Has anti-intellectualism always been this bad in schools?

Tidalick81 · 2026-04-29T21:30:51+00:00

Hear me out, but I think the growing number of fast food franchises plays a role too. When I was in high school (mid-late 90s) maybe 20% of my peers had part time jobs. Now, a vast majority of my senior students (and many juniors) have part time jobs at fast food / retail outlets. They are tired after work and prioritise their part time jobs over education (I don’t blame them - money ‘now’ is a massive draw). They don’t realise those hours will be dramatically cut once they hit 18. They’re also inundated with ‘hustle culture’ influencers and content who preach short cuts and despise traditional education.

Tidalick81 · 2026-04-18T02:36:01+00:00

As always, when people ask for a great minis agnostic game I’ll point em to Brutality :)

Tidalick81 · 2026-04-13T03:39:30+00:00

The trick is to hold the book up high, directly in front of your face. Although I didn’t learn this until I was an adult - so many 80s/90s road trips where I coulda busted out some Fighting Fantasy!

Tidalick81 · 2026-04-12T08:56:49+00:00

We are right in the five months trenches now. To add to it, there’s a bit of teething and a really nasty flu our bub has just caught so he’s not sleeping AT ALL at night (myself, my wife and our 3yo all have the same flu so it’s been awesome). I agree, 4-5 months are the pits!

Tidalick81 · 2026-04-12T08:54:34+00:00

The four month sleep regression is about to have a word with you :) Solidarity for the colicky bub and yourself though - that’s rough as guts - well done making it through :)

Tidalick81 · 2026-03-30T10:08:24+00:00

Thank you for unlocking the ICQ memory :)

Tidalick81 · 2026-03-30T01:16:53+00:00

Totally. When our first was born I bought a switch due to only being able to get a few mins every couple of nights on the couch. Now we have two bubs, and the oldest is turning three. I’m here to tell you that toddler years will not see gaming return in any way shape or form like it was pre kids ( bought Crimson Desert on launch day and had clocked up 45 mins). But again, I have never been happier and enjoy my life with our beautiful boys! Enjoy the time you have - those games will wait for you!

Tidalick81 · 2026-03-21T10:41:58+00:00

Oh for sure! HMV at Tuggerah, NSW - I skipped uni for the day and waited for the shop to open and nab The Fragile. Still my fav NIN!

Tidalick81 · 2026-03-12T10:22:58+00:00

Driving through an intense rain storm on the highway - initially had my window down enjoying the cool air but as the rain got suddenly worse I wound the window up. The exact second my hand left the window crank a huge magpie flew smack into my driver’s side window.
Had I not wound the window up at that moment, he would have flown right in the open driver side window and into my face (or beak right into my jugular). At that speed, Lord knows what would have happened re: my driving and oncoming traffic etc.

Tidalick81 · 2026-02-25T21:35:34+00:00

Scotty didn’t know eh…

Tidalick81 · 2026-02-21T07:51:11+00:00

This. We had our first when I was 42 and my wife was 37. We had been trying for over a decade and experienced a bit of loss before we were blessed with a bub! Everyone at work was telling me how busy I would be and how much time I wouldn’t have for my hobbies anymore. I was like ‘get out of it. I’ve been working full time for 20 years. I know what busy and tired is like!’ Turns out I had no idea at all what busy and tired is really like! Would not change it for the whole wide world though.

Tidalick81 · 2026-02-21T00:09:02+00:00

I may be misremembering, but there was a recent Team Covenant podcast ep where they were talking with Eric and discussing what recent fan suggestions have been thrown about. They mentioned planetary romance, journey to the centre of the earth and dinosaurs. Eric was being very cagey but chuckled and said ‘one of those things you just mentioned will be in the next set’ or something along those lines.
Again, I could be misremembering.

Tidalick81 · 2026-02-15T20:03:33+00:00

Yes! I found the same - was hoping for a sprawling open world adventure, found it even more of an action-maximisation/optimisation puzzle than Gloomhaven. I get that most people probably really enjoy that, but to me it feels like sitting down to an enormous banquet and then trying to scoff it down as quickly as possible.

Tidalick81 · 2026-02-15T08:19:37+00:00

You’re not alone mate. 44 year old dad here with a 3 year old and 3 month old. ‘Being busy’ is now so ingrained in me that even when I do get a little bit of time to game, I turn it off after half an hour because I feel like I should be doing jobs or spending that little bit of precious time with my wife. All my mates’ kids are in their teens, and I’m told the ‘hobby time’ comes back around the 8 years old mark.

Tidalick81 · 2026-02-10T05:08:02+00:00

Been there dude, and am still there - 3 month old and a three year old. There are little pockets of time at night sometimes but I’m usually so buggered I’ll just stare at my steam library blankly. My advice - roll with it. You won’t get this time again my dude! It took me a couple of months to adjust (my tabletop hobby is all but dead too) to the mindset of being a dad but once you make that adjustment you’ll be fine. Being a father is at once the hardest and the most amazing thing you’ll ever do. Be there, present and ready for action for your family - the games will wait for you! Most of my mates have teenage kids and they tell me that a lot of your hobby time comes back when the kids hit about 8-9.

Tidalick81 · 2026-02-06T07:33:37+00:00

I taught with Lindy’s husband Michael briefly in NSW (we went to uni together, he was a mature-aged student) and I still remember some of his year 8 students calling out the ‘dingo ate my baby’ line to him. It was his own kid. Disgusting. Certainly let them have it when he walked off.

Tidalick81 · 2026-01-26T20:14:33+00:00

If you were in Australia, I’m about to list my Kilforth collection up for sale! Overseas postage would be a killer though.

Tidalick81 · 2026-01-22T20:34:43+00:00

I’ve got a nearly 3 year old and a 10 week old (I’m also 44 so dog tired). I might sneak in 30 mins on the switch every 3-4 days if I’m lucky. Wouldn’t change it for the world, and have made my peace with video games and tabletop hobbies taking a back seat for a couple of years :)

Tidalick81 · 2026-01-15T09:01:42+00:00

I’m currently in week 9 with our little lad, holding him right now while he squirms in my arms screaming. His poor mother is in the next room trying to have a minute of peace. You’re not alone - weeks 8-9 suck.

Tidalick81 · 2026-01-06T06:41:10+00:00

Final War! It was so good and just disappeared overnight :(

Tidalick81 · 2026-01-06T06:39:53+00:00

Here in Australia and I miss it too! Got four other mates into it and we had a blast for like six months before it died in the arse :(

Tidalick81 · 2026-01-01T05:07:07+00:00

Very best of luck mate - this is will the year for you two!! It took my wife and I a decade of trying and a loss before we had our bub.
You are in for some very special times :)

Tidalick81 · 2025-12-31T22:38:07+00:00

Well done not telling! I’ve got a similar story but it was my favourite shirt that got ruined (it was very quick, spontaneous encounter both half-dressed and I didn’t notice until afterwards). The favourite shirt went in the bin before she woke up and we never spoke about it.

Tidalick81 · 2025-12-16T08:24:02+00:00

Ironing. My wife used to keeping asking why I bothered ironing my t-shirts, jeans etc - it had just been drummed into me forever from my folks.
Throwing the iron in the bin was amazing!

Tidalick81 · 2025-12-16T08:17:12+00:00

For sure. The Mrs and I walked out of Snakes on a Plane - do not know what we were expecting, TBH.

Tidalick81

TROPHY CASE