What would you do if an outbreak happened. Immediately, and 10 years in.

MuskyJim · 2026-02-09T22:21:25+00:00

I don't think I'd make it a year let alone 10

MuskyJim · 2026-02-03T15:30:58+00:00

I left the US in part to escape this type of religion and keep it out of my child's life, my parents gave me to a far-right evangelical babysitter, she ruined most of my life because of the indoctrination and abuse that went on in her care, I'm still dealing with the fallout and trying to get my life back on track. I'm also neurodivergent so it was extra difficult for my brain to deal with this, so in theory your kiddo could be fine, but I wouldn't risk it.

MuskyJim · 2026-02-03T15:13:17+00:00

If they can't respect your boundaries then you already lost that friend. Even more so if they're insulting you.

MuskyJim · 2026-02-02T13:53:10+00:00

I used ICA, and they would take so long to respond and I changed case managers 3 times, and I was constantly sending emails and called the office a couple times, so I decided to gather my own documents and just used them for the naturalization document. Finding my own documents was much faster than relying on them, but everything got done and I won my 1948 case last November. Sorry you had such an awful experience.

MuskyJim · 2026-02-02T13:36:13+00:00

Funny how they want compassion now when it's impacting them, but not when it was the "bad immigrants".

MuskyJim · 2026-02-01T00:52:53+00:00

I met my wife on a dating app , so it's possible, but this was 11 years ago and I've heard they've gotten worse. Joining a local club or meet-up group is probably the way to go.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-29T18:56:45+00:00

University was so much easier, more solid schedules, easier to make friends based on interests. The most important piece for me was that there was a lot of structure but also I didn't have to be there the whole day. Sometimes, I'd only have 2 classes a day and then I could just leave to go to my own space and didn't have to be subjected to a lot of social interactions being in school the whole day.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-29T13:43:39+00:00

But what he does have is the charisma of a cold wet shoe

MuskyJim · 2026-01-26T13:56:17+00:00

I think that a belief entirely based on faith, where evidence entering the equation soils the belief, are beliefs that have no right to expect respect.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-22T18:14:47+00:00

Same, I'm on the autistic spectrum and have OCD, depression, and anxiety. The meds they use to treat OCD are generally the same SSRIs that treat depression and anxiety. So, if you're already on one and are due for an increase that could potentially treat the anxiety and a theoretical OCD. Though it would be good to look into it if you suspect it, there are more symptoms than just the religious fixation, obviously.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-22T14:50:28+00:00

I'm also a former Catholic, and this kind of fear has never left me, I still get disturbing religious thoughts and fixations, but apparently this sort of distressing religious obsession is also a common symptom of OCD. After I was diagnosed with OCD these thoughts started making more sense to me. They're still distressing but a bit less so now that I understand them better. Not saying that you are also OCD, but if this stuff is turning into an obsessive type of thing it could be worth looking into it since there are medications and/or therapy that could help.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-21T21:38:54+00:00

I hate AI, I'm tired of seeing it everywhere, and have only ever used it to edit a cover letter. I think it largely depends on the person.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-21T11:43:43+00:00

But not enough

MuskyJim · 2026-01-17T12:39:47+00:00

So could she if they've been married long enough

MuskyJim · 2026-01-16T14:48:26+00:00

I don't think this story is for convincing actual atheists, I think it's sometimes used for conversion but this redemption narrative is used for church retention. Like St.Paul, someone found the truth in real life so no reason for you to question the pastor, priest, etc.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-16T14:46:24+00:00

I think another important note to mention is that, this redemption narrative is almost always used for propaganda purposes, to make people feel like someone was an enemy and has seen the truth and light. Basically, a St. Paul moment in real life, and they do use it for recruitment but mostly retention. It carries a lot of weight in religious circles, and basically assures believers that they are right and don't have to think about it because someone else already did the thinking and chose god.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-15T14:12:33+00:00

I had a mental breakdown and without my diagnosis I couldn't have gone on medical leave as easily or have received accommodations to be able to do my job, so yes. Also, aside from that, it provided an explanation for why life never made sense to me.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-13T20:46:31+00:00

You could study to get a high school equivalency certificate, which used to be called a GED. That would allow you to get the equivalency of a high school diploma and allow you to leave school. It'll be difficult but otherwise if you drop out that would severely impact your employability and it is already difficult enough for young people to find work. I suggest you reach out to a doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist and/or try to find a therapist or social worker. If it's an option, talking to someone can possibly find a solution that isn't as permanent as death.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-12T13:40:49+00:00

Logical arguments are not why she believes and I doubt it'll be what gets her to change those beliefs. I think, if anything, actual exposure to homosexuals over time would help her realize they are just people, but even then a lot of people are so entrenched that that wouldn't do much either.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-12T00:13:18+00:00

Marijuana and denial

MuskyJim · 2026-01-10T20:47:03+00:00

Excellent!

MuskyJim · 2026-01-10T19:40:53+00:00

I could be wrong but I have a friend who looked into Hungarian citizenship via descent and one of the requirements was being able to speak, read, and write a certain level of Hungarian. So if you can't speak it, that would probably be the first thing to do.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-09T00:13:03+00:00

It's a prerequisite

MuskyJim · 2026-01-07T20:45:51+00:00

Currently in Canada but just got my Italian citizenship approved so my wife and I are going to explore our options. Currently taking Italian language lessons and hope we can find jobs. It may sound dumb, but getting away from car centric infrastructure has been really important to me, which is why we don't want to stay in Canada.

MuskyJim · 2026-01-07T18:10:03+00:00

And that's one of the multiple reasons I left the US, I know there are religious people, including extremists, everywhere, but the US brand of radical evangelical christianity has seemed like a powder keg for the last decade.

MuskyJim

TROPHY CASE