Posts by Jack Smith5

I was looking through some recent award shortlists today and it got me thinking about how much these honors actually matter. It feels like we’ve hit this weird era where the gap between a massive, legendary icon and a brand-new indie artist is just... non-existent when it comes to these "best of" lists.

On one hand, you want to celebrate the legends who have shaped everything we listen to, but on the other, it feels almost silly to put someone who has been around for decades in the same category as someone who just released their debut. Is it even a fair fight? It feels like we're trying to compare a seasoned pro to someone who is still finding their feet, and I'm not sure if "quality" is the right metric to use when the experience levels are that lopsided.

I used to think these prizes were the ultimate seal of approval, but lately, it feels like they’re just trying to grab headlines by mixing the old guard with the new blood. Do you guys think these big industry awards actually reflect what's good, or are they just a way to manufacture relevance for everyone involved?

mistyseal11 said:You completely missed the mark on this one.

Since I’ve noticed that about 80% of the posts here basically describe the exact same struggle, I decided it was time to actually step up and do something.
This thread shouldn't be some lecture session; it needs to be a roadmap for where we’re actually headed.

Honestly, how many actual, concrete suggestions are there across all ten pages? Maybe one or two at most (@darkcanyon10).
Everyone just keeps looping back to the same vague generalizations: "just practice," "work harder," "keep learning"...

But seriously, what am I supposed to be practicing, working on, or learning? How am I supposed to know that better than anyone else?!
If I already had the answers, I wouldn't be asking you guys... 🤦
There's absolutely no shame in asking questions.

Or maybe you guys are just too embarrassed to admit what you actually do for a living or how you spend your day-to-day life?
It's honestly pathetic how some of you have just sucked into the corporate grind and are just counting down the days until you can finally be in my shoes.
Are you really just waiting for retirement so you can finally experience what I have?

Look, I didn't get stuck in the rat race, and that’s why I’m telling you—it’s fine to stay wrapped up in that security blanket for now.
The real nightmare starts when you finally strip that blanket away and realize... what now?!

I think you're the one who's totally missed the mark.

I was exactly where you are before I figured out what I wanted to do—and honestly, it looks like I'll be doing it for the rest of my life. At least for now, there's infinite room to grow.

It’s like, life is inherently meaningless. Why waste it being miserable and acting like a corporate drone for someone else in a job you hate, just to fit into those social clichés of marriage, kids, and white picket fences?
You need to smash through that lethargy and live life to the fullest—even if that means being a little destructive—until you drop dead happy.

And then, it happened....

Like a bolt from the blue, I started building a career. Bit by bit, I dove deeper into the field, and the deeper I go, the more I love it. It gives me this feeling that I actually know even less than I thought, and I need to dive even further.

And what was the result of all that?
I escaped the void that you seem to be falling right into.

There is nothing better than coming home after a grueling workday feeling genuinely happy.

Even if it was brutal, even if you spent hours or days struggling against some problem, you made progress. You achieved something, you learned something, and that's what gives you the fuel to keep going.

So, what's the goal? What's the point of it all?

To enjoy life. To feel alive. To be surrounded by a crew of people that makes you happy right where you are.

In short, you have to find a job that doesn't take that away from you.
You have to find an environment—and a team—that lets you do that.

Martial arts—and honestly, the more extreme, the better.
Start a fight club.
Saturday nights, exclusively on ABC.

mistyseal11 said:I usually sleep right through this part.

That’s basically how my whole day goes. I just hit the randomize button on everything when it comes to timing...

I just don't have anyone in my life to actually do anything with, you know? Like, I've got zero people to hang out with or get into any kind of activities with at all.
Maybe I'll catch you guys online sometime...

Man, you hit the nail right on the head with that schedule—you basically read my mind.
I mean, if I had to say something...

Man, maybe you were just messing with me about that schedule... trying to "catch me out" or something... but honestly, it’s this lifestyle that’s absolutely killing me. Just constant coffee shop hopping, getting lost in puzzles, diving into books, comics, movies, and music—it's just too much.

It’s honestly gotten to the point where I haven't even been able to crawl out of bed until 3 in the afternoon... even though I’m hitting the sack by 9 PM every night... because there's just nothing worth doing out there, you know? It's way better to just stay under the covers, watch movies, and get lost in my own head... because man, I dream every single night, and I just keep dreaming.
Man, I don't even know where to start with this, but honestly? Lucid dreaming is an absolute trip—like, a total game-changer for your whole reality. It’s such an incredible experience when you finally realize you’re actually inside the dream while it’s happening! 🙂

Alright, now that we have a general idea of who you are and what kind of "type" you fall into, we can actually get down to business and talk specifics.

Time to shake things up and find a new scenery.
Go ahead and scout out an apartment in there, then sign the lease.
Step three: find any job at all. Ideally, aim for something that sits at the polar opposite end of your interest spectrum—I’m talking construction work or maybe volunteering for an association dedicated to protecting naked snails.
That’s basically your first real brush with society—your first chance to actually meet people and make some new connections.
If you actually want to land a job, try this: spend your first day wandering around town and walking into every single shop that looks interesting but wouldn't normally catch your eye. Just walk in. It’s a better strategy than sitting around waiting for a miracle.
I’ve always found that my most interesting gigs were the ones I never saw coming. It’s funny how that works—I usually end up landing the exact jobs I once dismissed as boring or completely irrelevant to my interests, only to find myself right in the thick of them.
You should go ahead and ask around to see if anyone needs someone who actually knows how to maintain some discipline. Honestly, once they start laughing at you, you’ve already done half the heavy lifting for them. You might end up landing some mindless gig—sweeping floors or running coffee orders—but at least it’ll fill your day, and you’re bound to run into some colorful characters along the way.
Look, the whole point of working isn't just about padding your bank account. It’s about actually experiencing something new for once. If you find yourself stuck in a soul-crushing grind that offers zero growth? Just walk away. Quit the next day if you want. Life's too short to spend it trading your sanity for a paycheck that doesn't even make you happy.

So, now that you’ve finally landed the job and secured your own apartment, here’s a little pro tip for the social climbers out there. Around 3:00 or 4:00 PM, when everyone is trudging back from work and congregating near the building entrance, just hang back for a second. Scope out the crowd from a distance. Identify anyone who looks like they might actually be worth talking to—people heading toward your unit who seem approachable. Walk up, give them a friendly nod, and play the "new kid on the block" card. Tell them you just moved in and throw out an invite for a housewarming party at a specific time. If you aren't feeling particularly social or don't want to deal with the awkward small talk, just slap a flyer on your door. It's much easier than forcing a conversation with a stranger in a hallway.

Look, I suspect a lot of people are going to write this off as a joke anyway. If that's the case, you might as well just hand out flyers with the ads printed on them. It’ll save you the headache of having to explain the whole thing to every single person individually. Honestly, that would be the most efficient way to handle it, but hey, it's your call. Do whatever you think works best.
Look, this is just another chance for you to meet some interesting people—and hey, you might even end up with some actual neighbors in the process.

By the way, make sure to tell them that bringing food and drinks is non-negotiable. Since you just rolled in and haven't even unpacked your bags yet, your fridge is probably looking pretty pathetic. Honestly, let's see who actually becomes the most popular person at the party based solely on what they show up with.

So, now that you’ve pulled it off—now that you’re feeling all brave and invincible—you probably think you own the place. You feel like you’ve got the whole world under your thumb because you managed to turn nothing into something overnight and flip your life around. It’s a hell of a rush. I get it. Now that you've had your big moment, maybe you can finally stop playing around and actually focus on the stuff that matters.

If you really want to hammer this into your brain, try this: write it out 100 times on a piece of paper every single night right before you hit the hay. It’s a bit of a grind, I know, but that's the point.
I’ve got my heart set on doing both.

Look, here’s my advice: when you’re getting ready for work tomorrow morning, take that piece of paper and look at it one last time. If, after all that, you still think this is a brilliant move, then fine. Go ahead. But just know that by tomorrow night, you’ll be sitting there writing out the exact same thing fifty times over. Just a thought.

If you wake up tomorrow morning still stuck in that mental loop from last night, try this: write down 25X. Then 13X. Then 7X. Just keep scaling it down like that. Once you finally hit 1X, that’s your cue to stop calculating and start putting everything you’ve got into making it happen. But for heaven's sake, don't go all in until you actually reach that 1X mark.

On the flip side, if you wake up the next morning thinking what you wrote was total nonsense or you change your mind, you’re going to pay the price. You’ll have to write out whatever new goal you’ve cooked up 200 times as a penalty. If you flake again the night after that? Then it's 400 times for the next thing. Double or nothing, basically.

Once you actually manage to stick to the plan without folding, come back to the forum and we'll get you set up with a fresh schedule.🤣

Run along the riverbank in nothing but a T-shirt during the winter, or wrap yourself in a heavy parka when it’s sweltering in the summer.
6:00–7:00 AM: Hit the shower and work on some muscle relaxation at the same time—blast yourself with hot water in the winter and ice-cold water in the summer.
7:00–7:30 AM: Eat a massive breakfast. Go heavy on the fats and the homemade stuff: bacon, sausage, eggs, cheese, whole milk, plenty of grease.
7:30–8:00 AM: Coffee break.
8:00–10:00 AM: Just lounge around. Mess with the computer, watch TV, or flip through some magazines.
10:00 AM–12:00 PM: Meet up with someone on a whim.
12:00–12:30 PM: Pick up groceries for a healthy lunch—think hearty stews paired with home-cooked meat, and try to skip the bread or keep it to a minimum.
12:30–2:00 PM: Cook lunch and eat.
2:00–2:30 PM: Another coffee.
2:30–5:00 PM: Take a nap, or go back to the TV, the computer, or a book.
5:00–8:00 PM: Work on your book, play some video games, code, or whatever hobby you have that doesn't involve stressing out about life.
8:00–10:00 PM: Catch up with someone for a movie or some other activity you both actually enjoy.

Nobody can write a schedule for you.
In fact, why don't you try writing one for me? I'd love to see how you'd come up with it just so I have something to laugh at.

You still haven't answered my question. What exactly do you think someone is going to provide you here? Are they supposed to just hand you a purpose or solve the mystery of your existence on a silver platter?
If that's what you're looking for, you're being incredibly naive. Nobody can do that for you. You have to build your own meaning from scratch, and once you actually figure out what that is, then—and only then—does your daily schedule start to make any sense.
Anyway, good luck with the rest of this thread.

mistyseal11 said:back to post no#1

Come on, man, just drop the schedules—just give me the hourly breakdowns.
Play the part of the drill sergeant, the captain, or the general if you have to...

Is it seriously that hard? 🤔 ....I honestly didn't think it would be such a massive struggle in this day and age to map out a daily or weekly plan for someone who's actually motivated to move and get things done, but they just flat-out don't know where to start or where to go...

I don't follow. Are you honestly asking for someone else to write your daily and weekly schedule for you?🤦

Sure, you could do that, but then you're living by someone else's whims instead of your own. You need ambition first—you need an actual goal to aim for before a schedule even makes sense.

You could draft something vague, but that doesn't really solve anything.

Based on how you're talking, it sounds like you're unemployed. That’s a significant hurdle because if you aren't working, you either haven't found your footing yet or you haven't managed to land a job where you actually want to be.
It's an even bigger issue if you don't even know what kind of work you'd want to do.

So, you need to decide what you want from life first. Then, you either head back to school or dive straight into making it happen.

Once that's set, the schedule tends to organize itself.

If you're looking for a way to manage your downtime, you still need to have interests—hobbies or activities, whether they're indoors or outdoors.

For example:
6:20 AM wake up
6:40 AM get ready for work
7:00–3:00 PM at the office
3:00–4:00 PM grab a coffee or a beer
4:00–5:00 PM eat a massive meal
5:00–7:00 PM unwind with TV or a laptop
7:00–9:00 PM go for a walk, a drive, hang out, spend time with family, hit a restaurant, a library, a museum, or the movies, maybe do some shopping...

On the weekends, plan a little road trip—maybe head up to the Catskills if you're near New York, or over to the Berkshires, or catch a car race, or just do something you can share with someone else, since things are always better in pairs.

Grab a drink in the evening if you have a crew, or if you have a family, just have a relaxing dinner together.

Sundays are for coffee out, lunch at home, and then just chilling out with whatever relaxes you before prepping for the work week on Sunday night.

It wouldn't hurt to have a little plot of land somewhere to grow something—fruit, vegetables, a vineyard, whatever brings you joy. It takes up plenty of time and gives life purpose. Depending on how much effort you put in, it can be a daily hobby or something you tend to once a week or month.

Why is my tap water looking milky white? It stays cloudy even after I let it sit in a glass for a while.
I can't quite pin down the taste—maybe it's slightly sweet, or maybe that's just my imagination playing tricks on me. Since I'm still the "new guy" in town and used to the water back home, everything feels a bit off.

This might be slightly off-topic for this thread, but here goes nothing:

I'm looking for a narrow, elongated tile—something roughly 4 inches wide by 8 or maybe 10 inches long. Ideally, it needs to be easy to write on and wipe clean, and I need it to be magnetic so I can stick it onto a metal surface.

Something like this:

Or anything similar to what kids use—those little boards where you poke letters and numbers in or draw with something that wipes right off.

The reason is a bit odd; it's actually for work. It needs to be budget-friendly because technically the company should pay for it, but since it’s just to make my own life easier, I’ll probably just grab it myself.
I need it to log the tools I'm using next to the machine. Since I'm constantly swapping tools depending on which project I'm tackling, I need a quick way to note down what’s been loaded and cross off what’s been pulled out.

Thanks.

Americans are incredibly superficial—probably the most shallow nation out there. On top of that, their famous politeness is nothing but pure hypocrisy; they’ll smile right to your face while stabbing you in the back the moment you turn around.

Matthew Adams4 said:Honestly, I rarely get sad or angry—maybe a couple times a month tops. And even then, I try my best not to take it out on people who didn't do anything wrong. I save my attitude for the people actually causing the drama, whenever I can help it. Besides, feeling crappy doesn't stop me from being polite, unless it's to the exact person I'm annoyed with.

Reading through these threads, it feels like you guys think it's abnormal if you don't have something making you miserable every single day. 😢

But in reality, that's exactly how it works.
That doesn't mean you have to be spiraling into extreme rage or deep depression.

At some point during the day, you might get annoyed, but then it passes; it's fleeting.
Or you feel a moment of sadness or disappointment, but again, it's just a momentary thing.

The people who push through those moments pretending nothing happened? They’re just bottling things up and turning themselves into ticking time bombs.

I honestly don't get why you and people like you assume that feeling anger automatically means reacting negatively.

It doesn't have to.
If you're angry, you can channel that fire into a stubborn persistence that actually drives you toward success.

Exactly.
When you're dealing with someone and they’re making you feel like garbage, do you still force yourself to be polite?
Or do you just lose your cool, have a meltdown, or simply start ghosting people?

It’s completely human to snap at someone when you're pissed off.
Or to drag everyone else down into the gutter when you're feeling low.

So, are you telling me you don't actually do that?

Matthew Adams4 said:Man, I’m gonna learn a whole lot from this forum 😬 basically means I'm not actually being nice, I'm just being two-faced because I can't handle a little criticism. Maybe if I just start acting like a total Karen, my popularity will skyrocket by like 50,000% based on how hot this thread is 🤣

No.
Stop acting.
Just be the person you are when you're alone behind closed doors.

Matthew Adams4 said:Signed, sealed, delivered. I love being polite and I love it when others are too. I steer clear of people who are constantly pissed off. If someone gets on my nerves, I’m not gonna be sweet to them—I’ll just ghost them and move on.

Why are you conflating forced intimacy with being polite? Telling someone you love them isn't being nice; it's being aggressive.

Can someone give us a definition so we know if we're even talking about the same thing?

Personally, I can't stand forced politeness. I tend to avoid those people who are always smiling and acting "perfectly" pleasant.

Politeness is usually fake, and we all know it.

What I actually value is honesty and being direct. I respect people who can take constructive criticism without feeling personally attacked—people who either respond logically or actually stop to think about the advice or observation they've been given.

Matthew Adams4 said:Signed, sealed, delivered. I love being polite and I love it when others are too. I steer clear of people who are constantly pissed off. If someone gets on my nerves, I’m not gonna be sweet to them—I’ll just ghost them and move on.

Why are you conflating forced intimacy with being polite? Telling someone you love them isn't being nice; it's being aggressive.

Can someone give us a definition so we know if we're even talking about the same thing?

In my view, politeness is just hovering above reality—it's role-playing. It's something you put on and then shed the moment you walk through your own front door.

The danger is that over time, it becomes a habit where we lose the ability to interact with people any other way. That's the worst part: we end up constantly wearing masks.

There’s a massive difference between professional courtesy—like a teller at a Chase branch or a clerk at a grocery store—and general social politeness.

It isn’t about having a strong work ethic; it’s about the thrill of the chase.
A guy does this because civilian life is just plain boring—grinding from paycheck to paycheck for a salary or interest, whatever. It's monotonous.

He’s driven by those daily hurdles, that constant need to outsmart the next obstacle in his path. And let’s be real, he’s clearly not a family man at heart. Sure, he might be married with kids, but plenty of guys play that part just to maintain an image. It doesn't mean they actually care; it's just part of the persona.

analogwalker8 said:The nicer you are to people, the worse they treat you—and vice versa.

Honestly, that’s just facts. It’s like, if you’re actually a good person, others see an opening to take advantage of you, and they don't respect you because some primal, evolutionary instinct kicks in. If you’re decent, have principles, and act with honor, most people just see a pushover who can't stand up for themselves or make real money. It’s like how someone might pick a high-powered Wall Street shark or a guy with actual muscle over some quiet philosopher or spiritual type, simply because they see "stronger genes" for survival and offspring.
Man, at the end of the day, humans are just social animals and nothing more.

And honestly? You’ve gotta play it by ear depending on the situation. You have to adapt—an organism survives best when it assimilates with its environment and knows how to shift gears whenever things change.

That’s option one. Option two—you try to become some kind of "superman," basically sacrificing yourself for the truth or for humanity.
It’s about acting according to some higher law, where you show you're above the rest through forgiveness, sacrifice, and self-control.
But the big thing is, you shouldn't get an ego trip out of it.

Option three—just looking out for number one. Everything is fleeting anyway, so you just focus on yourself and the Absolute. Try to move through life with as few scratches as possible.

Option four is the hermit life.

Then there’s option five: you blend them all together and build a system. You rotate through them. First, you’re just living for yourself, not giving a damn about anyone else. Then you move into option two, then three, and eventually, you retreat to the mountains. But let’s be real, that’s almost impossible.

But look, all of this is kind of an illusion. In life, you’re mostly going to be whoever your character and temperament dictate—things that are set by your genes, your society, your culture, and your surroundings.
There isn't much you can do about it, but you still gotta fight.

I think that’s fundamentally wrong. Most people—especially the average Joe—actually act as a mirror. How you treat them is how they’ll treat you. In about 99% of cases, it’s a direct reflection of your own behavior.

If someone is clearly taking advantage of me, I’m cutting them off immediately.
But if they aren't? I’ll open up my wallet and help out however I can, regardless of how much sweat equity I had to pour in to save up that cash in the first place.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to who you're actually helping.
It isn't about expecting a kickback or getting something in return; it’s just about knowing that my hard work and sacrifice are being put toward something meaningful rather than being wasted on someone looking for a handout.

As if that were possible—some people actually roll out of bed at 5:15 AM.

Does anyone have any clever ideas on how to handle shipping when you're doing a straight trade?
Specifically, I'm talking about swapping item A for item B with zero money changing hands—just both sides footing their own shipping costs.

How do we make sure Person A actually knows Person B sent their package, and vice versa? How do we verify the swap is legit?

I mean, once you drop the package off at the Post Office, is there any way to somehow cancel the shipment after the fact?

Has anyone actually pulled this off before? Or if not, does anyone have a decent starting strategy for how to pull it together?

We’re looking at items worth about $110—not exactly pocket change, but not life-changing either. Plus, the distance is 155 miles...

Sure, they can, but it’s not like they’ve actually woken up and realized "it" exists within them. Everyone carries this latent inner strength. It’s a bit like how people say anyone is capable of violence if pushed far enough—it's just as true that any individual is capable of stepping up and taking real initiative when the moment hits.