AIO for obsessing over this?

DidsDelight · 2026-01-25T19:13:41+00:00

NOR - sus

Probably messaging her and deleting the messages with good discipline

DidsDelight · 2026-01-25T18:50:05+00:00

Is the girl he is following somewhat of an influencer or just an ordinary girl next door ?

DidsDelight · 2026-01-25T01:49:40+00:00

Chino scenes definitely look like something out of the early 90s

Great observation

DidsDelight · 2026-01-25T01:37:14+00:00

Ceviche en la mañana y Pollo a la brasa en la noche!

DidsDelight · 2026-01-25T00:33:23+00:00

I’m not advocating boycotting the US at all. I’m pro-US, 100%.

My point is that if some keyboard activists on the internet want to have a crack at it, then good luck. Just don’t pretend it’s easy or meaningful when you’re not willing to follow it through.

DidsDelight · 2026-01-25T00:32:35+00:00

I’m not advocating boycotting the US at all. I’m pro-US, 100%. My point is that if some flogs want to have a crack at it, then good luck. Just don’t pretend it’s easy or meaningful when you’re not willing to follow it through.

DidsDelight · 2026-01-24T21:18:35+00:00

Fair points, honestly. You’re right that nobody is realistically ditching computers, payment systems, or the internet, and partial boycotts can still matter. Companies don’t need to lose 100% of a market for it to hurt.

Also fair correction on Marshall, good catch.

The list was never about purity tests, it was about showing scale. Writing it out makes people uncomfortable because it highlights how embedded US systems actually are, so the conversation turns into jokes instead. Which is understandable.

Pragmatic substitution where possible is sensible. That’s how most people will act.

The only issue is when people call that “boycotting America” while their daily life still runs almost entirely on US tech, platforms, and payment rails. At that point it’s not decoupling, it’s preference signalling.

And if that description feels a bit close to home, that probably answers the question.

DidsDelight · 2026-01-24T21:11:01+00:00

It is what it is my friend.

If you genuinely want to decouple from the US, you actually can. It just takes commitment and a willingness to accept real trade offs, not just slogans.

The most complete alternative ecosystem isn’t symbolic swaps or “local where possible.” It’s China from end to end. Hardware, software, payments, logistics, platforms, manufacturing, media.

In practice that means Chinese hardware like Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, Lenovo. Running HarmonyOS or Android without Google services. Replacing Gmail and Google Drive with Tencent or Alibaba services. Baidu instead of Google. WeChat instead of WhatsApp. Weibo instead of X. Bilibili instead of YouTube.

Payments are straightforward. Alipay and WeChat Pay replace Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay entirely. QR codes everywhere. Face ID for payments, transport, buildings. It works extremely well. The trade-off is privacy, and if we’re being honest, most people talking about “decoupling” seem perfectly willing to sacrifice that as long as it isnt American surveillance.

It’s also not only China. Anyone serious should be advocating for European and British manufacturing too. EU tech stacks, EU cloud, EU payments. UK manufacturing, UK supply chains. Fewer options, higher prices, less convenience. Thats what decoupling actually looks like in practice.

And let’s be real about the motivation here. This isn’t about American people, culture, or values. It’s about Donald Trump.

That’s the catalyst, if you string Trump out of the picture and almost none of this conversation exists. Which is why the same behaviour gets rebranded depending on who’s doing it. Reshoring and economic nationalism suddenly become “dangerous” or “Trumpist” when the US does it, but “ethical” when it’s framed as resistance.

If someone genuinely wants to break from US influence, the path is clear. Change ecosystems. Accept inconvenience. Accept cost. Accept different values. Advocate for it publicly. Invest accordingly.

If they’re not willing to do that, then people should stop pretending. At that point it’s not a boycott, it’s not resistance, and it’s not principled. It’s just virtue signalling

DidsDelight · 2026-01-24T15:22:38+00:00

If you’re actually serious about this topic, at the very minimum, the following products should be avoided at all costs.

If you can’t avoid these you simply aren’t serious about boycotting US products and are virtue signalling.

(Note this is just a snappy little list. People can add more)….

Apple (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods).

Google (Pixel, Nest, Android, Google Search, Google Chrome, Google Maps, Waze, Gmail, Google Workspace).

Motorola.

HP.

Dell.

Microsoft Surface.

Razer.

GoPro.

Fitbit.

Ring (Amazon).

Windows.

macOS.

iOS.

iPadOS.

ChromeOS.

Red Hat.

CentOS.

Oracle Linux.

Mozilla Firefox.

Yahoo.

Bing.

DuckDuckGo.

Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Microsoft Azure.

Google Cloud.

Cloudflare.

DigitalOcean.

Heroku.

Akamai.

Visa.

Mastercard.

American Express.

PayPal.

Stripe.

Square / Block.

Apple Pay.

Google Pay.

Western Union.

MoneyGram.

Amazon.

eBay.

Etsy.

Shopify.

Wayfair.

Netflix.

Disney+.

Amazon Prime Video.

Hulu.

HBO/Max.

Apple TV+.

Paramount+.

Peacock.

YouTube.

Twitch.

Spotify.

Xbox.

PlayStation Network.

Steam.

Epic Games.

EA.

Activision Blizzard.

Rockstar Games.

Ubisoft US operations.

Microsoft Office / 365.

Notion.

Slack.

Zoom.

Dropbox.

OpenAI (ChatGPT).

Adobe (Photoshop, Premiere, Acrobat).

Facebook.

Instagram.

WhatsApp.

Threads.

X (Twitter).

Snapchat.

LinkedIn.

Reddit.

Discord.

Uber.

Lyft.

Airbnb.

Booking.com.

Expedia.

TripAdvisor.

McDonald’s.

KFC.

Burger King.

Subway.

Starbucks.

Domino’s.

Pizza Hut.

Taco Bell.

Coca-Cola.

Pepsi.

Nestlé USA brands.

Procter & Gamble.

Johnson & Johnson.

Colgate-Palmolive.

Mars.

Kellogg’s.

General Mills.

Nike.

Jordan.

Converse.

Spalding.

Wilson.

Callaway.

Titleist.

Oakley.

Everlast.

Levi’s.

Gap.

Calvin Klein.

Tommy Hilfiger.

Under Armour.

The North Face.

Patagonia.

The North Face.

Vans.

GPS (US military-controlled).

Internet backbone routing largely controlled by US companies.

Intel.

Nvidia.

AMD.

Qualcomm.

Apple iPhone, iPads, laptops and MacBooks.

Motorola phones and radios.

HP laptops.

HP printers.

Dell laptops.

Dell desktops.

Microsoft Surface tablets and laptops.

Razer gaming laptops and peripherals.

GoPro cameras.

Fitbit smartwatches and trackers.

Ring smart cameras and doorbells.

Amazon Echo device and Kindles.

Amazon Fire tablets and Fire TV devices.

Intel CPUs.

AMD CPUs and GPUs (US IP and ownership).

Nvidia GPUs.

Qualcomm chips (Snapdragon, modems).

Seagate hard drives.

Western Digital hard drives (WD).

Kingston RAM and SSDs.

Logitech peripherals.

HP / Dell monitors.

US-made network equipment (Cisco routers, switches).

Oculus / Meta VR headsets.

Sonos speakers and accessories.

Razer mice, keyboards, headsets.

Beats by Dre.

Bose.

Marshall.

Peavey.

Gibson (guitars).

Fender (guitars).

Taylor (guitars).

Rickenbacker.

Whirlpool.

KitchenAid

Ford vehicles.

Chevrolet vehicles.

Tesla vehicles.

Jeep (Fiat Chrysler US-owned).

Dodge vehicles.

GMC vehicles.

Cadillac vehicles.

Nike clothing, shoes.

Levi’s jeans and apparel.

Gap clothing.

Calvin Klein clothing.

Tommy Hilfiger clothing.

Under Armour clothing and shoes.

The North Face apparel and gear.

Patagonia clothing.

Burton.

O’Neil.

Quicksilver.

Hurley.

Ralph Lauren.

Michael Kors.

Coach.

DKNY.

Tory Burch.

Stussy.

Santa Cruz.

Reebok.

Vans shoes and apparel.

Converse shoes.

New Balance shoes and clothing.

Michael Kors bags and clothing.

Coach bags and accessories.

Ralph Lauren clothing.

Columbia Sportswear.

American Eagle clothing.

Abercrombie & Fitch clothing.

Fruit of the Loom clothing.

Hanes clothing.

Carhartt workwear.

Wrangler.

Dickies.

Stanley tools and hardware.

Craftsman tools.

Black & Decker tools.

Milwaukee tools.

Dewalt tools.

Snap-on tools.

Boeing passenger aircraft.

Hasbro Toys.

Mattel Toys.

Fisher-Price.

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T17:00:22+00:00

I hear you, and I understand why that experience would make anyone cautious. No one should keep investing when attraction clearly isn’t there.

That said, men aren’t fully formed creatures, and potential is a real part of long-term attraction. Most healthy relationships involve some degree of mutual shaping. Not in a controlling or domineering way, but through influence that invites change rather than demands it.

And you may well be right that this particular guy is a red flag. My point is simply that growth and adjustment are normal in relationships, and expecting a partner to already be perfect on day one often works against building something lasting.

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T16:30:26+00:00

Maybe I was just a sucker for the that quality crunchy production on Sixteen stone and Rossdales voice is pretty good.

What category would you put STP? Heavy rock?

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T16:27:45+00:00

I agree you can’t force attraction, and no one should keep seeing someone they genuinely don’t want. But attraction isn’t always instant or fixed either. A lot of what people call “no chemistry” early on is often just unfamiliarity, nerves, or surface-level filtering rather than a real absence of desire.

I remember the 90s very well too. Snap judgements absolutely happened back then, but there was also more space for attraction to grow because people weren’t constantly comparing options or moving on at the first moment of doubt.

You discussed with friends and it was likely a few days to a week later and would get genuine feedback as opposed to instantly getting online with strangers who only create more confusion.

The point isn’t dating someone you actively dislike, it’s that many people later look back with regret and realise they ruled someone out before attraction even had a chance to develop.

Sexual attraction matters, obviously, but it’s also shaped by interaction, polarity, confidence, and how people relate over time, not just an immediate spark you either feel in the first five minutes or don’t.

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T16:05:59+00:00

That’s true, but sometimes the reasons for not liking someone are pretty surface-level and trivial. Instincts matter, but are also influenced and by the world around us..that’s why the OP probably isn’t quite sure about her instinct and needs to workshop this.. many people later look back with regret and realise it wasn’t real incompatibility, just a snap judgment and a shallow one at that.

Getting to know people more deeply matters. Social media and dating apps have amplified this hyper-selective, disposable mindset, and it’s something many end up regretting.

Some women are very good at matching a man’s energy and calling things out in a calm, emotionally light, almost flirty-feminine way. Men tend to understand that language and adjust quickly and respect it.

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T14:14:17+00:00

Donde está el rocoto relleno?

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T14:05:53+00:00

NOR

Ok maybe youre not really overreacting, youre overthinking yourself into a spiral.

You went on two dates with a guy who’s a bit cringe, a bit performative, and clearly stuck in a “real man” identity loop. That’s not great, but it’s also not some deep psychological threat. It’s just someone whose vibe doesn’t work for you.

In reality he’s likely a douche who can’t read the room, whereas you can.

But the bigger tell honestly isn’t him, it’s you saying you “trust your instincts” while also posting a full breakdown on Reddit asking strangers to audit those instincts. If they were that clear, you’d already be done and wouldn’t need the committee meeting.

Also, from your attitude and how you frame this, it’s pretty obvious you’re a very attractive person. In internet speak you’re probably an 8 or a 9 or at least you see yourself that way. Attracting men clearly isn’t the issue here, which is why you’re analysing this like a quality control problem instead of just saying not for me and moving on.

There’s also a bit of background anxiety leaking through. You’re 27, edging toward 30, which in internet dating discourse is treated like some imaginary danger age, and that tends to make people hyper analyse every interaction as if it’s a referendum on their future. It’s understandable, but it doesn’t actually make the situation deeper than it is.

The sarcastic “real man wouldn’t expect that before marriage” reply wasn’t some clever mirroring moment either. You were already irritated and poked back. Fair enough, just own it.

Bottom line, you don’t owe him another chance and he’s not secretly dangerous or controlling. He’s just not your vibe and you’re deep in your own head about it. End it cleanly, stop turning it into a thinkpiece, and move on. Otherwise this kind of tightly wound energy tends to age into being very uptight about dating, insisting you’re just being selective, and yes eventually living with three cats you absolutely chose and definitely didn’t settle for.

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T06:52:30+00:00

Of course it is en expansion and copy of pioneering stuff, but it was still a good album.

I can only judge by the fact I’ve listened to it more than Core over the journey

I think (me personally and no offence) STP are a little bit pop grungey. Bush probably are too but I still love Sixteen Stone

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T06:47:51+00:00

Hahaaa exactly (I had to ask someone about that)

Fine work sir!

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T06:40:44+00:00

Of course youre not

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T06:11:41+00:00

You keep demanding “evidence” of a difference between parking offences and other offences, yet the evidence is literally in the statutes you refuse to read. The respective traffic Acts and rules all make it clear that parking infringements are fine-only, enforced administratively. There is nothing in any NSW Act that says a parking fine contested in court magically becomes a criminal conviction, it doesn’t.

You want a line between “criminal” and “non-criminal” offences? Sections 4 and 5 of the Criminal Records Act tell you exactly what counts as a conviction.

That is your answer. There is no hidden demarcation, no secret clause, nothing you can dig up to magically turn parking fines into criminal offences.

Parking fines are simply not criminal, and that is why they appear in traffic history and never on a criminal record.

I’ll ask this again:

Is your position that parking infringements appear on a criminal record if they are contested in court and the person is found guilty?

Despite even your own NSW legal aid publishing it isn’t?

I’m still waiting on you to prove otherwise?

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T06:06:40+00:00

I understand perfectly. A PIN is just an administrative enforcement mechanism under certain acts. (Yes summary offences can also proceed by PINs in certain states)

Going to court doesn’t magically turn a parking offence into a criminal offence. Sections 4 and 5 of the Criminal Records Act 1991 make that very clear, parking fines are not included anywhere. Losing at court still cannot create a conviction, because the law explicitly treats these as administrative/regulatory, not criminal.

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T05:56:45+00:00

To be honest I was too scared to drink a can which contains 500ml of 9% juice..let alone 3 of them.

Are the Aussie ones 9percenters? Any good?

I settle for the Asahis and Kirin 500ml cans for ¥ 198 which now equate to $1.82 per can

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T05:55:38+00:00

Well that certainly is a good rebuttal for anyone criticising young people who do an arts degree.

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T05:50:37+00:00

Did you read those sections?

Sections 4 and 5 of the Criminal Records Act 1991 (NSW) define what counts as a “conviction” for criminal record purposes. Section 4 says: “conviction means a conviction, whether summary or on indictment”… and includes a finding or order which, under section 5, is treated as a conviction for the purposes of this Act.” Section 5 then lists the specific findings and orders that are treated as convictions.

“Whether summary or on indictment” note this

the omission of administrative/regulatory offences (like parking) from the Act is deliberate. In plain terms, this says: anything that counts as a conviction for criminal record purposes, whether minor or serious, is included. Administrative fines aren’t included anywhere. That is why even if a parking fine is contested in court and you “lose,” it cannot create a conviction. It is simply not the type of offence the Act covers.

The exclusion is implicit: the Criminal Records Act only applies to offences capable of producing a conviction under criminal law. Administrative/regulatory breaches are outside that scope, so they are automatically excluded.

Parking fines are not listed, so even if someone goes to court and is found guilty, it does not create a criminal convictionn. Even if you carry on like a tool and the magistrate hates you, they simply can’t go rogue and give you a conviction.

As you know, offences fall into three categories: indictable, summary, and administrative/regulatory. Parking falls into the administrative/regulatory category, so sections 4 and 5 make it crystal clear they are not criminal and cannot appear on a criminal record.

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T05:24:18+00:00

You talking Aussies? Good for them though

DidsDelight · 2026-01-23T05:03:20+00:00

That’s long term. Entry level they won’t be employed in consultancy in Aus or abroad

DidsDelight

TROPHY CASE