Posts by amberskipper3

Larry Walker24 said:Peak stupidity.

Idiotism?
Look, if you're an English major, knowing key passages from relevant poets isn't some kind of idiotism—it's literally the bare minimum required to pass.

It's just basic stuff, like how math majors have to memorize formulas or chemists need to know their periodic table symbols.

Karen Richardson3 said:And why shouldn't required reading give students a chance to see what's actually being published today?

Why couldn't one part of the curriculum be about the historical evolution of literature, while another massive chunk focuses on modern and contemporary works?

Right now, the reading lists basically stop at the start of the 20th century—I don't even think they touch anything from the interwar period... contemporary stuff is totally ignored.
When it comes to that level of depth, you barely even get it in college.

I'm really curious to hear your take on why things are stuck this way.
To me, it feels like everyone would much rather dive into books they can actually relate to—stories that tackle the issues we face right now or look at morality through a modern lens.

I don't see any good reason for this other than pure laziness from the people designing the curriculum, who just keep pushing this same old "historical overview" model even though plenty of experts in the field aren't on board with it at all.

My arguments?
Look, this isn't just my personal opinion; it's the standard educational philosophy driving most school systems across the globe.
The fact that we don't have an elective reading option is the only thing setting us apart from that global standard, though even that varies depending on which school district you're looking at.

Jason Ortiz5 said:Oh, come on... 😲 How can you pin the blame on educators just because some kids aren't interested or simply struggle to learn? 😁

.....

So, we're saying the required reading list is basically a perfect cross-section of everything great, based on what—exactly? Are we really claiming these specific books are the absolute best, and there isn't a single other piece of literature out there that's just as good, or even better, and actually more engaging for kids today?

And honestly, schools should be doing their part to get kids excited about reading. I mean, think about the kids who don't have parents at home who prioritize books or even have the chance to be well-educated themselves. If they don't grow up loving stories, what are we supposed to do? Just say "too bad" and leave them behind?

Actually, I disagree.
The whole point of required reading is to give students a roadmap of literary movements, history, theory, language, and the specific styles that defined different eras.
We pick these specific works because they’re the clearest examples of those concepts in action. It's about teaching the fundamentals through representative classics.

Larry Walker24 said:What’s even the point of reading the death of a historical figure?! That book is straight-up disgusting.

Look, the whole point is to actually pay attention to the language itself—it gets students thinking about how much a language can evolve over time.
Plus, there's the moral of the story, which basically hammers home that every single crime will eventually be caught and punished.
And don't forget the heavy-hitting characters in the poem; they're incredibly well-drawn.
You've also got all the technical literary stuff to dig into—meter, verse, epic structure, those big-picture themes...
There's plenty more where that came from, but honestly, that’s enough for now.
If you can pull just one meaningful insight out of this "disgusting" book, then Mažuranić didn't go through all that struggle for nothing.

Linda Price5 said:Was it World Fluff Day? 😁

Look, it might sound like total fluff, but I'm dead serious here.
If even one kid out of a hundred—one of those students whose parents think mandatory reading lists are a complete waste of time—actually picks up a book and gets hooked... then mission accomplished! That's a win in my book.

Brenda Hayes16 said:Oh, okay. And that’s actually a reason that would satisfy me, just because it’s honest. Fair enough, I get it and I accept it. It’s just a shame the truth can only be spoken by a mod if they're an ex.

It’s pathetic how they spin it and advertise the current choice as being better for some "reason X," as if the people on this forum are too brain-dead to realize what's happening.

If the mods don't have the guts, maybe at least one admin could just be straight up and say, "Yeah, this is how it is." It's like they think if honesty isn't valued in mod circles, then it shouldn't be valued among the users either.

What's the point, when it's obvious everything could work just fine if it were built on a foundation of honesty?

Spot on. You hit the nail right on the head there.
And honestly, we're still stuck in this endless loop where the moderation and admin guidelines are just buried under thousands of "what ifs." It’s a total mess.

Oops, I accidentally nuked my last post.
I have to say, it’s been a massive eye-opener realizing there are actually people out there who wash their hands, save the rinse water, and then try to pass it off as some kind of holy foundation.
Honestly, that’s a huge revelation for me.

Sam Green73 said:I mean, are we talking about hands covered in dough while you're shaping the food?

The keyword there is "messy."
But honestly, that’s not even the point. What’s actually hilarious is the moderation style here—that lightning-fast admin strike.
I could throw out a bunch of old American proverbs to describe this situation perfectly, but I really don't feel like digging through the folklore archives right now.

fadedsailor932 said:😂 I'm gonna lose it. Can you please just drop a link to that post? (I can't find it or the thread, if it's part of the foundation 🤔)? I seriously need to see this for myself. 😁

The post got nuked after I asked for it in post based on which I earned some red points.
Go ahead, take a look!

Look, I’m not even trying to complain here—mostly because there isn't really anyone to complain to anyway.
For hours now, this thread has been filled with "advice" suggesting people should use hand-washing water for cooking.
The users are all over it, reporting the post, yet somehow the comments get nuked while the actual post stays right where it is.
After seeing two rounds of comments get wiped while this incredibly moronic post remains untouched, I have to ask: are we seriously just going to let this stay up?
The mods didn't say a single word about this thread before now.
But then, out of nowhere, everyone descends on me and I get slapped with a red card.
Top-tier moderation, truly.
So, consider this a heads-up for everyone else: if you see someone post something unbelievably brainless, maybe just keep your mouth shut. Apparently, pointing out stupidity is a punishable offense around here.

Steven Chavez2 said:I'm with you on that.

Generally speaking, one of the reasons (aside from the fact that I have way too much going on in my actual life to get sucked into endless internet debates) that I don't enjoy posting here is this overly rigid approach to moderation. Look, I get it. You have to penalize blatant insults, doxxing, advertising, spam, or bot garbage. That makes sense.

But when someone starts hovering over you like a hawk, throwing warnings and threatening bans like they're wielding a stick, just because you thought a post was funny and responded with a laughing emoji? That is, quite frankly, nothing more than mindless authoritarianism. What’s the big deal? Someone says something, you find it funny, you drop an emoji. It’s not rocket science. Online discussions are supposed to mirror real life, where someone says something and the other person just laughs. Or am I supposed to write out, "Haha, yes, I find your comment incredibly witty, I also ________ (insert whatever the author said here)." Give me a break. It's ridiculous.

On the flip side, I actually agree with the mods that off-topic clutter should be cleared out. If the thread is about a favorite craft beer, there’s no reason to pivot into a debate about fuel efficiency in a Ford F-150. But, if the topic is about a conflict between a non-smoker and her boyfriend who smokes, and the conversation drifts toward the broader dynamic between smokers and non-smokers, then you really ought to show some flexibility. Looking at the bigger picture can actually help the original poster navigate her specific issue. It’s the same logic as how a broad discussion about the pros and cons of Japanese versus German engineering might actually help someone deciding between a Mazda or a BMW.

Bottom line: whenever I come here to type something, I feel like I'm walking on eggshells. Don't get me wrong—I'm not advocating for chaos or lack of etiquette. In fact, I value discipline and order immensely; even digital spaces shouldn't be a free-for-all. But you mods could really benefit from a little more nuance.

I don't have any illusions that this post will change anything, but since this section was created for complaints and feedback regarding moderation, I believe I have a democratic right to voice my opinion—and I think I've done so politely enough. I just hope no one hits me with another infraction because I went off-topic by having boldwalker12 veer into a critique of the entire moderation team instead of sticking to the original point. Yes, there's a bit of irony in that. Life happens everywhere, including on internet forums.

Best regards. 🙂

Wrong.
That kind of stuff isn't even penalized on Reddit.

rustydrifter10 said:I'll be forwarding my PMs to the Admins. Here is what I wrote:

When you asked if I could change something after all, I told you I'd see if I could figure it out, and then I went offline because I actually have a life outside of this. When I logged back in, I was greeted by this whole mess and two of your messages; I hadn't even had a chance to look for the other thread and merge them yet. Honestly, it isn't the end of the world—it just sat there for a bit. I just needed a few hours to get back online and find some time to do the search and the merging.

Talking to you is absolutely exhausting.
It feels like talking to a brick wall whenever something doesn't go your way.
You refused to merge the threads simply because you couldn't be bothered to check if there was any overlap. It was clearly easier for you to just slap my name on your thread instead.
And once again, I'm going to restrain myself from calling your behavior exactly what it is.
I am more than happy to end this conversation here.

You’re straight-up lying.
You didn't say any of that to me in our DMs.
When I actually suggested you just merge this thread with the old one, you shot me down. Now, suddenly, you're all "we don't need two threads" the second I shove the link right in your face? Give me a break.
I'm honestly trying to keep my cool here so I don't tell you exactly what I think about those little games you play.

rustydrifter10 went ahead and changed my Gastronomy thread Three top foods that you hate to:

Foods/dishes we can't stand

The thing is, we already have a massive thread on the Gastronomy board dedicated to dishes people hate:

My specific thread about three particular items was set up exactly how I phrased it for a reason.
Look, if the Admin is just going to swoop in and change my content and title even though a duplicate topic already exists, then fine—but at least scrub my username from under the new title.
I sent a private message asking for this, but apparently, my request fell on deaf ears.

Sam Kim12 said:Man, oh man... I am absolutely doing this this year😁—sounds incredible (though, honestly, swear to me that 1/2 kg of vanilla sugar isn't overkill? That seems like a massive amount of vanilla to me)
John Doe😍

Getting half a kilo of vanilla-scented sugar is actually a breeze—just grab an airtight jar, toss in two sliced-open vanilla beans, let it sit for about ten days, and boom, you’ve got fragrant sugar.

Sam Kim12 said:If you're going to brag about it, why don't you just share the recipes?😍

Someone already posted a recipe for juice up there.
I'm doing it in an old-school soda shop.
Look, if you're trying to make this work, here's the deal: for every kilogram of berries you’ve got, just toss in about half a cup of water. Give it a quick boil, let it bubble for a second, and then run the whole thing through a strainer. Simple as that.
If you're working with a kilogram of base, just toss in about half a kilo of vanilla sugar—or maybe a little less if you want to play it safe depending on how thick the juice is.
If you really want to level up the aroma, you could always throw in some lemon zest or maybe some star anise. It totally changes the game.
Man, that shade of blue is just gorgeous. Seriously, it’s perfect.

Aaron Barrett6 said:Girl, she’s already moved on to those berry stages that kick in right after the white blossom phase.
Personally? That whole berry vibe from Barack Obama is just gross.

I’m all about those floral scents—that's the stuff I'll sell my soul for instantly. As for this other version? I'm running away from it like the devil himself.😁

I'm on the hunt for a sugar-free juice recipe, but man, it’s like they don't even exist out there... everything is just syrup in a bottle.

Barack Obama loves berries?
He probably means the soda.
I can't stand this flower juice; it's absolutely loaded with sugar.
I honestly prefer this second batch of berries way more—mostly because the flavor is on point, but seriously, that color is just gorgeous.
I'm cooking up something good, and honestly, I'm craving those berries.

Jamie Palmer said:Over the last six months, I’ve been dragged through a mountain of weddings, christenings, and similar celebrations—most of which took place at these "agritourism" farms tucked away in the outskirts of Washington, D.C.

There is one glaring commonality among them all: stinginess. They pinch pennies on everything, from the quality of the soup to the basic amenities. At one spot near Kašin, we actually got ripped off because we weren't paying close enough attention to what was being tallied on the bill, so I’d strongly suggest everyone stays sharp regarding that .

The prices are absolutely brutal everywhere; there isn't a single place you could call "budget-friendly." And if you happen to need a simple glass of water for a child, your best bet is the self-service station by the restroom—and even then, you’ll likely spend an eternity trying to explain to the waiter that you just want an empty, clean glass.

Then there was this other much-hyped farm near Krapina—a place that is physically a nightmare to reach, presumably because all the banks in America have their own private feeding troughs out there—where I witnessed the shortest, most overpriced pony ride for kids in history. Exactly sixty seconds! All for the price of $6.75. It would have been fine if we hadn't spent an hour and a half waiting for what was promised as this "spectacular" event; the kids were probably expecting to meet God or something.

Secondly, I haven't quite figured out how these places qualify as "farms." The food tastes like it was plucked straight from a shopping mall, and the surrounding land doesn't grow anything except maybe some ornamental cypress and a few potted begonias. Aside from the fact that you are physically located in a rural area (if you can even call it that, since nobody who actually lives in the countryside seems to work there), there is zero connection to farm life. When I asked where all that poultry being slaughtered daily actually comes from, the waitress told me it's raised somewhere else and suggested I ask the owner—but, wouldn't you know it, the owner had already headed into Washington, D.C. for supplies 🙂.

At any rate, it feels to me—at least regarding these spots around Washington, D.C. and Krapina—that it's all just smoke and mirrors for the uninitiated. It's a manufactured "retro" vibe, playing up this whole "return to nature" trend, when in reality, you can't see the village or the wilderness for the smog, and you end up throwing money away just for the aesthetic. Don't even get me started on the crowds, though I suppose I can't blame them for that. I'm not saying it's all terrible—it isn't—but it could be significantly better. It really could.

I agree with most of that.
"Farm" is just a location; you can buy everything else at the nearest convenience store.
Shout out to the rare exceptions, though.

feralcobra92 said:My husband claims the tea smells like cat urine, if you'll pardon his bluntness! Honestly, I think it's absolutely wonderful during the winter months because it warms me right up whenever I'm feeling under the weather. I just drink it plain.

Honestly, even for me, it’s a little intense (my husband isn't wrong there), but if you mix it with some honey, it’s absolutely perfect.
Give it a shot.

I'm just sitting here waiting on those berries.
I’ve been out picking flowers and drying them. Honestly, the tea is incredibly fragrant, especially when you mix it with some lemon balm—it’s got this really soothing, mellow vibe.
Once it’s brewed and cooled down, if you toss in some lemon juice, bits of fruit, or even some fresh lemon balm or mint, it hits way better than any soda ever could.