Justin Kern67 said:That shift is likely coming sooner rather than later, given that we are drifting toward total war. Besides, Europe could just stop buying Russian gas and oil altogether instead of merely debating the topic and drafting endless contingency plans for some vague point in the future.
Megan Thomas5 said:There is zero chance that was Putin. Look, I’m not really into conspiracy theories, but there are just way too many people around for him to take that risk. He stays tucked away in his bunker where nobody gets close.
Nope, definitely Putin... I actually deal with hyperacusis, so my hearing is basically dialed up to eleven right now... That is totally Putin and that is his voice.
(I went ahead and combed through a whole bunch of his interviews, speeches, and presentations)
...stumbled onto this thread by accident... Such a fantastic black-and-white gem of a movie! It totally defined my punk days back in the day—I must have watched it at least 30 times... With that almost documentary-style look at the situation and the characters, even the lack of color feels intentional. It’s like there’s no "gray area" or middle ground... just good and bad, black and white. No negotiations, no talking it out, no compromises... You've got Vinz—that street-wise guy and brilliantly menacing, cold poser (Cassel was absolutely genius here)—then Hubert Smiren, the calm, timid soul trying his hardest to choose an honest path, but getting crushed by the intellectual ghettoization of his crew and surroundings, plus the fact that he's Black... and then there's Said, the jittery, confused, talkative Algerian kid who feels a bit like a caricature, though he perfectly captures that intense animosity toward immigrants and asylum seekers during that era... It’s all seasoned with an incredible French hip-hop soundtrack, pure hatred for the trigger-happy police, petty malice, and the struggle to grow up under brutal conditions involving drugs and chaos... plus a dash of that naive, arrogant street philosophy that everyone knows is doomed to a tragic end... It really nails that hopeless urban subculture in the 90s suburbs of Paris, filled with police brutality, racial slurs, and the futile desire to actually make something of yourselves in a world where street "stars" just dream of a fairer tomorrow... The fact that all three of them used their real names in the film... man, that's priceless... I can only imagine how much of a blast it was to film that... I absolutely love this movie...
It’s not quite right... it feels more like a mild case of neurosis mixed with impulse control issues, because if things just stop—then it isn't really a ritual... To me, this feels way more like kleptomania... It’s like trying to soften the blow of an "impending disaster" by actually setting the stage for it to happen... Just prepping for the inevitable for absolutely no reason at all...
Or maybe it's just a fixation, you know? Like some weird way of seeking "vengeance" against someone or something...
I really don't want this to spiral into some massive off-topic mess that becomes my headache, I was honestly just pointing out the WAY a few people were being super vulgar in their comments... yeah, the ones I actually managed to get through without losing it... but hey, maybe it’s just how they were raised or they’ve just spent too many years hanging out in these types of circles...🙂...but look, if the moderators say it's okay, then fine by me!🙂 Because of all that, I've decided I'm sitting this one out and won't be posting anything else on this. over&out.
...if I could just jump in for a second... Thanks for locking this thread. Seriously, I hope nobody takes this personally—I certainly don't—but honestly? It’s just gross. Even if people post photos because they want to see who they're actually talking to and put a face to the name, it’s totally nasty when a handful of lowlifes decide to throw "compliments" at people like that. Plus, they clearly don't know how private messages work, so they turn this entire discussion into their own little playground for inappropriate chatter... Now, some "genius" out there might try to claim my comment was just a reaction to people commenting on my photos... but don't flatter yourselves... It’s honestly just hilarious to me. Why even be part of threads where people are dissecting individuals they barely know (in most cases)—let alone people who don't know them back? It’s all just being handled by these vulgar, bottom-of-the-barrel creeps who are basically just looking for someone to exploit.
...I honestly don't get the logic here. Why on earth would we need more conformity just to boost our social status? Conformity is basically the ultimate killer of personal growth. By its very nature, it forces you to just bow down to whatever mediocre opinions and attitudes are floating around... True personal growth is about growing *as an individual*, not growing just to satisfy some mass trend or what everyone else thinks is cool..
(p.s. if you're going to insist on communicating in English, at least learn how to do it properly, please......)
It’s not just "some" people, honestly... it's most people. The pressure is always there, designed to force anyone with a backbone into line. It tries to crush those who are actually self-actualized and refuse to get bogged down by mindless habits, silly little rituals, social structures, or those "desirable" standards everyone pretends to care about... A non-conformist knows that the only thing that matters is following their own gut, their own rules, and their own path. Because of that, they often become targets for being "unacceptable" or socially "outcast," but they’re also the ultimate spark for change in society. I mean, look at the revolutionaries! By stubbornly refusing to accept things that everyone else takes for granted—even when those things are already being questioned—they stumble upon massive inventions, huge discoveries, and deep insights. Doing what feels right helps them grow personally, which in turn moves the whole community forward...
Is being afraid of people justified? Well, yeah, if you consider how ruthless and selfish society can be. People can be so incredibly harsh toward anything weird, different, or just anything that doesn't fit the mainstream vibe. But once you realize that we’re all more or less the same—that we’ve all been programmed by upbringing that was mostly "learned" rather than built from our own integrity—then fear just becomes an awareness. It’s just a conscious choice that most people make because it's easier to stay stuck in their old ways...
I wonder if they ever stop to ask themselves: Why? And even worse, what’s the absolute worst that could happen if I push back?
And let's be real, people can be such a brainless crowd. Even after twenty centuries, nobody can quite agree on what makes a healthy individual or a healthy society... It really comes down to that inner impulse that doesn't have to bow down to the rules of the pack... But like Attali explained—lack of structure creates unrest, violence, and total chaos. That’s exactly why we have laws, systems, sanctions, and social judgment...
But looking at the individual level—you can only truly move forward by becoming aware of your own self, your own truths, and your own experiences. I always say—at least you won't be pointing fingers later and saying, "It's your fault because I listened to you."🙂)))
Hey hostess, look, if you think I’m just making cheap generalizations, then I totally respect your take on this... even if you feel my distinction between guys and girls—from a psychological and biological standpoint—is oversimplified. If that's the case, fair enough! The sarcasm isn't exactly news to me, and honestly, I don't think anyone actually missed the point of what I was trying to say here... Thanks for getting back to me, though! It would have been super helpful if you could've cleared up what you meant by that. By the way, I’m not really sure what a "troll" is supposed to be, but hey, if being a troll just means telling the truth and bothering people who can't handle it, then I’ll wear that badge with pride! Best,
Can someone—specifically whoever locked this thread—be a decent human being and explain why? Look, this discussion was actually super constructive, totally real, and yeah, maybe a little awkward... but all the posts were fine by my standards! Nobody was getting personal or insulting anyone. Honestly, the debate was actually going somewhere useful. The thing is, the original poster kept trying to dodge the hard questions, and everyone—myself included—was just trying to point out what she was doing. But instead, the whole thing gets shut down, a bunch of posts get wiped, and we get warnings thrown around just to kill the vibe and leave the topic hanging without any real closure... It feels totally silly and unnecessary, but I guess that’s just how it goes when the "higher-ups" decide to pull the plug.
I've been sitting here staring at my screen for a while now, just trying to find the right way to put this all together because there’s so much swirling around in my head, and honestly, it feels like I need to get it out there somewhere just to make sense of it all. You know those days where everything feels slightly off-kilter, like you're walking through a dream that’s just a little too vivid? That’s been my headspace lately. It’s funny how life works, isn't it? One minute you think you have a handle on things—you've got your routine down, maybe you're grabbing a coffee at a local Starbucks and feeling pretty settled—and then something shifts, and suddenly you're looking at the world through a completely different lens. I was actually thinking about this the other day while I was driving through downtown Chicago, watching the traffic crawl along, and it hit me how much we all just try to maintain this facade of having it all figured out when, in reality, most of us are just making it up as we go. I don't mean to ramble, I really don't, it's just that when you start pulling on one thread of a thought, the whole sweater tends to unravel, if that makes any sense. I feel like I'm constantly trying to weave it back together, though. Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm still processing everything, and I wanted to reach out and share this bit of my internal monologue with you all, even if it's a little disorganized. It feels more honest that way, I suppose. Just being real about the messiness of it all. kaže: I’m currently 37 weeks along, and honestly, I feel more at peace and carefree right now than I ever did before I was even pregnant. It’s such a strange, beautiful thing how everything just settles into place when you get this close to the finish line.
That sounds great, but about that part in bold:
I’d say I’m happy about 99.9% of the time, honestly, but I can’t help the way my stomach knots up right before any kind of lab work or medical analysis. I don't mean to make a huge deal out of it—it’s not like I’m having a full-blown meltdown or anything—but if I said I didn't feel that wave of anxiety creeping in before every single checkup, I’d be lying to myself. It’s such a strange, conflicting thing because, at the exact same time, there’s this little part of me that actually looks forward to them, almost like I'm eager to just get it over with and see the results.
I guess it all really comes down to how much of a struggle the pregnancy itself is, because honestly, for me, it’s been pretty much nothing but misery so far—I don't even bother counting the times I've been sick to my stomach anymore since it's just become such a constant thing. But on top of that, there's this one physical issue I'm dealing with that actually has nothing to do with being pregnant, which basically means I could be forced into bed at any given moment. And for someone like me, who absolutely hates being stuck lying down and prefers staying on the move, that is a seriously tough pill to swallow.
I just can't help it, you know? It’s like this thing that keeps bubbling up in the back of my mind, and honestly, I can't seem to shake it, no matter how much I try to stay busy or distract myself with work or anything else. It just hits me out of nowhere every once in a while, and there's really nothing I can do about it other than just sit there and let the thought wander through my head. 🤷 I mean, honestly, if you look at the big picture, I’m actually doing pretty great—just living my best life and keeping things happy for Mom. 😁
I guess what I was getting at with my whole thing about ignorance is that if you don't know something exists, it can't exactly weigh on your mind, right? It’s like, if I had no idea that one of my health issues could actually pose a risk during Pregnancy, I wouldn't be losing any sleep over it at all—I’d just be going about my day, totally oblivious, while everything stays blissfully unaware. It's that classic "ignorance is bliss" situation where you're just coasting along because you don't realize there's even a bump in the road ahead.
So, just to give you an idea of how this works... 🙂 I’m not trying to be negative or anything, I just really believe that having these kinds of fears is totally normal—just like how dealing with heartburn, hemorrhoids, or broken capillaries is just part of life. You could just keep adding things to that list forever. It doesn't mean that everyone out there is experiencing them at the exact same time, you know? 🙂
I’m 31 now, and honestly, I feel like I've finally settled that big, nagging life question once and for all. I mean, I really think age plays a certain part in how you see things, doesn't it? It's like everything just starts to click into place differently when you hit your thirties. 🙂
Of course, I realized! 🙂)))) I don't know why, but this thread (this is my third time here, and I really have no intention of trolling or ruining anyone else's vibe by venting) feels... kind of heavy. I mean, I totally get the discomforts, the issues, the bad days, the hormones... you name it. But when I think about the fact that there's a little squirrel in my belly that I'll probably lose sleep over and spend all my time worrying about... there isn't anything that could truly irritate me. A few things surprised me, sure, but nothing so intense that I need to vent about it on a thread where it feels like women are playing games about whether someone is allowed to touch their belly or not... Sorry if that sounds blunt, I don't mean to be rude... And Danicza, you're right... a lot of this comes down to a woman's maturity and the fact that she might have already handled her own stuff on her own... so it's not easy to shake her with just anything.
It's no biggie... for instance, when someone says to me in that annoying way, "Get some sleep, because you'll never get it again," I just snap back that I actually can't wait for that stage of life! Sleep was never my priority anyway, and like a few other people I know—I love waking up at 5 AM and making the most of the day instead of whining about life's responsibilities.
(And for the record—I'm not a huge kid person, nor am I a fan of kids in general... I can't even look at baby photos, let alone show them to my friends. I understand that some moms don't love their kids, their pregnancy, or motherhood. Just as I understand there are women who will never say, "WTF did I do with my life?" even when they' think it... Love for children isn't always "natural and automatic." It's a choice and a feeling. Thank goodness that if all women were honest about what they really feel toward kids, they'd probably raise them much more normally!)))
Jesse Johnson15 said:Honestly, if there isn't mold on it, it’s probably fine to eat 😳
you are actually being so sweet right now 🤣 have you thought about signing up for some sort of prenatal class where you can just vent all those fears? I mean, personally, I am absolutely terrified of the idea of actually holding a newborn, or even things like making sure doors stay shut and everything, and I am honestly counting down the days until I can bring all that up in a group session just so someone can look me in the eye, laugh a little, and tell me that everything is going to be okay.
Oh, those pregnant influencers on TikTok showing off their perfectly smooth, stretch-mark-free bellies with those serene little smiles? Total lies. I might sound a bit ridiculous, but right now, I am spending way more energy worrying about whether I'll develop GD because of my family history than I am thinking about whether I'm having a boy or a girl, which I won't find out until Friday 👋 ) In my opinion, a "carefree" pregnant woman is really just an uninformed one 😳
Ugh, what a total load of nonsense! I'm actually in my 37th week now, and honestly? I’m even more chill than I was before I got pregnant... and it's not because I'm young and clumsy (hey, I'm 36!) or because I just don't care... it's actually because I *am* informed. I don't jump every time some other pregnant lady or a worried bystander starts panicking over every little thing... Most of what I know, I learned by taking the long way around all those pregnancy horror stories and sticking to reading stuff that actually felt useful to me... My pregnancy has been awesome, barely any issues at all (just a few swollen veins and a little back pain here and there...) Plus, the pregnant women I see hanging around hospitals and clinics always seem so grumpy and ready to snap at anyone, so I guess they find it weird when someone isn't acting just as stressed as they are... Give me a break... as if being pregnant is this divine, sacred thing meant only for a chosen few... Just relax, people! It’s totally natural... and as such, there’s really no need to obsess over every single tiny detail... I haven't changed one bit from who I was before. In fact, I take everything in stride with a smile... whether it's people touching my belly, asking silly questions, or not giving up a seat on the subway... so what? I'm happy, and I still have plenty of energy, just like always. When you really know yourself—belly or no belly—life is easier. There aren't these massive identity shifts when you get pregnant, unless (God forbid) there are unexpected complications... Good luck!😉)
So, I'm popping back into this wonderful thread after a little while just to say that I’m still feeling totally chill and nothing is getting under my skin... Honestly, reading some of this nonsense actually makes me realize how lucky I am. Pregnancy frustrations over total trifles just aren't in my DNA! I'm just so glad that I don't let stupid stuff get to me. I refuse to let anything unimportant or trivial mess with my vibe or my health...🙂)
silentbison17 said:Call me rude or whatever you want. But you’re the one who showed up here acting like you can do it all, claiming you're better and more "superior" than those paranoid types who listen to old wives' tales!
I don't listen to them. I am paranoid about certain things I have, and I have every right to be given my diagnosis. But I don't think I'm any better than anyone else... whether they're breastfeeding or not, or whether they listen to street gossip or not.
If I actually thought I was superior or more capable than everyone else... wow, sorry, but who even are you to question me like that? If I spend most of my life surrounded by sheep but don't consider myself one of them, then please, let me hold onto my own views in every part of my life. I didn't "show up" at your house, you know! We're both equal here on this forum. And hey, I never once called you "paranoid"—you keep insisting on labeling yourself that way!
Anyway, I think we've run out of things to say about this. I'm totally off-topic now, sorry!🙂)
Haha, wow... fascinating... really... silentbison17... are you being a little bit, hmm, rude? Or maybe just blunt? I'm leaning towards blunt. Anyway—I’m making a call right now. I'm ending my visit to this thread with just one last post, if that's cool with everyone. I hope that's clear enough for those keeping score🙂))... unless there's some secret Forum Law where you can't change your mind without causing a scene? Someone please educate me! Also—what is actually your deal? This thread is here for people to share opinions. I haven't called anyone stupid, or rude, or a know-it-all... though, granted, I definitely have a pretty high opinion of myself, haha🙂))
You totally swapped my point with what nuklee500 was saying(please, just read it again to see who said what!)... and honestly, I couldn't care less whether you decide to breastfeed or not...
Angela Davis74- I'm with you on that post... everyone is entitled to their own take, especially when they actually know what they're talking about from personal experience, like you do... and especially if they can say it without being a jerk to the rest of us. And yeah, that part about milk losing its nutritional value after a certain amount of months? Total nonsense. Completely untrue.
Look, I totally respect that and I’m not judging at all... it's just that I’ve never actually been pregnant before, so I’m definitely working with zero real-world experience here... I’m mostly just reacting to what I read from so many other moms who aren't breastfeeding—that's really where my head is at... I mean, you’re lucky! You have this beautiful baby that's super easygoing and doesn't give you any trouble... but for most people, it's just not that smooth sailing... does that mean everyone else is wrong? Probably not! It's just that everyone's journey is different, you know?
Basically, that nuklea500 result is just what happens when you breastfeed way too long (and "too long" is such a subjective thing—a friend of mine actually nursed her little one until they were four... if you ask me, that’s just wild!)—it's pure oral fixation. Look, I totally agree that breast milk is best for babies; I'm a huge believer in anything natural, organic, and biologically driven. That’s why I brought up my own mom and all those amazing women who didn't spend their time typing nonsense on internet forums but instead focused on working through pregnancy and (sadly) hard jobs without getting distracted by unnecessary drama.. But hey, I’m definitely not the smartest person in the room, so I really value everyone else's perspective! From what I can gather, breastfeeding is this incredibly sensitive, special, and beautiful way for a mother and child to bond, where the baby gets all those essential nutrients during those first few months....but can you achieve that same thing with formula or baby formula? Experience says yes! Like someone else pointed out—I’d much rather be a relatively sane, more-or-less rested mom who can actually give my kid quality attention, rather than forcing myself to stick to traditional methods until I become an aggressive, sleep-deprived wreck.... And as for dads, I think they are an absolute necessity in a child's life, even though a lot of people just treat them like "support staff." Man, I would love it if my boyfriend would just grab the bottle once in a while for the sake of my mental health so I could catch a quick nap! The bottom line? Don't let yourself become a "victim" to your child (and I mean "victim" in a way that I personally find unacceptable)—it makes for a stable parent. It teaches the kid how to be independent from those early months without ever feeling like they're missing out on anything. It's the same with parenting later on....(and I’m not just talking about nursing here; that is strictly a mother's choice... there is no "right" or "wrong" way!) It honestly drives me nuts when someone who already has kids acts like a total know-it-all and starts lecturing me about things I don't even agree with... you know, that whole "just you wait, you'll see" attitude. I dealt with that ages ago in my own family nucleus, and I plan to handle it the same way with my own kid. I just don't get where people get the nerve to act "superior" and assume their personal experience is the only valid way to live...
And then they act all shocked when they end up with unruly, irrational, fixated, demanding, or selfish kids who—heaven forbid!—need to be the center of the universe. Because if they aren't, those parents are labeled as "inhumane" or "unloving." Honestly, lucky me, living in such an indoctrinated country....
...I didn't get lost, I'm just doing my homework... and yeah, you caught me, I have absolutely no clue what I'm talking about... but honestly? Maybe I actually know more than people who act out of pure fear, total confusion about their surroundings, zero self-confidence, or just years of soaking up misinformation—they listen to literally anyone and everything... there's really no need for the sarcasm (classic forum vibes, especially on sites like this)... and I definitely wasn't insulting anyone or pointing fingers at anyone. Yeah, I'm going to ask my mom for advice because she seems like the most level-headed person on the planet and isn't totally weighed down by questions like, "Should I breastfeed or not?", "Should I follow pro-natalist trends?", or "Should I let some random stranger touch my belly?"... sorry if those concerns seem misplaced to you. For me, all three answers are a hard NO. I'm old enough to know what I'm talking about and how I want to handle my pregnancy moving forward. You're drawing some pretty hilarious conclusions from a post where I was just trying to share my perspective. Honestly, nothing here gets under my skin or irritates me, and I'm not here to play the victim—it just makes me sad that people these days can't just say what they want clearly and expect it to be respected. hm, nuklea500 and I aren't besties, but we could be!🙂) There, go tell your little hometown I said hi.
@BellaTheCat- you're right... there are risks for toxoplasmosis and that whole spectrum of infections that are super dangerous during such a sensitive time in pregnancy. In my opinion, the much bigger issue is that people simply haven't learned the basics—washing your hands, washing fruit and veggies, disinfecting phones, purse handles, telling your partner to pay extra attention to hygiene... and of course, making sure meat and other food is cooked thoroughly. The possibility for infection is always there, but with most infections, the problem usually boils down to the fundamentals... ;D... for example, when it happens (like to me this morning), I'm riding the subway, it's not raining or snowing outside, but EVERY SINGLE WINDOW is shut tight like we're in a cattle car... I just open them without a second thought. And if someone gets weirdly upset because they've grown accustomed to the comfort of warm, stinky bacteria, I just say—sorry, I'm feeling a bit nauseous, hope you don't mind... and that's it, no drama...
I totally get where you're coming from... honestly, thanks for not being all soft and sensitive about it either🙂)))) And yeah, I’m definitely going to be part of the "we" group and embrace all the silly nonsense that comes with it, obviously... it's just, you know, life is funny like that. You've got your high-strung, neurotic types, then you've got the total airheads, and then there's that third group—the ones who just stay chill through everything. Everything feels way easier and more fun when you've got that calm energy around you. Pregnancy doesn't even change that, really. Normal people stay normal whether they're expecting or not, that's the whole point! So, my two pregnant friends are absolute lifesavers, and I am sticking with them like glue! :D
So, I’ve been having a bit of a struggle with turning on editing mode and tweaking my posts here... My very first entry wasn't exactly my finest hour, so I wanted to go back, soften the tone, and just write a whole new version instead.🙂))... Honestly, don't worry about the teasing! I'm taking it all in stride—I totally get that I can be a little ridiculous sometimes, haha. 5. I guess I just have this habit of jumping back in to explain my side of things once someone makes a snap judgment on a thread. That’s just who I am now... thanks for being so sweet and keeping an eye out for my messy typing.
By the way, let's get one thing straight: chronic pain, physical discomfort, hormonal rollercoasters, serious health scares, a sick kid, medical emergencies, depression, anxiety—all those biological struggles? That isn't "whining." It’s just people who are clueless and judgmental calling real suffering "stupid" or acting like it’s "no big deal."