Posts by Alex Thomas27

So, for the last few months, I’ve been cutting out dairy a few days before my period starts, and honestly, it actually helps. One time, I totally forgot my cycle was coming up the next day and treated myself to a milk pudding; predictably, the cramps hit just as hard as they always do. Even if I eat something like tiramisu on the very first day, I still feel the pain the following day (even though it's not technically the start). I’ve had my stomach act up twice now, both times because I wasn't watching the dairy intake.

Ladies, you might want to try skipping the dairy for a couple of days right before your period hits. I’m not saying go full vegan and quit milk forever, just maybe take a break for those few specific days. 🙂

I think we call that trolling, cheating, and/or just plain old sinning.

Second point: (why I’m backing steelskipper5): Because you're wrong when you claim Islam isn't defined by how Muslims actually act. It absolutely is! A religion isn't some piece of software you run or a painting hanging on a wall that we judge in a vacuum. On the contrary, we judge it by the actual impact it has on people's lives.

I couldn't agree more. This applies to Christianity and Christians just as much.

I’ve got a gynecologist appointment lined up in two weeks, but I figured I should probably ask around here first.

I’ve been dealing with some bloody discharge since June 20th. It’s been nearly two weeks now, and I’m just starting to actually worry about it, 🙄 mostly because I kept trying to convince myself it was nothing serious. I’m assuming this spotting is lasting through my entire luteal phase.

I haven't had sex recently, though I did just finish treatment for an E. coli infection. I'm definitely not pregnant.

Has anyone else dealt with something similar? Should I be panicking? Any guesses on what might be going on?

Roger Roberts98 said:I’m dealing with debilitating menstrual cramps, and honestly, the pain is absolutely unbearable for all seven days of my cycle. Please, I am begging for some advice. Can anyone help me out?

Go see a gynecologist. Dealing with pain like that for a whole week definitely isn't normal.

Thanks

I’d like to request a partial ban for the Pregnant Women sub-forum.

Walter Reyes2 said:My 13-year-old cousin is already getting seriously frustrated with her name, and honestly, it makes me wonder how she’s going to handle it when she’s older ☕ (it's just a totally average name)

I’m not exactly thrilled with my own name either, but am I really going to let it cause some sort of lifelong trauma? No way. I try not to waste my energy on things I can't change; you just have to accept it and move on, right? ☕ Besides, everyone just calls me by a nickname or a shortened version anyway ☕

The Tinder years are easily the most frustrating era of your life.

Roger Rodriguez said:

Does anyone else feel like they’ve walked into a room and completely forgotten why? It happens to me more often than I care to admit lately! kaže:
@COW, you really shouldn't get blood work done while you're on your period, should you? It could throw your entire CBC completely out of whack.

I’ve been dealing with some hormonal fluctuations lately—right in the middle of my third cycle day. Has anyone else found that these shifts completely throw off their rhythm?

I felt that exact same wave of nausea last time; honestly, I was absolutely terrified. Have you ever felt quite that helpless? 😲
I honestly thought I was actually dying for a second there. Those weren't just typical period cramps—it felt more like those intense pains you get during early pregnancy. It’s the kind of pain that completely paralyzes you, and by the time the wave passes, you're left vomiting nothing but foam. Have you ever experienced anything quite that terrifying? 😵
My doctor tells me there are a million different factors at play—everything from diet and weight fluctuations to how smoking or drinking might intensify the pain. They even mentioned that starting your period before age 12 can bump up the risk for dysmenorrhea. Of course, that’s assuming we’ve already ruled out any underlying medical conditions that could be messing with your cycle. Isn't it fascinating how many moving parts there are?

I got mine a few months before I turned 10. 😲

vividmason71 said:Look, you started this thread without saying much in your opening post—what was the goal there? Where are you trying to take this conversation? I find the topic fascinating, so I really hope it doesn't die out or turn into total nonsense. But honestly, it feels like it's hard to give specific examples, and since it's all hypothetical, it's probably not enough for actual experts to weigh in on. Let me try asking it this way instead: to what extent do you think being mocked (or worse) because of a name during childhood or adolescence can "ruin" someone? Like, how much psychological damage or loss of trust in people are we talking about? I don't know if anyone in the States has ever actually conducted psychological research on this, but it seems like it could be a pretty productive topic to dive into.

Just throwing my two cents in on a simple question:
Does a name cause trauma? Yes, no, maybe...

I think it depends heavily on the name itself, though there are plenty of other factors at play. Aries13 makes a good point.

vividmason71 said:

I don't know what to tell you. If you're looking for someone to hold your hand through this, go somewhere else. I'm just here to say what needs to be said. Period. says:
Iskra

That's a beautiful name. 🙂 One of those things I catch myself thinking about if I ever decide to have a daughter... or maybe I just shouldn't?

Just floating through life, totally untethered. No strings attached. kaže:
Sometimes I can't help but wonder if people with similar names actually share certain traits—like their personality or even how they look. Is there something to that? I really think there might be.

Names actually matter. They’re what people remember you by. It’s how they address you. Isn't that the whole point?
I think games play a massive role in how people define themselves. Especially when kids are being mocked—it’s not just some joke to them. If a kid goes through that kind of trauma, it sticks. It leaves a mark on who they become as an adult. It defines them.

I’ve been thinking about how names seem to carry certain vibes. You know what I mean? There are always those specific names where everyone you meet fits a certain mold. It’s almost like a pattern—like all the Anns I know are super thin, or the Lucys are always blondes, or maybe the Tiffanys and Tanyas are just naturally quiet people. It feels like a rule sometimes. But then there are those other names. You meet dozens of people with the exact same name, and they couldn't be more different if they tried. Out of twenty people with that name, maybe one actually fits the "stereotype," while everyone else is just doing their own thing. Is it just a coincidence, or am I overthinking this?

My name is super common here in the States and pretty much everywhere else. Most people think it’s a nice name, too—there isn't even a way to turn it into a slur or anything. But back in elementary school, kids would jump to these weird, totally baseless conclusions about my personality just based on what I was called. They’d tease me about it. It wasn't anything traumatic, but it definitely wasn't fun. The real issue for me is that I just don't feel like it fits. It doesn't describe who I am, and it honestly doesn't feel like mine. I haven't found a better one yet, though it’s probably for the best at this point since I'll be stuck dealing with the practical side of it for the rest of my life anyway. Then there was my last name. It’s not offensive or anything crazy, it just has a certain way of being spelled and pronounced that felt a bit "unrefined" to some kids. Some of them would just pick on anyone whose name didn't follow the standard American naming conventions. Now, it's just annoying when people constantly ask how to say it or keep butchering the pronunciation. Not that I actually care, but still.

How long did the name-calling and teasing about your names actually last in your experience? I’ve noticed that older teens and adults don't usually make fun of people to their face. Instead, they wait until the person isn't listening. But honestly, are those even actual adults? It feels so childish to me. Even in my early 20s, when people my own age start acting like that, I can't decide if I should laugh because it's pathetic or just roll my eyes and tell them to grow up.

Way to go, NerdGirl.

I get the feeling some people on this forum are just trolling to convince others that having a certain name causes actual trauma. Maybe I'm wrong... 🤷

rustydrifter10 said:It’s about the ritual and tradition.

So, we're circling back to religion. You could just as easily ask those same questions about faith itself.

loneraven25 said:...doing what exactly..?
...potential discrimination against other faiths in America,
or is this coming from your own potential hatred toward the first "holy" sacrament..?
...I'm pointing this out because I don't see you backing down from trying to force a topic where it doesn't belong,
only to then try and bury a different topic you don't even care about...
...I might agree with your suggestion, but the way you're asking for it is just absurd...

Look, I don't have any hatred toward the first "holy" sacrament. If anything, the first "holy" thing should be religion.

If the first "holy" sacrament can be discussed on the Playground, then I'm demanding that all religious customs involving child health and kids be moved to the Playground. If that's not allowed, then you're favoring one religion. I'm just asking for an equal playing field for all religious customs regarding children. That means if a thread about circumcision isn't allowed on the Playground, then a thread about baptism shouldn't be either. Equal footing.

Equal footing. Lock my thread if you want, but lock the baptism thread too. Because if the moderators treat that topic differently than they treat the topic of circumcision, then it's blatant discrimination.

rustydrifter10 said:I'm passing on that. This thread isn't actually about religion.

Then what's it about?

rustydrifter10 said:Alex, this thread was already on the General Discussion board. It basically hung out there for seven years because there wasn't a better spot for it until we launched the child health section. There was plenty of time for it to evolve into a religion discussion so we could move it over to the Religion subforum—but it didn't happen. Or it could have turned into a deep dive on customs and stayed on General Discussion—again, didn't happen. At its core, the most important part of this thread is exactly why it’s sitting in the current section right now.

Since General Discussion is his home base and he hasn't sparked the kind of debate we see here, there's really no point in opening a whole new thread elsewhere.

In that case, just move the baptism thread over to religion.

Emily Fowler52 said:But look, there’s really nothing to debate here. A thread on this would just end up being two or three posts saying they went to the hospital for a circumcision because of their faith and tradition.
There aren't any godparents, party favors, fancy restaurants, or tipping involved here. 🤷

What exactly is there to talk about?

What would we talk about? Customs!
Here’s a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brit_milah

And please don't tell me you could just Google Brit Milah, because you could just as easily Google baptism.

Anyway, here are some other topics that actually "deserve" a discussion.

Fine. You think a thread about circumcision belongs under religion. In that case, I'm asking you to be consistent: move all other threads about religion and customs, including the general one on baptism, over to the religion section. Because if circumcision counts as religion, then baptism does too.

Timothy Robinson2 said:So, basically, the Religion subforum would be strictly for Christians, while everyone else—people heading to mosques, synagogues, or whatever—would just hang out in the other subforums.

It’s not just about being at the Religion forum. It would be anyone who actually wants to be there—Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hare Krishnas, Orthodox, atheists, Christians... you name it.

Look, if they want to make this all about a Muslim wedding, then it belongs in the Wedding subforum right alongside the thread on church weddings. It just makes sense.

rustydrifter10, I didn't see that thread listed in the PDF index. Is it actually possible to open a topic like that? You don't need to answer—I'll figure it out once I try to find it. 🤷

Timothy Robinson2 said:Since so many parents go through with baptizing their kids, even though most people claiming to be believers don't actually know much about the faith, I guess that’s just where we're at. So, what exactly is the big deal with Christians baptizing their children?

It’s fine. I can handle baptizing the kids myself.

They really ought to be looking for answers over on the Religion sub. After all, only Christians baptize their kids, and that’s a pretty defining marker of the faith.
Whether you're Muslim, Jewish, or Orthodox, everyone gets married eventually. Honestly, people shouldn't be heading to a religious service just to hunt for answers that Christians and atheists are already finding in a completely different PDF specifically designed for their own interests.

Timothy Robinson2 said:So, are Christians only allowed to hold discussions in spots that actually have a Christian sign posted outside? Is that technically discrimination, or am I just overthinking things again?

Nah, I can just take my discussions to the appropriate subforums.
Regarding all the religious discussions happening over on the Religion subforum.
Weddings are a universal thing, regardless of what you believe in, so we should probably just keep the conversation over in the Weddings PDF. If Christians want to talk about their specific traditions, they can use the Wedding sub-thread, but we really ought to make sure that Muslims, Orthodox Christians, Jews, and atheists have the same space to do the same. It’s only fair.

Timothy Robinson2 said:If you were actually a Muslim woman interested in learning about the customs and traditions over there, you’d probably be asking real questions. But let's be honest—you're just looking for a reaction. 😁

I figured if we can have a whole thread about religious baptisms on the Playground, then a discussion about circumcision should be just as valid.

It’s pure double standards fueled by discrimination.

I’d like to ask the moderators to move this post over to the locked thread. I could just relock it myself, but I really wanted to get this point across first.

And please, mods, don't delete this. I genuinely want anyone reading that other thread to see what I have to say.

Timothy Robinson2 said:So what, should people getting married in a church just switch over to the Religion section?

Maybe they could just scrap the whole wedding topic entirely to avoid offending the people who live together without tying the knot?

No. Because this is a part of this (sub)forum. People from all walks of life get married here—Muslims, Jews, Buddhists... everyone.
It would be straight-up discriminatory if Muslims or Jews were forced to hang out in the Religion section just to learn about Islamic weddings or other traditions instead of hearing about Catholic ones.

Only Christians baptize their kids. That's that.

That’s why that topic doesn't belong on RiD.

Most weddings happen in churches anyway, where people ask about decor and all that... I don't see how that impacts religion. Do you honestly think believers aren't allowed to ask questions like the rest of the population? Are we supposed to ghettoize them?

People from all sorts of different religious backgrounds get married.

Parents only baptize their kids if they actually want them to be part of the faith. Either that, or they just want their child to belong to a specific denomination.

Your absurdly obvious demand is clearly fueled by some weird obsession with religious baptisms. It’s like you’re asking to move wedding threads from a "Life as a Couple" subforum over to the Religion board, or worse, moving food and outfit questions over to the gastronomy and fashion sections.

Look, a wedding doesn't have to be tied to religion. You can just have a civil ceremony.

There’s no need to move those threads because a wedding isn't strictly a religious thing—it's a party. At its core, a wedding is more about the celebration than the ritual.

But a baptism? That's different. That's a religious rite, plain and simple.
A dinner at a restaurant with some champagne is just a celebration, no different from celebrating a new house, a promotion, or a birthday.

rustydrifter10 said:Then we could end up with seven hundred different threads for every single subject instead of just one—granted, some topics might need their own space to cover various perspectives from people who’ve actually been through it. And every one of those threads would probably only see thirteen posts over the span of nine years. This is a forum, not an encyclopedia.

No. I'm pretty sure there's already a dedicated thread on Gastronom about champagne, whether it's about restaurants or cakes.
The women's corner already has a thread for gift ideas.
And I bet you'll find a thread about clothing somewhere on RiD.
On the women's corner, starting a group thread about godparents isn't an issue. Honestly, it probably already exists. But it's also fine if questions about godparents end up in the baptism thread under the Religion section.

rustydrifter10 said:The one I mentioned.

Champagne, dining out, clothes—none of that really has anything to do with religion or the baptism itself. It's more about where parents want to grab lunch afterward, what they want to drink, or what they're planning to wear. It doesn't even have to be tied to the ceremony. Or how they want their kid to look. Which, again, doesn't necessarily have to be tied to the baptism either.