Provocative sayings
With 'Homeland' coming to an end, what kind of TV hero will combat the next form of terrorism?
2024.05.21 19:34 Dull_Significance687 With 'Homeland' coming to an end, what kind of TV hero will combat the next form of terrorism?
MANY THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN TODAY'S GEOPOLITICS. TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR, ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR. (More conflicts with Iran, even Taiwan strait crisis, the dangers of AI and about Korea, China, Cuba, Venezuela, Africa.)
Between past and present, the series demonstrated a mysterious ability to stay one step ahead of the news
For all his scrapes, personal losses, and absurdly urgent calls, Jack Bauer, the tough, tough-talking counterterrorism agent played by Kiefer Sutherland on Fox's 24, had a relatively quiet life compared to Carrie Mathison, the resilient , but almost always deeply wounded (and, not coincidentally, bipolar) CIA agent played by Claire Danes in Showtime's Homeland, which ends after an impressive succession of eight seasons.
Each in their own way, Jack and Carrie came to represent the pressing global crises of their times. 24 premiered weeks after the September 2001 terrorist attacks and the drumbeat of war, at a moment that could be considered shockingly inappropriate (the first episode opened with a woman installing a bomb inside a plane) or too targeted solely at the United States. American viewers found they could project many of their anxieties about national security onto the series, which acted as an adrenaline rush, expressed in increasingly twisted (and less plausible) twists.
In its eighth and final season, ‘Homeland’ focuses on the two main characters
It was harder to find this catharsis in Homeland, but it made the series much better and more relevant. The defeats suffered by its characters (particularly Claire Danes as Carrie and Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson, Carrie's intelligence consultant and mentor) made Homeland more believable as the 21st century's real-life war on terror dragged on and on.
The bully look of Jack Bauer and his fictional Counterterrorism Unit portrayed in the 9/11 era gave way, in Homeland, to a beleaguered and politically paralyzed CIA, seen through the distortions of an agent's justifiable paranoia.
Carrie Mathison's story should not be interpreted as a sequel to Jack Bauer's trajectory (although both series had the same executive producer, Howard Gordon). Still, from the first season of Homeland it was very clear that Carrie would advance into much more complex and dark territory than that left by Jack - a time that goes roughly back to the American military operation that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011 until President Donald Trump's impeachment hearings in 2019, an era in which the intelligence sector was first praised, then vilified, and finally punished with dismissal by the White House.
Homeland's prescience anticipated many cases of dishonest conduct by intelligence officials, who are always plagued by executive ineptitude, which the series treated as a chronic condition of successive presidents.
Co-created and meticulously overseen by executive producer and writer Alex Gansa (and adapted from an Israeli TV series), Homeland began as a riveting thriller about the trustworthiness of a Marine recently rescued from prisoner of war status, Sergeant Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis).
While the country celebrated Brody as a war hero, Carrie worked to find out if he had converted to Islamic terrorism. Seven seasons later, Homeland had another script: Carrie, who had spent months in a Russian prison, without access to her psychiatric medications, was now distrusted by her colleagues for a whole series of reasons, including the possibility that she was a Russian spy. .
Between past and present, Homeland has demonstrated an uncanny knack for staying one step ahead of the news. The plot was obsessed with online Russian propaganda and far-right mayhem at the same time the country was beginning to see (and ignore) the strings tied to various puppets.
Now, in the final season, Homeland focuses on the long-awaited peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban. The American president (Beau Bridges) traveled to Afghanistan to seal the deal, but was killed when his military helicopter crashed - an event designed to look like the Taliban had shot down the aircraft.
Defying her CIA supervisors, in the last few episodes Carrie did everything she could to find (and then lose) the helicopter's black box, which could prove that the crash was an accident. We are once again at the point where Homeland has always thrived: a world on the brink, with tensions rising between>! the United States and Pakistan!< and many men determined not to listen to a woman they all think is not right in the head. A recap of the entire Homeland story arc could simply say, “Despite everything, she moved on.”
Like many early fans, I tried to be one of those viewers who gave up on 'Homeland,' but I never succeeded. I admired rather than criticized the series' twists and turns (you can't say “crazy”, given its commitment to portraying Carrie's mental illness). Homeland was an unusual study in the art of the mid-season course correction, inventing surprising and provocative solutions to the narrative alleys it had run into. Chief among them was Carrie's decision in season seven to relinquish custody of her daughter — the only TV mom I can think of whose solution to the work-life balance dilemma was to stop being a mom. It was a painful and powerful commentary on the chaotic state of the world, hers and ours.
When it comes to series that are so relevant, the best ones always leave one question: who or what will take their place?
What kind of contemporary hero would be the natural successor to Jack Bauer or Carrie Mathison? And what will be the focus of your mission? Who or what will be your enemy - domestic terrorism? Vladimir Putin? Climate change deniers?
Could it be, perhaps, an FBI agent combating American hate crimes and fake news, in a series about a divided nation, rotting from the inside? (Homeland even touched on this subject.) Or a series about a kind of special operations squad of former diplomats, tasked with restoring the global damage caused by a certain government?
A series about an epidemiologist fighting disinformation campaigns? About a cybersecurity expert, even if viewers don't really like series about people sitting in front of a computer? (Homeland, unfortunately, killed its most promising spin-off potential: Max Piotrowski, Carrie's loyal computer technician, an increasingly hardened and dedicated soul, played by Maury Sterling).
Will our next Jack or Carrie be some kind of deranged hacker, like Rami Malek in Sam Esmail's Mr. Robot? Or the betrayed and mentally manipulated therapists and soldiers from another of Esmail's series, the conspiratorial Homecoming, which returns next month?
None of the above, I imagine. Like the world itself, the mission is now more open and dangerous than ever. The character who gets the task is doomed to be tortured, literally and figuratively.
submitted by Dull_Significance687 to homeland [link] [comments]
Between past and present, the series demonstrated a mysterious ability to stay one step ahead of the news
For all his scrapes, personal losses, and absurdly urgent calls, Jack Bauer, the tough, tough-talking counterterrorism agent played by Kiefer Sutherland on Fox's 24, had a relatively quiet life compared to Carrie Mathison, the resilient , but almost always deeply wounded (and, not coincidentally, bipolar) CIA agent played by Claire Danes in Showtime's Homeland, which ends after an impressive succession of eight seasons.
Each in their own way, Jack and Carrie came to represent the pressing global crises of their times. 24 premiered weeks after the September 2001 terrorist attacks and the drumbeat of war, at a moment that could be considered shockingly inappropriate (the first episode opened with a woman installing a bomb inside a plane) or too targeted solely at the United States. American viewers found they could project many of their anxieties about national security onto the series, which acted as an adrenaline rush, expressed in increasingly twisted (and less plausible) twists.
In its eighth and final season, ‘Homeland’ focuses on the two main characters
It was harder to find this catharsis in Homeland, but it made the series much better and more relevant. The defeats suffered by its characters (particularly Claire Danes as Carrie and Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson, Carrie's intelligence consultant and mentor) made Homeland more believable as the 21st century's real-life war on terror dragged on and on.
The bully look of Jack Bauer and his fictional Counterterrorism Unit portrayed in the 9/11 era gave way, in Homeland, to a beleaguered and politically paralyzed CIA, seen through the distortions of an agent's justifiable paranoia.
Carrie Mathison's story should not be interpreted as a sequel to Jack Bauer's trajectory (although both series had the same executive producer, Howard Gordon). Still, from the first season of Homeland it was very clear that Carrie would advance into much more complex and dark territory than that left by Jack - a time that goes roughly back to the American military operation that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011 until President Donald Trump's impeachment hearings in 2019, an era in which the intelligence sector was first praised, then vilified, and finally punished with dismissal by the White House.
Homeland's prescience anticipated many cases of dishonest conduct by intelligence officials, who are always plagued by executive ineptitude, which the series treated as a chronic condition of successive presidents.
Co-created and meticulously overseen by executive producer and writer Alex Gansa (and adapted from an Israeli TV series), Homeland began as a riveting thriller about the trustworthiness of a Marine recently rescued from prisoner of war status, Sergeant Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis).
While the country celebrated Brody as a war hero, Carrie worked to find out if he had converted to Islamic terrorism. Seven seasons later, Homeland had another script: Carrie, who had spent months in a Russian prison, without access to her psychiatric medications, was now distrusted by her colleagues for a whole series of reasons, including the possibility that she was a Russian spy. .
Between past and present, Homeland has demonstrated an uncanny knack for staying one step ahead of the news. The plot was obsessed with online Russian propaganda and far-right mayhem at the same time the country was beginning to see (and ignore) the strings tied to various puppets.
Now, in the final season, Homeland focuses on the long-awaited peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban. The American president (Beau Bridges) traveled to Afghanistan to seal the deal, but was killed when his military helicopter crashed - an event designed to look like the Taliban had shot down the aircraft.
Defying her CIA supervisors, in the last few episodes Carrie did everything she could to find (and then lose) the helicopter's black box, which could prove that the crash was an accident. We are once again at the point where Homeland has always thrived: a world on the brink, with tensions rising between>! the United States and Pakistan!< and many men determined not to listen to a woman they all think is not right in the head. A recap of the entire Homeland story arc could simply say, “Despite everything, she moved on.”
Like many early fans, I tried to be one of those viewers who gave up on 'Homeland,' but I never succeeded. I admired rather than criticized the series' twists and turns (you can't say “crazy”, given its commitment to portraying Carrie's mental illness). Homeland was an unusual study in the art of the mid-season course correction, inventing surprising and provocative solutions to the narrative alleys it had run into. Chief among them was Carrie's decision in season seven to relinquish custody of her daughter — the only TV mom I can think of whose solution to the work-life balance dilemma was to stop being a mom. It was a painful and powerful commentary on the chaotic state of the world, hers and ours.
When it comes to series that are so relevant, the best ones always leave one question: who or what will take their place?
What kind of contemporary hero would be the natural successor to Jack Bauer or Carrie Mathison? And what will be the focus of your mission? Who or what will be your enemy - domestic terrorism? Vladimir Putin? Climate change deniers?
Could it be, perhaps, an FBI agent combating American hate crimes and fake news, in a series about a divided nation, rotting from the inside? (Homeland even touched on this subject.) Or a series about a kind of special operations squad of former diplomats, tasked with restoring the global damage caused by a certain government?
A series about an epidemiologist fighting disinformation campaigns? About a cybersecurity expert, even if viewers don't really like series about people sitting in front of a computer? (Homeland, unfortunately, killed its most promising spin-off potential: Max Piotrowski, Carrie's loyal computer technician, an increasingly hardened and dedicated soul, played by Maury Sterling).
Will our next Jack or Carrie be some kind of deranged hacker, like Rami Malek in Sam Esmail's Mr. Robot? Or the betrayed and mentally manipulated therapists and soldiers from another of Esmail's series, the conspiratorial Homecoming, which returns next month?
None of the above, I imagine. Like the world itself, the mission is now more open and dangerous than ever. The character who gets the task is doomed to be tortured, literally and figuratively.
2024.05.21 17:42 DifficultClick6411 Attempted battery in the locker room at work
Throw-away account.
Tl;dr a co-worker with a history of intimidating behaviors screamed at me and elbowed me in the side without provocation while we were in the locker room together. Company isn't doing anything about it.
Fuller story:
N.B. Definitely not a lawyer and probably getting some terminology wrong:
I work in healthcare in Manhattan (New York). 30s, male. There's a trouble employee on my floor who has a history of intimidating behavior. Once before he literally screamed at me for calling him by a shortened form of his name (OK, my bad, but seriously) and another time he randomly screamed at me again for the same reason, even though I didn't say anything to him - still holding a grudge, I guess.
But this employee more recently was written up for cornering a female employee in an empty patient room and verbally assaulting her. So there's a history here.
Last week, I was in the locker room for my floor at the end of my shift and the beginning of his. His locker is next to mine, and we often have to change next to each other. For whatever reason, when I went to open my locker, he immediately dug his right below into my side and shoved me out of the way, and he screamed at me telling me that I needed to wait until he's done. I asked him not to touch me, but then he continued to scream at me until I closed my locker, ran out, and informed my manager.
I told my manager that I don't feel comfortable coming back to work on the floor as long as he's there. After I reported this to my manager, he was sent home and did not work his shift. I'm afraid of this guy, and he clearly has issues, so I took a sick day today, and my boss put me in for sick time for the rest of the week.
But my boss honestly doesn't know if HR will do anything. She said that if I don't feel comfortable coming back to work I need to take personal vacation, FMLA, or unpaid leave.
I guess I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if I have any rights here. Again, definitely not a lawyer, but it seems to me that I should have some reasonable expectation of safety at work, and 1) they aren't providing that, demonstrated by the fact that this guy has multiple reported incidents; and 2) if I can't work under these conditions, I am expected to use my own accrued vacation/sick time.
I haven't filed a police report, but I wonder if I should. I haven't contacted a lawyer, and honestly, I have no idea how to go about this.
I'm afraid to go to work, this guy is a bully, but I want to work and I need my income.
Grateful for any advice. Thank you.
submitted by DifficultClick6411 to legaladvice [link] [comments]
Tl;dr a co-worker with a history of intimidating behaviors screamed at me and elbowed me in the side without provocation while we were in the locker room together. Company isn't doing anything about it.
Fuller story:
N.B. Definitely not a lawyer and probably getting some terminology wrong:
I work in healthcare in Manhattan (New York). 30s, male. There's a trouble employee on my floor who has a history of intimidating behavior. Once before he literally screamed at me for calling him by a shortened form of his name (OK, my bad, but seriously) and another time he randomly screamed at me again for the same reason, even though I didn't say anything to him - still holding a grudge, I guess.
But this employee more recently was written up for cornering a female employee in an empty patient room and verbally assaulting her. So there's a history here.
Last week, I was in the locker room for my floor at the end of my shift and the beginning of his. His locker is next to mine, and we often have to change next to each other. For whatever reason, when I went to open my locker, he immediately dug his right below into my side and shoved me out of the way, and he screamed at me telling me that I needed to wait until he's done. I asked him not to touch me, but then he continued to scream at me until I closed my locker, ran out, and informed my manager.
I told my manager that I don't feel comfortable coming back to work on the floor as long as he's there. After I reported this to my manager, he was sent home and did not work his shift. I'm afraid of this guy, and he clearly has issues, so I took a sick day today, and my boss put me in for sick time for the rest of the week.
But my boss honestly doesn't know if HR will do anything. She said that if I don't feel comfortable coming back to work I need to take personal vacation, FMLA, or unpaid leave.
I guess I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if I have any rights here. Again, definitely not a lawyer, but it seems to me that I should have some reasonable expectation of safety at work, and 1) they aren't providing that, demonstrated by the fact that this guy has multiple reported incidents; and 2) if I can't work under these conditions, I am expected to use my own accrued vacation/sick time.
I haven't filed a police report, but I wonder if I should. I haven't contacted a lawyer, and honestly, I have no idea how to go about this.
I'm afraid to go to work, this guy is a bully, but I want to work and I need my income.
Grateful for any advice. Thank you.
2024.05.21 16:15 sydity AITA for screaming at my sister to stop?
I f18 has been struggling my whole life as the black sheep of the family. Nothing I ever do is acceptable for my parents except when I "bring glory" to the family image/name. I have a older sister, the golden child. To sum up my family dynamic, I'm always blamed for everything from things going wrong to arguments and fights that happen no matter who started it. Even if I was defending myself I get blamed and hit for it. I have even tried not doing anything and just told my parents what my sister did to me but, I'll still get the punishment. There are moments where I will have an outburst where I confront my family about the unfair treatment towards me like siding each other in an argument no matter how wrong they are or interrupting/cutting me mid sentence even for the most trivial things. The reason why I'm here today is to ask aita for yelling at my sister. This happened because my mum wanted to go out (at night) and said it was going to be a night drive around so being in pyjamas didn't matter. I said OK and just went to my parents room to wait for everyone else to get ready. Me and my sister had a small play fight on their bed and my dad yelled at me saying I was "joking too hard". At that point I was fed up of them keep claiming I always "play/joke too hard" even tho sometimes I was the 1 getting hurt and I was just defending myself from their blows/pinches/kicks, so I asked him, what does he mean by me playing too hard. I wanted to understand what do I always do that deemed as joke too hard. He couldnt answer and asked me to ask my mum and sister if I always "joke too hard". So I pressed on and when he started getting angry I switch and asked my mum and sister. They both too couldn't answer me and whilst arguing my mum said something like next time just ignore the provocations. At that point I got fed up and said fine if I always joked too hard, I am not going to go out tonight and went to my bedroom. Then not long, in comes my sister (we share a room, I'm on the top bunk). At that point I was in bed ready to sleep as I was already tired, and she started disturbing me by using my dolls and pillows to hit me, telling me to get up. I ignored her provocations like my mum said but she was relentless. So I started screaming at her to stop as she was hitting more and more harder each time. Then my parents came storming in with canes and hit me hard multiple times. Saying I was screaming to let the whole neighbourhood know how disgraceful and barbaric we are. My dad even got a baseball bat I think (I couldn't see with tears) but my mum and sister stopped him. No one let me explain that I didn't do anything and was just trying to make it stop. So aitah here? Please offer some advice as I'm hiding in the toilet crying while typing this
Also a small edit "abuse" is a light term used as in Asian families, this is considered teaching the kids
submitted by sydity to AITAH [link] [comments]
Also a small edit "abuse" is a light term used as in Asian families, this is considered teaching the kids
2024.05.21 14:33 Working-Treacle-3042 A character dies instantly due to a stupid decision.
Hello everyone, I have been a beginner DM for DnD for almost a year now and I recently encountered a problem I had never faced before.
To summarize the situation for you, my players were accidentally teleported to the Feywild. In order to escape, they all decided to seek out an archfey who might be willing to help them. So far, no problem. They eventually managed to secure an audience with one of them. Before meeting the archfey in question, one of her sprite servants explained to the players that they must choose their words carefully and be respectful towards her because she is very sensitive. The idea I had was that depending on what the PCs said and how they addressed her, the archfey would be more or less compliant (as with most NPCs, you might say, but for her they really needed to choose their words VERY carefully to persuade her).
This is where my problem starts. One of my players plays a human rogue who has a particularly irritating behavior, both towards NPCs and even PCs (incidentally, the other characters this player has played also behave similarly, but that's another issue). He steals from, attacks, torments, and insults everyone he encounters, even the kindest NPCs, and with the villains, it's even worse. Many PCs are provocative towards their enemies, but he continues to be very disrespectful even when it could mean life or death (which is not particularly realistic, but until now, I have always let it slide because, in the end, he plays his character as he sees fit).
Of course, when it was this player's turn to address the archfey, he began to mock her and insult her gratuitously (to the horrified and disapproving looks of the rest of the table). I then asked him if he was sure he wanted to say that, making it clear that this time there would be very, very serious consequences for his character given what was about to happen. He smiled and said that she couldn't do anything to him and that he would get out of it as he always had. Except this time, it wasn't just simple bandits he had insulted; it was an archfey!
What had to happen, happened: the archfey disintegrated him, turning him into confetti, killing him instantly. The player immediately reacted by saying it was unfair and that I had a player-versus-DM mentality and that I had no right to kill his character instantly like that. I then explained that I had warned him a few moments earlier that if he did that, there would be extremely serious consequences for his character, but he decided to proceed anyway.
The other players are on my side; they think it was the most logical response to the situation and that the behavior of this player's character had to catch up with him sooner or later. However, I wonder if I did the right thing. Does an instant death like this seem too arbitrary to you? Should I allow his character to come back in some way? Or was it the right thing to do?
submitted by Working-Treacle-3042 to DnD [link] [comments]
To summarize the situation for you, my players were accidentally teleported to the Feywild. In order to escape, they all decided to seek out an archfey who might be willing to help them. So far, no problem. They eventually managed to secure an audience with one of them. Before meeting the archfey in question, one of her sprite servants explained to the players that they must choose their words carefully and be respectful towards her because she is very sensitive. The idea I had was that depending on what the PCs said and how they addressed her, the archfey would be more or less compliant (as with most NPCs, you might say, but for her they really needed to choose their words VERY carefully to persuade her).
This is where my problem starts. One of my players plays a human rogue who has a particularly irritating behavior, both towards NPCs and even PCs (incidentally, the other characters this player has played also behave similarly, but that's another issue). He steals from, attacks, torments, and insults everyone he encounters, even the kindest NPCs, and with the villains, it's even worse. Many PCs are provocative towards their enemies, but he continues to be very disrespectful even when it could mean life or death (which is not particularly realistic, but until now, I have always let it slide because, in the end, he plays his character as he sees fit).
Of course, when it was this player's turn to address the archfey, he began to mock her and insult her gratuitously (to the horrified and disapproving looks of the rest of the table). I then asked him if he was sure he wanted to say that, making it clear that this time there would be very, very serious consequences for his character given what was about to happen. He smiled and said that she couldn't do anything to him and that he would get out of it as he always had. Except this time, it wasn't just simple bandits he had insulted; it was an archfey!
What had to happen, happened: the archfey disintegrated him, turning him into confetti, killing him instantly. The player immediately reacted by saying it was unfair and that I had a player-versus-DM mentality and that I had no right to kill his character instantly like that. I then explained that I had warned him a few moments earlier that if he did that, there would be extremely serious consequences for his character, but he decided to proceed anyway.
The other players are on my side; they think it was the most logical response to the situation and that the behavior of this player's character had to catch up with him sooner or later. However, I wonder if I did the right thing. Does an instant death like this seem too arbitrary to you? Should I allow his character to come back in some way? Or was it the right thing to do?
2024.05.21 13:31 N0m4dMan "Parade of Planets": Whales, Slaying Monsters & Big Cats
 | What in the sugar coated hype is going on... submitted by N0m4dMan to Superstonk [link] [comments] A Parade of Planets is when 4 planets in our solar system appear to be aligned, from down here on Earth. There is a rare astronomical event happening on the 3rd of June, where 6 planets will be visibly aligned, from everywhere in the world. Some astronomy & mythological information regarding the event: The Red Planet is now in Cetus [...] Saturn floats in Aquarius, near the 4th-magnitude star Phi (ϕ) Aquarii [...]Cetus is a constellation named to represent a Whale, said to have threatened Andromeda, which according to mythologists, all of this placement is occurring in the middle of 'The Sea' and Heracles & Perseus needed to slay this beast. The Tukano and Kobeua people of the Amazon used the stars of Cetus to create a jaguar, representing an entity of hurricanes and other violent storms.Spectral Properties of Phi (ϕ) Aquarii Now... Back to the "Parade of Planets": The Six Planets: Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The first four being visible with the naked eye. https://preview.redd.it/5bupai68nr1d1.png?width=1230&format=png&auto=webp&s=de9b64b27406c4bac7aeb08c0013e2594f33326a Venus is also approaching a super conjunction with the sun. Whatever that means. Jupiter & Saturn aligning make a 'Great Conjunction', however this reads to be more like a 'Parade of Planets', from what I've read. Despite this event last happening in December 2020 (from my brief research), it looks like it last happened around 400 years or so ago. Why is it happening again so soon? I don't have a clue. Jupiter & Saturns Great Conjunction repeat every ~120* Looks like a fractal pattern to me. And what does a fractal pattern do? Repeat in the micro & macro. I don't believe in astronomy. However, I do believe everything has purpose... Whales, Storms, Big Cats, Fractals*?!?!* IT'S PROVOCATIVE!!!Saying that, I think things are so interwoven and connected, that is is easy to connect pretty much anything to one another if you really want to.Edited: Grammar. |
2024.05.21 09:01 nanaluv__ AITA for kicking out my toxic MIL?
Disclaimer: This story does not belong to me. Grab some snacks and prepare yourself for this tale. I am a 32-year-old female, and my husband Carter is a 37-year-old male. We have been married for 10 years, but ever since our wedding, my husband’s mother has harbored animosity towards me. Let’s refer to her as “Karen,” fittingly so! Here is how the toxicity unfolded: On Thanksgiving, my husband and I visited his mother’s house. I was filled with excitement upon arrival, but as soon as Karen laid eyes on me, her smile vanished. It was our first meeting. Despite feeling nervous, I greeted her warmly; however, she responded by rolling her eyes and walking away. To contribute to the meal, I brought along a dish that she tasted only to immediately spit out in disgust. Her hurtful remark followed: “Is this what you call a dish?” Without saying a word in return, I simply walked away from the situation disheartened and taken aback by her behavior.
About 5 months later, my husband was at work while I stayed home with our kids and our dog, Roxy. I was in the midst of preparing food for the children when a loud knock interrupted me. Peering through the peephole, I discovered it was my mother-in-law (Karen) at the door. Wondering about her unexpected visit, I opened the door only to have her barge past me and start unpacking her belongings.
"Karen, are you here for a visit?" I inquired curiously.
"No, dear. I'm moving in!" she declared with a smug smile. As time passed, it became evident that having her around wasn't as pleasant as expected. She turned out to be messy and demanded that I clean up after her. Her behavior towards me and my children grew increasingly disrespectful; she even left clothes strewn across the floor instead of putting them away properly.
Upon returning from a trip with friends to find chaos at home, Karen greeted me mockingly with an evil look. Despite her provocations, I remained composed until one day when she crossed a line by physically pushing me aside while criticizing my efforts before snatching away the vacuum cleaner mid-cleaning session...
About 5 months later, my husband was at work while I stayed home with our kids and our dog, Roxy. As I was preparing food for the children, a loud knock on the door caught my attention. Peeking through the peephole, I saw that it was my mother-in-law (Karen) standing outside. Wondering about her unexpected visit, I opened the door only to have her push past me and start unpacking her belongings.
"Karen, are you here for a visit?" I asked curiously.
"No," she replied with a smug smile, "I am moving in!" Over the next two months, it became clear that having her around wasn't as harmonious as anticipated. She displayed messy habits and expected me to clean up after her. Her behavior towards me and especially my children grew increasingly disrespectful; she even left clothes scattered on the floor instead of putting them away properly.
Upon returning from a trip with friends to find chaos at home, Karen greeted me mockingly before escalating tensions by criticizing my efforts and accusing me of being a "bad mother" and potentially cheating on Carter during an argument over household chores. Things reached a breaking point when she physically attacked me during another confrontation where Carter intervened but ended up siding with his mother against me.
In an emotional moment following the altercation, Karen inexplicably began sobbing which led to further conflict between Carter and myself. Unable to tolerate any more mistreatment or violence in our home, I made the difficult decision to confront Karen directly and demand that she leave our house immediately. Following this incident, we cut off contact with Karen entirely.
After some time had passed without Karen's presence disrupting our family life anymore, life became peaceful again without her!
submitted by nanaluv__ to CharlotteDobreYouTube [link] [comments]
About 5 months later, my husband was at work while I stayed home with our kids and our dog, Roxy. I was in the midst of preparing food for the children when a loud knock interrupted me. Peering through the peephole, I discovered it was my mother-in-law (Karen) at the door. Wondering about her unexpected visit, I opened the door only to have her barge past me and start unpacking her belongings.
"Karen, are you here for a visit?" I inquired curiously.
"No, dear. I'm moving in!" she declared with a smug smile. As time passed, it became evident that having her around wasn't as pleasant as expected. She turned out to be messy and demanded that I clean up after her. Her behavior towards me and my children grew increasingly disrespectful; she even left clothes strewn across the floor instead of putting them away properly.
Upon returning from a trip with friends to find chaos at home, Karen greeted me mockingly with an evil look. Despite her provocations, I remained composed until one day when she crossed a line by physically pushing me aside while criticizing my efforts before snatching away the vacuum cleaner mid-cleaning session...
About 5 months later, my husband was at work while I stayed home with our kids and our dog, Roxy. As I was preparing food for the children, a loud knock on the door caught my attention. Peeking through the peephole, I saw that it was my mother-in-law (Karen) standing outside. Wondering about her unexpected visit, I opened the door only to have her push past me and start unpacking her belongings.
"Karen, are you here for a visit?" I asked curiously.
"No," she replied with a smug smile, "I am moving in!" Over the next two months, it became clear that having her around wasn't as harmonious as anticipated. She displayed messy habits and expected me to clean up after her. Her behavior towards me and especially my children grew increasingly disrespectful; she even left clothes scattered on the floor instead of putting them away properly.
Upon returning from a trip with friends to find chaos at home, Karen greeted me mockingly before escalating tensions by criticizing my efforts and accusing me of being a "bad mother" and potentially cheating on Carter during an argument over household chores. Things reached a breaking point when she physically attacked me during another confrontation where Carter intervened but ended up siding with his mother against me.
In an emotional moment following the altercation, Karen inexplicably began sobbing which led to further conflict between Carter and myself. Unable to tolerate any more mistreatment or violence in our home, I made the difficult decision to confront Karen directly and demand that she leave our house immediately. Following this incident, we cut off contact with Karen entirely.
After some time had passed without Karen's presence disrupting our family life anymore, life became peaceful again without her!
2024.05.21 08:53 Ok-Confusion-4613 I think my friendship may be toxic and I don't know what to do
Hey Reddit! This may become a lengthy post, so I will add a TL;DR at the bottom. I changed everyone's names in this post to keep their privacy.
I (23f) have been friends with Larry for roughly 3½ years. We met at a hospital and became temporary roommates in 2021, after I went through a long-term treatment and had nowhere to go. We decided to stay roommates and rent a bigger apartment together, which we moved into in Nov. 2022.
Larry and I have a shared friend circle and have been getting along great for almost 3 years. We never really had any fights before (which I now realize was mostly due to us both being scared of conflict and me leaving minor red flags uncommented). But many things changed when I started dating my (now-)fiancé.
Here are the reasons I think Larry may have turned into a toxic friend (I'm going to try to stick with the major things + examples):
I went to the hospital for psychogenic issues and had to stay there overnight. During that time he often had huge fights with Bonnie and the constant screaming and general turbulence at home stressed me a lot. I told him that if I noticed myself getting too stressed out due to the situation at home, I would consider staying at my mom's or fiancé's place for a couple days to avoid ending up in the hospital again. His reply was (I don't remember the exact wording, but the key message is the same): "So you are just gonna abandon us when Bonnie raises her voice? Great, I thought we'd go through everything together and you'd always help me, but if you want to leave as soon as Bonnie gets upset, sure!" I told him that wasn't what I said or meant and explained again that I need to prioritize my health and that next time I wouldn't ignore my psychogenic symptoms until it escalates, but retreat to a place where I could get a breather. After hearing my explanation he, once again, accused me of planning to abandon him and his daughter at the first "opportunity that presents itself". I told him once more that that wasn't what I said or meant, but he stuck to his version and brought it up multiple times in the days following that conversation.
This infuriates me so much, because I told him at least twice that I was grateful he walked the dogs in the morning but that there was no shame if he didn't have the time or energy to do so on some days. I asked him to just inform me in that case, because the doggos need to pee. His reply was that walking the dogs in the morning was something he enjoyed doing and it was therapeutic for him - he never once texted me or left me a piece of paper saying that the dogs have yet to be walked. Why the borderline animal abuse??? Why not just be honest?
Larry also constantly tells me how much I've changed, that I am not the person he initially befriended etc., since I have been dating my fiancé. He also told me in an argument that all my friends were distancing themselves from me because I had changed so much. I once asked him to define this grave change he was describing, which he couldn't. I ended up asking my other friends about it and they told me I had been a little different in the beginning of the relationship, but it all went back to normal after a couple weeks and that, to them, I was still the same likeable person.
TL;DR: The friend I share an apartment with is behaving in various ways that I think could be toxic and I don't know how to get out of here without losing everything.
submitted by Ok-Confusion-4613 to helpme [link] [comments]
I (23f) have been friends with Larry for roughly 3½ years. We met at a hospital and became temporary roommates in 2021, after I went through a long-term treatment and had nowhere to go. We decided to stay roommates and rent a bigger apartment together, which we moved into in Nov. 2022.
Larry and I have a shared friend circle and have been getting along great for almost 3 years. We never really had any fights before (which I now realize was mostly due to us both being scared of conflict and me leaving minor red flags uncommented). But many things changed when I started dating my (now-)fiancé.
Here are the reasons I think Larry may have turned into a toxic friend (I'm going to try to stick with the major things + examples):
- 1.) POTENTIAL GUILT TRIPPING; (I am writing "potential", since I obviously can't be 100% sure whether Larry's intention really is to make me feel guilty, but it feels a lot like it.) There are quite a few situations where I felt guilt-tripped, but it would be too long to list them all so I will tell you about a recent situation:
- 2.) HYPOCRISY; I already mentioned that Larry and I have a shared circle of friends and whenever Larry and I get into an argument, he is quick to call our friends and vent to them. However, Larry told me that he doesn't want me to talk about those conflicts with my family members or people he doesn't know. He says he is "scared they may turn me against him and ruin the friendship". He never asked me whether I am okay with him ranting to our shared friends though and I usually avoid dragging our friends into it, because I don't want to make them feel awkward or put them in a position where they may have to pick sides.
- 3.) INTENTIONAL MISUNDERSTANDING/OVERSTATEMENTS AND ACCUSATIONS; Larry has a tendency to present his assumptions and interpretations as facts. An example: Larry was at work and I was up in my room. I didn't hear when he came home (I was playing a video game, I think) and he didn't come upstairs to greet me. He later told his daughter Bonnie (15f), that I had locked myself in my room, since I wasn't feeling well. At least that is what Bonnie told me, but it is very believable to me, because he also said things like that about me to or in front of me in the past.
I went to the hospital for psychogenic issues and had to stay there overnight. During that time he often had huge fights with Bonnie and the constant screaming and general turbulence at home stressed me a lot. I told him that if I noticed myself getting too stressed out due to the situation at home, I would consider staying at my mom's or fiancé's place for a couple days to avoid ending up in the hospital again. His reply was (I don't remember the exact wording, but the key message is the same): "So you are just gonna abandon us when Bonnie raises her voice? Great, I thought we'd go through everything together and you'd always help me, but if you want to leave as soon as Bonnie gets upset, sure!" I told him that wasn't what I said or meant and explained again that I need to prioritize my health and that next time I wouldn't ignore my psychogenic symptoms until it escalates, but retreat to a place where I could get a breather. After hearing my explanation he, once again, accused me of planning to abandon him and his daughter at the first "opportunity that presents itself". I told him once more that that wasn't what I said or meant, but he stuck to his version and brought it up multiple times in the days following that conversation.
- 4.) DISRESPECTING BOUNDARIES; I remember an incident where I walked into the kitchen after waking up and Larry instantly started complaining about his ex-wife and the way CPS handled their case etc. I told him: "I just woke up, can I please have breakfast in peace, before talking about such hefty topics? I am still too tired to listen or give advice properly." Larry said that was okay, but as soon as I had prepared my bowl of cereal he continued ranting and asking me for my opinions on the matter. I was too tired to argue, so I just did my best to follow what he was saying and gave half-hearted, short answers. Another example: During the last big fight we had, he wanted to hug me. I told him I didn't want to, but he insisted and kept walking towards me. My fiancé, who was right next to me, snapped and shouted at Larry for not respecting my boundary and that I clearly said no. Larry later claimed that he had respected my boundary and had neither tried to verbally pressure me into hugging him, nor taken another step in my direction.
- 5.) LYING (AND GASLIGHTING?); Larry lies very very frequently and gets really aggressive and defensive whenever someone points that out. An example:
This infuriates me so much, because I told him at least twice that I was grateful he walked the dogs in the morning but that there was no shame if he didn't have the time or energy to do so on some days. I asked him to just inform me in that case, because the doggos need to pee. His reply was that walking the dogs in the morning was something he enjoyed doing and it was therapeutic for him - he never once texted me or left me a piece of paper saying that the dogs have yet to be walked. Why the borderline animal abuse??? Why not just be honest?
Larry also constantly tells me how much I've changed, that I am not the person he initially befriended etc., since I have been dating my fiancé. He also told me in an argument that all my friends were distancing themselves from me because I had changed so much. I once asked him to define this grave change he was describing, which he couldn't. I ended up asking my other friends about it and they told me I had been a little different in the beginning of the relationship, but it all went back to normal after a couple weeks and that, to them, I was still the same likeable person.
- 6.) DELIBERATE PROVOCATION; Larry often does things, that he knows make me angry. He knows that, because I told him about it insanely often and I continue to do it every time it happens. One of those things is constantly asking me whether "everything is okay between us". And by constantly I mean CONSTANTLY. I tell him everything's fine and he says: "I don't believe you." over and over until I snap and raise my voice. He then asks me why I'm so angry all of a sudden. He uses situations like these as a reaction to being criticized by saying: "You are also bitchy sometimes, like last time when I asked you whether everything's alright." I told him that this behaviour infuriates me, but he told me he just is like that and that I have to accept it, that I never had a problem with it before (which is not true) and that I also have flaws.
TL;DR: The friend I share an apartment with is behaving in various ways that I think could be toxic and I don't know how to get out of here without losing everything.
2024.05.21 08:51 holier-than-now Can I just hope that the JLLM is a bit wonky atm?
So, I’ve heard about people having the issue that bots leave the room for {{user}} to stew in their thoughts, and then I’ve also heard that bots en masse have been majorly fucking up basic human anatomy.
Overall, I’ve experienced both of these things while chatting with other bots and while testing my own. A couple of other problems I have faced is some acting weird besides their programming (ex. Constant state of immediate arousal with no provocation even though I could swear this guy was working not too long ago), and then also bots just… pulling my physical traits outta their butt despite my persona being very clear (and, again, having not had issues not too long ago).
Is it safe to say something in general is afoot that is soon to pass?
submitted by holier-than-now to JanitorAI_Official [link] [comments]
Overall, I’ve experienced both of these things while chatting with other bots and while testing my own. A couple of other problems I have faced is some acting weird besides their programming (ex. Constant state of immediate arousal with no provocation even though I could swear this guy was working not too long ago), and then also bots just… pulling my physical traits outta their butt despite my persona being very clear (and, again, having not had issues not too long ago).
Is it safe to say something in general is afoot that is soon to pass?
2024.05.21 08:30 GarbageStandard3030 How can I (22F) convince my boyfriend (23M) to come to my dance show?
Me and my boyfriend both come from dance backgrounds, we met in college as dance majors. I mention this to say that we are both familiar with the professional dance industry and what kind of jobs are available to dancers in our local area. Recently, I auditioned and got a job as a backup dancer for a popular local drag show. The gig pays really well, and I was very happy to be hired as a performer this early in my career. From the moment I told my boyfriend about the audition, he assumed the job would be like a go-go dancer type of gig, and did not approve. It was a huge argument, one that we could not see eye-to-eye on at all. We never had a fight like that before. I tried to tell him that this is a full production show with a choreographed numbers and other trained professional dancers, but he did not want to understand. He is set in his assumption that the show is meant to be provocative and sexy. However, if you know anything about drag shows you know that the "provocative" parts of the show are meant to be funny rather than actually sexy. Now, anytime I mention anything about this job to him he gets cold, distant, and changes the subject.
To give him some credit, the costumes that I wear are not the most conservative. The costumes are meant to be flashy, HOWEVER, they are standard dance costumes. Something that you would see girls wear at dance competitions or recitals. Look up "jazz dance costumes" on google and you will see the type of costumes I wear. To me, these type of costumes are just part of the job, and I have been wearing these type of costumes for years! Also, I wear two pairs of nude tights and nude undergarments, as this is the rule for dancers.
I just want to know how I can convince him that this show isn't as bad as he thinks it is. I've been trying to slowly slip in details about this job into our conversations, but every time he just shuts down and stops responding to me completely. How can I convince him to eventually come see the show? I feel like if he came to see the show he would understand that this is not as provocative and risky as he assumes it is, and he would enjoy the show! Is it a lost cause? Does he have reason to be upset? I'm so torn up over this as I like this job, I love my boyfriend, and I don't want to make any sacrifices!
submitted by GarbageStandard3030 to relationship_advice [link] [comments]
To give him some credit, the costumes that I wear are not the most conservative. The costumes are meant to be flashy, HOWEVER, they are standard dance costumes. Something that you would see girls wear at dance competitions or recitals. Look up "jazz dance costumes" on google and you will see the type of costumes I wear. To me, these type of costumes are just part of the job, and I have been wearing these type of costumes for years! Also, I wear two pairs of nude tights and nude undergarments, as this is the rule for dancers.
I just want to know how I can convince him that this show isn't as bad as he thinks it is. I've been trying to slowly slip in details about this job into our conversations, but every time he just shuts down and stops responding to me completely. How can I convince him to eventually come see the show? I feel like if he came to see the show he would understand that this is not as provocative and risky as he assumes it is, and he would enjoy the show! Is it a lost cause? Does he have reason to be upset? I'm so torn up over this as I like this job, I love my boyfriend, and I don't want to make any sacrifices!
2024.05.21 07:31 Equivalent_Force8674 Do I have grounds for a restraining order against my brother? (CA, USA)
Long story short, I am currently living with my younger brother and stepfather in a rented home. We all pay equal amounts in rent and utilities. I have been living here for the past 9 months, but have previously lived here in the past, as this is the home I grew up in.
I (F40's) believe my brother (32) has some kind of untreated mental illness. He became abusive and erratic from the moment I moved in last summer. Within the first few weeks, he physically grabbed me with such force that he left bruises on both my arms (unfortunately, I did not think to document this with photos). He regularly has emotional meltdowns that can include crying, screaming, throwing things, and insulting me.
His moods are erratic and often violently confrontational with little provocation. Something as benign as asking him to please do his dishes can lead to a half hour emotional meltdown. He makes efforts to restrict and control me and my movements within my own home. Last summer I developed a severe case of cellulitis on both legs caused by multiple mosquito bite infections because he refused to simply keep the windows and doors closed, saying this was an infringement on his personal freedom. It was severe enough for me to have two visits to urgent care, plus one ER visit and three rounds of antibiotics. At one point he even tried to hide the medications I needed so that I could not treat the infection.
He has purposely locked me out of the home at least once. He has most recently locked me INTO the home so that I could not get out (he says it was an "accident" but there are no accidents with him). He has made violent threats toward me by saying he wants to smash my head into the wall and kill me. He repeatedly tells me that I am "lucky" he hasn't punched me yet. He has woken me up at 3:30am screaming at the top of his lungs in order to purposely disrupt my sleep and terrorize me. He has also repeatedly threatened to deliberately do something that will cause all of us to be evicted, knowing full well that I will be homeless if that happens. So I live in constant fear of this threat.
I feel constantly unsafe whenever he is around. His moods are unpredictable and I feel like I never know what version of him I will be meeting on any given day. I am living here out of necessity only, as I had to leave my last apartment very abruptly due to ongoing maintenance/pest control issues that were not being addressed by the landlord. I had no other place to go. My choices were this or homelessness. I do not currently have the financial resources to leave or I would have done so right away. I would not wish this situation on my worst enemy.
I have spoken to the landlord about his behavior. He does not want to get involved. I have spoken to his father, who also does not want to get involved yet is fully aware of this problematic behavior, going so far as to suggest that my brother would likely be arrested for domestic violence if he ever has a wife or girlfriend (which he thankfully does not have). I have spoken to his close friends and members of his church, asking for intervention. They all simply told me to pray for him and refuse to step in in any way. I do not know what else to do as he won't seek help and yet I feel constantly unsafe both emotionally and physically.
submitted by Equivalent_Force8674 to legaladvice [link] [comments]
I (F40's) believe my brother (32) has some kind of untreated mental illness. He became abusive and erratic from the moment I moved in last summer. Within the first few weeks, he physically grabbed me with such force that he left bruises on both my arms (unfortunately, I did not think to document this with photos). He regularly has emotional meltdowns that can include crying, screaming, throwing things, and insulting me.
His moods are erratic and often violently confrontational with little provocation. Something as benign as asking him to please do his dishes can lead to a half hour emotional meltdown. He makes efforts to restrict and control me and my movements within my own home. Last summer I developed a severe case of cellulitis on both legs caused by multiple mosquito bite infections because he refused to simply keep the windows and doors closed, saying this was an infringement on his personal freedom. It was severe enough for me to have two visits to urgent care, plus one ER visit and three rounds of antibiotics. At one point he even tried to hide the medications I needed so that I could not treat the infection.
He has purposely locked me out of the home at least once. He has most recently locked me INTO the home so that I could not get out (he says it was an "accident" but there are no accidents with him). He has made violent threats toward me by saying he wants to smash my head into the wall and kill me. He repeatedly tells me that I am "lucky" he hasn't punched me yet. He has woken me up at 3:30am screaming at the top of his lungs in order to purposely disrupt my sleep and terrorize me. He has also repeatedly threatened to deliberately do something that will cause all of us to be evicted, knowing full well that I will be homeless if that happens. So I live in constant fear of this threat.
I feel constantly unsafe whenever he is around. His moods are unpredictable and I feel like I never know what version of him I will be meeting on any given day. I am living here out of necessity only, as I had to leave my last apartment very abruptly due to ongoing maintenance/pest control issues that were not being addressed by the landlord. I had no other place to go. My choices were this or homelessness. I do not currently have the financial resources to leave or I would have done so right away. I would not wish this situation on my worst enemy.
I have spoken to the landlord about his behavior. He does not want to get involved. I have spoken to his father, who also does not want to get involved yet is fully aware of this problematic behavior, going so far as to suggest that my brother would likely be arrested for domestic violence if he ever has a wife or girlfriend (which he thankfully does not have). I have spoken to his close friends and members of his church, asking for intervention. They all simply told me to pray for him and refuse to step in in any way. I do not know what else to do as he won't seek help and yet I feel constantly unsafe both emotionally and physically.
2024.05.21 07:19 VeganBTdubs Spiritually obese? Physically too.
I'm trying to be more intentional with this round of fasting. I have reduced weight but on my non fasting days I haven't been living with intention. I'll say "I'm fasting" then I just eat after 30 odd hours and think nothing of it. In this fast I want to incorporate more mindful activities like meditation and I'm learning flexibility.
Some accountability buds would be nice.
I made a group on LIFE called 33 Club. You're welcome to join. All spiritualities can join but keep things positive and non-provocative. I post my fasts and my thoughts.
submitted by VeganBTdubs to Water_Fasting [link] [comments]
Some accountability buds would be nice.
I made a group on LIFE called 33 Club. You're welcome to join. All spiritualities can join but keep things positive and non-provocative. I post my fasts and my thoughts.
2024.05.21 03:27 No-Improvement451 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of
Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. or when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings
submitted by No-Improvement451 to u/No-Improvement451 [link] [comments]
2024.05.21 02:09 YakOne1782 AITA for telling my mom that my dad called me fat in front of a room full of people?
I’m on mobile so please excuse any formatting errors. Thanks! I (18F), a senior in high school, was leave school last Friday when my car broke down. It’s not really relevant, but I’ll note it’s technically my parent’s car- they just let me drive it for school commutes. We’ve been having issues with the battery recently, so I figured I only needed a jumpstart, and called my dad (49M) who didn’t pick up right way. Instead I called some friends to help jumpstart it (the battery was indeed dead and I just found out there’s been a recall on the model I drive for this issue.)
We’ve got a dealership only a mile from my high school, so once my dad saw my voicemail and my friends got the car started my dad and I drove to the dealership to get the car looked at. They helped us quickly and sent us with a number to the waiting room where I, my dad, and six or so others were crammed to wait for our cars.
Everything was going well so far: I’d aced a quiz in my German class, made plans for the weekend, my dad was reading emails and showing me bad Facebook memes, and I was actually having a decent day. The issue stems from a comment my dad made out of the blue.
The dealership’s waiting room had a tv across from the table we were sitting at, and I was glancing up at it occasionally while picking out some music to listen to while we waited. An ad for bras started playing, the kind that smooth out that space just under your armpits where skin usually bunches.
I wasn’t really paying attention to it until my dad looked up and, not quietly at all, said “Hey look, a bra to get rid of all those fatty wrinkles,” while pinching the skin in question. I was genuinely shocked and didn’t say anything for a good ten seconds, just staring at him after jerking my side away. After I processed what he said I responded, “That was weird,” because that is a really weird thing to say to your teenage daughter. Then I told him that maybe they’d show an ad for hair loss products next, because he needed those more (he’s gone white and is actively balding.)
After a few minutes of him acting like what he said was absolutely normal and of me trying not to get emotional, I went to the bathroom and just stood there alone for a good ten minutes. I was and still am upset by what he said to me. I feel like he was trying to humiliate me for some reason, because not only did he grab me and insult my weight and body, but he did it loudly in a small room full of people.
I know for a fact some people turned and looked, and part of the reason I went to the bathroom afterwards (besides trying not to cry) is because I have a diagnosed social anxiety disorder. It gets really bad when I’m in large groups of unfamiliar people, and unbearable when the attention is on me. My hands got really sweaty and my chest started to hurt, and I had to stand alone in a grimy uncleaned bathroom until I calmed down so I wouldn’t freak out in front of the whole room. It was an awful experience all around and it definitely reopened some thoughts about myself and my appearance that I haven’t actively had since freshman year. My dad also knows I have this disorder, but from what I’ve gathered he believes it’s a crutch that I use because the ‘new generation is weak and wants to be victims and doesn’t take accountability.’ I thinks it’s reasonable to note that my mom, his wife, is diagnosed and medicated for the same anxiety disorder that I am. The only reason I bring this up is because I think it’s relevant to explain why I think this was such a shitty thing to do.
Another reason why I’m upset: I’ve always been insecure about my weight, specifically because of him and some comments he’s made in the past. He once told me at the age of ten that I was ‘getting a bit of a belly’ and ‘needed to eat better’ as if I was the one deciding what food came into the house and onto my plate. I know those comments alone don’t sound bad, but regardless of how he meant it I ended up crying in my room because all I heard was my dad telling me I need to lose weight. This is the most vivid time I remember him commenting, but he’s done this a lot throughout my childhood. He knows I’m insecure about my weight, but regardless I feel like it’s unspoken that you shouldn’t make comments about someone’s body like that, especially your own daughter.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a few pounds heavier than I should be for my height, but I’m no where near obese or even fat. I’ve got softer features because of it, and I know I could lose a bit if I exercised a bit more, but case in point in a healthy and very average weight. He, on the other hand, has a beer gut and weights well over 280 pounds.
That was all the premise, and this is where I might be the asshole. When I got home I locked myself in my room and my dad went off to go shopping and pick up my sisters from their afterschool activities. I’d made plans to sleep over with a friend, and while waiting for her to arrive and pick me up my mom came home and we ended up chatting for a while about nothing. I was still pretty put off by my dad’s comment and once our conversation had ended I piped back up and asked “Can I ruin the mood?”
I told her the story I told here, that we were waiting and say the ad, that he pinched my side and made the comment, and my mom’s eyes physically bulged when I told her what happened. In short, she was pissed. She’s always been in my corner and she was appalled that he’d made this comment, and was even more upset and a bit angry when I told her there were other people present, too. She told me that it was an absolutely inappropriate thing for him to say and do, and that she has no idea why he would say that to me, and reassured me that I wasn’t fat in the slightest. I really appreciated it, and she actually pointed out another thing made the whole situation more odd.
She said it was extremely out of character for him, and also didn’t make sense because I don’t show off my figure whatsoever. I was wearing baggy jeans and a t-shirt a few sizes too big at the time, and a large jacket over top of it that I had just tied around my waist before he made the comment. I hate dressing provocatively or showing off my body, and even wear swim trunks and a tank top when swimming. All this to say there wasn’t a single hint of a wrinkle or any skin showing on my torso- he had to go out of his way to grab a chunk of my skin and mock me.
My mom hugged me and said she’d talk to him for me, and when my friend arrived I left and got dinner. We ended up sleeping over at my place (against my will but whatever) and once she left the next morning my dad came up to me and we talked. I had made breakfast for my friend and I and hadn’t felt like eating much even though I was hungry, and my dad accused me of trying to make him feel bad for making ‘a joke.’ I told him it wasn’t a joke because it was just mean, and he didn’t apologize for hurting my feeling, and told me I’d made a scene with Mom for no reason and she was pissed at him. He said I was starting problems and being immature and taking things too seriously. I just put in my earbuds and cleaned up the kitchen.
One huge reason his ‘joke’ hurt me specifically is because he’s very vocal and adamant that for any joke to be funny it has to be rooted in truth. I can’t emphasize this enough; any time he makes a joke, whether it’s genuinely funny or just off color and sort of derogatory, he makes the same comment about humor being rooted in truth. These are genuinely the only types of jokes he ever makes. You can see why this would upset me then, because he’s made it very clear that he believes his ‘jokes’ are all true on some level. Either he made the first exception to this rule of his life, or he was calling me fat to my face (and the entire waiting room full of people) and is trying to play it off like I’m overreacting when I have every reason to think he wasn’t.
On the other hand, maybe I’m reading way too far into this and he’s right. Maybe I was an asshole to bring my mom into this and upset her, and get him into trouble. Maybe I am being too sensitive and what he said wasn’t as bad as I feel like it was. Please let me know what you think.
TLDR: My dad made a loud comment implying I was fat in a small crowded room, then got mad that I told my mom and got him in trouble. He claims it was a joke I misinterpreted but I think he was trying to humiliate me.
submitted by YakOne1782 to AITAH [link] [comments]
We’ve got a dealership only a mile from my high school, so once my dad saw my voicemail and my friends got the car started my dad and I drove to the dealership to get the car looked at. They helped us quickly and sent us with a number to the waiting room where I, my dad, and six or so others were crammed to wait for our cars.
Everything was going well so far: I’d aced a quiz in my German class, made plans for the weekend, my dad was reading emails and showing me bad Facebook memes, and I was actually having a decent day. The issue stems from a comment my dad made out of the blue.
The dealership’s waiting room had a tv across from the table we were sitting at, and I was glancing up at it occasionally while picking out some music to listen to while we waited. An ad for bras started playing, the kind that smooth out that space just under your armpits where skin usually bunches.
I wasn’t really paying attention to it until my dad looked up and, not quietly at all, said “Hey look, a bra to get rid of all those fatty wrinkles,” while pinching the skin in question. I was genuinely shocked and didn’t say anything for a good ten seconds, just staring at him after jerking my side away. After I processed what he said I responded, “That was weird,” because that is a really weird thing to say to your teenage daughter. Then I told him that maybe they’d show an ad for hair loss products next, because he needed those more (he’s gone white and is actively balding.)
After a few minutes of him acting like what he said was absolutely normal and of me trying not to get emotional, I went to the bathroom and just stood there alone for a good ten minutes. I was and still am upset by what he said to me. I feel like he was trying to humiliate me for some reason, because not only did he grab me and insult my weight and body, but he did it loudly in a small room full of people.
I know for a fact some people turned and looked, and part of the reason I went to the bathroom afterwards (besides trying not to cry) is because I have a diagnosed social anxiety disorder. It gets really bad when I’m in large groups of unfamiliar people, and unbearable when the attention is on me. My hands got really sweaty and my chest started to hurt, and I had to stand alone in a grimy uncleaned bathroom until I calmed down so I wouldn’t freak out in front of the whole room. It was an awful experience all around and it definitely reopened some thoughts about myself and my appearance that I haven’t actively had since freshman year. My dad also knows I have this disorder, but from what I’ve gathered he believes it’s a crutch that I use because the ‘new generation is weak and wants to be victims and doesn’t take accountability.’ I thinks it’s reasonable to note that my mom, his wife, is diagnosed and medicated for the same anxiety disorder that I am. The only reason I bring this up is because I think it’s relevant to explain why I think this was such a shitty thing to do.
Another reason why I’m upset: I’ve always been insecure about my weight, specifically because of him and some comments he’s made in the past. He once told me at the age of ten that I was ‘getting a bit of a belly’ and ‘needed to eat better’ as if I was the one deciding what food came into the house and onto my plate. I know those comments alone don’t sound bad, but regardless of how he meant it I ended up crying in my room because all I heard was my dad telling me I need to lose weight. This is the most vivid time I remember him commenting, but he’s done this a lot throughout my childhood. He knows I’m insecure about my weight, but regardless I feel like it’s unspoken that you shouldn’t make comments about someone’s body like that, especially your own daughter.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a few pounds heavier than I should be for my height, but I’m no where near obese or even fat. I’ve got softer features because of it, and I know I could lose a bit if I exercised a bit more, but case in point in a healthy and very average weight. He, on the other hand, has a beer gut and weights well over 280 pounds.
That was all the premise, and this is where I might be the asshole. When I got home I locked myself in my room and my dad went off to go shopping and pick up my sisters from their afterschool activities. I’d made plans to sleep over with a friend, and while waiting for her to arrive and pick me up my mom came home and we ended up chatting for a while about nothing. I was still pretty put off by my dad’s comment and once our conversation had ended I piped back up and asked “Can I ruin the mood?”
I told her the story I told here, that we were waiting and say the ad, that he pinched my side and made the comment, and my mom’s eyes physically bulged when I told her what happened. In short, she was pissed. She’s always been in my corner and she was appalled that he’d made this comment, and was even more upset and a bit angry when I told her there were other people present, too. She told me that it was an absolutely inappropriate thing for him to say and do, and that she has no idea why he would say that to me, and reassured me that I wasn’t fat in the slightest. I really appreciated it, and she actually pointed out another thing made the whole situation more odd.
She said it was extremely out of character for him, and also didn’t make sense because I don’t show off my figure whatsoever. I was wearing baggy jeans and a t-shirt a few sizes too big at the time, and a large jacket over top of it that I had just tied around my waist before he made the comment. I hate dressing provocatively or showing off my body, and even wear swim trunks and a tank top when swimming. All this to say there wasn’t a single hint of a wrinkle or any skin showing on my torso- he had to go out of his way to grab a chunk of my skin and mock me.
My mom hugged me and said she’d talk to him for me, and when my friend arrived I left and got dinner. We ended up sleeping over at my place (against my will but whatever) and once she left the next morning my dad came up to me and we talked. I had made breakfast for my friend and I and hadn’t felt like eating much even though I was hungry, and my dad accused me of trying to make him feel bad for making ‘a joke.’ I told him it wasn’t a joke because it was just mean, and he didn’t apologize for hurting my feeling, and told me I’d made a scene with Mom for no reason and she was pissed at him. He said I was starting problems and being immature and taking things too seriously. I just put in my earbuds and cleaned up the kitchen.
One huge reason his ‘joke’ hurt me specifically is because he’s very vocal and adamant that for any joke to be funny it has to be rooted in truth. I can’t emphasize this enough; any time he makes a joke, whether it’s genuinely funny or just off color and sort of derogatory, he makes the same comment about humor being rooted in truth. These are genuinely the only types of jokes he ever makes. You can see why this would upset me then, because he’s made it very clear that he believes his ‘jokes’ are all true on some level. Either he made the first exception to this rule of his life, or he was calling me fat to my face (and the entire waiting room full of people) and is trying to play it off like I’m overreacting when I have every reason to think he wasn’t.
On the other hand, maybe I’m reading way too far into this and he’s right. Maybe I was an asshole to bring my mom into this and upset her, and get him into trouble. Maybe I am being too sensitive and what he said wasn’t as bad as I feel like it was. Please let me know what you think.
TLDR: My dad made a loud comment implying I was fat in a small crowded room, then got mad that I told my mom and got him in trouble. He claims it was a joke I misinterpreted but I think he was trying to humiliate me.
2024.05.21 00:20 Test_Subject_001 If you haven't actually one tricked Genji for a few days without swapping, you don't understand how bad things really are
Sorry for the provocative title, I'm not intending to gatekeep, but I really think we're in a weird situation here where most of the playerbase doesn't realize how rough things are for the high rank Genji OTPs.
Low rank Genjis which comprise most forums are happy with the easy new blade + shuriken hitboxes, since they are in lobbies where people don't have the mechanics to instantly one shot blade or shut them down. The skill floor has been lowered so much they are now getting kills where they wouldn't have before.
Likewise, higher ranked flex dps players who only swap to Genji when the comp is right will find success, since they mainly play Genji when their team is suited to it. This is the most effective and healthy way to use Genji, but it blinds them to the brutality of not swapping.
So who is left? It's the miniscule, masochistic portion of the playerbase who are both high rank and a Genji OTP. This small clade of players has had their entire existence and hero fantasy nuked, and when they speak out about it they find little sympathy.
From my own experience, I was able to one trick this hero through thick and thin for 5 years, until the S9 HP changes. Only now have I been forced to completely change my entire playstyle, and only now has my experience become so consistently unfun that I don't want to log on at all.
Take Hiku for another example, an extremely wholesome and skilled Genji OTP with thousands of hours. He made his living off of clipping giant nano blades and one shot combos for tik tok / youtube, both of which are now nearly impossible to do with the current breakpoints. Hiku, despite being one of the best Genjis on the planet, has fallen to Diamond multiple times and even there he cannot effectively dive backlines, despite being a t500 DPS with godly mechanics. This means that random Diamond support players are winning duels against world class dive specialists who have played since launch.
After never complaining for years and years, he has now put out dedicated complaint videos on the state of Genji, his streams are far shorter, he grows frustrated after just a few matches.
Many will say "You should just swap" but this is really the core point, you didn't have to swap in 90% of matches in OW1. Now you are hard throwing half your games by even attempting to be a one trick. We've moved from Genji being hard, yet rewarding, to being extremely hard and also extremely unrewarding.
submitted by Test_Subject_001 to GenjiMains [link] [comments]
Low rank Genjis which comprise most forums are happy with the easy new blade + shuriken hitboxes, since they are in lobbies where people don't have the mechanics to instantly one shot blade or shut them down. The skill floor has been lowered so much they are now getting kills where they wouldn't have before.
Likewise, higher ranked flex dps players who only swap to Genji when the comp is right will find success, since they mainly play Genji when their team is suited to it. This is the most effective and healthy way to use Genji, but it blinds them to the brutality of not swapping.
So who is left? It's the miniscule, masochistic portion of the playerbase who are both high rank and a Genji OTP. This small clade of players has had their entire existence and hero fantasy nuked, and when they speak out about it they find little sympathy.
From my own experience, I was able to one trick this hero through thick and thin for 5 years, until the S9 HP changes. Only now have I been forced to completely change my entire playstyle, and only now has my experience become so consistently unfun that I don't want to log on at all.
Take Hiku for another example, an extremely wholesome and skilled Genji OTP with thousands of hours. He made his living off of clipping giant nano blades and one shot combos for tik tok / youtube, both of which are now nearly impossible to do with the current breakpoints. Hiku, despite being one of the best Genjis on the planet, has fallen to Diamond multiple times and even there he cannot effectively dive backlines, despite being a t500 DPS with godly mechanics. This means that random Diamond support players are winning duels against world class dive specialists who have played since launch.
After never complaining for years and years, he has now put out dedicated complaint videos on the state of Genji, his streams are far shorter, he grows frustrated after just a few matches.
Many will say "You should just swap" but this is really the core point, you didn't have to swap in 90% of matches in OW1. Now you are hard throwing half your games by even attempting to be a one trick. We've moved from Genji being hard, yet rewarding, to being extremely hard and also extremely unrewarding.
2024.05.21 00:13 InverseNexarus 60+ Year Old DM does not charge his friends in Pay-to-Play campaign, insults the party for his amusement, and is probably a misogynist. Spoilers for Curse of Strahd.
 | Last Monday I posted a quick and dirty RPG horror story about a pay-to-play campaign. This will be a proper attempt at telling the whole story, from the alluring start to my bitter resignation. Spoilers ahead for the beginning portions of Curse of Strahd. Trigger Warning for bullying and mentions of self-harm. submitted by InverseNexarus to rpghorrorstories [link] [comments] Mondays and Tuesdays are my guaranteed days off, so that is when I am available to enjoy my TTRPG hobby. Typically I am involved in three or four campaigns a week as either a DM or a player. A year-long campaign I was running reached its finale in the middle of March. When that ended and the time slot opened up, I wanted to be a player for a while. So I started looking in all the usual places; Discord servers I am a part of, StartPlaying ads, LFG threads, and the Roll20 boards. I indiscriminately applied for free-to-play and pay-to-play games at 1 PM on Mondays and ultimately got invited to join a Curse of Strahd campaign. I’ve experienced good and bad games in both camps, so this story is not about bashing pay-to-play games. Being a DM requires time, effort, and availability; and I am willing to pay since free games are not typically hosted during that time slot. The DM hosting this Curse of Strahd campaign presented himself as a knowledgeable Grognard from the Gygaxian era. A retired man who ran D&D games to have fun and get a bit of spending money as a side hustle. He made promises that this campaign was going to be more than just an out-of-the-box 5th edition game. It would run the gambit of Ravenloft’s rich history taking elements from older editions and novels like ‘I Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire’. The game would be going from level 1 to 20, as defeating Strahd and escaping Barovia was just the beginning. He planned on the party visiting other domains of dread and dark places within the shadowfel. During a voice call interview, we spoke about table conduct, civility, respect, lines and veils, and all the things that sold me the idea he was a professional DM and cared about the integrity of his campaign. At no point did this grown-ass old man proclaim anything along the lines of, “This will be like playing D&D with two friends in a basement, and you’re the third wheel who buys our snacks”. If he had, I would not have signed up. We shall call him the Bantering DM for the rest of the story. Two weeks go by and the game fills with four players: My half-goblin moon druid named Olivia; an elf bladesinger wizard named Cayden; a purple tiefling lore bard named Eternal Cake; lastly the problem player Jormungandr the fallen-aasimar giant barbarian. We have session zero with everyone in the Discord voice channel. The Bantering DM goes over the same points from the interview and has us go around the table so that we can introduce ourselves, our characters, and the lines/veils we’d like to avoid. I don’t like witnessing instances of child abuse, Cayden does not like descriptions of spiders, Eternal Cake does not want the party to torture NPCs, and Jormungandr asks that we be patient with him as he has ADHD. I go above and beyond by making high-resolution character tokens for everyone. As we are chatting and filling out our character sheets, it is revealed that Eternal Cake and Jormungandr are longtime friends of the Bantering DM and are not paying for the sessions like Cayden and myself. Personally, I’d feel more comfortable if all the players either paid a fee or played for free, but I let it slide because everyone seemed nice at the time. https://preview.redd.it/er4ul1kgmn1d1.png?width=1129&format=png&auto=webp&s=e9a8df11e4c27d1a3f89f7fab8de05985bae6667 In session one, unfortunately, Eternal Cake was not able to join us so we had to puppet his purple tiefling. The Bantering DM uses the Creeping Mists introduction. Each of our characters was spirited to Barovia with whatever equipment we had on our person. Cayden and Jormungandr sounded mildly inconvenienced upon discovering that they were kidnapped by magical mist and then plopped into a dark forest. Meanwhile, Olivia was scared out of her mind and avoided the three strange men. She decided to climb a tree to find a road or landmarks. Survival checks were made, she discovered a road not too far away and heard the howling of wolves in the distance. Even though she did not trust these men, she motioned for them to follow her, hopefully, they’d be safe together. We were ambushed by three wolves on the road. During the surprise round, both Cayden and Eternal Cake were rendered unconscious. Pack tactics caused a critical hit on Cayden, the wolf’s bite attack damage was 13, meaning his wizard with 7 hit points was a single point away from instantly dying. Thankfully, I prepared healing spells for just such an occasion. It was at this point that I got to experience the Bantering DM and Jormungandr’s dynamic. DM: “At advantage from pack tactics, that is a 17 to hit.” Barb: “No that does not hit me.” DM: “Your token is linked to your sheet. You have 15 AC, my guy.” Barb: “What about with a shield? Ever think about that?” DM: “Even if you had a shield, that's 17, it meets it beats. But you're using a maul.” Barb: “Does Cake have silvery barbs? I demand a reroll.” DM: “Cake is unconscious.” Me: “Um, I will get him up when it is my turn. Can you drop it?” Barb: “Fine.” DM: “That is 7 piercing damage.” Barb: “7 bullshit damage! I have not even had a turn. I’m not raging so it is FULL!” Olivia played cautiously, healing the downed party members and using ranged cantrips. Jormungandr did big damage with his maul but complained and argued with the Bantering DM, extending each of his turns longer than they needed to be. Injured, but grateful to be alive, we travel down the muddy road. The party makes it to the village of Barovia. We wander the streets and eventually find the Blood of the Vine tavern. Cayden and Jormungandr do the majority of the talking, as Olivia is unsure if the villagers will be hostile or welcoming to a goblin like her. The Bantering DM laced the expositional dialog with a lot of profanity, personal attacks, and spitting on the floor. The barkeep explained that spitting was a Barovian custom, that if an evil thing is expressed one must spit quickly otherwise demons will possess the soul. The insults were primarily based on our characters' appearances. Cayden was called a knife-ear, short, girly man, hairless, and physically weak. Jormungandr was mocked for being stupid, a savage brute, and likely to get struck by lightning as he had a metal pauldron. Eternal Cake was spared as he was not at the session, though I imagine the Bantering DM had plenty to say about a purple devil man. The barkeep called Olivia an ugly greenskin, asked where the rest of her clothes were, if she was like goblins in fairytales that hide under children's beds to eat their toes, and that I may as well “get it over with as it will happen sooner or later”, implying that I should kill myself. When he said that, Olivia spat and glared at the man. Through that abuse, we learned the leader of the town recently died. His son Ismark was now in charge, but no one liked him. There was a cursed child with red hair named Ireena, taken in by the prior burgomaster. The ruler of this valley is called The Devil and he’s been sending monsters to torment the village recently. The priest of the local church had gone mad when his son died in a recent attack. Finally, there is a town further down the road called Vallaki. We rent a room and end the session with a milestone level up. After the game wrapped up, we were still in the voice call and I expressed a couple of concerns I had about the banter during combat. Saying that it made the fight drag on for longer. I also said that I could handle rude or unlikeable NPCs and that I understand Barovia is a bleak atmosphere, but I felt the barkeep overstepped into abusive language with his comments. The Bantering DM apologized, said that it was all just in character, and excused the innkeeper by saying he is scared, small-minded, and considered us a bad omen on top of recent terrible events. I chalked it up to adjusting to a new group. This will be the only time that the Bantering DM will apologize or engage with my concerns and criticisms. After this, he would ignore what I had to say. For session two Eternal Cake is unable to play again. The party woke up and left the inn. Immediately we are confronted by Ismark, he puffs himself up and banishes us from the town. Yelling for us to get out, that we were harming his people, we were unwelcome, and no merchant was legally allowed to trade with us. Then he stomped off unwilling to talk about whether or not we could help his people. Now, I’ve run Curse of Strahd before, I have meta-knowledge about things we can do in this village. There is content to explore, stuff to do, and ways to better the village. Some of which was hinted at by the barkeep last session. However, in character, Olivia was told to kill herself and a few hours later got banished. She does not belong here, she is not wanted, so the true neutral thing to do is leave. But in-character and out-of-character are very different beasts because I know that leaving would mean abandoning the story's most pivotal character Ireena. Jormungandr and Cayden both agree, well screw this town if everyone is going to be a jerk. I’m panicking, internally screaming, trying to come up with an in-character reason to force us to meet Ireena, but drawing a blank. Then as we are about one hundred paces outside of town, we hear a young woman calling out after us. It is Ireena. She is running after us, short of breath and begging us to stop for a second. She explains that we are the heroes of prophecy. Asking if she could travel with us to Vallaki. The way that Bantering DM is playing Ireena, makes me mad, as he is putting on a stereotypical airhead voice and making her sound dumb. Cayden and Jormungandr pick up on this and ask a few questions. Ireena explains that she was never allowed out of the house and that this is the furthest she’s been outside of the village. She found her dad's old breastplate and rapier, but she’d never used them before. That she’s never been in a fight. Later on, the Bantering DM would show this by having her routinely make dexterity saving throws in combat to not trip and fall prone. Describing her as swinging wildly and whenever she did hit an enemy made it sound like an accident. Nor does she seem to have any bonds with her village, or care to say goodbye to her brother. The biggest problem is never mentioned out loud, but through meta-knowledge I know that her father has not been buried yet. This means that the Bantering DM chose to cut the funeral from the module, or that it still needs to be done but Ireena does not care about laying her father to rest. We travel down the road and come to the gallows at the crossroads. It just so happens that Olivia sees the apparition of her own body dangling from the noose. She expresses sorrow and I hint at backstory trauma, calling the event “probably a bad memory of the last time I had a rope around my neck”. Then the Bantering DM performs the final part of Ireena’s character assassination. Ireena kneels down, looks Olivia in the eye, and says, “You must have gone mad”, then laughs at her. This is not Ireena, this is a careless fool with no empathy. I don’t know why the Bantering DM made these changes. Because he is sexist? To be funny? Is it because he considers the village portion of Barovia boring? Is he ignorant or malicious? I cannot answer these questions, nor will I pretend to be a mind reader. I am just laying out what he did. We continued to travel down the road, eventually meeting an old woman with a cart headed toward the village. Ireena seemed to know this woman, calling her Granny, and spoke louder to imply the older woman was hard of hearing. She greeted us and offered pies for sale. With meta-knowledge I know that this is Morgantha, a night hag who kills people and grinds their bones at her windmill aptly named Bonegrinder. But I would never act on this knowledge nor spoil the surprise for anyone else. Jormungandr then asked, “Are the pies made of people?”, without any suspicious behavior or provocation. Granny said ‘no, of course not’. But then Jormungandr started to question the old lady intensely. Why are you traveling all by yourself? Are you not scared of wolves? How big is this woman DM? Does she look like she has an arcane focus? Is there anything weird about her cart? Can I do an insight check to sense her motivations? He hardly even let the DM answer the damn question before firing off another one. So I break character and say. “Stop meta-gaming! Knock it off!” Confronting Jormungandr seemed to get him to stop, but this should be the job of the DM, especially one who laid out a list of table etiquette during session zero. Once we resumed, in character I ran defense for the hag. Saying that as a druid I could talk to animals and giving them food often lets them know you are friendly. Just because she is an old woman, does not mean she was incapable of taking care of herself. To which the hag agreed and gave me a free pie. After that, we got to the Vistani camp and Madame Eva’s fortune-telling. The cards we got were the best pulls I’ve ever seen, super thematic, and a great fated ally. The Sunsword would be at the beacon of Agronvostholt after we light it. The Tome is hidden in Baba Lysaga’s hut, makes sense that she’d keep her darling son's diary safe. The Holy Symbol is behind the sun at St. Markovia, so we have to confront a fallen angel to retrieve an amulet of faith. And we got the G.O.A.T. - Ezmerelda d'Avenir, we could run into her at a bunch of different places. All of this was meta-knowledge, of course, and unlike Jormungandr I did not intend to start demanding we go to these places to speedrun win D&D. We ended the session at that point, and once again we got a milestone level up. I left the voice call, took a few days to cool off, and then carefully wrote out a respectful message detailing my frustrations to the Bantering DM. Both about Jormungandr’s meta-gaming outburst during the hag interaction and how he chose to portray Ireena Kolyana. I explained that she was coming across as an unempathetic ditz. The way she was acting made it difficult for my character to like or trust her. Hammering on the points about the funeral as well as her mocking Olivia at the gallows. I wrote that I understand there are many ways the community around Curse of Strahd has characterized Ireena. Ranging from Palidoozy’s disney princess version to Dragnacarta’s complete rework of her character into an arc to recover her memories. Sometimes she is a damsel in distress, other times the light that Barovia desperately needs. I never got a response to my criticisms. Perhaps I was out of line? I did not want my comments to come across as backseat DMing. I never interrupted the flow of the session, waiting until afterward to try and communicate my concerns. I felt like my issues were tangible and explainable. I did consider leaving the game if things did not improve. In hindsight, I think that it was the insane fortune pulls that got me to stay. In the third session, Eternal Cake could play with us, but Cayden could not. Also, we got a new player added to the roster. A paladin named Paul. The party travels down the road until they come across a kidnapping in progress. Several men were tying up a young woman and stuffing her into a burlap sack. We charged in, and the DM puppeted Cayden. Paul was introduced in this fight. He emerged from the bushes and went after the bandits, ready to smite evil and save a damsel. Eternal Cake passed out inspiration like candy and used spells like bless and command. Jormungandr became a big angry boy and smashed his way through the bandits. Olivia got to show off her higher AC from taking a level dip into monk. Blowing everyone’s mind when I explained how these features stacked with wildshape. However, once again this combat brought out the worst in Bantering DM and Jormungandr. DM: “The bandit disengages and runs over here. Then he fires a crossbow at George-Munger.” Barb: “Jormungandr.” DM: “That is what I said, Gorge-Gander.” Barb: “Say my name right. Jormungandr.” DM: “Your Muh Ganger.” Barb: “George is my cat. He is a milk puddle. But I am not George.” Me: “Can we please keep combat going?” Barb: “No one asked you.” Me: “Whatever…” DM: “Anyway, a 13 misses your AC. Then it is this bandit’s turn. And he kills Jormungandr instantly.” Barb: “You haven't even rolled yet.” We manage to win the fight and have one enemy restrained in my entangle spell. During combat, we decided as a group to spare one of the kidnappers so that we could question him. Untying the young woman and pulling her from the sack. Then the girl casts produce flame and murders the bandit. Everyone is miffed, as it felt like the Bantering DM took away our opportunity to gain information. The girl explained that she was a Vistana named Arabella. Asking for us to guide her back to her camp, it is not far from Vallaki. We do so, and I don’t remember much of what happened during this session. I was upset about the bantering and that our group agency was taken away. I disassociated from the conversations but got the gist of it Like with Ismark and the barkeep, the Vistani people insulted us. They gave the party a cloak of protection as a reward for saving Arabella. The Bantering DM said that we should argue over who gets to wear it. The Vistani name-dropped Strahd and called themselves his allies. Telling us that we may as well give up any hope of escaping. He briefly mentions dusk elves also being in the camp. At one point, the Bantering DM realized I was not contributing to the conversation. So Arrigal asked if Olivia was for sale. I flatly said, “I am free, don’t ever say something like that to me again!” The lines between in and out-of-character blurred. When it was about ten minutes till, I wanted to do something else. I said that I would be interested in speaking with the dusk elves. The Bantering DM said, “They are prisoners and the Vistani told you to not bother them”. I asked if I could make a stealth check. He said, “There are like 300 Vistani in this camp and someone will spot you.” On the one hand, he did not make me roll for something I could not succeed in, but it still felt shitty to be told no it is impossible. We ended the session with a milestone level-up. I did not write the Bantering DM between sessions. I should not have returned for another game. Fourth session, Eternal Cake is once again missing in action. I had hoped that in this session everyone would be able to play and we could finally all get on the same page. We were also supposed to go into the town of Vallaki. However, once we started walking down the path a dusk elf appeared. She, yes a female dusk elf named Kassy-Mira no less, asked us to go to a haunted fort to find one of her sisters named Savida. My meta-knowledge goes into overload wondering what in the hell did this Bantering DM do. For those of you in the know, I am looking forward to responses and speculations in the comments section. Kassy-Mira explains that Savida is the keeper of their lore and history, an elven leader who must be recovered. I ask a couple of clarifying questions because at this point I have no idea what is going on. The elves are prisoners of the Vistani, yet a leader was able to escape? Why did no one else escape? Where is this fort? If the fort is haunted why would they flee there? Why are the dusk elves prisoners anyway? Did you escape Miss Kassy-Mira? Do the elves want to revolt against the Vistani? But I only got answers that the fort was to the west and that returning their leader was paramount. Then she rushed back to voluntarily go back into dusk elf prison, I guess. So instead of going to Vallaki like I was hoping, I guess we are going to the house of the silver dragon. My only theory is that the Bantering DM wanted us to get started on the questline to retrieve the skull, so he shoe-horned in a way for us to redirect to Argonvostholt. But in doing so he also revealed whatever he did to the dusk elf lore. I’m guessing he reversed the gender of the events before the campaign started. Which makes me wonder, did he gender-bend Rahadin too? We wander down the road and find the haunted mansion atop the muddy hill. Seeing the statue and for whatever reason we decide to check out the collapsed stables first. The rest of the session was a combat encounter against a dozen giant spiders. Two of the three hours were dedicated to this, mostly because the Bantering DM and Jormungandr took forever to keep the turns moving along. And they were particularly toxic during this combat because Jormungandr hated that his rage did not resist poison. I knew that once the session was over, I’d be writing up my farewell message. Every time it was my turn, I simply stated what actions I took and quickly did it. Elaborating if questioned on my abilities. DM: "Make a Con save against poison". Barb: "No, make me." DM: "Do it bitch." Barb: "Fine. 21." DM: "You failed." Barb: "It says DC 11 for spider DM." DM: "Yeah, well, fuck you." Me: “I use multiattack, bite, claw, bonus action unarmed strike. 21 to hit, for 7 piercing damage. 18 to hit, for 15 slashing damage. 24 to hit, for 5 bludgeoning damage.” Barb: “You can do three attacks? That is bullshit.” Me: “Brown Bear has multiattack, monk grants martial arts.” After the fight, we had just enough time to enter the mansion and find Savida. Olivia still had some spell slots, so I tended to her injuries. The Bantering DM said that the party would question her at the start of the next session. Once we ended the call, I wrote up a few things. First I left a message in the general chat thanking the players and wishing them well. I learned from Cayden later on that my farewell message was deleted by the DM. Then I wrote my final criticisms and sent them to the Bantering DM privately, letting him know I would not be returning. https://preview.redd.it/q3vodfhvln1d1.png?width=823&format=png&auto=webp&s=d9518097a06761bceec649228aa34b8d8b786165 https://preview.redd.it/kvj7l4u3mn1d1.png?width=1225&format=png&auto=webp&s=865388fc0d5c65ff64776196f6725de01c228049 The punchline to this joke of a campaign. A week later, today, Cayden tells me that the Bantering DM canceled the session because neither of his buddies showed up to play. Eternal Flake, Geogreinanger, and the Bantering DM, despite all my complaints I hope they continue to have fun. Maybe next time though, don’t play favorites and charge people for a “fun time in Grandpa’s basement”. https://preview.redd.it/vycv0uqsln1d1.png?width=1229&format=png&auto=webp&s=2c241b09728ebc29653e384dea90a24d770e7a0b |
2024.05.21 00:08 Interesting-Rest8487 Pity parties on here😪💔
Ok I know ima get a lot of hate but idc have to address this. Lets me preface this by saying I’m a Femboy. Have been most of my life, i post pix on my other accounts and they get hundreds if not thousands of upvotes. I get a lot of attention/people stare when I go out dressed up. I say this to kinda explain that I’m established and have been in the game for most of my teen and adult life.
I read so many posts on here about people saying, “why does society attack me?” “Why do people attack me and say I’m not masculine enough?” “Why is my lifestyle such a political problem” “why do people keep telling me I’m ruining society?” “Why does everyone tell me I need to masculine or act and dress a certain way?” “Why does society say I have to like this or do that?”. Etc.
For the most part no one has gave me shit for being a Femboy or because people consider me trans. I have lived in several states including Texas. Also in the heart of Mexico and let me tell you, people mind their own business. I feel like because some of you consider yourself a Femboy or trans now that you all inherit, embody, and experience all of these major issues that a very small number of people cause. Some of y’all want to come on here and throw a pity party like the whole world is against you or you’re being attacked left and right. Like people call your phone or knock on your door to say all these things to you. I don’t mean that literally but your posts make it seem that way.
Sure I’ve been harassed a couple of times. Even had a couple people threaten my life and verbally attack me with no provocation. Big whoop 🤷♀️ dust myself off and move on. I’m not saying y’all don’t experience some of it but don’t make it seem like the entire society/world is attacking you or your life is in ruins because you’re a Femboy/trans. I understand that some live in countries where it’s a lot harder and probably is very harsh. My heart goes out to those, it really does. But most of y’all live in a modern first world country where people just want to go through their day.
Enjoy your life and stop worrying about the small percentage of people/keyboard warriors that dont like/agree with our lifestyle. Right now I live in a very conservative state and work in customer service and realistically, people mind their own business and just want to get through their day. I wear makeup and very feminine clothes. The biggest problem I face in my day to day life are the freaks and creeps that might harass me when they see me.
A lot of people watch trans porn and get this idea of that how all trans/femboys are in these pornos and think we’re all like that. And when they see a Femboy /trans girl they like out in the wild they take their shot because they don’t see very many of us out in public, especially in these very conservative states. Most are just lame attempts but some can get really vile. If you’re going to be a Femboy/trans in these conservative areas then you have to have your responses/reactions planned out ahead of time.
Yes, it sucks, terribly. But it just comes with the territory unfortunately. But I’m not going to come on here and have a pity party that society and the world are against me or want me dead. Therapy, meds, and a thick skin is all I can suggest because that’s what helps me. My bosses are huge Trumpers but they have my back in case anything goes down because they know I’m a decent person. They never gave me call crap for my lifestyle. Sure, a cold shoulder in the beginning but they warm up to us, they always do. Just gotta be a decent person I guess 🤷♀️
Please stop or slow down with all these pity party posts that suggest the whole world is against you when in reality some of you have very little experience in what y’all are describing. Again, small percentage of people that don’t like or agree with our lifestyle. Big whoop 🤷♀️ mind them no attention.
Just because you’re trans or a Femboy now does not mean you have all of a sudden inherited and experience all these things some of y’all post about. I know this triggered some people and I’m sorry but I see new posts like these everyday. It never stops.
I can see the replies already, “well how do you know what this person experienced?” Or whatever. I’m just saying I’m general because if you go through this sub, it’s just filled with pity party posts. Live your life and stop being so over dramatic with these posts. Tyvm and have a nice day!! 😇
submitted by Interesting-Rest8487 to feminineboys [link] [comments]
I read so many posts on here about people saying, “why does society attack me?” “Why do people attack me and say I’m not masculine enough?” “Why is my lifestyle such a political problem” “why do people keep telling me I’m ruining society?” “Why does everyone tell me I need to masculine or act and dress a certain way?” “Why does society say I have to like this or do that?”. Etc.
For the most part no one has gave me shit for being a Femboy or because people consider me trans. I have lived in several states including Texas. Also in the heart of Mexico and let me tell you, people mind their own business. I feel like because some of you consider yourself a Femboy or trans now that you all inherit, embody, and experience all of these major issues that a very small number of people cause. Some of y’all want to come on here and throw a pity party like the whole world is against you or you’re being attacked left and right. Like people call your phone or knock on your door to say all these things to you. I don’t mean that literally but your posts make it seem that way.
Sure I’ve been harassed a couple of times. Even had a couple people threaten my life and verbally attack me with no provocation. Big whoop 🤷♀️ dust myself off and move on. I’m not saying y’all don’t experience some of it but don’t make it seem like the entire society/world is attacking you or your life is in ruins because you’re a Femboy/trans. I understand that some live in countries where it’s a lot harder and probably is very harsh. My heart goes out to those, it really does. But most of y’all live in a modern first world country where people just want to go through their day.
Enjoy your life and stop worrying about the small percentage of people/keyboard warriors that dont like/agree with our lifestyle. Right now I live in a very conservative state and work in customer service and realistically, people mind their own business and just want to get through their day. I wear makeup and very feminine clothes. The biggest problem I face in my day to day life are the freaks and creeps that might harass me when they see me.
A lot of people watch trans porn and get this idea of that how all trans/femboys are in these pornos and think we’re all like that. And when they see a Femboy /trans girl they like out in the wild they take their shot because they don’t see very many of us out in public, especially in these very conservative states. Most are just lame attempts but some can get really vile. If you’re going to be a Femboy/trans in these conservative areas then you have to have your responses/reactions planned out ahead of time.
Yes, it sucks, terribly. But it just comes with the territory unfortunately. But I’m not going to come on here and have a pity party that society and the world are against me or want me dead. Therapy, meds, and a thick skin is all I can suggest because that’s what helps me. My bosses are huge Trumpers but they have my back in case anything goes down because they know I’m a decent person. They never gave me call crap for my lifestyle. Sure, a cold shoulder in the beginning but they warm up to us, they always do. Just gotta be a decent person I guess 🤷♀️
Please stop or slow down with all these pity party posts that suggest the whole world is against you when in reality some of you have very little experience in what y’all are describing. Again, small percentage of people that don’t like or agree with our lifestyle. Big whoop 🤷♀️ mind them no attention.
Just because you’re trans or a Femboy now does not mean you have all of a sudden inherited and experience all these things some of y’all post about. I know this triggered some people and I’m sorry but I see new posts like these everyday. It never stops.
I can see the replies already, “well how do you know what this person experienced?” Or whatever. I’m just saying I’m general because if you go through this sub, it’s just filled with pity party posts. Live your life and stop being so over dramatic with these posts. Tyvm and have a nice day!! 😇
2024.05.21 00:00 Mighty_editor Just a few mem
Just needed to vent some bad memories. I wonder if someone can relate. Sorry for the long post.
When I was about eight, I remember my mom coming to my bed snugging next to me, which was odd enough by itself. Then she started softly talking how terrible life she has with my father, how hard she has to work to bring money to buy us (me and my 3 year old brother), how her boss treats her badly, basically complaining about everything around her. It was neverending story so in the end I nodded off, she probably kept on talking when I was asleep, next thing I remember her shouting at me, how dare I fall asleep when she’s talking about important stuff.
At me being 15, she signed me up to dancing classes. I didn’t wanna attend, since it made no sense to me. I listened to Led Zeppelin and had no interest in classical dancing. We had couple of arguments about me not attending, but my resistance was useless. She took me to clothing store to buy me a suit. She forced me into changing cabin, started to pull down my jeans, because I just didn’t want to try on those suit pants. She was so agressive, that she pulled my shorts a bit too, that revealed bit of my pubic hair. She looked at my groin and started making gagging noises, said te how that hair are repulsive and gross. I was just standing there paralyzed.
I was then forced to go to dancing classes, I was truly miserable. Only after classes ended I was allowed to stay for afterparty with couple of my friends from high school. I walked one of my friends home, it was a girl I kinda liked. So I got to my home maybe thirty minutes late. There was my mother sitting on a couch, her eyes glazed with bottle of wine she just finished, she was crying dramatically. She asked me why I’m late, so I replied I walked one of my friends home, she was afraid to go home in the dark alone. My nmom started yelling at me how dare I prioritize some dirty slut (my friend was 15 then, same as me), over her. My enabler dad tried to comfort her, but she got a bit insane, was crawling on the carpet, mumbling, telling me that she had paracetamol pills and drank bottle of wine because of me. Told me if she dies, it’s my fault. Then she pretended (real bad acting) to have passed out. Next day when I asked her why she called my friend slut, I was told that how dare I accuse her of something that awful. Similar story happened after I attended my older friends prom party and she picked my up on train station. Started yelling at me that I am a pig and disgrace to the whole family. Whole sin was based on me not having shirt tugged into my pants. Whole town was talking about it for entire length of next, according to her.
On other occasion I just wanted to discuss changing my high school, because I wanted to do something more creative. It almost instantly brought fire, because to question my mother’s choice of school for me was considered treason. I was called ungrateful asshole. There was no better option than that was picked for me. At the same time I was reminded at every dinner how much money they pay for me for this great school (school was pretentious shit with drunk and pervert teachers, my history teacher was inprisoned for raping one of female students). I was proposing public school with audio/video specialty (industry I’m working for last 15 years btw). Opinion exchange escalated into her yelling at me again. I went to my room as I was done talking to her. Didn’t want to continue this pointless session. But she kept coming to me provoking more fighting. When she realized I’m just stonewalling her because I was exhausted. She left. I went to have some water to the kitchen and in the mirror reflection in the corridor I saw her drinking some wine, so I stopped and waited for her to leave. But she layed on the floor, looked around and pretended to have passed out, started making some weird noises. I was not that suprised, not being the first acting class in this household, so I just went by her, had my glass of water and left. My brother and father were watching tv so they didn’t notice her act. In 15 minutes or so she started yelling maniacally that we would leave her to die in kitchen while she was making cookies for us, bunch of fucking assholes. Mainly me, because I wasn’t caught by her act. I just kept silent. My enabler father tried to comfort her unsucessfuly. She went out out of the house yelling that she will never return and if we find her on tracks run over by train it’s our fault. Mainly mine of course.
When I was around 20, I had pretty good job, working part time at postproduction studio. I really enjoyed that. But I was forced to leave because my nmom wanted me to study at a university. I wanted to work for a year and then maybe go to filmschool, that I could pay for from job money. There was no understanding of that, I was told that I will not want to go to back to school after year of working (what a nonsense). There were some fight about it but then I just resigned. Three more years I was in a limbo in a school I hated.
When I finally made her agree with me going to film school I was bit relieved. It was far from my town. Out of her reach. I borrowed my father’s car once for a film school shoot. I was driving at night after long shoot hours and wanted to stop for a late dinner at McDonalds, so I pulled over from a highway and accidentally hit an unmarked curb at the parking lot. Had to call a tow service since i ripped of engine mount. There was no big damage. But I called home, my father was not amused but was glad I’m ok. Only thing I heard from my nmom was that I just destroy everything and gave me silent treatment for a week, apart from remarks how bad driver I am.
My grandfather whom I loved very much was sick then. He had saved some money he wanted to give me. So I decided to buy my own car. My causing $120 damage to the father’s car was discussed on daily basis for couple of next months. So when my nmom heard that my grandpa is giving me money, she tried to steal those from me. After heated argument that included my sick grandpa yelling from his sofa at my nmom I was settled. Love you grandpa forever. He passed away not long after that.
But I kept coming back for some weekends. My family had a dog. He was almost 15 by then. Could barely walk. Once I returned from school after couple of weeks and dog was just miserable, he was deaf, almost blind, must have been in pain. So I asked my nmom if she doesn’t think that the dog should be put down. I was just trying to be sympathetic with the dog. She got into her emotional overdrive and started comparing putting down the dog with killing my grandfather (who sadly passed away some months ago). I was just stunned how she can even say that. I pointed out that nonsense and she started calling me names and how cruel can I be after all she has done for me. I told her I have had enough and left. I decided I have to go no contact for some time, I was just anxious around her all.
Then I finally moved out for good and started my own life. I remember those years as some of the best I’ve had. I was vising my parents ocasionally. But the intensity got lower with time. As she lost my control over me she got a bit sweeter, because I was such a rare visitor. After 8 years or so I invited my parents for a 3week roadtrip. It was a great roadtrip if my nmom wasn’t there. I somehow forgot all that stuff I had lived thru with her before. Not only she can’t shut her mout for a second, she just demeaning about anything and everyone. She puts down my dad constantly, and he truly loves her. She just acts like a bitter bitch. I managed to be calm for first two weeks but then after some of her provocation, lying and overreacting over just anything, I erupted, I’ve had enough, I was called agressive maniac. I was 35 at that time if you’re wondering.
Couple of months after that I was sick on my birthday. My mother came over with some of the other relatives. My wife gave them some coffee and apologises for me being sick. My nmom wouldn’t say hi to me or ask how am I doing, she just did a tour of my apparment for the relatives and went away.
A year after that she called me with some rant and I just straight shut her off, told her she’s terrible demeaning person, most unemphatetic person in the world. I felt terrible, but it had to go off my chest eventually. I started googling how it’s possible to hate my own mother and found out this subreddit. It’s been five years since and it still hurts.
submitted by Mighty_editor to narcissisticparents [link] [comments]
When I was about eight, I remember my mom coming to my bed snugging next to me, which was odd enough by itself. Then she started softly talking how terrible life she has with my father, how hard she has to work to bring money to buy us (me and my 3 year old brother), how her boss treats her badly, basically complaining about everything around her. It was neverending story so in the end I nodded off, she probably kept on talking when I was asleep, next thing I remember her shouting at me, how dare I fall asleep when she’s talking about important stuff.
At me being 15, she signed me up to dancing classes. I didn’t wanna attend, since it made no sense to me. I listened to Led Zeppelin and had no interest in classical dancing. We had couple of arguments about me not attending, but my resistance was useless. She took me to clothing store to buy me a suit. She forced me into changing cabin, started to pull down my jeans, because I just didn’t want to try on those suit pants. She was so agressive, that she pulled my shorts a bit too, that revealed bit of my pubic hair. She looked at my groin and started making gagging noises, said te how that hair are repulsive and gross. I was just standing there paralyzed.
I was then forced to go to dancing classes, I was truly miserable. Only after classes ended I was allowed to stay for afterparty with couple of my friends from high school. I walked one of my friends home, it was a girl I kinda liked. So I got to my home maybe thirty minutes late. There was my mother sitting on a couch, her eyes glazed with bottle of wine she just finished, she was crying dramatically. She asked me why I’m late, so I replied I walked one of my friends home, she was afraid to go home in the dark alone. My nmom started yelling at me how dare I prioritize some dirty slut (my friend was 15 then, same as me), over her. My enabler dad tried to comfort her, but she got a bit insane, was crawling on the carpet, mumbling, telling me that she had paracetamol pills and drank bottle of wine because of me. Told me if she dies, it’s my fault. Then she pretended (real bad acting) to have passed out. Next day when I asked her why she called my friend slut, I was told that how dare I accuse her of something that awful. Similar story happened after I attended my older friends prom party and she picked my up on train station. Started yelling at me that I am a pig and disgrace to the whole family. Whole sin was based on me not having shirt tugged into my pants. Whole town was talking about it for entire length of next, according to her.
On other occasion I just wanted to discuss changing my high school, because I wanted to do something more creative. It almost instantly brought fire, because to question my mother’s choice of school for me was considered treason. I was called ungrateful asshole. There was no better option than that was picked for me. At the same time I was reminded at every dinner how much money they pay for me for this great school (school was pretentious shit with drunk and pervert teachers, my history teacher was inprisoned for raping one of female students). I was proposing public school with audio/video specialty (industry I’m working for last 15 years btw). Opinion exchange escalated into her yelling at me again. I went to my room as I was done talking to her. Didn’t want to continue this pointless session. But she kept coming to me provoking more fighting. When she realized I’m just stonewalling her because I was exhausted. She left. I went to have some water to the kitchen and in the mirror reflection in the corridor I saw her drinking some wine, so I stopped and waited for her to leave. But she layed on the floor, looked around and pretended to have passed out, started making some weird noises. I was not that suprised, not being the first acting class in this household, so I just went by her, had my glass of water and left. My brother and father were watching tv so they didn’t notice her act. In 15 minutes or so she started yelling maniacally that we would leave her to die in kitchen while she was making cookies for us, bunch of fucking assholes. Mainly me, because I wasn’t caught by her act. I just kept silent. My enabler father tried to comfort her unsucessfuly. She went out out of the house yelling that she will never return and if we find her on tracks run over by train it’s our fault. Mainly mine of course.
When I was around 20, I had pretty good job, working part time at postproduction studio. I really enjoyed that. But I was forced to leave because my nmom wanted me to study at a university. I wanted to work for a year and then maybe go to filmschool, that I could pay for from job money. There was no understanding of that, I was told that I will not want to go to back to school after year of working (what a nonsense). There were some fight about it but then I just resigned. Three more years I was in a limbo in a school I hated.
When I finally made her agree with me going to film school I was bit relieved. It was far from my town. Out of her reach. I borrowed my father’s car once for a film school shoot. I was driving at night after long shoot hours and wanted to stop for a late dinner at McDonalds, so I pulled over from a highway and accidentally hit an unmarked curb at the parking lot. Had to call a tow service since i ripped of engine mount. There was no big damage. But I called home, my father was not amused but was glad I’m ok. Only thing I heard from my nmom was that I just destroy everything and gave me silent treatment for a week, apart from remarks how bad driver I am.
My grandfather whom I loved very much was sick then. He had saved some money he wanted to give me. So I decided to buy my own car. My causing $120 damage to the father’s car was discussed on daily basis for couple of next months. So when my nmom heard that my grandpa is giving me money, she tried to steal those from me. After heated argument that included my sick grandpa yelling from his sofa at my nmom I was settled. Love you grandpa forever. He passed away not long after that.
But I kept coming back for some weekends. My family had a dog. He was almost 15 by then. Could barely walk. Once I returned from school after couple of weeks and dog was just miserable, he was deaf, almost blind, must have been in pain. So I asked my nmom if she doesn’t think that the dog should be put down. I was just trying to be sympathetic with the dog. She got into her emotional overdrive and started comparing putting down the dog with killing my grandfather (who sadly passed away some months ago). I was just stunned how she can even say that. I pointed out that nonsense and she started calling me names and how cruel can I be after all she has done for me. I told her I have had enough and left. I decided I have to go no contact for some time, I was just anxious around her all.
Then I finally moved out for good and started my own life. I remember those years as some of the best I’ve had. I was vising my parents ocasionally. But the intensity got lower with time. As she lost my control over me she got a bit sweeter, because I was such a rare visitor. After 8 years or so I invited my parents for a 3week roadtrip. It was a great roadtrip if my nmom wasn’t there. I somehow forgot all that stuff I had lived thru with her before. Not only she can’t shut her mout for a second, she just demeaning about anything and everyone. She puts down my dad constantly, and he truly loves her. She just acts like a bitter bitch. I managed to be calm for first two weeks but then after some of her provocation, lying and overreacting over just anything, I erupted, I’ve had enough, I was called agressive maniac. I was 35 at that time if you’re wondering.
Couple of months after that I was sick on my birthday. My mother came over with some of the other relatives. My wife gave them some coffee and apologises for me being sick. My nmom wouldn’t say hi to me or ask how am I doing, she just did a tour of my apparment for the relatives and went away.
A year after that she called me with some rant and I just straight shut her off, told her she’s terrible demeaning person, most unemphatetic person in the world. I felt terrible, but it had to go off my chest eventually. I started googling how it’s possible to hate my own mother and found out this subreddit. It’s been five years since and it still hurts.
2024.05.20 23:08 TheBlaringBlue The Art of the Rap Battle in Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
Eivor is a bit of a strange protagonist.
She’s basically flawless and without blame. She’s brash and bold, proud and unashamed — brave and wise far beyond her years, yet able to be soft and compassionate when not brandishing spears. She’s got a knack for leadership, a strong moral compass and an even stronger muscular system with which to enact justice.
And she’s got bars?
As someone not deeply versed in medieval European histories, imagine my shock and confusion upon discovering that Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla included rap battling.
My first experience with Flyting had me asking so many questions about what I just witnessed that I couldn’t wait to begin Googling. I figured flyting probably was historically accurate, but if that’s the case, then what else can it tells us about the medieval warrior and about Eivor’s characterization?
I set off to find out.
--
Wikipedia and howstuffworks combined gave me a robust definition of flyting.
A ritual, poetic exchange of insults practiced mainly between the 5th and 16th centuries. Examples of flyting are found throughout Scots, Ancient, Medieval and Modern Celtic, Old English, Middle English and Norse literature involving both historical and mythological figures. The exchanges would become extremely provocative, often involving accusations of cowardice or sexual perversion.
The idea behind flyting was to influence public opinion of the participants and raise both of their profiles. And each participant wanted to make himself look better than the other, even if they were friendly.
Not only that, but flyting’s also the first recorded use of shit as an insult. That right there is worth this whole essay and then some.
--
I came away from those definitions with some small Euphoria, as they reinforce what I already expected from Ubisoft — historically accurate and (arguably) immersive side activities grounded in realism.
Unfortunately, none of the flyting foes that Eivor faces in this fantasy are founded in any real-world flyters. I was particularly frustrated when I realized Fergal the Faceless and Borghild the Alewife’s Bane were fictional features, not real historical fiends of rhythm and rhyme.
Two of Eivor’s syntax competitors are “real” in some sense, however.
In Norse mythos, Odin, Thor, Loki, Freyja and more would handle their Family Matters over a flyte from time to time, dueling wits and words as competition and entertainment.
In fact, one flyte we do see in game — Odin as he flytes over the river with Thor in the Asgard Arc — is likely a reference to a real medieval Norse poem; The Hárbarðsljóð.
In it, Thor jaunts back to Asgard after a journey in Jötunheim. He comes to a junction in which he must jump a large river, and thus hunts down a ferryman to shepherd him across. The ferryman, Hárbarðr, is Odin in disguise. He then begins to diss guys.
Ahem. ‘Guys’ being Thor, obviously.
First, Odin drops a yo-mama joke:
Ratatosk is the only other ‘real’ flyting enemy in Valhalla. While Odin doesn’t flyte with Ratatosk in Norse myth to my knowledge, the flyting against the squirrel is thematically accurate, at least.
Ratatosk’s purpose is to scramble up and down Yggdrasil, scurrying spoken messages from the eagle that sits at its peaks to the snake that slithers at its base. The nature of Ratatosk’s messages is in line with the act of flyting — the mischievous rodent carries falsehoods and aggressive statements to stir up drama and distrust between bird and serpent.
Flyting took place not only in poems and folklore, but in town squares and royal court. It was a facet of medieval life and social interaction. This weaving of prose then, in this time period, seemingly was just about as much of an admired skill as the swinging of a sword. It’s no wonder our unbreakable warrior Eivor is so proficient with word.
--
Like, really proficient with word.
I mean, I know it’s me choosing the dialogue options, but sheesh, is there anything she can’t do?
Actually, Eivor’s expertise in flyting is strange to me. It feels random and unearned — out of character, even. It comes more unexpectedly than Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us.
It probably only feels out of character, however, due to our modern understanding of proficiency with words versus proficiency with might. Our current interpretation of verbal ability compared to physical ability would perceive verbal ability as the ‘softer’ of the two skillsets. Physical strength is typically interpreted as tough and more dominant. You don’t expect to see an MMA fighter composing poetry, do you? The qualities that modern thought attributes to writing and physicality don’t mesh.
But in reality — and historically accurately in Valhalla — medieval warriors weren’t just blind berserkers. They were actually artists, poets and writers.
We’ve already demonstrated how Odin and Thor — Norse myth’s most famous warriors — carried out flyting. There are plenty more examples of the burly and the brawn, the Viking and the warrior breaking out poetry and song. Other poems and sagas include the same thing, among the most famous of which is Egil’s Saga — Egil, a tough Viking warrior, would frequently break out into prose throughout the saga’s telling.
Beyond Vikings though lie other other examples from around the world. The Illiad contains instances of public, ritualized abuse. Taunting songs are present in Inuit culture while Arabic poetry contains a form of flyting called naqa’id. Further, Japanese Samurai were known to be frequent composers of haiku, while Japanese culture also gave birth to Haikai, poetry in which vulgar satire and puns were wielded.
This historical accuracy ends up eliminating the randomness of Eivor’s flyting ability. Despite her verbal finesse feeling unearned, we can surmise historically that Eivor has practiced the wielding of words plenty in her life before we take over as the player. She’s dedicated time to this.
Now that we know why she has it, we can take a closer look at what it does for her.
--
So, Eivor can rap. She can match you with her axe or she can match you with her words. She’s just about unbeatable.
Her mastery of words demonstrates on some level that she’s not all Push Ups and might is right. She’s not all bruiser and bluster, burn and berserk. She’s an appreciator of the finer things — the more abstract, mental skills that require brain power, deftness and finesse.
This duality of strength and genius rounds out Eivor into a deeper, richer, more admirable character. More than just raw muscle in pursuit of glory, Eivor’s mastery of verse demonstrates her prioritizing not just her body, but her mind.
And it goes a long way for her.
Eivor can use her prowess with prose to progress past pointless plot points throughout Valhalla’s plethora of arcs and missions. It’s just a stat check in the end, but with enough practice flyting and enough charisma gained, Eivor unlocks new dialogue options that bend the world around her to her will.
Witch hunters in Eurvicscire on the brink of terrorizing Moira can be dispersed verbally rather than brawled or killed. There’s an entire riddle-solving fetch quest in Wincestre that can be skipped completely by telling King Aelfred’s abbot fuck off (figuratively). Eivor’s sharpening of her mind protects her body, saves her time, and allows her to frictionlessly fell her endeavors.
Her articulate advances don’t just alter her into admirability, they allow her to influence people and progression. With semantics from her mouth and twists from her tongue, Eivor can have her way whenever she wishes. In a game this large, I’m only left longing that the opportunity to make use of this charisma wasn’t relegated to niches.
Regardless, if medieval England is butter, Eivor’s tongue is the hot knife that behooves her move through her subduing more smoothly.
It all just goes to show that ̶m̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ flyte is right.
submitted by TheBlaringBlue to assassinscreed [link] [comments]
She’s basically flawless and without blame. She’s brash and bold, proud and unashamed — brave and wise far beyond her years, yet able to be soft and compassionate when not brandishing spears. She’s got a knack for leadership, a strong moral compass and an even stronger muscular system with which to enact justice.
And she’s got bars?
As someone not deeply versed in medieval European histories, imagine my shock and confusion upon discovering that Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla included rap battling.
My first experience with Flyting had me asking so many questions about what I just witnessed that I couldn’t wait to begin Googling. I figured flyting probably was historically accurate, but if that’s the case, then what else can it tells us about the medieval warrior and about Eivor’s characterization?
I set off to find out.
--
Wikipedia and howstuffworks combined gave me a robust definition of flyting.
A ritual, poetic exchange of insults practiced mainly between the 5th and 16th centuries. Examples of flyting are found throughout Scots, Ancient, Medieval and Modern Celtic, Old English, Middle English and Norse literature involving both historical and mythological figures. The exchanges would become extremely provocative, often involving accusations of cowardice or sexual perversion.
The idea behind flyting was to influence public opinion of the participants and raise both of their profiles. And each participant wanted to make himself look better than the other, even if they were friendly.
Not only that, but flyting’s also the first recorded use of shit as an insult. That right there is worth this whole essay and then some.
--
I came away from those definitions with some small Euphoria, as they reinforce what I already expected from Ubisoft — historically accurate and (arguably) immersive side activities grounded in realism.
Unfortunately, none of the flyting foes that Eivor faces in this fantasy are founded in any real-world flyters. I was particularly frustrated when I realized Fergal the Faceless and Borghild the Alewife’s Bane were fictional features, not real historical fiends of rhythm and rhyme.
Two of Eivor’s syntax competitors are “real” in some sense, however.
In Norse mythos, Odin, Thor, Loki, Freyja and more would handle their Family Matters over a flyte from time to time, dueling wits and words as competition and entertainment.
In fact, one flyte we do see in game — Odin as he flytes over the river with Thor in the Asgard Arc — is likely a reference to a real medieval Norse poem; The Hárbarðsljóð.
In it, Thor jaunts back to Asgard after a journey in Jötunheim. He comes to a junction in which he must jump a large river, and thus hunts down a ferryman to shepherd him across. The ferryman, Hárbarðr, is Odin in disguise. He then begins to diss guys.
Ahem. ‘Guys’ being Thor, obviously.
First, Odin drops a yo-mama joke:
Of thy morning feats art thou proud, but the future thou knowest not wholly; Doleful thine home-coming is: thy mother, me thinks, is dead.He keeps going, taking more shots than a First Person Shooter, this time saying Thor dresses like a girl:
Three good dwellings methinks, thou hast not; Barefoot thou standest and wearest a beggar’s dress; Not even hose dost thou have.Thor says watch your mouth before I clap back:
Ill for thee comes thy keenness of tongue, if the water I choose to wade; Louder, I ween, than a wolf thou cryest, if a blow of my hammer thou hast.Odin replies by saying Thor’s wife is fucking another dude:
Sif has a lover at home, and him shouldst thou meet; More fitting it were on him to put forth thy strength.The version we play out in game isn’t identical to the real-world poem, but carries some similarities; Thor’s threatening to cross the river to fight Odin as well as his boasting of slaying giants are present in each.
Ratatosk is the only other ‘real’ flyting enemy in Valhalla. While Odin doesn’t flyte with Ratatosk in Norse myth to my knowledge, the flyting against the squirrel is thematically accurate, at least.
Ratatosk’s purpose is to scramble up and down Yggdrasil, scurrying spoken messages from the eagle that sits at its peaks to the snake that slithers at its base. The nature of Ratatosk’s messages is in line with the act of flyting — the mischievous rodent carries falsehoods and aggressive statements to stir up drama and distrust between bird and serpent.
Flyting took place not only in poems and folklore, but in town squares and royal court. It was a facet of medieval life and social interaction. This weaving of prose then, in this time period, seemingly was just about as much of an admired skill as the swinging of a sword. It’s no wonder our unbreakable warrior Eivor is so proficient with word.
--
Like, really proficient with word.
I mean, I know it’s me choosing the dialogue options, but sheesh, is there anything she can’t do?
Actually, Eivor’s expertise in flyting is strange to me. It feels random and unearned — out of character, even. It comes more unexpectedly than Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us.
It probably only feels out of character, however, due to our modern understanding of proficiency with words versus proficiency with might. Our current interpretation of verbal ability compared to physical ability would perceive verbal ability as the ‘softer’ of the two skillsets. Physical strength is typically interpreted as tough and more dominant. You don’t expect to see an MMA fighter composing poetry, do you? The qualities that modern thought attributes to writing and physicality don’t mesh.
But in reality — and historically accurately in Valhalla — medieval warriors weren’t just blind berserkers. They were actually artists, poets and writers.
We’ve already demonstrated how Odin and Thor — Norse myth’s most famous warriors — carried out flyting. There are plenty more examples of the burly and the brawn, the Viking and the warrior breaking out poetry and song. Other poems and sagas include the same thing, among the most famous of which is Egil’s Saga — Egil, a tough Viking warrior, would frequently break out into prose throughout the saga’s telling.
Beyond Vikings though lie other other examples from around the world. The Illiad contains instances of public, ritualized abuse. Taunting songs are present in Inuit culture while Arabic poetry contains a form of flyting called naqa’id. Further, Japanese Samurai were known to be frequent composers of haiku, while Japanese culture also gave birth to Haikai, poetry in which vulgar satire and puns were wielded.
This historical accuracy ends up eliminating the randomness of Eivor’s flyting ability. Despite her verbal finesse feeling unearned, we can surmise historically that Eivor has practiced the wielding of words plenty in her life before we take over as the player. She’s dedicated time to this.
Now that we know why she has it, we can take a closer look at what it does for her.
--
So, Eivor can rap. She can match you with her axe or she can match you with her words. She’s just about unbeatable.
Her mastery of words demonstrates on some level that she’s not all Push Ups and might is right. She’s not all bruiser and bluster, burn and berserk. She’s an appreciator of the finer things — the more abstract, mental skills that require brain power, deftness and finesse.
This duality of strength and genius rounds out Eivor into a deeper, richer, more admirable character. More than just raw muscle in pursuit of glory, Eivor’s mastery of verse demonstrates her prioritizing not just her body, but her mind.
And it goes a long way for her.
Eivor can use her prowess with prose to progress past pointless plot points throughout Valhalla’s plethora of arcs and missions. It’s just a stat check in the end, but with enough practice flyting and enough charisma gained, Eivor unlocks new dialogue options that bend the world around her to her will.
Witch hunters in Eurvicscire on the brink of terrorizing Moira can be dispersed verbally rather than brawled or killed. There’s an entire riddle-solving fetch quest in Wincestre that can be skipped completely by telling King Aelfred’s abbot fuck off (figuratively). Eivor’s sharpening of her mind protects her body, saves her time, and allows her to frictionlessly fell her endeavors.
Her articulate advances don’t just alter her into admirability, they allow her to influence people and progression. With semantics from her mouth and twists from her tongue, Eivor can have her way whenever she wishes. In a game this large, I’m only left longing that the opportunity to make use of this charisma wasn’t relegated to niches.
Regardless, if medieval England is butter, Eivor’s tongue is the hot knife that behooves her move through her subduing more smoothly.
It all just goes to show that ̶m̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ flyte is right.
2024.05.20 23:01 AnywhereStraight1930 Lady was ready to have her dog attack me
So I (33, Black, Male) was walking to CSU to work out.
As I am walking I see a woman walking her dog and typically for all women I move off of the sidewalk so they have the space they need without any awkwardness or whatever.
So i do that and as I’m rounding a truck thinking she should be well past it and behind me i come around and she is standing right there. I give her a smile and a peace sign and go on about my walk to the gym. It wasn’t until i got to Laporte that it dawned on me the way she was postured up and had her dog in position I’m 99% sure she was gonna have that dog attack me.
I really believe I was profiled (cannot say racially cause that would be unfair) and before yall say “she was defending/protecting herself” I was in the road, middle of the day, sun shining with neighbors out doing yard work and I’ll also say in order to protect or defend yourself there needs to be some kind of provocation or aggression in which none was displayed on my part (i was literally trying to connect my headphones to my bluetooth).
Just bothered by it. Maybe I’m thinking about it too much but it definitely didn’t make me feel good. So to the lady that was walking her dog on clover lm around 11am today. Be better.
submitted by AnywhereStraight1930 to FortCollins [link] [comments]
As I am walking I see a woman walking her dog and typically for all women I move off of the sidewalk so they have the space they need without any awkwardness or whatever.
So i do that and as I’m rounding a truck thinking she should be well past it and behind me i come around and she is standing right there. I give her a smile and a peace sign and go on about my walk to the gym. It wasn’t until i got to Laporte that it dawned on me the way she was postured up and had her dog in position I’m 99% sure she was gonna have that dog attack me.
I really believe I was profiled (cannot say racially cause that would be unfair) and before yall say “she was defending/protecting herself” I was in the road, middle of the day, sun shining with neighbors out doing yard work and I’ll also say in order to protect or defend yourself there needs to be some kind of provocation or aggression in which none was displayed on my part (i was literally trying to connect my headphones to my bluetooth).
Just bothered by it. Maybe I’m thinking about it too much but it definitely didn’t make me feel good. So to the lady that was walking her dog on clover lm around 11am today. Be better.
2024.05.20 22:47 Upwithstock Thank you MGK for your AWESOME efforts plus Market segments and numbers
Hi Longs,
It is an awesome Monday and I have to thank MGK for his significant contributions to many different message boards including this one. I am going to hone in on MGK's commentary regarding 85% of the cancer tumors "Cold Tumors" that LL can go after that Keytruda can not touch Plus, a little market research on some of the other disease markets we may be exploring.
What is MSS status in colorectal cancer?
MSS stands for “Microsatellite Stable.” Approximately 80-85% of colorectal cancer patients are not MSI-H/MMR deficient and are instead classified as MSS. MSS tumors have been referred to as “cold” tumors, which means they don't normally trigger a strong response from the body's immune system.
“According to the latest research study, the demand of global Colorectal Cancer Market size & share was valued at approximately USD 21923.4 Million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 22,275.3 Million in 2024. Google AI
MGK was right that 85% is the number. 85% of 22 Billion (rounded down) is $18.7 Billion for MSS-CRC
mTNBC numbers:
The triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment market is expected to reach $0.86 billion by 2031. The market is characterized by challenges such as drug efficacy, toxicities, regulatory approval, and reimbursement for new treatments. Some key trends in the TNBC treatment market include: Healthcare consolidation, Public-private collaborations, and Technology integration. Google AI
HR+/HER2- breast cancer
The report delineates the substantial market size of HR+/HER2- breast cancer, with an estimated value of USD 9,200 million in 2022 across the 7MM, forecasting appreciable growth by 2032. Jan 24, 2024. Google AI
mTNBC numbers plus HR+/HER2- breast cancer
The combined mTNBC and HR+/HER2 breast cancer is 860 million + 9.2 billion = 10 billion (rounded down). I am not sure if the 85% rule applies to these 2 breast cancers but let's say it does: Then the market size for these two is $8.5 billion
Just between MSS-CRC, mTNBC, and HR=/HER2 cancers; the 85% market size is $18.7 bil + $8.5 billion = $27.2 billion for the two cancers that CYDY has some provocative data on and CYDY is targeting. For sure the bigger of the two cancers is the MSS-CRC market at $18.7 billion. Market size is reason enough for why MSS-CRC is the number one priority over breast cancer.
Let's look at more markets:
NASH/MASH
The global non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) market generated $1,179 million in 2017, and is projected to reach $21,478 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 58.4% from 2021 to 2025. Google AI
Alzheimers
The Alzheimer's disease market was valued at $7.6 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12%. The Alzheimer's disease therapeutics market is estimated to grow from $4.82 billion in 2023 to over $8.18 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 8.7% between 2024 and 2032. GlobalData projects the Alzheimer's disease market to reach $13.7 billion in 2030, with a CAGR of 20% from 2020. Google AI
Long-Haulers or PASC
From NIH: At least 65 million individuals worldwide are estimated to have long COVID, with cases increasing daily. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9839201/
Many studies are out there with ranges but looking at $10K - $25K annually for some of these costs for PASC. In the Long Hauler study patients received once a week LL for 12 weeks. On the low end just the cost of LL is $1000 per week/shot. To be conservative: I'll estimate $10K for each patient and I'll estimate potential access to 30 million patients. That is a $300 billion market, If someone does not understand the market potential for PASC then they never will. This is just an unbelievable disease state to go after and CYDY has provocative data in this regard. My conservative estimate is so freaking large that I will cut it down to just 10 million patients and that is still a $100 billion market. My god! This is off-the-charts amazing. If you have just 50% of the 10 million patients it is a $50 billion market.
Remember Keytruda has 11 indications and produces an annual revenue of $20 billion. Humira has multiple indications with a BLACK BOX WARNING and produces approximately $22 billion of revenue annually. Just getting a PASC indication exceeds the combined revenue of Keytruda and Humira.
So just looking at NASH, just two cancers, and ALZ it equals $56.2 billion and throw in a conservative estimate of PASC at $100 billion then CYDY is looking at LL participating in $156 billion in disease state markets and we have no way of calculating the chronic inflammation numbers. These potential numbers are HUGE! Please note: that this is not what CYDY gets bought out at, but potential indications and the size of those markets are part of the discussions.
It is very exciting to me to see how things will play out over the next few months, but behind the scenes, the discussions of valuation and the above numbers will be involved.
Dr. JL has used the words "we have provocative data" and needs to produce "unassailable data". The upcoming studies hopefully produce the unassailable data that decisions by Big Pharma eventually makes buyout decisions on. This is where we are at today. Dr. JL knows that to cross the RUBICON we need to partner and then produce the definitive data that crosses from provocative to unassailable.
Ohm20 has a list of 90 indications and it is not a list of wishes. It is a list of indications that actually involve CCR5. I don't think all of those indications have a scientific article published that implies inhibiting the CCR5 molecule aand if it would have an effect on the disease being studied. But a lot of them do. Nonetheless, any discussion between BP and CYDY will/should involve the published articles implicating the CCR5 molecule at a minimum.
The discussion to partner is taking place now and it is not unusual for buyout discussions to weave in and out during these discussions. Because valuation is also part of the partnership discussion. How does the BP currently value CYDY now and certainly how is the BP valuing the market size of let's say the MSS-CRC. How will this calculation affect how much financing to allocate and other resources? If there is a high interest by the BP to eventually buy CYDY but after 1-2 definitive studies are completed with unassailable outcomes; then the BP may want rights to purchase CYDY written into the contract. Or "rights of first refusal" written in if they can't agree on a valuation at this time.
My point is Cyrus knows and I know that during these conversations valuation pops up and having these types of numbers helps both sides come from a common place of understanding.
The top areas in no particular order for helping CYDY's valuation:
1) current provocative data: PASC, HIV-MDR study, 28-patient Cancer basket trial, NASH trial, Covid severe-critical trial, any and all animal trials no matter where they were run. Any studies I missed that are listed in Clinical trials (I think there are 22 studies listed.)
2) Long Acting LL, any and all data that moves the needle
3) Upcoming trials MSS-CRC, Chronic Inflammation trial
4) The long list of published articles implicationg CCR5
5) Ohm2o's list of diseases that involve CCR5
6) The SAFETY RECORD MIGHT BE UNMATCHED!
7) The manufacturing technology is transferrable. CYDY has proved that. We just don't know where.
8) Past baggage is gone and we don't bring a whole large infrastructure of people with any deal. We have the drug and the patent profile that does not start to expire until 2031.
I am sure the Longs on this board will suggest other items that I have not listed here.
Finally, let's not forget that Merck bought Prometheus for $10.9 billion after a phase 2 study for IBS. Yes, just one indication and they had a couple of other drugs in the pipeline starting in phase 1 trials. Currently, CYDY has more data than that on hand right now with certainly more potential indications. So to use Prometheus as a rough example: if BP valued CYDY at the same $11 Billion that is $11 per share. It would be a crime to sell that low even at this time. The lowest possible buyout that I could even imagine at his time is $20 billion. Screw whatever you think the stock price is. It has been manipulated down and we have the twatwaffles here to prove it. Somebodies have wanted to slam the stock price down so that a lowball offer would be attractive. Let me tell you, there are subtle posts that elude to "I'll take $5 a share and run" or "Oh you'll be lucky to see a $600 million buyout". I AM ENTERTAINED BY THESE POSTS. NOTHING BETTER THAN A GOOD LAUGH FOR THE DAY!!
Everyone has the right to sell when they need to. I get it! I know I can bail at $10 per share and that is a comfortable retirement for my wife and I. I just know from experience where this train is headed and that I'll be holding out for much much more.
When the NIH grant for PASC, and BP partnerships are announced along with an Amarex settlement and unassailable results are announced sometime in 2025; the stock price could easily be around $15-$20 without a buyout. If the investigation of stock manipulation is instituted and then concludes, the stock price will be even higher than what I am suggesting. All without a buyout.
I know what LL can do and Dr. JL knows it too. The twatwaffles are here to make it tough, but the LONGS know exactly what LL is: Possibly the greatest drug on the planet that will treat 100's of millions of patients.
GOOD LUCK LONGS
submitted by Upwithstock to Livimmune [link] [comments]
It is an awesome Monday and I have to thank MGK for his significant contributions to many different message boards including this one. I am going to hone in on MGK's commentary regarding 85% of the cancer tumors "Cold Tumors" that LL can go after that Keytruda can not touch Plus, a little market research on some of the other disease markets we may be exploring.
What is MSS status in colorectal cancer?
MSS stands for “Microsatellite Stable.” Approximately 80-85% of colorectal cancer patients are not MSI-H/MMR deficient and are instead classified as MSS. MSS tumors have been referred to as “cold” tumors, which means they don't normally trigger a strong response from the body's immune system.
“According to the latest research study, the demand of global Colorectal Cancer Market size & share was valued at approximately USD 21923.4 Million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 22,275.3 Million in 2024. Google AI
MGK was right that 85% is the number. 85% of 22 Billion (rounded down) is $18.7 Billion for MSS-CRC
mTNBC numbers:
The triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment market is expected to reach $0.86 billion by 2031. The market is characterized by challenges such as drug efficacy, toxicities, regulatory approval, and reimbursement for new treatments. Some key trends in the TNBC treatment market include: Healthcare consolidation, Public-private collaborations, and Technology integration. Google AI
HR+/HER2- breast cancer
The report delineates the substantial market size of HR+/HER2- breast cancer, with an estimated value of USD 9,200 million in 2022 across the 7MM, forecasting appreciable growth by 2032. Jan 24, 2024. Google AI
mTNBC numbers plus HR+/HER2- breast cancer
The combined mTNBC and HR+/HER2 breast cancer is 860 million + 9.2 billion = 10 billion (rounded down). I am not sure if the 85% rule applies to these 2 breast cancers but let's say it does: Then the market size for these two is $8.5 billion
Just between MSS-CRC, mTNBC, and HR=/HER2 cancers; the 85% market size is $18.7 bil + $8.5 billion = $27.2 billion for the two cancers that CYDY has some provocative data on and CYDY is targeting. For sure the bigger of the two cancers is the MSS-CRC market at $18.7 billion. Market size is reason enough for why MSS-CRC is the number one priority over breast cancer.
Let's look at more markets:
NASH/MASH
The global non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) market generated $1,179 million in 2017, and is projected to reach $21,478 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 58.4% from 2021 to 2025. Google AI
Alzheimers
The Alzheimer's disease market was valued at $7.6 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12%. The Alzheimer's disease therapeutics market is estimated to grow from $4.82 billion in 2023 to over $8.18 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 8.7% between 2024 and 2032. GlobalData projects the Alzheimer's disease market to reach $13.7 billion in 2030, with a CAGR of 20% from 2020. Google AI
Long-Haulers or PASC
From NIH: At least 65 million individuals worldwide are estimated to have long COVID, with cases increasing daily. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9839201/
Many studies are out there with ranges but looking at $10K - $25K annually for some of these costs for PASC. In the Long Hauler study patients received once a week LL for 12 weeks. On the low end just the cost of LL is $1000 per week/shot. To be conservative: I'll estimate $10K for each patient and I'll estimate potential access to 30 million patients. That is a $300 billion market, If someone does not understand the market potential for PASC then they never will. This is just an unbelievable disease state to go after and CYDY has provocative data in this regard. My conservative estimate is so freaking large that I will cut it down to just 10 million patients and that is still a $100 billion market. My god! This is off-the-charts amazing. If you have just 50% of the 10 million patients it is a $50 billion market.
Remember Keytruda has 11 indications and produces an annual revenue of $20 billion. Humira has multiple indications with a BLACK BOX WARNING and produces approximately $22 billion of revenue annually. Just getting a PASC indication exceeds the combined revenue of Keytruda and Humira.
So just looking at NASH, just two cancers, and ALZ it equals $56.2 billion and throw in a conservative estimate of PASC at $100 billion then CYDY is looking at LL participating in $156 billion in disease state markets and we have no way of calculating the chronic inflammation numbers. These potential numbers are HUGE! Please note: that this is not what CYDY gets bought out at, but potential indications and the size of those markets are part of the discussions.
It is very exciting to me to see how things will play out over the next few months, but behind the scenes, the discussions of valuation and the above numbers will be involved.
Dr. JL has used the words "we have provocative data" and needs to produce "unassailable data". The upcoming studies hopefully produce the unassailable data that decisions by Big Pharma eventually makes buyout decisions on. This is where we are at today. Dr. JL knows that to cross the RUBICON we need to partner and then produce the definitive data that crosses from provocative to unassailable.
Ohm20 has a list of 90 indications and it is not a list of wishes. It is a list of indications that actually involve CCR5. I don't think all of those indications have a scientific article published that implies inhibiting the CCR5 molecule aand if it would have an effect on the disease being studied. But a lot of them do. Nonetheless, any discussion between BP and CYDY will/should involve the published articles implicating the CCR5 molecule at a minimum.
The discussion to partner is taking place now and it is not unusual for buyout discussions to weave in and out during these discussions. Because valuation is also part of the partnership discussion. How does the BP currently value CYDY now and certainly how is the BP valuing the market size of let's say the MSS-CRC. How will this calculation affect how much financing to allocate and other resources? If there is a high interest by the BP to eventually buy CYDY but after 1-2 definitive studies are completed with unassailable outcomes; then the BP may want rights to purchase CYDY written into the contract. Or "rights of first refusal" written in if they can't agree on a valuation at this time.
My point is Cyrus knows and I know that during these conversations valuation pops up and having these types of numbers helps both sides come from a common place of understanding.
The top areas in no particular order for helping CYDY's valuation:
1) current provocative data: PASC, HIV-MDR study, 28-patient Cancer basket trial, NASH trial, Covid severe-critical trial, any and all animal trials no matter where they were run. Any studies I missed that are listed in Clinical trials (I think there are 22 studies listed.)
2) Long Acting LL, any and all data that moves the needle
3) Upcoming trials MSS-CRC, Chronic Inflammation trial
4) The long list of published articles implicationg CCR5
5) Ohm2o's list of diseases that involve CCR5
6) The SAFETY RECORD MIGHT BE UNMATCHED!
7) The manufacturing technology is transferrable. CYDY has proved that. We just don't know where.
8) Past baggage is gone and we don't bring a whole large infrastructure of people with any deal. We have the drug and the patent profile that does not start to expire until 2031.
I am sure the Longs on this board will suggest other items that I have not listed here.
Finally, let's not forget that Merck bought Prometheus for $10.9 billion after a phase 2 study for IBS. Yes, just one indication and they had a couple of other drugs in the pipeline starting in phase 1 trials. Currently, CYDY has more data than that on hand right now with certainly more potential indications. So to use Prometheus as a rough example: if BP valued CYDY at the same $11 Billion that is $11 per share. It would be a crime to sell that low even at this time. The lowest possible buyout that I could even imagine at his time is $20 billion. Screw whatever you think the stock price is. It has been manipulated down and we have the twatwaffles here to prove it. Somebodies have wanted to slam the stock price down so that a lowball offer would be attractive. Let me tell you, there are subtle posts that elude to "I'll take $5 a share and run" or "Oh you'll be lucky to see a $600 million buyout". I AM ENTERTAINED BY THESE POSTS. NOTHING BETTER THAN A GOOD LAUGH FOR THE DAY!!
Everyone has the right to sell when they need to. I get it! I know I can bail at $10 per share and that is a comfortable retirement for my wife and I. I just know from experience where this train is headed and that I'll be holding out for much much more.
When the NIH grant for PASC, and BP partnerships are announced along with an Amarex settlement and unassailable results are announced sometime in 2025; the stock price could easily be around $15-$20 without a buyout. If the investigation of stock manipulation is instituted and then concludes, the stock price will be even higher than what I am suggesting. All without a buyout.
I know what LL can do and Dr. JL knows it too. The twatwaffles are here to make it tough, but the LONGS know exactly what LL is: Possibly the greatest drug on the planet that will treat 100's of millions of patients.
GOOD LUCK LONGS
2024.05.20 21:30 kakkoi-san16 Ouju no Shima - Overview of Clockup's Supernatural Crime-Thriller
Having spent 9 hours playing the trial edition, I thought I'd give an overview of Ouju no Shima. Haven't seen a post about it which is sad. I think many are missing out on something promising. Of course, there are spoilers so if you want to dive right in with a clear mind please do!
If you have played it already, please leave a comment. Ouju took me 4 days to play and I'm certain that I missed or misinterpreted things at some points.
Officially called a 呪術伝奇VN jujutsu denki VN (Sorcery Bizarre Fiction VN?) on their website, Ouju shares the traits of supernatural horror and crime-thriller that incorporates subject matters found in Youryou with mystical elements drawn from Onmyouji to Shinto to Shingon Buddhism. A odd mix for sure, yet one that has sold me.
Without further ado, let's begin!
After disposing a rival mobster of the Arai group (a seemingly insignificant rural yakuza), Arai Zenjirou (its boss) hires Togetsu to bring back his brother's missing daughter, who's traveled across the country for sex work. However, only one place exists - Sarubotogejima, an island located in the Setouchi coastal region. Known throughout the decades for its fishing and citrus cultivation industry, its real fame comes from its thriving red light district managed by the Futatsuguri family since the Showa era. Yet, prostitutes seem to disappear mysteriously. Human trafficking or something else? Togetsu races against time before the missing girl is next.
Matters worsen as Aonuma Tsuji (a vengeful spirit vengeful spirit that haunted the Futatsuguris) reawakens, almost claiming the life of senile family head Yoshinobu. Tamoya, his daughter and heir, hires Fuminari Juuzou (another sorcerer hitman) to investigate a local new religion in Sarubotoke but after being attacked by a curse from an unknown assailant near the Futatsuguri Manor, sets his eyes on the cause of the spirit's provocation.
Curses in Ouju can bend one's fate to the will of another. One's intent must be directed to relatives, friends of those in close proximity for them to 'bind' their fate. Contract-killer sorcerers like Togetsu provoked a mobster, earning his resentment. Their fate was bound in that instant. Anyway, you can't curse a celebrity or a stranger. Strong emotions need to be present from both parties for a curse to work.
The sorcerer than uses a particular form of divination to wield the power of a spirit (either a youkai or Bodhisattva) that harms their target. Worse, the victim's soul is claimed by the spirit when dead. Moreover, if a sorcerer's curse backfires (due to another curse overwhelming theirs) they suffer a fate worse than death.
This logic forms the majority of Fuminari's arc. We get a in-depth overview of the history behind the Futatsuguris, their ancestral curse and Sarubotokejima's folklore. In contrast, Togetsu's arc leans more into Sarubotoke's criminal underworld. Prostitution dominates the island's economy as its the #1 reason for tourists to visit. Women from inland Japan (e.g Haguchi Himena) also immigrate to Sarubotoke for sex work. What they don't know is that they cannot leave. Kidnappings make the thought of emigration a taboo. A local mob organized by Futatsuguri Munetaka (Tamoya's uncle) monitor the activities of sex workers, preventing their escape.
In terms of story, Kurashiki Tatsuya's scenario is an intriguing mix of ideas. I could say the central theme explores how fate cannot simply be controlled as powerful unkown forces maintain its unpredictable, persistent nature. Sorcerers uses these spirits or dieties powers to control another person's fate. Many of the characters have experienced the negative consequences of those they once trusted in the past who had done this. They made them who they are now: killers, gangsters, prostitutes. These characters are submerged in the criminal world with no way out. Fate, wether they can control it or not, will determine if they live or die.
Leaving it there, I have to discuss... the music. Doujin music circle Longs Leaper (Hakkendan) perfectly expressed the forlorn, breathtaking atmosphere of Sarubotokejima. Gagaku instruments give a more traditional flare. Accompanied by synths, they have a more overpowering feeling of dread. On the other of the spectrum are some minimal drones ambient drones. You have some nightclub grooves in the city and funk during ero-scenes. All in all, a high quality mix that works well with each and every scene.
The cast is extremely varied with notable seiyuu like Saito Yoshie, Aoi Tokio, Matsuoka Daisuke. Then there's Nikoichi and Hariimaao? I haven't been able to find the stars behind these aliases but them along with bigger names are incredible. Style is similar to Mahoyo, were seiyuu toned down on sounding cutesy and over-the-top, aiming for a more natural style of characterization you'd get in a film.
Next, Hanashima Shigeo's art is at his best. Realism with a touch of anime finesse. It's cute and badass. There's mixed lighting illuminating their figures giving it a neo-noir flair.
Of course, I can't forget about the sex. H-scenes aren't anything bizarre as of yet. Izumi Ban'ya is credited as a writer. Kurisu wrote the ero for this and Maggot Baits... who knows? The trial edition only has the first few chapters; fellatio here and missionary there. Nothing that stood out. Although, Togetsu did speak at least three times during a h-scene so the men are voiced during then.
To end, Ouju no Shima is immersive, deeply thought-provoking piece of fiction. Intimidating with its ascetic terminology and dense descriptive literature, the foreboding world carries this incredible sense of realism. Crime is explored just as much as mysticism, offering a nice balance for anyone to enjoy. Character interactions where exploredon quite well. I got a sense of who everyone was, their flaws, their goals. Great conflict is established early on and I'm dying to see how it all unfolds. 8580 yen (DL Edition) isn't suprising for new VNs nowadays. Sales exist so till then, I'll just be satisified with this lovely cg of Kano:
https://preview.redd.it/q0f6jq45jm1d1.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=f6637269a10d3da2f40f101c31237f2b6b241e2d
submitted by kakkoi-san16 to visualnovels [link] [comments]
If you have played it already, please leave a comment. Ouju took me 4 days to play and I'm certain that I missed or misinterpreted things at some points.
Officially called a 呪術伝奇VN jujutsu denki VN (Sorcery Bizarre Fiction VN?) on their website, Ouju shares the traits of supernatural horror and crime-thriller that incorporates subject matters found in Youryou with mystical elements drawn from Onmyouji to Shinto to Shingon Buddhism. A odd mix for sure, yet one that has sold me.
Without further ado, let's begin!
Plot Summary
Early in the Meiji era, curse-related murders were common in Japan. After the world war, any record of these strange deaths disappeared, never reported again... until the autumn of 2019. Police are puzzled by deaths of criminals without any visible trace of the method or tool of their murder. The perfect crime. Rumor has it that there are handful of occult practitioners hired as contract killers around the country. One of them is Togetsu Kan.After disposing a rival mobster of the Arai group (a seemingly insignificant rural yakuza), Arai Zenjirou (its boss) hires Togetsu to bring back his brother's missing daughter, who's traveled across the country for sex work. However, only one place exists - Sarubotogejima, an island located in the Setouchi coastal region. Known throughout the decades for its fishing and citrus cultivation industry, its real fame comes from its thriving red light district managed by the Futatsuguri family since the Showa era. Yet, prostitutes seem to disappear mysteriously. Human trafficking or something else? Togetsu races against time before the missing girl is next.
Matters worsen as Aonuma Tsuji (a vengeful spirit vengeful spirit that haunted the Futatsuguris) reawakens, almost claiming the life of senile family head Yoshinobu. Tamoya, his daughter and heir, hires Fuminari Juuzou (another sorcerer hitman) to investigate a local new religion in Sarubotoke but after being attacked by a curse from an unknown assailant near the Futatsuguri Manor, sets his eyes on the cause of the spirit's provocation.
Review
Ouju's two leads offer two perspectives of the story. Whether your into the supernatural or crime aspect, the VN caters for both. Firstly, we are greeted with an interesting prologue giving an overview of the two leads' backgrounds and later met with a choice between Fuminari and Togetsu's arcs. In terms of the former, Fuminari's rivalry with Togetsu and the mechanics of the 'magic' so to speak are established.Curses in Ouju can bend one's fate to the will of another. One's intent must be directed to relatives, friends of those in close proximity for them to 'bind' their fate. Contract-killer sorcerers like Togetsu provoked a mobster, earning his resentment. Their fate was bound in that instant. Anyway, you can't curse a celebrity or a stranger. Strong emotions need to be present from both parties for a curse to work.
The sorcerer than uses a particular form of divination to wield the power of a spirit (either a youkai or Bodhisattva) that harms their target. Worse, the victim's soul is claimed by the spirit when dead. Moreover, if a sorcerer's curse backfires (due to another curse overwhelming theirs) they suffer a fate worse than death.
This logic forms the majority of Fuminari's arc. We get a in-depth overview of the history behind the Futatsuguris, their ancestral curse and Sarubotokejima's folklore. In contrast, Togetsu's arc leans more into Sarubotoke's criminal underworld. Prostitution dominates the island's economy as its the #1 reason for tourists to visit. Women from inland Japan (e.g Haguchi Himena) also immigrate to Sarubotoke for sex work. What they don't know is that they cannot leave. Kidnappings make the thought of emigration a taboo. A local mob organized by Futatsuguri Munetaka (Tamoya's uncle) monitor the activities of sex workers, preventing their escape.
In terms of story, Kurashiki Tatsuya's scenario is an intriguing mix of ideas. I could say the central theme explores how fate cannot simply be controlled as powerful unkown forces maintain its unpredictable, persistent nature. Sorcerers uses these spirits or dieties powers to control another person's fate. Many of the characters have experienced the negative consequences of those they once trusted in the past who had done this. They made them who they are now: killers, gangsters, prostitutes. These characters are submerged in the criminal world with no way out. Fate, wether they can control it or not, will determine if they live or die.
Leaving it there, I have to discuss... the music. Doujin music circle Longs Leaper (Hakkendan) perfectly expressed the forlorn, breathtaking atmosphere of Sarubotokejima. Gagaku instruments give a more traditional flare. Accompanied by synths, they have a more overpowering feeling of dread. On the other of the spectrum are some minimal drones ambient drones. You have some nightclub grooves in the city and funk during ero-scenes. All in all, a high quality mix that works well with each and every scene.
The cast is extremely varied with notable seiyuu like Saito Yoshie, Aoi Tokio, Matsuoka Daisuke. Then there's Nikoichi and Hariimaao? I haven't been able to find the stars behind these aliases but them along with bigger names are incredible. Style is similar to Mahoyo, were seiyuu toned down on sounding cutesy and over-the-top, aiming for a more natural style of characterization you'd get in a film.
Next, Hanashima Shigeo's art is at his best. Realism with a touch of anime finesse. It's cute and badass. There's mixed lighting illuminating their figures giving it a neo-noir flair.
Of course, I can't forget about the sex. H-scenes aren't anything bizarre as of yet. Izumi Ban'ya is credited as a writer. Kurisu wrote the ero for this and Maggot Baits... who knows? The trial edition only has the first few chapters; fellatio here and missionary there. Nothing that stood out. Although, Togetsu did speak at least three times during a h-scene so the men are voiced during then.
To end, Ouju no Shima is immersive, deeply thought-provoking piece of fiction. Intimidating with its ascetic terminology and dense descriptive literature, the foreboding world carries this incredible sense of realism. Crime is explored just as much as mysticism, offering a nice balance for anyone to enjoy. Character interactions where exploredon quite well. I got a sense of who everyone was, their flaws, their goals. Great conflict is established early on and I'm dying to see how it all unfolds. 8580 yen (DL Edition) isn't suprising for new VNs nowadays. Sales exist so till then, I'll just be satisified with this lovely cg of Kano:
https://preview.redd.it/q0f6jq45jm1d1.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=f6637269a10d3da2f40f101c31237f2b6b241e2d
2024.05.20 21:15 BruhEmperor Commonwealth National Convention of 1904 American Interflow Timeline
 | “Make way! Make way! He’s coming! Prepare!”. Hundreds of attendees seeming to scurry from place to place to prepare for a sight of a lifetime. Representative Theodore Roosevelt would gather everyone’s attention on the podium as thousands eagerly waited for the ever-recognizable figure to walk through those doors. “Ladies and gentlemen! It is a grand honor for me to introduce… the twenty-second president of the United States and his beautiful wife, the former first lady…”. Five people would then enter the convention to the deafening cheers and applause of the audience. Former Secretary of State Francis Cockrell would take over from Roosevelt to proclaim amid the rapid applause and shouts, “Cheers to President Thomas Ward Custer! First Lady Bamie Roosevelt Custer! Their son Emmanuel! Former Secretary Henry du Pont! And Senator Anselm McLaurin!”. The crowd would go utterly ballistic. For nearly an hour claps for the former president could still be heard as Custer and his family were handling the best seats in the building. Representative Roosevelt and his family went to sit behind his ever-popular sister. submitted by BruhEmperor to Presidentialpoll [link] [comments] Representatives Hiram Johnson and William Henry Moody went to approach Custer to welcome him to the convention. Unbeknownst to them, a certain magnate would start approaching the former president too. “Mr. Rockefeller.”, Johnson would say upon seeing the man. “Mr. Johnson, it is pleasure to see you here today.”. Both Johnson and Moody had worked against Rockefeller’s corporate machine and monopolies and Rockefeller himself had made nasty comment of his opponents of the past. “We best leave now. We are needed elsewhere.”, says Moody as the two representatives leave. After Rockefeller extended his greeting and left, Roosevelt would lean to in to whisper to Custer. “Many in this room would kill each other if they had the opportunity.”. The former president would sigh as he would stand up to catch a better view of the convention. Custer would look upon the convention with awe, he had previously been nominated by his party for president five times before, as a sense of nostalgia definitely engulfed him. Family faces he met during his three terms were now frontrunners for the nomination. The hustle here was far different from his new quiet home in Baja. Custer would spot former Treasury Secretary William Jennings Bryan and former Vice President William Eustis Russell, both his former rivals for the nomination, this time not seeking the nomination for themselves, but grooming their new protégés to achieve what they never could. Many still clearly loved and adored the former president. Upon standing up, many in the sidelines would spot him and begin to sing the chorus of “The Young Buffalo”, one of the Custer’s campaign songs during his third re-election campaign. “The Young Buffalo readies to charge, to be the king-at-large! The Young Buffalo triumphs for the crown. To fighting for freedom abound! Today we shall lead the Young Buffalo to victory! For trust, peace, and prosperity! Oh hey! Hey! Custer! He’s got a vote from me! From California to New Brunswick, lives his society!” The Commonwealth National Convention was held in Trenton, New Jersey on July 6th, 1904. Outside the Commonwealth National Convention Jesse Root Grant II - Once feared by all radical socialists and fundamentalists alike. The “Iron Attorney General”, who quashed the Communards and Revelationists that terrorized the country during the Second Radicalization Era. A close friend of President Custer and one who stood by him steadfastly during the Bryan-Russell Split of the administration. Grant’s recognition was cemented by his father’s, Ulysses S. Grant’s, status as a hero of the Civil War. Though his father worked under and was acquainted with the beloved Civil War President John P. Hale and the Freedomites, 46-year old Jesse Root Grant II shot his shot with the Commons instead. Grant is a perceived Custerite through and through. In the leagues of Senators Alexander S. Clay and Anselm McLaurin for the critiques against the Chaffee’s administration attempted dismantling of the Custerite Society. Some speculate that is why Chaffee appointed Grant to be the head of the American delegation to the Congo General Administration and sent him to Africa to get him off the country. Grant would resign from position earlier this year and return back home. With endorsements from the aforementioned Senator Clay, as well as many of the Custerites in the country, including many members of the still politically influential and socially intimidating Boston Custer Society, Grant would be poised the standard-bearer of Custerism without the former president himself running (though that wouldn't stop many still trying to draft him). Grant’s main talking point would be his support for restoration of many of the policies that defined the Custer era. With policies that includes an enlargement of government and bureaucracy to counteract growing unaddressed problems, an end to die-hard imperialism and instead a commitment to the “intervention-only-by-provocation” policy, a return to bi-metallism, and a focus on American economic international dominance. Grant would not oppose the BPS’ controversial persecutions tactics and the usage of the Hancockian Corps for government service, a safe bet in case anyone called him a hypocrite for his past usage of the army to quash the "radicals". Grant pictured in Caesarville, CGA during his time as head of the American delegation William Sulzer - Political firebrands are known to frequent hit lists of those they oppose, especially if they are stubbornly unapologetic. As so is the story of 41-year old New York Representative William Sulzer. Sulzer was once a pawn of the Commonwealth Tammy Hall machine that dominated New York state politics, however after then-Governor William Kissam Vanderbilt’s purge of their corrupt institutions, Sulzer was freed from his servitude, though today Sulzer continues to deny his past affiliation with the group. Sulzer would then ally himself with Vanderbilt and his coalition, but split and later opposed it because of the accusations of Vanderbilt’s nepotism and personal dishonesty. Sulzer would then align nationally with the Bryan clique, supporting Bryan with his nominations in 1896 and 1900, as he’d work with the Treasury Department during Bryan’s time as Treasury Secretary. It would be no wonder that Bryan would take Sulzer under his wings after the end of Custer administration to seek out what he himself couldn’t. Sulzer would heavily oppose the utter size of the monopolies that still dominated many areas of the nation. Sulzer would also be vocal in his distain of the German and Russian empires, and even sought for the US to cut off total diplomatic ties with them after the German-Filipino War and the ACCEC-KVZhD incident. Opposing imperialism, but vindicating foreign interventionism, Sulzer once morbidly declared, “May all who seek a war of conquest against our nation tremble, for we shall bring wrath like no other this earth has seen before.”. Sulzer would adhere to the Bryanite stance of the silverite policy, focus on agrarianism over industrial development, and the support of national prohibition, though he would only demand restructuring of the BPS' command instead of demanding the end of their persecutions. Despite gaining support from the still influential Bryan, Sulzer would still try to distance himself from him and position himself as his own individual, though many don’t buy his supposed distancing. Sulzer's congressional photo. Sulzer's seeming always-angry facial expression would be jabbed by his opponents Arthur MacArthur Jr. - Though President Chaffee may have ascended to the presidency as the “Hero of the Rio de la Plata”, another general would trail not too far behind in terms of recognition. Though now overshadowed by his old comrade-in-arms, the “Axe of the Andes” and his campaign weren’t unnoticed by the country. Lt. General Arthur MacArthur was described by Lt. Col Leonard Wood as “…the most courageous, loyal, and insane solider I’ve ever met.”. MacArthur’s campaign in Chile experienced the most bloodiest battles in the War of the Continental Alliance, with tens of thousands dying in the harsh mountain climate of the Andes. MacArthur was criticized due to the immense casualty of count of his “MacArthur Offensive”, though militarily successful, produced 23,000 American casualties. After the victory in the war, MacArthur returned to America a war hero like Chaffee, Roosevelt, Wood, and Astor, and many tried, and failed, to court him for a possible nomination in 1900. Though as his old superior was elected to run the country, MacArthur expressed his distain of his handling of issues. MacArthur supported entering open conflict with the Germans regarding the Philippines and sought the total annexation of Fuzhou from occupied-Fujian as a “Special-City” of the US, to be grouped with cities such as Bahia Blanca and Hancock D.C.. MacArthur’s more nationalistic opinions eventually got the attention of William Eustis Russell, though himself an isolationist, got charmed by MacArthur’s “Americanization” stance. Through Russell’s political mentoring, MacArthur’s stances became hardened to Russell’s past “America Only!” policy, eventually leading him to seek the nomination. Supporting the gold standard, industrial laborism, nativism, anti-monopoly policies, and support of individualism over the collective, the now 59-year old MacArthur positioned himself as the “true rival to the Chaffean regime” and the more "cool-headed" side of the war heroes. MacArthur would tolerate the BPS activities and even have acquaintances himself in the Hancockian Corps, though had criticized Carmack's "un-politician" behavior and policies in the past and promise to remove any "Carmackian influence" from the bureau. Arthur MacArthur with his staff during the Chilean campaign John D. Rockefeller - A candidate over spite, or a candidate over actual concern? Many shudder in fear or disgust at the thought of 65-year old business magnate and owner of the Standard Oil, the largest business in American history, John D. Rockefeller. By the end of President Custer’s term, 70% of US businesses were under or indirectly subordinated to the largest monopolies of the country, and Rockefeller’s business empire held many of those business under his thumb. Though many couldn’t blame Custer, Rockefeller and many others bailed out his government during the Great Recession, so the government owed him a major debt of gratitude. Many regulations were still put in place by Congress against the monopolies, though in the end they all still reigned on top. Their rise would soon be stunted upon the entering of the Chaffee administration. Chaffee himself, and many of his powerful cabinet, detested the monopolies that held major influence over every sector of American life. Through the works cabinet members Knox, Carmack, Root, and Hogg, regulations and penalties brought down their influences. Critical of these actions, Rockefeller would claim through his own business data that these regulations were actually harming businesses and workers without any major benefits. To him, penalizing the branches of his corporation led to inadequate funding to be received and the worsening of working conditions and wages. Rockefeller would also blame the Housing Crisis on these policies, claiming the spike in housing prices were caused by gatekeeping competition and promoting unfair business practices. All these factors would push Rockefeller to seeking a nomination to “fix the problems” to claimed. Rockefeller would make an astounding promise to “…end poverty in 10 years…” if he were elected president. Rockefeller would promote educational, medical, and technological development throughout all the country, from his own pockets in a sort of "nation-wide philanthropy". “Prosperity at home, no pocket left empty!”, he would say. Rockefeller would promote a "peace here, peace elsewhere" policy, calling for the United States to totally detract itself from global confrontations all together. Rockefeller would absolutely decry the BPS, and especially Carmack, as illegally persecuting people at will and criticized the ethics of the government of allowing such actions. Rockefeller in one of his many high-quality photographs View Poll |