Posts by Larry Torres4

brightgardener40 said:

you have to be born with a screw loose for that.

And that's total bullshit. Nobody is just "born" broken. It’s the family and the environment that create the disorder.

the media also has a right to do its job, which is informing the public. if you think ignoring problems achieves anything, then you're really...

Let them do their jobs. I didn't say they shouldn't work, but sometimes they overstep because, newsflash, newspapers need to sell copies to pay the bills. Just look at what happened with Ella and her sister—the press did nothing but cause damage.
I'm not calling for a public lynching or a witch hunt. I'm saying the actual institutions paid to handle this should do their jobs properly instead of letting journalists play cop.

It’s likely a combination of both factors. Even so, most predators eventually admit they've harbored those kinds of inclinations toward children for a long time, to varying degrees.

brightgardener40 said:

you have to be born with a screw loose for that.

And that's total bullshit. Nobody is just "born" broken. It’s the family and the environment that create the disorder.

the media also has a right to do its job, which is informing the public. if you think ignoring problems achieves anything, then you're really...

Let them do their jobs. I didn't say they shouldn't work, but sometimes they overstep because, newsflash, newspapers need to sell copies to pay the bills. Just look at what happened with Ella and her sister—the press did nothing but cause damage.
I'm not calling for a public lynching or a witch hunt. I'm saying the actual institutions paid to handle this should do their jobs properly instead of letting journalists play cop.

I don't think these two stories are even in the same league. You can't compare them. Journalists can be hit or miss, sure, but more often than not, they end up doing the heavy lifting that the actual institutions—the ones being paid a fortune to do this work—fail to do entirely. Or, more frequently, they just don't bother at all.
When it comes to pedophilia, I don't think there will ever be enough warnings or signage out there to address the reality of it. In my view, this crime is actually worse than murder; it completely destroys a person's soul from the inside out. It’s even more infuriating when you look at how lenient our justice system can be toward these predators. I remember watching a documentary where a pedophile was interviewed in prison. He flat-out stated, "I still have those urges, and I'll probably do it again," only to be released after just a few months. It’s sickening to think that a monster like that can walk free after such a pathetic sentence.

Our legal system is an absolute disgrace.👎

Noah Harris50 said:Sleep isn't usually an issue for me. It’s just when I'm stressed out that I start getting those weird jerks right as I'm drifting off. Anyone else deal with that?

You're right, my mistake—you actually phrased it clearly. We misread your point, which made it look like we were just tossing out random sleep advice.😳

Maybe you should give relaxation techniques like autogenic training or even yoga a shot. It might take a little while before your sleep cycle actually resets, but it’s a hell of a lot healthier than relying on pills. If you can swing it, I'd recommend finding a local yoga class to attend at least once a week; eventually, you can just practice the movements at home. 👍

I paid for that $50 through a private contractor (you probably only need to do it once or twice a year depending on how fast limescale builds up in your pipes).. it isn't too painful 😬

That’s exactly how it went down with this 17-year-old kid I was babysitting for a bit. I was looking after his younger brother while they were getting settled into their new place, and the task was basically getting the little guy to his special education school. Eventually, the teenager started hanging out with a classmate, bouncing between different houses, hitting the movies, or just wandering downtown together. Before you know it, someone gets hooked on a certain group, or you find yourself completely absorbed by them. 👍

Maybe there’s someone else in your class going through the exact same thing. You could try branching out and hanging with people who aren't part of that main clique—maybe someone a bit more low-key or quiet. Honestly, having just one solid friend is enough to grab a coffee or walk around town with.

Olivia Turner5 said:If there are two identical people at work and a bully looking to stir up trouble, they’ll just pick whichever one is closest at hand. The choice could be totally random, right?
Do you know the story about Buridan's ass?

No. I think that’s an oversimplification (and frankly, inaccurate). A predator always knows—or at least senses—who will make the "better" victim. Besides, no two people are truly identical. I used that as a hypothetical example, like two people of the same age with similar job titles, but when it comes to character and life experience, no two individuals are ever the same.
..and those bullies aren't idiots either.😉
..there's actually a great book on the subject called "The Perfect Victim."

Sam Smith3 said:Could you clarify that a bit? What exactly were you aiming at there... neighbor...
🙂
Don't take my post the wrong way...

Yeah... give us some more detail and expand on that point.👍

Larry Torres4 said:And that part where it goes "They died and nobody cares, blah blah blah"...

That was just a shortened version of the boy's final comment,😉 not a claim that nobody cares..

It’s obvious you love this movie, so there’s no point in us going back and forth about it. Cheers..

Adam Harris7 said:And what symbolism am I overthinking? Please, I'm curious.

For instance, the fact that the father is asleep during one of the most pivotal scenes (literally)😉

And that ending where everyone just moves on like nothing happened... It doesn't do anything for me😉 sorry if that offends you..

Here’s another example from an episode of Oprah 🙄... I know it sounds a bit cliché, but there was this story about mothers who struggled with eating disorders in their youth. Even though they eventually moved past those issues and didn't display any outward negativity toward food when raising their kids, the children still felt "fat"—some as young as four or five—and some girls even started refusing to eat. The takeaway was that these mothers were unconsciously passing down that negative relationship with food to their children, despite acting perfectly normal on the surface. My point is that people can sense things intuitively—they can tell who is impossible to manipulate, who is playing the victim, or who is genuinely open, even if they don't know the person well. Why is it that two people at work who seem almost identical in personality can have such different outcomes, where one becomes a target for workplace bullying while the other remains untouched?

Donna Campbell6 said:I think you ladies are overreacting just a bit. You don't need to drag in a whole team of top-tier psychologists or psychiatrists just because you hit a rough patch in your love lives or social circles. Not everything requires a deep psychological autopsy; sometimes it’s just bad luck, a fluke, or simply a bad day. And regarding those absolute bombshells that nobody ever approaches? That’s usually just a guy making a calculated decision: "There's no way I'm getting anywhere with her," or "Why bother? She clearly thinks she's too good for everyone." 😉

Personally, I believe most things happen on a spiritual—or energetic, if you prefer—level rather than a purely physical one, so I can't quite agree with that perspective. As for the mental health aspect, I don't think anyone is suggesting we need full-blown psychiatric sessions here. It's more about people sharing what has actually worked for them in their own lives. At least, that’s how I view this entire conversation.👍

wiredrider2 said:Do you honestly think there was any way for her to fix this on her own? If she presents herself well and seems approachable... instead of just hunting for guys to exploit because of some old trauma...

She actually went to see a therapist with me. She claims she’s feeling much better now that she’s finally faced it head-on, which suggests she is making progress. 👍 I'm not saying a psychiatrist is some kind of God, but for an issue like this, professional help is absolutely necessary (even my own therapist helped me out, even if my issues aren't nearly as heavy as hers).

Bryan Booth73 said:It’s an easy target—entering a closed space without being sure. You don't need that kind of risk. Try to be more intuitive and smart, even if you tend to be drawn toward things. Go for a walk by yourself when the weather is nice; that’s how you build actual character.

And exactly how is one supposed to achieve that? I highly doubt you can just make a conscious decision like, "Starting today, I will be intuitive, sweet, and self-assured," and then simply wake up tomorrow as that person.😉

restlesshound27 said:. I honestly think people perceive you based on how you carry yourself... if you come across as insecure, fearful, or closed off, that’s exactly how they’re going to react to you.

👍

restlesshound27 said:True enough. I know I struggle with being insecure—or maybe just lacking self-awareness. But then again, whenever I actually act confident, nobody even approaches me. Or if they do, it’s only people looking for a second mother...

But you can't fake this through body language alone. I think it's more about the energy we put out there; you can't really mask it. If confidence were just an outward performance, wouldn't all those women who look totally composed and empowered also have husbands at home beating them?
When I was at my psychiatrist's office, I saw this woman sitting there—a total bombshell, incredibly striking and overtly sexual in her style. Yet, she told me she’d never been in a relationship because she constantly feels like she's repelling men. It turned out she had been abused as a child, so despite looking "available," people perceived her as closed off. I think men pick up on that specific vibration she gives off, and there is no way to hide it. It might be a blunt example, but you get what I mean.

Starting in 10 minutes on HBO Denzel

Denzel🎉 🎉

..it’s possible you’re projecting something that attracts those kinds of people... it isn't necessarily a crime, but I don't believe you'll ever truly understand what's actually going on without some outside help (like a solid therapist)

crimsonmoose3 said:Why on earth are you shocked that there will always be someone out there looking to disagree and cause trouble? 😁

True.😬

ivtau22 said:The Fifth Element is🙏, but claiming that New Orleans isn't all that bad, that Leon is just some pedophilic fairy tale, Blue Velvet is boring, and you don't want to be disappointed by New York City—I will honestly never be able to wrap my head around that logic. In my view, New Orleans is definitely his worst film.😕

I don't get why it's such a shock to you that people can have different opinions from yours..😕