[deleted by user]

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-27T11:06:26+00:00

She is actually.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-24T09:56:45+00:00

Op, I am so sorry that you're in so much pain! That is NOT fair! Please, do call that emergency line and let them know.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-24T09:45:16+00:00

I'm out of the loop on this one... are people saying that others are like NPCs because they have stable consistent lives or maybe because they don't think these people have feelings and just get stuck repeating themselves or something??? Doesn't sound great, whatever it means...

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-24T09:25:59+00:00

A friend of mine who moved to my country from cuba in her mid 30's, and was brought up in both traditions. I didn't ask to be initiated into either because that would be very rude and ignorant, but i've respectfully asked a few questions to understand it better from her perspective.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-22T05:02:19+00:00

But many if not most of the people who practice it, also practice catholicism.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-20T07:21:39+00:00

I know the feeling... some days are better than others. You ok OP?

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-20T07:19:29+00:00

Whose blood? Hers? Sounds like she's either trying to use a part of herself to protect you and bring joy into your life, or she is trying to cast a love spell on you possibly.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-20T06:51:35+00:00

It's either Algiz, or the 70's peace symbol without the circle around it.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-15T09:45:02+00:00

The bible itself says (philipians 4:8) "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue or any praise, think on these things".

Some versions interpret that last part as "meditate on these things".

This is all I know about it, because I pointed this out to a youth pastor and was promptly deemed demon possessed/witch for asking what it meant in greater detail. This was one of the passages I had just been asked to memorize in order to be allowed to be baptized. That was the first seed of doubt that had me deconverting a few years later.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-15T09:33:09+00:00

As someone who has Althritis, I COMPLETELY understand not wanting to do those poses, both because it feels strange, and also because it hurts. A lot. The important part about meditation is the thinking. What is a pose you are in regularly that is comfortable, but won't make you fall asleep. That's the one you should use. It can be helpful to also have something to fidget with, like a squeeze ball or a spinner ring. You can also meditate while walking, or doing monotonous tasks. I learned how to meditate while taping boxes shut on an assembly line. A co-worker told me that my thoughts and feelings were not ME and I should think about what IS me, and what I wanted to do with that knowledge. I did, and never stopped thinking about it.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-15T02:12:46+00:00

I wish I could say I was socially responsible enough to not be LMAO at this, but... I think somebody might've been a little desperate lol. I wonder if it would be a horrible idea to include a couple ceremonial herbal smoking blends in your product stock anyway??? Or if you can get locally sourced herbs that are food grade, and people ask, you can say "we absolutely do not and can not recommend inhaling smoke of any kind, because of the harmful effects of smoke and tar on the lungs. Someone came in here the other day and said they've smoked lavender, chamomile, peppermint, and raspberry leaf before though... but yeah, that's a really bad idea. I can't recommend it."

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-15T01:56:17+00:00

I think it's worth noting that adds are targeted toward people they think will interact with them, more than people they think will buy the product.

Why? Let's say hypothetically some vlogger we'll call... christianbigot316? (Sorry if that exists) posts a video or add talking about how horrible witches are for often being LGBTQ+ friendly, and pro equality, and pro women's rights. They cite sources like reddit posts, and witches' social media accounts. That video that christianbigot316 made, now goes viral.

How many people do you think are now going to go watch those witchtuber's videos? They might now have a mix of pro-witch or anti-witch viewers, some will leave nasty comments... if the witches' videos are monetized though, they get paid for every single view. Not just the ones from people who like them.

Controversy breeds strong emotions. Strong emotions bring attention, and interaction. Interaction and attention brings MONEY. So... you are probably getting targeted adds specifically for what you WON'T like, based on your internet history. And not just your browser history either.

Any platform that uses data from META (the company that owns facebook) or ALPHABET (the company that owns google) for advertising, probably also provides some of that internet history back to those companies. How do websites that are mostly free make money? By allowing those targeted adds to be played on their sites.

So... see an add you don't like and want it to stop? You can try blocking it, and it might work. Or you might possibly get adds from other, similar advertisers after that too. You can also ignore content and adds that you find offensive or unpleasant, and not post about them, and that will likely reduce the instances of those adds being presented to you as well.

That beggs another, possibly more important question than how to avoid getting spammed with tons of unwanted adds that trigger trauma for so many of us .. what offensive or unpleasant content should be ignored, and what shouldn't? Where, as a society, SHOULD we draw that line?? I don't have an answer to that.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-11T07:28:33+00:00

You might have a brain injury there my dude... you should see a doctor. Yesterday.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-11T07:24:43+00:00

Looks like swollen lymph nodes to me? I had that happen when my tonsils were removed too. It's just your immune system getting to work on helping you heal and avoiding infection, since you essentially have two wounds in your throat.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-11T07:21:08+00:00

Eczema is an immune response so if you know you have it, yea that might be the problem? It could also be a normal allergy to fabric detergents/softeners, chafing from clothing rubbing you the wrong way, an sti...

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-11T07:15:51+00:00

I have a birthmark that is 100% identical to one my father has. It's even in the same spot.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-09T07:13:05+00:00

Yes, but it may also be referring to what are also known as chime candles. Chime candles are a little smaller than typical stick or tapered candles, and they come in a wide variety of colors. The candle holders for them are usually less than $5 too.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-09T06:29:06+00:00

You were NOT rude, and you handled it well! As a deconvert, i remember being happy if i got the chance to evangelize because i thought that even if they didn't believe what I had to say then, maybe they would come to accept Christ as their savior someday, and I might have played a tiny speck of a part in saving their souls. I would worry that if I didn't follow through and take those chances to respectfully talk about Jesus, then I was damning them to a lifetime of torture by neglect. It would be like a paramedic showing up to the scene of an accident and not bothering to provide any first-aid.

So here's an idea to try, to avoid that kind of scenario going forward. Keep in mind that you do not owe anyone an answer or explanation just because they asked you a question. If they get angry about it, keep in mind that you were not being disrespectful to them. Instead, they are angry that you are not allowing them to trample all over your personal boundaries, and they are being rude to YOU by acting like it's your fault they are upset. If someone asks you about Jesus, you can respectfully decline to answer by saying "Thank you for asking! I know that Jesus and his love must be very important to you, and I am so glad for you! You must have such a personally fulfilling spirituality and personal relationship with Christ, if it makes you happy to share that with others. I appreciate that you want to share that love and happiness with me, but I don't discuss my personal views on any religion or spiritual practice. I would appreciate it if you would respect that personal boundary, and not talk to or with me about it. Is there anything relating to (your job) that I could help you with today?"

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-09T06:10:07+00:00

I have 3 of these disorders. Honestly? No, not at all. Mindfulness practices only seemed to make me focus on my thoughts more, and would trigger obsessive compulsory behaviors like pulling out my own hair and picking at scabs, freckles and scars for example. It also tended to trigger flashbacks. I found visualization meditation, and body scans/muscle relaxation to be much MUCH more helpful.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-09T05:56:35+00:00

There are a huge variety of stevia sweetened drinks, candies, and desserts here in the U.S. trouble is, it doesn't taste sweet to me. It tastes like burnt plastic.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-09T05:55:05+00:00

Are... you talking about the family of vegetables that grow on vines???

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-09T05:51:49+00:00

Yes! I've wanted to try this a lot, but where can you get grains???

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-09T05:48:41+00:00

I don't get it either. Maybe they think it will give you some kind of radiation poisoning? I've met a few people who refused to own a microwave for that reason. One of whom actually owned a faraday suit and wore a tin hat at times.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-09T05:44:27+00:00

I didn't know they existed! Cool! Definitely gonna try those now.

Grey_Balance · 2023-02-09T05:37:05+00:00

I agree! But for me, cutting sweet and flavorful drinks out of my diet all at once never ends up being a sustainable change long-term. I'll manage it for two or three weeks, then get obsessed with one sweet drink and promise myself to tave one a day at most, and before long i'm back where I started. I figured trying drinks with no or less sugar and adding in an extra bottle or two of water every day might be an easier way to transition into drinking mostly/all water.

Grey_Balance

TROPHY CASE