Posts by Jessica Miller51

Rachel Richardson said:🙂

This was a solid response;

Moderators are just people—they have lives outside of this—they aren't glued to the screen 24/7, and responses don't always happen instantly.
Regular users should focus more on supporting the moderation team rather than constantly badgering them.
There’s zero point in nitpicking or actively hunting for a fight.
The goal isn't to purge half the community just because they disagree; it's to correct those who break the rules while making the experience as engaging as possible for everyone else.

Yeah, top-tier. 👍 Other than that, it's Mother's Day today—probably in America too. Hopefully even the moderators can take a break to hang out with their kids instead of being on call 24/7.

goldeneagle36 said:I honestly don't get why things aren't moderated if a moderator happens to be online at the moment or even just catches up on everything later on?
Of course, nobody can be hovering over the screen twenty-four seven, but surely someone eventually reads through it all. Shouldn't a decision be made even without an official report being filed? This was blatant hate speech, plain and simple, not some ambiguous comment where I'm left wondering if it actually warrants a penalty.
As far as reporting goes, there have been plenty of times when reports were submitted and yet nothing was sanctioned on the threads, which just makes you want to stop bothering with the report button altogether. In today's situation, I tried to point out how inappropriate the language was right there in the chat, but I didn't bother filing a formal report because, let's face it—the chat isn't moderated, and I know that firsthand since I've tried reporting things there before only to have nothing happen.

Good grief, woman. It was handled. You planning on writing an entire trilogy about it? 🤦

My coworkers roasted me for this; apparently, it’s just a direct translation from German.
The avatar is just some random image I pulled off the web because it looks vaguely like me.

restlesssailor3 said:Hello everyone.

I haven't been active on this forum lately, but I would like you to leave this thread up if it complies with the other posting rules. If this topic doesn't fit this subforum, feel free to move it elsewhere.

As the title suggests, I struggle with spring depression. At 27 years old, I am finally ready to admit this and start addressing it.

Unlike most people with seasonal issues who suffer during autumn, winter, or the holidays, I don't experience that. For me, this depression starts creeping in around February—as soon as the days get longer—then intensifies through mid-to-late April before tapering off by June.

Ever since the 5th grade, I’ve felt the changing weather and longer days starting to "suffocate" me. It creates this constant restlessness and kills my concentration while studying. The afternoons are the worst—from about 2:00 or 3:00 PM until dusk. Just endless restlessness. Depression mixed with anxiety. A sense of aimlessness. Emptiness. Sometimes even a sense of dread.

During this time of year, I often feel like spring is physically tearing me apart. Days were only tolerable if it was raining. Rarely did a spring day pass without me feeling like absolute shit. During my school years, I tried to drown out these horrible feelings by burying myself in work and obligations, though they remained present.

Over the last three years, this period has been more manageable than before (when I lived at home), and during this past year (2022), working helped me realize I handle spring better now than I did during my education. However, that mindset—that difficulty with this specific season—is still there. It remains hard, even if it has weakened slightly over the last three years.
I have always remained functional during this time, just 2-3 times less productive than I am during the winter.

My questions for you all are:
Do you experience similar issues? (I would prefer we focus specifically on spring moods rather than generalizing or discussing other seasons).
How do you cope?
What are the potential causes?
Is there any professional literature on this?
Have you managed to overcome, or attempted to overcome, this period?

Just today, seeing people relaxing and hanging out in Central Park served as a blunt reminder that this spring depression is here, and it is present.

Thank you in advance for your kind and constructive responses.

I get it. I’m a fall and winter person through and through. Summer just brings this sense of dread. I can't stand the heat—it makes me feel completely useless. It’s even worse when you actually have to be out and about instead of hiding in an air-conditioned apartment or office all season. It wasn't always like this where I live. We used to have that nice, mild mountain climate, but lately, we've been getting hit with those brutal 95-degree days. I try to laugh off my little "condition." It isn't actual clinical depression or anything, just a recurring funk triggered by the rising mercury. My coworker claims it’s just seasonal fatigue from the sudden shifts in pressure and temperature, but honestly, I think everyone feels the hit at some point, even if they don't call it a sickness.

Look, I’m no doctor, but in my experience, moving your body actually helps when you're dealing with real depression. I saw it firsthand with my mom. She’s battling Alzheimer’s and deals with some pretty heavy depressive episodes because of it. Whenever I visit, we go for a walk—just until she gets tired, since she isn't exactly a spring chicken anymore. But I notice a shift every single time. She feels better after the walk, she gets brighter, and I can tell by our phone calls later that the mood stuck. People shouldn't just dismiss advice about physical activity. If you aren't the type to hit the gym or run marathons, fine. Just take the stairs down instead of the elevator. Walk a couple of blocks to the subway station instead of jumping straight on the bus. Anything is better than sitting still. Of course, people struggling with severe clinical depression are likely under medical care already. But if they aren't? They need to talk to a doctor. Sometimes you need medication, sure, but sometimes you just need a kind word or a little bit of hope to get through the day.

frozengull2 said:Hmm....
Look, the Apostles (the guys who actually hung out with him) basically chose death—and not a pretty way to go, either—when they were pressured to deny Him... once they started building Christ's Church!?
I don't know about you, but that fact alone is enough proof for me of Jesus' greatness, holiness, and status.

Plus, this tiny group of people—who back then were rejected, marginalized, poor, and persecuted, all led by Jesus' words—literally changed the world!!
Isn't that absolutely mind-blowing!?

I mean, plenty of teachers have come and gone, but only someone truly special can kickstart something like this...

Right?

Btw; the work of the Holy Spirit is so obvious in people who truly convert that there's no "earthly" explanation for it. People change from the ground up (OVERNIGHT!!)...
Some of Jesus' biggest, most terrifying, most relentless persecutors became His greatest supporters after being touched by the Holy Spirit... willing to face death for Him!!?
Just saying...
Same goes for... just look at the lives and testimonies of hundreds of Christian saints over the last 2,000 years!

What more do you need, man!?

Nobody had to figure out they were Christians if they just stayed under the radar and didn't go looking for trouble back then. That's how you get targeted. Read an actual history book; you still see religious provocations causing chaos today, even though we know the legal consequences for stuff like that in this country. The people sitting at home keeping their mouths shut? Nobody bothers them. Take a look at Ecclesiastes 7:16-18: "Don't be overrighteous, and don't be too wicked; why destroy yourself? Don't be overly wicked, and don't be a fool; why die before your time? It's better to hold onto one side and let the other go; for whoever fears God will escape all this."

feralharbor13 said:You hit the nail on the head. I’ll be the first to admit I can be pretty negative. It’s like my brain just naturally gravitates toward pessimism or spiraling into anxiety. I’m constantly worrying about my own health, or the health of my family, and sometimes even the massive global disasters you see on the news just totally wreck me. Plus, I have this one specific quirk that drives me absolutely insane: this obsessive need for everything to be perfectly organized and symmetrical. Like, if my space isn't visually "right," I lose it. I go way overboard—I’ll spend forever color-coding my books on the shelf or lining them up by height just so it looks decent. And don't even get me started on the chaos in the real world that I can't control. It drives me nuts when some random eight-story apartment complex gets slapped in the middle of a neighborhood where every other building is a two-story house, just sticking out like a sore thumb. Or when some ugly billboard gets put up right in front of a gorgeous historic building, completely ruining the view. I’m always thinking about how much better things would be if they just fixed the streets, or renovated the local parks, or finally tore down those eyesore illegal constructions. I catch myself daydreaming about these perfectly manicured, orderly cities, and then I get pissed because things aren't like that here. Most people don't even notice. They honestly couldn't care less if a building's facade is rotting or if the city bus is filthy... they're either too caught up in their own lives or they just don't have the eye for it.

We all rabbit hole into different topics. An article catches your eye, and you want to dig deeper to figure out the "why" behind it. But the issue is when you do it obsessively—when there’s no off switch. You need to learn to say, "Okay, I've got the basics, if I really care, I'll take a note and come back later." Try forcing yourself to break the cycle. When you feel that endless spiral starting, stop. Write down where you left off and deal with it tomorrow. Force yourself to do it a few times until you break that obsessive loop.

Information can turn into an avalanche that buries you if you don't set boundaries. Look, I don't care for mindless gossip about someone's boring life either, but we're social creatures. Interacting with the world is a key part of being a functional person. Being well-read or having an eye for art isn't enough on its own, just like being social doesn't excuse neglecting your intellect. Right now, you're like a scale where one side is a heavy weight and the other is a feather. Sorry for the analogy, it just came to mind. 🤣 When there's no balance, something's off mentally.

I live a pretty solitary life because the mass stupidity of people honestly gets under my skin. But I get that I need social contact and I can't exactly go around re-educating everyone in my vicinity. I accept people as they are—stupid, uneducated, brilliant, beautiful, ugly, anxious, happy. Everyone in my circle deserves my attention, just as I deserve theirs. I set aside specific time for these social interactions, and during that time, I don't let the other parts of my life—the parts that actually bring me joy and fulfillment—bleed in. I try to strike a balance and live a life that includes others, regardless of what they're like (aside from criminals, abusers, or addicts).

As for men, just let it go for a while. Focus on yourself first. It’s not fair to jump into a relationship when you aren't in a place to give your whole self or contribute to the growth of the partnership.

The reason I'm telling you this is to suggest you start compartmentalizing certain areas of your life. If you're at work, focus ONLY on work and your colleagues. If your mind starts wandering, write it down and save it for when you get home. If you're grabbing coffee with a friend, listen to them. Turn off the internal monologue about literature or whatever else. You probably aren't interesting to everyone you talk to, and it's okay if what they say isn't interesting to you, either. But they are a human being, just like you, and they deserve respect and attention—even if it's not on an intellectual level. If you can't or won't do that, it might be worth talking to a psychologist. They deal with this kind of stuff professionally, and they could help, because it's clear you're struggling with some kind of mental dysfunction.

Force yourself to act like a functioning member of society once in a while. Just do it. Try it for a month and see how much better your focus gets. Every time your mind starts drifting into the weeds, write it down and force a course correction. It’s easier to stay on track when you’ve actually logged the distractions. Think of it as training your own brain—no one else is going to step in and do the heavy lifting for you. It takes grit and a sharp mind, but I'm betting you've got both. 🙂

feralharbor13 said:Honestly, this whole thing is such a massive issue for me because I’ve been wired this way for as long as I can remember. I live in Washington, D.C., and even if I’m just walking from my place toward downtown, I’m constantly obsessing over the buildings and the shops I pass by. I’ll see a building and immediately think, "Okay, this went up in this specific year," or "A famous American author used to live right here," and I’ll spend the rest of the walk spiraling, trying to imagine what their daily life was actually like. And don't even get me started on when I travel abroad. If I decide to visit a place like Italy, I turn into a total history nerd. I’ll spend months deep-diving into everything about the country. I'll obsess over the Roman Empire, then the Roman Republic, then the life of Julius Caesar, the architecture of the Colosseum, the movement for Italian unification, and even the psychology behind Benito Mussolini. I'll end up binge-watching their films and researching the entire history of Italian cinema, or looking into Romulus and which years certain battles were won. Then, I’ll sit down in some restaurant in Washington, D.C. to order food, and I see "Lasagna" spelled as "Lazagne" on the menu, and I just lose it. Like, how could they possibly write "Lazagne" when the correct spelling is clearly Lasagna? Who is even writing these menus? Why don't they hire someone who actually knows the language to get the names right? Back in the day, I would have actually sent them an email to let them know they messed up. Lately, though, I've just given up. I realized I was getting way too caught up in all the drama, and after sending countless emails to various organizations and people trying to fix everyone else's mistakes, I realized it's just not worth the headache.

Maybe you should look into issues with hyperfocus. Honestly, I'm surprised you haven't scoured the web for info already; there are endless articles and books on the subject. You aren't alone in this, either. In just the few minutes I spent searching, I saw how many people struggle with the inability to lock onto a single topic or maintain focus. Did you finish school? What was your study process like back then? Are you working now? How do you manage to concentrate on tasks at the office? If those things work fine, then try applying those same techniques to your personal life. By the way, here is an article with some tips on maintaining concentration right here. 🙂

Drew Ross2 said:Controversial posts get flagged, and the user gets penalized accordingly.
Next time, just hold tight. Don't start a new thread about Amtrak until at least 24 hours have passed since the initial report.
Best,

Thanks. My bad. I know the rule about waiting after a report, I just completely blanked on it. 🤦

I was away for the holidays, so I’m just now getting around to reporting Harmica’s arrogant post:

Even though Nice called him out right here: , he went right back to that same tone once his ban expired on the US site.

The thing is, he isn't just being condescending and using ad hominem attacks against me; he’s doing it to other women in the discussion too. A few highlights:

"Clearly you've misunderstood..."

"If imposing your personal taste is always more important to you than any partnership or harmony, then you aren't built for a relationship."

"That's probably why you're single. Your 'principles' have served you well."

"...please explain what you mean by being so brief. I get the impression you're just using big words you don't understand to try and look all cool and smart..."

And so on, and so forth...

I'm asking the moderators to step in.

EDIT: An update from tonight where Harmica called me "stupid and uneducated" in this post:
I also reported this post and am requesting an intervention. Here is the original post before he saw my report and deleted the word "stupid": https://abload.de/img/vredjanjeabj0b.jpg


In this one, he writes things like "you're a typical pathetic leftist" along with other ad hominems.

I count myself as one of Luiza's "victims." I joined this forum back when she was still a fresh moderator, and she handed out bans like she was trying to win a prize—sometimes justified, sometimes totally uncalled for, especially since she’d turn a blind eye to the exact same stuff from others. But lately, her style has shifted. She isn't throwing bans around like free samples at Costco anymore. She actually lets discussions breathe, using those bright red warnings that you can't possibly miss. We all drift off-topic sometimes; if you snap back, there's no penalty. But then you have the people who just ignore the warning entirely, which feels pretty unfair. I've personally seen her drop a warning in a thread, only for the very next post to be someone else jumping right back into the chatter like nothing happened. I didn't catch whether they got hit with a sanction, but it didn't look like it. There’s always this small group of guys and women who derail threads with their nonsense until the whole point is lost. If she actually enforced the rules on them, the forum would be an empty ghost town. Look, Luiza, let people argue. If someone attacks and the other person defends themselves, as long as it settles down quickly, let it go. Don't suffocate the conversation. At least she explains why she issues a ban—I see it in the appeals here—which is more than most moderators do. When she sends a warning via DM, it’s civil. It lacks the sheer pettiness you see from other mods. Even though some of my old bans are still active, I don't think she deserves this massive wave of criticism. She’s actually trying to do her job fairly, unlike that one moderator who takes their own personal issues out on the users, or that other female mod who shows up once every month or two just to hand out bans accompanied by incredibly arrogant comments.

Austin Murphy5 said:👍
To me, this also seems like the most painless way to handle things. It can be quite difficult for women to break free from certain situations.

Fair point, but just checking out isn't a fix. The issue is her—she lacks the tools to handle things properly. Move her to a new firm and she'll just be back to complaining from the sidelines instead of actually tackling the problem head-on...

Gary Myers said:I started this job at the beginning of the year. It’s not high-stress, and I could see myself sticking with it long-term since it's actually somewhat interesting. The downside is that I'm officially classified as having just a high school diploma, so my pay reflects that, even though I have a college degree.

The issue is my cubicle mate. Ever since I joined, the vibe in our workspace has been "heavy"—if I can even find a better word for it. When I first started, she wouldn't even talk to me for the first couple of weeks. She’d only speak up when we needed to coordinate tasks. She told me straight up that I was the fourth new hire in a single month and she just didn't have the patience left for anyone else.

In the months since, it's been a cycle. One minute she's taking her frustrations out on me, the next she's venting at a few other people. It's hard to listen to, especially because she calls them names—not to their faces, obviously, but once they leave the room or hang up the phone. She's constantly criticizing. Because of all this, the atmosphere in our office has never felt relaxed.

During the "quiet" phases—when she's directing her anger toward others instead of me—we occasionally chat, but even then, you can feel the tension. We never actually laugh together.

She mentioned once that she's open to new ideas, but I get the feeling she actually hates it when someone suggests one. Once, she shut down an idea I had, calling it useless. I dropped it. Then, a while later, she brought up the exact same idea herself, acting like it was some brilliant concept and wondering why I hadn't thought of it.

I’m almost never included in conversations with the staff members she actually gets along with. When they come into our room, they’ll duck into another office to whisper or just close the door. And if I try to strike up a casual conversation with them, she’ll often cut me off, even though she wasn't even acknowledging my existence two hours prior.
Mostly, she only talks to them when she's gossiping about people she doesn't like.

Day by day, I'm finding it harder and harder to show up to work. I'm stuck...

You're playing the victim here, and that's exactly how you're acting—quietly taking it and bowing your head. Since she isn't your boss, you have more leverage to push back against her behavior. Start keeping a log of her outbursts: exact dates, times, what was said, and how she acted. Then take that documentation to management. Don't forget that you have a degree. You probably mentioned it, or she found out, and since she likely doesn't have one, her treatment of you is clearly driven by her own insecurities. This situation won't change until YOU do something. Running away or looking for another job isn't the answer. Life isn't a playground; you'll just run into a different kind of problem at the next firm. If your behavior stays the same, you haven't actually solved anything.

But before any of that, my advice is to sit her down for coffee after work and tell her DIRECTLY what's wrong, in a diplomatic way. She’ll probably deny it, but bring up specific dates and times so she sees you aren't just some pushover who can be argued with. Don't whine or beg; just tell her you want a more professional, collegial relationship where you both participate equally. Keep in mind, she might be intimidated by you—afraid you'll take her spot or move past her because you're younger and better educated. If you're on equal footing, her behavior is unacceptable, and so is yours. It doesn't matter that you arrived later; you should be settled in by now. Why let this mess with your head? This is a problem with your own mental peace, and it won't go away on its own. You need to deal with this, because based on your description, it's a significant issue.

electricdriver33 said:Might just start an "Elvis Presley" thread over on the Trash forums instead... 🙂

Ready for Elvis Presley... 🙂

Count me in... 🙏

Daniel Chase13 said:Elvis Presley’s public lecture is happening tomorrow—and naturally, everyone is invited, even the skeptics and haters

https://www.facebook.com/duspara.elv...type=3&theater

What are you even going to do with the haters at "his" lecture? It's like inviting the Ku Klux Klan to a Kanye West concert. Or bringing Donald Trump to Mexico...

goldenjackal6 said:https://i.ibb.co/mHHKKxP/fdsfds.png 🤣

🙏 You're a real genius.
🤣 Putting Duspara at the top because he’s just *so* fascinating... how does that even work? 😂

Daniel Chase13 said:Honestly, I wasn't expecting anything from you to begin with. 👋

Nobody expects anything from you, except for you to stop selling smoke and mirrors....
Take care... 👋

Daniel Chase13 said:🤦

Did anyone else catch that absolute nonsense she just dropped? It was completely unprovoked, too.

Now, regarding Elvis Presley—let me say this one more time, since apparently, it's such a hard concept to grasp:

I didn't start the thread about Elvis Presley, nor did it ever cross my mind to do so.

I am simply posting links related to threads that other members have already started.

Since the discussion about Elvis Presley is already live, I'm just providing links that pertain to it.

I don't expect to waste my time arguing against your attempts to debunk established facts... 👎

Daniel Chase13 said:🤣

The way this was written—it’s almost as if the autism itself is shouting right out of the text.

Charles Gonzalez19 said:So you’re actually out here promoting him and his videos? You’re acting like he’s some "fascinating" guy who’s just "full of insight" and dropping all these "solid points." Give me a break.
So you’re calling his critics "mentally unstable" or "pathological haters" and all that crap?

Are you his official PR agent or just some massive fanboy?

Look, a grown man shouldn't be out here calling women "cows on two legs," labeling every single scientist as some kind of "evil Satanist," or branding all atheists as "morally bankrupt." You don't go around telling preschool teachers they’re "incapable of raising kids" or claiming their entire career is just "brainwashing the youth." But somehow, Elvis Presley is back at it again, hitting every single one of those ridiculous points like he's checking items off a grocery list. It’s honestly exhausting.

So, can you actually explain why you keep looping back to that same exact paragraph in this thread? Who are you even trying to convince here? Honestly, anyone who’s watched even a handful of Elvis Presley's videos can see right through it—you're clearly using that repetitive script to describe Elvis, not his critics.

So, why does he start screaming "SLANDER!!!" every single time someone even breathes in his direction the wrong way?

Daniel Chase13 said:That doesn't change the fact that those pathological comments aimed at Duspara are nothing more than a deranged obsession—a symptom of the unstable, deeply unhappy people who need to tear him down just to get a fleeting moment of psychological relief.

Honestly, he couldn't care less about YouTube; he’ll just keep doing his thing regardless.

Daniel Chase13 said:🤦

Honestly, how is it even possible for someone with a healthy mind to walk away from a discussion like this with ideas centered around sexual perversions?

I wouldn't be shocked if those twisted takes were coming from some anxious teenager going through puberty who's completely lost in a porn addiction—but this? Good grief!

Where do these baseless, unprovoked outbursts even come from? They feel like they could only originate from a mind consumed by sexual deviance.

Daniel Chase13 said:Analyzing the absurd insults people hurl at one another simply because they hold different beliefs isn't some kind of twisted obsession—it’s just pointing out the deeply disturbed and aggressive ways some people choose to express themselves.

I haven't personally directed a single insult like the ones you see being thrown around there, especially regarding Duspara.
A mature, genuinely healthy, and mentally stable person wouldn't dream of writing things like that.

You need to learn how to actually use Denagigija. Since you don't, you just end up looking clumsy while trying to spin lies to convince people. You're basically tripping over your own feet. You insult people in almost every other post simply because they’re telling the truth about a fraud. You're nuking your own credibility over nothing, all because you can't keep your aggression in check while defending your ego.👎

Daniel Chase13 said:🤦

Not quite.

I've already had to address this kind of surface-level assumption before—I'm not Elvis Presley, nor am I some flat-earther.

It's an insult and a lie wrapped into one. Even someone totally oblivious would have realized by now that this isn't the truth either.👎

Daniel Chase13 said:Suggestion:

Why don't some of you who find him so grating just reach out to Presley privately? I don't mean just catching him in passing at a Barnes & Noble booth—I mean actually setting aside some time to sit down, grab a coffee, and get to know the man behind the persona. You might honestly be pleasantly surprised by what you find. 🤷

🤦Is this really how you try to drum up business?... 🙄

And the worst part: reading your posts, I can see how obsessed you are with cannibalism. What is wrong with you? Why do you bring that up, read about it, and accuse forum members of supporting it in every second post?🤦

I'd suggest changing your public persona. There are people here who actually use their brains and saw through your clumsy attempts to hide behind someone else's mask a long time ago. You even make the exact same grammatical mistakes as Elvis Presley... 🤦 Instead of taking the high road and bowing out with dignity, you chose to insult them. You're using a deceptive tactic that isn't nearly as subtle as you think it is... 👎

velvetbear372 said:The reality is he left out an absolutely vital component of morality—and I suspect he did that because he wanted to use his high intelligence to justify his evil actions. Which is completely wrong.

👍
I get that. It really bugs me how he knows absolutely nothing about IQ tests, yet insists on calling them some kind of mathematical computerization of a human being. 🙄

velvetbear372 said:The starting premise here is fundamentally flawed. The entire discussion is being driven from a distorted—and frankly, reckless—starting point that links evil specifically to high-IQ individuals. Why is this wrong? Because there are vastly more intelligent people who aren't killers. Murderers are a tiny, extreme minority. You cannot separate or classify people based on IQ through the lens of mental illness susceptibility—nobody is immune to that. This topic is intellectually dishonest.

I see references to the Nuremberg trials, though they are being thrown around haphazardly without any real cohesion. To be clear: the psychologist Stanley Milgram studied the weight of authority and our tendency to obey commands and respect hierarchies. Most of those at Nuremberg claimed they were simply "following orders" from an authority figure. That doesn't necessarily mean those individuals were inherently evil, but it does mean they were submissive within an authoritarian regime—believing their actions weren't wrong because they couldn't resist. Along those same lines, you have to consider the Stanford prison experiment and Zimbardo.

The actual premise of this thread should have been this: everyone possesses some form of intelligence, and because of that, everyone carries both good and evil within them—since those qualities exist in all humans.

It’s a shame the topic is so biased. It's biased enough that some people are even arguing that only highly intelligent people are capable of evil—which is a logical fallacy of a sophist nature. The counter-argument is simple logic: all human beings possess intelligence.

The reality is that psychopaths are often smart. I think the OP went down the wrong path by failing to include morality as part of the definition of intelligence. If they had, they'd find much better answers—look at the psychopathic religious fanaticism we see today instead of getting bogged down in the Middle Ages. An intelligent person can recognize extremes. A psychopath might be smart, but they don't "know" how to see them because they lack the moral component.