The music piece Shchedryk and any dish with saffron in it.

I’ve noticed that when you want a question answered it’s best to put your own answer in a comment and let the post only be describing or clarifying the question. When you put a question and your answer together in the post, the question reads more rhetorical since you’ve already given “the answer”, and your answer will be what people discuss rather than giving their own answers.

My sexist stereotype that needs to stop is that men are not good with kids, or unsafe.

I want to see more men playing with kids, being handed strangers kids to hold at gatherings, men hugging and cuddling kids. It’s no more suspicious or odd for a man to enjoy and appreciate and be caring with children (not just his own) than it is for a woman.

I have no qualms asking a strange child if they want help if I see them struggling (seeming lost, trying to reach something, scared of the escalator, whatever), and I want men to feel equally comfortable stepping in without being afraid of what people might think they’re up to… Because people need to stop thinking men are up to something when they are clearly trying to have a positive impact.

I think there are different words depending on WHY you think you shouldn’t share your inner thoughts and feelings.

Huh. I tend to interpret “deep feelings that one feel like they shouldn’t share”, to be feelings that are heavy for others to hear and risk affecting them negatively/emotionally in turn. Like depression, shame, disgust, suicidal ideation, anxiousness, hopelessness, anger or betrayal. People might not want to share for fear of illiciting sadness, pity, shame, worry, or withdrawal in the listener.

What different associations we have learned to make.

I have no hard and fast rule for this, it really depends. Some things are a hard no, others I play fast and loose with.

Or something like Snot Flickerman, am I right?

Unless that’s your current name… In which case I’ve really put my foot in my mouth.

This question made me actually go into settings, and I can sort automatically by new instead of have to resort every time I open! Thanks!

There’s a setting to sort comments to, on Voyager at least.

I don’t get the metal on metal reference, sorry… Is that an imagery you want tattooed?

I don’t know if a tattoo is material… I guess the ink is, so I’ll go with that.

Before coming of age I had plenty of ideas that I would be slightly embarrassed of today (and being slightly embarrassed is, as we know, the worst possible outcome with tattoos from a past you’ve outgrown).

I’ve changed my mind enough over time that I now know I could never decide on a permanent design. But right now I’m really into face spiders. Hopefully that notion fades by the time I feel secure enough in my career to do face spiders…

Tough to differentiate bots that only vote from human lurkers who only vote.

I love the Ruru-Morepork poses going from absolute cutie, to actual maniac, to “I’m batman”.

…but the dramatic head tufts and cape of the Buffy got my family’s vote by a hairs width.

Little owl looks like someone just patted it on the head and it absolutely hated it.

I also don’t like being pat on the head, nor hanging out in the cold. I do like a relatable champion.

Do you have coworkers you can try small talking with?

People generally like talking about themselves so if you practice asking good follow-up questions you will be able to have long conversations without having to say much yourself. The questions you ask need to be paired with your own enthusiasm though, to make people feel comfortable and confident to keep talking so they don’t feel like they’re boring you. And eventually to form real connections you need to open up as well and share to make the relationship more equal and let them know you. Hopefully you feel more comfortable talking by then.

Movies, novels, manga, going to the city, walking, people-watching, pets and family are easy topics to connect to others in conversation. Asking someone what they did this weekend or what they do for fun you can probably relate back to some of your own interests, you can mention something about your own preference and then ask follow-up. (-“What did you do this weekend?” -“Laundry, went shopping for presents, bowling, then just relaxed with a movie” -“was it a good movie? What kind of movies do you like?” Or “presents? What are you celebrating?” Or “bowling seems fun, but difficult! Do you go a lot?”). I try to keep small talk to 5-15 min depending on how engaged the other person seems to be, and end it with something positive like “I’d better get back to [work/person/activity], but it was nice talking to you”.

Perhaps there is a cat shelter in the area that needs volunteers? Even if you can’t bring a cat home you can clean out their habitat, drive them to their homes, wash towels, send out mail, and socialise the cats in the shelter… There’s usually a need for any skill. And you can either do your tasks in silence or try to small talk with other people there.

Crying is okay. Being emotional is okay. Feeling lonely can be really hard.

I wonder if you feel it extra hard due to putting a lot of negative value into being lonely or emotional. Like, do you equate being alone with being a bad person or having failed in some way? A lot of us do. Try to untangle this and not consider loneliness a flaw. It’s just a condition, like being cold or warm. It can be uncomfortable, that’s it.

I feel lonely sometimes. When I do I read books, particularly fiction. In doing so I get to experience the characters lives and feelings and struggles, and I feel less alone. Riding my bike to the library and perusing my favourite sections or even staying for a read feels like I’ve done something worthwhile that day.

I have joined book clubs to discuss certain books, and come to appreciate literature where most of it went over my head before. There are clubs online and in person. I prefer in-person because I find it difficult to speak up on mic. Libraries are awesome. As are book/game/culture shops that may arrange themed clubs or events.

Some people with ADHD have trouble reading, audio books are a perfectly valid option. Or any other hobby or activity.

Being in nature is always good for mental health, as is animals. When I had time I volunteered at pet shelters. It feels good to do good. If you have an acquaintance with dogs you can ask if you may join them for a walk or hike next time/next weekend. It will give you a chance to go out and be in nature and spend time with another human. Even if you have nothing to talk about just walking and focusing on a dog and pointing out a strange flower or cool colour is enough. Being in silence in nature is healing. Wear good clothes.

[exasperated, while scrubbing cold black candle wax off of the dining table for the third year in a row while the recently turned 13-year old daughter raids her older sisters closets for anything velvet and purple] “WHY do teenage girls go through a witchy phase?”

[curious, after realising they never thought to ask their daughters this before] “why DO teenage girls go through a witchy phase?”

Im open to anything, let her date and find someone I don’t want to be in her way and I won’t make it harder than it already is. I’d just disapear a while and if she needs me she can call. I’d always be there for her, even if she finds a new person and this person would break up with her I’d support her even if it wouldn’t be my own child.

You say that you would support her even if it wasn’t your child, what do you mean by this? You’d get back together and raise the child with her?

Why is that a possibility with someone else child but not your own?

Are you American left, southern Europe left, eastern Europe left, or northern Europe left?

🎶"Period sex, period sex. Put down a towel, let’s party til it’s dry, with some period sex… "🎶

I don’t really notice a difference during the day, but I have noticed I have a harder time going to bed if I drink even soda with caffeine in it too late. Not that I don’t feel tired but I don’t get sleepy enough to realise it’s time for bed. So I avoid caffeine after 15. Never noticed this before meds.

3 N:s

2 C:s

3 I:s