Am I the only one who has never used any social media site?

[CyberCubed]

Other than online forums, I have never used a single one of those "social media" websites. I've never even had my own facebook page.

I've never used myspace or facebook, never used twitter, never had a tumblr account, never had a livejournal or online blog, etc. I've never used any of this stuff. I've just never had a use for any of it.

Maybe it has to do with my age, as I first started using the internet around 1998-1999 when all this stuff didn't exist, and everyone just used to post on forums or fansites. I remember geocities of all things being the big thing back then.

I feel like I'm still living in the stone age of the internet when we just used to post on forums.

[Prowler]

No point in using all of those websites unless you have a business and want to promote it. Just pick one and stick with it. Facebook usually being the prime choice by most people.

[Leo656]

Yeah, I only even got FB because everyone in wrestling made me. Not gonna lie, it was a good decision, I've gotten a lot of work out of it. But I put it off as long as I could and even now I often go up to a month without touching it. I will say, I've reconnected with a lot of friends and family I hadn't seen in years, which is great, but it can also be a huge pain in the ass. Especially the stupid game requests.

I never bothered with the rest of it. Especially twitter. Everyone says to get it but it's like, "I have FB as it is, why do I have to be online all day with all these stupid little things? What can anyone possibly say within two sentences or less that could possibly be important?"

This place and FB is all the internet I can handle. People might as well just have a jack from their mobile to their skull, anymore.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

I've never wasted time with Facebook, Twitter, or whatever. I didn't even know Instagram was a thing until like a month ago. I'm just not an interesting person. The closest I have to a social media page is my YouTube channel. I waste too much time screwing around on the Internet as it is without social media BS.

[plastroncafe]

Cyber, you couldn't possibly be more disingenuous right now.
You use all of the sites you've listed. Oh you might not have your own username/password for each site, but you use them, have used them, and will continue to use them.

[CyberCubed]

I did start lurking tumblr around the time I started watching Avatar for the first time, but I still don't have my own account. I prefer just to read things and send anon asks.

As for everything else I honestly don't and never had them. I have no facebook page at all, and I never had a reason to use livejournal/blogs/twitter since I post all my opinions on forums anyway.

I didn't even get into youtube much until recently, and that's only because shows started to be officially uploaded there by sites. I never watch any of those horrid "youtube celebs" and all those whiny teens and 20 year olds who post "selfies" or whatever today's modern youth calls it.

[Prowler]

Yeah, I only even got FB because everyone in wrestling made me. Not gonna lie, it was a good decision, I've gotten a lot of work out of it. But I put it off as long as I could and even now I often go up to a month without touching it. I will say, I've reconnected with a lot of friends and family I hadn't seen in years, which is great, but it can also be a huge pain in the ass. Especially the stupid game requests.

I never bothered with the rest of it. Especially twitter. Everyone says to get it but it's like, "I have FB as it is, why do I have to be online all day with all these stupid little things? What can anyone possibly say within two sentences or less that could possibly be important?"

This place and FB is all the internet I can handle. People might as well just have a jack from their mobile to their skull, anymore.
Facebook has everything you need in a social network, while twitter, instagram, etc. all lack some features and don't offer anything that facebook doesn't already. Not to mention you can post longer messages and statuses on fb. No need to join twitter just to announce the world that you're taking a dump or reading a book as you type it.

[Leo656]

:lol: Amen. I'm so violently anti-"Mundane Posts" on FB. I mean, yeah, it's enticing... "I'm enjoying my steak... maybe I should tell everyone about it!" But people need to take five seconds and ask if anyone besides themselves give a sh*t before they post it. Or the "Cliffhangers", where people just say, "F*ck my life", or, "I can't believe this is happening...", and nothing else, and just wait for someone to ask if they're okay or whatever. For one, if it's a disaster situation, you're not pausing mid-stream to tell the world about it, and secondly, stop fishing for attention!

My wife is on FB a lot, and she has fun with it. She's always asking me why I'm not more active, and I tell her the honest truth: "I'm pretty sure nobody gives a sh*t." I'm most active right before and right after a wrestling show, since I have to promote it and then pimp the pics and the youtube, but otherwise, I don't really care about it.

[CyberCubed]

Yeah I can understand why teens use twitter and social networking, honestly as a teen what else do you have to do? But as a 20+ or 30 year old adult? What the hell are you using it for?

Do you really have to tell the world you bought a new T-shirt or that you're going to a movie Saturday night? This is riveting information?

[Jester]

I swear Cybercubed is an 80 year old man from Kentucky.

I'm a military brat. As such i have friends all over the world who've settled somewhere some are even in the service now themselves. Facebook is the best way to keep in touch with them.

[Leo656]

Yeah I can understand why teens use twitter and social networking, honestly as a teen what else do you have to do?

How about anything else at all? Don't enable the little bleary-eyed f*ckwits. Those kids have PLENTY to do besides stare at a screen all day.

There's more options for entertainment than ever before, well beyond FB and stupid twitter. Which is why whenever I hear anyone say the words, "I'm bored", I set them ablaze, feeling confident that I've done them a great service, since even if they burn to ash, at least their final moments weren't f*cking "boring".

[snake]

How about anything else at all? Don't enable the little bleary-eyed f*ckwits. Those kids have PLENTY to do besides stare at a screen all day.

There's more options for entertainment than ever before, well beyond FB and stupid twitter. Which is why whenever I hear anyone say the words, "I'm bored", I set them ablaze, feeling confident that I've done them a great service, since even if they burn to ash, at least their final moments weren't f*cking "boring".

Exactly. I'm never bored. I rearrange my shelves, come on here, work out at the gym, school, ect.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

I swear Cybercubed is an 80 year old man from Kentucky.

I'm a military brat. As such i have friends all over the world who've settled somewhere some are even in the service now themselves. Facebook is the best way to keep in touch with them.

Well, at least you're using Facebook the right way - to keep in touch with people across the world. Using it to advertise the fact that you're eating ice cream or buying a new pair of pants - as many people seem to do - is just stupid.

[Leo656]

Exactly. I'm never bored. I rearrange my shelves, come on here, work out at the gym, school, ect.

How you get all that done with the burdens of a paper route AND an 8pm bedtime is a mystery to me. 8)

I kid, I kid. You know you're alright by me, Junior.

[Machias Banshee]

I'm so busy with work and local stuff, I barely have time to get on here anymore. I definitely don't have time to swim through facebook or twitter. The closest 'social' thing I have, kinda, is MyFitnessPal. :ohwell:

[ssjup81]

I don't use many either. I don't even hang on message boards as much as I used to, other than here, mostly. Occasionally, I may go to the other boards that I used to always frequent, like the You Can't Do That on Television one (but the boards are so dead, I don't bother as much anymore), Do As Infinity (my favorite Japanese music group, but when they disbanned a few years ago, I didn't hang around the boards as much, but they regrouped in 2009, but even then, I still haven't felt compelled to hang on the boards as much and lurk), With the Will (I haven't been active at this particular Digimon board for years), DATs (after I was dropped from the fansubbing group I stopped hanging around, but may check out the boards sometimes), Bulbagarden (I'm a mod there, and still don't hang around much lol), Chamber of Secrets (After the final Harry Potter book, I just gradually lost interest, but I still may lurk), and Detective Conan (I used to hang here a lot...now, not so much since I stopped watching the anime years ago and stuck to the manga, but I do still watch the films and I watched the last two in theaters and would share what I saw with those not living here).

I only go to tumblr if someone links me to something they want to show me and it just happens to be on Tumblr or Deviantart (I do have an account there because of my being a Koumi fan, but that's pretty dead, probably...I rarely go there and forget I even have an acct lol). I didn't know what tumblr was until a few months ago. I don't use Twitter or keep up with anyone on it. I don't use that other thing I just heard about a few weeks ago. I think Instagram? I still don't know what that is.

I had Myspace, but I only signed up for that years ago because Rie Fu had one and I liked her music and the only way to view her page, you had to be a member, but I didn't really hang there long. Same with Twitter. I signed up a couple of years ago because I'd heard that Akino Arai had one and since I had, and authored a thread, on the old J-Pop forum I used to go to, I wanted to keep up with cd release information as well as concert information to keep my thread current...but I got sick of that really fast. lol

I forgot about livejournal until I saw Cyber mention it. I have one still, but haven't used it since...maybe...2009 and who knows how long before then. It was a big gap.

I use Skype and Facebook the most. I got FB back in 2008. Was talked into it, but I never really used it. I didn't start actually using FB until I came to Japan back in 2010 to keep in touch with my family better. I use the FB messenger a lot. Back home, it was rare I even lurked it. After that tsunami/earthquake hit here back in 2011, it was very useful. Even though no one could find me (including those who lived here), when I did finally make some kind of contact, the message was relayed and shared on Facebook to calm the nerves of my friends and family back home.

[Metalwolf]

I tried a Facebook account once, but there is nothing on it and I don't even visit it. I'd like to delete it, but I think it involves having to calling up Customer Service.

The other things like Twitter and whatnot I don't do, they just seem kind of pointless to me.

I have an account at DeviantArt, but I don't know how much that counts as 'social media.' I just like to go there and look at the pictures and fave them, I don't have a scanner to upload any of my own.

[Roseangelo]

I feel like I'm still living in the stone age of the internet when we just used to post on forums.

Oh, puh-lease. Anyone who was truly an "early adopter" knows all we had in the beginning were clunky listservs and newsgroups.

[pandaderek]

I use it to keep my family updated because I'm the black sheep, who nobody talks to, but, I know my dad would like to know what's up with my life because he's the only one that really cares about me. It's just that my dad is very reserved, so, I know it's difficult for him to hold a serious conversation with me. So, I, basically, use it as my public journal, so it's more convenient with my dad to know what's going on with me.

There's a lot of my pictures and my thoughts on everything, like, justice in the US, regarding the US's unjust law system because of the lack of confrontation with truth and reconciliation with its history...to something less thoughtful, like how much I hate snap-back hats because my head is too big for less than two snap-buttons on the hat. I tend to make a lot of jokes because I know my dad would laugh at them.

Also, sometimes, I keep in contact with old friends. But, I'm not that great with social media, with keeping up with everyone on social media.

[Metalwolf]

Oh, puh-lease. Anyone who was truly an "early adopter" knows all we had in the beginning were clunky listservs and newsgroups.I didn't know that those existed, although I only used the Internet since 2006... :P

[Netkeeper]

I've been using the internet for about as long as he has, originally only using IMs and forums with that much frequency... until everyone stopped using IMs as much. [Why did that stop?] Then I got a Tumblr, and after that Facebook and Twitter. It was just easier to talk to people in my fandoms that way.

Honestly I prefer IMs and forums, but whatever.

[CyberCubed]

Oh yeah, and I never used Chat Rooms, or AIM, or Skype or whatever else those "face to face" messages are called.

I feel like I'm living in The Jetson's time period when I see stuff like that.

[Leo656]

Ah yeah, I remember that. I used to do a lot of AIMing, and had IRC or whatever it was because one of my friends was semi-famous and preferred it to AIM b/c they'd get flooded with messages whenever they signed onto AIM, so IRC was how we kept in touch, but that was brief.

I kinda miss AIM, too, mostly b/c I had a ton of awesome friends on there who I lost track of the first time my internet died and I vanished for like two years (a couple of you may remember, I know GK does), and now I doubt I'll ever be in touch with them again. But that's life, I guess. Plus I forgot all my passwords, haha.

I do sorta feel like FB streamlined and condensed a lot of that stuff into something that's easier to use, but on the flip side, I hate knowing I'm being spied on and everything I say or Like is being fed into some corporation. But then, that's anything anymore. Buy a certain book, you're on a List. Save a certain show to your DVR, you're on a List. I could go on forever about how easily we trade away our privacy for the sake of convenience, but I already have many times, so I won't. I mean, I like FB, I just don't think people use it "right" and it sucks there's no real privacy to it. Ah well.

[Netkeeper]

Oh yeah, and I never used Chat Rooms, or AIM, or Skype or whatever else those "face to face" messages are called.

I feel like I'm living in The Jetson's time period when I see stuff like that.
Which is funny, because AIM's been around since 1997 and Skype's been around since 2003. :roll:

Ah yeah, I remember that. I used to do a lot of AIMing, and had IRC or whatever it was because one of my friends was semi-famous and preferred it to AIM b/c they'd get flooded with messages whenever they signed onto AIM, so IRC was how we kept in touch, but that was brief.
Yeah, I used to just IM people links to whatever ridiculous site I found at 2 in the morning and create a whole conversation out of it. I also used it for roleplay [which is about the only thing I still manage to use AIM for nowadays]. I have no idea if AIM was ever more private than Facebook, but it sure had that feel to it.

And I know what it's like to get bombarded with messages as soon as you sign on. Just one reason why I got into the habit of rarely turning my computer off; if I was always online, messages would get spaced out to a manageable extent. And if I just didn't want to be messaged at all, AIM had a function that made you appear invisible [as did any other IM platform]. Habits I still use with Skype today. :V

Skype is pretty beautiful, by the way. It's so much easier to start a voice call and talk into my wireless headset while doing things around the house or playing a video game.

[pennydreadful]

So is Skype primarily face-to-face/audio, or does it have a function where you can just type as well?

I never really used any instant-messaging type things because I really have to be in the right headspace for talking one-on-one (basically, I just get nervous); I kind of get that thing where I worry that I won't have anything to say, whereas an email, PM or a messageboard gives me time to gather my thoughts a bit.

[ssjup81]

Oh yeah, and I never used Chat Rooms, or AIM, or Skype or whatever else those "face to face" messages are called.

I feel like I'm living in The Jetson's time period when I see stuff like that.I never knew you could do "face-to-face" chatting with AIM. News to me. Skype, yeah.

Skype is very useful, especially for job interviews outside of your state, city, or country. I've used it for interviews and honestly, this was the initial reason I even started using Skype to begin with. I used to go to a type of class to help improve one's chances of landing interviews and the instructor mentioned using Skype...which was about...8 years ago. If I couldn't find work in my town, I wanted to show that I was flexible enough to relocate and apply for jobs elsewhere.

Now, I use Skype mostly to talk to family back home, but since I'll be quitting this job soon, I'll probably start using it for interviewing again. Anywho, I do video chats with my family at least once or twice a week (weekend) and when I was stuck in the hospital for those 6 or 7 weeks, my mother was able to call me everyday twice a day because of the phone set up Skype has.

I have an online "Skype" number which I decided on about four years ago when I moved to Japan the first time. I set up the number so that it'll have the same area code as my hometown (804) so they can call from a landline. The call is considered local for them and if I call them through Skype to phone, it's considered local for me, but I do have to pay a small fee (like $.0001 a minute or something), but if they call me, it costs me nothing. It's like how people called collect back in the day. Talk real fast and hang up. lol I usually call, let them know I'm available, hang up and they call me back.

So yeah, in my case, Skype is a bit of a necessity as far as family goes and for work, it's useful for job interviews and I need to get on the ball and start putting in resumes and interviewing for spring jobs. I don't plan to put in my 3 month notice until after I renew my work visa, though, so that it'll be easier for me to look for work over here if I decide to actually stay here and already have an advantage over overseas applicants.So is Skype primarily face-to-face/audio, or does it have a function where you can just type as well?Yeah. It's capable of voice chatting, video chatting, and just plain old typing (IMing).I never really used any instant-messaging type things because I really have to be in the right headspace for talking one-on-one (basically, I just get nervous); I kind of get that thing where I worry that I won't have anything to say, whereas an email, PM or a messageboard gives me time to gather my thoughts a bit.A few years ago, I kinda went AWOL on all my messenger things for a long period of time. About two years or so. I didn't return to them until about 2009.

Prior to that, I used to use AIM, MSN (I used to play Pristontale, so many of the players that were on there that I'd befriended would talk outside of the game on MSN, same with Final Fantasy XI), IRC and ICQ, (I used that back in like 2000 to talk to those I'd befriended on the old Upnetwork Pokemon message board and Bulbagarden).

[Netkeeper]

So is Skype primarily face-to-face/audio, or does it have a function where you can just type as well?

I never really used any instant-messaging type things because I really have to be in the right headspace for talking one-on-one (basically, I just get nervous); I kind of get that thing where I worry that I won't have anything to say, whereas an email, PM or a messageboard gives me time to gather my thoughts a bit.
You can have audio-only calls, you can have calls with video, and you can just plain type like any other IM. Skype also keeps all your IM logs and allows you to send messages to people when they're offline that they'll receive once they sign back in... it basically does IMing better than anything else does. Voice calls are just an added plus for people like me that love using their voice because it's easier to multitask.

[pennydreadful]

Hmmm. Wonder if I should install it - might have to give that a ponder. There are some folks here and on the umblr-of-T that I like the idea of IMing with, though again, it'd have to be when I'm feeling chatty. There's nothing more awkward than when you're having a conversation and they come back with just "LOL"... and nothing else. And then you're like "argh, I have to come up with something else to say" and then it just gets stressful. Maybe that's just me though! *shrugs*

[TheCanadiandrome]

Well other than mainly this forum, I don't use Facebook, Twitter, tumblr, or whatever either. But I have a YouTube channel, Vine account and a Google+ page

[CyberCubed]

Fun fact: I never even had an iphone until the Iphone 4.

I still used the old flip-top phones with the buttons.

[ssjup81]

Fun fact: I never even had an iphone until the Iphone 4.

I still used the old flip-top phones with the buttons.Fun fact, I never owned a cell phone until moving to Japan my second time in 2012. First time, I had a prepay phone I rarely ever used and had it just so I had some type of number registered to me. I got the iPhone 4 in 2012 because I figured it would be the easiest to use since I had an iPod...and my boss required me to have one so I'd always be in contact.

[CyberCubed]

It seems we are all "technology dinosaurs" here. Given most of us were born in the 80's its not too surprising, when we were kids we didn't have all this new fancy technology the young ones currently have.

Since we didn't grow up with it we're not into the cyberspace the current modern day youth is. Sure, we all got involved in this stuff when we got older, but kids today will never know the joy of never having the internet, no cell phone, and playing 8-bit games on the NES.

[blindturtle02]

The only social media site I use is facebook because I've got friends scattered throughout the world like Jester. My family is spread everywhere as well, so I like checking up on everyone. I'd misplaced my facebook password and finally found it in May of this year, so it's nice to be back in touch with folks because no one calls each other anymore. I'm bad about organizing phone numbers, so just as guilty. I actually prefer phone convos, but Skype also sounds fun and lest costly. Other than facebook, I get on this thing and that's it.

[ssjup81]

It seems we are all "technology dinosaurs" here. Given most of us were born in the 80's its not too surprising, when we were kids we didn't have all this new fancy technology the young ones currently have.

Since we didn't grow up with it we're not into the cyberspace the current modern day youth is. Sure, we all got involved in this stuff when we got older, but kids today will never know the joy of never having the internet, no cell phone, and playing 8-bit games on the NES.This may be why I can't get into things like Twitter or the constant texting stuff.

Even with taking care of business, I prefer to do things face-to-face, unless it can't be helped. I sometimes see my younger cousin (now 20) sitting with her friend, just texting away, even though they were seated right next to each other.

I do feel that we're all becoming a bit more disconnected as the technology continues advancing.

[CyberCubed]

Man, you know its sad that most of us are only in our mid-late 20's and early 30's and we feel like "old timers" compared to today's modern youth.

I mean we're all still young ourselves! Yet we all feel so outdated to the modern technology. Crazy.

[Cure]

What a bunch of old f*cking fogeys.

[Archon_Turtle]

I'm 33. Have a smart phone. Active on facebook, twitter account, long career in video games. Technology is rad. Suck it, old people. :P

[ssjup81]

I'm 33. Have a smart phone. Active on facebook, twitter account, long career in video games. Technology is rad. Suck it, old people. :PSame age. I have a smartphone but only because my boss told me to. lol I'm also active on FB because I'm overseas. Probably wouldn't use it much if back home. Same with the smartphone.

[Leo656]

I can totally see how some people legit need and/or can benefit from those things for work, but I'm pretty sure most people are just playing "Internet Celebrity".

Anybody you know ever brag about FB Likes in real-life conversation? What's the acceptable protocol for that situation? Do you hit them? I'm pretty sure it's allowed, in that context, to not only hit them, but actually damage them. If not, then it should be.

[CyberCubed]

If anyone ever bragged to me about how many facebook "friends" they have in real life I'd probably punch them in the face and walk away

[Prowler]

I can totally see how some people legit need and/or can benefit from those things for work, but I'm pretty sure most people are just playing "Internet Celebrity".

Anybody you know ever brag about FB Likes in real-life conversation? What's the acceptable protocol for that situation? Do you hit them? I'm pretty sure it's allowed, in that context, to not only hit them, but actually damage them. If not, then it should be.
Not that I have noticed it. But some people sure are obsessed over it. I remember fondly the time when people didn't want to get photographed. Now, in any public place, you see people taking pictures or selfies.

Speaking of FB friends, it's silly how some people will add you as a friend, like your posts etc... but won't even greet you when they walk past you in the corridor. What the hell?

[TheBlueTurtle1]

You are not alone, I don't have accounts on these sites. A lot of people from my past I don't actually want to see again. Anyone I keep in contact with, I do the normal way, Face to face.

I think they are so in-personal and just not for me, but like you said i started to use the internet late as well. Around 1999-2000, so maybe I am not as clued up on it all as some:ohwell:

[CyberCubed]

Speaking of FB friends, it's silly how some people will add you as a friend, like your posts etc... but won't even greet you when they walk past you in the corridor. What the hell?

People don't like face to face interaction anymore. Normal human interaction is currently at the bare minimum. Its the same reason people would rather respond to e-mails or online posts rather than talk on the phone like they are used to.

We are all, "slaves to the machine" in the modern era of today's youthful society. I shudder to think what things will be like in the year 2020 and beyond.

[Prowler]

People don't like face to face interaction anymore. Normal human interaction is currently at the bare minimum. Its the same reason people would rather respond to e-mails or online posts rather than talk on the phone like they are used to.

We are all, "slaves to the machine" in the modern era of today's youthful society. I shudder to think what things will be like in the year 2020 and beyond.
It's as if all they want is to show off the size of their friend list. If you're gonna add someone, at least have the decency of greeting or talking to said person in real life. I can understand being more talkative and open on the internet than in real life, but not even acknowledging you when you walk past them just shows how much they actually care about you. They just see you as a number to increase their friend list. They're usually the kind of people who get upset when someone removes them from their friend list.

And I thought I was social awkward when I was younger. I shudder to think what I'd be like if I was a kid/teenager in this era.

Honestly, despite not being as old as some of you here(i was born in 1990), I kinda miss the late 90s sometimes. Sure, technology wasn't as good as it is today, but we didn't take things for granted. You actually had to make an effort to get something you sought after. Nowadays you can get many video games, tv shows, etc. from the internet in a matter of minutes, but that wide selection and availability has spoiled us a lot, in my opinion.

[CyberCubed]

I remember back in the 90's and early 2000's always being worried if I missed my favorite show on TV since you were usually out of luck until reruns came around.

Nowadays you don't have to watch anything when it airs on TV anymore, its on the internet usually by the end of the day even if its illegal.

[Mzx10484]

Therefore the binding force of TV decreases. In my childhood and youth, TV was the dominant medium. Today, everybody can choose his program. And any people who would have never made it to television (not meeting the criteria) make it through Youtube in a kind of public, without a threshold to overcome. So many individual uses pathetic attempt to gain a little attention :ohwell:
I have no FB account, I don't use Skype etc ..... I write emails.

[Wesley]

Fun fact, I don't have a mobile phone. Anyway, I have only used Bebo and Facebook over the years. I'm glad that Facebook wasn't around decades ago, because there is too much information on the website for teenagers to understand. It's more suited for adults. I only have about 50 Facebook friends and that's enough I think. Facebook has its good and bad points. There are too many ads, though. It is a great way of finding out info about people such as their favourite music, tv shows, etc. It's also a great way of keeping in contact with old school friends or people who have emigrated. It's funny that in the days before Facebook, only close friends and family could look at photos of people they knew and now any "friend" can look at photos of people they supposedly "know".

[chrisdude]

Kind of depends on your social circles, doesn't it? My friends and I communicate via Facebook on a daily basis. Chatting, sending each other links throughout the day, and as a replacement for text messaging. Could we do all that via email and text? Sure. But Facebook is what my friends use.

If you've never used Facebook, either the people you know don't use it (In which case, so what?), or you've just been saying no to people for years and years. It's like refusing to get a SMS plan.

I prefer twitter, as it can be tailored to my interests, and I'm not socially obligated to connect with co-workers, old classmates, etc. I use it to keep up with all my favorite musicians and bands, so I can keep up with all their releases, music videos, televised performances, etc. You could do the same thing with news, sports, movies - literally anything you're into. Following is one-way, so you don't end up with a feed full of worthless stuff. And it's an easy way to connect people of similar interests.

And, hey, even if a lot of what gets posted on these sites is frivolous and insignificant, they are the very things people hold real conversations about. What you're doing this weekend, what you dressed up as for Halloween, where you ate last night, the way your baby rattled off every word it knew until you picked her up - That's the same stuff people share, face-to-face. It's just a different way to talk. Life goes on. Social networks are full of adults, now, liking and LOLing, and kids are growing up in it. All that talk about kids not being able to function in the "real world" isn't the case. The real world just changes with them.

[ssjup81]

I've never spoken about FB offline and I don't think I've ever come across a person who talks about the amount of friends they have either. Never would've come to my mind.

The only time people talk about Facebook offline with me is when they're asking if we can be FB buddies to begin with.

One of my students' mother found me on Facebook while I was in the hospital. I didn't know the person, though and then I finally read it and realized it was my four-year-old student's mother. She'd used a Japanese/English translator and I told her typing in Japanese was ok. They wanted to visit me because her daughter was super worried about me and really wanted to see me. Adorable, isn't it?

So, outside of those I've met through games (like when I used to play Priston Tale) or those from the Do As Infinity forum who I haven't met face-to-face yet (one has finally moved to Japan, but missed out on meeting when I visited Kyoto back in August) or other board members of other forums, mostly consists of those I've met face-to-face at some point. The majority of my friends list, I think, consists of former coworkers and former classmates from elementary/middle/high school.

As a matter of fact, a few years ago FB did help me find my old friend who I'd lost touch with back in 2001. We used to talk a lot back then and we didn't see one another as much after we graduated high-school (even though we'd known each other since elementary). Due to some unfortunate circumstances, he enlisted into the service. He was stationed, but I didn't know where and he'd misplaced my e-mail just like I had his because prior to e-mail, we'd just talk on the phone. I sent him a long e-mail that one time, and I got a mailer daemon saying the address was wrong, meaning I'd copied it down wrong right before he left.

Back in about 2008, or somewhere around there, I don't know how, but I saw his name was on FB. I asked to friend him and we started talking again. He'd told me how he'd been stationed in Japan and how, at the time, he was now stationed in Hawaii. We exchanged phone numbers (he said he'd lost my number during that time) and we started talking a lot (despite the large time difference between Virginia and Hawaii). He then was stationed in Korea when I moved to Japan so we used Skype a lot because we were finally back in the same time zone. For Christmas that year, we video chatted while drinking wine. lol

So yeah, this is an instance where I was grateful for Facebook. I could reconnect to my old friend. ^_^

[Netkeeper]

I remember back in the 90's and early 2000's always being worried if I missed my favorite show on TV since you were usually out of luck until reruns came around.

Nowadays you don't have to watch anything when it airs on TV anymore, its on the internet usually by the end of the day even if its illegal.
Oh yeah, that's so awful.

[CyberCubed]

I used to have a stack of VHS tapes recording shows to rewatch again and again.

DVDs were also extremely expensive in the early 2000's. Remember how they used to just release 3 episodes on DVD and sell it for $20? That was insane, 3 measly episodes would cost you $20 on DVD.

[Cure]

This thread should just be renamed "Back in MYYY day".

[Prowler]

I used to have a stack of VHS tapes recording shows to rewatch again and again.

DVDs were also extremely expensive in the early 2000's. Remember how they used to just release 3 episodes on DVD and sell it for $20? That was insane, 3 measly episodes would cost you $20 on DVD.
I remember people buying PS2s just so they could own a cheap DVD player.

[Leo656]

I remember people buying PS2s just so they could own a cheap DVD player.

Right here, guy.

Although MGS2 was a pretty big selling-point, also.

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

Fun fact, I don't have a mobile phone. Anyway, I have only used Bebo and Facebook over the years. I'm glad that Facebook wasn't around decades ago, because there is too much information on the website for teenagers to understand. It's more suited for adults. I only have about 50 Facebook friends and that's enough I think. Facebook has its good and bad points. There are too many ads, though. It is a great way of finding out info about people such as their favourite music, tv shows, etc. It's also a great way of keeping in contact with old school friends or people who have emigrated. It's funny that in the days before Facebook, only close friends and family could look at photos of people they knew and now any "friend" can look at photos of people they supposedly "know".

Up until a year ago, I didn't have a Mobile phone either. I don't even use it at all. In fact my phone hasn't been switched on for 4 days.

[BubblyShell22]

I got a cell phone in college because it was a good thing to have in case something happened and I needed to get in touch with my mom or something. Nowadays, I barely use it, but I'm still happy I have it.

As for social networking, I don't have any accounts on any of those sites, though I have debated about getting a Tumblr account to talk about my fave TV shows and the like. The tutoring job I want to get is via Facebook, so that's all I'll be using it for. My mom uses FB mostly to keep in touch with former co-workers and family members and to play games on. She never posts anything though.

[CyberCubed]

Am I the only one who remembers putting tokens into subway stations before Metro Cards were invented?

Back in my day we didn't even have plastic cards with money on them.

[plastroncafe]

Yes, the only one.

[TheCanadiandrome]

This thread should just be renamed "Back in MYYY day".

haha, I rofl'd :lol:

[pennydreadful]

Am I the only one who remembers putting tokens into subway stations before Metro Cards were invented?

Back in my day we didn't even have plastic cards with money on them.

I'm amazed you were modern enough to take the subway - surely you would've walked ten miles to get where you needed to go, uphill both ways, in the middle of a blizzard? And when you got home, you didn't put your clothes in the washing machine - you took 'em down to the river and beat them against the rocks.

And when you got sick, none of those fancy doctors, nosiree - you went and put leeches all over your body.

[Wesley]

Anyone remember using cassette tapes? I used them for years until a few months ago when I switched to CDs. I also didn't know that my dreamcast could play CDs until recently (I haven't used it for sometime, though).

[Gunpowder]

Speaking of CDs, my iPod broke a while back, and I've been using a CD player ever since. As it turns out, I prefer using that. It makes me appreciate the music more.

[Netkeeper]

I remember people buying PS2s just so they could own a cheap DVD player.
And I bought a PS3 so I could have a cheap blu ray player.

Some things don't change.

[Jester]

Anyone remember using cassette tapes? I used them for years until a few months ago when I switched to CDs. I also didn't know that my dreamcast could play CDs until recently (I haven't used it for sometime, though).
Still have a box full of cassettes, but my tape player sucks and speeds everything up slightly. It's just enough to make songs sound....off.

I've also been working through culling my "VHS tapes purchased from flea markets" collection. If I can combine or just flat get rid of some it'll be a win.

[CyberCubed]

I still remember in the early days of the internet when it took like 2 hours to download a 20 minute video.

The horror.

[DarkFell]

Anyone remember using cassette tapes? I used them for years until a few months ago when I switched to CDs. I also didn't know that my dreamcast could play CDs until recently (I haven't used it for sometime, though).
I still use cassette tapes whenever I find a working
cassette player. I still have PLENTY of tapes with quite a few awesome tracks and songs recorded on them.
For this topic I mainly do art sites and YouTube aside from TF. Never developed much of an interest to have a FB Twitter or a Skype account. Of course that might change in the long run.

[Prowler]

We've had a few cassettes when I was a kid. I remember English books always coming with a cassette, and the teacher bringing his/her big radio with her to class and play the cassette to us.

VHS didn't have much quality and rewinding was always a pain but it's all we got back then. Remember when DVD quality made our jaws drop?, And I do miss going with my family to the local video store in the mid-late 90s and picking up a cartoon or a movie to rent for the weekend. Don't want to go back to those days, but they're nice memories.

[chrisdude]

I kinda missed cassette tapes. I got my first CD player on Christmas of 1999, when I was 12. I wasn't into music very long before that. I did use tapes to record songs from the radio, for a short period. But when I got a CD player, I pretty much started dumping all my money into music, right away.

I did have the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series soundtrack and Coming Out of Our Shells, though.

[Leo656]

Yes, the only one.

You slay me. You're so F'n deadpan. I love it.

[ssjup81]

Since this thread has turned into "Back in my day"....how about those Beta tapes. Remember those? lolAm I the only one who remembers putting tokens into subway stations before Metro Cards were invented?

Back in my day we didn't even have plastic cards with money on them.Seeing as how I didn't grow up in New York, and I barely remember my visits from when I was super young, no, I don't remember tokens. I was born in New York, but my parents wanted me to grow up in Virginia. My father's from NY and my mother's from VA. They moved when I was going on 3, so my memories are very vague on subway visits. Getting down to it, it was rare we went to NYC even in the 90s...and my father preferred driving to public transportation. lol

[CyberCubed]

I don't understand the young teenage youth of today. They're raised by electronic devices and social media.

Kids today will never know the joy of walking around discovering things on our own like we did, or tripping over ourselves and getting our faces stuck in dirt.

[Jester]

I don't understand the young teenage youth of today. They're raised by electronic devices and social media.

Kids today will never know the joy of walking around discovering things on our own like we did, or tripping over ourselves and getting our faces stuck in dirt.
BbU4Cb4A4-o

[Cure]

Sounds like CyberCubed is just a klutz to me.

[Leo656]

I don't understand the young teenage youth of today. They're raised by electronic devices and social media.


Says the guy who's here like it's his job. :lol:

There is no way at all you are ever away from your computer or personal device for more than 3.7 minutes, and no greater distance than 16.25 inches. Pretty sure you're one of those cats who surfs the web while they're in the can.

Not judgin'. Just sayin'. :lol:

[Hakase]

I'm currently 18 and pretty much on all the mainstream social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). I pretty much only use Facebook for the instant messaging. I use Twitter to give sarcastic replies to my friends's statuses and Instagram to post memorable days.

Teens don't really use Facebook that much since everyone has a Facebook, that includes their parents. Most of my friends pretty much use it for the instant messaging and school work. Twitter is mostly used for bitching and complaining about their life. Instagram is pretty much to post pictures of whatever. Some use it to take pictures of food, what they bought, artsy pictures, selfies, etc.

[CyberCubed]

Says the guy who's here like it's his job. :lol:

There is no way at all you are ever away from your computer or personal device for more than 3.7 minutes, and no greater distance than 16.25 inches. Pretty sure you're one of those cats who surfs the web while they're in the can.

Not judgin'. Just sayin'. :lol:

Well I do use it when I'm bored waiting on line for something, but I'm not on it as I'm constantly walking like those spiky haired teens you see walking around.

Ugh, I really dislike those teens with the shaved heads or spiky hair like they're so "badass" or something. And they wear their chains around their necks and their black leather jackets. Most if not all of them also have a smoke in their mouth as they're going by looking down on their phones.

If this were the 80's those kids would be holding a boom box on their arms or a Sony Walkman. lol.

[pennydreadful]

Ugh, I really dislike those teens with the shaved heads or spiky hair like they're so "badass" or something. And they wear their chains around their necks and their black leather jackets. Most if not all of them also have a smoke in their mouth as they're going by looking down on their phones.

What are they, some sort of punkers?

Man, I hate punkers...

[Jester]

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/133/666/beeker-what-is-this-i-dont-even.gif

[Hakase]

If this were the 80's those kids would be holding a boom box on their arms or a Sony Walkman. lol.

Last year, when I was a senior in high school, there was this junior who walked around with a giant boom box on his shoulder at school blasting his music as he went to class and he looked like a big douchebag doing it.

[DarkFell]

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/133/666/beeker-what-is-this-i-dont-even.gif
Meep...meep.. MEEP!!!!! :tlol:

[Jephael]

Now this is a side of you I had no idea about, CyberCubed. Funny thing is it explains a lot. For a long time I've been wondering who the heck you are, and now it occurs to me that you long for the old days when your online name remained a secret identity. Unfortunately in this day and age there's virtually no anonymity on the web, especially when it comes to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. I can kinda relate to wishing things could go back to the way they used to be in regards to how we behave, but I don't blame technology itself for how this world has gone. I blame a lack of humanity. We've all become a bunch of hateful self-important trolls who don't know how to love our fellow man, and it's getting worse.

[ssjup81]

What are they, some sort of punkers?

Man, I hate punkers...*claps* Great reference. :tlol:

[BubblyShell22]

Yeah, Jeph, I hear you. It's all about how you use the technology that makes it either good or bad. I'm thankful for how we've progressed, and I feel we've come a long way with technology and the like. As long as people don't abuse it, it can be a great thing.

[Netkeeper]

Now this is a side of you I had no idea about, CyberCubed. Funny thing is it explains a lot. For a long time I've been wondering who the heck you are, and now it occurs to me that you long for the old days when your online name remained a secret identity. Unfortunately in this day and age there's virtually no anonymity on the web, especially when it comes to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. I can kinda relate to wishing things could go back to the way they used to be in regards to how we behave, but I don't blame technology itself for how this world has gone. I blame a lack of humanity. We've all become a bunch of hateful self-important trolls who don't know how to love our fellow man, and it's getting worse.
I disagree. To maintain your online anonymity, all you have to do is refuse to use your real name and remain on sites that rely on anonymous communication.

Channers, basically.

[Jephael]

To maintain your online anonymity, all you have to do is refuse to use your real name and remain on sites that rely on anonymous communication.

Channers, basically.

You make a good point, though even in that case most people these days are more willing to reveal their true selves, especially when they become famous YouTube personalities.

[Netkeeper]

And that's their choice. Nothing wrong with it.

[Jephael]

And that's their choice. Nothing wrong with it.

Hey I remember a time where I thought twice about giving out my real name to people online who I didn't know in real life, but then when I started making friends with folks like like Andrew, Lisa and Ivey I felt comfortable letting my guard down.

[CyberCubed]

People can post on forums for years and never say their real name, assuming they don't have it in their profile and they simply never mention it in any posts.

[BubblyShell22]

Very true. For me, I'm comfortable giving out my first name, but that's it. It just depends on what you're comfortable doing.

[Jephael]

I'm comfortable giving out my first name, but that's it. It just depends on what you're comfortable doing.

That's kinda how I started out, then it just gradually progressed.

[BubblyShell22]

Yeah, I think it depends on if you meet said person in real life and are comfortable giving out your name. I know I refuse to give my e-mail to anyone I don't know personally and prefer to talk via PM through the various forums I visit and FF.Net.

[CyberCubed]

That's right, there could be sexual predators lurking around every corner. Be...careful.

*shifty eyes*

[Netkeeper]

Haha, I've actually had a couple run-ins with those. They never targeted me specifically, but I've heard stories about people I used to talk a lot to turning out to be predators.

Strange world.

[Jephael]

That's right, there could be sexual predators lurking around every corner. Be...careful.

*shifty eyes*
Haha, I've actually had a couple run-ins with those. They never targeted me specifically, but I've heard stories about people I used to talk a lot to turning out to be predators.

Strange world.

Aw man that's scary! I remember once someone asked me if I wanted to have cyber sex. That was waaay uncomfortable!!!

[CyberCubed]

Aw man that's scary! I remember once someone asked me if I wanted to have cyber sex. That was waaay uncomfortable!!!

Let me guess, it was another male who asked you that? Or probably a guy pretending to be a girl online.

[Jephael]

Let me guess, it was another male who asked you that? Or probably a guy pretending to be a girl online.

My memory's kinda fuzzy, thought I think it might've been a friend from this forum who was drunk off his @$$ one night.

[pennydreadful]

Aw man that's scary! I remember once someone asked me if I wanted to have cyber sex. That was waaay uncomfortable!!!

Who wastes their time with cybering when there's an internet full of free smut already out there?

Humans. I'll never understand 'em. *shakes head*

[Jephael]

Humans. I'll never understand 'em. *shakes head*

Yep, we're all just a bunch of horny weirdos!!!

[pennydreadful]

Oh, the horny weirdo part I get - hell, I represent, yo! - but I can't believe people actually still cyber. That's so... 90s! Given the purpose that cybering is meant to fulfill, the fact that you have to keep both hands on the keyboard to type properly just makes the whole act redundant, IMO.

Though possibly I'm giving this whole thing too much thought.

[CyberCubed]

We live in a world where a 13 year old can pull up porn on their cell phone in the middle of class.

God knows we didn't have that when I was a teen

[ssjup81]

We live in a world where a 13 year old can pull up porn on their cell phone in the middle of class.

God knows we didn't have that when I was a teenThat's because we didn't have cell phones. The concept of a cell phone for normal people was such a foreign concept. In my mind, the only people with "cell phones" or "car phones" were rich people. :lol:

[CyberCubed]

More importantly these aren't the phones I used when I was a teen. It was the old flip-top cell phones that basically did nothing but function as a phone.

Now every phone has the internet, can take pictures, can chat, etc. You can literally cheat on your test with a phone in class now. 15 year olds can now watch girl on girl porn in the lunchroom at school. Damn kids don't know how good they have it.

[plastroncafe]

There were phones when you were a teen?

[ssjup81]

More importantly these aren't the phones I used when I was a teen. It was the old flip-top cell phones that basically did nothing but function as a phone.Darn youngen. Back in my day, kids didn't have phones! *waves cane* Now every phone has the internet, can take pictures, can chat, etc. You can literally cheat on your test with a phone in class now. 15 year olds can now watch girl on girl porn in the lunchroom at school. Damn kids don't know how good they have it.You're reaching now. Kids can't get away with having phones out during a test. Have you ever worked in a public school?

[pennydreadful]

Darn youngen. Back in my day, kids didn't have phones! *waves cane*

Back in my day, we didn't have phones. If we wanted to talk to someone, we had to stuff a message into a coconut and send it by swallow.

And back in my day, we didn't have canes either. All we had was mud. Mud and the occasional rock - and those who had a rock to their name were lucky, I tells ya!

[Machias Banshee]

.... I still have a flip phone. Does that make me a luddite?

We still use VHS tapes, cassette tapes, 8 tracks, and my brother still uses a lot of older hand tools and nothing that really requires batteries. Sometimes older stuff is more reliable.

[Powder]

Pfft, that's nothin', I actually bought a brand new flip phone last year! That's right, I deliberately got one. :trazz: Granted it was just a burner for a trip I was taking, it did the job just fine. I say, who needs all that extra crap? I sure don't. A phone is a phone. I recently got a smart phone after years of being without (I had one like 4-5 years ago, so I'm not totally out of the loop, but this was before apps & touch-everything) & while it has its charms I find the whole thing convoluted. I need a keypad, too. Tryna text with a touchscreen is no easy feat with these meat mittens 'o mine. & the autocorrect features & stuff? Maaaan. :tlol: The things I've said on accident...

[CyberCubed]

There were phones when you were a teen?

I dunno, when were cell phones invented and in the mass market? I was in High School back in 2000-2003.

[Sumac]

I don't like social networks and don't use them. I don't see any point in informing the world about my breakfast. I prefer to have as much privacy as possible and don't consider my life interesting enough to share.

I had FB account, but it was created due to some minor conflict and later I have abandoned it completely.

[BubblyShell22]

Oh man, I can picture Cybercubed sitting on his porch and yelling, "Hey, kids, get off my lawn!"

I still have a flip phone, and I'm proud of it. Don't need all that extra sh*t.

[CyberCubed]

I turn my nose up at the young people of today. Is it just me or did the teens of our day have a bit more common sense? We had more sophistication even as teens and we knew what we were doing.

[FoxBoxKid]

I turn my nose up at the young people of today. Is it just me or did the teens of our day have a bit more common sense? We had more sophistication even as teens and we knew what we were doing.

I think it's just you.

[Leo656]

Back in my day, we didn't have phones. If we wanted to talk to someone, we had to stuff a message into a coconut and send it by swallow.


...would that be an African or European swallow? (As if the very idea of a swallow carrying a coconut wasn't patently absurd...)

[pennydreadful]

African swallow, of course. Unless two swallows carried it together!

[Jephael]

Is it just me or did the teens of our day have a bit more common sense? We had more sophistication even as teens and we knew what we were doing.

It could just be the town you live in. My current home feels like somewhat of a melting pot and the kids in the area seem relatively well adjusted members of society. Every now and then you're gonna run into a bad apple, but very seldom.

[plastroncafe]

I turn my nose up at the young people of today. Is it just me or did the teens of our day have a bit more common sense? We had more sophistication even as teens and we knew what we were doing.

...bless your heart.

[DarkFell]

African swallow, of course. Unless two swallows carried it together!
My father had a mug that had the numeric equations of how a swallow could carry a coconut. Then again anyone would be a nut to believe in any of it. Good ol' Monty Python.
*bangs the bottom of a bucket with a ladel* BRING OUT YOUR DEAD!

[CyberCubed]

If there's one good thing I can say about the teens of today, is that they're not as disconnected from past generations like we were from our parents.

All of us who grew up in the 80's and 90's were fully exposed to "fandom," as in TV shows, cartoons, movies, comics and videogames. Our parents generation rarely took part in fandom.

So now its us and the younger teens and we can share fandoms together. Other than old Star Trek or Star Wars fans, there was no fandom prior to 1985.

[plastroncafe]

It's true. He knows this from his learnings, and can prove it with SCIENCE!

[BubblyShell22]

I turn my nose up at the young people of today. Is it just me or did the teens of our day have a bit more common sense? We had more sophistication even as teens and we knew what we were doing.

Nah, I knew people in my class who did stupid sh*t when they were teenagers. Things like that don't change much with generations.

[ssjup81]

I turn my nose up at the young people of today. Is it just me or did the teens of our day have a bit more common sense? We had more sophistication even as teens and we knew what we were doing.You're in a dreamworld. Teenagers are teenagers regardless of the generation. You'll always have your teens that do stupid things, although, to be honest, I do find it odd how kids are so quick to put stuff online but this baffles me even with adults who do the same...

You know, like people who may put up photos of themselves on their Facebooks or whatever in a suggestive situation or something embarrassing, and then wonder why they're overlooked for a job. I've always been super cautious with that as it's just common sense and before hearing about employers checking potential applicants social media stuff.

[Jephael]

I remember going though my high school's special ed system, and the sad truth is that's where a lot of bad apples wound up. My pal Samantha got mistreated so badly just because she was an easy target on account of her disability. I wanted to stand up for her, but I was too scared.

[tmntpower1988]

Tbh I think some of the teenagers are more mature than the adults.

[plastroncafe]

I'm sure SOME are more mature than SOME adults, but that doesn't change the fact that MOST are not.

[CyberCubed]

You know, like people who may put up photos of themselves on their Facebooks or whatever in a suggestive situation or something embarrassing, and then wonder why they're overlooked for a job. I've always been super cautious with that as it's just common sense and before hearing about employers checking potential applicants social media stuff.

That's my point, the teens of today make selfies or youtube videos of themselves doing stupid things and that lingers on the internet for years after they become adults. We didn't have "selfies" back in my day, so we didn't do that stuff.

Also I remember hearing teens are having sex younger and younger these days, much younger than our generation. It makes me sick to my stomach when I hear about two 14 year olds having sex.

[ssjup81]

That's my point, the teens of today make selfies or youtube videos of themselves doing stupid things and that lingers on the internet for years after they become adults. We didn't have "selfies" back in my day, so we didn't do that stuff.

Also I remember hearing teens are having sex younger and younger these days, much younger than our generation. It makes me sick to my stomach when I hear about two 14 year olds having sex.That's not limited to this generation. You'll always have teens having sex despite the generation. I remember a girl in my 8th grade class who became pregnant.

Geez, look at the '76 version of the Bad News Bears. Tatum's character who was maybe 12 or 13, was going on about a girl she knew who was "already on the pill" to Walter Matthau's character, and boy did he have a humorous reaction.

I will admit this, though. Seems some kids are hitting puberty earlier and earlier as each generation goes by.

[plastroncafe]

That's my point, the teens of today make selfies or youtube videos of themselves doing stupid things and that lingers on the internet for years after they become adults. We didn't have "selfies" back in my day, so we didn't do that stuff.

Also I remember hearing teens are having sex younger and younger these days, much younger than our generation. It makes me sick to my stomach when I hear about two 14 year olds having sex.

Who is this we you're talking about here, because the "We" I'm a part of did all these things when we were teens. Oh sure there was no internet to distribute them world wide at the click of a button, but that doesn't mean teens weren't taking stupid pictures and videos of themselves.

Just because you didn't hear about it doesn't mean it wasn't happening.

The same thing goes with sex.
Or lest we forget: Juliet was 13 in the play "Romeo and Juliet."

Cripes dude, get off your porch and go back inside. You're embarrassing yourself.

More than usual.

[ssjup81]

Hm, don't feel that Juliet is a good example. Different time. The life expectancy was shorter and everyone started all that junk at younger ages.

[CyberCubed]

I think it was the rise of redneck reality shows that brought the downfall of modern society.

I remember back in the 90's there was no such thing as reality shows. Didn't they start around the year 2000? Back then it was mostly game shows like "Who wants to be a Millionaire?" and Jepoardy/Wheel of Fortune.

[ssjup81]

The writer's strike of '88 (iirc) gave us a reality show (sorta...if it counts). America's Most Wanted. Oh and we mustn't forget Cops.

Oh what about the Real World on MTV and that other show Road Rules? :-P

[plastroncafe]

And let's not forget The Real World (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_World), Rescue 911 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescue_911), Unsolved Mysteries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsolved_Mysteries), Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestyles_of_the_Rich_and_Famous).

[CyberCubed]

Watching the first American Pie movie brings back memories of how teens used to be back in 1999 compared to the modern youth.

[plastroncafe]

When all teens were actually played by people in their mid to late 20s.

[ssjup81]

When all teens were actually played by people in their mid to late 20s.:lol: You beat me to it.

[BubblyShell22]

Cops will always be the definitive reality show no matter what anyone says about Survivor being the first one. And I watch Cops all of the time because it's awesome. There are certain reality shows I'll watch and other ones I won't touch. And it's not just redneck shows, Cubed. Don't forget about the Real Housewives series (though I do have a fascination with the New Jersey version).

[Wesley]

The first reality show I saw was Treasure Island in 2001. It was like an Irish version of Survivor and I thought it was awesome. Cabin Fever was entertaining to watch in 2003 and, more recently, Hell's Kitchen and At Your Service have been fun to watch.

[pennydreadful]

Also I remember hearing teens are having sex younger and younger these days, much younger than our generation. It makes me sick to my stomach when I hear about two 14 year olds having sex.

I'd suggest that's more of an issue relating to the culture they're raised in. People don't exist in a vacuum - cultural influences affect peoples' behavior.

I think it was the rise of redneck reality shows that brought the downfall of modern society.

What downfall? I just took a look out the window and I didn't see buildings crumbling or people fighting to the death in some kind of Thunderdome-esque battle over the last box of nutrition bars.

Watching the first American Pie movie brings back memories of how teens used to be back in 1999 compared to the modern youth.

... yes, the good old days when teenage boys f*cked pies. There's that common sense and sophistication you were referring to, neh?

Seriously man, what is up with you? I can't honestly believe that you act this way in real life; someone would have bludgeoned you to death long ago if you did. What's the appeal of this persona you've crafted for yourself - are you just really bored, or easily entertained?

[Jester]

http://i1055.photobucket.com/albums/s509/TMNTCollector/Action%20Figures/1993/GiantTrollLeonardo.jpg

[ssjup81]

The first reality show I saw was Treasure Island in 2001. It was like an Irish version of Survivor and I thought it was awesome. Cabin Fever was entertaining to watch in 2003 and, more recently, Hell's Kitchen and At Your Service have been fun to watch.Back in the late 80s/90s I did used to watch Cops, Rescue 911, Unsolved Mysteries, America's Most Wanted.

As for modern-day reality shows...I've never been much of a fan, really, but when I was last stateside, there was this show on the Food Network channel that dealt with restaurant service. The owners wanted to know why they didn't have better business so they call up this guy and he sets up cameras and stuff in the restaurants and they see what the employees are doing wrong. He owns a chain of restaurants himself, the guy and it's mostly in NJ and NY I've noticed for this show. Forgot the name of it, though and haven't seen it since last year. I thought it was a really good show. I wish I could remember the name! I'd look it up on Hulu or Netflix. If it helps, the guy is straight up New Yorken. lol He also has a stereotypical Godfather, Soprano thing going on.

Oh I used to enjoy watching Super Nanny and the show that preceded this.

Oh and one other show comes to mind. A UK show called Supersize vs Superskinny.

So, reality shows where you can learn something doesn't bother me so much. Reality shows where people are acting like idiots just to be on TV (like that Honey Boo Boo stuff my cousin watches or Jersey Shore), I can't get into nor do I really have an interest in it.

[pennydreadful]

http://i1055.photobucket.com/albums/s509/TMNTCollector/Action%20Figures/1993/GiantTrollLeonardo.jpg

... but does he have the ultimate in giant mutant poseability? :tlol:

[Leo656]

http://i1055.photobucket.com/albums/s509/TMNTCollector/Action%20Figures/1993/GiantTrollLeonardo.jpg

Oh my GOD I almost pissed myself, you f*cking jackal. :lol:

14 is "young"? Where? By the time I was that age - the age I finally "did it" - I didn't even brag about it when it happened because I was one of the last ones in my circle who did (and the chick would have gone to jail, but that's a whole other ball of wax). 14 was so "late" to lose your virginity that I couldn't even brag about it. I knew chicks who were "open" at 11. They were generally low-class, but it was a thing that happened and everyone knew who they were. It probably had a lot to do with growing up in a small town where everyone knew everyone since they were like 4, because oddly enough, a good number of people I knew had a harder time getting laid in high school than before, because they had to meet all new people.

I mean, that's all probably pretty atypical, but it happens. For a lot of kids, 14 isn't early, maybe not "late" but it's definitely been the "average" age for quite a while now. Basically, regardless of age, if you leave boys and girls together unsupervised, they're going to start sticking stuff in places sooner rather than later.

And if you think that's something brand new, Cubed, well then you need to get out more.

[CyberCubed]

14 is "young"? Where? By the time I was that age - the age I finally "did it" - I didn't even brag about it when it happened because I was one of the last ones in my circle who did (and the chick would have gone to jail, but that's a whole other ball of wax). 14 was so "late" to lose your virginity that I couldn't even brag about it. I knew chicks who were "open" at 11. They were generally low-class, but it was a thing that happened and everyone knew who they were. It probably had a lot to do with growing up in a small town where everyone knew everyone since they were like 4, because oddly enough, a good number of people I knew had a harder time getting laid in high school than before, because they had to meet all new people.

This is rather odd and makes me think of down south. I've never heard of girls as young as 11 open for sex unless they lived troubled childhoods.

When I was in High School the youngest sex was acceptable at was either 15 or 16, any younger than that and it was disturbing.

[Netkeeper]

Implying 14 isn't the number right below 15.

[CyberCubed]

Implying 14 isn't the number right below 15.

17 is just one year younger than 18 too, and it makes a world of difference.

You can be a 20 year old dating an 18 year old and its fine. But if you're 20 and date a 17 year old you better hope that person doesn't cry "rape" because you'll get the book thrown at you.

[Jester]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/Jesterangelo/cybercubed.gif

[plastroncafe]

Rape in "scare quotes". You just get classier and classier, don't you Cyber.

Sex with a minor is always rape, since those under age can't legally consent.
Someone who is 17 with a partner three years their senior would likely be protected under "Romeo and Juliet" statues.

[Jephael]

You can be a 20 year old dating an 18 year old and its fine. But if you're 20 and date a 17 year old you better hope that person doesn't cry "rape" because you'll get the book thrown at you.

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140418000727/mlp/images/3/3d/Awkward.gif

[Jester]

Rape in "scare quotes". You just get classier and classier, don't you Cyber.

Sex with a minor is always rape, since those under age can't legally consent.
Someone who is 17 with a partner three years their senior would likely be protected under "Romeo and Juliet" statues.
You made me think of the new Transformers movie!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!???

But, doesn't R&J only apply if the couple were dating when both minors anyway? Their prior relationship as minors protects the older person from cries of statutory rape.

[pennydreadful]

What I don't get is how Cubed hasn't gotten bored with this schtick by now. I'm addressing this to the room as well as Cubed directly. He seems to genuinely be into the Turtles - why does he waste his time on acting the fool just to get attention/responses? Doesn't it get boring? How can someone commit themselves to this so diligently that they've racked up 18,000+ posts, and yet not have gotten tired of it? Is it really that entertaining to be annoying? I'm baffled.

http://i.minus.com/i4xFrzn42IxFv.gif

[Leo656]

This is rather odd and makes me think of down south. I've never heard of girls as young as 11 open for sex unless they lived troubled childhoods.

When I was in High School the youngest sex was acceptable at was either 15 or 16, any younger than that and it was disturbing.

Newp, New Joisey, which is pretty far Not South. Like I said, I think maybe it was the small-town environment. Kids grow up together and spend every day together from age four until high school. Parents get "comfortable" and don't always feel the need to supervise and are more apt to leave kids alone together figuring "they're good kids" and nothing will happen. Forgetting the fact that if you're 10 or 11 and your hormones are starting to flare up and you're feeling pressure to try things other kids say they do but aren't sure how to go about it, whether it's "practice kissing" or sticking your hand up someone's shirt or down their pants, you're infinitely more likely to "practice" with someone you've hung out with since you were in pre-school and are comfortable with (and who you know can keep a secret) rather than some kid you barely know.

Again, just going by the experiences my friends and I all had, and I'll concede those probably aren't Most People's experiences. There was this one kid who was pretty much openly gay at age 10, for example. You might say, "How can anyone know by that age?" but trust me... this dude was like, Freddy Mercury-levels of flamboyant. I felt really bad for him because everyone shunned him, nobody wanted to hang out with him because he was Like That... again, to my knowledge he hadn't "done anything" yet but it was pretty obvious which way he was leaning, and he got picked on ALL the time. I made it a point to hang out with him a lot because he was a cool guy and I didn't exactly think he was going to try anything, which he never did, obviously. Dude was just confused about who he was, I didn't feel like that was a reason to not be friends with him. But yeah, by about 11 or 12 it wasn't even a secret anymore. :lol:

Point being, people "awaken" at all different ages; suggesting there's a predetermined age where you have sexual feelings, or an age where it's suddenly "Okay" to have those feelings, is patently false.

I'm suddenly wondering how old Cubed was when his parents finally gave him The Talk. My guess? A week ago Tuesday.

[Jephael]

What I don't get is how Cubed hasn't gotten bored with this schtick by now. I'm addressing this to the room as well as Cubed directly. He seems to genuinely be into the Turtles - why does he waste his time on acting the fool just to get attention/responses? Doesn't it get boring? How can someone commit themselves to this so diligently that they've racked up 18,000+ posts, and yet not have gotten tired of it? Is it really that entertaining to be annoying? I'm baffled.

http://i.minus.com/i4xFrzn42IxFv.gif

From what I've gathered, he just doesn't know how to socialize and he ordinarily keeps to himself instead of getting to know us. We don't know virtually anything about him, except his age and that he's very opinionated. He's never shared anything with us about any specific events in his life. Hell, there's always a chance you could pass him by in the street and never even know it. I've actually considered starting a "Who is CyberCubed?" meme, but then I started thinking it might come off a little too mean-spirited.

[Gunpowder]

Anyone else here still not have a smart phone besides me?

What I don't get is how Cubed hasn't gotten bored with this schtick by now. I'm addressing this to the room as well as Cubed directly. He seems to genuinely be into the Turtles - why does he waste his time on acting the fool just to get attention/responses? Doesn't it get boring? How can someone commit themselves to this so diligently that they've racked up 18,000+ posts, and yet not have gotten tired of it? Is it really that entertaining to be annoying? I'm baffled.

http://i.minus.com/i4xFrzn42IxFv.gif

I've been wondering the same thing, to tell you the truth.

[TheCanadiandrome]

What I don't get is how Cubed hasn't gotten bored with this schtick by now. I'm addressing this to the room as well as Cubed directly. He seems to genuinely be into the Turtles - why does he waste his time on acting the fool just to get attention/responses? Doesn't it get boring? How can someone commit themselves to this so diligently that they've racked up 18,000+ posts, and yet not have gotten tired of it? Is it really that entertaining to be annoying? I'm baffled.

http://i.minus.com/i4xFrzn42IxFv.gif

All of the above? :lol:

[plastroncafe]

You made me think of the new Transformers movie!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!???

WHAT KIND OF MONSTER HAVE I BECOME?!?!

But, doesn't R&J only apply if the couple were dating when both minors anyway? Their prior relationship as minors protects the older person from cries of statutory rape.


I've never heard of that interpretation of the law, and always thought it had to do with one participant being under age and the other being a couple years older. But then...I could be entirely wrong in that understanding.

[pennydreadful]

Hey, I don't want to come off like I'm picking on the guy - that's not the intention. I just don't understand why he doesn't just be himself.

http://www.fantasiescometrue.com/images/medium/fct_6543562b5f6b4cc.jpg

[Jephael]

I just don't understand why he doesn't just be himself.

I tried that on Powder once... didn't end well.

[Cure]

Jephael throwing shade.

[Jester]

WHAT KIND OF MONSTER HAVE I BECOME?!?!



I've never heard of that interpretation of the law, and always thought it had to do with one participant being under age and the other being a couple years older. But then...I could be entirely wrong in that understanding.
To be fair....my "understanding" of the law comes from that Michael Bay "movie"....so...I could very well be completely and totally wrong. To research mode!

*Edit: Gah.....so much legalize!!!

[pennydreadful]

All this talk of "the law" is making me want to break out the Dr Moreau quotes.

Not to go on all-fours; that is the Law! :P

[Leo656]

See, I would have been more topical and made an Oingo Boingo reference.
wRljdzY3dXs

Yes, technically the same exact thing as what you said... I just think that whenever a person has a chance to work Danny Elfman into something, they have a moral obligation to do just that.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Nope, you are correct, sir! The R&J laws are designed to protect couples who were together BEFORE one turned 18 while the other is still a "minor". As soon as ONE is of legal age, as long as they were together intimately BEFORE the legal age, no one- even parents- can say boo about it. But they have to prove it. Also, it only applies when BOTH parties were minors when they became intimate. Doesn't work for couples when one is much older. And even if one is still a minor, in some states, they can even still get married, as long as the minor has parental/guardian consent.

[Jester]

And my brain goes here:
2aaubVlhNK4

[Leo656]

And my brain goes here:
2aaubVlhNK4

I didn't do it because I knew you were already on that sum'bitch.

[Jester]

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/comicsalliance.com/files/2013/08/XMen00.jpg
Get outta my head!!!

[Leo656]

...and into Rogue's pants.

I'd be killed. It'd be worth it.

[Jephael]

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/comicsalliance.com/files/2013/08/XMen00.jpg
Get outta my head!!!

...and into Rogue's pants.

I'd be killed. It'd be worth it.

Depends on what point in time you hook up with her. From what I've heard she can control her powers now.

[Netkeeper]

Leo and Jester, you two are a gift. :lol:

[Leo656]

Leo and Jester, you two are a gift. :lol:

You misspelled "Plague", sir.

[Davetello]

Yeah, I sorta think that all these social sites take away from face to face contact. But it seems to be the way of the world now.

[BubblyShell22]

Oh, man, you guys are always good for a laugh. Good ones.

[CyberCubed]

I still can't believe the whole last page was basically approval of underage sex between minors as young as 14.

[plastroncafe]

I can't believe you put "scare quotes" around the word rape.

[CyberCubed]

So that's what it means to put a word in quotes? I see that done on other forums and I thought people were just trying to emphasize a word. No idea it meant "scare quotes."

I'
Seriously man, what is up with you? What's the appeal of this persona you've crafted for yourself - are you just really bored, or easily entertained?

What if I told you this wasn't a persona? What if I told you....this was the real deal?

[Leo656]

Then everyone suddenly shifts gears and starts talking about how tighter restrictions on who is and isn't allowed to vote is actually a really, really, really good idea after all.

And there's a difference between "approval" of something and saying "Hey man, sh*t happens, that's real-life for ya." Build a bridge and get over it, slick.

Anyways, your view of the world seems highly influenced by movies and cartoons, which is odd, because you apparently are employed which would entail spending lots of time around other people, plus, you're not much younger than I am, which means you can't have grown up as sheltered as you sometimes seem to be unless you were raised by like, Carrie's mom or something.

I'm actually kind of inclined to think that at least most of it really is just You being You. Maybe I'm naive, but doing the math in my head, it would take an amazing amount of effort to keep up this kind of persona and someone would literally need to have NO life in order to do so. I'm gonna go ahead and give you the benefit of the doubt and say you just needed better friends growing up or something. See, I grew up in a house where people kept beer and guns out in the open and watched porn at 4pm, and I clearly turned out Terrific, so my guess is, you just needed more of that kind of thing.

Not that you aren't one of my very favorite people here. I will burn this place to the ground if you ever leave. I will find a way.

[CyberCubed]

I'm gonna go ahead and give you the benefit of the doubt and say you just needed better friends growing up or something. See, I grew up in a house where people kept beer and guns out in the open and watched porn at 4pm, and I clearly turned out Terrific, so my guess is, you just needed more of that kind of thing..

I guess it comes from upbringing. My parents were middle class and while we aren't rich or anything, I always got what I wanted as a kid. My parents are still together to this day and never divorced. My father sells insurance and my mother is a school teacher. I finished up College with a BA back in 2008.

Now I'm not going to pretend I have this great job or anything, I probably make far less than a lot of people on this forum do, but I always have extra money to buy whatever I want like games, comics, DVDs, etc.

Also oddly enough, there is not a single gay person in my entire family, and this extends to all my uncles and aunts and cousins and whatnot. My family is very old fashioned given my parents were born in the 60's and we are from a white neighborhood.

[Leo656]

It's adorable you don't think anyone in your family is gay. I'm pretty sure if there's more than ten people in your family, then statistically there has to be one in there somewhere.

Pretty sure one of my cousins is. Other than that I'm not sure. Most of my family members are chicks, but I'm sure just based on sheer volume that a couple of 'em must "swing". Just because people don't advertise it doesn't mean nothin'. If your family is as conservative as you imply, that'd be all the more reason that if anyone was gay they wouldn't be making noise about it, so you wouldn't know anyway.

[plastroncafe]

I'm with Leo on this one, just because everyone presents as straight doesn't mean they're all actually straight. And if you're really the same online as you are in person, you'd be the last one they'd tell.

[CyberCubed]

I'm with Leo on this one, just because everyone presents as straight doesn't mean they're all actually straight. And if you're really the same online as you are in person, you'd be the last one they'd tell.

Well literally all my uncles and aunts are married in straight relationships. Most of their kids (my cousins) have girlfriends or are married themselves. Likewise my grandparents and parents never had any homosexual encounters, especially since this is going back to the 40's when that just wasn't done.

I do have some siblings and unless they magically turn gay in a few years, I'm pretty sure they're all straight.

[plastroncafe]

Well literally all my uncles and aunts are married in straight relationships. Most of their kids (my cousins) have girlfriends or are married themselves. Likewise my grandparents and parents never had any homosexual encounters, especially since this is going back to the 40's when that just wasn't done.

I do have some siblings and unless they magically turn gay in a few years, I'm pretty sure they're all straight.

I feel like I might be taking away the magic of Christmas when I tell you this, Cyber, but...they had gay people in the 1940s.

Though while I do applaud you for recognizing the difference between being in a straight relationship and being straight, unless you've talked at length with all of your grandparents...I'm seriously doubting that you know with any degree of certainty that they've never had a same-sex encounter.

[CyberCubed]

I feel like I might be taking away the magic of Christmas when I tell you this, Cyber, but...they had gay people in the 1940s.

Though while I do applaud you for recognizing the difference between being in a straight relationship and being straight, unless you've talked at length with all of your grandparents...I'm seriously doubting that you know with any degree of certainty that they've never had a same-sex encounter.

My grandparents grew up in the 30's, 40's, and 50's, and they grew up in the typical American household. My grandfather's were in World War II. My grandmother's were typical 1950 housewifes like you see on TV. It was not done back then by them and everything was by the books like clockwork.

Likewise I know for sure my parents never had any same-sex encounters. My mother never had a relationship in general before my father. And my father couldn't be more straight than anything.

Seriously, I have an "old-fashioned" and "by the books" family. No divorces, nobody cheating or having an affair, no homosexual relationships, etc. Its like 1950's America in the modern 2000's.

[plastroncafe]

Still waters run deep.

[CyberCubed]

Still waters run deep.

Out of curiosity, are you implying every family has at least one gay person or gay "fling?"

Maybe nowadays that's true because people are far more tolerant of homosexuality than in the past, plus the approval of lesbianism by males (all teenage girls have at least one lesbian kiss growing up more or less), not to mention online porn.

But this stuff was all far less common in the 1950's and prior. Nowadays girls kiss just because they know someone will take a picture of it and put it on the internet. I doubt two girls in 1943 decided to kiss for horny boys in the middle of World War II.

[pennydreadful]

What if I told you this wasn't a persona? What if I told you....this was the real deal?

Then that is very depressing.

Seriously though, regardless of your upbringing, you don't exist in a vacuum. You are exposed to people with different views and lifestyles on the boards, yet you seem to absorb none of it and continue to remain completely reductive. The stuff you say is consistently so blatantly head-desky and over-the-top - I simply can't believe that anybody could be that dense and lacking in self-awareness.

Or am I giving you too much credit here?

Well literally all my uncles and aunts are married in straight relationships. Most of their kids (my cousins) have girlfriends or are married themselves. Likewise my grandparents and parents never had any homosexual encounters, especially since this is going back to the 40's when that just wasn't done.

I do have some siblings and unless they magically turn gay in a few years, I'm pretty sure they're all straight.

Just because someone's in a relationship with a member of the opposite sex, doesn't mean they're straight. Check out the casual encounters section on Craigslist - you'd be amazed how many married men are creeping on the down-low.

Nowadays girls kiss just because they know someone will take a picture of it and put it on the internet. I doubt two girls in 1943 decided to kiss for horny boys in the middle of World War II.

See, this is exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about when I say your comments lack self-awareness. Didn't you just say that homosexuality in the 40's "just wasn't done"? Are you implying that modern lesbianism and bisexuality isn't real, it just exists for the male gaze as a result of Girls Gone Wild and Katy Perry songs? I mean, that's a hideous thing to say, to negate the sexuality and relationships of millions of people because some girls share a sloppy drunken kiss with their friends when people are watching.

god you're hard work.

[Jephael]

Trust me, my friend. I've learned long ago there's just no reasoning with him. He's basically a modern day Archie Bunker.

[CyberCubed]

While homosexuality obviously existed all through human history, it didn't start to become noticeable in mainstream culture till the 1960's when we had famous people coming out as gay for the first time.

This is why you almost never hear about homosexual couples in the history books from prior to 1950. Also a lot of you are forgetting that in countries homosexuality was actually punishable by death and being hanged especially in the pre-1900's in European countries. People did not openly come out as gay back then for the same reason people didn't speak out against the Roman Catholic Church. You would get the guillotine or be hanged.


Just because someone's in a relationship with a member of the opposite sex, doesn't mean they're straight. Check out the casual encounters section on Craigslist - you'd be amazed how many married men are creeping on the down-low.

Which I kinda find confusing, if you know you're gay why get into a straight relationship in the first place? Unless your parents forced you or whatever, it doesn't make sense to me. Or if you're bisexual then I guess that accounts for some of those people. *shrug*

In any case this is an interesting topic, I'm not sure how it spun out of me saying there are no gay people in my immediate family though. I mean I've known my family for almost 30 years now.

[Leo656]

Holy SH*T, 15 Points and a goddamn Smiley sticker for use of the word "Reductive". :tlol: I actually had to look it up. You... I got my eye on you, kid...

'Cubed, just for the fun of it, you might want to simply take a pause from writing questionable Pokemon stories and skim Google or Wikipedia for something like, I'unno, "history of homosexuality in America" or something like that. "Did You Know"... (Gasp) that even in Ye Golden Years of the squeaky-clean 1940s and 50s, it wasn't at all unheard of for kids to have homosexual encounters with each other when they started puberty? Guys on camping trips, girls at boarding schools (Y'know, where girls get sent so they won't Get Into Trouble, etc?); it happened, and still happens, all the time, but back then it was just considered "kids messing around", a phase they went through when they were still figuring out how their junk worked, and something they were expected to outgrow (and never discuss again) once they were of a certain age. It wasn't exactly talked about or advertised, but as long as it stayed "quiet" it wasn't considered abnormal for two scouts on an overnight trip to give each other the ol' Trouser-Friendly Handshake, if you get my drift. Look It Up, brother.

And there's been gays in the military since the first time cave people picked up sticks and stones and threw them at other cave people, get real man. Statistically, there had to have been MORE gays in the military back then, because women couldn't serve with them, so you had nothing but guys bunking down with guys for months and months on end, in situations where they could be killed anytime and hadn't gotten any tang in forever. That's practically a prison situation, and we all know what goes on in there. Again, that doesn't mean anybody in your family had anything like that happen, but it could have happened is what I'm saying. It's like you honestly think Gay was only invented as a thing in like, the 70s. It's odd.

It's also odd that we went from talking about Facebook to trying to educate Cubed on how Gay works. This place is neat.


Which I kinda find confusing, if you know you're gay why get into a straight relationship in the first place? Unless your parents forced you or whatever, it doesn't make sense to me. Or if you're bisexual then I guess that accounts for some of those people. *shrug*


As Hobbes once told Calvin, "Tigers don't know if they like ice cream until they try every kind." Duh.

[ssjup81]

I guess it comes from upbringing. My parents were middle class and while we aren't rich or anything, I always got what I wanted as a kid. My parents are still together to this day and never divorced. My father sells insurance and my mother is a school teacher. I finished up College with a BA back in 2008.

Now I'm not going to pretend I have this great job or anything, I probably make far less than a lot of people on this forum do, but I always have extra money to buy whatever I want like games, comics, DVDs, etc.

Also oddly enough, there is not a single gay person in my entire family, and this extends to all my uncles and aunts and cousins and whatnot. My family is very old fashioned given my parents were born in the 60's and we are from a white neighborhood.With your views, I wouldn't confide in you about that. There could be gay people in your family, just in the closet about it.

[Cure]

While CyberCubed is extremely close minded and ignorant, it's silly to think that anyone of you would know his family better than he does, when all you guys have are statistics and guesses. Maybe he just knows his family really well.

[ssjup81]

Well literally all my uncles and aunts are married in straight relationships. Most of their kids (my cousins) have girlfriends or are married themselves. Likewise my grandparents and parents never had any homosexual encounters, especially since this is going back to the 40's when that just wasn't done.

I do have some siblings and unless they magically turn gay in a few years, I'm pretty sure they're all straight.This also means nothing.

I do have one cousin who confided in me that he was gay. He was a teen when he told me, and hated hiding it. He was putting on a front. He had a girlfriend who also had the same issue. They were good friends. She's a lesbian, so to fool their super religious families, they posed as a couple.

[pennydreadful]

Holy SH*T, 15 Points and a goddamn Smiley sticker for use of the word "Reductive". :tlol: I actually had to look it up. You... I got my eye on you, kid...

You'd better keep your eye on me - I'm trouble, mister. :twink:

While homosexuality obviously existed all through human history, it didn't start to become noticeable in mainstream culture till the 1960's when we had famous people coming out as gay for the first time.

This is why you almost never hear about homosexual couples in the history books from prior to 1950. Also a lot of you are forgetting that in countries homosexuality was actually punishable by death and being hanged especially in the pre-1900's in European countries. People did not openly come out as gay back then for the same reason people didn't speak out against the Roman Catholic Church. You would get the guillotine or be hanged.

Yes and no. You're less aware of queer history because 1) you're straight, and so may not have been exposed to it, let alone gone looking for it, and 2) there's a heavy and consistent pattern of erasure of non-straight people's histories and contributions. Queer history isn't taught in our schools. There's not as much exposure or recognition for people whose sexuality isn't heteronormative in nature. And tying in with what you've said, there has been a history of systematic and bloody persecution towards gay, lesbian, bi and trans people - which loops back into why that kind of history is suppressed and covered up, or just flat-out ignored.

But there are still a lot of famous gay/lesbian/bi people prior to the 1950s - Oscar Wilde, Alexander the Great, Michelangelo (the artist, not the Turtle), Leonardo Da Vinci, Walt Whitman, Gertrude Stein, Sappho, I mean literally thousands of people. There's been consistent contribution to society politically, artistically, socially by non-heterosexual people all throughout history and if you look for it, you'd be surprised by how much there is.

Which I kinda find confusing, if you know you're gay why get into a straight relationship in the first place? Unless your parents forced you or whatever, it doesn't make sense to me. Or if you're bisexual then I guess that accounts for some of those people. *shrug*

Lots of reasons; just a handful I can think of off the top of my head - social pressure and expectations, some people don't come to terms with their sexuality until it's too late and they're already married with kids, some people don't want to deal with the stress of being openly non-heterosexual (which, I can assure you, is no picnic), some people are non-monogamous, some people are heteroromantic bisexuals... there are lots of reasons. But I do agree with you, it is an interesting conversation topic.

[Leo656]

Also, nobody is saying this happened in his or anyone else's family for certain. Just that, he said it's impossible, and No, it totally isn't impossible at all.

[Luke795]

I guess it comes from upbringing. My parents were middle class and while we aren't rich or anything, I always got what I wanted as a kid. My parents are still together to this day and never divorced. My father sells insurance and my mother is a school teacher. I finished up College with a BA back in 2008.

Now I'm not going to pretend I have this great job or anything, I probably make far less than a lot of people on this forum do, but I always have extra money to buy whatever I want like games, comics, DVDs, etc.

Also oddly enough, there is not a single gay person in my entire family, and this extends to all my uncles and aunts and cousins and whatnot. My family is very old fashioned given my parents were born in the 60's and we are from a white neighborhood.

Do you have any brothers or sisters?

[CyberCubed]

I often wonder why the history books never talk about homosexuality. Even in College I took some history courses and the topic never came up. I think it would be interesting to read which countries accepted it (I imagine very few), and which took extreme cases, like beheading or being hanged.

Do you have any brothers or sisters?

I just said I do. I know they're not gay.

[Wingnut]

I often wonder why the history books never talk about homosexuality. Even in College I took some history courses and the topic never came up. I think it would be interesting to read which countries accepted it (I imagine very few), and which took extreme cases, like beheading or being hanged.
You would've benefited from sociology classes, in more ways than one.

[Leo656]

I often wonder why the history books never talk about homosexuality. Even in College I took some history courses and the topic never came up. I think it would be interesting to read which countries accepted it (I imagine very few), and which took extreme cases, like beheading or being hanged.


It's something not a huge number of people are comfortable acknowledging yet, simple as that. Schools barely like to acknowledge the slavery era up through the end of segregation, they love to skim right over that as fast as possible; they're hardly comfortable enough yet to try explaining why you can more or less still beat people to death for being gay in some parts of 21st century America. How you gonna 'splain that to kids, man?

A huge number of schools don't even have regular sex ed to begin with anyways, and a tragic number of the ones that do have it preach abstinence, which is a realistic scenario in Archie comics and nowhere else.

Amazing, I know, but the schools don't teach you everything. Or much of anything, sometimes. Gotta do some home study sometimes.

You would've benefited from sociology classes, in more ways than one.
((Running White Guy High-Five))

[CyberCubed]

There's plenty of talk about slaves, the American Civil War is constantly taught in schools and its all about slavery. They also teach about the Nazi prison camps where Jews were gassed to death. If they can teach that I don't know why they can't say, "What were gay people like?" in those time periods.

As I said, many people did not come out as gay back then because it was literally a death sentence. You would be hanged or sent to the guillotine and get your head chopped off.

[Leo656]

Lots of people were still fairly open about it though without being explicit. I don't think Rock Hudson was fooling anybody. A lot of it depended on where you lived and how bigoted the people around you were in general. And there's always been a good number of entertainers who were unspokenly out anyway.

If history has taught us anything about being gay, it definitely helps if you can sing or dance.

[plastroncafe]

There's plenty of talk about slaves, the American Civil War is constantly taught in schools and its all about slavery. They also teach about the Nazi prison camps where Jews were gassed to death. If they can teach that I don't know why they can't say, "What were gay people like?" in those time periods.

As I said, many people did not come out as gay back then because it was literally a death sentence. You would be hanged or sent to the guillotine and get your head chopped off.

Or say, gassed in a concentration camp in WWII, as millions were...
And you say "back then" as if people aren't still killed today for being gay, and then you wonder outloud why we're not taught about this sort of stuff in school.

We're not taught it because non-straight people are an oppressed minority.

[pennydreadful]

A huge number of schools don't even have regular sex ed to begin with anyways, and a tragic number of the ones that do have it preach abstinence, which is a realistic scenario in Archie comics and nowhere else.

Amazing, I know, but the schools don't teach you everything. Or much of anything, sometimes. Gotta do some home study sometimes.

Tch, yeah - schools are just a processing factory for setting up the neural pathways for conformity, IMO. Anything useful you do learn is more by accident than intent. Team spirit, uniforms, codes of conduct - it's all about training the next batch of worker bees. Free thinking is discouraged. Codes of behavior are heavily enforced. A bell rings, you go here, sit for X amount of time until the bell rings and then you go somewhere else and you do that for the whole day until they say you can leave. You need to ask for a hallpass to take a piss, for chrissake. It's like some sort of industrialized nightmare. It's a system that sets people up to not question authority, from day one - to passively accept what they're told as absolute fact, to follow orders, to not question the world around them or see things differently.

You're in the hands of people who specifically dictate what you will learn, what your criteria for success are, who decide what is relevant and what is not, and who decide what it is that you're supposed to get out something.

Learning stuff is a lot more fun outside of school - I bet plenty of people here loathed school but love learning things now that they're not there. I know I do.

And I mean, come on - has anybody here EVER used pi in real life?

There's plenty of talk about slaves, the American Civil War is constantly taught in schools and its all about slavery. They also teach about the Nazi prison camps where Jews were gassed to death. If they can teach that I don't know why they can't say, "What were gay people like?" in those time periods.

They teach plenty about the primary suffers of the Holocaust - the Jewish people - but they gloss very heavily over the persecution and purging of homosexuals by the Nazi party. Probably because homosexuals are everybody's punching bag but TPTB don't want to acknowledge that their own pattern of systematic oppression and bloody violence could have anything in common with a regime run by one of the most well-known dictators in modern history. People don't like to confront their own hypocrisy.

Fact of the matter is, it's difficult for the idea of queer history to be incorporated into state-run education when we live in a society where the supposedly civilized Western world considers "gay panic" an appropriate defense in our courts of law for murder. People still have this ridiculous idea that if the word "gay" is uttered within earshot of anybody under 18 - let alone having queer relationships in mainstream media or queer history in our educational systems - it's going to corrupt their next little batch of breeders and worker bees.

Which is just so totally absurd to me, because if growing up in a society where heterosexuality, married relationships, monogamy and gender conformity are everywhere didn't manage to make me straight, married, monogamous or gender conforming... I don't see how the reverse could possibly hold true.

[plastroncafe]

^^^^^^I cannot THIS the above nearly enough. ^^^^^

[Cure]

Wow, so now school is bad. I'd hate to live in a world where doctors and other important professions are self taught.

[plastroncafe]

The American Public School system, as it is currently organized and arranged, is designed to pump out factory workers...not thinkers. There's emphasis on sitting in one place for long periods of time partaking in repetitive tasks.

As years go on there's an increasing amount of class-time devoted to passing standardized tests, rather than focus on logic, reasoning, and fostering a lifetime love of learning. It's a broken system that rewards people who are good at taking tests.

There was nothing more pathetic than watching a whole cohort of overachievers from highschool flounder miserably in undergraduate because the tests they'd learned and trained on were not what their college professors graded with. And when I was in undergrad that happened a lot.

There's nothing wrong with getting an education as a means to an end, just as there's nothing wrong with having the education be an end unto itself. We should offer both at the public school level. The fact that we don't is crap.

[pennydreadful]

http://www.nmit.edu.au/blogs/digs/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2013/08/pinkfloyd.jpg

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

http://www.nmit.edu.au/blogs/digs/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2013/08/pinkfloyd.jpg

This is so awesome. :tthumbsu:Thumbs up for Pink Floyd Reference

[BubblyShell22]

Wow. This topic totally derailed fast. And, Cubed, I want to be clear that I was a teenage girl and never kissed another teenage girl, so don't sit there and say all teenage girls have kissed one girl in their lifetime because I haven't and I won't because I'm straight as an arrow.

I have a cousin who's a lesbian, and my aunt was afraid to tell my mom because of what she thought my mom would think, but my mom didn't care and she's a devout Catholic like all of her family is. Even my grandparents don't judge her, and that's awesome. Only one in my mom's family who doesn't know is one of my uncles because he's very prejudiced about that stuff, so they won't tell him.

Okay, what were we talking about again? Ah, yes, Facebook, right?

[Leo656]

People who study to be doctors don't learn anything relevant towards their profession until they're in college. Public school really is for the most part about busywork and "fitting in" and the rest. Penny hit the nail pretty square on the head with that one. College and public school/high school are completely different. My job, for example, requires a special certification but absolutely nothing you are taught in K-12 applies to it. Absolutely nothing you learn in "regular" school applies to being a personal trainer, a physical therapist, or anything in that field. No "special skills" jobs are based in anything a person learns in public school. So, you can't really compare Basic and Secondary education. A strong case really CAN be made for public school being just next to useless, a glorified babysitting service more than anything.

Keep in mind, I had some terrific teachers and actually liked school just fine, but it's super-disappointing when you get out into the real world and find out that "Show Up On Time" and "Don't Talk Back" are the only things you learned in 13 years that actually apply, at least until you get that elusive secondary or college education. If the only stuff you learn that actually applies to a job is what you learn in college, then why keep kids chained to desks for a dozen years trying to teach them Algebra if they don't get it, or force them to appreciate Shakespeare if they just don't give a sh*t? Studies show that's actually seriously counter-productive to development, that forcing kids to learn things that aren't to their strengths only causes frustration, anxiety, and a resistance to or refusal to learn in general.

The point of school is, ostensibly, to teach kids to think for themselves and solve problems, so that when they get to college and are finally handed the "real" work, they can handle it. Firstly, that shouldn't take 13 years, you're just keeping kids occupied until they're old enough to serve in the military, at which point they're a "mature adult". Secondly, they don't often teach kids to think, they teach them a state-mandated curriculum based on making sure X amount of kids pass so the school keeps its funding. And in a system based solely in financial gain and adults keeping their jobs, nobody is actually thinking about whether or not kids understand the material, they just want to push them out the door so everyone keeps their jobs.

You learn to read and do basic math by the time you're in third grade. After that, you don't learn anything of Real Value until you're in college. Everything in between is busywork and babysitting. If you look around, you find out that you can actually learn the exact same stuff they teach you in school - and college, too! - on the internet, for free, should a person have the time and inclination to study on their own. They also have places called libraries, I think, or they used to, that have a lot of the same books that schools do, and more of them, just in case you're not satisfied with only one answer. It's an inarguable fact that a person with the inclination and the time can get MORE of an education than someone who went to school or even college. They might not be able to get certified in any field, but they can actually know more than people who do.

Education is not a piece of paper, is my point, and I think Penny's too. Don't get me wrong, educating oneself and actually learning things is one of the best things a person can do. There is no greater use of one's time than pursuing knowledge. But the fact these institutions act like they're the gatekeepers of knowledge, and if you don't pass our Program or pay our fees, you're "uneducated", is a pile of garbage.

I've long said, there should be specialized courses for people who want to be doctors and lawyers and surgeons and architects where they spend years studying ONLY skills relevant to their jobs. You'd get people prepared for the work force a lot quicker, and they'd be a lot more apt in their field of study if they weren't trying to cram in useless noise about haiku theory in between their biochemistry or whatever. But then schools couldn't trick you into spending your entire savings studying something useless as your major before you "start over" two years later. So I guess it just makes too much sense to let people actually study things that are relevant to their interests.

Again, I don't think anyone is debating the merits of an education. But Education is not School, is the point.

[CyberCubed]

Kids need a good education. Most kids deserve to be slapped upside the head, at least in school they treat it like military boot camp and force you to learn and sit.

[ssjup81]

Well, the only thing I can say about school is that you're forced to learn so many things outside of how Leo put it (useful stuff you learn by 3rd grade) as a way to broaden horizons. Maybe one kid isn't interested in history, but another kid is and maybe thinks of being in a profession that requires one to be well-versed in history. Or maybe someone is really into math and gets interested in a job that requires a higher level of it. I think that's the point of "busywork". Exposing kids to many different things to help them decide on something to study once they do reach college-age. Oh, and I do feel that writing papers (despite the annoyance of them) is good for developing critical thinking skills. Sucks it's not really done over here.

I do agree with penny, though about how bothersome it is that they're so focused on standardized testing now-a-days. That's why I'm still hesitant on finishing up my Masters teaching program stuff. Teaching now just doesn't seem as appealing as it once was.

[ssjup81]

I've long said, there should be specialized courses for people who want to be doctors and lawyers and surgeons and architects where they spend years studying ONLY skills relevant to their jobs. You'd get people prepared for the work force a lot quicker, and they'd be a lot more apt in their field of study if they weren't trying to cram in useless noise about haiku theory in between their biochemistry or whatever. But then schools couldn't trick you into spending your entire savings studying something useless as your major before you "start over" two years later. So I guess it just makes too much sense to let people actually study things that are relevant to their interests.My high school had stuff like this. Actually, my county has stuff like this, but from what I recall back in high-school, it was mostly for business-related stuff...maybe. I just never looked into it or maybe I know about the business stuff (Marketing/Accounting related programs) because I had an interest in it (Accounting). I never did get into it, though and just stuck to studying Accounting in my regular class, not doing the intern type thing where you would go to a company to study and learn more about it. In the program too, you would have to leave school for part of the day.

My younger cousin (now 20) in her second year of high-school, I think, became interested in nursing, so she did nursing program stuff through her high-school. Different from mine, but same county. It's helped her a lot and what she did in high-school can be used towards her university credits. She's certified to do Nursing assistant/practitioner work at this point, though. She still has a way to go.

Oh and don't most high schools have many electives? I always thought those types of classes were meant for students to get exposure to stuff outside of the basic English, Math, and Science stuff. My electives helped me gain an interest in Journalism/Writing and Business (through Accounting) and had an idea as to what I wanted to study when out of high school.

[Leo656]

Actually I agree with you in that I think if general education gave kids more assignments involving essay-writing and open discussion, rather than reading a chapter and answering 5 questions at the end, or endless rote memorization of numbers, they'd actually be learning and not just being kept busy. I learned a lot in high school; so much, actually, that I became acutely aware that the years before it were kind of a waste of time. Not only did they re-teach a lot of the same information, they did it in a way where it actually stuck. The grade school ways of "memorize this, then pass a multiple-choice test about it" simply didn't, and doesn't work. In classes that were primarily based on discussion and essays, like history, language arts, etc., people tended to comprehend the material better. They had to; they had to actually produce an answer, not just guess and hope they did good enough to skate by.

So I think what education needs is more interactive study and applied knowledge, and less "Sit here, fill this out", basically.

[BubblyShell22]

I know college you have to take electives, and it's pointless as it takes students so many years to graduate. It took me six, and that was because of Statistics. I said to myself, "Why the hell do I need this stuff? I'm not going to use this with what I want to do." Seems to me they should do the core stuff first and a few electives and be done. I will say that I learned more in college than I ever did in high school.

[Jephael]

Most kids deserve to be slapped upside the head...

Practice what you preach, brutha.

[CyberCubed]

This thread seems to have turned into "gripes about modern society and social upbringing" thread. Not that I mind, but I find it interesting we all know what is wrong with today's youth and societies demands on them.

[BubblyShell22]

Hey, you're the one who sort of derailed your own thread, so you have no one but yourself to blame there.

[CyberCubed]

Well I enjoy derailing my own threads, so I don't mind at all. I just find it funny all my threads get so many replies.

[ssjup81]

I know college you have to take electives, and it's pointless as it takes students so many years to graduate. It took me six, and that was because of Statistics. I said to myself, "Why the hell do I need this stuff? I'm not going to use this with what I want to do." Seems to me they should do the core stuff first and a few electives and be done. I will say that I learned more in college than I ever did in high school.Really? For me high school was like this. If you had extra space in your schedule, you could choose elective courses.

[Netkeeper]

The American Public School system, as it is currently organized and arranged, is designed to pump out factory workers...not thinkers. There's emphasis on sitting in one place for long periods of time partaking in repetitive tasks.

As years go on there's an increasing amount of class-time devoted to passing standardized tests, rather than focus on logic, reasoning, and fostering a lifetime love of learning. It's a broken system that rewards people who are good at taking tests.

There was nothing more pathetic than watching a whole cohort of overachievers from highschool flounder miserably in undergraduate because the tests they'd learned and trained on were not what their college professors graded with. And when I was in undergrad that happened a lot.

There's nothing wrong with getting an education as a means to an end, just as there's nothing wrong with having the education be an end unto itself. We should offer both at the public school level. The fact that we don't is crap.
There's also a problem with US public school not actually giving you any valuable life skills. It teaches you to take tests. I don't know jack about living on my own, which is part of the reason why I don't.

And while I have no interest in going to college anyway, I never saw anything in high school that would have taught me about how to get into it, nor anything about how the system works. I don't know anything about colleges.

[BubblyShell22]

Really? For me high school was like this. If you had extra space in your schedule, you could choose elective courses.

Well, I live in Indiana, so the school system there is very different. Never got introduced to electives until college.



There's also a problem with US public school not actually giving you any valuable life skills. It teaches you to take tests. I don't know jack about living on my own, which is part of the reason why I don't.

And while I have no interest in going to college anyway, I never saw anything in high school that would have taught me about how to get into it, nor anything about how the system works. I don't know anything about colleges.

Yeah, schools don't prepare you for getting a job, living on your own, etc. and that's sad. I have to admit though that I learned more in college than I ever learned in high school.

[Walkabout]

At the insistence of others, I started a FB account and found myself growing to loathe it.
I hated seeing stuff like ex girlfriends and people from school etc all the time, I just don't need to see that ****.

I deleted it a few years ago, I think it was a good move.

[Candy Kappa]

I eased into FB when I lived in the UK, although it's mainly a birthday reminder and funny pictures (a job which Tumblr have taken over). But for some odd reason Joe Pecsi often popos up on the "people you may know list".

[plastroncafe]

There's also a problem with US public school not actually giving you any valuable life skills. It teaches you to take tests. I don't know jack about living on my own, which is part of the reason why I don't.

And while I have no interest in going to college anyway, I never saw anything in high school that would have taught me about how to get into it, nor anything about how the system works. I don't know anything about colleges.

Technically speaking it's not really the school's job to give you life skills, though that would be nice. That sort of thing is really under the purview of your parents/guardians.

I'd be totally in support of classes like Home Economics covering things like, "How to file taxes" right along side "how to reattach a button," but then I'm also one of those crazy left-wing moonbats who thinks all schools should teach comprehensive sex ed too.

[BubblyShell22]

Yeah, I think Home Ec would really be good at teaching something like that or how to balance a checkbook properly and how to manage money as I think that would be beneficial. But at the same time, people just have to learn that on their own or you can ask your parents if you want.

[Netkeeper]

Technically speaking it's not really the school's job to give you life skills, though that would be nice. That sort of thing is really under the purview of your parents/guardians.

I'd be totally in support of classes like Home Economics covering things like, "How to file taxes" right along side "how to reattach a button," but then I'm also one of those crazy left-wing moonbats who thinks all schools should teach comprehensive sex ed too.
That's the problem. Not everyone's parents know how to do that stuff either, and a lot of people also don't have parents they feel safe talking to. Growing up, I was always told that school was there to "prepare me for the real world" which it indeed did not do. Not even the special ed system that tried to keep tabs on their students after they left school was any help to me.

I would also be in support of Home Ec having useful things like that, as well as being a mandatory course. I don't even think my schools offered it.

Yeah, I think Home Ec would really be good at teaching something like that or how to balance a checkbook properly and how to manage money as I think that would be beneficial. But at the same time, people just have to learn that on their own or you can ask your parents if you want.
But why do people "just have to learn that on their own"? We shouldn't have to learn anything on our own.

[ssjup81]

Technically speaking it's not really the school's job to give you life skills, though that would be nice. That sort of thing is really under the purview of your parents/guardians.

I'd be totally in support of classes like Home Economics covering things like, "How to file taxes" right along side "how to reattach a button," but then I'm also one of those crazy left-wing moonbats who thinks all schools should teach comprehensive sex ed too.I learned this in high school too, the tax stuff. ^^

[BubblyShell22]

But why do people "just have to learn that on their own"? We shouldn't have to learn anything on our own.

Because that's life. Not everything can be taught to you. My brother and sister moved out, and my parents didn't teach them everything about how to live on their own. They learned it by themselves and have managed just fine. That's not to say parents can't teach you about some things, but most things you can learn without them such as how to cook and clean.

[Leo656]

Yeah, I kind of don't think it's necessary for our elders to specifically hand-walk us through everything that's going to come up in life. I'd settle for them simply not lying to you every single day until you turn 18 about how life actually works. That would be a great start.

[Netkeeper]

Because that's life. Not everything can be taught to you. My brother and sister moved out, and my parents didn't teach them everything about how to live on their own. They learned it by themselves and have managed just fine. That's not to say parents can't teach you about some things, but most things you can learn without them such as how to cook and clean.
I completely disagree. It sounds like your parents weren't being parents at all.

And this is why school should teach those things. Because so many parents don't teach their kids jack ****, either because they're too lazy, they think like you and go "oh they'll learn it on their own because thats life lolol", or because the parents in question are neglectful/abusive.

We don't HAVE to learn anything on our own. Again, allow me to repeat myself: We don't HAVE to learn anything on our own!!

[Jester]

BUT there's no way to teach every contingency. There is a certain amount of learning "on the fly" in real life. Certain life skills, sure, those need to be taught like how to balance a check book or do your own taxes, but there are bound to be hiccups along the way that no amount of teaching can prepare you for. You can only teach so much before you have to basically "learn by doing."

[The Stryker]

We don't HAVE to learn anything on our own. Again, allow me to repeat myself: We don't HAVE to learn anything on our own!!

Ok? But some things are better learned on your own.

Life lessons. Growing. All that good stuff. Not being a coddled baby that can barely leave the house without detailed instructions and constant help.

And don't go around talking ish about other people's parents. F*ck off with that.

[Netkeeper]

BUT there's no way to teach every contingency. There is a certain amount of learning "on the fly" in real life. Certain life skills, sure, those need to be taught like how to balance a check book or do your own taxes, but there are bound to be hiccups along the way that no amount of teaching can prepare you for. You can only teach so much before you have to basically "learn by doing."
Ok? But it's better to at least have an idea of how to do it instead of going in blind. Doing taxes, applying for jobs, applying for government help, making a doctor's appointment, knowing how to cook, clean, do laundry, budgeting, sex ed, these are all important things.

Not being a coddled baby that can barely leave the house without detailed instructions and constant help.
How is being taught stuff that nobody has any idea how to do unless they're taught mean they're being coddled?

[The Stryker]

How is being taught stuff that nobody has any idea how to do unless they're taught mean they're being coddled?

Because most normal people can figure that stuff out or seek out a small amount of help if assistance is needed? Like looking in a book? Whatever. Information is out there if you really want it. I became my little brother's legal guardian after not knowing a damn thing about how family courts worked. A couple of weeks reading up on it and making sure I did things right. Done. Easy. On my own.

I don't need classes telling me how to make doctor appointments. If you can't figure out something as basic as that....maybe that's a special case.

[Netkeeper]

Ok, but you can't say my whole list isn't valid just because you disagree with one item on it.

[Leo656]

I'm just gonna chirp in with, I can totally get not knowing some stuff like doing taxes and whatnot - that sh*t's way more complicated than it has to be - but I will never accept "I can't cook" or "I can't clean" from anyone. Never, ever. Nobody should really need to be taught those two things, specifically.

Cleaning isn't any mystery, just take stuff that doesn't go Here, put it back There, and give it a light spritz when necessary. If you aren't sure if that's the carpet's original color or not, or you kick up clouds when you walk around indoors, it may be time to vacuum. It's not quite the exact science Good Housekeeping makes it out to be. :lol:

And no offense to anyone who says they can't cook, but... yeah, no, I take it back, that's like, laziness to the Nth degree. Sorry cats, I love ya's all, but if you can read, you can cook. It really is just that simple. I taught myself from books when I was 7 and it's served me well. Nobody made me and nobody showed me how, I was just hungry and fed up with waiting for Mom to sleep off her hangover. It pretty much set the tone for much of my life; I get sick of waiting for people to do things, so I just say screw it and do it myself. I wasn't doing anything crazy, just scrambled eggs and homemade French toast and stuff like that, but anyone can cook. I will stake my entire utterly worthless reputation on stating the authentic fact that absolutely anyone can cook and do it well! Just stick to the script and never walk away from the stove unless you've got everything down to a science. Nobody tries duck l'orange or anything as their first homemade meal, and f*ck 'em if they do.

The astronomical amount of money you save should be enough incentive for everyone alive to learn how to cook. Sh*t's inexcusable, sorry. People who "don't know how to cook" may not be worthy of sustenance to begin with, if they're not willing to work for it. :P

I'm not picking on anyone, I'm surrounded by people who swear they can't cook or clean yet they're apparently able to drive a car and dress themselves, two infinitely more complicated tasks, so I get a little bewildered by it all at times.

I'm not gonna bother with the rest of it other to say, I've been doing the job application thing a lot lately and I gotta say, I can't fault some cats for being intimidated. I haven't had to look for work in ages, and when I last was, you went in, talked to someone for a half hour, filled out a form, and after that you either came in on Monday or you didn't. Now there's all these goddamn websites and sh*t. I swear I went on five different sites and filled out three separate online application forms for the same job at the same location over a three-week process. I can't begrudge anybody for being scared by the modern-day job hunt. Sh*t's horrifying, I hope I never have to do this again.

[The Stryker]

Ok, but you can't say my whole list isn't valid just because you disagree with one item on it.

Alrighty then.


Ok? But it's better to at least have an idea of how to do it instead of going in blind. Doing taxes, applying for jobs, applying for government help, making a doctor's appointment, knowing how to cook, clean, do laundry, budgeting, sex ed, these are all important things.


Doing your taxes. There are numerous programs and instructional videos found on the internet. Don't wanna do it that way? Check the yellow pages around tax time. Literally oodles of people that will help with that. Not hard.

Applying for jobs. Don't job openings have numbers and locations attached to them? Call the number. Show up at the place. Not hard.

Applying for government help. Again. The internet had opened this wide up. Literally two seconds to find your local office and get information. Not saying it'll be lightning quick but you'll get pointed in the direction you want if you know what you're asking for.

Knowing how to cook. Frozen and boxed food come with detailed instructions. Want more advanced ideas? Internet, Cooking Shows, there are pamphlets in any supermarket!

Doing laundry. Clothes tags have instructions and washing machines do too. Match them up and you got yourself clean clothes. You don't need to be a professor for this one.

Budgeting. Alittle harder but again. There are ways to figure this crap out yourself easily. I make this much. I shouldn't spend more than that probably.

Sex Ed is taught in most schools isn't it?

It's not hard to figure out the stuff on your list. Much easier to find basic info on it. Adapting to situations, learning and evolving on your own. It ain't as hard as it's cracked up to be.

[Katie]

Life doesn't ever come with an instruction book. Adapt or die.

The single greatest gift my parents ever gave me was kicking me out of the nest. At first it was uncomfortable and I didn't know everything...but I figured it out. It's just what growing up is.

Continuing to live at home as an adult without even trying because it's hard is super lazy and smacks of Peter Pan syndrome.

What do you do when mommy and daddy die?

[Leo656]

You cats may be correct but must we be so salty all the time?

Anyways, Devil's Advocate time, depending on circumstance and location, some of that gov't stuff is a circle-jerk. I ain't mad at anyone who tries to avoid that mess, either. I've been trying for years to get a misprint on my birth certificate amended, and every single agency in the state swears it's everyone else's problem to fix, and every single one swears there's a different solution. So I get how that can make some people not wanna bother with all that, either. I totally get it. I so wish I had money to just pay some lawyer to handle it all and make it go away for me, because I so don't want to be bothered with it.

In my case, I know exactly what I need done, They simply do not, and I have to tell ya, when a government professional you are turning to for help says to you, "I've honestly never encountered this specific problem before," it can be... disheartening. It's kind of a serious problem, and it's going to get fixed eventually, but it's going to be stupid expensive and it's ridiculous that literally not one person working in the entire NJ state gov't has a solid answer on what Step 1 really is. "It's the registrar of vital statistics!" "No, it's definitely the family court division!" "They can simply correct the misprint if you tell them this..." "No, we don't amend those documents, you need to petition a judge to hear your case first..." And these are the so-called professionals. It'll get fixed, I've finally gotten *some* solid direction on it, it just keeps getting pushed back because it's gonna cost like three grand and I don't have it laying around.

Anyways, yeah, getting the phone numbers for that gov't sh*t is as easy as a Google search, but actually getting anything done is still just as impossible as ever. You just get ping-ponged in the wrong direction a little faster.

That said, I'm not sure how anyone's parents or teachers would prepare someone for that in the first place. "If you ever need to go to the DMV or the welfare office or whatever, expect to take two consecutive days off of work and one and a half of those days on the phone, on hold, while you're being redirected." That's really anyone could say.

I don't think anyone can deny self-reliance is an important skill, ultimately. I'm amazed at a lot of people I know who don't just live with people, but rely on them. Actually I have a sister I never see who is like that. She's practically a spinster, late-40s, lives with her Mom, who ain't doing terrific... it's kind of scary. I don't think about it much. She just never bothered doing anything for herself and I don't think she was ever encouraged to. Makes me sad.

[Jester]

Ah the unmitigated joy of governmental bureaucracy!

[Cure]

I forgot how to breathe, you guys! Someone teach meeeeeeeeeeee.

[Leo656]

Remember that episode of Beavis and Butt-Head where they forgot how to piss? Unreal. That one really should have been on the DVDs. Judge butchered those things.

[Katie]

I have a family member in their 60's who never left home because it was easier to live with the parents. Well mom and dad passed on and said family member literally cannot function. Relies on siblings to take care of bills and complains about not having money to buy trinkets and go do fun stuff.

I have no sympathy. I'm a niece of this person. One of the sibs already stopped supporting and as I am well off I was pegged as the next line of support. They are family....but a burden. All because being a kid at home was easier than going out on your own to figure out how to live.

It's pathetic.

And incidentally this person complaining and begging for money is why I don't go on Facebok and the like anymore.

[Peanut]

I think we all know at this point there's something not quite right with Netkeeper. This is all pretty obvious sh*t any normally adjusted human being could come to grips with on their own. You learn absolutely NOTHING by being walked through a process step-by-step and doing nothing on your own.

My parents taught me absolutely ZERO about day to day life and I mean zero. They imparted morals on me and gave me guidance when my immature thought process wouldn't allow me to make an educated decision about something, but aside from that they let me grow and learn on my own. And I'm a perfectly well adjusted adult with obligations and responsibilities that I handle just fine.

At some point people just need to call a spade a spade. And honestly, there's one thing I call people who moan about this kind of sh*t and come up with every excuse under the sun to continue being total wastes of life - lazy.

[Davetello]

I think we all know at this point there's something not quite right with Netkeeper. This is all pretty obvious sh*t any normally adjusted human being could come to grips with on their own. You learn absolutely NOTHING by being walked through a process step-by-step and doing nothing on your own.

My parents taught me absolutely ZERO about day to day life and I mean zero. They imparted morals on me and gave me guidance when my immature thought process wouldn't allow me to make an educated decision about something, but aside from that they let me grow and learn on my own. And I'm a perfectly well adjusted adult with obligations and responsibilities that I handle just fine.

At some point people just need to call a spade a spade. And honestly, there's one thing I call people who moan about this kind of sh*t and come up with every excuse under the sun to continue being total wastes of life - lazy.

I get what you're saying, but it's never as black and white as you're suggesting. Netkeeper, for example, has suffered from depression and that's the sort of thing which can sap someone's energy and destroy their motivation. I can cook, take care of myself etc, but when that sort of thing hits hard it becomes difficult to deal with regular day-to-day stuff. You don't seem to have any issues with mental health (correct me if I'm wrong) so that gives you a greater capacity to deal with stressful situations.

I know you'll probably say I'm making excuses, but I think you're being way too hard on the guy. And before you accuse me of being in the same boat and also 'lazy'...I have a first-class degree attained over the course of four to five years, and that was a lot of hard work. I can function, even when life gets tricky.

[Peanut]

I get what you're saying, but it's never as black and white as you're suggesting. Netkeeper, for example, has suffered from depression and that's the sort of thing which can sap someone's energy and destroy their motivation. I can cook, take care of myself etc, but when that sort of thing hits hard it becomes difficult to deal with regular day-to-day stuff. You don't seem to have any issues with mental health (correct me if I'm wrong) so that gives you a greater capacity to deal with stressful situations.

You're wrong. I have and do deal with depression. It has crippled entire months and years of my life. It becomes an excuse for some people, a crutch, or an easy way to hand wave any potentially difficult or stressful situation.

[Leo656]

I don't think anyone handles depression any one way. It's super-unpredictable. I totally empathize with sometimes just wanting to crawl in a hole. Other times, I get super-motivated ONLY when things are completely falling apart. It's odd and unpredictable.

I've been on both sides of it. I've been lucky to mostly always be busy with work, that always forced me to stay up when things were down. Right out of high school, though, when I was going crazy trying to find work for about a year and nothing came of it and I exhausted my savings, I definitely spent too many days in bed wishing it away, but it took a long time to get to that point. Just like, a constant months-long parade of failed attempts combined with rapidly running out of money. Then I got a job and it all went away.

I think some people feel a lot worse when they really are trying, and it's not paying off yet, and they start to feel like they're losing control of the situation. It's like depression mixed with panic and that'll slug anybody in the gut if you let it. Nothing really bothers me when I'm busy and making money; I don't like waiting for things and I prefer to be kept busy. I'm lucky, though, I have a flexible schedule and can work every day if I want to, and even otherwise, I have 24/7 access to my gym even if I just needed to go blow off steam, so I always have stuff to keep me up and forward.

Some cats are stuck in that "in between" phase and they're sick of waiting for it to pay off or get better. I get it, I been there. Sure some folks just dick around all day but I generally don't think that's most people. Most people are at least doing *something* to get things rolling. It just doesn't always work for them right away.

[Davetello]

You're wrong. I have and do deal with depression. It has crippled entire months and years of my life. It becomes an excuse for some people, a crutch, or an easy way to hand wave any potentially difficult or stressful situation.

Well, fair play. That's why I included that part, because you can never assume things about people. Because you haven't been vocal about your problems, I did assume, but I knew that I may be wrong. Apologies to hear about your struggles, it's never nice to hear that someone has issues with that awful disease.

I also know what you mean when you say that it becomes an easy get out clause for someone, a convenient excuse. But, again, it's not an either/or situation. For some people it's an excuse for every minor issue in their life. For others it genuinely is something which they just can't cope with, and they struggle to function to any acceptable level. Then there's the middle ground, where some people use it as a crutch to some extent but that shouldn't detract from the fact that they are having some serious problems.

Overall, what I'm saying is that it's rarely black and white. We don't really know the full extent of Netkeeper's problems. I don't think it's fair to make judgements about him, or anyone else here for that matter.

[Leo656]

He ought'a be taller. I have zero tolerance for that bullsh*t.

[Davetello]

He ought'a be taller. I have zero tolerance for that bullsh*t.

lol :)

[Netkeeper]

Why are you guys acting like I said I don't know how to do those things? I just said they should be taught.

Also, I never said everything needs to be walked through all the time. Just to be taught. Being taught also means letting the person do it on their own. Obviously?

[Peanut]

Well, fair play. That's why I included that part, because you can never assume things about people. Because you haven't been vocal about your problems, I did assume, but I knew that I may be wrong. Apologies to hear about your struggles, it's never nice to hear that someone has issues with that awful disease.

I also know what you mean when you say that it becomes an easy get out clause for someone, a convenient excuse. But, again, it's not an either/or situation. For some people it's an excuse for every minor issue in their life. For others it genuinely is something which they just can't cope with, and they struggle to function to any acceptable level. Then there's the middle ground, where some people use it as a crutch to some extent but that shouldn't detract from the fact that they are having some serious problems.

Overall, what I'm saying is that it's rarely black and white. We don't really know the full extent of Netkeeper's problems. I don't think it's fair to make judgements about him, or anyone else here for that matter.

I agree with you. Everything you're saying is right. It's just that your typical person suffering from something like depression isn't usually so carefree in every single aspect of their life that doesn't involve working/going outside. I see a lot of these people who suffer from "depression" talk about their hard luck problems. It feels far too casual and I think that's what drives me insane about it.

During what should have been one of the happiest times in my life several years ago, I fell apart for six f*cking months. My best friends in the world still don't know what happened to me during that time period. Almost no one in my family even knows. And when all that happened I sure as sh*t didn't come here, or anywhere else, and talk about how I couldn't catch a break. That kind of crippling depression doesn't come from being down on your luck, it comes from a chemical imbalance.

Thankfully, that was the last real breakdown I had and it was the one that led me to seek the kind of help I probably should have gotten 15 years ago. I take a lot of steps to keep myself in check, but I know it's still there. Sometimes I get up at 4 in the morning and feel an absolute, deep down, heart wrenching, ACHE that eats me alive until I can get in control. I suffer from this, yet I'm out there doing sh*t, while some layabout collects welfare and cries on the Internet because things aren't going their way.

I know it's not fair to compare people who suffer from these things, or to think one case is more/less serious, but to this day I'm irked beyond words when I see people talking about "depression" when they don't know the half of it. I know it's not fair and it's wrong and I shouldn't do it, but I do. Sorry if that offends anybody.

[Davetello]

I agree with you. Everything you're saying is right. It's just that your typical person suffering from something like depression isn't usually so carefree in every single aspect of their life that doesn't involve working/going outside. I see a lot of these people who suffer from "depression" talk about their hard luck problems. It feels far too casual and I think that's what drives me insane about it.

During what should have been one of the happiest times in my life several years ago, I fell apart for six f*cking months. My best friends in the world still don't know what happened to me during that time period. Almost no one in my family even knows. And when all that happened I sure as sh*t didn't come here, or anywhere else, and talk about how I couldn't catch a break. That kind of crippling depression doesn't come from being down on your luck, it comes from a chemical imbalance.

Thankfully, that was the last real breakdown I had and it was the one that led me to seek the kind of help I probably should have gotten 15 years ago. I take a lot of steps to keep myself in check, but I know it's still there. Sometimes I get up at 4 in the morning and feel an absolute, deep down, heart wrenching, ACHE that eats me alive until I can get in control. I suffer from this, yet I'm out there doing sh*t, while some layabout collects welfare and cries on the Internet because things aren't going their way.

I know it's not fair to compare people who suffer from these things, or to think one case is more/less serious, but to this day I'm irked beyond words when I see people talking about "depression" when they don't know the half of it. I know it's not fair and it's wrong and I shouldn't do it, but I do. Sorry if that offends anybody.

First of all, I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you in that six month period.

I do understand what you're saying; some people make light of what is a very serious disease. In terms of the mental health thread on this site, I don't think that's what most people are doing. Most of the posts there seem pretty heartfelt and genuine, but yes there are often people claiming to be 'depressed' on the internet, when in actual fact they may just be attention-seeking. That makes light of a very serious disease so I can understand why it would irk you.

I know exactly what you mean about 'chemical imbalances', as I am bipolar and really have problems if I don't take my medication. I've been in many of the same places as you. I guess the difference in how we deal with it is that you're intensely private about it on the internet, whereas I view this as a place where I can talk about things and it doesn't matter if I f*ck up, because the chances of me meeting anyone here for real are very remote anyway. I will never be held accountable for anything stupid I say because I can log off whenever I feel like it. Do you think that makes sense to some extent?

But yeah, overall I can certainly see your point. I wouldn't say you're 'wrong', as there are certainly people who make light of the serious issue of depression, and that's something which angers me too. I just feel like that isn't happening here. I can usually spot that sort of thing and most people here seem far more genuine than on previous sites I've frequented, where it was obvious people were screaming "depression" because they were spoilt brats.

I guess overall, I just view that thread as a place where people can help one another with no real-life consequences for revealing too much. That and a psychologist tends to help, because I'm actually pretty private about my problems in real life. I actually go to a soccer group which is for people in the mental health service. We talk about things sometimes and that helps, but I don't feel comfortable talking about it with others who may not understand. Being able to talk about it here is testing the waters, if you get me.