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Posts by John Thomas13

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Used PC builds: What are they worth? in Desktops ·
Matthew Young35 said:What exactly are you planning to run this on?
On a computer that's currently just a pile of parts?

Thanks for all the replies, though I feel like we might be speaking two different languages here. 😁

I really hate not being able to understand things... but I guess I was born too early, and technology arrived a bit too late for me 🙂. It feels wrong to just throw stuff away when I know it still works, but then again, I honestly have no idea if it’s worth paying someone to look everything over and put it together
.
Anyway, thanks to you 👍
Used PC builds: What are they worth? in Desktops ·
Timothy Kim60 said:It’s not a ton of info regarding the PC, I guess. But if it has a 500GB HDD and 8GB of RAM, it probably shouldn't be total junk (especially for a casual user), so maybe buying it could be worth it.

It just feels like a waste of money, honestly. My son has his own setup, I use a laptop, and this thing is just sitting here gathering dust. Does anyone think someone would pick this up for a small amount of cash? Or maybe a repair shop or someone who builds PCs would take it just for the parts?
GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post) in Desktops ·
fadedsailor17 said:Ma lady, this specific thread is dedicated to graphics cards. I think you should try posting in another section under "Desktop PCs," or maybe just start a brand new thread entirely. Honestly, I suspect you might get way more eyes on your post if you move it from the graphics card 😉

EDIT: Perhaps right here: http://www.exampleforum.com/showthread.php?t=543543&page=85

Thanks for the advice. 👍
Used PC builds: What are they worth? in Desktops ·
First off, I should probably mention that I don't know the first thing about computers, so please be gentle with me

I have two computers sitting there in "non-working" condition.
My son was experimenting with a friend—they cleaned out the fans and I suppose they did other things too—but when it came time to put everything back together... his friend bolted, and now my son can't figure out how to reassemble them. They’ve just been sitting in a box in the corner of the room for a long, long time, and I honestly don't know what to do with them.
I would really love to recover my photos from them, because I wasn't smart enough to back everything up immediately.

Does it even make sense to pay for repairs or software cleaning? Technology moves so fast, and these machines are roughly 5 to 10 years old. I know they weren't cheap when we bought them, but... Here are some specs for one of them:
Windows 7, 500 GB storage, 8 GB RAM, Intel-Asus motherboard

Is it possible to sell these? They actually worked fine; they didn't break, it's just that my son got a newer, more powerful computer as a gift so he could play games.

Part of me wants to just throw them out the window, but I'm trying to be mindful of the environment, so I'm holding back.

Please, help.
GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post) in Desktops ·
First off, I have to admit I don't know the first thing about computers 😵, so please be patient with me 🙂

I currently have two computers sitting in "storage" mode 🙂.
My son was experimenting with a friend—they cleaned out the fan and I think they did a few other things—but when it came time to put everything back together... his friend bolted, and now my son can't figure out how to reassemble them. They've just been sitting there in a corner of the room for a really long time, and I honestly don't know what to do with them.
I definitely want to retrieve my photos from them, since I wasn't smart enough to back everything up externally right away.

Does it even make sense to pay for repairs or software cleaning and such? Technology moves so fast, and these machines are probably 5 to 10 years old now. I know they weren't cheap when we bought them, but... here are the specs for one of them:
Windows 7 500 GB storage, 8 GB RAM, Intel-ASUS motherboard

Is it possible to sell them? (They were working perfectly fine; they didn't break, my son just got a newer, more powerful one for gaming.)

Part of me wants to just toss them out the window, but I'm trying to be mindful of the environment and avoid creating electronic waste 🙂

Please, help.
Santa Barbara two-story apartment near the beach!
Apartment in a residential building, 1st floor
living area: 70.00 m2
Posted: 09/10/2017

$747026
$325,000


California, Santa Barbara, old town, small 2-story apartment of 35 m2
Apartment in a residential building, 1st floor
living area: 35 m2
Posted: 09/04/2017

$224
$97,000


Krasan apartment on the edge of the old town - Santa Barbara
Apartment in a residential building, 2nd floor
living area: 63 m2
Posted: 09/08/2017

$1128009
$490,000
😲

These prices are actually realistic... I mean, they're just examples, but that's how things go in that city.🙂
Mark Martin10 said:Is this actually real? Agencies charging buyers commissions? What the hell? Pardon my French.

Is there even a law for this?

If not, people are getting scammed.

Sellers pay the commission. Not the buyers. Look, if I'm selling my house and decide to go with an agency, the agency lists it and finds a buyer—then I pay the agency. What logic is there in making the buyer pay a commission??????????????

Why do sellers even agree to this crap? It just means a huge chunk of potential buyers who might actually want to see the place won't bother because they don't want to (rightfully) pay a fee.

Trust me, this is just another one of those weird American quirks.

Down here, in certain parts of the beautiful US, you find listings for apartments that aren't exactly... overpriced, they're practically floating away because they're so inflated with helium...
and you have to contact whatever number is listed on that page.
Then, some RE/MAX agent from halfway across the country calls you from 311 miles miles away, and they send over that infamous contract where you have to sign saying you'll give them 3% plus tax if the place sells.
Once you handle all that paperwork, they finally give you instructions on how to actually get to the apartment 🤔 and tell you to ring the neighbor's bell
because the owner is a foreigner and isn't around.
Our neighbor didn't even know how to turn the power on or where the breaker box was; he had no clue about anything, and he didn't even have the key to the garage or the storage unit... and that was a whole five-minute showing because he was in such a rush. We had to go back twice more for measurements and inspections, but it was the same thing every single time. The neighbor was clueless, grumpy, and kept rushing us.😠

AND NOW I'M SUPPOSED TO PAY THE AGENCY $3,000 plus tax for what exactly????
How to connect my laptop to my printer in IT Support ·
Please bear with me because I really don't know much about this stuff. If anyone happens to have a little extra patience to walk me through it... I would be incredibly grateful. 🙏

I recently acquired an HP printer and a Canon Pixma scanner.
I'm using an Apple laptop, but instead of macOS, I'm running Linux.
The printer didn't come with any cables or an installation CD.

How on earth am I supposed to connect the HP to my laptop???🤔

Any help at all would be appreciated.
Thank you 🙂
Religion classes in school - Megathread in Students & Teens ·
A few years back, I happened to meet a
religious studies teacher during a field trip. In my school, we mostly had secular instructors, so my only real
experience with religious orders was with priests—people I probably wouldn't ☕

To be brief, I spent two really pleasant hours in conversation with him, and the time just flew by.
He was maybe in his early 30s, and everything he stood for... well, it lined up perfectly with my own beliefs. It’s hard to put into words, but honestly, if there were more people like him who actually wanted to teach morality and life lessons at my school, I’d enroll my child in a heartbeat, whether I felt like it or not 😁
Summary:
He opposes keeping religious education in schools unless the environment is right for all children.
He stands against everything that has been broken within church circles for ages, and he isn't afraid to say it. He fights for children's rights, and you can hear the humanity and empathy in every single thing he says. At no point did I feel like he was trying to force his views on me.
I truly respect him. I think he represents a healthy middle ground between being narrow-minded and blindly following every word the church says, or taking a purely atheistic view of the world.

🙂
Religion classes in school - Megathread in Students & Teens ·
Lawrence Torres56 said:Look, schools aren't state-run agencies; they're public institutions, and once you actually wrap your head around that distinction, you’ll probably see how totally pointless this whole complaint really is....
Anyway, I’m going to quote
"The leaders of the county professional boards are organizing training sessions on the topic of GOO for all teachers, regardless of their subject or specialty."
Which basically means that if that religion teacher finishes that training, they are officially qualified to cover those specific topics from GO, no matter who likes it or who doesn't....
By the way, a religion teacher might actually be more skilled or deliver the material better than some biology, English, or math professor... and honestly, there is absolutely no reason to go around trashing someone's expertise or profession just because of your own personal biases...

I completely agree with placidorca16 (that has a nice ring to it 😁)

Lawrence Torres56, we get it, believe me....we understand your message.
Now YOU try to understand the absurdity of your own statements and convictions.
Would you?
Of course you won't, so don't even bother trying to convince the rest of us of your absolute truth and fairness.☕

James Alvarez2 said:The first and second parts kind of clash, don't they?

They aren't just clashing; it's more like the ER and the fire department arrived at the scene. From the sheer force of the impact, 🙂>
Religion classes in school - Megathread in Students & Teens ·
Jacob Lewis5 said:Losing jobs for religious instructors isn't some "win"—it’s a loss for their families, their spending power, the whole GDP...
Comparing "scheduling gaps" versus respecting diversity, maintaining the educational mission, and saving jobs... is such a wild clash of priorities. You’re acting like a gap in a timetable is the end of the world, while I honestly can't believe you're even using that as an argument.
It's not even about a "gap," because the Department of Education issued a directive stating these classes have to be first or last period anyway... and so far, there's zero proof they aren't following it. Plus, calling it a gap when nothing is actually missing just shows how shaky your logic is. Then you drop terms like absurd amounts of money... heavy stuff. It’s not absurd; we aren't talking about billions here, and it’s not even a negative thing if that money ends up in the pockets of American citizens who then spend it right here in the States.
And please, walk me through this part about the "abuse of school authority." I'm all ears.

😠 My child is terrified and being mistreated in these "nonexistent and unproven" gaps.
They didn't know what to do with them, so they were just left to run wild in the hallways, alone in some empty classroom, or stuck on supervision duty with eighth graders.
🙂 A CHILD OF 6 AND A HALF YEARS OLD😠

As for the morality of people who go to church regularly, I don't want to—nor do I intend to—say anything...
and please, don't mention the educational system or religious studies in schools to me.
THAT HAS NO PLACE THERE, regardless of how much we debate it.
Even today, I can't forgive myself for not suing the school.

By the way, just so we're clear, I have received all my sacraments (oops, inaccurate description, I stopped by at the wedding 🕺), so this isn't about a second confession or having a father who is a staunch Communist; I know exactly why I don't want my child attending religious classes, and I have a Constitutional right to that choice.

Jacob Lewis5 said:Done. The lady I spoke to—not sure exactly what her role is—told me something like this: they always try to schedule religion for the first or last period (you can see from looking at schedules that they do try), but sometimes it's just not possible, and there are also certain classes where everyone takes it. The kids are never left unsupervised.

I didn't say it *never* happens; I just said I don't buy the anecdotal stuff people post on forums. Especially when that's being used as the main argument for getting rid of religion classes altogether. I'm asking questions and doing my homework. Based on my chat with the woman at the school I mentioned earlier (the one Jason Ortiz5 knows about), I didn't run into any of the misunderstanding or pushiness people claim happens here.

You... either are... or you're just pretending...
In any case, bravo, call them, get the facts...
This sounds like a massive conspiracy theory... people lie, and rumors spread... it doesn't even make sense to sink to your level anymore.
Student-teacher dynamics vs. parent-teacher dynamics in Students & Teens ·
I suppose after watching my child struggle so much right at the start of school, I reacted during a parent-teacher meeting... and maybe I should have just kept quiet and endured it.
Unfortunately, even though I can't wrap my head around being indecisive or playing both sides only to turn on one later, sometimes it might be better to stay silent for the sake of your child's well-being. 😠
It turns out that by fighting for what was fair, I only ended up earning the teacher's resentment toward me and my child's specific needs.

(Just a quick summary of what happened—it was a religious education class in the middle of the school day for first graders.)
My child, who wasn't enrolled in that class, was left with three other students to basically figure out their own entertainment in an empty room without any adult supervision. In plain English, two kids were fighting while mine just sat there waiting for the teacher to return or for the after-school program kids to join them (there were about 30 kids in one big room from first through eighth grade).
My son was only six and a half at the time, and he was physically smaller than his peers. He used to go to school with such intense fear, and he viewed those "free" periods as a total nightmare.🙂

It eventually reached a point where, after fighting a losing battle against the school system, I had to personally arrange for my son to attend the religious education class just to stop the chaos, even though it didn't actually solve anything. (Plus, I felt forced to send him to those classes against my own convictions.)
When I asked at the meeting for my objections to be officially recorded in the minutes, I essentially sealed our fate; I ruined any chance of a good relationship with the homeroom teacher and got labeled as a "difficult" parent.

And honestly, that was only the beginning of the anxiety and the trouble...

I could probably write entire essays or even publish a book about everything we went through at that elementary school.

And no, I am not blaming all teachers or professors. I think the American school system itself is largely to blame; many times, teachers are just powerless within that structure. You find all kinds of people in any profession, but unfortunately, there are enough bad ones to make a child hate school the moment they step foot inside.
Nosy banks in Banking, Insurance & Loans ·
I sent the exact same post by mistake. My apologies.
Nosy banks in Banking, Insurance & Loans ·
Raymond Rivera6 said:I'm not sure how to put this delicately, but I think you're exaggerating. Chase does have KYC questionnaires, but there isn't a single word in there about who you live with or anything regarding children. They might ask about your income, where you work, or the amount of a specific transaction, etc. They could have been updating your basic info, but even then, they don't ask about a spouse or kids—just the standard stuff like address, SSN, etc. Nothing deeply personal. At most, they might ask the reason for closing the account.
It feels like someone is just venting here and maybe embellishing the story to make it sound more dramatic.
Given how much work they have and how much they want to wrap things up smoothly with customers, I highly doubt anyone behind that counter actually cares whether you have kids, if they're in school, or what you had for lunch today. They don't have nothing better to do.

Here, just for the sake of information... this isn't about Citibank, but the issue is identical. Who benefits from this, and what right does a BANK have to ask about my marital status???? Or how many people are in my household
or whether we live in a house or an apartment?😠kk
Well now... the best part is that I wasn't even applying for a loan... or asking for any money at all. I simply had to go to the bank to open a checking account for my minor son, who just started an internship and is receiving compensation for his work.
And I will repeat the question to someone who actually understands this... WHERE IS THE RIGHT FOR SOMEONE TO ASK IF I HAVE A HUSBAND OR NOT, OR IF I WAS MARRIED BUT NOW I AM A WIDOW OR DIVORCED... as if that matters for my son's checking account.🙂 I felt like just telling them I'm gay and writing that down just to be accurate.
Nosy banks in Banking, Insurance & Loans ·
Raymond Rivera6 said:I'm not sure how to put this delicately, but I think you're exaggerating. Chase does have KYC questionnaires, but there isn't a single word in there about who you live with or anything regarding children. They might ask about your income, where you work, or the amount of a specific transaction, etc. They could have been updating your basic info, but even then, they don't ask about a spouse or kids—just the standard stuff like address, SSN, etc. Nothing deeply personal. At most, they might ask the reason for closing the account.
It feels like someone is just venting here and maybe embellishing the story to make it sound more dramatic.
Given how much work they have and how much they want to wrap things up smoothly with customers, I highly doubt anyone behind that counter actually cares whether you have kids, if they're in school, or what you had for lunch today. They don't have nothing better to do.

Here, just for the sake of information... this isn't about Citibank, but the issue is identical.
Whose interest is this in, and what right does a BANK have to ask me about my marital status????
How many people are in our household, or whether we live in a house or an apartment? :mad
Oh boy... the best part is, I wasn't even asking for a loan... or any money at all.
I had to go into the bank to open a checking account for my minor son, who just started an internship and is getting paid for his work.
And now I am repeating the question to someone who actually understands this...
WHAT RIGHT DOES ANYONE HAVE TO ASK IF I HAVE A HUSBAND OR NOT, OR IF I WAS MARRIED BUT NOW I'M NOT AND I'M JUST A DIVORCÉE... does that really matter for my son's checking account?🙂
I almost felt like telling them I'm gay, just so they can write it down for the sake of "accurate information."
I know my views are problematic, and I don't want to change. in Psychology & Therapy ·
I guess this is really just a cry for help. It reminds me of when someone threatens suicide, but they’re actually just looking for someone to tell them they matter—someone to listen and just hold their hand.
The point isn't to judge; the real issue here is this depression, which needs to be taken incredibly seriously. It can literally strip away any will to live, which makes everything you've shared make sense.
You say you don't want to change, but...
Nicholas Anderson said:My husband and I are living with my parents, and they’re basically pushing me out of the house because they think I’m lazy and spend my entire existence doing absolutely nothing; also, there’s the secondary issue where, out of pure spite, I actually sued my brother just to mess with his life because I can't stand him.

I’m pregnant, and an abortion isn't on the table because that would mean losing my husband, and besides, I don't think it would even bother me during those rare moments when I feel remotely "normal."
So, I suppose I have to accept that I'll be changing diapers, raising a child, and probably having to cook—which, despite my best efforts, I am terrible at since I can't seem to retain even the simplest recipe—because we can't just live off peanut butter sandwiches forever; even worse is the fact that a child needs parenting, yet I stubbornly refuse to even parent myself, which means I'll eventually have to care about how their day went, what happened at school (something I couldn't care less about even back when I was a student), who their friends are, and a whole host of other tedious things.
The whole idea is revolting to me, and if I'm being completely honest, I only want this baby for entirely selfish reasons.

My husband and I enrolled in this incredibly dead-end community college program, which clearly won't lead anywhere since someone will need to stay home with the baby, and I can't even think about getting a job because I'm still finishing high school and then there's the kid waiting for me.

Oh, and if it matters, I deal with depression and Bipolar Disorder; I've spent six months having my brain scrubbed by psychotherapy and medication, though I honestly fail to see the point of any of it.

I am so utterly broken that I've even considered ending it all simply out of sheer laziness, because life demands effort in every single sense, and I lack the willpower to even whip up a meal, let alone strive for anything meaningful; the boredom and the loneliness are just killing me, and I spend my days with no one to talk to, which might be for the best given how poorly I interact with people, and I know I'll end up being the worst mother in history because I just won't care—I even thought about pretending to care enough to stop smoking during the pregnancy.

Why am I even posting this? Because even a fool like me can see that this life is going nowhere, and the only real question is how much time I have before my husband kicks me to the curb too; my dad tells me I need to get help, but I don't really know how you "treat" a fundamental way of existing, and after six months of listening to the same nonsense in therapy that hasn't helped, I doubt it would help if they locked me up in a psychiatric ward for a month and repeated the same useless scripts.

Most days I just sit on my bed, staring blankly at the wall, lacking the energy to do anything at all, and I don't even have the desire to read or watch TV because I can't hold onto a single piece of information.

To be blunt, I feel sorry for my husband, and I feel sorry for this child who is going to have to be ashamed to tell anyone who their mother is.
I have tried so many times to act "normal," and every single time I've ended up looking like an idiot; after falling down and pulling myself up a thousand times, I just don't have the strength to get up anymore, and even after spending six months trying to cooperate with my psychiatrist to be a functioning person, she started allowing me to actually feel things, which caused me to crash even lower than I was before I ever started therapy, and then I'm supposed to just pull myself up again???

It feels like the only options left are to change or to die, and the former isn't an option right now; I've never been part of society, and I have no desire to start now, as I am fundamentally broken and feel this overwhelming urge to run away from everyone, which means leaving both my husband and the baby once they arrive, and I'm genuinely afraid that's exactly what I'll do.

Actually, I think this shows that you desperately *do* want to change, to live, and to function normally—to find the strength to just exist.
It seems clear that you fall because every time you start therapy and let those emotions surface, it hurts, so you suppress them again. But maybe you have to let them explode. It might feel terrible at first, but I think relief and healing follow that.

People might be shocked when you say you want to walk away from everything—your husband, your child—but I suppose that's just how a mind works during true, deep depression.
Unless someone has lived through it, they probably can't understand; they can only judge.
Have you figured out what might be triggering this state?
How long have you been struggling with depression?
I see you're going to therapy, which means you've recognized there's a problem. To me, that suggests you care deeply about fixing this, despite saying you don't want to change.
If that weren't true, you wouldn't be posting here. If that were the case, you'd be one of those cold, calculating people who only cares about themselves and doesn't give a damn about their family, but I don't think that's you.
I know that after every setback, it gets harder to climb back up and you feel more exhausted. But I think you should be proud of yourself for doing it anyway. It's hell, and yet you're fighting your way out of it, clawing and kicking. Please, don't give up; be proud of every tiny bit of progress.
The fact that your family is pushing you out of the house because they think you're just being lazy... well, that just shows how little people understand this illness. Because it *is* an illness.
If you were accusing your brother out of pure malice, you wouldn't say you hate him. When someone acts out of pure spite, they don't usually feel love or hate; they just act.
So, why do you hate your brother? What was your relationship like growing up? How does your husband fit into all of this? How is he reacting to the situation?
There are many questions here, but I think you need to find the strength to answer them.
Nicholas Anderson said:My husband and I are living with my parents, and they’re basically pushing me out of the house because they think I’m lazy and spend my entire existence doing absolutely nothing; also, there’s the secondary issue where, out of pure spite, I actually sued my brother just to mess with his life because I can't stand him.

I’m pregnant, and an abortion isn't on the table because that would mean losing my husband, and besides, I don't think it would even bother me during those rare moments when I feel remotely "normal."
So, I suppose I have to accept that I'll be changing diapers, raising a child, and probably having to cook—which, despite my best efforts, I am terrible at since I can't seem to retain even the simplest recipe—because we can't just live off peanut butter sandwiches forever; even worse is the fact that a child needs parenting, yet I stubbornly refuse to even parent myself, which means I'll eventually have to care about how their day went, what happened at school (something I couldn't care less about even back when I was a student), who their friends are, and a whole host of other tedious things.
The whole idea is revolting to me, and if I'm being completely honest, I only want this baby for entirely selfish reasons.

My husband and I enrolled in this incredibly dead-end community college program, which clearly won't lead anywhere since someone will need to stay home with the baby, and I can't even think about getting a job because I'm still finishing high school and then there's the kid waiting for me.

Oh, and if it matters, I deal with depression and Bipolar Disorder; I've spent six months having my brain scrubbed by psychotherapy and medication, though I honestly fail to see the point of any of it.

I am so utterly broken that I've even considered ending it all simply out of sheer laziness, because life demands effort in every single sense, and I lack the willpower to even whip up a meal, let alone strive for anything meaningful; the boredom and the loneliness are just killing me, and I spend my days with no one to talk to, which might be for the best given how poorly I interact with people, and I know I'll end up being the worst mother in history because I just won't care—I even thought about pretending to care enough to stop smoking during the pregnancy.

Why am I even posting this? Because even a fool like me can see that this life is going nowhere, and the only real question is how much time I have before my husband kicks me to the curb too; my dad tells me I need to get help, but I don't really know how you "treat" a fundamental way of existing, and after six months of listening to the same nonsense in therapy that hasn't helped, I doubt it would help if they locked me up in a psychiatric ward for a month and repeated the same useless scripts.

Most days I just sit on my bed, staring blankly at the wall, lacking the energy to do anything at all, and I don't even have the desire to read or watch TV because I can't hold onto a single piece of information.

To be blunt, I feel sorry for my husband, and I feel sorry for this child who is going to have to be ashamed to tell anyone who their mother is.
I have tried so many times to act "normal," and every single time I've ended up looking like an idiot; after falling down and pulling myself up a thousand times, I just don't have the strength to get up anymore, and even after spending six months trying to cooperate with my psychiatrist to be a functioning person, she started allowing me to actually feel things, which caused me to crash even lower than I was before I ever started therapy, and then I'm supposed to just pull myself up again???

It feels like the only options left are to change or to die, and the former isn't an option right now; I've never been part of society, and I have no desire to start now, as I am fundamentally broken and feel this overwhelming urge to run away from everyone, which means leaving both my husband and the baby once they arrive, and I'm genuinely afraid that's exactly what I'll do.

What you just shared is what triggered the most backlash from people.
The logic seems to be that a future mother shouldn't talk this way, so people wonder where the maternal instinct and all those beautiful things everyone writes about have gone.🙄
Maybe don't dwell on it right now. It's all coming from fear, I guess, because you aren't feeling like yourself.
And yes, let’s not kid ourselves—it will be hard. But it isn't impossible to get through if you find good therapy. Once things start looking up, you’ll see your child in a whole different light, and they will likely be the one giving you the most strength. But you really have to seek treatment. Part of you feels broken, and it needs fixing. You can only do that with professional help first, and then eventually through your own willpower. Depression kills any sense of purpose and drains every bit of energy from your body, even though most people around you just mislabel it as laziness.
Please don't give up on yourself. Don't let others convince you that you're weak, lazy, or selfish because that is the illness talking, not who you actually are.
Good luck. Please keep writing and venting here; it might help you feel a little lighter.
Music school recommendations? in Students & Teens ·
Nicholas King said:No. It’s just too late to actually enroll in a formal music conservatory—and let's be clear, that isn't quite the same thing as simply "learning to play."

BTW, I was actually responding to the thread that starts with "it's best to"...

In my experience, kids here usually start around 3rd grade, and mine did. They just wanted to sign up, then they ended up dropping out after three years.
At least they learned how to read music, I guess. 😉
Music school recommendations? in Students & Teens ·
Nicholas King said:I have no idea what you're basing such an utterly flawed claim on—honestly. Anything starting after the 3rd grade is just too late, if you ask me.

😕 Too late for what exactly???
Too late to learn an instrument?
To become the next Chopin?
I’ve always had a passion for the piano, and I actually taught myself how to play when I was 25. Sure, I probably won't be playing sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall, but I can use both hands and I play for my own soul and even for work sometimes. Ahhh, I am just so proud.☕
What should I get for a godparent gift at a Baptism? in Students & Teens ·
Honestly, I suppose it’s a blessing that I’m never chosen as a maid of honor, mostly because I just can't bring myself to say NO to anyone.
Now, regarding the whole issue of gifts...
I have always been quite reserved. I used to feel awkward even eating with relatives—fearing I might be an inconvenience or accidentally intruding on someone's lunch or dinner. So, they rarely even considered including me, though they really should ask out of basic politeness.🤷
I don't think it's ever appropriate to ask what someone wants for a gift, regardless of the occasion.
In my view, that is incredibly rude and lacks any real empathy (and frankly, it's just plain impolite).
Unfortunately, for reasons I can't quite grasp, my son is the complete opposite of me and my temperament. Despite all our long talks and my attempts at "guidance," he wouldn't hesitate for a single second. He would just bluntly state, "I want a new PC that can run the latest high-end games."🙄 This year, he barely scraped by with a C, and he constantly reminds me that I didn't buy him anything as a reward😳 for it.
I told him straight up that, as far as I'm concerned, he could have gotten away with a D, but he didn't even earn a C because he put in zero effort. Besides, if anyone deserved a gift, it should be me, since I spent so much time helping him stay afloat. He needs to realize he's studying for his own future, not for a prize. Of course, I could have just ignored all of that, but I refuse to use gifts as a way to bribe or reward him when there isn't actually a reason to do so. He has always been this way, and I guess it's my lucky break that I don't have to worry about being a maid of honor or picking out gifts, otherwise, I'd be put in a very uncomfortable position.
So, that is my take on parenting and children's endless demands.😁
Student-teacher dynamics vs. parent-teacher dynamics in Students & Teens ·
darkgull20 said:I’m with Elizabeth Patel67 on this one—I honestly haven't gotten the impression that things have become a total nightmare. There were school fights long before this... entire classes would group up just to clash with another group. And the bullying? It was always there, whether it was minor or more intense, with kids throwing insults like "loser" or "ugly"... kids will say anything, really. Back in the day, they’d pass little notes around the classroom calling someone a slut because they used to date Mark but now they're seeing his friend John—except now, all that stuff just gets posted on Facebook instead of being scribbled on scraps of paper or scrawled on the bathroom stalls. Kids will be kids. At the end of the day, it comes down to how they're raised at home: you have to teach them that spreading rumors isn't okay, but you also need to build up their self-esteem enough so they don't completely spiral when someone calls them "runt" or "fat"—preventing those tragic cases we see in the news where kids actually take their own lives.

Yes, there were fights and bullying in schools long ago, and that is the one point where I agree with you.
As long as there are people who think this isn't actually a big deal—who believe that mocking kids by calling them 'weak,' 'ugly,' or 'fat' doesn't hurt anyone—there will always be violence in schools. It’s because those kinds of parents will never see the problem.
Saying "it's all just a part of growing up" is an attitude held by someone who has never experienced abuse. And I guess, dear, with that line of thinking, you sound a bit like the other side—just poking fun a little so things wouldn't get too boring at school.

I know what it feels like when you can't even turn to a teacher, even after finally working up the courage to open up to them about something small. I know what I would do right now if my own son came to me complaining about bullying. The biggest issue, I think, is that these children find it extremely difficult to speak up. They don't want to tell anyone what's happening because they are terrified of retaliation and feel ashamed that others won't accept them.
The parent is the most important link here. Teachers can't watch every single corner of a school, no matter how much they want to. But the punishments should be stricter, though I suppose teachers aren't to blame since they are limited by the law (I am not a teacher, just to be clear 😁).
I want to say, they have to deal with all sorts of chaos—difficult family situations, or parents who are becoming increasingly abusive toward the children themselves. A child's sense of self grows daily, while theirs can drop to almost zero. Sooner or later, they just stop fighting because they feel overwhelmed and belittled. And anyone can file a report or sue over any little thing, regardless of whether they actually listen to information or care about their kids.
I am not making excuses for anyone. In several instances, I fought for things that everyone told me were impossible or that they didn't have the resources for. I felt certain something was wrong, even when the principal claimed I was imagining things because she surely would have noticed (I won't go into details). I acted after I had thoroughly checked the situation because whether you trust your child or not, people lie for many different reasons. You shouldn't take everything at face value; you have to investigate and find out what is actually going on.
I cannot justify abuse of any kind. This isn't just "kids being kids" to a victim; it is a wound that stays for a lifetime and shapes a huge part of their future. That is why I believe I have every right to step in and do everything in my power to make sure it doesn't happen again.