Our leaders—lol. I have no idea what you’re talking about; I’m not gay, and if you ask me, any liberal-gay lobby would be wiped out immediately. That doesn't change the slight possibility that your son might end up being a total loser, though.
The issue with being a "typical guy" is what happens when your son comes out one day and says, "Hey dad, I'm gay." What then—do you kill him, or just disown him? Either way, you end up looking like a total coward.
Since I opened this depressing, mindless thread over two years ago, it’s about time I actually laid out how my headspace has evolved since then. Things have leveled out quite a bit—I’ve managed to find some semblance of peace and actual satisfaction. My takeaway? Life is an uphill battle, period. Everything is a struggle. None of us chose to be here, which is the fundamental tragedy of being human—we can philosophize all we want, but the reality remains that fighting is the only thing left to do. It’s just brutal how certain events can mentally drag you right back to those dark places you thought you escaped. Then, just when you find a little calm, the senseless grind starts up again—you end up rebuilding everything you just finished constructing, only for someone else to tear it down. But that’s just how it works; the fight goes on. Square your shoulders and face both the old scars and the new headaches head-on. That’s when you start getting tough—the struggle stops being an issue because you go into it knowing you won't buckle, and that’s where the pride comes from. There aren't any other options, and honestly, suicide always lingers as a psychological safety valve—a reminder that you always hold the power to walk away from the fight if it ever truly gets too much.
That whole "fight or flight" thing is really more of a term used for physical altercations—you know, like a street brawl where you have to decide in a split second if it’s smarter to swing first or just get out of there.
It’s pretty rough when people act like that. I’ve been in that exact same spot myself—so I can offer some perspective. -Just accept it and stop expecting things to change—because if you don't change your own approach, nothing actually will. -I don't know how much you rely on these people, but if being around them constantly leaves you feeling like garbage, maybe it's time to cut them off or at least dial it back. Just enough so you have space to work on yourself—though keeping them at arm's length is a smart tactical move; it gives you someone to hang out with while you practice new social skills and test the waters. Use them as stepping stones—they aren't respecting you anyway.
-That brings us to the whole "cutting them off" thing. You’re probably feeling a bit isolated and lost right now, but at least you don't have to sit there and take being treated like an idiot. This is your chance to get to know yourself better and study your own patterns—figure out exactly what's screwing you over, where you're vulnerable, and start toughening up to build yourself into something stronger. It isn't easy, obviously, but it’s doable.
Trust me, when a person undergoes a massive shift, others notice. When they see you went from being the pushover everyone walked over to someone projecting genuine confidence—looking them in the eye with a relaxed, powerful energy—the whole dynamic shifts. But it has to be real, not just an act. I know from experience that when I feel like absolute trash, nobody respects me. And honestly, why would they? They should, but most people are jerks—they’ll just view you as someone they can use to feel better about themselves. Or worse, they'll just pity you. In those periods where I’m feeling low, nobody can help me—I actually end up feeling somewhat superior to everyone else. I'm not some big shot, but when I'm satisfied with who I am, people feel it.
If you know someone is unhinged and wouldn't hesitate to snap, you'll naturally watch how you treat them; if someone is charming or great at what they do, people respect that. Bottom line: you need to possess qualities that people actually value. There are plenty of total idiots out there who are incredibly annoying, yet they respect themselves so much that others end up respecting them too.
You need to find some internal substance—I don't know what you do for a living or what your hobbies are, but you need to do something that makes you proud. Stop asking for permission and stop trying to please everyone; instead, just assert yourself and stop giving a damn about who likes it. You need to become your own man, rather than chasing validation from everyone else! That doesn't mean you have to turn into a complete asshole, though. Having your own opinion and not being afraid to say "no" is a hell of a feeling—it's a totally different dimension compared to sucking up to everyone. To reach that level, you have to make changes... you have to start doing things differently and tackle stuff you've never tried before.
I know it sounds easy to say, but if you want people to value you, DEMAND RESPECT! 😁 I’ve experienced both being the guy everyone wants to be around and the guy nobody cares about, and both times, it mostly came down to how I viewed myself during those chapters of my life.
That one philosopher once argued that most of our problems stem from the fact that very few people can actually stand being alone—though he was likely talking about finding some peace within oneself.
Justin Brooks58 said:To me, this sounds like the most basic excuse in the book. It’s a nice little way to dodge accountability—convincing ourselves that nothing is our fault because we're all just "pathetic" and "weak," so we might as well just drift along with the current and see where it takes us.
This whole idea of human "frailty" or being "pitiful" just makes me feel sorry for the logic, not the people. Do actual monsters deserve pity? I'm talking about murderers, rapists, predators, sadists. Would you ever sit there and try to "understand" someone who committed an atrocity against your own family just because they were "too weak" to resist their impulses? Of course not. That's nonsense.
People can be anything, but let's stop pretending they're weak.
Not true. Weakness is probably the most obvious human trait. When someone does something truly horrific because it's just their nature, it doesn't matter if they deserve pity or an explanation. The point is they need to be punished and stopped.
Take a predator, for example—someone born with those impulses. They aren't "guilty" of being born that way. Eventually, they realize they can't control the urges and it's only a matter of time before they hurt a child. If that person had any sense of integrity—if they weren't so weak—they’d know what to do: end it themselves or seek medical intervention to stop the impulse. Since those cases are rare, and it's much more common for people to buckle under their weaknesses despite knowing they'll cause harm, we're back to the same conclusion: most people are weak.
Why do average people hide their opinions when they don't align with the crowd or aren't "socially acceptable"? Why do they step on others just to save themselves? Why did ordinary Germans follow the Nazis so easily? Why is it so simple to manipulate people into doing exactly what a dictator wants?
And maybe the clearest example: why, when someone is getting beaten up in the street, don't bystanders jump in to stop the attacker? Because they're weak.
Why does some man stubbornly live by righteous principles, staying kind and gentle even when society calls those traits weaknesses? Because he's strong. Most of our species is weak, and the fact that we have sayings like "only fools die for ideals" just proves how pathetic we really are.
It’s that classic, frustrating rut—where you feel stuck, totally uninspired, and can't see a single silver lining. Just remember how much better things felt last time when you were actually in a good headspace; suddenly everything looks manageable and the solutions just start appearing. Your plan sounds solid to me. Honestly, if things start looking up with your degree, your confidence is going to skyrocket—it all comes down to the energy you put out there. Even de Vitto went from being a total joke of a little guy to an international heavyweight. Don't go trying to become a global superstar overnight 😁 but if you take some small steps and ride that wave of wanting to improve, you'll definitely find yourself in a better place than you are right now.
Some are good, some are bad—most are just a blank slate. If the world is truly a mirror of humanity, then it’s pretty obvious that people generally aren't great, though a few individuals actually pull their weight. I don't think humans are inherently evil so much as we are just pathetic. We're fragile in every sense of the word, with far too few people possessing the actual strength to stick to what's right—and even when they try, their own weaknesses often turn those "right" intentions into something completely wrong and disastrous.
Over time 😁 Just look at him! Look at that little scrub down in the ditch! He can pretend to be whatever he wants... just shovel faster, you lazy bum! That’s how that comedian, irac, messes around with the whole "you can be anything you want" trope. Honestly, it’s a good thing you’re being realistic—you know things aren't perfect, but hey, you play the hand you're dealt. That's just how it works; the sooner you accept it, the more peace you'll have. 😁 A huge chunk of life really just boils down to realizing you aren't the smartest, the hottest, or the funniest guy in the room—and once you make peace with that, you learn how to actually make the most of what you've got. Some people do put in the work, though, and manage to level up from being totally mediocre to something a bit more substantial. The truth is, most people aren't anything special—they're just like you—yet there are plenty who somehow manage to pull through and end up doing alright. I actually find myself admiring those types lately: just regular folks who are content and simply living their lives.
Look, going bald is a blessing in disguise—besides, the shaved head look is pretty trendy now, and plenty of guys with great hair are choosing to buzz it off anyway.
Zachary Turner6 said:By Thor's hammer... Here is what I was actually trying to get across: anyone attempting to draw conclusions about the ENTIRE homosexual community based on this single instance would be just as foolish as someone claiming they could judge the entire Roman Catholic Church based on the issue of pedophilia among priests (which, let's face it, is usually within the Catholic Church). I’m using the word "foolish"—though "idiot" certainly fits—because anyone with even a basic high school education should recognize this as a classic logical fallacy of overgeneralization.
Back in my high school, being punished for things you were supposed to already know would have been a capital offense.
I’m not sure which part you missed: Last year, from October 24th to the 26th, ILGA-Queer leaders and their affiliates held their 17th annual conference in Washington, D.C., under the auspices of President Barack Obama. It was actually a historic moment—the first time a head of state ever opened an ILGA conference via video wall. During the event, Obama gave a speech regarding LGBT rights, noting that while the United States Constitution prohibits discrimination based on "sex," the Constitution of the United States doesn't explicitly mention gender specifically.
If he isn't representing the country, then who exactly is?!
If the inspiration just isn't there—well, it isn't. If you're paralyzed by the fear of failing, just play it out: imagine the absolute worst-case scenario. You tanked it big time, it’s the biggest disaster in your industry, and you’re basically the laughingstock of the town. Honestly, it’s hard to actually do something that catastrophic in real life.😁
Sure, hitting the sack by 10 PM and waking up at 6 AM is probably the gold standard for health—but in my experience, that’s just not happening, and frankly, I’m not feeling particularly motivated to change. It’s nearly 6 AM and I’m only just heading to bed—my internal clock is completely flipped. For about a month, I actually tried sleeping at 2 PM and waking up around 10 PM; that's a totally reversed rhythm, and let me tell you, it felt terrible—not great for the mental state, either.
Neither the internet nor this forum really helps—if there’s anything remotely interesting going on, I find myself literally stalling my computer shutdown while my eyes are practically slamming shut. I think books are a solid move; you actually have to put in some effort when you're flying solo with a book, and it puts me to sleep much faster. One of the absolute worst feelings is lying in bed, trying to drift off, and just... nothing. That lingering anxiety is brutal, so I don't even bother anymore once I realize it's a lost cause. I've never been big on pills—not that I haven't considered them, but I just don't want to reach a point where I can't function normally without relying on a prescription just to get some rest.
That’s been my reality for ages—it just feels natural at this point. I’ve always been a night owl; if I try to sleep early, I just feel like I’m missing out on life, and honestly, I can't settle down unless I'm absolutely exhausted. I’m guessing you don't have a strict 9-to-5 grind forcing you out of bed at dawn. I’ve attempted to reset my internal clock by pulling early mornings, but I always end up crawling back into bed late at night. Mornings are fine, sure, but the night just has more energy. Try pulling an all-nighter once—just stay awake until at least 6 PM the next day. You'll likely crash mid-night, then push your bedtime a little later the following day, and after a few rounds, you should be waking up at a normal morning hour.
Is it too late for a brother—since everything decided to bloom way too early this year? I ran into some info saying those berries from certain flowers turn toxic once they go black—pretty wild if true.