If you were actually as righteous as you claim to be, you’d probably start seeing the silver lining in all these people and situations instead of just focusing on the garbage... And honestly, if you were truly that saintly, you would've already forgiven them for being such selfish, low-character jerks in the first place. Look, there’s no such thing as purely good or purely evil in this world. Every bad thing usually serves some greater purpose. What feels like a disaster to you might actually be a massive win for someone else—and who knows, maybe it’ll even turn out to be a blessing for you down the road... Take that guy your friend snatched away from you, for example. Like, seriously, why would you even want someone like that in your life? You get rid of a trashy friend and a guy who didn't even care about you... sounds like everyone wins in the end.
Ugh... talk about nostalgia, though honestly, that whole era died out ages ago. Life keeps moving, whether you’re hanging out in one neighborhood, another, over in California, or somewhere way up north. You can't just live in the past; you've gotta embrace the here and now. And look, it’s not like you’re stranded on some deserted island, man—you’ve got friends within a five-minute walk. Seriously. Plus, this neighborhood can actually be pretty great once you settle in and drop those preconceived notions... You say the people there aren't your vibe, but I bet you don't even know them well enough to make a call like that. We're human, which means we're built to adapt. Just give it some time and you'll see. Even I had places I couldn't stand when I first moved in, but then you get used to things and start discovering cool little spots you never would've found in your old hometown... it's all good. Come on, I was basically drowning in nostalgia back when I was 17 or 18 too, but let's be real, it was probably just hormones...
When you’ve got someone acting like a total manipulator, just hunting for people who are easy to sway or basically walking targets... I mean, that isn't even friendship, right? It’s not mutual at all. It feels more like some weird cult dynamic where the weaker person treats the "alpha" like some kind of deity, while the other guy just stomps all over them and calls the shots. Real friendship happens between people who are actually on the same level. Sure, maybe we don't agree on everything—different hobbies, different politics, whatever—but there has to be some sense of equality there, you know? I have friends with lower self-esteem, sure, and others who are way more confident. Some are chatterboxes and some are super shy, but I wouldn't say any of them feel worlds apart from me. It’s never been one of those situations where someone thinks, "Wow, this person is so perfect, I'm basically trash in comparison," or vice versa. It's not like I'm hanging out with someone who just showers me with constant compliments or acts like my little servant carrying my bags everywhere...😁Honestly, where are you even going to find people like that in the real world?! But hey, I guess I get it. People might be more likely to strike up a conversation or ask for directions from someone who looks harmless or approachable rather than someone who carries themselves like they own the entire universe. Like, you'd probably be way more comfortable asking a regular girl on the sidewalk for help than some high-fashion model strutting down Fifth Avenue looking like she's untouchable... I don't know... and maybe someone who's just like that person would be the one to actually reach out to them.🤷
copperpanther27 said:There is really just one single reason for all this... it’s strictly about the money.
When you aren't completely obsessed with chasing a paycheck, you actually find you have enough time for everything else in life.
But what about those workaholics who just love piling on useless chores, like scrubbing the windows every single week or vacuuming the house every damn day? 😵 They definitely aren't doing that for a paycheck...
hmmm, so maybe there’s a theory out there that people can only be attractive to you for the first few years of knowing them? Like, after that initial window passes, if you haven't felt that spark, you're probably never going to feel it... or even if you had a little crush on them for a second, the more you actually get to know who they are, the more that attraction just completely evaporates. or am I totally off base here? to me, it feels a lot like how things work with my guy friends—you know, those platonic friendships where the more you hang out and really see what makes them tick, the less "exciting" they seem in that way. any chance of a romantic connection probably only existed right at the start when you were still basically strangers to each other...
Justin Brooks58 said:Of course, it's not all black and white. There are varying degrees of extreme "evil," and yes, there are people who are genuinely weak (I might have overgeneralized in my last post by grouping everyone together), but we shouldn't label every "bad" person as weak just because of them. Some people are just born bad.
Right, and I wasn't talking about forgiveness at all; I was talking about empathy.
Okay, fine, then a lion eating an antelope isn't "evil" either, right? Psychopaths are basically the same thing, they just act toward their own kind for various reasons, but whatever... damn it all... And as for empathy or forgiving someone, it doesn't really matter if you choose to feel that way toward some killer, because honestly, people often do it out of weakness—and there's a pretty good chance that's exactly what's happening here. There’s no rule saying you have to sympathize with every single weakness... if someone chooses to be a junkie because they're weak, well, I couldn't care less about them...
Justin Brooks58 said:To me, this sounds like the most basic excuse in the book. It’s a nice little way to dodge accountability—convincing ourselves that nothing is our fault because we're all just "pathetic" and "weak," so we might as well just drift along with the current and see where it takes us.
This whole idea of human "frailty" or being "pitiful" just makes me feel sorry for the logic, not the people. Do actual monsters deserve pity? I'm talking about murderers, rapists, predators, sadists. Would you ever sit there and try to "understand" someone who committed an atrocity against your own family just because they were "too weak" to resist their impulses? Of course not. That's nonsense.
People can be anything, but let's stop pretending they're weak.
Yeah, they’re definitely weak, and honestly, that’s exactly why they act out like that in the first place... Look, the whole thing about you being unable to forgive someone isn't actually about how much "malice" they had or how bad they acted... it’s really more about your own capacity to let things go, if you think about it... And let’s be real, the people who actually end up causing the most damage are the ones who desperately need our help... I mean, look, you can't really save a total psychopath; those freaks thrive on the chaos and the carnage, so they're basically a lost cause... But someone who grew up in the gutter, someone who started stealing just to put food on the table and then spiraled into even bigger crimes because that was the only life they ever knew? That’s where the real work is. Even with predators... they need intervention to learn how to actually control those twisted impulses before they ruin more lives...
Paul Thompson3 said:Some are good, some are bad—most are just a blank slate. If the world is truly a mirror of humanity, then it’s pretty obvious that people generally aren't great, though a few individuals actually pull their weight. I don't think humans are inherently evil so much as we are just pathetic. We're fragile in every sense of the word, with far too few people possessing the actual strength to stick to what's right—and even when they try, their own weaknesses often turn those "right" intentions into something completely wrong and disastrous.
👍
I dig this theory... plus, if you ask me, there isn't really such a thing as good or evil—it's all just stuff happening that triggers some kind of reaction. We're all selfish, whether we admit it or not. The universe couldn't care less about who cheated on who, who stole someone's partner, or who's out there causing chaos... we're all just stardust in the end...
Look, I know I’ve got flaws. Probably some people here have worse, but nothing too crazy.
Basically, I’ve been pretty miserable since my early 20s. I can't figure out what my purpose is, where I fit in, or what I'm even doing on this planet.
That goes for dating, friends, and just general life stuff.
Long story short, how do you "get right with yourself" when you're:
-not a great person, in general—just not someone I'd want to be around.
-pretty unhappy, dealing with issues at college that I've spent a ton of money on but still haven't finished...
-not the type to just grind and study 24/7, though I'm not stupid (college isn't the best metric anyway, given how much everything went sideways)....
-clumsy as hell, basically all thumbs.
-coming from a pretty broke background.
-stuck with an oblong face and a big nose that's paired with significant balding—it's a killer.
-socially awkward...
-quiet, but once I actually open up, I usually just end up venting.
And there's plenty more.
Bottom line, I don't see anything positive here.
Look, we’re all equally messy and equally attractive in our own weird ways. Beauty is totally subjective... some people dig a prominent nose, others don't. Personally, I’d take a guy with a strong, distinct profile over one with some tiny, doll-like princess nose any day, that stuff is just tacky...
Ethan Bishop2 said:Hey everyone.
Look, I know I’ve got flaws. Probably some people here have worse, but nothing too crazy.
Basically, I’ve been pretty miserable since my early 20s. I can't figure out what my purpose is, where I fit in, or what I'm even doing on this planet.
That goes for dating, friends, and just general life stuff.
Long story short, how do you "get right with yourself" when you're:
-not a great person, in general—just not someone I'd want to be around.
-pretty unhappy, dealing with issues at college that I've spent a ton of money on but still haven't finished...
-not the type to just grind and study 24/7, though I'm not stupid (college isn't the best metric anyway, given how much everything went sideways)....
-clumsy as hell, basically all thumbs.
-coming from a pretty broke background.
-stuck with an oblong face and a big nose that's paired with significant balding—it's a killer.
-socially awkward...
-quiet, but once I actually open up, I usually just end up venting.
And there's plenty more.
Bottom line, I don't see anything positive here.
Man, life happens... some people need a little longer to get through things, some move faster... but hey, just put in the work and wrap it up. You're in your early 20s, you haven't even been grinding through school for ten years like some people...
Ethan Bishop2 said:Hey everyone.
Look, I know I’ve got flaws. Probably some people here have worse, but nothing too crazy.
Basically, I’ve been pretty miserable since my early 20s. I can't figure out what my purpose is, where I fit in, or what I'm even doing on this planet.
That goes for dating, friends, and just general life stuff.
Long story short, how do you "get right with yourself" when you're:
-not a great person, in general—just not someone I'd want to be around.
-pretty unhappy, dealing with issues at college that I've spent a ton of money on but still haven't finished...
-not the type to just grind and study 24/7, though I'm not stupid (college isn't the best metric anyway, given how much everything went sideways)....
-clumsy as hell, basically all thumbs.
-coming from a pretty broke background.
-stuck with an oblong face and a big nose that's paired with significant balding—it's a killer.
-socially awkward...
-quiet, but once I actually open up, I usually just end up venting.
And there's plenty more.
Bottom line, I don't see anything positive here.
So what? I'm the same way, and honestly, who cares. I'm still standing. I can't catch a ball to save my life, but I manage to get by without it...
Ethan Bishop2 said:Hey everyone.
Look, I know I’ve got flaws. Probably some people here have worse, but nothing too crazy.
Basically, I’ve been pretty miserable since my early 20s. I can't figure out what my purpose is, where I fit in, or what I'm even doing on this planet.
That goes for dating, friends, and just general life stuff.
Long story short, how do you "get right with yourself" when you're:
-not a great person, in general—just not someone I'd want to be around.
-pretty unhappy, dealing with issues at college that I've spent a ton of money on but still haven't finished...
-not the type to just grind and study 24/7, though I'm not stupid (college isn't the best metric anyway, given how much everything went sideways)....
-clumsy as hell, basically all thumbs.
-coming from a pretty broke background.
-stuck with an oblong face and a big nose that's paired with significant balding—it's a killer.
-socially awkward...
-quiet, but once I actually open up, I usually just end up venting.
And there's plenty more.
Bottom line, I don't see anything positive here.
Are we talking "poor soul" as in a person, or being broke as in having no cash?
Ethan Bishop2 said:Hey everyone.
Look, I know I’ve got flaws. Probably some people here have worse, but nothing too crazy.
Basically, I’ve been pretty miserable since my early 20s. I can't figure out what my purpose is, where I fit in, or what I'm even doing on this planet.
That goes for dating, friends, and just general life stuff.
Long story short, how do you "get right with yourself" when you're:
-not a great person, in general—just not someone I'd want to be around.
-pretty unhappy, dealing with issues at college that I've spent a ton of money on but still haven't finished...
-not the type to just grind and study 24/7, though I'm not stupid (college isn't the best metric anyway, given how much everything went sideways)....
-clumsy as hell, basically all thumbs.
-coming from a pretty broke background.
-stuck with an oblong face and a big nose that's paired with significant balding—it's a killer.
-socially awkward...
-quiet, but once I actually open up, I usually just end up venting.
And there's plenty more.
Bottom line, I don't see anything positive here.
Why does being social necessarily have to be a virtue? For whom? If you feel better being alone more often than hanging out with crowds, then that's perfectly fine...
Ethan Bishop2 said:Hey everyone.
Look, I know I’ve got flaws. Probably some people here have worse, but nothing too crazy.
Basically, I’ve been pretty miserable since my early 20s. I can't figure out what my purpose is, where I fit in, or what I'm even doing on this planet.
That goes for dating, friends, and just general life stuff.
Long story short, how do you "get right with yourself" when you're:
-not a great person, in general—just not someone I'd want to be around.
-pretty unhappy, dealing with issues at college that I've spent a ton of money on but still haven't finished...
-not the type to just grind and study 24/7, though I'm not stupid (college isn't the best metric anyway, given how much everything went sideways)....
-clumsy as hell, basically all thumbs.
-coming from a pretty broke background.
-stuck with an oblong face and a big nose that's paired with significant balding—it's a killer.
-socially awkward...
-quiet, but once I actually open up, I usually just end up venting.
And there's plenty more.
Bottom line, I don't see anything positive here.
take another look, seriously, and then try telling me there isn't anything positive about this.
Honestly, if you want to talk about real power, it’s all about that self-love vibe... I mean, I truly believe that love is just pure acceptance—embracing yourself and letting another person be exactly who they are, without trying to fix them or anything like that.
Honestly, when someone drags their feet through every single word, I pretty much lose my mind... it’s usually paired with that annoying habit of beating around the bush too, which just makes the whole thing ten times more exhausting. I mean, look, if they talk slow but actually get to the point quickly, I can deal with it. Personally, I’d much rather have guys' voices humming in the background than women's... like, a bunch of guys talking at once is just this pleasant low drone, but a group of high-pitched women talking? It's just constant, grating squawking that feels like someone is literally piercing your eardrums. And for me, quiet people are way more aggravating than loud ones. I’m definitely one of the louder types myself, mostly because if someone is being too quiet, I can’t hear a damn thing, and even when they're speaking at a normal volume, if there's any background noise going on, I still can't catch what they're saying, so I end up yelling just to understand them, goddammit. I've also noticed that some people sound way more obnoxious when they're talking to someone else instead of me... like, when someone uses a really nasty regional accent while chatting with someone else, I'm just sitting there thinking, "wow, how cringey," but then when they turn to me, I don't even notice the accent at all.
Angela Gray12 said:Those people who moan constantly aren't being "vulnerable"—they're just exhausting and annoying. They have no substance, and frankly, they act like leeches. They suck the life and positivity right out of you, but because they don't know how to handle it, they turn everything negative again. Then, somehow, it’s everyone else's fault, and the cycle repeats. That’s the mindset of people who believe the entire world is conspiring against them. The so-called little 😁God complexes. To me, it feels like you're just putting on an act, trying to manipulate people with these "sob stories" instead of just being genuine and owning who you are. I met this girl years ago who acted like she was untouchable—total ice queen persona. But something about her caught my interest, so I pushed past the wall. It turns out that tough exterior was just a shield for someone who had been through the wringer. We're still good friends today, and I can honestly say she's one of the best people I've ever known.
There is a massive difference between performing a role, hiding, and building a defense mechanism because life actually kicked your teeth in.
I love it when you connect with someone so deeply that they aren't ashamed to break down in front of you. When they admit they aren't okay—not because you asked, but because they know you won't judge them. Knowing someone trusts you enough to show their messy side even when things aren't perfect... That trust, those small moments of raw honesty, mean more to me than a thousand empty compliments.
Unfortunately, people like that are becoming rare. Everyone is getting lost in a sea of insecurities, hiding behind masks of perfection and superficial connections.
I get the feeling most people today are terrified of being themselves. They're too busy running away from anyone with a "flaw" because they refuse to acknowledge their own.
Man, we really are strange creatures, aren't we? 😁
And yeah, that whole shallow vibe really gets under my skin too 😢 I mean, sure, every friendship or relationship has to start with that basic, surface-level small talk and mindless chatter—you know, the whole "what's up," "where do you live," "what kind of music are you into" routine... but some people just stay stuck there, and honestly, they seem perfectly fine with that, as if it's enough.😕 Plus, I've always been more drawn to the types who seem a bit out of it or, I don't know, just slightly "off"... the ones who are like walnuts 🙂 tough on the outside, but soft once you actually get to know them. I try not to judge anyone based on appearances or what people say about them, but I still end up on the receiving end of someone's dislike just because they didn't bother to actually meet me, deciding instead that I'm just some specific type of person.🤷 oh well, whatever...
Angela Gray12 said:Honestly, anyone who actually knows the answer to that question doesn't even bother sweating the small stuff because they don't see the point. I'm right there with you... I figured out the same thing a while back and just sat there in disbelief. It’s wild how the absolute bottom-feeders—the people who treat everyone else like dirt—always seem to come out on top, while the folks who nitpick every little detail get left in the dust. Why? Who knows. Most people around here will probably claim those "nitpickers" just lack a backbone, but what actually worries me is that society ends up judging the people without spines instead of the predators using them as doormats, punching bags, or total fools to manipulate. It’s like that whole social media frenzy where everyone jumps on a girl dating an abusive guy, yet nobody seems to give a damn about the actual monster he is.
The worst part is pretending to be something you're not. If you're a decent person and you do what's right, but you still end up being labeled an idiot or told you have no guts... well, so be it. At the end of the day, when you do things for others, you're really doing them for yourself. That’s just who you are, period. It isn't some deep, heavy philosophy.😁
Take what I’ve seen—and frankly, what I’ve dealt with myself. There are people who look at nothing but their own interests. They wear these masks, acting all confident and charming, playing the role of the quintessential extrovert. But I've realized that most of them are the exact opposite of the persona they project. Once you see through the act and accept that they're just flawed humans, they’ll start treating you like trash. They'll do everything in their power to push you away—or rather, make sure you walk away yourself—because they can't stand the thought of looking like a bad person in front of others. Anyone who puts on a performance or feels "too much" right from the jump usually ends up being a fleeting character in my life. I'd much rather deal with people who have flaws, who have outbursts, who are honest and vulnerable enough to admit to themselves and others that they're fighting their own demons. I prefer someone facing their issues head-on rather than someone running away from who they truly are.
Preach! 🙏 🙏 🙏 Especially that part in bold... honestly, there’s nothing more human or beautiful than someone having the guts to own up to what they're going through. 🧐 I'm not talking about those extreme cases where someone meets you for the first time and immediately starts venting for hours about how much their life sucks and how everything is falling apart...
okay, so walk me through this whole thing about running to the bathroom in the middle of the night? 😁 i’m especially curious what you were actually trying to get at there... and since you aren't expecting this to turn into a debate, I guess we're just hanging out on this forum to talk 🙂 so, that whole sentiment—you know, the idea that the nicer you are to people, the worse they treat you—I’ve heard that song and dance a thousand times before, and honestly, we've all been there because... well, someone screwed someone else over, and now everyone's learning the hard way that being a good person is a losing game and you really should just be a total jerk instead! basically, it’s true that people tend to chase after anyone who doesn't give a damn about them, whether it's in business, romance, friendships, or whatever... because, you know, that person is just so "cool" and important that they won't even bother asking if you want to hang out because they've got much better things to do. and look, maybe that works for a little while or in small doses, but in the long run, you can pretty much count on everyone ghosting you, because you don't care about them, because you're an asshole, because you're selfish, and because you simply have zero time for anyone else! if you view life strictly as a way to maximize profit or hit certain personal goals and desires, then sure, maybe being a jerk to people occasionally could actually work for you, because let's face it, most successful corporate sharks step over anyone to get ahead, they don't have much of a conscience, and they couldn't care less about anything except their own interests. so if that's your endgame—go for it, go be a jerk. but if you actually want to build real connections with people—friendships, relationships, that kind of stuff—then just be yourself. If someone can't handle it, they can move on, and the people who can stay will be the real ones. if you've spent your whole life being some insecure pushover who always puts everyone else's needs above your own—like, say, you're exhausted, but you still drive your buddy to the Greyhound station at 3 AM just so he can meet some girl (weird situation, but whatever), and you actually do it—well, obviously that guy is going to call you again next time he's in that spot, because he knows he can. it might be a nice gesture if he's genuinely crazy about her and you aren't feeling too burnt out... but it can also be totally self-destructive if he's just using you for a ride while you're sitting there with a pounding headache and feeling completely drained 😁 mostly... I mean, you just have to figure out what matters to you in life and act accordingly to reach whatever goals or whatever you're aiming for. though I personally think everyone would be a lot happier and more satisfied if they were just naturally themselves, you know, without fearing judgment, without the pressure, without worrying about "what is [person] going to think of me if I do or don't do this"... and look, if you're a jerk at heart, I'd honestly rather you just be an honest, selfish jerk. Some people will accept that and still hang out with you, but at least you won't end up disappointing anyone or stabbing them in the back by pretending to be some saint or acting like something you're not and getting dragged into situations you never wanted to be in. if you aren't Mother Teresa, stop trying to act like you are.
Man, even when Elon Musk was out there busting his tail just to get the power grid running, we basically got our electricity handed to us on a silver platter... It’s the same story with a million other things too... I mean, you’re driving around in a car, you’re cooking up recipes that some other person perfected ages ago, and so on and so forth... if we started slapping copyright claims on everything, everyone would just drop dead from the sheer frustration of it all...
Kevin White11 said:Think of it as buying into an investment where the system is already built, proven, and pumping out profit. You can jump right in and start scaling, but like I said, building that machine from scratch took two or three years of pure blood, sweat, and sacrifice.
so we're talking some kind of sports betting algorithm 😁 pretty cool. but honestly, look at software devs... they spend endless years grinding away to build something that actually works, only for it to be totally useless because someone else builds a better version, or they sell it for peanuts, or someone just straight up steals the idea... man, life's tough. if you’ve built something killer and you don't want to share the wealth, then don't share it with anyone... just keep it to yourself.
personally, I get a kick out of taking an idea or a system I cooked up and tossing it out there for others to see... maybe they'll take it and make it even better? who knows... hey, maybe charge a commission or something...
Honestly, I’d love to be able to help someone out... and I don't mean I'm looking for some kind of payback or expecting anyone to feel like they owe me one. But then again, I can't quite wrap my head around this scenario where I spend years breaking my back, sweating through every single day, just to have my family swoop in and harvest everything I built... I mean, usually when I grind to achieve something, nobody else really gets a free ride from it, because... well, it's not like I planted a massive commercial orchard and everyone gets to feast for free... unless there's a more specific example you had in mind? It doesn't have to be someone actually in your life, just something you could compare it to... For instance, say I worked my tail off to save up enough cash to buy a vacation house out in the Hamptons, and now the whole family wants to crash there every weekend... that was my hard work, sure, but I think it'd be totally fine to let them come over and hang out... But on the other hand, if I spent years grinding to build a company from the ground up, and suddenly everyone wants to use their "connection" to land director roles or just start skimming money off the top...😁 yeah, I wouldn't be letting that happen...