Choo choo! All aboard the Complain Train!

[Zykon TheLich]

Yes, I can learn to act with the traits of an extrovert, but it'll always be much harder for me because I don't enjoy it, and have no natural inclination toward making connections with new people.

Yeah, it will be. Personal change and growth is hard, especially as you get older. Best to get it in while you're young, which Fakesympathy is, comparative to the rest of us fossils IIRC.

But you can change if you have enough reason, even if you're an old git like most of us here. And maybe some guy on the internet taking an interest and saying, hey buddy, it can be done, give it a go, you can do it, might convince someone before they give up and end up drinking themselves to death, having a breakdown, jumping off a cliff etc. Or even just being miserable and unfulfilled the rest of their lives. If none of that applies, no worries. If it does, it might help. Worth a go, I think.

 

[Gergar12]

Apparently a Level IV maternity ward and a Level IV NICU in the same building and or medical center campus are rare. Which you would think is logical since it maximizes safety, but apparently it's too expensive. Thanks, Ohio Legislature.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Bought a pair of pants online and the sizing is completely fucked (they're both way bigger in the waist than they should be, and also much shorter in the inseam than intended), these should have been a QC rejection. The store has free returns so it's not a big deal, but kind of a bummer. That said, I think these might fit a friend of mine who struggles to find pants that fit him (short guy, in shape, but spent too much on leg day and has a massive ass and thighs) so I might give these to him to try on and let him keep them if they fit. Sometimes even free returns are too much hassle.

 

[Xprimentyl]

It must be wonderful to have the sort of personality and physicality to make that possible. Yes, the world is stacked in favor of extroverts, good for you, we're all very proud.

And in your attempt to be snide, you've made some very incorrect assumptions about me. I am very much introverted. The reason I haven't typically hit on women is because I'm generally shy and don't think women would be interested in me. Physically, I'm not an impressive male specimen, average build, leaning towards a dad bod, actually. What I meant by "confidence comes in many flavors" is that one flavor is, given all of what I just listed, not caring what anyone thinks of you. Don't expect anyone to think highly of you or be impressed by you as long as you're comfortable in your own skin; go through life being yourself, enjoying yourself, and sometimes, someone sees that flavor of confidence and wants a taste.

The world isn't stacked in favor of extroverts, it's just that they are the loudest in it and make it look effortless to assert themselves outwardly, even when it's really stupid and gains them nothing of import. Just look at MAGA!

 

[Drathnoxis]

And in your attempt to be snide, you've made some very incorrect assumptions about me. I am very much introverted. The reason I haven't typically hit on women is because I'm generally shy and don't think women would be interested in me. Physically, I'm not an impressive male specimen, average build, leaning towards a dad bod, actually. What I meant by "confidence comes in many flavors" is that one flavor is, given all of what I just listed, not caring what anyone thinks of you. Don't expect anyone to think highly of you or be impressed by you as long as you're comfortable in your own skin; go through life being yourself, enjoying yourself, and sometimes, someone sees that flavor of confidence and wants a taste.

The world isn't stacked in favor of extroverts, it's just that they are the loudest in it and make it look effortless to assert themselves outwardly, even when it's really stupid and gains them nothing of import. Just look at MAGA!

Intro/extroversion is a scale and a lot of people who might consider themselves introverts appear to be extroverts to those further down the scale.

I'll apologize, though. Your comment rubbed me the wrong way when I was already in a negative mood.

 

[Xprimentyl]

Intro/extroversion is a scale and a lot of people who might consider themselves introverts appear to be extroverts to those further down the scale.

I'll apologize, though. Your comment rubbed me the wrong way when I was already in a negative mood.

No harm, no foul; just wanted to clear the air that I wasn't being passive-aggressively braggadocios, just trying to give our friend the reassurance that he's not objectively qualifiable, and should get comfortable being himself and don't worry about selling himself to anyone else with stats. At 5'2", there're 5'0" dimes out there who'd look up to him, and probably even more that are taller who don't care if they see a guy just living his life with a smile on his face.

 

[Xprimentyl]

In other news: it's fucking HAWT in Texas. It's been in the high 90s for over a week with a real-feel in the triple digits. Rain? What's that? Also, quit telling me one temperature, then telling what the "real-feel" is; the real-feel IS the temperature. What do I even do with that information? Oh, it feels like 104-degress, but it's "actually" only 98? If it feels like 104-degrees, then it IS 104-degrees; that 98-degrees means jack shit! It's just another metric used to further convolute meteorology and distract us from the fact that there are people out here claiming to be experts who're wrong 50% of the time, and still making a shit-ton of money.

 

[Thaluikhain]

In other news: it's fucking HAWT in Texas. It's been in the high 90s for over a week with a real-feel in the triple digits. Rain? What's that? Also, quit telling me one temperature, then telling what the "real-feel" is; the real-feel IS the temperature. What do I even do with that information? Oh, it feels like 104-degress, but it's "actually" only 98? If it feels like 104-degrees, then it IS 104-degrees; that 98-degrees means jack shit! It's just another metric used to further convolute meteorology and distract us from the fact that there are people out here claiming to be experts who're wrong 50% of the time, and still making a shit-ton of money.

Disagree there. The temperature it feels like can vary from the real temperature, sure, but the "feels like" temperature seems to be very vague and subjective, and probably don't effect everyone the same way. Knowing what the real temperature is, and the factors (such as humidity, wind-chill etc) affecting things is better, IMHO.

 

[Xprimentyl]

Disagree there. The temperature it feels like can vary from the real temperature, sure, but the "feels like" temperature seems to be very vague and subjective, and probably don't effect everyone the same way. Knowing what the real temperature is, and the factors (such as humidity, wind-chill etc) affecting things is better, IMHO.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, even wrong ones like this.

 

[Xprimentyl]

Auto insurance complaint incoming in 3... 2... 1...

I just got a "happy anniversary" card from my car insurance company. I've been with them for 16 years and have ZERO claims and ZERO points on my driving record (thank God for deferred adjudication.) And this celebratory card is just to let me know that since I've so many years with a clean, claimless record, they've "gifted" me accident forgiveness which means if I DO have an accident, my premium won't increase. Here's the thing though, my premium has gone up basically every year since 2010!!! I forget where I started back in 2010, but I know for a fact my monthly payment has gone up about $70, a few dollars at a time, every 6 months. And they've the nerve to send me a celebratory card saying they won't increase my premiums [even more] if I finally end up needing to use some of the money I've already given them.

Someone needs to get on the phone with the insurance marketing department and let them know that NOBODY likes them, NOBODY celebrates the legal requirement to pay them, and sure as shit, NOBODY thinks you're doing them a favor by agreeing to not fuck them harder if their services are actually required. I'm legit pissed; how dare they? I'm here holding this fucking card and wondering how much of MY money was used to print this fucking bullshit, on fucking card stock, that they've probably sent to MILLIONS of their customers who probably feel the same way I do.

Shit makes me want to crash into a telephone pole, collect my total payout from them, buy a really nice bike, and fucking cancel my coverage with an equally nice "fuck you" card; I might even include flowers.

 

[BrawlMan]

My area is hit by the Canadian wild fire smoke too. We don't have the worst of it, but still pretty bad. I already got masks for myself from work and respirator I bought a few months back.

 

[FakeSympathy]

I am currently in NJ for a volunteer camp.

On top of East Coast US already being hot and humid in the summer, this area is also affected by Canada Ontario wildfire, with the air quality going to shit. It’s hard to breathe when im outdoors.

Thankfully most of the camp activities are taking indoors. But man, first time ever in NJ and this is the first thing I experience!

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

I am currently in NJ for a volunteer camp.

On top of East Coast US already being hot and humid in the summer, this area is also affected by Canada Ontario wildfire, with the air quality going to shit. It’s hard to breathe when im outdoors.

Thankfully most of the camp activities are taking indoors. But man, first time ever in NJ and this is the first thing I experience!

As someone who grew up in New Jersey, I'll just say this: You've probably already hit the high point of your stay there.

 

[FakeSympathy]

As someone who grew up in New Jersey, I'll just say this: You've probably already hit the high point of your stay there.

I passed by an area called Middlesex.

Juvenile joke, but are the residents here aware of its funny name?

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

I passed by an area called Middlesex.

Juvenile joke, but are the residents here aware of its funny name?

Unlikely. Nobody living in New Jersey has a sense of humor.

(Also try to repress your snickers when you get to Essex or Sussex.)

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Unlikely. Nobody living in New Jersey has a sense of humor.

(Also try to repress your snickers when you get to Essex or Sussex.)

Do they have a Wessex too? Fun fact, I was once driven to the Wessex county line and banned from returning for 3 months by the Sheriff of Wessex. It remains my proudest achievement to this day.

 

[FakeSympathy]

Lucky for me, the camp at the NJ wasn’t that long, and im heading back to Seattle.

It’s raining right now, which is super nice as it seems to melt down any ashes in the air, and it has been really hot for the last few days.

The people that I met here, at least the ones are the camp, were surprisingly nice. Way nicer than how the media stereotypes them to be

 

[Thaluikhain]

Do they have a Wessex too? Fun fact, I was once driven to the Wessex county line and banned from returning for 3 months by the Sheriff of Wessex. It remains my proudest achievement to this day.

Oh, do share the story.

 

[BrawlMan]

Most of smoke has cleared at this point. I still wear a mask when outside during the day, but since it is now Sunday, I probably won't need it for a while now. Plus, my vacation starts on Monday.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Oh, do share the story.

Well, it's not some admirable tale of daring Robin Hoodesque escapades.

Back in the days of my youth, I was in the Freeparty techno scene and spent a few years zooming around the south of the country with a freeparty soundsystem. We went to a particularly big rave in Wessex, 30+ soundsystems. At some point in the morning, once I was able to see straight, I looked up to see lines of riot police and vans in the field over and a couple of helicopters overhead. They had clearly had enough of our shit.

We were one of the last systems to get out before they decided enough people had left for them to safely go in and start confiscating stuff and arresting organisers.
They generally just want everyone to fuck off and not come back but we had pissed them right off and they'd had to get in help from neighbouring counties police forces. The actual Sherriff was with the cops around the entrance on the way out issuing a public nuisance order to everyone who came through. Basically it says fuck off out of our county and if you come back within 3 months we'll arrest you. Probably from the 1994 Criminal Justice Bill.
Then they surrounded our 3 vehicles with police vans, and escorted us to the motorway, had a helicopter overhead and blocked off all the motorway offramps with police motorbikes until they got us out of the county. It was a good weekend.