nessa empresa nova eu precisava trabalhar de social e enfrentar jornadas de mais de 10 horas de trabalho. Saí de um extremo e fui para o outro.
Depois de meses trabalhando num ritmo insano e, principalmente, sem conseguir entregar o projeto no qual estávamos trabalhando, eu decidi pedir as contas e viver de freelas. Eu estava tão de saco cheio que saí sem perspectiva prática nenhuma do que iria fazer. Só com a fé e a coragem.
Depois, durante anos, tentei várias coisas. Fiz muitos freelas como programador e, paralelo a isso, tentei (e fracassei) em diversos empreendimentos. Tentei trabalhar com eventos, tentei ser jogador de poker, tentei criar softwares… tentei até voltar a ser um CLT. Nada deu certo.
Foram cerca de 5 anos de tentativas e erros. A minha carreira se estabilizou e começou a avançar depois que fundei a Codevance, uma fábrica de software. Ainda sim, através da Codevance, participei de vários projetos que fracassaram, por diversos motivos.
Durante todos esses anos eu fui questionado por parentes e amigos: "toda hora você inventa algo novo… por que você não sossega?". Vendo de fora, essas pessoas não conseguiam entender qual era a motivação que me fazia agir dessa forma. Se, de fora, ninguém conseguia entender, eu, de dentro, entendia menos ainda.
Foi quando, em 2018, num evento chamado Autonomize-se (liderado pelo meu grande amigo Henrique Bastos), eu fui questionado: "Afinal de contas, o que você quer da vida?". Depois de uma reflexão profunda eu consegui responder…
"Não sei!".
Me lembro até hoje… No exato momento em que essas palavras saíram da minha boca, eu senti vergonha… muita vergonha. "Como assim?? Quase 30 anos na cara e não sabe o que quer da vida?". Eu mesmo me julgava.
Eu tinha certeza que os outros também pensariam assim. De fato, minha família e colegas pensavam assim. Mas o pessoal do evento não. Imediatamente após dizer "não sei", o Henrique disse pra mim: "tudo bem não saber o que quer. Eu também não sei. O importante é saber o que NÃO quer". Em seguida, ele perguntou: "O que você NÃO quer da vida?"
A partir dali iniciou-se um processo de reflexão que tirou um peso absurdo das minhas costas. Eu passei a refletir profundamente sobre o que eu não queria da vida. Aqueles 5 anos, pulando de galho em galho, deixaram de ser um "desperdício de vida" para se tornar a minha principal fonte de consulta. Uma bagagem de vida cheia de exemplos sobre o que eu não queria da minha vida.
Mentalmente, eu analisei evento por evento e identifiquei tudo o que não queria. Eu não queria trabalhar com chefe cuzão. Eu não queria trabalhar em ambientes tóxicos. Eu não queria passar aperto financeiro. Eu não queria ficar refém de salário. Eu não queria trabalhar em um local que me fizesse trair meus valores. Eu não queria trabalhar em projetos mal planejados, mal estruturados e mal executados.
Eu ainda continuava sem saber o que eu queria da vida. Mas, pelo menos agora, eu tinha um checklist claro do que eu NÃO queria para minha vida profissional e pessoal.

O que são modelos mentais?

Anos mais tarde, mais especificamente em julho de 2022, caiu nas minhas mãos um livro chamado "The Great Mental Models". Eu nunca tinha ouvido falar na minha vida sobre o tema. Entretanto, o livro foi indicado por um cara que admiro muito. "Se ele indicou, eu vou ler". Que livro! Dos 22 livros que li no ano de 2022, este com certeza está nos Top 5!
Modelos mentais são conceitos abstratos que nossa mente utiliza para entender como as coisas funcionam no mundo. Eles, quase sempre, são utilizados de forma irracional, pelo nosso inconsciente. São pensamentos que acontecem abaixo da superfície, sem a gente perceber.
De forma resumida, um modelo mental é a representação da realidade dentro da nossa cabeça. Usando o próprio exemplo do autor:
Imagine um grupo de pessoas cegas que se aproxima de um animal estranho, chamado elefante. Nenhum deles tem consciência de sua forma e estrutura. Assim, decidem entendê-lo através do tato.
A primeira pessoa toca a tromba do elefante e diz: "Esta criatura é como uma cobra grossa". A segunda pessoa toca uma orelha e diz parecer ser um tipo de leque. A terceira pessoa, cuja mão está em uma perna, diz que o elefante é um pilar como o tronco de uma árvore. O quarto homem coloca a mão na lateral e diz: "um elefante é uma parede". O quinto, que sente sua cauda, imagina uma corda. O último, que toca sua presa, pensa que o elefante é algo duro e liso, tipo uma lança.
Cada pessoa utilizou os modelos mentais existentes em sua cabeça para definir esse bicho estranho que estavam apalpando. Acontece que todos definiram de forma errada. Isso aconteceu porque cada um estava com o foco específico em uma parte do elefante. Por estarem muito próximos do elefante, não conseguiram enxergar o todo.
O livro, como o próprio nome sugere, nos apresenta ÓTIMOS modelos mentais para enxergarmos a vida. Ao conhecer novos modelos mentais (que geralmente foram elaborados por grandes pensadores), deixamos de depender somente dos modelos mentais que desenvolvemos com base em nossas experiências.
Utilizar-se de bons modelos mentais é tomar emprestado o modo de pensar de grandes mentes. Quer um exemplo muito famoso? A tal Lei de Pareto. Ela sugere que, em muitos casos, 80% dos efeitos vêm de 20% das causas.
Através da forma de pensar de Pareto, podemos orientar nosso pensamento a identificar uma oportunidade em que eu aplique apenas 20% do meu esforço para conseguir 80% de melhoria.
Vamos imaginar um contexto conhecido: o de desenvolvimento de software. Podemos estimar, por exemplo, que 80% dos bugs acontecem em 20% do código. Se você identificar e corrigir essas partes críticas do código, você elimina a maioria dos problemas. O resultado é uma melhoria significativa na qualidade do software com muito menos esforço do que se você tentasse corrigir todos os bugs de uma vez, sem nenhum tipo de estratégia.
Resolvi falar hoje sobre modelos mentais justamente porque o que me trouxe paz de espírito, lá em 2018, foi a aplicação de um modelo mental (mesmo que de forma inconsciente).
Estou falando do modelo mental da inversão. Esse modelo funciona da seguinte forma: Ao invés de abordar um problema pensando diretamente no resultado desejado, experimente começar pelo oposto.
O que devo fazer para NÃO alcançar esse resultado?** Busque por maneiras de falhar**. Por mais que pareça contra-intuitivo, esse é um dos melhores caminhos para identificar possíveis armadilhas. Através desse modelo é possível esclarecer objetivos, identificar riscos potenciais e evitar erros.
Hoje percebo, depois de muitos anos de psicanálise e investigação interior, que tenho um espírito empreendedor. Minha mente é movida a desafios. Eu gosto do novo, do diferente, do que ninguém fez.
*Como eu vou saber o que quero da vida? Eu já quis tantas coisas. *Profissionalmente, eu já fui programador, marketeiro, já trabalhei com eventos, já quis ser jogador de poker… Na vida pessoa então… Eu já pratiquei musculação, futebol, voleibol, corrida, Crossfit, futevolei, squash… Me interesso por filosofia, história… adoro ler, adoro ver filmes e séries.
Em resumo, o que eu gosto é do novo. Em cada fase da minha vida eu quis algo diferente. Diante de tantas possibilidades, é muito mais fácil eu saber o que NÃO quero. Por isso, aplicar o modelo mental da inversão faz todo sentido aqui.
A primeira edição do livro (que foi a que li), é focada em conceitos gerais e universais de pensamento. Ela lista diversos modelos mentais que aplico diariamente para enfrentar os mais variados problemas que aparecem na vida de um empreendedor. Alguns exemplos: Mapa != Território, Círculo de Competência, Primeiros Princípios, Pensamento de Segunda Ordem, Probabilidades, Navalha de Occan e Navalha de Hanlon.
Lembre-se: a vida trata-se de resolver problemas. Nada melhor que "pegar emprestado" a mente de grandes pensadores para resolver seus problemas com muito mais eficácia.
Estude de forma profunda sobre modelos mentais.
✉️ Esta foi mais uma edição da Newsletter do Moa!
💪🏻 O meu objetivo com essa newsletter é ajudar profissionais de tecnologia que desejam desenvolver uma visão mais estratégica.
Além disso, pretendo também compartilhar outras coisas, como um pouco dos bastidores da construção de um negócio SaaS, as minhas opiniões e meus aprendizados. A ideia geral é ser uma documentação pública e estruturada dos meus pensamentos e aprendizados ao longo dos anos.
Portanto, se você se interessa por soft-skill, desenvolvimento pessoal, empreendedorismo e opiniões relativamente polêmicas, sugiro que você se inscreva para receber as próximas edições. ⬇️
Toque aqui para se inscrever

I'll be your winning card. You can bet on it.

Biography: Name: Declan Russel
Gender: Male
Race: Radiant
Affiliations: VALORANT Protocol, Kingdom(Formerly indebted)
Role: Duelist
Codename: King
A con-man and mercenary, King fell into debt with Kingdom, and had to do their dirty work. After a lucky encounter, he defected to Valorant. Offering an insight into Kingdom’s defenses, and a willingness to take point, King risks himself for the team. If he can keep himself out of trouble on Valorant’s watch, only time will tell.
Abilities:
Passive: Money for Nothing -King gets a 100 credit debt limit in the shop per kill. Caps at 10. (Works like future’s market from League)
Basic Abilities
C: Big Blind
-EQUIP glowing poker chips. FIRE to throw the chips. They create a field that slows enemies by 50%. Enemies still in the field after 1 second are blinded. Purchasable, 1 charge.
Q: Pair of Kings
-EQUIP a King of Clubs/Spades(alternates). FIRE to throw the card. The card ricochets off of terrain twice before sticking into terrain or to a player, detonating. Deals 55 damage. Purchasable, 2 charges, 5 second cooldown.
Signature
E: Raise/Call
-ACTIVATE to consume 10% of Kings’ health. His next shot will have a damage multiplier of .5X. Each time this ability is activated per round, the damage multiplier increases by .5. Cannot reduce King below 1 hp. Cooldown 15s.
Ultimate
R: Winning Hand
-EQUIP the two pocket aces. FIRE to activate jackpot mode. In this state, King’s health is reduced to 50, he gains a 2x damage multiplier, and nearby enemies are revealed. Kills in this state extend its time by 5s and heal him 10hp. Jackpot mode creates a visual slot machine effect above King and emits jackpot noises. Requires 8 Ult points, 10s duration.
King, Visually: I don't have art for him, as I can't commission an artist right now, or draw.
Description: Thin man with tan skin and dark hair slicked back with a black ballistic mask. Wears a distressed suit with a red tie and no jacket, as well as several holsters and a chest rig.
Character playlist: Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ll9BuzNh8ABbZTj19Kag0?si=7c7d8c3f4a964fd6
The design of King is to be a fun duelist, that's a gamble to play with a set risk/reward. Stylistically, he's a lighthearted gamblemerc with a heart of gold type. Just Lean from Guilty Gear would be on his playlist, but that'd be a bit heavy-handed. That's about all I've got for King right now. Remember, 98% of gamblers quit before they win big.
Edit: minor stuff I had changed from the main sub.

I'll be your winning card. You can bet on it.

Biography: Name: Declan Russel
Gender: Male
Race: Radiant
Affiliations: VALORANT Protocol, Kingdom(Formerly indebted)
Role: Duelist
Codename: King
A con-man and mercenary, King fell into debt with Kingdom, and had to do their dirty work. After a lucky encounter, he defected to Valorant. Offering an insight into Kingdom’s defenses, and a willingness to take point, King risks himself for the team. If he can keep himself out of trouble on Valorant’s watch, only time will tell.
Abilities:
Passive: Money for Nothing -King gets a 100 credit debt limit in the shop per kill. Caps at 10. (Works like future’s market from League)
Basic Abilities
C: Big Blind
-EQUIP glowing poker chips. FIRE to throw the chips. They create a field that slows enemies by 50%. Enemies still in the field after 1 second are blinded. Purchasable, 1 charge.
Q: Pair of Kings
-EQUIP a King of Clubs/Spades(alternates). FIRE to throw the card. The card ricochets off of terrain twice before sticking into terrain or to a player, detonating. Deals 55 damage. Purchasable, 2 charges, 5 second cooldown.
Signature
E: Raise/Call
-ACTIVATE to consume 25% of Kings’ health. His next shot will deal an additional 100 damage. Cannot reduce King below 1 hp. Cooldown 30s.
Ultimate
R: Winning Hand
-EQUIP the two pocket aces. FIRE to activate jackpot mode. In this state, King’s health is reduced to 50, he gains a 2x damage multiplier, and nearby enemies are revealed. Kills in this state extend its time by 5s and heal him 10hp. Requires 8 Ult points, 10s duration.
King, Visually: I don't have art for him, as I can't commission an artist right now, or draw.
Description: Thin man with tan skin and dark hair slicked back with a black ballistic mask. Wears a distressed suit with a red tie and no jacket, as well as several holsters and a chest rig.
Character playlist: Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ll9BuzNh8ABbZTj19Kag0?si=7c7d8c3f4a964fd6
​
The design of King is to be a fun duelist, that's a gamble to play with a set risk/reward. Stylistically, he's a lighthearted gamblemerc with a heart of gold type. Just Lean from Guilty Gear would be on his playlist, but that'd be a bit heavy-handed. That's about all I've got for King right now. Remember, 98% of gamblers quit before they win big.
​

Digamos que SUPOSTAMENTE eu descobri uma falha grave em um famoso software de poker online que me permite ter uma vantagem indevida e ver as cartas do meu adversário.
Suspotamente não estou uso o exploit para ganhar vantagem (e possivelmente milhões de reais) e nem penso em usar, mas penso em reportar a falha para a empresa dona do software. mas obviamente não queria que meu trabalho de descobrir a falha de segurança deles tenha sido de graça, já que a empresa fatura milhões por mês e paga milhões para equipes de segurança.
Qual a abordagem que eu supostamente poderia fazer para que isso não seja considerado crime de extorsão?
Imagino em marcar uma reunião com o pessoal da empresa, mostrar meu software que usa uma falha de segurança no aplicativo deles e oferecer um contrato para vender o software e junto um contrato de NDA para eles saberem que não vou expor que a falha existe para a imprensa, pois isso poderia manchar a reputação da empresa.
Também penso em deixar marcado uma reunião, no mesmo dia, com a imprensa especializada para tornar público minha descoberta e publicar o software de graça na internet caso a empresa não aceite minha oferta...
Meu medo seria eles entenderem a origem da falha de segurança depois de mostrar o software em funcionamento para eles (o que é simples de descobrir) e eu perder o valor dessa informação.
Também não imagino estar fazendo nada ilegal no meu software, pois não estou modificando o sistema deles para obter essas informações, estou supostamente apenas lendo arquivos salvos no meu computador.
Algum dica do limite legal para o que eu estou fazendo? Quando seria considerado extorsão?

Ceteris paribus means "to hold all else constant". Applying this assumption to CS2 means that, assuming every action a player performs remains unchanged, and only changing [one variable] the random spawns, a game of CS2 would be completely discombobulated. Every peek and strafe you take will be wrong. Every nade you throw will be wrong. Simply from changing 1 lone variable, and keeping the other 999+ variables unchanged.
This is to prove how random spawns do indeed have a large impact on CS2 games, even if you personally perceive that your aim, movement, grenades, teamwork skills, and adaptability to your random spawns may be a greater factor in determining the outcome of the match. Remember, this is only your personal perception of how skill works in the game. However, since random spawns themselves are not a part of a player's skillset, yet still have a large impact on the game (similar to, say, Poker), therefore outcomes in the game are largely NOT determined by player skill. (Rather, RNG)
​
Here's a "conversation" I had with ChatGPT "discussing" the topic:
Me: Would Ceteris Paribus apply to say a game of counter-strike and random spawns? If you hold all variables constant except for random spawns, wouldn't every move the players make be misaligned and off by a few meters, depending on which random spawn they got? In essence; shouldn't competitive games like counter-strike and poker attempt to reduce randomness to as close to 0 as possible? Therefore, random spawns should be removed similar to what valorant has as their starting mechanism: a zone block, with a wall falling style of starting the round. And as for poker, I would have no idea how you could reduce the randomness of card draws from the deck.
ChatGPT: The concept of "ceteris paribus," which means holding all other variables constant, is primarily used in fields like economics to isolate the effects of a single variable. In competitive games like Counter-Strike, introducing random elements like spawn points adds variability and unpredictability, which can be both a challenge and an appeal for players. While some games might aim to reduce randomness to create a more controlled competitive environment, others embrace it to enhance the dynamic nature of the gameplay. In poker, randomness is a fundamental aspect of the game due to the nature of card drawing. This randomness is part of what makes poker a game of both skill and chance. Players must constantly adapt their strategies based on the unpredictable nature of the cards they are dealt. Completely removing randomness from poker would fundamentally change the nature of the game. In competitive gaming or card games, the balance between skill, strategy, and randomness is what often defines the game's character and appeal.
Me: In counter-strike, players do not NEED random spawns to play in a random fashion. In actuality, naturally playing randomly even WITHOUT random spawns is what defines a good player (as you are unpredictable). This is my argument for removing random spawns, as they do not seem to increase the skill ceiling (as you tend to simply run in the direction that the random spawn puts you closer towards on the map without thinking; removing this would force you to strategize more, not less)
ChatGPT: Your perspective on random spawns in Counter-Strike highlights an interesting aspect of competitive gaming: the balance between strategy and randomness. While random spawns can add unpredictability, they might also lead to less strategic depth as players react more to their spawn positions rather than engaging in pre-planned tactics. Removing such randomness could indeed encourage more deliberate strategizing, focusing on players' abilities to adapt and make decisions rather than relying on the luck of a spawn point. This approach aligns with games that prioritize skill and strategy over chance, aiming to elevate the skill ceiling by fostering a more controlled and competitive environment.
​
From my talk with ChatGPT it seems that a game like poker naturally has RNG that simply cannot be removed, as it would not be poker anymore. However with counter-strike, the interesting about this game is that even by removing random spawns into a zone-block walls-fall-style system, counter-strike is still counter-strike. Just like chess not having random spawns still makes it a great game that we know as chess. In short, random spawns are NOT fundamental to counter-strike, and CAN be removed, whether they should or should not be is sort of irrelevant.

Ceteris paribus means "to hold all else constant". Applying this assumption to CS2 means that, assuming every action a player performs remains unchanged, and only changing [one variable] the random spawns, a game of CS2 would be completely discombobulated. Every peek and strafe you take will be wrong. Every nade you throw will be wrong. Simply from changing 1 lone variable, and keeping the other 999+ variables unchanged.
This is to prove how random spawns do indeed have a large impact on CS2 games, even if you personally perceive that your aim, movement, grenades, teamwork skills, and adaptability to your random spawns may be a greater factor in determining the outcome of the match. Remember, this is only your personal perception of how skill works in the game. However, since random spawns themselves are not a part of a player's skillset, yet still have a large impact on the game (similar to, say, Poker), therefore outcomes in the game are largely NOT determined by player skill. (Rather, RNG)
​
Here's a "conversation" I had with ChatGPT "discussing" the topic:
Me: Would Ceteris Paribus apply to say a game of counter-strike and random spawns? If you hold all variables constant except for random spawns, wouldn't every move the players make be misaligned and off by a few meters, depending on which random spawn they got? In essence; shouldn't competitive games like counter-strike and poker attempt to reduce randomness to as close to 0 as possible? Therefore, random spawns should be removed similar to what valorant has as their starting mechanism: a zone block, with a wall falling style of starting the round. And as for poker, I would have no idea how you could reduce the randomness of card draws from the deck.
ChatGPT: The concept of "ceteris paribus," which means holding all other variables constant, is primarily used in fields like economics to isolate the effects of a single variable. In competitive games like Counter-Strike, introducing random elements like spawn points adds variability and unpredictability, which can be both a challenge and an appeal for players. While some games might aim to reduce randomness to create a more controlled competitive environment, others embrace it to enhance the dynamic nature of the gameplay. In poker, randomness is a fundamental aspect of the game due to the nature of card drawing. This randomness is part of what makes poker a game of both skill and chance. Players must constantly adapt their strategies based on the unpredictable nature of the cards they are dealt. Completely removing randomness from poker would fundamentally change the nature of the game. In competitive gaming or card games, the balance between skill, strategy, and randomness is what often defines the game's character and appeal.
Me: In counter-strike, players do not NEED random spawns to play in a random fashion. In actuality, naturally playing randomly even WITHOUT random spawns is what defines a good player (as you are unpredictable). This is my argument for removing random spawns, as they do not seem to increase the skill ceiling (as you tend to simply run in the direction that the random spawn puts you closer towards on the map without thinking; removing this would force you to strategize more, not less)
ChatGPT: Your perspective on random spawns in Counter-Strike highlights an interesting aspect of competitive gaming: the balance between strategy and randomness. While random spawns can add unpredictability, they might also lead to less strategic depth as players react more to their spawn positions rather than engaging in pre-planned tactics. Removing such randomness could indeed encourage more deliberate strategizing, focusing on players' abilities to adapt and make decisions rather than relying on the luck of a spawn point. This approach aligns with games that prioritize skill and strategy over chance, aiming to elevate the skill ceiling by fostering a more controlled and competitive environment.
​
From my talk with ChatGPT it seems that a game like poker naturally has RNG that simply cannot be removed, as it would not be poker anymore. However with counter-strike, the interesting about this game is that even by removing random spawns into a zone-block walls-fall-style system, counter-strike is still counter-strike. Just like chess not having random spawns still makes it a great game that we know as chess. In short, random spawns are NOT fundamental to counter-strike, and CAN be removed, whether they should or should not be is sort of irrelevant.

Ceteris paribus means "to hold all else constant". Applying this assumption to CS2 means that, assuming every action a player performs remains unchanged, and only changing [one variable] the random spawns, a game of CS2 would be completely discombobulated. Every peek and strafe you take will be wrong. Every nade you throw will be wrong. Simply from changing 1 lone variable, and keeping the other 999+ variables unchanged.
This is to prove how random spawns do indeed have a large impact on CS2 games, even if you personally perceive that your aim, movement, grenades, teamwork skills, and adaptability to your random spawns may be a greater factor in determining the outcome of the match. Remember, this is only your personal perception of how skill works in the game. However, since random spawns themselves are not a part of a player's skillset, yet still have a large impact on the game (similar to, say, Poker), therefore outcomes in the game are largely NOT determined by player skill. (Rather, RNG)
​
Here's a "conversation" I had with ChatGPT "discussing" the topic:
Me: Would Ceteris Paribus apply to say a game of counter-strike and random spawns? If you hold all variables constant except for random spawns, wouldn't every move the players make be misaligned and off by a few meters, depending on which random spawn they got? In essence; shouldn't competitive games like counter-strike and poker attempt to reduce randomness to as close to 0 as possible? Therefore, random spawns should be removed similar to what valorant has as their starting mechanism: a zone block, with a wall falling style of starting the round. And as for poker, I would have no idea how you could reduce the randomness of card draws from the deck.
ChatGPT: The concept of "ceteris paribus," which means holding all other variables constant, is primarily used in fields like economics to isolate the effects of a single variable. In competitive games like Counter-Strike, introducing random elements like spawn points adds variability and unpredictability, which can be both a challenge and an appeal for players. While some games might aim to reduce randomness to create a more controlled competitive environment, others embrace it to enhance the dynamic nature of the gameplay. In poker, randomness is a fundamental aspect of the game due to the nature of card drawing. This randomness is part of what makes poker a game of both skill and chance. Players must constantly adapt their strategies based on the unpredictable nature of the cards they are dealt. Completely removing randomness from poker would fundamentally change the nature of the game. In competitive gaming or card games, the balance between skill, strategy, and randomness is what often defines the game's character and appeal.
Me: In counter-strike, players do not NEED random spawns to play in a random fashion. In actuality, naturally playing randomly even WITHOUT random spawns is what defines a good player (as you are unpredictable). This is my argument for removing random spawns, as they do not seem to increase the skill ceiling (as you tend to simply run in the direction that the random spawn puts you closer towards on the map without thinking; removing this would force you to strategize more, not less)
ChatGPT: Your perspective on random spawns in Counter-Strike highlights an interesting aspect of competitive gaming: the balance between strategy and randomness. While random spawns can add unpredictability, they might also lead to less strategic depth as players react more to their spawn positions rather than engaging in pre-planned tactics. Removing such randomness could indeed encourage more deliberate strategizing, focusing on players' abilities to adapt and make decisions rather than relying on the luck of a spawn point. This approach aligns with games that prioritize skill and strategy over chance, aiming to elevate the skill ceiling by fostering a more controlled and competitive environment.
​
From my talk with ChatGPT it seems that a game like poker naturally has RNG that simply cannot be removed, as it would not be poker anymore. However with counter-strike, the interesting about this game is that even by removing random spawns into a zone-block walls-fall-style system, counter-strike is still counter-strike. Just like chess not having random spawns still makes it a great game that we know as chess. In short, random spawns are NOT fundamental to counter-strike, and CAN be removed, whether they should or should not be is sort of irrelevant.

Disclaimer: I do not speak Korean. This is purely translated by machine with a lot of cleanup afterward. With that in mind, I am open to criticism to improve these translations. Enjoy!
​
Chapter 287
​
Im Hyuk-Jun, Song Song, Butler Kim, and I all stood in the hospital room.
​
Yet, when Lee Jeong-Ryong entered the room, his eyes settled with piercing intent on a singular figure.
​
Mr. Choi.
​
"You've grown a lot."
​
"...!"
​
The air seemed to still as Lee Jeong-Ryong's voice cut through the silence.
​
This was it. The secret Mr. Choi had been hiding.
​
Their relationship seemed closer than mere professional acquaintances.
​
'From what I know, Mr. Choi was part of the Ares Guild for roughly three or four years.'
​
At best, his earliest encounter with Lee Jeong-Ryong would have been in his early twenties. Such a remark, suggesting substantial growth, was more apt for a child, not a man of his age.
​
It's the kind of remark you'd hear from your parents' friends or relatives during holidays.
​
"It's been a while. Vice Guild Master Lee Jeong-Ryong."
​
With his stiff title and tone, Lee Jeong-Ryong eyes glimmered with a curious light,
​
"Vice Guild Master, huh? When you were little, you used to call me 'grandfather'." [Note: the term "grandfather" here is purely an affectionate term and does not signify an actual familial bond. It is similar to how Im Hyuk-Jun's children call the MC "Uncle Tae-Kyung" even though the MC and Im Hyuk-Jun are not brothers.]
​
Grandfather?
​
It was the second shock. For a moment, I wondered if perhaps this really was his relative? But I quickly dismissed the thought.
​
It must be a term of endearment from a bygone era. Surely, Lee Jeong-Ryong was not his actual grandfather.
​
'Looks like they had a close relationship since Mr. Choi was young.'
​
Their relationship was evidently deep and intricate.
​
As astonishment rippled through the room, only Butler Kim and the ever-poised Mr. Choi remained unaffected by the currents.
​
"That was twenty years ago."
​
"How time flies. Who would've thought that the affectionate little boy would change this much."
​
"As time passes, I see things I didn't see before."
​
"I did receive a report last year that you had resigned. Come to think of it, I haven't seen you since you joined the guild. I kind of missed you."
​
Lee Jeong-Ryong mused, though his features betrayed no hint of the sentimentality his words might imply. Mr. Choi's reply mirrored the same detachment,
​
"I feel the same. If you hadn't given me only overseas assignments, we could have seen each other more often.”
​
"Didn't you like the overseas branch?"
​
“I felt it wasn't where I belonged. That's all."
​
"Not where you belong…"
​
"Isn't that the outcome you wanted, Vice Guild Master?"
​
"Are you saying that I sent you on those assignments to get rid of you?"
​
Lee Jeong-Ryong chuckled, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
​
"So, did you start a new nest? Even going as far as borrowing someone else's name?"
​
"I apologize for interrupting, but..."
​
Butler Kim, who had been a silent observer, suddenly spoke up. His voice was as calm as ever.
​
"Young master and I left together."
​
"What? Who is this?"
​
Lee Jeong-Ryong feigned astonishment, his eyes widening theatrically.
​
The charade was transparent. If he recognized Mr. Choi, he surely would recognize Butler Kim, who was Mr. Choi's closest confidant.
​
"Kim Hwa-Jong? Is it Hwa-Jong?"
​
"It's been a while, Sunbae."
​
With no hint of reticence, Butler Kim accepted the proffered hand. Their handshake, paired with muted smiles, was a silent testament to their shared history.
​
'Informal speech? And calling him Sunbae?'
​
Putting aside the nature of their connection, it was clear that their rapport was more intimate than I first guessed.
​
"It's good you came. The last time we met was... about 20 years ago?"
​
"Exactly 18 years. Eighteen."
​
Was it my imagination, or did he seem to emphasize certain words?
​
A quick glance at Song Song and Im Hyuk-Jun confirmed they were visibly shaken, as if they had seen a ghost. [Note: Butler Kim is usually the epitome of composure and decorum, but his demeanor undergoes a stark transformation in this chapter. His angry and borderline rude manner of dealing with Lee Jeong-Ryong deviates sharply with his usual conduct. This is why Song Song and Mr. Rough Guy look so shaken here.]
​
'Ah, it wasn't just my imagination.'
​
They were closer than I thought. I must be blind.
​
To be exact, Butler Kim didn't just have a close relationship with Lee Jeong-Ryong; he seemed to dislike him.
​
Yet, Lee Jeong-Ryong maintained his amiable facade as he spoke.
​
"Hwa-Jong, I thought you had become wiser while we were parted, but it seems your guts have grown stronger too."
​
It was a loaded statement. Despite the weight of Lee Jeong-Ryong's insinuations, however, Butler Kim's gaze did not waver.
​
"When one finds peace of mind, they become wiser."
​
"Peace of mind?"
​
"After rescuing Young Master from the tiger's jaws, I felt relieved. As for my guts, they have always been strong."
​
"Hahaha! That's right. Once you set your mind to something, you never cared about the consequences. Thanks to that fearless nature, I too had a brush with death."
​
"I remember. The Han River."
​
"Yes, the Han River. The day Mapo Bridge collapsed. You still remember it, Hwa-Jong."
​
"I think about and regret it whenever I get a chance. If I hadn't saved you back then, this situation wouldn't have arisen."
​
Let me correct myself again. It isn't mere dislike that Butler Kim harbors for Lee Jeong-Ryong.
​
It is a profound loathing, deep-seated enough to fantasize about his death.
​
Though he doesn't wield a sword, his tongue is sharp as a blade.
​
At the sting of his words, Seok Go-Jun, who had thus far stood rigidly behind Lee Jeong-Ryong, edged forward with a steely resolve.
​
"Mind your tongue."
​
"Mind my tongue?"
​
"He's not someone you can address so carelessly."
​
Butler Kim's eyes scrutinized Seok Go-Jun with a peculiar look.
​
"From a brief look, you seem quite skilled. Hunter, what's your name?"
​
"I'm Seok Go-Jun, in charge of the Vice Guild Master's security."
​
"I see. Team Leader Seok Go-Jun."
​
Butler Kim acknowledged, his rich baritone tapering off into a murmur.
​
"If you've said your piece, then shut up and stand back. It's not your place to intervene."
​
"......!"
​
Seok Go-Jun's typically impassive features calcified further, a telltale vein throbbing on his temple in silent indignation.
​
Amidst the tension, a soft laugh from Lee Jeong-Ryong coaxed him to recede.
​
"I thought you'd become gentler with age... but that temper of yours remains. Indeed, this is the Kim Hwa-Jong I know."
​
"If we're talking about having a nasty temper, I'd say I have to fold a few hands against you, wouldn't I?" [Note: "Fold a few hands against you" is a poker term used here metaphorically.]
​
Mr. Choi's voice sliced through the mounting tension with icy precision.
​
"Let's cease the pointless chatter and get to the main point."
​
Who among the throngs of Korea, or the broader world, could address Lee Jeong-Ryong with such audacious candor?
​
The tumult of their exchange left Mr. Rough Guy and Song Song slack-jawed.
​
Particularly striking was the way that Butler Kim acted now. Even I, who had witnessed his curt dismissal of Sangdong Guild Master Im Chun-Soo as if swatting away a stray dog, was taken aback.
​
'What on earth happened?'
​
Both Mr. Choi and Butler Kim were not their usual selves.
​
"One is young and hasty, and the other still hasn't let go of his youthful temper. Well, it's not bad to get to the main point now. It's a pity, as I was invited here to begin with."
​
"You say you were invited?"
​
"You're mistaken. No one among us invited the Vice Guild Master."
​
"Think about it. There should be one person, right?"
​
Lee Jeong-Ryong's gaze, having mirthfully danced between the two previous speakers, abruptly shifted to me.
​
"That friend there."
​
An immediate silence fell over the room.
​
With the weight of the room's attention bearing down, I opened my mouth.
​
"What bullshit is this?"
​
No sooner had I finished speaking than Seok Go-Jun growled threateningly. He seemed poised to charge like a hunting dog if Lee Jeong-Ryong hadn't given a dismissive shake of his head.
​
Lee Jeong-Ryong addressed me, his tone laden with both a challenge and a charm.
​
"Weren't you the one? You came forward and said you wanted me to apologize to the victim."
​
"Ah."
​
I had indeed uttered those words, but directed towards Park Ji-Hwang and Park Tae-Seop.
​
"You look as if you never expected me to come."
​
"That's true, to be honest. What's your game in coming all the way here?"
​
"You have a tendency to speak without thinking. Shouldn't you be thanking me for accepting the invitation?"
​
Thanking you?
​
A hollow laugh escaped me, bitter and tinged with irony. The proposition seemed so absurd that I didn't even consider a response.
​
"Even if your words are twisted, speak straight. It wasn't an invitation; it was a demand for an apology."
​
"Wrong. If I hadn't wanted to come here, could you or the Peace Guild have made me move even an inch?"
​
"That's…"
​
"Didn't you think the same? You never thought I'd come."
​
It felt like a bucket of cold water had been thrown over me. I was at a loss for words.
​
Everything he said was true.
​
Even though my heart was crying out in anger and seeking revenge, I hadn't truly expected Lee Jeong-Ryong to show up. The realistic part of my brain had come to a compromise.
​
Lee Jeong-Ryong, the de facto leader of the Ares Guild, was still beyond my reach.
​
"Demanding is the right of the powerful. The weak can never 'demand' from the strong. It's all requests and invitations."
​
"......!"
​
"That's why I accepted the invitation. No matter what weakness of mine you grab and shake, that fact won't change. Because I am Lee Jeong-Ryong. I am the Ares Guild, and the Ares Guild is me."
​
At his steady yet powerful voice, we were left speechless.
​
One thing became clear. Lee Jeong-Ryong's presence was not an act of contrition.
​
With the chasm of power lying stark and unbridgeable, his smile unfurled, a clear signal of victory as he savored the influence he held.
​
"A guest should be welcomed with due respect, particularly one who arrives bearing gifts for the patient, wouldn't you agree, Team Leader Seok?"
​
"Yes, Vice Guild Master."
​
Seok Go-Jun, his voice a hollow echo of obedience, swung the door open. A hulking bodyguard from the security entourage who had been biding time outside stepped in and deposited an offering upon the table.
​
A vase bursting with the soft brilliance of countless lilies, accompanied by an envelope.
​
"It's a consolation gift. If the amount is insufficient, tell me how much more you need."
​
My eyes lingered on the lilies, their ivory petals gleaming with an unsettling purity. While I was never particularly fond of flowers, I never disliked them either.
​
This was the first time I ever felt dirty looking at a gift of flowers.
​
'A condolence gift of lilies.' [Note: lilies, specifically, are a symbol of innocence and rebirth. In my opinion, this could be taken as either Lee Jeong-Ryong is trying to say that he is sorry and innocent of being involved in the attack, or he is mocking the reattachment of Im Hyuk-Jun's arms as a "rebirth".]
​
A forgotten anger began to seethe within me.
​
Massaging the mounting tension at the nape of my neck, I could not help but mutter,
​
"I've never seen such a damned old man..."
​
For the first time, Seok Go-Jun's facade cracked. His fist, unleashed with a roar of indignation, sliced through the air towards me at a blinding speed.
​
Smack!
​
With a chilling sound, blood splattered.
​
I slowly cranked my head back to its rightful place, the tang of blood painting my tongue.
​
"Shit. I bit my tongue."
​
Seok Go-Jun's eyes bulged, his gaze ricocheting from his fist to my face in bewilderment.
​
"How?"
​
"I'm quite resilient. I drank a lot of milk when I was a kid."
​
"But I was sure I infused it with mana..."
​
Had his fist been covered with Qi, I wouldn't even be able stand. [Note: It seems that infusing a physical attack with mana/Qi serves only as an internal boost. External Qi auras, like Sword Qi, require specific martial techniques. Therefore, it appears Seok Go-Jun's fist wasn't enveloped in a Qi aura.]
​
Of course, if that were the case, I wouldn't have deliberately taken the hit.
​
I smirked at him.
​
"You should've given it your all. So it could end in one hit."
​
Whoosh!
​
"Huff!"
​
Drawing a short breath, Seok Go-Jun reached out to deflect my arm with a speed incomparable to that of an average A-rank Hunter.
​
His hand arched like a hook, aiming for my wrist.
​
'This really is Geumnasu.' [Note: Geumnasu is a Chinese grabbing technique used to break joints. This is the same technique that Park Ji-Hwang used in novel chapter 282 when he grabbed the MC's wrist at the beginning of their fight.]
​
Recalling the surprise I felt when facing Park Ji-Hwang, I smoothly twisted my wrist, evading his grasp.
​
The air hissed as I deftly captured his wrist mid-flight, and with the same fluidity, I invoked the Thousand-Catty Press, anchoring my heel atop his foot.
​
Crunch!
​
“Kuk!”
​
Seok Go-Jun's foot was driven deep into the unyielding concrete. Clutching his arm in agony, he instinctively raised it to guard his face.
​
What a weak defense.
​
"Do you think that's enough?"
​
One thing was certain. While I had chosen not to dodge, Seok Go-Jun could not dodge.
​
Smash!
​
The fist I planted squarely in the middle of his face broke his nose instantly and sent him reeling back.
​
Blood splattered and a white tooth flew out of his gaping mouth.
​
Thud.
​
"You damn bastard, where did you learn to sucker punch like that?" [Note: this line of dialogue is from the MC.]
​
"......!"
​
The rapid turn of events left everyone in the room stunned.
​
“You bastard...”
​
Lee Jeong-Ryong's voice, always serene, was now laced with a tremor of unrest. A storm brewed in his eyes.
​
Seizing control of the situation, I spoke with pointed clarity.
​
"I should mention, it was self-defense."
​
But what followed was a question loaded with implications no one saw coming.
​
"What is your relationship with my Hyung?"
​
"Excuse me? Who are you talking about?"
​
"The one who taught you that move."
​
"The one who taught me that move......”
​
My eyes widened. Was this old man referring to the martial arts?
​
Yet my revelation was lost to the void, as Lee Jeong-Ryong's attention was ensnared by an emotion-laden gaze towards Team Leader Choi.
​
"Did So-Young have another man?"
​
I didn't know who this 'So-Young' was.
​
The name 'So-Young' hung in the air, a silent detonator in the midst of a powder keg.
​
Team Leader Choi’s fist tensed, a tempest of emotion brewing, while from Butler Kim’s eyes sparked an inferno of azure fire.
​
"Sunbae, do you want to die?"
​
"Answer me."
​
"You bastard, Lee Jeong-Ryong!"
​
"Give me an answer. Now."
​
In this moment, the sealed lips of Mr. Choi parted, a taut string of silence finally snapping.
​
"Don't you know better than me what kind of relationship they had?"
​
"If that's the case, how did that brat…"
​
"You must've already looked into Jin Tae-Kyung."
​
"So, you're saying everything is true?"
​
"It's exactly as you know. Not a single falsehood."
​
A flicker of unrest danced in Lee Jeong-Ryong's eyes.
​
His gaze ping-ponged between myself and Mr. Choi, before he swiveled, pacing toward the exit. At the threshold, he paused, his departure punctuated with a clipped order.
​
"I'll send someone soon. Hand over the guys you have once the negotiation ends." [Note: "the guys you have" are the Black Hunters and the Myeongdong Guild employee that Mr. Choi detained earlier.]
​
With a clang, the door closed, with the last person being the security team Hunter carrying Seok Go-Jun. The tempest of Lee Jeong-Ryong's presence had swept through and beyond, leaving a deceptive calm.
​
My gaze lingered on the steadfast door before I ventured a query to Mr. Choi.
​
"Who is So-Young?"
​
"She is my mother."
​
"......Excuse me?"
​
"The mother who gave birth to me and raised me. She passed away a long time ago."
​
A breath hitched in my throat involuntarily.
​
Lee Jeong-Ryong, this mad old man. Asking a child if his deceased mother had an affair while she was alive.
​
"That's crazy. Why would he... ah, never mind. You don't have to answer."
​
"It seems that Vice Guild Master Lee Jeong-Ryong was deeply shocked. I never thought he would be so direct."
​
Shocked wouldn't quite capture it. I motioned dismissively with my hand.
​
"Look, Team Leader, it's really okay. I don't need to know."
​
"Sometimes, I wonder. What if my mother wasn't born as Cheon Tae-Min's daughter but as someone else?"
​
"I get it, so let's drop it now..."
​
Suddenly, I froze.
​
'What did he just say?'
​
Rooted in place, my mind spun, ensnared by a trio of words that reverberated with significance.
​
Cheon Tae-Min. Cheon Tae-Min. Cheon Tae-Min...
​
"Did you just say Cheon Tae-Min?"
​
"If I pronounced it correctly, then you heard right."
​
"Could it be... the Cheon Tae-Min I know of?"
​
"Yes."
​
Mr. Choi nodded, continuing.
​
"He's my maternal grandfather."
​
For a moment, my vision blurred and my legs wobbled.
​
'Cheon Tae-Min. He said Cheon Tae-Min.'
​
There was a time I had wondered about Mr. Choi's true identity.
​
His immeasurable talent, the esteem with which the A-rank mage referred to him as 'Young Master,' his obscured yet pivotal role in the Great Cataclysm.
​
Now I understand how all those feats were possible.
​
It's because his maternal grandfather was Cheon Tae-Min.
​
'The great hero produced by humanity. The world's top Hunter...’
​
Among the descriptors for Cheon Tae-Min, the title 'Ares Guild Master' is just a small piece.
​
His true acclaim was etched in a feat of unparalleled valor, a legacy undimmed by time.
​
'The vanquisher of the Demon King. The Slayer.'
​
The grandson of Cheon Tae-Min stood before me.