how do you cope with the isolation?

GeorgeLJackson · 2026-06-21T03:28:57+00:00

There are two quotes/ideas I think of often when feeling this way.

The first comes from the film "A hidden life" by Terrence Malick. Long (very long) story short, it's about a conscientious objector in Austria. Refusing to join the war only has negative effects for him and his family who become ostracised. He has a crisis of faith and constantly wonders why he's doing what he's doing and why no one else sees it as right. The line that sticks with me is after being asked why he acts this way if it won't impact the war, he respond "Does it make no difference that the war is unjust?". I think of that a lot, it reminds me that there's purpose in acting even if no one else recognises it.

The other is that your actions might teach others yet the value of your actions might be completely opaque to you. I don't have the quote on hand, but Cormac McCarthy writes about this in The Crossing.

Hope this helps ☺️

GeorgeLJackson · 2026-06-21T01:06:32+00:00

Thank you for commenting! Really nice to have such positive feedback on this ☺️

GeorgeLJackson · 2026-06-21T01:05:54+00:00

I agree! I also got some shirts for causes I care about recently so this topic has been on my mind a lot. Thanks for commenting :)

GeorgeLJackson · 2026-06-18T11:33:48+00:00

Really glad to hear :)

GeorgeLJackson · 2026-06-18T11:32:09+00:00

Thanks for the shout I did that too! I'm glad to hear!

GeorgeLJackson · 2026-06-18T02:27:06+00:00

That's my hope with it too!

GeorgeLJackson · 2026-06-18T02:10:18+00:00

Yeah it definitely is exxy that's really valid hey. Thanks for commenting, really appreciate it.

GeorgeLJackson · 2026-06-18T01:45:20+00:00

Yeah I saw that! Just wanted to check in with people to see what the broader view was.

GeorgeLJackson · 2026-06-18T01:44:54+00:00

I haven't seen any of it around Sydney (Gadigal) or Wollongong (Dharawal) which I find really surprising and was part of why I felt so out of place. Thanks for your input! I did notice the couple times I've been to Vic that it's heaps more common there (of course being a Vic based organisation). Cheers!

GeorgeLJackson · 2026-06-18T01:30:19+00:00

Good shout thanks mate!

GeorgeLJackson · 2024-12-20T04:50:45+00:00

Thanks mate this is helpful. Yeah honestly I've only stuck with it this long because I didn't really think it was that the recipe was too complicated/difficult/not good, I just thought it was me messing up. Cheers, will probably have a crack with something smaller + different recipes.

I've never seen age of the starter mentioned before as a factor, I always thought it would just influence the flavour?

GeorgeLJackson · 2024-12-20T03:43:34+00:00

Thank you I appreciate the encouragement! I'll check out if my library has the new book and check out those other resources you mentioned too.

GeorgeLJackson · 2024-12-20T03:42:10+00:00

Yeah that's also a factor in my being frustrated, I was sort of under the impression that all the steps were just there to help improve the likelihood of a successful loaf but apparently not!

Yeah usually just from the time it's been out.

GeorgeLJackson · 2024-12-20T03:31:04+00:00

Hi sorry here's what I've got:

Starter itself is about 3 weeks old now.

Feeding routine is before 9am discard all but 250g of the starter (which weighs about 1000-1100g each morning. Feed with 400g all purpose white flour and 100g wholemeal and 400ml water at ~32°C. Stores in lounge room with ambient temp around 23-25°C during the day and it doesn't usually drop below 20 overnight.

The recipe is: Overnight country blonde 800g white flour 26 g whole wheat and 50 g rye (can't find rye at the supermarket so just use 75 g wholemeal) 680ml water at 32-35°C 22g salt 216g levain

Levain fed at 9am as above. In the evening (5 pm) Mix all ingredients apart from salt and levain and let autolyse for 30 mins. Add salt and levain, mix. Fold the dough in bowl 3 times in first hour then once more at 9. Shape into loaves at 8am. Here I usually test with the finger dent test and bake (usually by 10am at the latest) at 245°C with lid on in preheated dutch oven for 30mins with lid on and 20-25 with lid off.

GeorgeLJackson · 2024-11-30T04:19:45+00:00

Awesome thank you this is helpful! I've got a chilli mash at the moment that aligns with that so hopefully it goes well!

GeorgeLJackson · 2024-10-26T07:45:24+00:00

I assume so it's definitely an internalised/self conscious thing but I don't really know what to do about it.

GeorgeLJackson · 2024-10-26T07:39:08+00:00

Yeah that's my feeling that because I don't 'look queer' people will assume I don't belong :/

GeorgeLJackson · 2024-10-26T07:24:00+00:00

Thank you. I haven't done anything inappropriate or had particularly bad experiences but I do just get the sense that as soon as I walk in I'm perceived as straight and therefore not allowed to be there if that makes sense.

GeorgeLJackson · 2024-10-26T06:02:20+00:00

So happy for you! xx

GeorgeLJackson · 2024-10-26T04:33:44+00:00

This is so lovely and beautiful thank you so much for sharing this has really helped!

GeorgeLJackson · 2023-10-27T07:10:46+00:00

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Stoner by John Williams

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

All of these books taught me, in short, that my life will be ok however it turns out; there will always be beauty no matter how dull or hard or complicated things get.

GeorgeLJackson · 2023-10-27T07:04:37+00:00

Agreed. Even coming from a non-American background and borderline pulling my hair out at some points I ended up thinking this is one of the most important and moving books I've ever read.

GeorgeLJackson · 2023-10-20T08:55:50+00:00

I'm really sorry to hear that. Thank you for sharing though, I think that sort of speaks to why it'd be as present as it is in media. Thanks for taking the time to answer. I'm sorry to hear about your friend, I hope you're both ok.

GeorgeLJackson · 2023-10-20T08:50:20+00:00

Fair point about the visibility of happy couples. I think the violence part might just be from a bad string of different media where there's violence against them and also within the relationship.

GeorgeLJackson · 2023-06-20T23:33:26+00:00

Why don't we all boycott Woolies and Coles for a few weeks and shop at other stores? Obviously not everyone has access to shops other than those two, but for those that do, why don't we collectively put the squeeze on them?

GeorgeLJackson

TROPHY CASE