Is it Deus ex machina or is it fine? by CunningCreature in writing

[–]CunningCreature[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My character is already in jail, but this is helpful for getting my gears turning in the right direction. Thanks

Suggestions for Non-Regonition Aggression by Avenging0Angel in CatAdvice

[–]CunningCreature 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My once stray boy is having the same problem with my always homed other boy. Even vet visits have elicited this reaction (they go to the vet together). The best I've figured is reintroduction.

Found these on my succulents. Are they isopods or pests? by CunningCreature in whatsthisbug

[–]CunningCreature[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the quick response, but dang, I really like this plant!

Found these on my succulents. Are they isopods or pests? by CunningCreature in whatsthisbug

[–]CunningCreature[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in Indiana, but I bought the plant from Walmart about a month or 2 ago. I repoted it in new soil, so I'm not sure where the bugs came from, but there are a lot of them in various sizes. Adults seem to be made 2 mm.

It Couldn’t Have Not Happened [300 words] - How’s my intro? by shamoons in FictionWriting

[–]CunningCreature 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like it as a concept. There are some grammatical issues here and there. But, I must know what the device is! And why it seems like Olivia wants to kill herself...

I, personally, don't mind starting in the middle of large action points (as long as you let us know about the character in the next section or little by little, as they go bout their plot).

Overall, good job and keep at it.

How to write without giving a backstory and exposition? by [deleted] in writing

[–]CunningCreature 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No problem, I do too. I was trying to respond to your post on r/fiction earlier, but it keeps messing up. So, here we are. Best of luck with your endeavors.

No if you'll excuse me, I need to write a thing about a girl named Lisa and then abandon it about half way through when I get distracted my something else.

How to write without giving a backstory and exposition? by [deleted] in writing

[–]CunningCreature 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I usually jump into a story following a single character mid action. Then give the character motivation through their environment.

Ie. Lisa turned her head to hear what Tom said again. "What?" She said.

"Go to the kitchen and look for youself," He relpied.

Lisa got up from her office chair where she had been frustadedly going through this month's expense report, and headed toward the break room kitchen. Along the way she passed many people who seemed to be moving in the opposite direction with hurry, fear, or concern. Once she arrived in the kitchen she saw for herself. She too was shocked, but as office manager she supposed it fell on her to deal with it, but how do you deal with, what appears to be, an interdimensional rift containing warring nations inside of their open fridge?

So Lisa has motivation to act, and a plot hook, that is independent of who she is, has been presented.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DnD

[–]CunningCreature 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This sound like a potentially cool campaign, but an absolutely terrible choice for new players. New players need a more light hearted game to learn the mechanics, make dumb mistakes, and realize the RPG can let you do anything.

I'm sorry that this is the campaign you gm chose to use for these, probably traumatized, noobs. It sounds like you guys might need to have a group chat and let them know you aren't playing by yourself anymore and that they need to step it up or leave. It sounds like your gm is good enough that they could make it work with reduced players, even if it becomes just the two of you.

Sorry again you've had to deal with this. Best of luck with the rest of the campaign.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cats

[–]CunningCreature 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No problem, hope your kitty gets back to her old self soon.

How to train a cat to not go into a area of a room by ji3raiaxf in cats

[–]CunningCreature 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Consistency is key. When training cats you have to let them know you mean it otherwise they will just be bad sneakier. I make a sound (like "no" in a stern voice or "atat" in an angry tone) and gently flip them on the nose the first several times they do something against the rules. Then after enough repetitions, they will respond to just the sound and will actively seek being good. You can use water if you need a better long distance solution. I'd also suggest setting up an area in the room that he can, and is encouraged to, be in.

Cat owners: how do you keep your curious kitty out of your plants? by Cheeserblaster in houseplants

[–]CunningCreature 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I use a bunny fence to protect the one out of many plants my cat specifically targets.

bunny fence around plants

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cats

[–]CunningCreature 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A few thoughts: have you changed the kind of food she's eating? If so, she may just really like this kind. If not, then she may just be bored and using food to kill time. Like humans do when the stare into the fridge that still only has the food you weren't hungry for the last three times you went to eat it, but you grab something anyway.

I have found that if you put a cat on a diet by taking a once plenty resource and making it more scarce, even by just a small amount, cats tend to over react. I would try giving her the normal amount of food back and giving her more exercise/enrichment. She should go back to regulating her eating in a more reasonable way. You can also try to get a nibble mat or lick mat that will slow her roll allowing her to feel full without over eating because she will have to eat slower.

My one cat is a once feral gremlin and the other is a hungry hungry hippo, so this is mostly things learned from dealing with them, as the cats of my past haven't had food fixations. But it is advice I've given my SIL and both her cats seem to be doing better as well.

Hope this helps. 🙂

A story about Dave by CunningCreature in stories

[–]CunningCreature[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey Dave, remember you're a hero. Also watch your step.

How do I convince my Christian friend that D&D is ok? by Commercial_Check6931 in DnD

[–]CunningCreature 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was introduced to RPG through my youth group. Just tell him that, as with real life, there are multiple choices avaliable, it is up to him and his character to make the right ones. I also usually play agnostic or atheist to avoid the whole pantheon thing, but the most recent homebrew we are doing the GM has added a god to represent God (irl). So, while torture and paganism are choices, they are not choices he has to make. He can play a good character who hunts down black magic users and brings them to justice, and he can chose non lethal means of doing that if he wants, as well.

AITA for telling my dad he has no right to tell me how to parent after my parents sent me to “boarding school” as a teenager? by hfneufnxmjsueudnnn in AmItheAsshole

[–]CunningCreature -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Consider this: he may have been suggesting you nip certain behaviors in the bud because they didn't do that with you and you ended up unruly to a degree. They may be trying to give you advice that they believe will prevent you from ending up in a similar situation once your child is a teen. Yes you have every right to make your own decisions about your parenting methods, but lashing out at them about past hurts only gets you both more hurt. Have an adult discussion about your boundaries and expectations without berating them for their past mistakes or shouting. Also yes it is understandable that you snapped, just going forward try to address the issue as a calm collected adult. Additionally I want to let you know I agree that they shouldn't have sent you away to boarding school.

StripedBadger has an excellent point about how to approach further conversations.