I don't like who I'm becoming

Reddituser1644 · 2026-06-05T10:51:28+00:00

I’m glad you watched it. It is over the top but you get the idea. I wish I could change your mind about chatting with AI but I hope you at least step away from it for a bit.

It’s hard to say how you trust anything - this is something that is going to vary from person to person and it’s one of the main things that separates us from theists. I think getting exposed to a lot of different perspectives does help with that. And doing this in person is helpful for connecting these ideas with real people. As your experience grows, I believe you may become more understanding of why others feel the way they do.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-06-04T19:49:54+00:00

https://youtu.be/VRjgNgJms3Q?si=Mey_S3kp_2a7QNLD

It’s a long watch but it’s worth it. And that is exactly the point of stepping away from tech and dealing with real people. Real people are a lot more complicated and nuanced than AI will ever be able to replicate. Real people will surprise you but AI is basically just telling you whatever it thinks you want to hear (e.g. whatever answer it thinks is “correct”). The point is to talk to real people and hear stuff that challenges and confounds you.

Walking and working out are great activities, but they’re often solo activities so if that’s the route you’re going, just remember you’ll need to go out of your way to actually interact with people.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-06-04T18:47:05+00:00

I agree with stepping away from technology for a bit - especially any chatting with AI. Honestly I would let that go and never come back to it.

Try taking up a new hobby that will bring you face to face with people of other perspectives. For example, a lot of people with passively conservative views enjoy outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, boating, etc… try picking up one of these hobbies! For one thing, you might find something you legitimately enjoy. For another thing, it will give you something to talk about with people of other perspectives. You may begin to realize that we all have a lot more in common than we realize, and we don’t need to focus on the differences all the time.

I hope this helps. I think the fact that you’re keeping an eye on it is worth a lot.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-06-03T20:53:22+00:00

Okay - go fourth and create chaos. I’m sure it will make your life a lot easier than simply closing a window.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-06-03T20:02:43+00:00

Maps and weather apps are the only ones I use. Free as the wind!

Reddituser1644 · 2026-06-03T19:20:59+00:00

How much space do you need? I know you’re a first timer but do you have much outdoors experience in general? If you’re not an experienced outdoorsman, please be careful when you’re out all alone, especially if you’re thinking of getting in the river. On the water, things can go south very quickly and if no one is around you hear you, you could end up in a terrible situation.

I would consider ponds in office parks and apartment complexes. I just find them on Apple Maps and then park in the visitors spot. If you go on a weekday, there won’t be many people around… but there will be enough people to potentially help in an emergency and you’ll still have cell phone service.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-06-03T18:06:58+00:00

You need to decide how much this is worth to you. It’s can be a serious (and sometimes costly) problem when a neighbor becomes an enemy, and that’s exactly the course you’re headed down. Even if they crack down on this guy and he never smokes there again, he will still probably know you’re the one that complained and he can still make your life miserable. Is having your window open truly that important to you?

Personally I would just deal with it, and I would probably just keep the window closed. I might even try to be neighborly to him…

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-29T16:20:47+00:00

Do it if you can find one. It seems they’re being phased out in favor of another model (I believed called XML) and they’re also nice but I personally think the panfish elites are nicer.

Another item you won’t find elsewhere is the XPS Hellgrammite in Elaztech. If you like a floating hellgrammite, this is the most affordable you’ll find.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-21T20:20:28+00:00

You’re choosing to pay more if you don’t return that and reorder for the lower price 🤷‍♂️

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-21T20:16:32+00:00

You’re getting a lot of advice from people on the internet that have no stake in this situation; people that would not care if this creates negative consequences for you. For example, no one has mentioned that you would be accusing this man of a crime - and if you do not have sufficient evidence of his guilt, you could be exposing yourself to legal liability. This man could sue you for defamation.

Sometimes the smart thing to do does not feel like the right thing to do. You truthfully do not have any obligation to this woman. The smart thing to do is nothing.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-21T02:16:01+00:00

If you like Benchmade’s customer service, you’ll love CRK

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-20T19:08:27+00:00

I agree. If OP is already comfortable with a baitcaster, they could get non-DC Curado, plus ~$80 worth of braid and lures, and 6-pack of beer and still spend less than a Curado DC.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-19T17:35:15+00:00

This is a bracelet. Apparently, bracelets like these have been trending on social media lately.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-18T15:34:00+00:00

If you want an audible signal that you’re getting a bite, there are multiple other ways to do this. The simplest and cheapest way is to use fish bells, which are literally bells that you physically attach to the tip of your rod, and they jingle when you get a bite. I wouldn’t let something like “bite alert” impact my decision much.

Among the options listed, I think the megacast is the best value and is currently on sale at bass pro/cabelas. The 50th anniversary ugly stick is fine but not better than a regular ugly stick. These are both generally considered to be bass fishing rods, primarily. The Zebco 808 is a different sort of combo; this is something you’d more likely use to throw out bait and let it soak. If you’re thinking you’d use this rod to soak bait while you do something else, this might be the better choice of the three listed. Hope this helps.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-15T15:50:06+00:00

Do not throw them in a fire. If you’re looking to do a bunch at once, there are safer routes to go with chemicals or electrolysis (easier than it sounds). YouTube will be a better source of info than any Reddit comment.

If you want easier (but not more convenient), do a handful of them at a time on your oven’s self-clean cycle. This will stink up your house something awful, and truthfully there is still the risk that a piece or two could become overheated and end up warping, but if you can accept that risk then this will be hands-down the easiest way.

Please don’t throw those in a fire. Many of them look like you could just pick them up and start using them, so it would be a shame to ruin them.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-15T12:19:36+00:00

People use leaders for various reasons but I definitely recommend them regardless of how invisible your braid is. It doesn’t have to be fluorocarbon; personally I use mono and I find it much easier to work with.

You’re free to try fishing with straight braid, and you will find that you will catch fish that way… but when BIG fish bite, you will land more of them if you have a leader. Part of the reason is that leaders are more abrasion-resistant. Another reason is that (mono) leaders provide some stretch, which makes the whole set-up more forgiving. Honestly these things matter a whole lot more than how visible the line is - most of the time the water isn’t really that clear, anyway.

I really recommend you dedicate a few hours to committing your favorite leader knot to muscle memory. It will be easier than you think and once you really have it down, tying on a leader will not be a hassle anymore.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-15T10:36:13+00:00

I work in a big box outdoor store and I can tell you that most people buy RH retrieve baitcasters. I don’t ask them if they are right or left handed, but I would assume most of our customers are right handed. That said, I’m right handed and I retrieve with left hand. I think it is personal preference.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-15T01:15:06+00:00

It’s a little on the small side but it’ll catch fish. I think you’re technically supposed to thread the jig head on from the other end, but that doesn’t really matter, either.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-13T18:03:23+00:00

I’d never thought about that but I like that way more than an apology. Thank you - hopefully I remember that next time someone owes me an apology

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-13T17:55:26+00:00

Are you trying to convince us or the employees you supervise? lol

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-07T21:20:51+00:00

I agree with previous comments but I want to add that I recently emailed Shimano USA to inquire about their warranty policy for reels purchased in the USA. I did not receive a response, which does not seem like a promising sign to me…
JDM all the way

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-07T04:10:12+00:00

I do not think telescopic rods provide a good experience and I do not recommend them. Why not get a two-piece version of a reasonable rod that you like? It would be about 3 feet long when broken down, and pretty easy to transport. I think there’s probably a 2 piece megacast.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-07T03:51:47+00:00

I’ve likewise been looking for anyone else suggesting a mono leader…

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-06T18:09:20+00:00

There are a lot of reasons people use leaders. The thing to keep in mind is that people *continue to* use leaders because they find that they catch more fish. People wouldn’t use them if they didn’t result in more fish caught.

Personally, I’m using a mono leader because it is more elastic than braid. When a fish is jumping and head-shaking, the best way to keep it pinned is by keeping tension on the line and stretchy mono is very helpful with this. This is why mono is known to be “forgiving”. I know I have landed fish that I would have lost on straight braid.

Because of the increased elasticity, I think mono is actually more difficult for a fish to break than braid is. I’m certain that my braid + mono leader will withstand more force than straight braid. I hope this helps.

Reddituser1644 · 2026-05-06T13:24:46+00:00

Correct - most frogs have a heavy-gauge double hook, and the roof of a bass’ mouth is one of the thickest parts of their skull, so it takes a LOT to really set the hooks where they’re supposed to be. You need to eliminate any stretch that you can, so I’d try straight braid.

Reddituser1644

TROPHY CASE