CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
No bio...
User ID: 333
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
22hr ago
It can be worth it to look into the history of tattoos. For some it's an unfalsifiable high cost symbol of permanent allegiance to a group or culture. People like to belong and they're willing to pay the price.
That said, I think Gandalf got it right and so I'm against tattoos for myself:
“For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colours!'
I looked then and saw that his robes, which had seemed white, were not so, but were woven of all colours, and if he moved they shimmered and changed hue so that the eye was bewildered.
I liked white better,' I said.
White!' he sneered. 'It serves as a beginning. White cloth may be dyed. The white page can be overwritten; and the white light can be broken.'
In which case it is no longer white,' said I. 'And he that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.'”
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
1d ago
What is this show and where can I buy the boxed set before it gets memory holed?
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
2d ago
I remember years ago as an undergrad one guy that had his phone confiscated by the other guys and had his startup screen changed to 'Fake Gay to Get Chicks!'
Because that was what he was doing.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
3d ago
Seems pretty conclusive about what killed him. Maybe the defense can try some angle about how the scuffle started.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
4d ago
Don't have a Code of Conduct. Tear out anyone suggesting a Code of Conduct root and stem.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
4d ago
You can see the awkward 'Ok ACTION, please start walking now' moment in some of the shots.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
7d ago
No, I think if someone was acting according to your intent it would be more akin to beating a kid to the point of hospitalisation to 'toughen him up'. American cultural resilience is not anti-fragile.
I first came across it when it was mentioned on /r/CredibleDefense in the days after October 7. I couldn't believe Israel would be so shortsighted to make such a deal because of the obvious incentives it would give to potential hostage takers with such an exchange ratio (1000+ prisoners for 1 hostage).
According to one poll a the time, 79% of Israelis supported the deal with 14% opposed so it seemed to have broad public support. Some released prisoners unsurprisingly went on to commit more attacks against Israel.
The deal was bad for Israel. Incredibly bad. It probably influenced hostage taking on October 7.
Some other tidbits:
- A high end PR firm ran a propaganda campaign to sway public opinion to clinch the deal
- Similar bad ratio prisoner/hostage exchanges had been made by Israel before (eg Jibril Agreement)
- Some interesting further reading in this Quora Q&A
Edit: It seems the Israeli consensus may have been driven by a high value placed on their children due to historical persecution and cultural values. I still think it was incredibly shortsighted because they saved one life to incentivise the loss of many many more in the future.
The response and escalation of this whole thing is completely disproportionate and seems to be part of the recent 'Violence against Women' moral panic.
Frankly I find it pretty disgusting that the politicians and media have used this to get some easy free points at the expense of minors. Meanwhile kids are running around stabbing people and it doesn't draw the same level of vitriol that these boys did for their poor choice of category names for their ranking system.
Edit: Two of the boys have now been expelled. Can't really blame the principal once it exploded in national media, but I think this should have been a suspension at worst.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
16d ago
If it happens all the time (not just on hinge), then you need to change something.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
17d ago
She said maybe, then the day of said she was tired. I asked her out to lunch instead since I didn't have another free evening this week. She confirmed this morning for today at 1:00. By the time I replied, she'd already unmatched with me.
This behaviour is common with the apps. Just flakey unavailability due to juggling multiple potential options. Next time if she says maybe and doesn't suggest an alternative, she means no.
She said yes, shouted "Text me! :)" as I walked away. No reply to that text message sent later that day with my #. No reply to the text I sent today asking about tomorrow. There will be no further texts.
This is also sadly not unheard of. Don't let it get you down. If you can approach one girl IRL, you can approach more, and many will follow through on meeting you.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
18d ago
Surprisingly, (or perhaps unsurprisingly to some of you), many people, especially women, are saying they would rather be stuck with a bear than a man.
This is just due to signalling and/or trolling. Ask high school kids what their sexual identity is, having one of the options be 'attack helicopter' and be amazed.
Also, some women have the 'men are violent and dangerous' egregor living in their head rent free. A poll like this is an opportunity to let the world know that this is the case.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
1mo ago
You will figure out your value fairly quickly if you make an effort to be objective. You will be able to judge by the quality of partners that you can attract for a second date (if using apps) or first date (if you met at an event). Set your expectations to that and you should be ok. Also stay away from Tinder. I've heard Hinge and Bumble are the apps to use in the West.
You can maximise your potential by working out, buying some well fitted (and not overtight) fashionable clothes (check out some fashion subreddits if necessary), and regularly socialising at mixed gender irl events. This single sentence covers about 80-90% of seduction theory on increasing your attractiveness.
A final word regarding apps. They can be soul crushing if you haven't had experience app dating. Matches will disappear for no apparent reason, or otherwise flake before dates. Try not to take this personally, and take breaks from app dating if you need to.
I find that meeting partners at irl singles or social events is much more productive. You get to show all facets of yourself and both of you can be more sure of what you are getting before you go on a first date. Your irl 'matches' are probably the best thing to calibrate your dating value expectations to.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
1mo ago
I'm the same in living on the outskirts of a city. I'm just done with congested inner city living. I recently lived in a secure central city apartment (through COVID) and I will never go back. I was so sick of walking out my apartment door and having to talk to people while all I wanted to do was have a walk in solitude in a natural environment. I couldn't have it. Everything from the overly polite suit wear concierge to service people, or people from all over the world talking incessantly over the din of city vehicles. I just couldn't stand it any more and moved out and will not go back.
I think city outskirts (or an hour away from a city) is probably the best of both worlds. Enough access to peace and quiet, with proximity to all the amenities you could want (at least if you were willing to make the trip).
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
1mo ago
I don't think it's unfair to want your wife to stay reasonably slim if you are also making effort to stay reasonably slim. If there is some genuine medical reason for her being unable to maintain her weight (eg hormonal/depression) then that should be addressed first.
The mechanism? I think I need to get ripped.
Not a bad plan, but consider getting into proper weightlifting. 3 x 30-45 minute sessions per week can do wonders without needing to radically change your diet.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
1mo ago
I understand this is kinda like the concept of Moneyball. I never watched it tho.
Just go watch it. It is exactly what you are talking about. Except Hollywood.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
1mo ago
Basically.
In Australia, you can spend 15 minutes unprotected in the sun over Summer as a white person and not get sunburned.
That said, SPF 15 sunscreen/moisturiser is great for general daily regular use. I use it in Winter too if I think I'll be spending more than 15 minutes at a time outside.
Australia is not the world though.
I'd like to say I'm a connoisseur, but I normally go for a good single malt that I can mix with water, or dry ginger ale. Jamesons, Glenfiddich, heck even Chivas Regal.
I learnt a long time ago that alcohol tasting is a sham. Just pick something you like and don't try to compare against others.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
1mo ago
The Labor and Green Parties seem to have have been lobbied for the last few years to make freedom for Assange actual policy of the Australian Govt. There has been crossbench support from the far left (Greens), centre left (Labor) and even some from the centre right (Liberal party) and independents, with the majority of support on the left side of the aisle.
Assange's father met with the then leader of the opposition (now PM) Albanese back in 2022 and even earlier to discuss the possibility of Assange's release. At the time there wasn't enough political support to push for his release, but Albanese seemed supportive.
When the Labor party came into power, Albanese became PM and Labor supported policies started making their way through parliament. This article says that a February 2024 UK High Court hearing gave impetus to putting a motion before the Australian Parliament.
From the article -
"The House of Representatives voted by 86 to 42 in favour of a motion that said, directly, that the United Kingdom and the United States should bring things to a close so Assange can return home to his family in Australia. Those in favour included Anthony Albanese and the prime minister’s Labor colleagues."
tldr - There has always been support and lobbying to free Assange in Australia (focused mainly within the left wing), but its only recently that enough political power was focused by the impetus of the UK actually looking like it was sending Assange to the US that things finally coalesced into official Australian Government policy.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
1mo ago
What your narrative doesn't explain is why the US is considering dropping charges now
There are several potentially unrelated items:
-
Britain is close to making a decision on extradition of Assange to the US
-
Australia Parliament in February this year decided to formally request the US to drop the charges against Assange
-
Biden made the stray comment after being asked by a US reporter during a visit by the Japanese Prime Minister
-
The AUKUS alliance is currently looking at expanding to include Japan
-
The Australian PM said something today about the release of Assange as being in Australia's National Interest
My guess is that its just a slow response from the US government in considering Australia's request from February because of the multiple levels/departments of the US government that have an interest in this. Also there is a very low chance (~10% chance) that some of this is about keeping Australia happy by throwing them a bone at the same time they're looking at upgrading a regional alliance.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
1mo ago
I wouldn't say 'any', but 'some' would be prudent.
Basically any of these alternate sexualities like 'sapiosexual' or whatever, deserves a raised eyebrow.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
1mo ago
Thanks for this.
I think it damages the imagination and creativity
It's something I've found too. If you stim up (with caffeine say)... there is just thoughts/focus and no daydreaming (and less night dreaming for that matter). You've said it well.
CertainlyWorse
Dedicated Pessimist
1mo ago
It would be interesting to have a yearly poll about our users' political beliefs.
I think you're right. It's clearly more right wing then it was on reddit. I don't think it's hard right, but there's something to Scott's post about witch tolerance.
I refuse to take it for a variety of reasons/concerns.
Can you talk about this a bit more? It's kind of one of the things that stops me trying to get diagnosed.
Edit: I'm worried about drugs burning in neural pathways/endocrine disruption to the point that you can no longer function without drugs. Things would maybe be better off if you just found lifestyle/cognitive behavioral methods of addressing things?
I'm seeing more and more 'low maintenance'* yards when I browse properties. People are sick of yard maintenance.
I finally moved into a suburban house not too long ago and my number one bugbear is lawn mowing. Its probably only about 2 hours once a month, but it is just so monotonous. I have to do it though, otherwise pests start building up in the undergrowth and it could cause problems with the neighbours.
*- Think gravel/stone yard surfacing with low maintenance 'desert/scrub' native plants and rock gardens etc. Heck its not uncommon to see fake grass in front and backyards or even just concreting everywhere.
More options
Context Copy link