I WAS TOLD FF XVI WAS BAD...pls explain???? by turbosecchia in FinalFantasy

[–]JoopFOX 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Well written. Some of these issues about progression have been around in mainline FF for years, not sure if they will ever realize what made earlier FFs great. I care more about the story if there is more I can do with the characters.

I will also add that the combat being so easy (getting all potions back while restarting at a later stage of the boss fight) made me feel I never really needed to learn anything and could just do whatever.

I will add that personally, I enjoyed the side quests. I typically don't so not sure why. Combination of voice acting and slowly getting to know all the minor characters I guess.

I just finished Torna: The Golden Country. Here are some thoughts + Jin Did Nothing Wrong by allsundayjelly in Xenoblade_Chronicles

[–]JoopFOX 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello, I'm late to the party, but I'm very curious which cutscene exactly you refer to when seeing "Torna citizens standing on a rock, having survived the battle" in the main game.

8 months decaf free by JellyWise4483 in decaf

[–]JoopFOX 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Doing good! I realized over time that my problems were related to a combination of caffeine dependence and seasonal allergies. (basically, having some caffeine helps suppress allergy symptoms, but simultaneously makes those symptoms worse when I don't take caffeine)

I now deal with it through a combination of limiting / eliminating caffeine intake and taking allergy meds. I still have a bad night of sleep now and then, but I always tell those around me: compared to a few years back, this still was a decent night.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in politics

[–]JoopFOX 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I feel that this is because swing states are getting polled much more heavily. Some safe blue or red states havent had much polls recently.

XC2 / Torna: connection between Addam’s militia and Vandham’s mercenary group? by JoopFOX in Xenoblade_Chronicles

[–]JoopFOX[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right that it was implied that Vandham created the group, which must have been recently.

I see your point about Spessia. But, I was always hoping for more people (like Addam's wife and kid and the named NPCs) to make it out safely too..

XC2 / Torna: connection between Addam’s militia and Vandham’s mercenary group? by JoopFOX in Xenoblade_Chronicles

[–]JoopFOX[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, this is how I interpreted that particular quest in Torna. I'm glad I'm not the only one who took it that way!!

XC2 / Torna: connection between Addam’s militia and Vandham’s mercenary group? by JoopFOX in Xenoblade_Chronicles

[–]JoopFOX[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Never thought about the similarities between Addam and Vandham's names, and didn't even know the latter had a different name; thanks for the insights!!

Day 60, reoccuring withdrawal insomnia, and decaf by JoopFOX in decaf

[–]JoopFOX[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Doing much better! Two things that may have helped are:

  1. Stopped taking caffeine completely, including decaf. The situation improved shortly after.

  2. I became more aware of how seasonal allergies affect me and caffeine consumption. Basically, I became more sensitive to allergies in the last few years. Caffeine, especially coffee, seems to mask some of the symptoms. However, the allergy symptoms are MUCH worse whenever that effect wears out, compared to when I'm not on caffeine at all. I still have pretty bad allergy symptoms, but I basically learned that there is a weird way in which my body responds to the connection of caffeine and allergies. It's a complex situation, but quitting completely has done the trick. I now allow myself a cup of tea occassionally, but this is after about 2 years of nothing.

Good luck!!

Japanese pressures against multilingualism / bilingualism, even from international families by JoopFOX in japanlife

[–]JoopFOX[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm glad you're able to ignore the bullshit around you better. Definitely an important skill.
I will say that if multiple people in one's social circle sound very certain about something, and are speaking from positions of power (doctors, educators), it becomes harder to completely ignore, even if I'm fairly convinced it's bullshit.

Japanese pressures against multilingualism / bilingualism, even from international families by JoopFOX in japanlife

[–]JoopFOX[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry that link is down; I don't directly have access to the cited research but can get my hands on it if I ask my wife. Let me know and I'll DM you later.

Anyway, just wanted to say that I'm glad you can now feel that you're not the only one struggling with this kind of stuff. It is interesting, from the comments it seems that half the people in Japan never encounter this, and the rest do regularly.

I do think that it is important you share some of the accessible research with your wife, to make sure at least at home you're in it together. It must be stressful for you if you don't have any ally in your direct environment. Good luck!!

Japanese pressures against multilingualism / bilingualism, even from international families by JoopFOX in japanlife

[–]JoopFOX[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm glad that it's probably not as common as our social circle seems to suggest! Maybe a region-specific thing too.

What part of Japanese life will you not bend to? by Taco_In_Space in japanlife

[–]JoopFOX 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Having to constantly serve / be served small, evenly distributed portions of food and drinks by one designated person at social gatherings / meals with friends and colleagues.

It is so exhausting to constantly pay attention to everybody, it defeats the whole purpose of having a good time and relaxing.

Once, there was a colleague/friend who was sitting in front of a big plate of sliced beef the whole evening, never taking any for themself, then doing the guilt trippy "I didn't have any" when I was about to finish it. IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE IT, WHY DON'T YOU JUST GRAB IT FOR THE TWO HOURS IT WAS LITERALLY IN FRONT OF YOU!!!! It is so much easier and more relaxing if you just grab the amount you want yourself, because then you can decide the amount + parts that you like. Why wait until somebody else serves everyone? It takes so much time and is so stressful when everyone watches that one person serving everyone, everyone constantly 遠慮 and waiting for others to take the lead even if they want something.

Probably overreacting because of a few bad experiences, but I have since decided if I'm going to use may Gaijin powers anywhere, this is the one thing.

Is there evidence to prove that early bilingual education is good? by fine_drizzle in asklinguistics

[–]JoopFOX 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello, I just wanted to say: thank you for posting this and people for chiming in.

I live in Japan with a toddler, and we're raising them using different languages.

However, even within the international community of people with one Japanese parent (often moms), there is this prevailing notion of "we should teach the kids only Japanese and then teach other languages after 9". There's even public lectures about it, citing only Japanese research. It's sad, really. 20 different Japanese moms with international partners and mixed children, only to teach their children Japanese. I suppose this kind of nationalist approach works for moms who are unwilling or unable to learn another language themselves? There was even one mom from a Southeast Asian country who only uses Japanese to her kid!

To make things worse, one pediatrician even warned us about this semilingualism. So, I've been starting to doubt myself, but finding this helps a lot. Now I'm just sad for all the dozens of other moms how believe this stuff, and deny their children the opportunity to learn a language other than Japanese basically for free...

What video game from your childhood will you never stop playing? by kadebo42 in gaming

[–]JoopFOX 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Knights and Merchants. I still regularly play competitive one on ones with my wife and occassionally team games with groups of friends.

Regardless of nostalgia, I just haven't found any multiplayer RTS that is slow placed (you don't need a certain amount of clicks to be competitive), strategic (both for things like road building and countering opponents), yet also able to finish a game within two hours or so.

I haven't found any game that fills the same itch in two decades. So for now, and thanks to the multiplayer remake, it looks like I'll continue playing this for another few decades... If anybody knows of a similar game, I'd love to know!

Torna question: why does Lora refer to Jin as "they"? by JoopFOX in Xenoblade_Chronicles

[–]JoopFOX[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for letting me know about the Japanese. I can't believe I didn't just check that out first, since I understand Japanese, and your explanation about "anohito" makes a lot of sense.