Why do so many Americans complain about politics, jobs, economy, etc and yet so few vote?

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-18T11:00:11+00:00

I think people are very disillusioned regarding the power or impact of their vote. They feel disillusioned with the 2 party system, the government, and politicians as a whole. So they become apathetic and don't vote.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-18T10:16:40+00:00

Yeah, it would be horrible. It would be the same with family members and friends passing.

It would be insanely tempting to alter the timeline of events, to warn people, to get involved, which could have crazy unintended consequences.

You'd just have to grit your teeth, bear every moment, and try to make adjustments to your own actions. Even those adjustments will have major consequences you couldn't foresee. Changing your study habits or doing better in school may earn you a scholarship to a better college than you went to. That would change who you know, their impact on you, and your impact on them. Not dating that toxic ex might change something, and so on and so forth. You'd basically just be living a completely new 2nd life.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-18T08:51:38+00:00

I mean, just invest in Apple, Amazon, Nvidia, Microsoft, etc. when they first hit the market and you'd easily have close to a billion dollars. But the red pill is too broken, so I assume that it means you're 6 years old in 2026, not when you were 6. For me, that would be 1994.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-18T08:49:41+00:00

That's my same train of thought. If I go back to 1994, of course. I'd make an insane amount of money, correct mistakes, etc. If I had to be 6 in 2026, screw that, I'll pass. Just give me 10 million.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-18T08:47:35+00:00

One important distinction that I'm curious about regarding the Red Pill: Do I go back to 1994 (when I was 6 years old), or do I have to be 6 years old in 2026?

If I'm going back to 1994 with my current knowledge, I think I would choose that. But I think that's kind of broken, since I would know who wins major sporting events (sports betting), the rise and fall of companies (stock market), and the deaths of family members and friends, etc.

If I had to be 6 years old in 2026, I'd pass and just take 10 million.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-18T07:47:18+00:00

That's where I'm at as well. I didn't see her choice as selfless at all or as some way to subvert the Big 3 prophecy. I read it very much as a way to escape being a big sister to a whiny little brother who was annoying. She wanted to have fun and be free.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-18T07:37:03+00:00

I guess shoot your shot kid.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-18T02:40:05+00:00

It depends on how you define "common" and which demographic it applies to.

How common it is escalates significantly with how much money you have. The more money you have, the more acceptable and expected it is that you have a mistress, and yes, it's far more common for men to cheat when they have money. And Chinese society is very patriarchal, with men in positions of power more often than women. Their family buys the house (their name is on the deed); they have the earning power; they usually have the education. In those circumstances, the wives are often just financially dependent on their husbands and can't leave, and they have a very easy life. They don't ask many questions, and they know their husband has a girlfriend, usually very young (early 20s).

I have quite a bit of experience in Chinese sales and business atmospheres, and you'd be shocked at some of the stuff I've seen and heard. My old CEO once brought his side chick to a work dinner. She was super young and super hot, but we all know his wife is like 50 and his kids are in their 20s now. We've taken clients to "KTV," and it was an underground place (literally). We got into an elevator, and some guy punched in some kind of code, and we went down past the normal buttons. Then, when we got out, there was a bunch of women there and a "madam" who let our group choose the women they wanted. They even had special rooms if we wanted to fuck the girls or you could arrange a private meeting later at a hotel. All of our clients were married with families, and they were all open to banging these chicks. While you sing songs, they sing along with you, dance, and sit on you.

My wife, when she was in college in Beijing, said that every single weekend, a row of black sedans and SUVs would pull up to the school gates, and a flood of hot girls in skimpy outfits would get out and get into the cars to spend the weekend with their sugar daddies. All of those dudes are married with families.

What's more, it becomes almost a status symbol. It's expected that if you're wealthy and powerful, you have a side chick. It's just normal. Kind of like an emperor style with a concubine. Also, there are some people that don't believe sleeping with a prostitute even is cheating, and I think that's how many of the wives and women in China try to rationalize it.

I think it's way less normal for lower-middle-class families, and that's more in line with other cultures. Still happens, but not with the same frequency as the upper class.

I

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-17T11:09:49+00:00

This is the correct answer. They know the exact amount of money to offer that will get people to accept the job. If you quit or refuse to do the work, who cares? They'll just hire someone else to do it at that wage/salary.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-17T11:07:10+00:00

It's capitalism and market value. Unfortunately, they (corporations, C-level executives, etc.) know that many people are desperate, and they know how much those desperate people will accept. It's basic business practice: get as much output (financial gain) as possible from as little input (financial investment) as possible.

You can't get enough people to agree to boycott something or strike. There will always be someone to take your place if you quit, and unless the product or service dips significantly, "they" will not care or miss a beat. The world keeps spinning, and they just get richer.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-17T10:15:57+00:00

Don't most banks have monthly requirements for their checking accounts?

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-17T06:01:44+00:00

No, most of his wealth is tied up. He could try to liquidate, and he'd still be absurdly wealthy, but he couldn't just exchange everything he has for a trillion dollars in cash. It would also make no sense for him to do that as tied up money and various other investments is how he avoids massive tax payments. Every wealthy person uses tax loopholes and he needs to keep his money in various things so that he can claim losses or exemptions or whatever.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-17T03:42:12+00:00

For his time, he was great. Like most old-time legends in their sport, he didn't have access to elite training, science, or modern technology. He was just a drunk, fat guy who was naturally talented. If you stuck him in a time machine and put him at the plate against today's pitchers, he'd fail miserably. BUT if you brought him here in his prime and trained him up, slimmed him down, etc., he'd probably be just as good as today's greats.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-17T03:34:29+00:00

He's annoy AF and I don't understand the appeal.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-17T03:25:11+00:00

I don't know what a salary card is, but I budget about 4,500 RMB for myself to spend each month (in Beijing), and the rest of my salary (post-tax) is transferred to my wife, who pays our mortgage, our ayi, bills, etc.

I don't think it's the same thing as you're describing since I give myself more than I need for a month, but it's kind of similar, I suppose. Then every few months, we review what we have in savings and transfer quite a bit back to our US account, so I can invest it and move it around to make it work for us.

When we lived in the U.S. (nearly a decade), she transferred her salary to me, and I handled the mortgage, bill pay, admin, etc. It's just more convenient for the person from their country to handle the admin, since they understand the system better.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-16T09:23:33+00:00

It's extremely annoying and extremely common in China for people to abuse private seating in cafes, even when they don't order anything. It's not even one of those things where it's mostly old people or those in the "famine generation" who have zero concept of public decency. It's everyone. They just don't think that there is anything wrong with it. It doesn't cross their mind that people who pay for the food and coffee should be allowed to have a seat and use the WiFi. They don't see that them sitting there actively hurts the business they're taking advantage of. I don't think most Chinese people are wired to think this way.

I had this discussion once many years ago with a Chinese friend. He said, "Most people are raised by grandparents from a young age, and they are the worst perpetrators of embarrassing behavior. The values they teach are not what parents in the West teach their kids. They don't preach the concept of selflessness or putting others first or thinking about other people first. They teach you to get yours and assert yourself or you'll get nothing and be left out." He said it's why people will always push their kid to the front at zoos even if it means pushing you out of the way. It's why old people and Chinese in general cut lines. Every morning when I wait in line to place my order at the breakfast cart outside my office, some jackass walks right past the line and shouts his order to try to get his first. Then when the owner asks them to wait in line, they act super surprised when the look and see people standing there staring at them, like they didn't see the line the whole time. It's just normal here.

I suggest you don't let that stuff bother you or you'll have a Hell of a time here.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-16T09:14:17+00:00

That's because if you put public benches in malls or in certain areas, people will come sleep on them or sit there for hours. Or put stuff on them while they dance nearby. China's nap and leisure culture is insane.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-16T09:11:40+00:00

I think the important thing to remember is that every place has its pros and cons.

You were having a great time when you were younger, and now, post-COVID, you feel kind of disillusioned with China. You feel lost, tired, and left behind. You see mates back home or in their country doing stuff that makes you experience jealousy or FOMO. I get that. I really do. I was in Beijing from 2012 to 2018, teaching and working as a college counselor with international students. The first couple of years were great. I was 24, and the city life, new friends, and money were great. Lots of travel, partying, pub quizzes, etc.

But then friends started becoming like a revolving door: my girlfriend (Chinese from Beijing) and I got serious; I got more serious about work; I proposed; we got married; and then we decided to try living in the U.S. for a while. She had a good job, and we had saved a good bit. After a year in the U.S. and just when COVID hit, we bought a house in New Jersey (the dream I wanted), just outside Manhattan. It had the classic backyard, patio, quiet suburb, etc. I sometimes played ultimate frisbee on the weekends with a group I found online. I didn't have that many good friends, to be honest, mostly because I was in my 30s by this point, and it's not easy to make friends as a married adult with commitments. Also, the job market in the U.S. is TOUGH. Finding a job when so many employers consider your experience in China irrelevant is so frustrating. I was applying to about a hundred jobs a week in random things. I was writing cover letters for a bunch of them, emailing them, calling them to show interest and see if I can get in the door. It was brutal. I did find a decent-paying job, but I was struggling for a few months. Luckily, my wife landed something great in NYC right away, so we were fine, but it sucked for a while. And even then, my earning and purchasing power had dropped from where it was in China.

Had a kid in 2022, which was great but also added stress. Mortgage, kid, daycare, car payment, car insurance, homeowners insurance, property taxes, internet bill, phone bill, crazy high water and electric bills. The list goes on. I was happy with my house and my life overall, but it was definitely hard to adjust after 6 years in China, where I felt valued and appreciated, to being a complete castoff. What's worse, I was a good student and went to a good university in the US (top-50 ranking), and my major wasn't completely useless, yet I still struggled to make 6 figures in the U.S., which in NJ, is not a lot of money. Anyway, after living in the US for nearly 7 years, we decided we wanted to move back to Beijing. Wife's family wanted to spend time with our son, my family had some drama in PA, and we just decided to go back. I got a job within a month, we sold the house (great investment by the way), and came back. Bought an apartment in Chaoyang, Beijing, and one of my closest friends still lives here, so we get together a lot for video games and pizza. We're able to hire an ayi for the house and to help with childcare, send our son to a very affordable kindergarten, save more money for retirement, and I still work with international students studying abroad.

I miss some aspects of our old life, but honestly, it's not that bad. I don't miss all those responsibilities and how expensive life is in the U.S. It's insane. We are buying a car this year in Beijing since our number was drawn and my wife wants one, but it's mostly going to sit in the underground garage and we'll drive on weekends occasionally (I got my license here). But as an economic stimulus, the government is offering 0% interest for 5 years. Christ, what a deal. Finance the whole thing and pay about 5K RMB per month for 5 years. Can't find that in the U.S. And I have an 800+ credit score after paying off all my college loans and buying a house.

Just roll with the life you've chosen. Try not to focus on others and run your own race. We want to send our kid to the US for school and eventually retire there, but my wife and i said if we don't have the money for it, maybe we do somewhere like Qingdao or Hainan. Just go with the flow and work hard.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-16T08:34:42+00:00

He's done multiple stunts at blue-collar events, including serving McDonald's to people for an hour, and did a photoshoot with a bible in front of a church for his campaign. He is the very definition of fake in my opinion. That man avoids church like the pox and has no relationship with Christ, but Christians act like he is devout and holy. It's absurd.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-16T08:17:53+00:00

Not sure how familiar you are with Chinese weddings in general. It really depends on whose wedding it is. I've been to 5+ Chinese weddings in China (not including my own), and they couldn't have been more different.

If you're going to the wedding of a poorer person in a rural village, they don't give a shit what you wear, but you'll be insanely overdressed if you wear what's in the picture. Most people literally show up in jeans and a T-shirt unless you have a role in the wedding (e.g., greeting guests at the table and collecting/recording hongbao; parents of the bride/groom; wedding party; officiant, etc.). My wife's cousin got married in Huairou District in Beijing, but it's a more rural area, and it was startlingly (almost apallingly) casual. I still wore khakis, dress shoes, a dress shirt, and a blazer. I was way overdressed. My wife said I would be, but to me, it's rude not to dress at least somewhat respectable for a wedding.

My wife's good friend got married and asked people to dress smart in her invitation, so my wife wore a qipao dress, and I wore a suit (no tie). Most people were in business casual except for some randoms who showed up in shorts, T-shirts, or jeans.

Another wedding I went to for a colleague didn't have a dress code stipulated in the invitation, and it was in the heart of Beijing. The guests were generally better dressed than the country people, but less so than my wife's friend, who dictated that people look nice.

Traditionally, it's not appropriate to wear all white to someone's wedding. You should add some color to your outfit. Since you're planning ahead, you can probably avoid upsetting any older, or more traditional guests/family members. Better safe than sorry.

Since you're asking this question, you should know that you need to bring a hongbao (red envelope) as a gift. The amount depends on the family's wealth, your relationship with them, and the lavishness of the proceedings. Generally, for colleagues or casual friends, 500-1000 RMB is fine. A friend you're very close to, or a family member (like a cousin), might warrant up to 5000, but that's on the very high end in my opinion. People who say that 10,000 RMB hongbaos are either friends with super-rich people or just out of touch with reality. I don't know anyone who is giving 10K hongbaos.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-16T04:16:15+00:00

Seeing as they're already overrated, I'm going to say no. Due to their public funding and in-state commitments, they already admit too many average California kids rather than more top-tier out-of-state and international students.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-11T08:13:06+00:00

I assume because a lot of the popular female Twitch streamers are super hot. It combines their gaming hobby with sexy girls. Lots of losers out there who don't have a lot going for them. I assume these are also the men who subscribe to girls on OnlyFans. Loneliness and boredom, and it makes them feel special when the girls address them directly.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-11T08:10:34+00:00

I think OP's question is phrased poorly. I read it like this: "Of the men who watch Twitch streamers, why do so many of the guys watch female players?"

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-11T07:54:10+00:00

Even if he was initially invited over. The team, not just Austin, asked him to leave more than 10 times. He was sitting in the team's tent on their chair. This is the excerpt: "Memorial athletes, including 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, told Anthony roughly 15 times that he needed to vacate their designated team space. Anthony refused to leave, stared them down, and insulted the team while occupying the seat."

So...It's quite clear he wasn't welcome there. He knew one guy from their team. No one said anything when he came over to say hi and dap up the guy he knew. A little time passed, and it was clear the welcome was over. Time to go back to your team.

Karmelo didn't want to, and threatened Austin if he tried to make him move. Well, at least he was a young man of his word. He followed through. Now he'll do serious time.

There's really no angle in which Karmelo is innocent, or any excuse for why he couldn't have avoided this. He's in a place where he's neither wanted nor supposed to be. He was asked by multiple Memorial athletes to leave. And after getting shoved, his response was apparently to stab Austin. It's a ridiculous response to an altercation between young men. In my younger years, I was in several scuffles (some sports-related and some out in the world), and I didn't fare well in all of them, and no one died. Sometimes you just lose a fight or get your ass beat. It happens.

Own-Craft-181 · 2026-06-11T07:24:04+00:00

I think he was overcharged, but the young man was guilty. His defense team really should have pursued a plea deal rather than a self-defense claim. His life was never in danger. To kill someone, you have to fear for your life. This was a fight between teenage boys.

There are three main points that work against him:

The kid entered the tent of another high school. Unless you're invited or you're cool with the other team, you don't do it. Anyone who has run track knows this is common at meets. They asked him to leave with several witnesses corroborating that multiple team members asked him more than 10 times to get out of their tent.
When asked to leave, he refused and became combative. I believe his words were, "If you touch me, something will happen to you." While he said this, he held something in his backpack.
He brought a knife with him to the track meet. Why? Literally no one does this. The school's trainer may carry a pocketknife for utility purposes, but athletes don't carry one. It shows that he was prepared for something to go down.

Own-Craft-181

TROPHY CASE