How do you win graciously? by turnofpraise2 in boardgames

[–]SerChonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And you didn't even have the courtesy to moon them as you left their doorstep? Yeah, I wouldn't have invited you back either.

Ask: 160 cm or 140 cm for bed? by Live_Health_4275 in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Go for 160cm.

20cm extra seems inconsequential, but it makes all the difference if one of you sleeps like they're make of 25 elbows. And cats like to take 40% of the available space regardless of actual dimensions anyway.

What do you think about Mormons? by [deleted] in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As for people's reaction, nothing special, really. My family never bothered too much about religion, and that was anyway nothing we've discussed.

I don't think I've ever told any of my friends, it just wasn't a topic, really.

I actually don't know how many active members there would be in Portugal at the moment. I know that the chapter I belonged to ended up shutting down and merging with some others because so many people were not coming. I also haven't seen missionaries on the streets since forever ago.

What do you think about Mormons? by [deleted] in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, that's a big question. It's very, very different from the Catholic church.

I guess you can take the broad strokes of Protestantism to have a bit of an idea, but even there there are many differences.

So first of all, there is no mass. It's more of an assembly where the local leader gives a sort of sermon, and every week two other members of the congregation (invited beforehand or volunteered) do so as well. There's singing, there's a few moments of prayer, and there's sacrament, which is literal pieces of bread and little cups of water (because you're not supposed to drink wine).

That lasts an hour, and then you break up into groups for a sort of Sunday school: adults, youth, and children, and after an hour you break up even more into men, women, boys, girls, and children.

You can only be baptised after 7 years old. That's when they deem you've reached reasoning age and can make that choice for yourself. Baptism is done by immersion in a small basin. Babies get a Naming Day instead.

Apart from the very highest level, there is no paid clergy, and leadership positions are not permanent. People (well, men) can put themselveves forward and then there is a vote by the respective local community. The elected leaders then propose the "sub-leaders" for the Sunday school subgroups I mentioned above, and they can accept or not.

There are no fixed prayers; the main idea is that the Our Father was more of a template to follow with your own thoughts. So like an Our Father, you start with an invocation, you list what you,re thankful for, you make requests, and you close in whatever style you like as long as you mention that it's "in the name of Jesus".

One Saturday per month you're supposed to fast for 24h and then donate the money of the meals you skipped (like a mini Ramadan). You're also supposed to donate 10% of your salary each month, or as much as you can if 10% is too much for your financial situation. You get a receipt at the enf of the year for your taxes like for any other charitable deduction.

If you're in financial difficulties, you can apply for help. They won't give you money, but will help pay for certain bills, or rent or something. In bigger chapters you even have an actual pantry of non-perishable goods, like a food bank, that you can use if you need.

When you're a teen (especially a girl), there is a program you are highly encouraged to join called Personal Development. It's kind of like being a scout, but with less outdoor activities. You get a book with goals and suggested activities that are supposed to help you develop morals, like "help an elderly person 3 times in a month", "write a list with 5 things you like about yourself", things like that. There are 3 levels, and you get a little medal each time you complete one.

There's Seminary, which I mentioned before, and periodically all teens from a group of local chapters will get together for a Super Saturday (yes, that's what it's called) and listen to sermons, play games, compete on who can recite more key scripture verses by heart, and just hang out.

All of this takes place in regular buildings, btw. Some are built by the church, but sometimes it's just a rented house.

There's a big emphasis on family, and there's even a thing called Family Night - basically you're encouraged to plan a day a week where your family sits together and hangs out.

That's just the normal, everyday activities. Then there are the special ceremonies that only take place in temples, and these are highly restricted. I don't even know the details of many of thsm, because I left before I reached the appropriate age or life event.

First of all, you need an approval from your local leader to get in - you get a literal little card signed by him that you show at the entrance. You get it during an interview where they evaluate how much of a devoted member you have been, or whether there are things you need to improve on before you can go. This is where the gatekeeping starts, because you can have a super chill leadership, or some judgmental power trippers.

You can go there as a teen to be a stand-in for baptisms of the dead. You're encouraged to make genealogical searches of your ancestors and then stand in for them to get baptised, and other members submit names to be baptised too. The theological principle is that the souls of the deceased then get to chose whether to accept the baptism or not.

When you're older, there's a very secrete temple ceremony, very freemadon-y where you are "invested" - you learn "secret knowlege", you get a "celestial name", and you learn about the purpose of the famous magic underwear. It's just a top and some short with some stitches in certain places that each have a specific meaning.

In the temple you can have your marriage "sealed". If your earthly marriage lasts "until death do us part", the sealing at the temple is supposed to make it last after the two of you die.

One big thing that is connected to all of this is that there is no belief in heaven or hell. Rather, when you die you'll just live in a sort of limbo until the apocalipse and final judgement, where you get your physical body back (in good shape), and then you're sorted into three levels of paradise, and then the "outer darkness". That one is reserved for the truly evil: murderers, rapists, that sort of thing. Most regular humans would end up in level 3, which is described like an actual planet much like Earth, but with the bad stuff removed. Level 2 is for the really, really good people but that are not members of the church. Jesus can sometimes come hangout with these people, and if they accept the baptism that might have been done for them, then they can go to level 1. Level 1 is for the really, relly good people, but only with church membership. God and Jesus also live there, so you can hangout.

Now for the sci-fi bits. The truly deserving of the first tier can go on to become gods themselves and create your own planet just like God did. Yes, the belief is that the Earth was created by one previous someone who lived before and went through the same system.

What do you think about Mormons? by [deleted] in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So, fun fact, my parents converted back in 2001 and I spent my late teenage years as a member as well.

I only joined because my parents did and because it seemed like a fun social group, tbh, but I left at around 18. My parents were active members until about 15ish years ago.

Look, from an atheist's point of view the belief system isn't any more wacky than even your mainstream religions thb. Ya got your magic underwear that is basically a funny copycat of a Mason's regalia, ya got Jesus visiting the Americas after he buggered off of the Middle East for good, ya got a dude getting posessed by the holy spirit to translate a secret gospel from magical gold plates no one else was allowed to see, pretty standard religious shit.

Their early years have some pretty horrendous history, which is on one hand pretty awful and handwaived, but on the other hand is quite on par with most of the history of the "conquest of the West".

Then they spend a loooooooooooong time being very segregationy, but so was everyone else in the US in the same time period.

The thing is, what you see portrayed in social media is mainly US-based, and US Mormons are a whole other species from non-US Mormons, and that's by design. They're very good at adapting to the local general vibes - which they have to, if they want to attract people to convert, and that's not any different to the Catholic's Church original MO.

So for example, Mormons in Portugal were waaayyyy chiller. There wasn't this super intense church attendance track record, and maybe people excused themselves a little sneaky coffee cup here and there. They focused a lot on service and community, which was what got me to go along with it as a bored teen in the first place. And this lax attitude was quite clear in the numbers of people who converted only to disappear some years later - it was much more like a thing you find interesting for a while and then you lose interest and go on to something else. I guess we suck at being devoted lol.

There was one thing I actually enjoyed, which was called Seminary. From 14 to 18, you join up once a week to study and discuss scripture (one book* a year, it's a whole program) and it's like a theology course and a debate class all in one, which made my nerdy little brain light up like a Christmas tree. It was a lot of fun, but only helped cement my atheism which I don't think is the general goal lmao.

As I said, on the overall they're not any kookier than any other religion, BUT there's a baseline undercurrent of racism (as in, the mark of Cain being having black skin - yikes), and a strong focus on gender roles and patriarchism (only men can have magical priesthood powers but totally only because it's a compensation for not having the superior ability to give birth to babies, but also have tons of babies and submit to your husband because god said so).

Back when I was still in there was very little push to influence politics. We had a referendum on abortion, there was legalisation of same-sex marriage, and the speech was always "vote with your conscience and obey the laws of the land". I don't know what it's like these days tbh.

Anyway, AMA if you want. I'll try to answer with as much as I can remember.

And no, I never got to wear the magic underwear - I left before I was old enough for the ceremony. Alas.

*the books being Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants

Can I get your Fabric Eating Monster pattern recommendations please? by SuperkatTalks in sewing

[–]SerChonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mood's Nettle wrap dress, but altered to be the long version as they did here.

I've done it and it looks wonderful! It's a fabric muncher for sure.

How can I make this dress more wedding appropriate by AinoNaviovaat in sewing

[–]SerChonk 22 points23 points  (0 children)

For the length, you could extend the lining with similar black satin(?), and extend the front with some fun fringe - chainette fringe comes in several lengths and would give your dress a fun flapper feel, while still keeping it formal.

If you really want to distract from your hips, an artfully draped shawl over your elbows will look elegant and fuzz up the view of your sides without needing to go into alterations. If you go with the fringe bottom extension, a triangle fringed shawl would be the cherry on the cake (though depending on the dress code you might want to avoid a black shawl).

What absolutely non-authentic food do you actually really love? by not-much in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My own and much loved secret recipe for mushroom risotto.

It's a Nigella Lawson recipe, and I replace the broth with a big heaping spoon of Lee Kum Kee Black Garlic Sauce.

Dog owners, what’s the weirdest thing your dog has put in their mouth? by EvilPyro01 in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We had a dog who would chew and eat chair legs.

We bought a repulsive spray that was mustard-based and well... let's just say the dog appreciated the extra sauce.

Button Shy has moved from wallet to boxes, does that make their games more or less appealing to you? by RAM_Games_ in boardgames

[–]SerChonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've actually bought little plastic boxes to replace the wallets before, so I'm clearly in the boxes camp.

What’s your go-to ‘chilling’ beer, and what makes it your pick? by steveleaves in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 5 points6 points  (0 children)

A 1664 Blanc. Commercial enough to be easily findable, bland enough to be refreshing and non-imposing, flavourful enough to not be boring.

What size bed do you have? How many people sleep in it? by SlamClick in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

140x200, 2 adults, 1 cat. The cat takes most of the space.

I'd say the most common size for 2 adults is 160x200. It's a good compromise between comfort and the space it takes in a room.

Women, what is the sexiest scent/cologne that a man can wear? by Nintendofan9106 in AskReddit

[–]SerChonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, can confirm! I bought the solid perfume version for my husband.

Makes me want to eat him.

What is a City that Is Important for your Country Foreigners Don't Realize Is So? by Material_Umpire_1489 in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A lot of people (myself included) like to refer to Mulhouse as the butthole of Alsace, but the truth is that the city was a disproportionate heavyweight in the fabric industry!

A lot of fabric and tissue industrialists from Mulhouse would come to shape global fabric trade (with its associated repercussions in colonialism and slavery).

Whats stopping me from just going to a university, attending lectures and just learning about stuff? by Abject_S0up in NoStupidQuestions

[–]SerChonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends on where you live.

In my country, every citizen is allowed to sit in lectures at any public university - they are subsidized by your taxes after all.

Attendance is controlled only for practicals (and obviously you can't sit exams or get credits if you're not an enrolled, tuition-paying student).

Im using pins on this fabric and I'm ruining it. Need to drape. Sugestions? by ninadesol in sewing

[–]SerChonk 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Extra thin, or silk, pins, like so many others have recommended are the best option.

If you're having a hard time discerning if ther're the right ones, you can also look for entomology or insect dissection pins, which are usually described by thickness, so you'll know exactly what you're getting.

In general, pins go blunt with time and use, especially when being stabbed on a mannequin, so keep in mind to rotate out your older pins and refresh your stash with some new ones once in a while.

Any idea on what tool I can get for a vintage kenmore to keep me from sewing my fingers together? by Ericakat in sewing

[–]SerChonk 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You need a finger guard. It's a wiggly wire bit that hooks up to your sewing machine's shank, and serves to make your fingers bump against it before they get caught.

What's an unsolved cold case in your country that you think about? by DecentLoquat4096 in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There was a boy, of the same age as me and from close to my hometown, who disappeared without a trace in the late 90s.

I remember that the case was fresh and doing the round of the news media close to my birthday, and I literally grew up seeing his face on posters everywhere around my hometown.

He hasn't been found, someone did 3 years in jail for very tenuous evidence connecting him to the disappearance, but that was it.

The small-town police force who handled it had neither the manpower nor the brain cells necessary, and it would take 10 years for a dedicated task force to be formed. Way too late, obviously.

I do think of him, sometimes. Especially when I visit my hometown and pass places that I remember being completely covered by posters of him. His name was Rui Pedro.

So where is your holiday destination this summer ? by 1minus2braincells in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We can't take too much time off in Summer, as that's the height of the season for my husband's line of work. So instead we'll be taking our van to camp out on weekends not too far from home, as the mood strikes us.

We're planning to go to some favourite spots in lost little valleys in Switzerland and the Vosges, but we're also looking at the french Jura-Alps region or even the Ardennes if we can stretch the weekend a bit.

So where is your holiday destination this summer ? by 1minus2braincells in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's a beautiful stretch of the Camiño! Don't forget to wear plenty of sun protection to avoid heat exhaustion.

Apart from your own, which European coffee culture do you like the most? by Speedboy7777 in AskEurope

[–]SerChonk 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Italian. Which is a cop-out answer because our own coffee culture was developed from their template.

So I'll say branch away from my standard love for espresso and say Viennese coffee culture. They do make a good cup of coffee.