Does it ever feel awkward when you’re around kids, knowing the inevitable questions from others are coming? "When are you getting married?" or "When are you having kids?" You start anticipating the pressure before they even open their mouths.
It hits differently when you realize that if you're gay, the path to parenthood is often limited to adoption rather than biology.
Jerry Anderson87 said:I stopped by my local Chase branch yesterday after being away for quite a while, and my personal banker immediately slid some questionnaire over to me that we "had" to fill out together🙂 I wasn't really in the mood for paperwork, though, so when he started lecturing me about how this was all part of standard anti-money laundering protocols or whatever🤔 anyway, when he got to the question about my marital status, I just looked at him and asked: so, are you asking me out on a date??? The poor guy looked so confused he just gave up on the whole thing... guess it's my fault...
Nicole Long28 said:I was reading about this topic about ten days ago, and then over the weekend I headed into Chicago to grab lunch with a friend who was part of a larger group. It turns out one of them works at JPMorgan Chase. So, the conversation starts moving and I ask him why they put clients through all those annoying questions, and he just tells me, "We don't bother our clients; we value them deeply." Now I'm just sitting there with a massive question mark over my head because there are tons of people here protesting for good reason. Honestly, it felt like he was just reciting a corporate slogan from a Chase commercial. 😁 Later on, my friend mentions that the guy is actually a private banker. So, I guess there really is a distinction between "us" and "them."
It's occupational hazard. If you spend years working there, you start believing the Zabini mantra that clients are everything. Or maybe he just sticks to the script because you might be a potential client yourself. At least he didn't try to sell you a Gokart, or you might have opened a whole different Pandora's box. 🤣
The "us versus them" mentality is everywhere—retailers vs. shoppers, insurance agents vs. policyholders, even sanitation workers vs. the public. It's just how some people see the world.
They certainly won't mistake me for a terrorist... more likely a pregnant woman... much like an officer once did during a previous encounter. She was being kind, trying to let me skip the line as a courtesy because she assumed I was expecting... 😒 With a look of genuine surprise, I pointed out that I wasn't next in line, but the woman ahead of me was. Her response? "Go ahead, pregnant women get priority." What a ridiculous situation... Being my usual clumsy self, I could have easily taken advantage of the moment and used the "pregnancy" excuse to cut the line whenever I felt like it. But instead, I blurted out: "WELL, I'M NOT PREGNANT, HAHAHA..." 😵 Everyone burst into laughter, myself included. 🤣
Of course, if she had started grilling me for details... depending on my mood, if I were having a particularly rough day... I might have just taken off my shoe and given it to her to show the supervisor exactly what size sock I wear... ☕ But since I am generally a sophisticated person... I would simply tell her that while I respect her job, I am under no obligation to answer such questions and will cancel all services if the interrogation continues. She is more than welcome to call the police if she truly suspects I am a terrorist or something similar...
It’s absurd; people even fill out phone surveys voluntarily... they have no right to pry like this... -.-
silverhawk9 said:It all comes down to the fact that people can be incredibly spiteful and malicious; they just love tearing others down to make themselves feel superior. Honestly, that’s exactly why I’ve distanced myself from certain parts of my extended family. When you have people in your life who choose to belittle you instead of cheering you on toward your goals, those aren't friends—they're anchors. You have to cut that toxicity out, find your own path, and put all that energy into believing in yourself and your dreams.
Whenever I hear that someone is looking to pivot careers, go back to school, or pursue a new passion, it genuinely warms my heart. I’m always rooting for them! Just keep moving forward.👍
I also have immense respect for anyone showing the drive to learn and evolve. 👍
I’ve done the same with part of my family. Honestly, why bother with people who act like they’re still stuck in the early 1900s? 🎉
neonsailor26 said:I finished my vocational training right back in my hometown—that was a solid three-year stretch. After that, I decided to put in an extra fourth year through some correspondence courses just so I could qualify for university. Even back then, and certainly looking at my life today, I’m constantly surrounded by people who think it’s somehow "illogical" for someone with a vocational background to pursue a degree... honestly, they just don't get it! But you know me—I’ve always marched to the beat of my own drum because I refuse to settle for anything less than what actually excites me. I have never, ever let anyone else's narrow-minded expectations or outdated attitudes wash over me like brainwashing. Sure, I’ve made plenty of enemies along the way by standing my ground, but I’m not complaining one bit. Every single struggle has been worth it—and it's going to be even more rewarding once all my big plans finally come to fruition!
I’m giving you the exact same advice. Chase your dreams with everything you've got. Just tune out the pessimists—those folks have already lost the race before it even started.
This is news to me. I also finished vocational school, and I know plenty of people who went straight to college afterward. Those social rules and expectations people cling to...🙈
It seems they are simply envious of your persistence. Kudos to you, and good luck with your studies.
The issue is that most people are incredibly superficial; they focus entirely on appearances and follow the crowd because they’re afraid to stand out.
When I look at it... Do I want children?
To be honest, there isn't an easy answer. Right now, my priorities lie elsewhere; it's not even on my radar.
Perhaps one day, if I find the right partner. But if we are talking about bringing a child into this world, that person would need to be truly exceptional for me to consider co-parenting with them.
Plenty of people live perfectly fulfilling lives without kids... Life shouldn't be lived under the pressure of perceived obligations. I am young, and I have the luxury of deciding my own path right now. It would be lovely, certainly, but only time will tell if I find someone whose DNA would blend with mine to create something beautiful. 🙂
I am firmly against third-party interference—specifically when people pressure couples into having kids by playing on a woman's maternal instincts. A child requires stability first and foremost.
This might sound harsh. But some people should probably get a pet before they even think about planning a family. If you can't afford to feed a dog, or if both partners are unemployed... then you certainly shouldn't be planning for a child. The lack of responsibility in some people is frustrating.
goldenheron6 said:Look, I’m not saying working at the courthouse sucks, but my dream gig would be living in Washington, D.C. just like this girl in the photo 😁
Or maybe owning a killer hair salon like this one
But hey, dreams are for kids. Once you grow up, you gotta get real and just deal with whatever life throws at you
Type a law attraction.. and read the book and movie Secret..
For crying out loud, you're 24; you can move and work while finishing your degree. Just enroll full-time and handle it.
I'm 22 and I'm in the exact same boat. Get out of your comfort zone.👍
Don't hold a grudge against them.. The fallout will eventually catch up with you.. They acted on what they believed was the best course of action, likely assuming you’d react like a child if they explained their reasoning.. Perhaps that would have been harder for you to stomach...
Try not to worry about the small-town gossip.. What matters is that you're standing tall and seeing things clearly... Forgive them.. and let the weight slide off your shoulders.
Matthew Morgan61 said:I’ve had mine for years now without a single issue. I don't know what that lady at JP Morgan Chase was trying to tell me about it being some specific "two-card combo"—honestly, you just have to know what you want. When I charge something, I get the statement for that period and I can either pay the whole thing off right then or split it into installments (with interest, obviously). You pick the number of payments, you choose the due date, and so on.
Bottom line: you can defer payment if you want, or just settle up all at once. Nobody is forcing anyone into high-interest installments.
Look, no one is saying credit is a good thing. It should really only be used when things get desperate, but at the end of the day, managing it comes down to personal discipline. 🙂
True, but you can technically use a standard debit card to buy things on credit too... though with this specific card, the 12% interest rate is frankly predatory. 🕺
To be honest, some things are better bought with cash. If you save up for a few months, you can just walk in and grab a cash discount.🕺
I wouldn't touch this card with a ten-foot pole...
Interest rates sit at 12% 🕺
Unfortunately, I’ve had two bad runs with these cards.. I paid one off and tossed it 🎉 The second is next on my list to kill... just saw the statement... six months left...
If I pay the full balance right now to close it, it's one amount—but if I stick to the minimum payments for the next six months, the total jumps significantly. The gap between those two numbers is $167... 😲
It’s mathematically smarter to just settle the debt today and be done with it, rather than dragging it out and letting them bleed me for $167 😵
Avoid this at all costs.. seriously... Oh, and when I went in to cancel the first one... the teller at JP Morgan Chase gave me this look, as if I were returning a family heirloom instead of some junk card. She actually tried to patronize me, asking why I’d want to close it and suggesting I might need it later... I just stared at her. 👎 I suspect bank employees get their bonuses based on new accounts, while closing one counts against them.. They are incredibly charming when they're aggressively pitching you on credit lines and various services, but the moment you want to walk away, the hospitality vanishes. Pfft. No thanks.. no more predatory cards or loans from them ever. 🙂
Screening of a film featuring two women who recovered from schizophrenia...
Today, May 24, 2014. from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
MoSt Association 4th Street Bridge, Office: 52 Gundulic St, 33101 Miami, US The first woman is Joanna Greenberg (fully recovered for over 50 years), the bestselling author of "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden." The second is Catherine Penney (fully recovered for over 30 years), a psychiatric nurse from California whose recovery story was documented by her psychotherapist, Daniel Dorman, MD, in the book "Dante's Cure: road from insanity."
Their stories are woven together with interviews from heavyweights in the field of schizophrenia recovery. This includes Peter Breggin, MD (author of "Toxic Psychiatry"), Robert Whitaker (journalist and author of "madness in America" and "anatomy of epidemic"), and Dr. Bertram Karon (author of "Schizophrenia Psychotherapy: The Treatment of Choice"). Additionally, the film features over 100 interview clips of people sharing their views on schizophrenia, filmed in Washington Square Park in New York City.
The film is available for download. If you aren't tech-savvy, send me your address via DM and I can burn it onto a CD and mail it to you..
Also, if anyone is in Miami, there’s a week-long gathering happening—send me a DM for details (anyone is welcome, regardless of diagnosis; we represent a wide spectrum of experiences 😉).
Quick question: how long would a commute take on a decent road bike? The route is 14 miles. It's rural, good pavement, no traffic lights or anything—just one decent hill, otherwise mostly flat or light climbs. I wouldn't be riding a touring bike; I'm wondering how much I could push myself on foot versus a bike...
Is a 40-minute sprint realistic?
It depends on the traffic volume.
I don't use the main roads; I stick to pedestrian paths. Between the stoplights and a major intersection, my route from 2.5 miles takes me 25 minutes at a fast clip, or 35 if I hit red lights... And that's an older guy. If I were on a bike, that same distance would probably take me two hours. 😬
If you have a solid bike and low traffic, I’d estimate about an hour and 15 minutes. Just my guess.
I’m glad this topic popped up; I was actually considering picking up some Russian imports. I just didn't anticipate the sheer amount of sweat involved.
In the end, I’ll just grab a basket. It's better to have peace of mind and a light load, regardless of what anyone thinks of my choices.😛
