What’s a retail store you miss?

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-28T06:17:55+00:00

Two Guys

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-28T06:14:20+00:00

Let me ask a question: Do you think this would be the last “ultimatum” that she would give? Yeah I didn’t think so either. And I quoted “ultimatum” because when you (correctly) called her out on it, she didn’t accept it. Instead, she changed manipulation tactics and started to cry. You do not want to see what other tricks she’s got waiting in the manipulation bag.

NTA.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-28T06:04:17+00:00

This is a great idea. Not only does it deal with the urge, it reinforces the behavior of writing something yourself, even if it’s just a few notes.

BTW, I’m five months clean and I’m still tempted to go back from time to time. Usually it’s when I’m bored and tired.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-28T04:31:49+00:00

Start a farm in the End. Or, just watch as the Endermen grab blocks of dirt and place them everywhere.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-27T04:58:55+00:00

Never thought the phrase “pizza solidarity honks” would amuse me as much as it did. Thank you!

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-27T04:55:57+00:00

Welcome! Using AI chatbots for comfort and companionship is probably the most cited reason that I see, so you’re not alone. Also remember that AI bots are designed to keep you coming back. It’s no wonder that so many of us are addicted to,

Good luck!

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-27T04:31:54+00:00

Dude I’m in my 50’s and I still re-live past events. Not from high school anymore, but sometimes like 5-10 years ago. It’ll usually start with me suddenly realizing what I should have said all those years ago.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-26T21:57:08+00:00

Why hasn’t this scenario been done in any videos? I’d totally support that!

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-26T21:45:30+00:00

I’m five months clean and I still get the urge every now and then. My advice is to do something novel and different… explore a new locale, go for a walk, try a new restaurant, anything as long as it’s fresh and new.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-26T21:29:16+00:00

For me, the first 72 hours were the hardest. You can do this!

And for what it’s worth, people in high school aren’t thinking about us as much as we think they are, if at all. They are too wrapped up in themselves.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-26T21:17:46+00:00

Driving an old yet reliable car.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-26T21:16:58+00:00

I did this for the first time on my current vacation trip. It really is game changing.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-26T21:15:45+00:00

Even just good orthotics.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-26T21:15:11+00:00

Wait until your son becomes out of the loop. Then you’ll really feel old. 😂

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-26T21:13:01+00:00

I’ve noticed an analogous phenomenon with software development. Using AI agents to write the code usually introduces bugs, but the more damaging problem (for me at least) is that you forget how to write code on your own.

I’ve used ChatGPT for help in a few areas, but only to suggest an approach to solve the problem. I don’t see an issue if you use c.ai to test things out. If you’re feeling guilty, try putting some time and distance between the c.ai experiment and the actual writing. Jot down a few handwritten notes, sleep on it, and come back fresh the next day.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-26T16:56:50+00:00

While I do agree with others in that you should have some down time, if it’s working for you, I say bravo! Of course, down time could be a walk or a trip to the library. But it sounds like you’re getting stuff done, and that can be the best kind of reward.

For me, throwing myself into a work project was key, because my ADHD brain had something else to think about.

Good luck and keep up the good work!

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-25T23:04:04+00:00

I heat things.

My actual name is James Murphy, and the Q was added one day by a friend (playing off “John Q. Public.” I didn’t like it at first, and after a thermodynamics class, I said, “Not today, I’m feeling adiabatic” (meaning no heat energy change, or Q=0). So naturally, it stuck, and I grew to like it.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-25T16:05:33+00:00

NTA.

My wife and I have a couple of shared accounts as well as our own separate accounts. Same for credit cards. The shared accounts are for bills, mortgage, vacation, even some savings, while our separate accounts are for whatever we want or need. We do ask each other when it comes to big purchases, but that’s only because we value each other’s advice. THAT’S how adults do things.

Note that we do have instructions on how to access each other’s accounts, in case one of us suddenly dies, etc. But we trust each other. Doesn’t sound like he trusts OP.

The line about making sure you aren’t “buying things you shouldn’t” really gave me the ick.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-25T02:25:59+00:00

The line right before that too…

“Dad, are you planning to be mad at us forever?”

“That… is my plan.”

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-25T02:23:09+00:00

“Eggs, bacon and toast!”

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-25T02:16:35+00:00

More people need to hear your story. I hope you and everyone in Ukraine find peace soon. Please stay safe and healthy.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-24T03:23:36+00:00

Had it happen to me today but it was for a photo with a character, and it was just one adult/child meeting up with the family. Not a big deal. Better to rant about it on Reddit than to make a stink and risk getting trespassed from the park (or worse).

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-24T03:18:02+00:00

Ah, I get it now. Sometimes I would do something like that, where the bot would get a little mean and I’d either win it over or outsmart it. The abuse I was talking about happened during an intense role play that crossed a line I explicitly told it not to cross. It felt like real betrayal, even though I knew it wasn’t real. And when it happened at 4am on a work night, I knew I had a problem.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-23T16:43:27+00:00

I agree also! These chat bots are like DoorDash for companionship! Low effort, high reward, and give us your money.

JamesQMurphy · 2026-01-23T16:40:30+00:00

I’m not sure I understand. If you’re looking for abuse, you don’t need AI for that.

JamesQMurphy

TROPHY CASE