Posts by Dana Morales64

About a week ago, I picked up a sore throat—most of that's cleared up now, but the cough just won't quit. It’s making sleep nearly impossible because the second I lie down, my chest starts rattling, which just triggers more coughing. To make matters worse, it's a constant dry cough—I can't seem to clear out any of that phlegm or whatever you call it. I've read that drinking plenty of warm liquids helps, so I’ve been doing that, but nothing is actually coming up. This has been dragging on for over a week now... anyone got any advice?

northernbadger55 said:🤣 That’s an interesting point... I wonder, though, do you happen to have any specific research or data on hand that might back that up? I guess it would be really helpful to see if there's some empirical evidence to support the idea.

I guess I’ve heard some girls with really intense periods mention that they wish the actual labor pains were at least as strong as their monthly cramps. It’s an interesting thought, I suppose—maybe there's a little bit of truth to it, though I can't say for sure. 🎉 I’m not quite sure how old everyone here is, but I’ve noticed that once I hit my mid-twenties, things started to settle down quite a bit for me. These days, the pain only really flares up maybe once or twice a year, and even then, it seems to depend heavily on what I’ve been doing physically leading up to it. For instance, I’ve realized I probably need to be extra careful about staying warm starting about a week beforehand. I try to avoid sitting on cold surfaces or spending too much time out in the chill—which is a bit of a struggle, since I usually find myself wanting to be outdoors right before my period starts.
I suppose if I can just power through another fifteen or twenty years, I’ll finally be at the finish line... though, if I’m being honest, I might actually find myself missing it once I get there. 😬

It's not that we're being silly—we're just jealous you guys get those "experiences," since apparently, knowing how much it hurts makes it feel like some kind of miracle.😉

Melissa Hall78 said:Eh... it’s always so easy for men to claim we women complain too much—I mean, if they could actually endure even one single bout of menstrual cramps, I guess they might show a little more empathy...

But you missed one thing—women are biologically more sensitive to pain than men. It isn't necessarily about the scale being different, but how the experience hits us. If you take the intensity of menstrual pain and cut it in half, you'd basically find that we feel it at 50% while you guys feel it at 100%. In reality, the actual intensity might be equal; it’s just that you women process the sensation differently.😉

Women are always complaining about something—this hurts, that hurts, constant whining. Honestly, we guys have our moments too where our stomachs just revolt; feels like someone’s taking a knife to you, but what are you going to do? You just ignore it. Toothache, stomach cramps, migraines—we deal with all that, plus the inevitable vomiting after a few too many drinks at the bar. But women always seem to make a scene over the slightest twinge of discomfort. Personally, I actually find a certain satisfaction in the pain sometimes—it’s just part of being alive, isn't it? You might as well embrace it 😁

Lisa Hernandez3 said:It is what it is? Hmm. Well, fine. At the end of the day, I suppose your stance is fair in the sense that you make it very clear to people quite quickly whether they even have a chance at being your friend. I assume you're the same way with women who approach you? There is something I actually like about that—within reason, obviously—because it keeps things straightforward, without all the dragging things out or playing games. Assuming, of course, that's actually how it works. But the question lies in your method. See, the issue isn't what you ultimately decide to do (like letting someone know you aren't interested in socializing and cutting contact), but rather *how* you go about doing it—whether it's handled with grace, elegance, and dignity, or if it's just... low. It leads to this somewhat funny irony where you, someone who strives for excellence in everything, don't actually offer any excellence in this. And that whole bit about only caring about 10% of people while the other 90% is trash—well, we all find that about 10% of our surroundings interesting, and the other 90% falls away because they just didn't catch our attention. But if you truly treated that 90% the way you treated this guy, you'd probably be considered socially questionable or potentially aggressive—just poorly adjusted, I guess. So, I still suspect you just enjoy making these bold claims and waiting for the fallout from a safe distance—like right here on this thread. You hit "Post Reply" or "New Topic" and then, well, who cares? But that shouldn't really be how it works. And if it gets even more ridiculous, it turns out you didn't actually know how to handle yourself with a pushy individual, you just reacted however you felt in the moment. Meanwhile, the consensus here was that *he* was the one who didn't know how to behave... (though that doesn't mean the guy wasn't actually annoying in his own right, or acting that way toward you and your friend for some reason).

I guess I'd be curious to see how you'd react if someone on this forum sent you a casual DM because they liked your posts and wanted to chat, or if a regular girl approached you somewhere out in the world? Just a normal girl, mind you, but someone who doesn't immediately start showering you with praise for your genius.

First off, I’ve had a few people reach out via DM lately—asking for advice, looking for tips, or just wanting to chat. I’ve reached back out to some of them too. There’s no issue there; honestly, I enjoy meeting new people. If you’ve read my posts, you might have walked away thinking I’m some arrogant, self-important jerk—but that isn't the case. Maybe I come across as a bit detached at times? Sure. I value my solitude, but I also genuinely enjoy being social. As for that 90/10 ratio I mentioned earlier—it wasn't meant to be some grand statement about humanity. I was strictly talking about the people in my immediate circle.
Regarding the girls who were hitting on me—I turned a few of them down right off the bat because they just weren't my type. I was blunt about it; basically told them they didn't stand a chance with me. Honestly, I’ve been on the receiving end of rejection plenty of times myself, so I don't see why it's such a big deal. Why should it be any different now?
The thing is, I need my downtime—period. Even if it’s just an hour a day to myself—and honestly, people who try to barge in on that really get under my skin. It feels like a direct violation of my personal space. As for whether someone is a genius or not, I don't go around judging people right out of the gate. Whether I think someone is sharper or a bit slower than me, I'm never going to mock them for it. That's just not how I operate. What I actually care about—and what I truly can't stand—is superficiality. That has nothing to do with intelligence, though. Why would I ever make fun of someone just because they might not know as much as I do? If they're a decent person, there's no issue. But if they're shallow? Then I'm done. I have zero tolerance for superficiality. Sure, we can hang out while things are easy and everything is fine, but the second real problems roll around, I'm out. I don't do "fair-weather" connections.
Look, the person who prompted me to start this thread isn't exactly a bad individual—not by any stretch of the imagination—but they’re just incredibly grating. They simply aren't my cup of tea, which means there's zero chance of them ever being a friend of mine. I have no interest in hanging out with people who make me feel like I’m constantly under interrogation; why would I want that? I prefer people where everything feels easy, relaxed, and spontaneous. I’ve never been the type to force a connection or chase people down just to feel included—honestly, not a chance. If I get the vibe that I’m not truly welcome, I just step back. When I meet new people, I try to let things develop naturally, without any underlying sense of obligation. That’s the only way a real friendship actually forms. Being pushy or trying too hard? It always backfires.

Aaron Anderson72 said:Honestly, that's exactly how I talk to my girlfriends: "Come on, why stop here? Let's hit another spot!" Everything you're describing isn't actually that strange. That's just how friends chat!
He clearly hasn't picked up on the vibes, so maybe just be direct: "Look, we don't really want to hang out anymore. We aren't really clicking as friends, so please stop calling."
The only thing I take from this is that he thinks he's part of the inner circle, so he acts like it. He probably thinks you guys are closer than you actually are!

And go back and read what granitemason8 wrote...
There's some truth there!

There are better ways to handle this. Like, when someone is being genuinely obnoxious, you can deal with that normally without resorting to mockery or threats. You can actually have a conversation with a decent person!

The way you guys are reacting feels a little immature...

If I analyze this situation, apparently I'm the villain and he's the victim.🙄 But it’s not going to happen that way—I am not going to let myself feel guilty over this. Even if you have a point in some places, it is what it is. And let's be clear: I am not the kind of person who wastes time justifying myself to anyone. It's just not worth it. There are very few people I actually make an effort for—truly rare ones—and those are my idols, the people I consider better than myself and learn from. I have a high opinion of myself and, frankly, I think 90% of people aren't even worth my time. I know, I sound conceited, but at least I'm being honest. Maybe to some people, I'm just a bad person.

Aaron Anderson72 said:It’s not even a sickness, honestly. It’s just people who have zero clue how to actually talk to others!

I honestly just feel bad for them!

Maybe they don't have many friends, so they try way too hard to force a connection with everyone they meet.

Or maybe they're just socially awkward because they never really learned how to navigate a conversation, or they spent too much time stuck at home instead of being out in the world.

And about that guy asking you where you're headed or what you do for work—I do that with my buddies all the time! I don't see anything weird about it at all.

It’s strange—you tell him exactly where you’re headed and what your plans are, and he just hits you with that, "Oh, you don't have anything better to do? Why head home already? Let's go somewhere else." The guy is relentless. And then he has the nerve to try and convince you that your schedule is wide open—as if he’s the one running my life. Honestly, what kind of idiot does that? When I finally told him he’d be catching hands if he ever showed up on my doorstep again, he suddenly went quiet. Look, I’m not usually the type to pick fights—I consider myself a pretty tolerant person—but when I feel threatened, I can get incredibly blunt and disrespectful. Sometimes, you just have to be harsh with certain people. There really isn't any other way to handle it.

Gerald Hernandez5 said:I suppose you're right... all this overstepping is really just a byproduct of being somewhat naive. It seems the young man perhaps places far too much trust in others—something you often observe in children, particularly those with more extroverted personalities—while modern society has become so incredibly narrow-minded that people feel immediately threatened by anything even slightly "different" or unconventional.

I wouldn't call it that, though. I’d say that aggressive approach just pushes people away. Why? Because frankly, it feels invasive when someone is constantly breathing down your neck or tracking your every move—it feels like my freedom is being stripped away. Who actually enjoys being watched? Who wants to feel like they have to hide from someone? There's a difference between being a naive person who trusts too easily and this—this is just a total lack of substance in one's own life. It's like they need to know what everyone else is doing because their own existence isn't interesting enough. I want someone to hang out with, not a shadow. I'm nobody's shadow, and I don't want anyone being mine.

Gerald Hernandez5 said:Perhaps he is simply attempting to forge a deeper friendship with you both, and since you aren't reciprocating, he becomes even more persistent in his efforts. But strictly speaking, what is his actual personality like... aside from being incredibly taxing?

Look, someone who actually wants to be your friend doesn't act like this—this is just pathological. As for what they're like? I mean, sure, you can have a conversation with them, but they're relentless. They don't know when to quit—just a constant barrage of questions like "where are you going?" "why are you going there?" "who are you meeting?" "what are you doing?" It's too much. Any normal person would have run for the hills by now.

Do you have any specific types of exhausting, socially oblivious people that you go out of your way to avoid? Here’s an example from today—I’m grabbing coffee with a buddy, and this incredibly annoying guy just wanders over and sits right down with us. We finish our drinks and head off in our own direction, but the second we stand up, he starts interrogating us about where we're going. I tell him I'm heading home, so he follows up with "Oh yeah? Why?" Then, "What are you doing at home?" Then, "Doing what kind of work?" 🙄 And then comes the best part—as soon as we get to our bikes, he actually starts pedaling after us 🤣 He chases us for maybe a couple hundred yards before he finally gives up because he ran out of steam. To top it all off, he tried calling my cell afterward—of course, I didn't pick up.
This is just one instance of the absolute weirdos roaming this planet. What is actually wrong with people like this? Are they even sane? How low can someone sink to act like that? I mean, look, we've known this guy for a while; he isn't quite as unhinged as my friend, but he is painfully draining because he needs to know everything about everyone. He has zero boundaries—he doesn't know how to sit still, and he clearly doesn't know how to behave in public. When we run into him, he doesn't know when to leave or when enough is enough. That's exactly why we steer clear. Is there a permanent way to deal with these special cases? And the worst part? It's not even some random teenager; we're talking about a grown man in his 20s.

cosmictinker21 said:I'm sure she's stunning. Any woman truly in love has that kind of glow—eyes bright, just radiating everything... though I suppose that changes when the feeling isn't returned. It’s hard to keep that light when things feel heavy and fruitless...

No, we don't know the full story. We aren't here to pass judgment on anyone... we're just exploring the possibilities that emerge when love simply can't be realized the way it was meant to be...

I actually went through something like this myself, a few years back...
I’d put it this way: he was the one. My person. We were perfectly aligned on every single level—intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, physically... you name it. But there were serious, heavy reasons why things couldn't work out, both for me and for him. He understood that I simply don't do compromises. And if I had insisted on having things my way, he wouldn't have survived the toll it would have taken on him, mentally or physically. He probably would have ended up back in the hospital, dealing with plasma exchanges, immunosuppressants, steroids... the whole ordeal. He just wouldn't have made it through all that. He would have died. There was nothing I could have done to change that outcome. It's just a shame...

I’ll probably never run into another man I could love with that kind of intensity. It wasn't just about the romance; he actually made me feel whole. He enriched my life just by being there—his intellect, his subtlety, that deep spiritual connection... it was everything. We went through so many cycles, breaking up and trying again, over and over. Eventually, the silence just became permanent. We stopped reaching out... and that was it.

Life keeps moving forward. I’m happy. Though, I am fully aware that I probably won't ever cross paths with someone who fit me quite as perfectly as the last one did. In this new chapter, I've discovered different sides of myself; we’re building a different kind of love, a different way of relating to one another. It's hard to explain to anyone else, but there's just this deep understanding between us... and at the end of the day, it's all just love...🙂

So, you're saying he was perfect for you, yet you still couldn't be with him? What kind of "serious reasons" prevent a perfect match? You praise him as the best you'll ever know, yet you walk away anyway?

It’s definitely a real thing—I dealt with this exact situation about three years ago. You end up idealizing someone, probably just some subconscious defense mechanism to give yourself the illusion that you aren't alone, even when you have absolutely nothing going on with them. But yeah, if you're asking if it exists? It certainly does.

Chicago, Australia—how am I supposed to track that down?

How does one track down someone when you have their full name but don't want to deal with the headache of Facebook? Does anyone actually know of any decent sites or tools for locating people these days?

It happens now and then—nothing major, really—but you get that weird, stinging sensation where your arm just goes completely numb. It’s actually pretty surreal when you can't feel your hand at all; it just stays dead for a few minutes until the feeling finally starts crawling back. Just... try not to sleep on it next time. 😁

My favorite part of this site? Honestly, it’s those inevitable errors when I can't load a thread or the whole board just decides to crash. I used to sit here thinking the moderators were just incompetent—maybe they didn't know how to fix a simple glitch—but then it hit me. There’s a deeper connection here, isn't there? A sort of twisted, romantic pact between the platform and the server errors. Every single day brings a fresh little technical failure... it’s practically poetic at this point.

I’m probably just going to spend New Year's Eve riding the subway—just a few of us grabbing some drinks and circling the city. We won't need to go out and rent a private space or anything since we've already got 😁

Yeah, so you know how YouTube links usually look—and now I’m seeing cases where instead of a standard URL, there’s just some random word like WATER written out. It’s still a functional link, though; once you click it, it takes you straight to the video, it's just been renamed. Does anyone actually know how people pull that off?

The question is pretty straightforward—I keep seeing links where the display name has been swapped out. Instead of seeing the actual URL, say from YouTube, it just says something else entirely, like "LINK." Obviously, when you click it, you still end up at the intended destination, but I’m curious about the mechanics here. How exactly does one go about changing the display text for a link?

There isn't much you can do about it at this point—the era has passed, and that’s just how it is.