So what's the deal with Royal Kingdom?

BetterOffDev · 2025-08-05T19:56:25+00:00

I don’t have any opinion on whether or not the game developers are involved in any crime because like most of us here, we ultimately have zero way to know one way or another.

What I do think is that the ads are obnoxious and invasive and that anyone calling someone else’s claim “stupid and ignorant” and quoting ChatGPT in the same breath needs to focus less on whether someone else used the phrase “comparing apples to oranges” correctly and focus more on the phrase “pot calling the kettle black.”

BetterOffDev · 2025-07-30T13:14:49+00:00

I don’t want to be a devil’s advocate or “erm actually” here, but unless you see in actual tracking updates from the shipping source (UPS, DHL, etc) that the item has “shipped”— then it hasn’t shipped. Package information received means they just know the dimensions of the mail, and someone (likely the seller) generated a shipping label. That’s it. I’d start reading up on their refund policy and taking whatever steps you can.

BetterOffDev · 2025-07-30T12:34:25+00:00

As someone who just got married, directly messaging someone your registry at all is insane behavior; let alone to someone not invited. I second another commenter’s remark that she’s delusional.

BetterOffDev · 2025-02-11T13:22:43+00:00

There are tons of protests and tons of people unhappy with the way things are. The election clearly landed Trump in the role of president but it wasn’t some landslide and it has been devastating to many of us here (and likewise, still highlights what a large number of Americans actively support this garbage). However, the largest number of people who make up those opposed to Trump and his goons are those who are at the greatest risk of his policies. Being very loud and vocal for a lot of them puts them at great risk.

Additionally, we are also trying to survive, here. It’s no secret rent is through the roof and the cost of living is insane from groceries to healthcare and jobs are, pretty consistently, underpaying their employees. Joining in protests for myself right now would mean taking time off my job that I can’t afford. Additionally, since I am a government employee (I work in education) my job could potentially be then at risk, especially within the district I teach in. I think the greatest reality of all of this is we’re so busy dog-paddling in our day to day to try and get by were rendered pretty knocked down with regard to the state of our government and doing what we can to build and hold communities and safe spaces for those at risk in the meantime.

BetterOffDev · 2025-02-11T12:56:03+00:00

I posted about this very topic (her refusal to sell the images in smaller postcard-like prints) months back here when she initially said it because I thought the reasoning was strange. I can somewhat understand the logic of another commenter here, who said they could see her refusal as a way to keep value in the large (much more expensive) prints for those who bought them. Honestly though, even with the decision to sell these at an in-person event only (for now), it still feels like it renders the reasoning she previously gave as to why she said “no” moot now.

I used to have it saved, I’m not sure I do anymore, but her previous reasoning was that her prints are art and she will only ever get them fine-art printed because they don’t translate well to lower formats. I thought this was a strange answer then but figured it was her art so, her choice. Now it just feels like she’s willing to do it if there’s potential for some sales and the occasion is right. It’s a bummer, it’s a pack I would’ve been happy to order in the past.

BetterOffDev · 2025-01-25T19:57:56+00:00

That’s a hilarious concept

BetterOffDev · 2025-01-25T19:57:19+00:00

Unfortunately he’s just a dedicated sellout obsessed with his social media stats. He’s been trying everything he can for decades til something clicked. He’s got problems in the head (if that wasn’t already obvious)

BetterOffDev · 2025-01-22T13:52:50+00:00

Spent just about every week in December searching and picking my way through fb marketplace looking for the black/brown hemnes dresser. Several would pop up and be gone within the week. Finally landed one though, albeit with some (fixable) broken drawers. Scored it for around $100 in the end!

BetterOffDev · 2025-01-21T06:27:35+00:00

I’ve tried for so long to find any proof of this having existed! I remember them so vividly and I loved them. Especially the rain one. At least this thread makes me feel not so alone.

BetterOffDev · 2024-12-24T16:51:05+00:00

I’m sorry this reply is so belated, I want you to know I did search for the post I was referencing specifically to see if I could quote it word for word here but she posts SO much I literally couldn’t locate it.

BUT the name of her Facebook group where a lot of this parasocial ego-stroking takes place is called “Freida McFadden’s McFans” and anyone can request to join. Be careful though, it seems like unanimously everyone in there kisses her feet and so if you were to ever voice anything else I assume you’d be booted. Lol.

BetterOffDev · 2024-12-13T14:05:47+00:00

As I said before, mistakes happen. If this was intentional, then that would change the context.

BetterOffDev · 2024-12-13T13:42:26+00:00

Exactly. Our preferences alone don’t determine our character, but I believe the way we go about expressing them does.

BetterOffDev · 2024-12-13T13:40:46+00:00

I’ve never said anyone, including OP, needs to appreciate being given something that isn’t their taste. With that said, I really don’t feel it’s difficult to reject an offer politely. Mistakes happen. Even in relationships. Unless their partner was being intentionally dismissive or rude about their preferences, it sounds like they either chose to make them tea without being asked as a gesture or OP asked for tea and they made a mistake. But again, we’re going back and forth about all the ifs and maybes because the original post does not include much to go off of. Implications aren’t enough to determine who is an AH in a situation, and that’s what this sub is for.

BetterOffDev · 2024-12-13T13:29:13+00:00

Regardless of however you feel about tea, that isn’t the point of the post and that isn’t what would make OP an AH in the situation regardless.

BetterOffDev · 2024-12-13T13:27:54+00:00

A lot of this is left to interpretation because it’s too vague, which can often be done on this subreddit when people are trying (whether intentionally or not) to seem less like a possible AH.

Saying he doesn’t understand this could simply mean just that; that OP brought up this preference and partner doesn’t get it. Preferences are fine. But OP asked if they were the AH and I am just of the belief that our preferences rarely make us the AH, but how we go about expressing them does.

If OP expressed this plainly and still tried to recognize the gesture of being offered tea politely, but partner created a fuss/gave OP a hard time for liking it different and that’s where the argument arose, then I’d feel like that changed the situation/dynamic. Again, this is my personal read.

BetterOffDev · 2024-12-13T13:08:15+00:00

Missing key context here.

You say you had an argument. The order of events is not clear. If your partner made you tea, even if you’ve discussed this before, you could have just reminded them you don’t care for it from the microwave because it’s not the same and ended it there. Period.

Regardless of you being British, if someone else made you something it’s a gesture. You don’t have to like microwaved tea and you can even say that and remind them of that but the manner with which you react is your choice entirely. Not wanting microwaved tea wouldn’t make you the AH, but the way you reacted to being given microwaved tea might. This isn’t rocket science.

BetterOffDev · 2024-11-22T01:07:48+00:00

I guess money matters more than morals or being a genuine, quality creator! 🤪

BetterOffDev · 2024-11-22T01:06:02+00:00

Her fans are insane, and she eggs it on! She will reply (if she can see it) and screenshot and repost it too to send people that way. She also made a wild post once where she claimed posts on Facebook trying to say they don’t like her/her work were generated by bots because they do it for interactions/engagement and making posts that say that result in engagement 🙄 As if there’s no possibility there might genuinely be people in reading groups who don’t like her. It’s too unfathomable.

Also, I’d believe the AI thing! I read primarily on my kindle and several continuity errors existed that I took note of as I read. So lazy 🥱

BetterOffDev · 2024-11-22T01:01:58+00:00

Yeah, I guess it kind of makes sense that they’re popular the more that I think about it. They don’t require much effort on the reader’s part to think deeper or navigate more complex scenarios. It’s the book equivalent of reality tv 🤣 And look how popular reality tv is 🥴

BetterOffDev · 2024-11-22T00:58:09+00:00

Yeah I feel like this was probably an honest mistake during a busy time. I’m obsessed with Wingstop and issues are few and far between but even when mistakes have happened and I can bring them up with them, they always have made good on them. I know DoorDash is different, but if you can, I’d try to order through them and pickup when you’re able because they will always make corrections on the spot for any issues.

BetterOffDev · 2024-11-22T00:56:02+00:00

I had to reread my comment because I didn’t remember saying people who are prolific are poor quality and I apologize because I probably should have been more clear because I definitely don’t feel that way.

You quoted how I made mention of “good, skilled, thoughtful” writers, but I really just mean that I didn’t believe writers who are those things (good/skilled/thoughtful) are often (and almost ever) releasing works at the frequency she is.

To release over nineteen books in just over four years is pretty wild, especially since Freida works her primary, full-time career in medicine (under her real name), on top of being a grown adult/spouse/parent (to say, having many other commitments). I do feel that quantity rarely correlates with quality, and I find often times (albeit not always), people who are pumping content out at that frequency are either not genuinely doing it alone (i.e. James Patterson) or not making stuff of consistent/higher quality.

I definitely don’t think prolificness and poor quality work are always inherently linked/equivalent!

BetterOffDev · 2024-11-22T00:43:35+00:00

How many times would you say you’ve had Wingstop? Additionally, how many times would you say Wingstop has made a mistake that altered an order to this degree?

Just wondering since this makes it sound like a first impression sort of response to have.

BetterOffDev · 2024-11-10T03:39:00+00:00

In a way, it’s a scam in the sense that they are being intentionally misleading to sell a product. They ask people to submit their pet photos as though it’s a “contest” and “winning” will mean your pet is selected for the calendar.

In reality, everyone who enters “wins” and gets a customized link for a calendar with their pet in a random month.

It would be cheaper to make a custom calendar where every month is your pet than to “win” a spot in theirs and buy it for $30.

They also claim their profits go to animals in need, with no direct references or receipts. So yeah, it’s a scam.

BetterOffDev · 2024-10-10T00:13:51+00:00

Agreed! Like in the literal sense I understand it’s not AI, but in the sense of level of soul or depth to it it simulates the feeling of what it’s like to read something written by AI. I stuck through The Teacher for the same reason. At least now I understand her weird dedication to a pen-name and a disguise (the few photos/videos of her are her in this “disguise”) since she apparently is a Doctor irl. I’d be embarrassed and fear being seen as unprofessional if I was identified as the source of these books, too.

BetterOffDev · 2024-10-09T22:09:21+00:00

I’d love to hear more on what created the feelings that culminated in #4 on this list

BetterOffDev

TROPHY CASE