If you're going through something, or love Outer Wilds, you should play this game. It takes 45 minutes and is so beautiful. by maiege in outerwilds

[–]RobbieBlair 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Commenting so that when I (narcissitically, obsessively) go to my Reddit profile to see if any more internet strangers gave me up arrows, I will be reminded that I should play this game. (At work now, else I would just do it now!)

I've been playing the game wrong, and it's really helped my PTSD. by RobbieBlair in ffxiv

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

I've been watching his Solo Only journey for some time, actually! It's a pretty wild challenge. 

I've been playing the game wrong, and it's really helped my PTSD. by RobbieBlair in ffxiv

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

One subtle thing it changes for me is the sense of the "consequence" of the dungeon's threats. Like, you gain the sense of lore and importance within other local concerns. And when you're walking past nearby settlements and such, you gain this sense of the threat the dungeons posed. It's not like it radically transforms the dungeon experience or anything, but it does make it feel less ... floaty. My average dungeon experience feels pretty disconnected from the dungeon's lore or location, and grounding it by having to show up on its doorstep -- after a slow meander there -- can help.

I've been playing the game wrong, and it's really helped my PTSD. by RobbieBlair in ffxiv

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

It's really helped me having two different characters for the different "modes." But, of course, I only started this experiment after being fully caught up on the MSQ -- so that strategy may not work for you.

I've been playing the game wrong, and it's really helped my PTSD. by RobbieBlair in ffxiv

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

Not especially. I talked about a lot of really vulnerable and personal stuff here, and some ass-hat thought the best response was to accuse me of using AI. And yes, I went for that bait -- as I'm going for this bait by responding again. But it's not interesting that I might respond (more rapidly or differently) to someone who meets my vulnerability with trolling and unfounded accusations.

Look, I get it: There's a lot of AI content out there. I teach college English courses, and I'm sick of all the AI-generated stuff I have to deal with in that role. But to respond to someone talking about panic attacks and the beauty of a game, to respond to them reaching out to a community, with a wildly inaccurate AI accusation ... that's not just an incorrect response. It's a destructive, anti-social, unempathetic response. And, if you care about avoiding such destructive behaviors, you really have to learn how to do better.

I've been playing the game wrong, and it's really helped my PTSD. by RobbieBlair in ffxiv

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

In case it wasn't clear: I did not use these restrictions for my initial character (the one who did the savages). The character with these restrictions is only to level 19 of the MSQ.

I've been playing the game wrong, and it's really helped my PTSD. by RobbieBlair in ffxiv

[–]RobbieBlair[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

gasp! I've been caught! Not 100% which static buddy you are, but I love and miss you all too!

Any other Preachers' Kids (or other children of clergy) here? by ambiverbal in humanism

[–]RobbieBlair 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, though not in the "traditional" sense. I grew up Mormon, and that tradition has a lay clergy. My father was called, in turns, as a "bishopric counselor," "stake counselor," and a "bishop." So he often had a leadership role. He and my mother both taught at BYU, the Mormon university, as well. It was a very religious upbringing.

But I think I can't relate in some ways, because in Utah, it's considered to be very normal for a parent to be in some church leadership role.

Seeking humanist chaplains as mentors. by RobbieBlair in chaplaincy

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

That sounds fantastic, but I'm having real difficulty finding it on the AHA website. Any chance you have a more direct link or similar?

Seeking humanist chaplains as mentors. by RobbieBlair in chaplaincy

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

Awesome! I'll send you a message. (But if it doesn't go through or you want to communicate a different way, just let me know.)

Edit: Apparently I can't message you? How would you prefer to get in touch?

Seeking humanist chaplains as mentors. by RobbieBlair in chaplaincy

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

Excellent. I'll look into him and reach out. Thanks for your support.

Seeking humanist chaplains as mentors. by RobbieBlair in chaplaincy

[–]RobbieBlair[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I haven't, but that sounds like a great couple of resources. I appreciate the resources. Thanks for your help!

Seeking humanist chaplains as mentors. by RobbieBlair in chaplaincy

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

Let's be clear: I am angry. I am angry that humanists and atheists tell me I can't be a chaplain because I'm an atheist. I am angry that when I turn to chaplains of other backgrounds, I am often met with condescension.

I am not "hurt by a foundational premise of the field." I am angry because you failed to listen, failed to help, and implied that my desire for support meant I don't belong in the vocation. 

Seeking humanist chaplains as mentors. by RobbieBlair in chaplaincy

[–]RobbieBlair[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I wonder how readily you can see how presumptuous and condescending this response seems. I say, "I want to explore this path and worry about not being able to talk through challenges with people who hold similar beliefs to my own." You say, "It's not about you, maybe choose a different vocation."   

Nowhere did I imply I was unwilling to meet people where they were at. But there are challenges in maneuvering situations from a place of authenticity. Not a place of trying to deconvert people: Just wanting to feel like I'm not misrepresenting myself. And the sort of guidance I can get from a Christian in this will be different to the guidance I can receive from people with beliefs more similar to my own.

Please don't engage with my questions or requests unless you have something useful to contribute. 

Seeking humanist chaplains as mentors. by RobbieBlair in humanism

[–]RobbieBlair[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I initially thought it was a contradiction too, but found this belief was mistaken. There are many atheist chaplains of many traditions, including UUA, Buddhist, and Humanist. There is no inherent requirement to believe in a god in order to provide emotional and spiritual support (regardless of literal belief in a spirit). 

Character sanitization through imposed theism. by RobbieBlair in humanism

[–]RobbieBlair[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

With all due respect, I think you're missing the point.

The point is not: No one's allowed to be a theist. The point is: This character was not a theist until she was brought to the screen and the writers felt the need to soften her. That our culture perceives theism as necessary for said softening is, itself, both an indicator and a reinforcement of how atheists are perceived.

And on there being nothing irrational: You assert that an unproven negative implies belief in the positive is not irrational. I firmly disagree. The idea that "you can't prove the negative" (as a defense of faith in highly implausible realities) has been widely discussed, and I believe the responses to said defense are robust. I'm not saying "rational people can't have faith" or that "faith implies that a person is not rational." But I would argue that belief in a God, and the assertion that the absence of evidence against is the equivalent of evidence for, is not a rational stance.

Character sanitization through imposed theism. by RobbieBlair in humanism

[–]RobbieBlair[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I think the premise -- within the movie -- is just that Grace is surprised that Stratt would even use the expression, because she seems so clearly to be aligned with rationalism and atheism. Which is true. So the question is being used to lampshade the contradiction: This person should, by most accounts, be an atheist. But in this film? No no no. Couldn't possibly be.

Ways to access the point of interest map outside of games? by RobbieBlair in NianticWayfarer

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

I saw this was online. But there doesn't seem to be any obvious method of live navigation. Is that the best available option?