Posts by Nicholas Barnes74

restlesssailor3 said:Hello everyone.

I haven't been active on this forum lately, but I would like you to leave this thread up if it complies with the other posting rules. If this topic doesn't fit this subforum, feel free to move it elsewhere.

As the title suggests, I struggle with spring depression. At 27 years old, I am finally ready to admit this and start addressing it.

Unlike most people with seasonal issues who suffer during autumn, winter, or the holidays, I don't experience that. For me, this depression starts creeping in around February—as soon as the days get longer—then intensifies through mid-to-late April before tapering off by June.

Ever since the 5th grade, I’ve felt the changing weather and longer days starting to "suffocate" me. It creates this constant restlessness and kills my concentration while studying. The afternoons are the worst—from about 2:00 or 3:00 PM until dusk. Just endless restlessness. Depression mixed with anxiety. A sense of aimlessness. Emptiness. Sometimes even a sense of dread.

During this time of year, I often feel like spring is physically tearing me apart. Days were only tolerable if it was raining. Rarely did a spring day pass without me feeling like absolute shit. During my school years, I tried to drown out these horrible feelings by burying myself in work and obligations, though they remained present.

Over the last three years, this period has been more manageable than before (when I lived at home), and during this past year (2022), working helped me realize I handle spring better now than I did during my education. However, that mindset—that difficulty with this specific season—is still there. It remains hard, even if it has weakened slightly over the last three years.
I have always remained functional during this time, just 2-3 times less productive than I am during the winter.

My questions for you all are:
Do you experience similar issues? (I would prefer we focus specifically on spring moods rather than generalizing or discussing other seasons).
How do you cope?
What are the potential causes?
Is there any professional literature on this?
Have you managed to overcome, or attempted to overcome, this period?

Just today, seeing people relaxing and hanging out in Central Park served as a blunt reminder that this spring depression is here, and it is present.

Thank you in advance for your kind and constructive responses.

"April is the cruelest month, breeding
George from dead soil, mixing
Memory and desire, mixing
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter provided warmth, covering
The earth in forgetful snow, feeding
On little life from dried tubers.

Something like that... T. S. Eliot knew it long ago...

Ethan Hill said:I honestly feel like God tests us when He tells us to consume, shape, and manipulate... If God loves all living creatures, why did He give humans the power to kill them just to eat? And don't even get me started on how much suffering animals go through all because of human "progress."
Sure, tend to your gardens—moderation is key—but don't go destroying everything in sight just so we can waste food, act like bullies, and fuel this massive cycle of industrial production, pollution, and the destruction of our ancient forests. It’s all connected.
I caught this really great program the other day that dives into all of this—ecopsychology.

But, I guess animals kill too... my cat loves playing with grasshoppers and moths—not even to eat them, just to mess with them, which is kind of brutal, I suppose...
As for that ecopsychology stuff, I watched it—well, more like listened to it—but it felt like they were just recycling old ideas and slapping a fancy new label on them.

Karen Taylor36 said:You could've just hit the little triangle button. But since you're already here, let's just make a fair, human deal. You handle the gay stuff, and I'll take care of the mantle guys—sound good?

My little triangles aren't helping anyone.
I don't do debates on gay forums, so honestly, go ahead and argue whatever you want while you still have the chance.

Here’s a little more hate speech and discrimination popping up over on the religion forum:

coastalwalker9 said:Everything stolen eventually falls on someone else's shoulders. Usually, it's the low-level employee whose paycheck gets docked to cover the shortage.
Sure, massive retail chains might fleece customers with high prices, but that's never been a motivation for me to steal, nor would it ever be.🤷
To be honest, I find it to be a rather unsightly character flaw. I am almost certain that people prone to that kind of behavior are capable of committing other questionable acts, justifying them through various rationalizations. 👎

I agree regarding the fruit.

Well, even swimming comes with a million different variables.😁
What if you're reaching the end of your rope? Or perhaps you know how to swim, but your heels are acting up? Or what if swimming isn't the solution, and you simply need to find another way to ask for help when life hits hard?

We are all equal in God's embrace.
🙂

I concur. 👍

They basically bake it all into the cost—
"Slotting fees for shelf placement, general stocking fees, shrinkage allowances for theft, and fees for expired goods—these are just a few of the costs American manufacturers have to pay retailers, mostly those massive big-box stores, which significantly drives up the price. According to manufacturers, anywhere from 30% to as much as 80% of the shelf price is actually just built-in rebates/discounts."

As for the rest of what you're assuming... well, no big deal, that's just your take, your business...

Honestly, I doubt anyone else even noticed besides the unknown party.
When you don't have God in your life, I guess all sorts of random habits just try to fill that void.
So, maybe—if you don't mind me saying—it feels like you're actually talking about your own fears here.
P.S. There are two Catholic subreddits I'm part of, and they’ve been around forever... they haven't vanished yet.

Nicole White said:Hey there! I’m not entirely sure if this is the right place for this kind of thing, but I’ve been wondering... how many actual sayings from Jesus, or passages specifically dedicated to His direct teachings, can we actually find in the Bible? Is there some kind of definitive list or a specific count? I'm looking for something focused on His particular doctrines and instructions—you know, more like the core texts you'd find in Buddhism or Zoroastrianism. I don't mean all the various interpretations from different spiritual scholars or philosophers over the centuries; I'm talking about the raw, direct words straight from Jesus Himself.

Well, honestly, the whole New Testament is centered on Jesus—it's all about Him, His teachings, His parables...

coastalwalker9 said:

They certainly exist. It isn't anything unusual, and I certainly don't judge them. Everyone looks out for their own skin and does whatever they can to protect it.
Do you honestly think American churches and services are filled exclusively with people who are benevolent, patient, and overflowing with love? Not every priest is like that, let alone the average person who doesn't know much beyond the idea that if they don't pray or show up to service, they'll end up in hell. And how many of them pray without any soul behind it, driven purely by fear, simply believing it will save them when they eventually have to answer to God.
How many kneel in a pew, only to walk into a CVS and shoplift a candy bar or a magazine? Or spend the drive home gossiping about neighbors. Or sit in a service critiquing someone’s outfit, thinking, "Look at her acting all important," while knowing her husband is having an affair.
It's just the mundane, messy things that make us human.

I find your mention of "reacting" quite interesting. 😁👍
It suggests you are a person of heart and passion. It matters little if you stumble occasionally; those types of people are often far better than someone who is "good" only because they are passive and lifeless. You can actually rely on someone like you. A "benevolent" passive person might just shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, that's life," and then offer a quick prayer for you.

So, which would you prefer? Someone jumping in to lend you a hand, or someone watching you drown while they calmly offer a prayer for your soul?
I suspect the former, even without the prayer, would find more grace in the eyes of the Lord than the latter, who prays for both themselves and you.
They certainly exist. It isn't anything unusual, and I certainly don't judge them. Everyone looks out for their own skin and does whatever they can to protect it.
Do you honestly think American churches and services are filled exclusively with people who are benevolent, patient, and overflowing with love? Not every priest is like that, let alone the average person who doesn't know much beyond the idea that if they don't pray or show up to service, they'll end up in hell. And how many of them pray without any soul behind it, driven purely by fear, simply believing it will save them when they eventually have to answer to God.
How many kneel in a pew, only to walk into a CVS and shoplift a candy bar or a magazine? Or spend the drive home gossiping about neighbors. Or sit in a service critiquing someone’s outfit, thinking, "Look at her acting all important," while knowing her husband is having an affair.
It's just the mundane, messy things that make us human.

I find your mention of "reacting" quite interesting. 😁👍
It suggests you are a person of heart and passion. It matters little if you stumble occasionally; those types of people are often far better than someone who is "good" only because they are passive and lifeless. You can actually rely on someone like you. A "benevolent" passive person might just shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, that's life," and then offer a quick prayer for you.

So, which would you prefer? Someone jumping in to lend you a hand, or someone watching you drown while they calmly offer a prayer for your soul?
I suspect the former, even without the prayer, would find more grace in the eyes of the Lord than the latter, who prays for both themselves and you.
When I said "react," I mostly meant it in a negative way.
There are all kinds of people in church, obviously. And if I looked at it that way, I’d never step foot in one (actually, it took me years to start going again, in my "own" way).
And yeah, I’m kind of like that too—a lot of them really get under my skin, even though I know I shouldn't think that way. But I realized I go for myself, not because of them.
The whole stealing coffee thing... well, you have to confess that later. That's the catch. Personally, I used to love those little shoplifting moments, sometimes with friends and sometimes solo—making a decent haul and "rewarding" myself with something small by bypassing the register without a guilty conscience. Like, big chains already factor that into their costs anyway, and they basically rob us with their prices. It felt kind of satisfying. But years ago, once I started going to confession more regularly, I stopped that "habit." Still, stealing is a sin, and it would look ridiculous if I had to confess it every single time, like I hadn't learned anything. Though, some minor stuff that doesn't really hurt anyone—like picking a piece of fruit from an abandoned farm where the owner passed away and nobody's harvesting it—I don't really count that as a sin or something I need to confess.

I mean... Stifler's mom. Honestly, I don't even know where to start with that one—it's just such a classic, right? It’s one of those things that sticks with you. kaže:
Who is this MM guy that's supposedly so close to being saved?

I wouldn't really put it that way, I guess.
So, who do you think it is? I mean, MM—my husband's little forum nickname, I guess.

coastalwalker9 said:There are so many complexities surrounding whose God it is, which version is correct, and why people have "divided" God into so many different iterations or interpreted Him in such specific ways—I can't quite explain it, but listening to everyone claim their own unique story only serves to invite more doubt and questioning.
Personally, I believe there is one God; He doesn't belong to us, we belong to Him, and He looks at the state of the soul rather than which specific believer we happen to worship. The fact that humanity has spent history splintering into various factions based on different faiths and versions of God doesn't sound like anything God would have planned.
That is why, when someone says, it matters what kind of person you are, to me, that sounds the most divine—or at least closest to it.

Because at the end of the day, what is the point of honoring someone or something if you aren't a decent human being or if you possess a heart of stone? Honoring God feels like a mere drop in the ocean; I deeply doubt it is the deciding factor for everything.

Communities, churches, branches, books—all of that is fine. It is good that they exist because they provide answers and guidance, helping people find shape and stay whole when they navigate difficult times, temptations, or certain life stages.

So, when someone who is genuinely good and pure of heart says they honor Jesus, I am perfectly fine with that, because I see it as just another act of love within the series of loving actions that person already performs.

But when someone does it out of fear of what comes after death, or because it feels like a mandatory obligation or a way to gain some sort of social credit, then in my eyes, that person has missed the entire point.
Though, perhaps that is still a better option if it keeps a person away from crime, the temptation to fall into evil, or the impulse to harm others. From that perspective, I understand why churches strive to emphasize the importance of belonging to a community and gathering together.
Even ancient tribes had their shamans and interpreters who passed down wisdom and served as wells of knowledge; modern man isn't much different. The only difference is that the modern man has priests, psychologists, schools, and everything else that shapes and directs him. More knowledge leads to more questions, which leads to more answers, which ultimately leads to more complications and struggles for the human mind and soul.

I don't know, man—I'm honestly not even sure if people like that actually exist... I mean, I guess you could say faith is supposed to be built on love, right? It shouldn't really be about living in fear.
Then again, there are those moments where I actually manage to get a grip on myself—where I stop and think, "Look, if I react to this, it’s honestly just going to be bad for everyone involved," you know? Like, from a big-picture perspective, it’s just not worth it. But unfortunately... I usually end up reacting anyway. I mean, I honestly don't think I could live two whole lifetimes and still have enough time to finally get my act together, learn some restraint, and truly open my soul up to God's mercy.

Ethan Hill said:So, where exactly is this change you're talking about? Like, what does it actually look like in practice? I'm struggling to see the point.

Does the weight of sin actually vary? I mean, there’s definitely a difference between just being a sinner, being a huge sinner, and being an absolute wreck. It's not all the same.

Christianity isn't just some story someone cooked up out of thin air. It’s built on the fact that Jesus actually existed. It didn't just appear out of nowhere; it grew from what people actually saw happening with their own eyes.

Yeah, you hit the nail on the head there. Christianity is basically built on... So, you've got this whole group of people basing everything on the existence of Jesus and building an entire religion around it. It makes you wonder, though. Do you think Jesus intended for his message to be strictly tied to Christianity, or was he more of a teacher and healer who just wanted to bring everyone in the world together in peace?
People saw his miracles firsthand, you know? They weren't out there witnessing some organized religion; they were seeing things happen right in front of them. That's how it started—real testimonies sparked faith, and then that faith eventually grew into the history and the religious structures we see today. In my mind, religion should have just been one big, unified community dedicated to celebrating Jesus, spreading his teachings, and actually living out that faith together to bring people closer.
Look, at the end of the day, everyone’s got their own take on things. It really just comes down to what you believe.
How do you think the Christian community would view people like us? I mean, we don't belong to any specific religion or church, but we still celebrate and believe in Jesus Christ.

There’s also a difference in how heavy the sins are, right? - It's not the same thing as just being sinful, versus being really sinful, or even extremely sinful.

Yeah, you made a good point—Christianity is based on, I mean, one group of people centered themselves around the existence of Jesus and built their own religion from there. But do you think Jesus wanted to be just "Christian," or was he more of a teacher, a healer who wanted to bring all the people in this world together in peace?
People witnessed his miracles—they weren't witnessing a religion. Faith came from those testimonies, and then faith formed into religion through history. Religion was supposed to be this unified community that honors Jesus, promotes Jesus' teachings, brings people together, and actually lives out its faith.Now, whether that's actually how it works... well, everyone has their own opinion on that.
How would the Christian Catholic community look at us unbaptized folks—people who don't belong to any specific religion, but still honor and believe in Jesus Christ?[/I]

Well, that's just how it is.
As someone part of that community (though I don't love the term since I'm kind of an individualist), I think God knows best what's in anyone's heart... and since MM is an atheist, I honestly think God might save him before He saves me.

Ethan Hill said:I guess I could also point to a huge number of religious folks who are pretty sinful and don't actually live out their "faith" through any formal church structure.
Man, humans basically invented religions to serve their own interests. True faith is something much bigger—it’s spiritual, all-encompassing, and sits way above any specific religion.

Do you think you know it, or do you actually *feel* in your gut that those beliefs are true? And if you really feel them, why not just write down your truth? Or is it just hard to put those feelings into words?

.. How much that helps with pain reduction—who knows, but I think it just makes you a more authentic person.
I don't really buy into that whole spiritual cliché of the perfectly calm, balanced human being who stays totally unbothered in some enlightened state. I think we're always in flux, constantly changing, and pain is always going to be there. We just get to decide what we turn that pain into, and through that, life can actually feel a lot more intense.

Yeah, I used to fool myself into thinking I could handle everything entirely on my own, too. 🙂

But honestly, I don't think there's a single person out there who isn't a sinner, you know?
Christianity is built on the fact that Jesus existed. It wasn't just some made-up thing—it started because people actually witnessed what happened.
And yeah, I don't exactly live my faith perfectly either—I want to, I really do—but I feel like I "fail" maybe a hundred times a day.

bluemason3 said:Out of my last 10 cards, 8 actually came from other subforums—and they were issued by 7 different moderators.

Yeah, I guess religion is the real issue here 🕺

I don't really get why you're even chiming in?
Are you just trying to prove you're stalking me better than I can stalk myself?
Look, I'm talking about the topic at hand. If I happened to pick up a card or two in the last few years, honestly, I've already forgotten about it. They probably had a point, too. If I actually need to dig up the stats, just bear with me.

Nicholas Grant20 said:Words don't really mean much if you haven't actually felt that faith deep down inside. You could spend your whole life buried in religious texts, but without that personal experience, it all just feels... empty, I guess. People have sacrificed everything for their beliefs—whatever those might be—and plenty more have died for political causes too. For some, Christianity completely reshaped who they were, while for others, it was some other religion or even just a strict ideology that changed their lives. Whether that’s just the power of the human psyche at work, which can be pretty intense, or something higher at play? I don't know. Maybe.

Yeah, that’s a really good way to put it.

Ethan Hill said:If we’re still acting primitive, violent, and basically animalistic in the 21st century, you can only imagine what we were like at the very beginning of human history. There had to be some higher power reaching through us, using words to pull us away from that animal nature. There's a reason people read testimonies and sacred texts. If we didn't feel pain, we wouldn't have any reason or need to seek out God. Without pain, maybe we would have stayed purely spiritual beings. But we feel pain for a reason. And we aren't perfect spiritual beings. Our minds are strong up to a certain point, but then they become incredibly fragile. When someone hits that wall of total helplessness and overwhelming agony, if they don't cry out for help, they just end up spiraling deeper into that suffering. Real faith comes from those moments of wonder—when someone calls out to God with their entire being, they truly understand what a miracle is. That's where faith actually begins.
If you haven't called upon the name of God, you haven't really met Him, or understood faith, miracles, or how to find relief from the pain.

Religion and ideology aren't the same thing as faith.
Throughout history, people have killed and caused violence not in the name of God, but in the name of religions and ideologies that had nothing to do with Him. They were tied to our baser instincts—our more animalistic, material, and flawed side.

We all go through transformations in life, but it’s such a relief to learn how to tell the difference between what matters and what doesn't. It's about evolving into something more natural, becoming more human and less animal. Faith in God is like a sanctuary for a tired mind, a remedy for a lost soul, and a source of eternal peace.

Wait, how can you say they aren't connected?
I know so many people whose lives were completely transformed by their faith—like, specifically through the Catholic Church or religion itself.

Sam Alvarez4 said:Since the mods were nice enough to set up this thread for advice and complaints regarding the religion pdf, what's the point of these endless, mile-long rants? 🙄

It just doesn't make sense.
The mods opened it, sure.
But my whole point is that they actually need to be replaced for that specific sub-forum.
I mean, what's the use if the judge is the one suing you—and then turns around to sentence you?
I don't think I can handle a religion forum moderated by biased mods who basically despise religion. Well, I guess I can, obviously.
I used to send in those little reports back when I actually believed in the system, but all I ever got were bans. When I'd ask why, it would just say "trolling." I'd try to ask for the specific post where I was supposedly trolling, and... nothing.

It honestly feels like there are way too many people turning this forum into a breeding ground for hate speech.
Especially in those threads where everyone’s tearing into influencers—you know, those people who basically trade their privacy for clout? That's where you see it most, I guess. It’s like they’re just dead set on being toxic. But man, what you said really hits the nail on the head... why can't someone just have an opinion without resorting to constant hate, or belittling others, or questioning someone's intelligence just because they happen to be spiritual or religious? It’s just exhausting.
And when that happens, the people who actually have something smart or meaningful to contribute? They just check out and leave.

I honestly feel like this is straight-up hate speech—like, if anyone used these kinds of expressions against any other group of people, they’d be hit with immediate sanctions, no questions asked.
There’s a massive difference between just having a conversation and actually talking or typing like this.

Ethan Hill said:So, what's even the point of this post? Like, what's actually driving you through life? Nobody's forcing you to do anything—you don't have to read this, comment, or care about stuff that doesn't interest you. So why all the insults and negativity? Honestly, it feels like a few of you only show up to these spiritual discussions just to be jerks. Just be a decent human being and say something meaningful. If you don't have anything kind to contribute, maybe it's better to just stay quiet.

People of faith usually find common ground. They share their stories, talk about God, love, and peace, and actually help one another out.

Someone like you should probably moderate the religion forum.👍

Here’s just a little more hate speech from the religion subforum

ego says: Check out this post
Freedom from criminal Christian ideology which has spent centuries committing the absolute worst kind of crimes against
women and gay people.

Treiberyx says: Look at this post
They write "Lord God"... I mean, seriously?! And zero mention of the feminine side?!?
Did this guy have some massive 40cm ego or something? For who??
The biggest churchgoers—who are usually the biggest murderers and frauds—wear crosses down to their belly buttons... some even hang them down to their crotch !

Honestly, either appoint an actual moderator or just let us all say whatever we want without the censorship.

Grace Phillips25 said:Why on earth would you think this is a professional forum?

Are we really supposed to gatekeep everything now? Only let the "experts" in?

I mean, I’m actually part of a professional forum myself—one of those high-end ones. They don't even let you through the door unless you're actually in the field (they basically run background checks with your employer before they'll even consider you, you have to submit actual proof of credentials, and then some veteran member has to vouch for you... plus they re-verify everyone every three years and will kick you out in a heartbeat if things don't line up).

Well, it is a professional forum, and that's what caught my eye too...🤦

Man, you really missed the mark with this thread...
I mean, you're actually asking for a diagnosis here...
So, we've got this woman who weighs, what, 650 pounds? And she’s a total knockout—plus, she’s footing the bill (how does that work, though? Is she just sending cash or are they actually hanging out?) and you guys are blowing through it... I mean, something feels off there, right?
The best question is probably: "What kind of schizophrenia are we even talking about?"
I'm gonna head out...🙏