Posts by Brenda Perez11

feralharbor13 said:You ever get this vibe about people, or just about the world in general? Or maybe it’s just my specific circle. It feels like most people I know are totally obsessed with these random people who aren't even a concrete part of their actual lives... everyone’s got their own little fixation.
For instance, my sister spends her entire life following these influencers on social media. She can spend an hour straight rambling to me about some Frenchwoman, how she decorated her house, what her kids are up to, all that junk. Then there's a friend who lives for sports; they know everything about the athletes, watch every single interview with Roger Federer, knows exactly where he played and who he played against, and tracks the ATP rankings like it's their job. My dad is retired now, so he spends his whole day glued to the TV talking about Zelenskyy, Putin, Donald Trump, and various generals. One friend follows those foreign talent shows like *America's Got Talent* and knows every winner, every judge, and every bit of drama. Another friend is obsessively binge-watching series; she’ll recap every plot twist to me, and just when she finishes a season of The Price of a Maid, a new season of some other show drops and she’s right back at it. It makes me stop and think: why on earth would I need to know any of this? What does any of it have to do with me, our relationship, or our actual lives? So much space taken up in people's memory banks by people who don't matter. Participants on *American Idol*... so what? What is a person supposed to do with that knowledge? Honestly, I’m pretty deep into my own stuff—I read books, for one—but even then, I feel like that’s a better use of time than watching influencers or tracking what's happening in Ukraine. I honestly find myself getting lost whenever I’m in a group setting, especially with people I barely know. You’ve got one guy talking about reality TV drama, another on politics, someone else on series, someone else on influencers... and you walk away feeling like you didn't even connect with anyone because they barely talk about themselves. They actually bond with each other easier because there's a higher chance they'll find common ground over Federer or an HBO series than they will hearing about books or an analysis of Master and Margarita.

Even if it's wrapped in layers of self-criticism and politeness, the core thought remains: "No one else is quite as special as I am, right?" How much truth is actually in that? You'll have to decide for yourself.

Peter Diaz3 said:I have to disagree. If we are talking about the "cream of the crop," we are looking at a man between 37 and 42 years old. He needs to be physically very attractive to most women, which implies he should be tall—let's say 6'3" or taller. He must be well-built with broad shoulders, a fit physique, and impeccable grooming. Just on those points alone, the percentage drops significantly; you're already down to the top 30%. Most men in that age bracket look quite neglected. You know this is true; you see it for yourself when you observe people at a beach in California. Forget the winter months when everyone is bundled up in heavy coats; the beach reveals everything. Furthermore, if you want someone who possesses confidence, a strong presence, intellect, and charm, that percentage plummets even further. Now we are down to your 15%. But if you truly want a "catch" in every sense of the word, women are invariably drawn to men who possess power. Social power—men who are influential. To achieve that, one typically needs a certain status, perhaps serving as a CEO of a major corporation or holding a high-level management position. Such individuals are incredibly rare, which is why I referred to the top 1%.

I think you're missing the mark on two specific traits you claim are vital to women. Having a shredded physique definitely isn't one of them! It doesn't have to be a beer belly, but there is a massive middle ground of men who take reasonable care of their health and fitness without looking like they stepped off a bodybuilding stage. Those guys are plenty sexy to most people. And 6'3"? That's a bit of an exaggeration.
Secondly, influence and social power aren't nearly as critical as you make them out to be. A perfectly respectable, middle-class social standing is more than enough for most circles. It doesn't require anything extreme or rare.
So, I'd say we're looking at a much higher percentage of viable men within the surrounding area and that age group. Though, I'm not quite sure why you've narrowed the window so strictly to 37-42?

Peter Diaz3 said:If we are being honest here, how many truly impressive men actually exist in their 40s? Looking at the hundred parents dropping kids off at soccer practice, I’d be lucky to pick out five men in that age bracket who actually earn the title of "a catch." Everyone else seems small, lethargic, neglected, with crumbs stuck to their shirts and nothing but a spare tire around their waist.

What defines an impressive man? It’s someone standing well over 6'3", hitting the gym at least three times a week, watching what he eats, and possessing actual style. He should hold a position of influence, possess charm and intellect, always smell great, drive a quality car, and have a perfect smile. In your 40s, those types make up maybe 1% of the population. And believe me, those men are constantly being pursued.

Sent from my iPhone using Twitter

Your standards are a little unrealistic! You're aiming for the top 1% of the market—especially if you don't personally fall into that elite bracket. Aiming for the top 10-15% isn't an impossible dream, and it's actually quite achievable. There's a difference.

Raymond Booth40 said:I have zero interest in finding someone else. Honestly, men have completely soured the whole idea for me.

Because of one guy—maybe a little bit different, maybe a little more damaged, who knows what caused it?
That is a massive mistake, because there are truly wonderful men out there in every sense of the word! Not necessarily behind every corner, and certainly not whenever you feel like it, but they aren't exactly impossible to find.
Always, regardless of whatever little pebble might be in your shoe, you have to maintain enough common sense during these decisions to realize that what you think you want and need is only half the story. The other half is quite elusive, and there isn't any way to reach it besides observation, giving things a shot, and pure luck! To make them fit.
Everything else is just fairy tales and pipe dreams.

Timothy Torres3 said:Hello there!
I run my own small freelance translation business here in the States; I operate as a sole proprietor, I'm not registered for sales tax, and I work out of my own apartment.
I just recently learned that I might actually have the right to rent my own living space to myself through a formal lease agreement and then write those expenses off against my business income. How exactly does one go about this? Would I simply draft an agreement on $333, sign it as both the landlord and the tenant, and then $333 transfer the funds from my business account over to my personal checking account?
I’ve heard that this is a common practice among others in my position. Does anyone here actually do this, or could someone provide some clarity on the process I described above?

You technically can, but the actual benefit is pretty questionable. You’d have to pay the standard income tax on rental income as an individual immediately, and then at the end of the year, everything just rolls back into your business income anyway (aside from the standard deductible maintenance costs and depreciation). Since it's all tied to the same Social Security number, the math usually ends up being a wash...