Posts by dustynomad15

Terry Newman7 said:Anyone else dealing with this—I’ve noticed I’m soaking up all this massive amounts of online rage, and then I start feeling super pissed off myself. It usually ends with me snapping at the first person who gives me even the tiniest reason to be annoyed.

Has anyone else felt this way?

I honestly thought internet hate wouldn't get to me. I try so hard to stay out of Facebook arguments or whatever, just to stop triggering that aggression inside me—because that's not who I am, and let's face it, reading hateful posts is totally useless.

I mostly stick to major news sites (not the trashy tabloids, obviously) and I really try to avoid the junk, though I know I can't avoid it all the time.

But when I read a story and check the comments... man, it's usually 90% negativity and people just venting. I rarely even comment myself, but that insane anger still builds up inside me. I realized I've started taking it out on whoever is nearby—like, the other day a woman at Target accidentally shortchanged me by a couple of bucks, and I just lost it, acting like she tried to steal my $3.25. You could tell it was an accident because she looked so confused, it wasn't even intentional, and I know that too.

Or like, I'm waiting at the doctor's office, someone tries to cut the line, and I practically want to rip their head off! And it’s not just being annoyed—I end up being incredibly aggressive and vulgar, like a totally different person.

Anyone noticing this? How did you deal with it? Do you actually believe that online aggression doesn't rub off on you?

Have you maybe thought about practicing some self-control?

It just keeps cutting out and then pops back up again after a bit. Is this some weird glitch with my browser or is the forum itself acting up?

What on earth is this????????

Jonathan Howard said:Honestly, when I feel happy, it’s usually because I’ve allowed myself to be a bit selfish. Like, maybe I missed a deadline at work, but instead of spiraling, I'm just sitting there watching a documentary about the Chicago mob because that's what I really want to do in the moment. It's that specific feeling when I hesitate to step back into the fray—expecting some massive disaster or a huge lecture from my boss—only to find that everything is actually fine. That sudden realization brings this pure, simple sense of relief and satisfaction. 😁
Most of my happiness comes from applying that exact mindset to different parts of my life.
Sometimes I'm happy just because something good happens out of the blue, but that happens way less often than when I lean into that principle.

honestly, I don't think that's being selfish, it's just straight-up procrastination.

Elizabeth Sanchez2 said:For those of you who claim to be happy 🙂,

do you think it’s because you actually checked off all your big life goals—or is it just because you don't need much to stay satisfied (you know, finding joy in the little things and not letting every minor setback ruin your week)?

Look, personally, I’m happy when I’ve been grinding hard for a long stretch but I actually know what I’m doing—then I go ahead and treat myself to something like a trip, hitting the slopes, or picking up some new gadget or whatever. For me, making actual progress in my career and keeping up with my education is huge for long-term happiness—or maybe it's not even "happiness" per se, but it gives me this sense of peace and security, which definitely feeds into that whole feeling of being content. Sure, enjoying the small stuff, like grabbing a coffee with my buddies or binging a killer series or movie, isn't exactly my entire foundation for happiness, but it definitely spices up the daily grind and keeps me feeling solid.

Yeah, well, that’s just how you laid it out

driftingmaker said:I don't recall saying I was against practicing movements; I just meant it can feel a bit pointless sometimes. I'm certainly not against anyone doing what works for them.
If someone can pull off a forced smile while still coming across as natural and positive to others, more power to them! 🤷

That part in bold? That’s exactly the issue the author is dealing with—they're smiling, sure, but it feels fake as hell. Either way, it's a massive lack of social skills combined with zero actual sincerity or authenticity.

driftingmaker said:I'm not quite following your logic. 😕

Just show some facial expression. 😬

Look, you said you’re against practicing specific movements because people should just be "natural" and stay true to themselves, right? Well, all I'm trying to say is that it can get super awkward if you've got an issue with how you carry yourself—like, imagine you're trying to give someone a polite smile, but your face ends up looking like you're being forced to obey a drill sergeant. In cases like that, I think it's totally fine to practice in front of a mirror! Because honestly, having a mismatched expression can cause all sorts of headaches in your private life, out in public, or even at work... You've gotta know how to present your emotions, your facial expressions, and your body language in a way that actually makes sense. That’s a skill, plain and simple. It doesn't make you fake or insincere; it just means you know what you're doing.

driftingmaker said:That honestly sounds so gross to me. And it's not just an American thing.
The constant "don't do this, don't do that"...🙄
I remember my aunt once told me I hugged and kissed my son too much because... men aren't supposed to be affectionate like that! WTF?! 🙄
It's the perfect recipe for creating an emotional wreck.

As for practicing movements, I've definitely noticed when people do that—when you can tell a gesture is rehearsed. It feels so fake to me. I remember girls doing it back when we were younger, like practicing their "sultry" looks in the mirror. 🤣
That kind of stuff just feels weird to me, I guess. 🤷
Just be yourself. If someone doesn't like it, let them walk away. It works as a great filter.

The only thing that seems useful is doing facial exercises, just so your face doesn't lose its tone over time.

But on the flip side, if you're actually feeling that way, it makes sense to "project" it onto your face, otherwise you're just confusing everyone around you. What happened to the author being who they say they are? Like, what if someone else is laughing and people think you're making fun of them, and you're just sitting there like, "yeah, this is fine"?!?

driftingmaker said:That honestly sounds so gross to me. And it's not just an American thing.
The constant "don't do this, don't do that"...🙄
I remember my aunt once told me I hugged and kissed my son too much because... men aren't supposed to be affectionate like that! WTF?! 🙄
It's the perfect recipe for creating an emotional wreck.

As for practicing movements, I've definitely noticed when people do that—when you can tell a gesture is rehearsed. It feels so fake to me. I remember girls doing it back when we were younger, like practicing their "sultry" looks in the mirror. 🤣
That kind of stuff just feels weird to me, I guess. 🤷
Just be yourself. If someone doesn't like it, let them walk away. It works as a great filter.

The only thing that seems useful is doing facial exercises, just so your face doesn't lose its tone over time.

but it's not always appropriate or even helpful to lay all your feelings out there, so it's good to have that skill in your back pocket—you can choose when to use it and when not to.

Angela Morgan4 said:Hello.
I recently had to undergo a psychological evaluation, and the psychologist actually noted a "gender identity issue." Her explanation was that I am essentially adopting masculine roles—roles that society deems the standard for men.
To be perfectly honest, I have always been aware of this because I refuse to subscribe to the idea of womanhood being synonymous with fragility or the need for male protection. I completely reject patriarchal ideals, values, and behavioral constraints. It honestly makes my stomach turn whenever I hear a man obsessively insisting on having a son. I don’t have an issue with men personally—in fact, I would love to have a son myself (along with a daughter)—but I cannot stand these distorted societal values. Consequently, I don't feel the need to conform to the general expectation that a woman must be perpetually wearing heavy makeup, tight clothing, or high heels (obviously, not all the time). Through my behavior, my style, and my core principles, I am rejecting that outdated conservatism.
My concern now is how those three ridiculous words might cause complications when I present this test to my psychiatrist.

So, what happens now? Why must everyone be shoved into these narrow little boxes? I am fully aware that I am female, biologically, and psychologically.🙄

hold up, are you even realizing that you are the one with the issue here? That's a huge deal, because that's actually the first step toward fixing anything. If you think the problem lies with everyone else and that they're the ones in the wrong, you're never gonna get past it.
Specifically, I want to know: why do you think the way women emphasize femininity—like wearing makeup or getting all dolled up—is some kind of "warped value"? Or why is it supposedly bad for a woman to look to a man for protection?
And one more thing: what's your take on guys wearing makeup and grooming themselves? Is that stupid or totally fine? I'm dying to hear what you think.🙂