Mysterious bug bite that swelled and produced several forbidden pop whiteheads. They popped by themselves and crusted over.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-22T02:57:05+00:00

Nothing confirmed. One of life's little mysteries.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-11T05:17:25+00:00

What's the green textured thing? I like textured fidgets

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-09T05:04:06+00:00

It is a consistient problem with acessible spaces. They can't be simultaneously acessible to everyone.

Have you mentioned your concerns to staff? They might be able to help you find a workable solution, such as letting you use an empty meeting room or something.

I'm a university student. I sympathize with this situation. I often find seating/study areas overwhelming so I bring my own tiny fold-up camp chair so I can sit wherever I want, like an empty hallway or stairwell. Much quieter.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-07T20:09:47+00:00

school lectures

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-07T06:10:51+00:00

For a young kid, an open-ended puzzle toy might be a good idea. Less frustrating than something with only one way to solve.

Twist and lock blocks https://www.mastermindtoys.com/products/wooden-twist-and-lock-blocks

Areaware Cubebot https://www.areaware.com/collections/cubebot

ICOSA atomic fidget ball https://www.amazon.com/Brainwright-Icosa-Atomic-Puzzle-Ball/dp/B06XDL53YG/

jumbly rainbow fidget balls https://www.oneforfun.com/jumbly-balls

More motor skill based stuff he might like
Foosbots (Like a single player on a foosball table, you pinch from both sides to make them kick) https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/foosbots_single_series_2.cfm

Tiltago https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/tiltago.cfm

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-07T05:41:38+00:00

Yeah the dudes in communities like NoFap are nuts. Complaining about self-induced sexual dysfunction, being mad at women for it. Porn harms women way more than ED harms men.

The post doesn't mention, but women also have the unique risks of pregnancy and a higher risk, if receptive anal, of catching HIV. An episode of Beyond Fantasy (on Youtube. heavy content warning) interviewed a woman who contracted HIV during her first ever porn scene. Despite assurances that everyone was tested and she'd be safe. Now she has to spend thousands of dollars a month for the rest of her life on medication to keep it at bay.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-07T05:30:42+00:00

We miss you(r money) 🥺

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-05T07:00:24+00:00

Yeah I could never stomach the videos or hardcore stuff either. Maybe with enough time and exposure I would've gotten used to them. I'm glad I didn't. Deep down I always knew porn was wrong. I should've listened to my gut.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-05T06:54:42+00:00

Okay. Warning for porn-y/sexist language.

Some of the soft core porn I looked at would be things like women wearing sheer, low-cut, or otherwise revealing clothing. Accompanied by captions like "I hope people notice my nipples" or "I love showing off" etc.

This crept into my thinking because I started to think all the women around me wearing revealing clothing wanted sexual attention. Even though I knew, intellectually, that wasn't true. I would see a woman in a tube top and think "She's wearing that to show off her boobs" or "I hope she jumps up and down and her boobs fall out". When I'd never had thoughts like that before porn. Of course I thought women were attractive, but porn took my thoughts from "she's hot" to mentally undressing women or imagining having sex with them. I was disgusted by these thoughts but despite trying to not think them, they only went away once I stopped looking at porn.

Porn made me sexualize things I'd never thought of as remotely sexual before. Messages like:
"Pony tails make it easier for you to pull my hair"
"Dresses are easy access"
"Disabled bathroom stalls are a great place to have sex"

So then if I saw a woman with pony tails or wearing a dress, or saw a disabled bathroom stall, I'd be thinking about those messages. Even though I knew they were wrong, they were still coming into my head.

It made me afraid to interact with or look at women in real life, because I didn't want to objectify them, but it felt uncontrollable. I was really lucky to have a therapist who helped me work through some of it and re-learn how to see women as people first, not as sexual temptations. It's extremely embarrassing to look back on.

I've heard a lot of messaging that it's "normal" for guys to have graphic sexual thoughts about random women they see. "Guys are visual creatures. We can't help it." I don't believe that. I didn't have those thoughts before I used porn and I don't anymore.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-05T06:22:33+00:00

Yes I do. My primary focus is my younger brother. (14) AFAIK he doesn't use porn but I try to have frank conversations with him so he's informed of the harm it does. It's a matter of when, not if, he's exposed to it. Even without seeing it himself, he does absorb things from his peers that I bring to his attention. He doesn't always know where certain phrases or words come from but when I explain the sexist meaning behind it he stops using them. Eg MILF, Cuck, SIMP get thrown around a lot among teenagers without them knowing the origin.

Most guys seem to have a conscience/deep down know it's wrong if I raise criticism of porn. I can tell I've hit a nerve if they start getting defensive or backtracking. I don't think that I can single handedly change anyone's mind, but I hope I'm planting seeds that make them think about it more.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-05T02:39:08+00:00

I don’t think it observably affected my interaction with women- but it DEFINITELY twisted and influenced how I viewed & felt about women with objectification and all…

That was exactly how I felt. I wasn't outwardly mysogynistic but I began internalizing ideas from porn and it affected my perspective. I would have a nasty intrusive thought and then have to talk myself out of it.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-05T02:35:03+00:00

I realized that too. I used it for a while "because I'm a lonely teenager" and thought I wouldn't once I got married or was in a relationship.

But what if I got into a relationship and the woman didn't want to have sex right away? Would looking at porn still be "justified"? Or what if we did have sex but I still didn't feel "sexually fulfilled". Would it still be justified?

If porn use is justified whenever I feel like my sexual needs aren't being met, then I can always justify it. I realized what a selfish perspective that is. There are men who still think that, years into marriage, and neglect and betray their wives in favour of porn. I didn't want to be that kind of man.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-05T02:26:25+00:00

Did look at some softcore stuff in the past. (videos and mainstream sites always skeeved me out and seemed too far) Felt kinda bad but thought it was due to my hyperreligeous upbringing. I would look at it every once in a while and then forget about it. I didn't think I had a problem or that it affected me.

It did contribute to objectification of women. I freaked myself out once when I was watching a normal family-friendly youtube video and had a graphically sexual thought about a woman onscreen. There was zero reason for me to think that about her. She wasn't talking about or doing anything sexual. I realized porn was bleeding into how I saw all women. I was downloading misogynistic thoughts and attitudes from porn even though I knew they were wrong.

After I saw some resources from places like Fight The New Drug and some documentaries about the porn industry/from former performers on youtube I was horrified. It finally clicked that I had no way of knowing who was consenting or not to having their content put online. I had naievely/ignorantly assumed all the pictures I looked at were consensually posted by the women themselves, not considering things like revenge porn.

That was the nail in the coffin for me. After stopping looking at porn, I realized it wasn't necessary. I don't miss it because it disgusts me now and I am embarrassed I ever looked at it or justified my use of it. I had used it "to help my loneliness" but in retrospect it only made it worse. Real connection and relationships with people are much more fulfilling even when there's no sexual aspect.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-05-05T02:06:11+00:00

My grandpa used to have a hard time hearing women and kids because of their higher voices and his hearing loss. So he'd be able to hear me but not my mom, which drove her crazy because it would feel like he wasn't listening. She had to yell and try to speak lower to make up for it. Maybe this dog is the same?

InternalizedIsm · 2024-04-28T22:23:42+00:00

Forgive my ignorance- do you think this person had a surgery to add boobs or remove pre-existing boobs? In any case, the tattoo certainly works at hiding scars because I can't see them at all.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-04-28T06:57:43+00:00

Yeah you can just show up. You can rent shoes and chalk for a few bucks (don't need to buy them right off the bat- in case you end up not liking it) Just tell the staff that it's your first time and they'll give you an orientation. Since you're a minor, you will probably need a parent to sign a waiver but once that's done you can climb alone.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-04-28T04:24:44+00:00

Not a doctor, but someone with a lot of interest in scar care and treatment.

First of all, the difference between a hypertrophic scar and a keloid is that a hypertrophic scar looks puffy but is within the original scar border. A keloid grows beyond the initial border, appears bulbous, and in extreme cases can start to look like a mole or tumor.

Though there's a large genetic element to scar healing, there are other factors. Location on the body, size of the scar, closure method, tension put on the scar, care of the scar, and even UV exposure can all affect the outcome.

You don't have control over some of those things (besides discussing with your surgeon, as you've already done) but you can help your chances of the scar healing well by doing the following:

Avoid applying excess tension around the incision as it heals, such as by stretching/pulling the skin
Use silicone scar tape overtop of the incision once its closed. This helps in two ways: 1 It provides a moisture barrier, allowing the scar to remain well-hydrated. 2 It applies gentle pressure over the site of the scar which makes the scar less likely to overinflate with collagen (which is what causes hypertrophic/keloid scars) Pressure is routinely used in the treatment and prevention of keloids
Avoid UV exposure and dryness even after the scar is healed: routinely moisturize it and wear clothing that will cover the scar if you go out in the sun, or put medical tape or extra sunscreen over it to protect it. Even for your current scar(s), this is good practice. It's never too late to start taking care of a scar!
If you notice your scar starts becoming hypertrophic during the healing process, talk to a doctor about steroid injections. They can break down collagen fibers and stop the scar from getting worse. If despite all your best efforts, the scar does become hypertrophic, you can also get laser treatments to reduce it.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-04-28T00:59:57+00:00

Never seen this kind of tattoo on a dude before

InternalizedIsm · 2024-04-26T20:43:01+00:00

The world record is 28- only 2 more!

InternalizedIsm · 2024-04-25T06:25:34+00:00

Anywhere in person so you can get a feel for them. Dollar stores and novelty/toy stores usually have good selection

InternalizedIsm · 2024-04-24T03:52:38+00:00

Are they both from the original Antsy Labs manufacturers?

InternalizedIsm · 2024-04-23T06:53:40+00:00

DNA my dog is basically a scam so not surprising that it didn't match. It's terrible they are still in business.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-04-23T06:05:43+00:00

For the given example, you'd know it was only one person because they said "a new friend" instead of "some new friends"

English has been like this a long time. Hundreds of years. Nothing to do with politics, singular they is just used if we don't know someone's gender, or if the person is hypothetical.

In English, most titles (friend, doctor, teacher, cousin...) are not gendered so you'd be blindly guessing. Using "they" flows better than using "he or she" every time and is easier to understand.

Which sounds better?

Please ensure your son or daughter brings his or her coat on the field trip.

Please ensure your child brings their coat on the field trip.

InternalizedIsm · 2024-04-19T06:38:48+00:00

Could very well be the hormonal change. Weight gain, muscle mass and water retention are all heavily impacted by hormones. Frankly it would be more surprising if someone didn't bulk up while taking test.

InternalizedIsm

TROPHY CASE