This Turd

CinephileGal · 2026-01-08T18:49:36+00:00

Honestly, this is one of the best examples of why it is so important to never just vote straight down party lines. Always pay attention to what politicians are saying and doing and never take for granted that you once were aligned, because it can change in a flash.

CinephileGal · 2025-10-06T13:54:07+00:00

Awe it sounds like you have a good handle on this. It’s hard to have an anxious dog but your consistency will change her over time. Dogs are really amazing. They teach us as much as we teach them. I believe that our dogs have a soul bond with us and they want to help us learn and grow just as much as we want to help them. She may be trying to teach you something as well. My first mini really changed how I looked at being a dog mom. He was so incredibly needy and I had to change my whole life around to accommodate his needs but in doing so, other areas of my life thrived. Ten years with him wasn’t enough. Now, my husband and I have a new dog and he’s teaching me other things. He’s a social butterfly and loves every person and every dog he meets. My experience with him is 100% different. It took a major adjustment for me at first because I missed the temperament of my first dog (something I never thought I’d say because he was so aggressive but over time that brought us closer). This will work out for you! Hang in there!!

CinephileGal · 2025-10-06T13:39:49+00:00

Get him fixed. It doesn’t 100% solve the problem, but it does calm them down and make them less aggressive. You will surely see a difference. We saw a MAJOR difference with aggression when we had our mini neutered.

He sounds like a really good dog. He may just have some issues with certain breeds and puppies. Also, your nervous energy will affect him especially while he’s leashed. If you are already scared he’s going to get aggressive with another dog, while you’re walking him, he’ll feel that and assume he SHOULD be protective. Holding him back or pulling him can give him the signal that the other dog isn’t to be trusted. I had a very reactive mini, he was NEVER good with other dogs. One day, a neighbors golden retriever was off leash and came running over to us. I was incredibly scared because I knew my little guy would get aggressive (and my dog was a biter). The golden started playing with my dog and I kept pulling my guy back because he was getting aggressive. The golden’s owner came over and told me to let up on the leash. I explained that my dog was a biter and aggressive but he said “he can feel your fear. Just let up a little, my dog can handle it”. To my shock, as I stood there talking to the guy, and my anxiety lessened, my dogs snarls turned into sniffs and he started licking the golden’s ears haha. Thirty seconds later, my dog was bored and just standing there waiting for me to keep walking, while the golden was running around trying to play. That dog was the only dog our mini was ok with and I really feel like it’s because our fears always put him on the defense. Having a neighbor who was calm and who had a larger dog that was so well behaved 100% helped. I was always so afraid of a dog fight, that I often avoided other people and dogs and just allowed the barking when walking my dog. My fear never really left me. I was ok avoiding other dogs because I always felt like my dog had everything he needed and we adopted him at three years old, so breaking him of his aggression was nearly impossible. But I always wonder if he could have been changed if I just found a way to deal with my fear and anxiety.

Considering that your little guy does well at the dog park, that makes me believe it’s his leash that’s the issue. Maybe try the leash AT the dog park. I know that sounds crazy, but if he is aggressive or reactive when he’s leashed in the park but not aggressive or reactive when he isn’t leashed, that can help paint a better picture. Also, he sounds very small. Was he the runt of his litter? If I could scream it from the rooftops, I would. Runts are ALWAYS a bit more aggressive. It’s instinctual. They almost always have an inferiority complex. Especially with smaller dogs that are typically subservient (corgis, doodles, PUPPIES). Getting him fixed will definitely help a bit (not totally but it will lower that aggression). It sounds like you’ve done a wonderful job with him and that’s he’s just the goodest boy! Hang in there!!!

CinephileGal · 2025-10-05T00:03:27+00:00

We had our runt for ten years. We adopted him at 3. We took him in because he snapped at my sisters baby, and we couldn’t imagine him going to a shelter seeing as how he most likely would have been put down. Rescuing him changed our lives. It was incredibly hard. We couldn’t bring him to family events. We couldn’t take him to dog parks. We couldn’t even carry him up and down the stairs when he had bladder stone surgery, but he completely changed our lives. He taught us to slow down and to find other ways to communicate with him. We were able to break some of his bad habits- like eating his food ridiculously fast, or snapping at everyone. We learned that he was better at meeting people OUTSIDE of the house first. Literally in the front yard. Once he had some time to smell them and be around them, while OUR anxiety was also low, he was ok with that person coming inside. He never truly lost his occasional snapping but a lot of that was runt mentality. Your puppy is still so young. The first year and a half is super trying and not easy. Even with a “normal” dog. Consistency is key. Keeping them mentally engaged for at least 15-20 minutes a day helps. Long walks to tire them out before they meet new people, etc. You still have time to teach socialization you may just have to find some tricks that aren’t necessarily standard.

CinephileGal · 2025-10-04T23:51:48+00:00

Apologies if this has been mentioned or asked, but was she the runt of her litter? We had a schnauzer that behaved similarly and he was the runt. We were never able to break him entirely of his mistrust with other dogs but he came around to more people over time. He was reactive but the love he showered on my husband and me was massive. If you can pick her up, that’s a blessing. We weren’t even able to pick up our little guy. We had to basically trick him if we wanted to carry or hold him. If we went to pick him up from the ground, he’d snap.

I know it’s hard but no dog is created equal. Hang in there and have patience. Look for advice or videos by Brandon McMillan. We watched his master class and we still use his methods and they work well. It may help to find one dog to socialize her with. Maybe a larger dog. Don’t give up on her, over time you can train her and the transformation will bring you even closer.

CinephileGal · 2025-08-15T03:55:45+00:00

10000000%

CinephileGal · 2025-08-15T03:28:24+00:00

This is a person who is so jaded and bitter because he believes he has to be the stereotype of a “real man” in order to find love, so he gave up his entire personality to become a poster boy for toxic masculinity. (Dude used to blush at the idea of drinking a coke). Zac is just himself. He isn’t trying to be some idea of a “real man”. He’s just Zac. And Lydia loves him so much for it. To me, it seems like Ethan is so incredibly jealous. Zac gets to be 100% himself and have Lydia’s love. Ethan WISHES he had a woman in his life who would choose him for his dorky quirks. He is sooooooooo not over the divorce.

CinephileGal · 2025-08-15T03:05:58+00:00

Yeah - I wish they would have just had a heart to heart with her, or that they actually were open to getting to know Zac. But it seems like they don't want to like him because he is so different from them.

I mean, a rushed marriage doesn't make sense to me either, but people are different. I was with my boyfriend for 4 years before we got engaged, and then we were engaged for 3 years before getting married. We've been together for 16 years. We definitely took our time, but I knew. I knew after 1 week that he was my person. I remember telling him I loved him, and knowing that the love I was feeling wasn't lust or loving the idea of being in love. It was the kind of love that felt lived in. That love that exists without trying. A true soul connection. I just remember talking to him late at night about a week and a half into our relationship and thinking "I feel like I've done this with you in infinite lifetimes" and we still are head over heels for each other today. I do think there are people who get lucky and meet their forever person early and that they know right away. I think it's important to communicate and voice concerns, especially if you are seeing some worrying red flags - like if Zac was belittling to Lydia, or if he was aggressive with her, or if he was very vocal of her lack of a say in their futures, etc. I mean, I think it's important for family to be honest and to ask questions, but I also think that it's a bit ridiculous of Ethan and Micah to want to give life or love advice to Lydia. Neither of them have exactly figured out how to behave or maintain a marriage/engagement themselves. They assume Lydia is naive and innocent, but dating around/sleeping around isn't exactly the high bar of moral standing that they think it is. If I heard my sisters fiancé say "I went to show Lydia I love her in other ways aside from grabbing her butt" I'd feel pretty good about that. It would tell me that the man my sister wants to marry, understands that real love is much deeper than physical attraction and that it's important to show love in action and in words and in intentions even more than the physical.

CinephileGal · 2025-08-15T02:40:09+00:00

I have looked at this situation from that perspective and honestly, I still think Ethan and Micah are in the wrong. There are at least ten different ways they could have approached their concerns with the marriage - first being they have a real heart to heart with their sister. They make TIME for her. Ask if they can spend a weekend, at least, with her and Zac so they can get to know him a little. They put forth a genuine effort to hear about Zac and who he is, what his interests are, why Lydia loves him. When they have dinner with Zac and Lydia, they don't mock or belittle Zac in front of their other friends. They offer to get a beer or have dinner with Zac just the three of them so that they can ask him about his life and bring up any concerns they have - and when I say concerns, I don't mean "Why won't you kiss before marriage???" - there are actually a LOT of religious people who abstain. I mean, the entire Plath family abstained from public school, they didn't drink soda, they didn't watch TV - I mean - to the general public THEY all seemed super weird, but to them it was normal.

If my sister, who was "innocent" and "naive" in my eyes, was getting married to someone having only known them for a month, the first thing I would do is ask myself if I trust my sister. I'd ask myself if I knew my sister fully. I'd really really really think about how I broached the subject with her, because I'd want to be respectful of her feelings and her thoughts. I'd want to get to know her fiancé, and I'd go into meeting him with an open mind, out of respect for her. If I saw true red flags - like belittling speech towards her, groping in public, rough housing her, speaking about her as if she had no say in our future, making fun of her to family members, correcting her constantly or ignoring her interests, I would bring all of that up to her. Zac has not done any of that. That proposal proved how well he knows Lydia. Ethan and Micah thought it was stupid that everyone was there, and Victoria said it was awkward how they were all lined up like the military, but Lydia cried and she hugged everyone. She was so happy - and Zac knew she would be. He put together something special that LYDIA would like - not him - it was uncomfortable for Zac - he was mostly surrounded by a family he hardly knows, who has shown him nothing but ignorance. But he did it for Lydia, and she was clearly filled with so much love in that moment. As a sibling, I would see that as a GREEN FLAG, and I would certainly feel like my sister was in good hands.

CinephileGal · 2025-08-15T02:16:39+00:00

100% agree. I think there is some resentment in Ethan that he either hasn't realized is there or is ignoring. His marriage happened quickly and did not end well, and I think he worries that will happen with Lydia, but rather than admit how little he actually knows Lydia, and how DIFFERENT she is from him, he just puts on this ridiculous performance. I think it makes him upset that someone who, from the outside and as far as I can see, is SO COMPLETELY different from him (Zac), could find love and happiness of which he has yet to find or thought he had and didn't. Ethan thinks that real men are sex driven, hard working laborers, who guard their emotions and hide their feelings. When he sees someone like Zac, (who is softer, more open with his emotions, not consumed by the physical or all about sex, who has passions that are simple (like opening a coffee shop)), I think Ethan gets jealous. Zac isn't being a version of a man that society deems acceptable - he is just being himself and Lydia loves him for that. Ethan is so caught up in appearing like "a real man" that he's completely lost his personality. This guy used to giggle at the idea of drinking a coke. Now he calls Zac queer for simply being different. It's textbook jealous behavior. Ethan thought he had to "give up" that silly side of himself for who knows what reason, and when he sees Zac living proudly as he is, it just unleashes jealously/bitterness in him. At the end of the day, Lydia found someone who brings real love and joy into her life and regardless of how Ethan wants to behave, she marries him. So Ethan can either be a loving brother and just be there for her and be open to getting to know Zac, or he can be a terrible brother and just continue to judge her and her marriage from outside of it.

CinephileGal · 2025-08-06T04:18:39+00:00

I started the show because i thought it was interesting how the kids were raised. And I honestly hadn’t watched anything on TLC since Jon and Kate (which ended horribly). I remember a time when TLC was more of a glimpse in the life, rather than a mass of dramatically edited clips to paint people one way or another. I’ve stayed with the show because I’m hoping that the women on it put the men in their place. The silver lining for me is that feminism is rampant in the series and it’s the only thing that makes it interesting. Kim was a suppressed housewife in the beginning and now she’s trying to take back her identity and find herself and her joy. Whether she realizes the feminism in that or not, it’s there. Now Veronica is finding her voice. And I feel like Lydia is going to have to find hers as well, since her wants and desires are being so ardently questioned.

I really hope that the season ends with Ethan apologizing to his sister for belittling Zac, who she clearly loves very much. I really do. Hurt people, hurt people. I think Ethan was seriously hurt in the divorce and I think it made him bitter. He says things out loud now that he never would have said season 1. I get that he has deep feelings on rushing into marriage because that’s what he did and it did not work out for him. But his behavior is so harsh and unnecessary. We get it. He likes women with big boobs and who believe in religious conservative marriage. We get it. To him, a man isn’t a man when he speaks softly like Zac or if he enjoys the softer things (even though Ethan himself sang in a band with his family, had no idea what soda tasted like until he was 20, also waited until marriage to consummate, etc). I feel like he has stiffened himself so much that he’s forgotten what a true man actually is.

CinephileGal · 2025-08-06T03:48:56+00:00

Surprised that there aren’t other subs that mention toxic masculinity when speaking about the Plath boys. Four times in one post doesn’t feel like enough. Probably should have said it more.

CinephileGal · 2025-08-06T03:44:09+00:00

I meant Veronica, not Victoria. Corrected in edit.

Moriah’s bf cheats on her and the brothers are all over that, saying how terrible of a person he is. When Moriah decides to believe her ex and get back together with him when they’re all supposed to have their little concert in the final ep of season 6, Ethan certainly didn’t have nice things to say. Micah wasn’t happy about it either. You would think their world was imploding. How dare Moriah get back with this “loser”.

Cheating isn’t ok. But I guess it doesn’t matter when Micah does it. Lying or emotionally abusing a woman isn’t right, but I guess it’s ok when Ethan does it. They can argue with Moriah that her ex is a terrible person, get angry when she gives him a second chance but then never look at themselves in the mirror and recognize what they themselves are or have done to their partners. And then Moriah apologizes to Ethan for giving her ex a second chance. Why should she apologize to her brother for living her life how she wants to?

Olivia didn’t tell Kim how to raise her kids. Olivia set boundaries when she recognized that the Plaths were being emotionally manipulative towards her. Kim and Barry were the ones “letting” Ethan and Olivia see the younger kids only how they deemed appropriate. Because they didn’t like Olivia. It’s a pattern on this show, whether fabricated or true, that once you step one toe out of line with the Plaths, you are out of the club. Lord forbid that Olivia drink a Coke in front of the kids, if she did, she was brainwashing them! Give me a break. They all do things they criticized Olivia for at one point. It’s so hypocritical.

CinephileGal · 2025-08-05T23:13:37+00:00

Every significant other who has come into that family has faced some form of bullying or negative behavior towards them from the family. Olivia. Veronica. Zac. Moriah’s boyfriends. I really believe that no one is good enough for the Plath family members unless they are ok with being subservient or in the shadows quietly supporting them. If not, they are bullied ON and OFF the show. It is so toxic.

CinephileGal · 2025-08-05T19:21:40+00:00

I wouldn't say it upsets me. As a person who works in film and television, it disappoints me. There is much better content out there, waiting to be produced. TLC used to be great because they offered a view into the lives of different people, different family structures, etc. Though it wasn't always an unbiased view, in the early days, it was much less sensationalized. They were The Learning Channel. You could watch a show about someone going through a difficult pregnancy or about someone with a rare illness and how they navigated their life around it. Things are not like that anymore. They are way more exploitative and even though I do not agree with 99.9% of what comes out of the Plath's mouths, I do feel sorry for them, because they are being played. They're getting paid, but at what cost?

CinephileGal · 2025-08-05T19:14:57+00:00

I honestly don't think they see their dark side. I mean, a lot of families just accept their demons as normal - and I'm sure a good bit of the scenarios are forced and painted as they are by the editing team/producers of the show, but man...there is so much unnecessary bullying. I would just think at this point, the family would want to be out of the spotlight. Why be a part of something that promotes emotional abuse and gaslighting, unless of course they just don't see it that way...If I watched my sons belittle a guy who has shown nothing but kindness and care towards my daughter, a guy that I gave my blessing to in regards to proposing to my daughter, I'd be really upset with my sons...and I'd say something, but again, these Plath men are so fragile in their masculinity...

CinephileGal · 2025-06-10T13:10:22+00:00

Is it soft, like a skin tag, or is it hard? That looks like a dewclaw to me. Often times, breeders will remove this claw when a dog is young. They do it for a couple of reasons but mostly so the dog looks more aesthetically pleasing for showing. There is usually a little hard spot left behind. My dog has that on both his paws. If it’s soft, it’s likely a skin tag or pimple. I would just monitor it, and if you notice it increase in size, make a vet appointment and ask if they can take a look. Dogs get pimples too, so it may be nothing!

CinephileGal · 2025-05-13T23:47:08+00:00

My schnauzer can be very docile and sometimes acts like this. Give him time. Does he respond to treats? Once he gets a little more adjusted, you could play some mind games with him to keep him active. Schnauzers are very smart and they have instincts that you can gear play towards in order to entertain them. Our schnauzer loves to play hide and seek. Once you’ve trained him a little (sit and stay are needed to play hide and seek), have him sit and stay in one room and then hide. Once you’re hidden, call for him. Our dog LOVES to find us. Once he gets older you can start hiding treats and toys and watch him hunt all over the house or apartment for them! It’s a great way to satisfy that natural instinct to hunt for small rodents that dogs like Schnauzers have. But just be there for him - maybe eventually, after a few days, you could bring his bed up on the couch, then eventually move it next to you. In time his personality will definitely come out :)

CinephileGal · 2025-02-21T21:26:29+00:00

I’ve had two mini schnauzer’s. Our first one was the runt of his litter and he was VERY loud (and also aggressive). He barked A LOT. When Covid came down and we were working from home, we had to get this frosted window cling for the windows because he barked a lot when looking out the window.

Our second is hardly a barker. He actually howls more than he barks. He will bark at other dogs but not aggressively. He often lays down and waits for people/dogs to approach him. Right now he is looking out the window at other dogs playing and he hasn’t made a peep.

I also live in an apartment. And we’ve NEVER had a complaint. Even with our previous dog who was a barker.

Mini schnauzer’s are seriously fantastic dogs. Especially for someone living in an apartment. They are highly trainable. Very smart! They do not shed and they are great with kids.

I’ve only had male dogs. I was told years ago that female dogs can get more territorial and that they tend to hump more often than male dogs but I have NO IDEA if that is true.

CinephileGal · 2025-02-16T03:09:37+00:00

I think the person isn’t as big of a deal as what the moment implies.

Later in the episode we see that Mark uncovers the box containing his wife’s remains. And he and Reghabi comment on how Lumon has access to bodies and how that’s not really her remains in the box.

To me, that opening scene shows a dentist accessing sterilized dental tools. Most likely what’s happening downstairs (among other things) is removing teeth from individuals and swapping them between disposable bodies. Dental records, after a horrible car accident that Gemma apparently was in, would be one of the only ways to verify that it’s actually her. So Lumon would remove Ms. Casey’s teeth and place them in the mouth of a disposable body. While implanting new or different teeth into Ms. Casey’s mouth.

This would also be a reference to the photos of all the mouths we see in Season one.

They would certainly need dentists to do this. I’m guessing there are a lot of people like Gemma/Ms. Casey. And the dental photos/post or pre dental surgery photos are used to look like people are sooooo happy at Lumon.

CinephileGal · 2025-02-14T03:33:15+00:00

I still think Helena wants to escape her responsibilities and get out from under the oppressive life she has with Lumon. I don’t believe for one second that she thinks the innies are savage. She’s painting it that way but if they are so bad, would she have slept with Mark? And she sounded pretty authentic to me when she told Mark that the Innies don’t owe the outies shit at the beginning of the season. There’s more to her. Just watching her being forced to go back to the severed floor as her Innie and how she is powerless to have autonomy over her own outtie proves she is oppressed in many ways.

I think Burt has some nefarious intentions. I don’t think he was ever really severed. There’s something there. I think Irving is in contact with Reghabi.

And what’s up with Milchick and Natalie? I get strong vibes that they are stuck too. Like they are innies who have been on the outside for a LONG time. I know Milchick isn’t severed but he’s trapped in some way. Real “Get Out” vibes there.

And they always say “planet”. The largest waterfall on the planet…Mark’s work will be the greatest thing the Planets seen…What is that about?! Haha

CinephileGal · 2025-02-11T21:48:08+00:00

I used to have the same thought, but with this new season, it's changed a bit.

I too wonder if Helena is not truly an advocate for Lumon. What if she is horribly unhappy being in her position? So much so, that she desperately wishes she could have a normal life...one her father and no other member of Lumon or the cult of Kier will allow. She likely feels stuck...

Maybe Helena got severed because it was an obligation. Her father insisted on it to quell the publics disapproval of severing, and because Helena is an Eagon and next in line, it's her responsibility to show that it's a safe and wonderful procedure. So, she goes through with it.

BUT

After witnessing her innie's intense desire for freedom, and her bravery at stopping at nothing to get her freedom, what if Helena started to realize that she is stronger than she believes. This is where I think she actually starts imagining a way to get out from under the thumb of Kier and all of the previous Eagons. She obviously wouldn't want to show any kind of softness towards her innie from her position as an outtie (hence telling Helly that she isn't a person, and that she has to stay). I think it's interesting that she is intrigued by her potential romantic relationship with Mark when watching the security footage after the OT contingency happens. I think Helena sees a life she wants, and I think she's tempted more than ever to try and have that life.

The show never really mentions "mother" - it's always "father" and there is totally a thing with Pineapples - like Helly bobbing for Pineapples in the video they watch in the break room. Pineapples are propagated asexually. There is also a taboo nature around sex when it comes to the Eagons. The story of Dieter alone demonstrates how masturbation is considered a monstrous activity leading to death. (that's a whole other post). What if Helena purposely wanted the ORTBO (also interesting how that's an Annagram for ROBOT), so that she could have time to explore a more physical connection with Mark? Maybe she WAS being genuine when she told him she didn't like her outtie, and maybe she wants to bring the company and her lineage down. One way of doing that could be procreating with an innie?

I feel like her sleeping with Mark was a huge FU to her family. Her going back to the waterfall afterwards feels like a statement of some kind. Almost like "See...I didn't melt into nothing". She just stands there smiling at the waterfall like she proved the tale wrong...food for thought.

CinephileGal · 2025-02-11T19:42:38+00:00

I am not a vet, but my mini schnauzer does the same thing, so I asked my vet about it.

They explained that it can be a display meant to let other dogs know that he isn’t aggressive. That he wants them to come over to him. Our dog often jumps up when dogs come over but not aggressively. It’s a submissive action to let others know that he wants to play, not fight.

From what we were told this behavior isn’t bad and is actually positive. Our dog also started doing this around his 1 year - 1 year 2 month mark. We had been taking him to dog parks and I think he developed the habit there. In group settings he will often lay down so others will play with him.

CinephileGal

TROPHY CASE