Posts by Charles Collins4

Great topic, really... especially since all those high-quality, insightful analyses were wiped by the mods without even a single explanation. When they start censoring like that and eventually locking a thread, doesn't it just prove the posts were spot on?
It reminds me of that old saying: the more you push us down, the stronger we get.

Hi Dana Ross. Honestly, I’m so sorry to see you leaving Reddit. You’re going to be missed.
But looking at the zoo that’s turned into this place, it’s obvious that someone with your intelligence, positivity, and warmth doesn't belong in this environment. Leaving is probably for the best.
I decided not to jump into that massive debate or the pile-on against you personally because, frankly, it was all just too much. I didn't expect so many users here to get so aggressive and start tearing someone apart. It was all lies, distortions, exaggerations, and things taken completely out of context to make you look bad. It was sickening. If I had responded to every single user, we’d still be arguing a month from now. Still, I want to publicly apologize for not stepping into the fray. To someone just skimming the surface, it might seem like the majority is right, but the majority is just the loudest. A lie repeated a hundred times eventually becomes the truth. Your only "crime" was being kind and sincere.
Regardless, thank you for all the positive, wise, and funny posts you shared here. I was often surprised by how much our perspectives aligned.
Take care, dear Dana Ross 🙂🙂

feralranger said:When you're in that mode, the status next to your post shows up red just for you, while everyone else sees nothing at all. Other users won't even see which thread you're currently viewing.

Got it. If that's how it works, thanks.

Hi everyone. I tried switching to Invisible mode yesterday, but instead of getting a blue light, I ended up with a bright red one. 🤔 When I checked my profile, it clearly showed me as active and even listed which thread I was reading. Isn't Invisible mode supposed to swap the green light for a blue one and hide my activity and current viewing status from my profile?

Thanks Casey Bennett, I'll give it a shot 🙂

How do I archive my messages?
Hi everyone, could someone explain how to archive messages? I’d rather not just delete everything. I noticed an option at the bottom of the message page that says "Save all messages as:" with XML, CSV, and Text listed. What does that actually mean? Also, what happens if I start adding new folders next to my Inbox and Sent folders? Thanks🙂
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Larry Diaz4 said:Honestly, I’d call this more about being shady than "taking advantage." The guy who sold everything off is just being dishonest—he should have just gifted your stuff, but instead, he did what he did.
I remember once giving someone some wired earbuds from my phone, and the idiot basically flipped them for cash the very same day. Man, he wouldn't have even earned a tip from me... and then he has the nerve to act all "proud" of himself, too.

I don't think everyone who does something kind is secretly running numbers in their head, it's just that people feel pretty crappy when they do something nice and the other person doesn't even bother with a "thanks." You shouldn't expect to be "indebted" immediately, but a little gratitude goes a long way. Purely psychologically speaking, they say the person doing the favor actually feels better than the one receiving it. 😁

Just do what you feel is right, and if someone screws you over—well, that's on their conscience. Just learn a lesson from it (like, maybe hand-deliver a TV next time instead of leaving it to a middleman).

It reminds me of this one time when a buddy was really sick, and I was constantly stopping by his place to help out. I genuinely wanted to be there for him. Later on? He acts like nothing ever happened. A simple "hey, thanks" would have been plenty. So, it's not necessarily about being used, it's more about the lack of basic decency later on—just an example. It’s hard to believe people can't even say hi. 🤦

I don't feel like I was taken advantage of, per se, but it definitely stings when you act with basic decency and the other person just isn't decent at all. It hurts.

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Well written and smart. I couldn't agree more. There’s an old saying that life is really just about deciding how you want to be blindsided—whether it's a kick in the teeth or a knife in the back. Can anyone truly act against their own nature? If you are a good person, that is simply who you are. You can't change your core. Is being good a flaw? Not at all. It only becomes a problem when you let people walk all over you without any self-respect to hold the line.
I know someone exactly like this. They struggle with such deep-seated insecurity, truly believing their only purpose in life is to serve others. This person has never once stood up for themselves. Instead, they spend their entire lives playing the martyr and helping everyone at their own expense. It’s a pattern: everyone takes advantage of them. Even people who aren't usually exploitative find themselves using her, simply because she presents herself as being perpetually available. She practically begs to be used. It is honestly painful to witness. I’ve tried to give her some blunt reality checks—I’ve spoken up more than a few times to tell her that enough is enough—but she just can't help it. She can't stop looking around to see what everyone else needs.
There’s such a thing as healthy egoism. Think of it this way: a provider has to take care of themselves before they can look after anyone else. If you want to support those relying on you, you have to prioritize your own needs and well-being first. It’s simple logic, isn't it? To truly make others happy, you have to be happy yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup—your own pockets need to be full before you can give to someone else. Of course, you have to stay mindful. There is a very thin line between healthy self-care and pure selfishness.
Keep being a good person—I truly hope you do—but please, work on losing that naivety. Go into things with an open heart, sure, but always keep one thing in mind: people won't always appreciate what you do for them. It’s a reality that many can be selfish or even opportunistic. Still, continue being kind despite it all. What do we call that? Courage.It’s much like love. You offer someone your whole heart on a silver platter, fully aware they might just crush it. Yet, you choose to believe in their goodness anyway. You expose yourself, take the hit, and embrace the risk. That is true love, isn't it? And honestly, that philosophy applies to just about everything in life.

swiftdrifter4 said:I wasn't sure if this belongs under spirituality or psychology—if it needs to be moved to psychology, feel free to relocate it.
It hit me recently just how narrow most people's perspectives are when they face life events. They tend to view everything through this incredibly tiny lens, immediately labeling situations as strictly "good" or "bad." Take infidelity, for example. Most people see being cheated on as an absolute disaster—a total negative. They spend their time cursing their partner and feeling like they wasted years of their life on someone who didn't value them. It becomes this constant, looping thought in their head. It’s usually only much later, after some time has passed, that their perspective actually widens. They might eventually see that betrayal as the opening they needed to find someone actually worth their time. Or maybe they realize it’s a chance to finally focus on themselves—picking up a new hobby or developing a skill they ignored for years. You could apply this to pretty much any situation, whether it seems major or minor (though "major" is always a matter of opinion). You never truly know where certain turns or decisions will lead you... yet people act like they "know" exactly what a situation means for them right from the start.
What do you all think is the reason for this?

In my opinion, one reason is that most people are incredibly subjective. They focus narrowly on the immediate moment and their own immediate feelings, refusing to look at the bigger picture. This is often how people with low emotional intelligence react, or those lacking life experience and a broader worldview.
I believe the core issue is an inability to remain objective. These individuals struggle to accurately assess situations, as well as the thoughts and reactions of others.

There’s a beautiful saying regarding intuition: conscience keeps us from hurting others, while intuition keeps us from hurting ourselves. I truly believe that inner voice is our guardian angel, a soul guide, or a higher consciousness—whatever you choose to call it. It exists to protect our spiritual integrity, and it is essentially infallible. That voice always knows exactly what serves our best interests. Personally, my intuition is quite strong, yet I still find myself ignoring it in favor of "logic." And every single time, without fail, that choice comes back to haunt me. Intuition is truth. It can be completely different from what our minds or even our hearts tell us. For me, it isn't really a "heart" thing; it’s more of a gut feeling. When I have to make a decision, if I feel a heaviness or a knot tightening in my stomach accompanied by a shortness of breath, I know immediately the choice is wrong. On the other hand, if I feel a sense of relief—like a weight of five pounds has been lifted off my shoulders—then I know it’s the right move, regardless of what my heart wants or what my brain suggests. Wouldn't we all be incomparably happier if we simply listened to our intuition?

A physiatrist mentioned that injecting micro-fragmented adipose into a damaged joint could actually be dangerous. His argument? Stem cells are "clueless." He claims they don't know what to fix, so while they might target damaged cartilage, they could just as easily start targeting bone, creating osteophytes and causing more harm than good. Have you ever heard of a case like that? Is it even possible for this to happen? If it is, we're looking at a serious side effect. It makes you wonder—how can anyone know who to trust when every specialist seems to have their own conflicting theory?

This really only started gaining traction here in the States about three or four years ago. Since most people go through private providers, only a small group has actually tried it so far. There was even a segment on the news last fall covering it at a clinic in Washington, D.C., like Saint Catherine. The cost usually depends on whether they run an MRI on the joint before the procedure. From what I understand, they don't offer it in Seattle, which makes things a bit more affordable there. I’m curious about how effective this actually is. I've heard conflicting things—that it might do nothing at all, or that it can provide long-term relief. Personally, I think any alternative is better than bone shaving or getting a total joint replacement. You can pull stem cells from blood, but this is the Lipogems system using fat-derived stem cells from abdominal tissue, which is supposedly very effective for joints. I would love to hear from anyone who has actually gone through it firsthand. Thanks for the input, swiftwalker13.

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone here has tried Lipogems treatment for worn-down joint cartilage, specifically for knees or hips? It’s been gaining traction here in the US over the last three years, and I’m particularly interested in finding out about experiences in Seattle or Washington, D.C. From what I understand, the process involves harvesting fat from the abdomen—similar to liposuction—then processing those fat-derived stem cells in a lab before injecting them back into the damaged joint. Word is it helps significantly with pain and can gradually regenerate cartilage, even with extensive damage or in older patients. Could this actually delay a total joint replacement by anywhere from a year to a decade? Currently, it seems to be available only through private clinics. Has anyone actually tried this? Did it work for you? Are there any side effects or complications to watch out for? I'm asking for a dear loved one, so I would truly appreciate any specific details you can share. 🙂