nimblemarlin80 said:I started smoking back in 8th grade. My mother was absolutely livid... but obviously, nobody could stop it. I’d walk through the door smelling like an ash tray, get a beating, and then run to the bathroom to light up. Twenty years later, when I was finally quitting, I was actually cursing my mother for not killing the urge in me when I first started. It would have saved me from this whole withdrawal nightmare. I had a friend who had about 90% more freedom than I did—socially, everything. Her parents didn't even fight her on smoking during high school (which was our number one vice back then). She just quit recently, and she used all that freedom wisely. She actually enjoyed her childhood and her youth. Me? All I had were restrictions. So, at 18, I moved out and started living on my own, much to my parents' horror, and we've been at odds ever since. Then there's the son of a woman who worked with my mom. He was raised strictly "by the book"—lots of talking, understanding, giving him freedom and respecting his choices. I spent my entire childhood envying him. Fast forward to now: the guy has tried every known drug rehab method under the sun, bounced through every prison in the US... honestly, I don't even know if he's still alive. He robbed his own parents four times. A total inventory—he took everything in that house that wasn't bolted down.
Nobody actually knows how to raise kids. It's a lottery. 🙄
That's why debating "freedom" versus "restrictions" is idiotic. If you're advocating for absolute freedom, then fine—let a 16-year-old get blackout drunk. He wants to, right? If we're talking about freedom, let him destroy his liver or his brain with drugs before he turns 18. You need to put yourself in the shoes of a parent watching their kid spiral. Then you'll understand the doubt, the fear, and the pure panic... if you actually give a damn about your child.
Regardless, there is no way I would just "freely" let my child do drugs!
I love springtime just as much as any other season. But honestly, every single year around this time—specifically during the tail end of April—I get hit with this massive wave of sluggishness. I feel exhausted, sleep-deprived, and just generally heavy and unmotivated... which I assume is totally normal. To combat it, I always make sure to snag a long weekend by taking a day off on either Friday or Monday, and I head down to the coast. It’s perfect because it’s not expensive yet, there aren't any crowds, and the weather is gorgeous enough for some serious sunbathing. Those three or four days away do more to recharge my batteries than my entire summer vacation combined. That’s my secret recipe for beating that spring fatigue!
Charles Young said:Here we go again with these preachers. I noticed some posts have vanished too 🙂
The whole point of this thread is that this kid has ALREADY DECIDED to use drugs, and he came here asking for advice. The title says it all: "I'm going to try drugs." Not "should I," but "I am going to."
The real issue with this community is the total lack of practical guidance for someone who has actually made up their mind. I bet you'd all be just as against handing out clean needles to addicts, wouldn't you? With these conservative attitudes—I’d even go as far as calling it sheer stupidity—you're just making things worse. Even if you think you're doing it for your own "cause."
And just to be clear, I don't sell drugs in front of schools. I never have, and I never will. I'm not your enemy. In schools, it's peers and classmates doing the selling, not some shady characters from the outskirts of town.
But when someone asks for advice on something they ARE GOING TO DO, I''t tell them not to do it (because clearly, the decision is made and arguing is pointless). Instead, I tell them how to get through it with the least amount of damage...
The core issue with that first post is that the kid is just incredibly, incredibly, incredibly stupid. Why? I have no idea, but he is. And as for the "least painful way"... wouldn't the least painful thing be to just stop having those thoughts altogether!?
mackic@ said:But how can you even talk about something when you clearly have no clue what you're talking about?🙏
Look, I personally don't jump into conversations or pretend to be an expert if I don't know my stuff, so I suggest you don't either. If your stance is that you aren't interested in trying drugs, fine—that's your choice. But don't try to force your opinion on everyone else. Everyone has the freedom to decide what they want to do with their lives, regardless of what you or anyone else thinks.
Besides, who are you to judge people like that? Just mind your own business.😉
So, let me get this straight: you aren't going to "force your opinion" on your kids while they're growing up by telling them drugs are bad? Instead, you'll just give them "freedom" to decide for themselves?! Honestly, you sound like a textbook case for the Social Security Administration!
Some doctors are just straight-up rough! I’ve had my regular GP for 12 years now and it’s been smooth sailing from day one—never an issue. But then I went for a routine physical through my employer with some other doctor, and they included this specific exam on the list. It was absolutely brutal. They practically tore me apart; the pain was intense, and honestly, it was so bad that it took me two whole months of follow-up visits with my actual doctor just to recover from that one appointment!
Oh, please. Anyone who actually manages to pull something off isn't out here bragging about it. The only people making a big deal out of their intentions are the ones subconsciously begging you not to stop them, essentially praying for someone to intervene. It’s just like when someone says, "I'm going to end it all tomorrow." Give me a break! People who actually have the drive to do something just stay quiet and get it done. So, seriously—let's move on to something more intelligent and stop wasting time with this nonsense!
Take five large red onions and slice them up, then simmer them in a liter of milk. Once it hits a boil, just pop the lid on and let it sit for a minute or two. Next, you’ll want to take that entire pot over to the bathroom and hover right over the steam. Basically, you're going to "sit" over the vapor—spread things wide with your hands to get as much exposure as possible—and stay in that position for about 10 to 15 minutes. You can do this a few times throughout the day, and feel free to reheat the mixture if you want more warmth. Just a heads-up: that steam gets hot, so please be careful not to burn yourself! But seriously, try to get as low as you safely can and keep everything spread out so the steam really reaches the area. To make this even more effective, combine it with this dietary tip: boil one kilogram of regular whole grain in two liters of milk. Eat a tablespoon of this mixture several times a day; it works just as well cold if you prefer. I've seen this work wonders.
I can only wear pure gold; anything else just causes me issues. But if I absolutely need to wear something else for a little while, I just toss the earring into a shot glass filled with some bourbon, let it sit, and then put it on. No reaction at all.
wanderingraven15 said:If your hips were positioned just right—you know, with that "perfect posture" where your back leans slightly back—that would be the ideal way to sit.
Man, if I actually sat like that, I’d have a hell of a time getting back up! 😕
I personally use it for minor stuff—like scratches or little cuts—because they heal way faster. But when it comes to things like burns, sore throats, sinus congestion, or even skin breakouts... everything clears up so much quicker!
Austin Ward7 said:We’re cut from the same corporate cloth,😬 lately I've been working from an office sitting on a Pilates ball.👍 Since there's no backrest, you're basically forced to engage your core and back muscles—it's practically a full eight-hour workout every day. It's the ultimate way to sit at a comp/in the office.🙏 The ball only cost me about $10.
That definitely wouldn't fly in my director's office; honestly, no way! But since you're living the ball life, I have a few questions: 1. Is all the weight centered on your feet? Since the ball is round, isn't there a real risk that if you relax too much and just drop your weight onto your backside, you'll simply wipe out? 2. What’s the angle of your hips and knees? Also, how big is the ball, and how do you determine which size you actually need?
ironsurfer8 said:I don't want to sound like I'm lecturing anyone—I'm only 25, working a desk job, and I dealt with the exact same back issues until I finally fixed a few specific things.
I definitely don't think you're just philosophizing. Anyone dealing with this kind of pain knows exactly what you mean, and I'd bet they'd find your advice incredibly helpful! I’m definitely going to give those core exercises and leg positioning a shot. (Honestly, whenever I try following that advice to lie on my back with straight legs and do sit-ups, my lower back absolutely kills me, and my tailbone hits the floor so hard it's painful!). Regarding that colleague mentioning the Pilates ball... well, I'm currently sitting in the executive suite, and I doubt my bosses would be too thrilled about having a giant exercise ball rolling around the office! Though, I do see the logic there—you're actually forced to stand up to reach things, whereas with this chair, I can just scoot around effortlessly... right?! If any of you have some "home remedy" style tips or DIY fixes, please, let me know!😳
Jeffrey Reyes4 said:I’m not exactly an expert on the "perfect" ergonomic posture, but I am absolutely certain about one thing: no matter how expensive your Herman Miller chair is or how plush your recliner feels, sitting isn't going to save you. You can find the most comfortable seat in the world, but if you aren't actively working to strengthen your core and back muscles, you're eventually going to pay for it. That’s why you’ve got to get moving. Hit the gym, jump in the pool, try yoga, or sign up for Pilates—just pick something and stick to it! Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. I spend eight hours a day glued to my computer at work, and once I get home, I'm right back in front of a screen. You have to be intentional about staying active.
Here, take a look at this to get started:
I get how it goes, honestly. I just don't have the bandwidth for those fancy fitness clubs or hitting up a gym regularly; I can only really squeeze in some basic movements around the house while I'm doing chores. Would something like running or a similar cardio routine actually make a difference? I tried doing some crunches, but they just ended up killing my lower back!😳
What’s the secret to sitting correctly? I make sure my back stays straight, but my lower back is absolutely killing me. Should I be sticking my butt out a bit while I sit, or should I be sitting fully back against the chair? Or am I supposed to just sit on the very edge of the seat—you know what I mean, even if it sounds a little silly, sorry! Also, how do I set the right chair height? Should my hips and knees be at a 90-degree angle, or should I sit a bit higher? I’ve been dealing with this lower back pain for a while now, specifically right around my tailbone and stretching toward the left. When I bend over for even a few minutes, it’s a struggle to straighten back up. Even when I’m leaning over the tub to wash my hair, I can’t get that part of my back to straighten easily. On top of that, I work an 8-hour desk job where I'm basically glued to my office chair, so I would really appreciate some advice. I'm 30 years old, and honestly, getting upright after sitting down is becoming a real chore. It’s not an issue when I'm walking around, though. Thanks so much!
Does anyone know how I can actually set my avatar? Every time I pick one of the standard 50x50 templates and hit save, this weird "Filed" field just pops up out of nowhere! Why is it doing that?
Betty Wood88 said:Lately, my hair has been falling out like crazy. I’d actually go as far as to say it feels like I have half the volume I used to have!!!! The only thing I can think of linking this to is the Yasmin birth control pills I've been taking. Has anyone else dealt with side effects like this? Is it actually possible for it to be caused by the pill?
It’s definitely possible. I went through the exact same thing with birth control tablets. My doctor put me on Triovril (or some other brand, I can't quite remember which one), and my hair volume literally felt cut in half! I ended up switching to a different method of protection altogether.
I make it a point to include whole grains in my diet—everything from pasta to my go-to snacks. I also have yogurt every single day (I usually grab one a day myself), and I always keep some Donatello in my pantry. I’ve dealt with digestive issues since the day I was born, so I just rotate through these three things daily without following any strict schedule. As long as I pick one of them each day, I feel pretty good.