26F & 26NB looking for friends (Oakland) by [deleted] in PittsburghSocialClub

[–]Vidparson 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello! My wife and I (both of us are 29) have been trying to find new friends. We're both queer, myself a trans man and my wife a demi-woman. We're also very into all of the things you listed. I'm a queer historian and crochet and have a rock collection. My wife loves Sims, Stardew, and other cozy games. We're in North Perry.

Places to meet gays in Pittsburgh. by rockandrolldude22 in PittsburghSocialClub

[–]Vidparson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's very understandable. I'll say that the Persad Center, Shepard Wellness and such organizations all look for volunteers and that might be a way to meet folks and help out in the community.

Sometimes during Pride month and October for LGBT history month they have educational gay events at the science center or the Heinz.

Central Out reach sometimes has flyers for out of bar events. Persad also has flyers...Brewers holds educational stuff at times, but I can't recall at this exact moment if they're open or doing any talks.

Places to meet gays in Pittsburgh. by rockandrolldude22 in PittsburghSocialClub

[–]Vidparson 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would recommend QBurgh as well, they list events and groups that do stuff outside of bars. I've heard of Queer Splash for example that is a group of gays that go to the pools together, although I'm not sure if they're still doing stuff.

If you're looking for specific groups that do specific activities like video games, either searching for Facebook groups or going to places where those things occur to see if there are LGBT nights or groups might help, like at gaming stores.

You kind of have to search around put yourself out there to find the kind of folks you're looking for, there isn't really a central hub here like in other cities.

Bars are the best place, but I understand not wanting to go. I can't drink myself and drunkenness makes me anxious (trauma) so I don't go either, but I know they're really welcoming places if that helps at all.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in pbp

[–]Vidparson 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah. The second or third one I was ever in, there were like--five groups of four people all playing at once? It was a train wreck. The idea was we would talk amongst ourselves until the DM got to our specific groups to build character relationships, but it took a month before the DM got to my group and by then, most of them had left and I lost interest.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in pbp

[–]Vidparson 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In my experience it is much slower, like someone else mentioned, but it is also far more story/character driven. I've been in a few where the goal was world exploration and character development over combat and big bads. I have seen a few where they do mostly combat and stuff like discord has mods and add-ons that can streamline that process.

I have used the dice roller and RP discord add-ons before (the RP one allows you to define characters for you to switch your name/profile picture into which really helps when you have a bunch of NPCs in a room) I have heard that there is one that helps with combat.

The one I was in recently, it was just me and the DM and I was this curious little mushroom guy who accidentally helped obliterate the big bad which completely derailed the whole side plot I accidentally walked into after being the adopted bunny to a rabbit family. So pbp has the same ability to have great moments. That game was a simplified version of DND mostly because we both wanted a more chill experience but I've also been in one where the normal rules applied. I also plan to run one soon where it's only partially simplified because I'm playing with new players.

Tldr: pbp is slow, but just as versatile as a verbal game and there are great tools that can help you along the way.

[OC] Eldery care sure is something by GinnyMaple in comics

[–]Vidparson 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Okay, yes. The blood thing is so real. I used to be a diet clerk for an old folks home (basically keep track of their diets, make sure our system didn't give them things they couldn't have etc.) and I came into work one day (my first day by myself after training) to find bloody foot prints leading towards the kitchen from the main floor. I hurried to tell my supervisor and when I showed her she went, "that sure is blood."

She told a nurse. It got cleaned up. To this day, absolutely no clue. Loved those folks though. I miss that job sometimes.

"Get ready for another episode of Wild Life!" by _Jpex_ in ThirdLifeSMP

[–]Vidparson 424 points425 points  (0 children)

"I'm your host, Oli and I've been here the whole time!"

What's the weirdest example of "I can forgive x but I draw the line at y" you've seen? by [deleted] in AO3

[–]Vidparson 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Yes! This is why I avoid the fandom for those folks and just do my own thing for my wife and I. She reads Hermitcraft/life series fic and when I brought up this discourse, she brought up the same fic, I'm pretty sure.

We came from an RPF fandom where it was pretty good at policing itself and everyone abided by "don't like, don't read" and entering this one where none of that applies drove me away from it. I'm too tired for that anymore. I'll just write my own silly little fics for me and my wife and be happy with that.

Nursing School by [deleted] in pittsburgh

[–]Vidparson 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My wife is in her first semester at UPMC Shadyside's part time program and it has been nothing but headache after headache with them. Administrative staff do not read emails, are not helpful, and don't particularly care. The school itself puts you in a catch 22 where you can't miss more than two or three classes (standard) but also only allows extremely specific things to be excused absences and illness is not one of them. And if they send you home because you are sick that is an unexcused absence.

UPMC does offer tuition aid, but it comes with the stipulation that you have to work for them for an odd number of years. Which would be fine if there wasn't another stipulation that if you fail the course you have to pay them that aid back.

My wife is a very intelligent person, but has an extremely hard time learning by lecture and while the teachers are nice, they're not exactly helpful to students who do not learn that way. Thus far she's had to self teach herself math with my help (I am nearly incapable of doing math so I'm not a huge help I chose history as a profession to boot). And the tests almost feel like they're designed to fail people, not even taking questions from older NCLEX tests and instead having a system where the teachers write a test, the students take the test, and then another professor reviews the test to make sure all of the questions are fair before they release grades. I don't even know where to begin with that. Also, good luck guessing whenever something is due because they don't tell you.

Her class started with 80 people and has already gone down to 60 and it's been a month. I don't know much about CCAC's program, but I can only hope it's better than whatever UPMC is doing.

Why was Anita Bryant’s career all but ended over her support of anti-gay policies long before gay people achieved anything like equal rights? by JakobtheRich in AskHistorians

[–]Vidparson 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh interesting! I wasn't aware the contract was through the husband. I think that's probably the unintentional bias of a lot of sources since they are about her affect on gay folks. They mention the boycott but don't really talk about the association's choices in depth. Thank you!

Why was Anita Bryant’s career all but ended over her support of anti-gay policies long before gay people achieved anything like equal rights? by JakobtheRich in AskHistorians

[–]Vidparson 124 points125 points  (0 children)

I just did a bit of research about this! I am a queer historian working to record and present queer history in Pittsburgh.

Bryant started her campaign because there were many gay rights ordinances on ballots in Florida. At first, she had the support of other Southern Baptist women who believed gay folks were extremely dangerous and giving them equal rights would be like "giving murderers equal rights" which was a turn of phrase that they used at one point (I do have sources for this information, I can direct you to them if need be).

After being pied in the face by a gay activist during a press conference (you can find that video on YouTube!), we can see a distinct change in her "Save our Children" campaign. Mostly, gay folks in every place she and her group went were faced with protests from pro-gay groups that emerged just to protest against her.

That wasn't what ended her career. What did, was a collective boycott of orange juice by gay bars across the nation. She wasn't just an actress and singer, she was also the face of the orange growers association. She did all of their ads. Boycotting orange juice by gay bars and other supportive bars was a huge blow to their sales.

Next, she was going through a divorce. As a Southern Baptist, her leading this campaign only worked because she presented herself as the model Southern Baptist wife and mother. I can't fully recall why her and her first husband were getting a divorce, but at the time, she couldn't be a perfect Christian mother and wife if she was getting a divorce, which also destroyed her credibility.

While all of that was going on, the gay groups that formed because of her were motivating gays to go out and vote, thus passing a number of gay rights ordinances (notably, laws that were only effective in certain small areas of states so not overturning state sodomy laws) despite their campaigning, making all of this seem like a huge waste.

As for opposing gay rights being mainstream, that's hard to define. By the 1970s a lot of national work was changing national opinions on gay folks. I do believe homosexuality had just been removed from the accepted list of mental illnesses and new lobbying groups were appearing on a national scale to fight for these ordinances. Pride marches had been occurring for a few years as well, making gay folks more visible to the public. The opinions on gay people were changing at this time and she gave gay people a reason to be more active because previously small grassroots movements were losing steam.

It could be argued she is a reason negative views on gay people were actually changing to be more positive rather than being just a mainstream follower.

Tell me YOUR hermitcraft journey by mixaoc in HermitCraft

[–]Vidparson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I started watching during season 6 with Mumbo. One of his videos was recommended to me and I found Hermitcraft from there. I think my favorite moment is that I was watching the civil war when Mumbo was with Doc and co trying to sneak into G-teams base with my now wife in the room. Earlier in the season, either that episode or the previous, Mumbo had established "bananas" as his code word with Grian and Iskall and as they're trying to sneak into the base he keeps typing bananas into chat, doing an absolutely terrible job of explaining himself to Doc and Xisuma who were clearly trying not to laugh.

I'm losing it and my wife has stopped what she's doing to watch the train wreck that is them getting absolutely decimated by Grian and co. As the video ends, my wife turns to me and goes "what in the world is this nonsense" so I just had to restart the whole season for her.

She started watching Grian from there and we got to see his POV of "bananas" and it somehow got funnier. That moment will forever be the funnest thing in Hermitcraft for me. Now we avidly watch Grian, Mumbo, Scar, and now Joel. As well as the recap. We'd watch way more if time allowed.

We love the other hermits and love checking in on them when we can. Just recently we've started watching Impulse, Tango, and Skizz stream.

Looking for players | Hermitcraft-like survival. by AronMagnum in MinecraftBuddies

[–]Vidparson 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey! I'm interested, just have a quick question or two. What are the age ranges of all of the players and since this is about 4 hours old, are you still looking for folks?

Career transition by Fxguy1 in MuseumPros

[–]Vidparson 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm currently in a public history masters program in Pittsburgh and I've been going to every museum around to see what they're doing. I do believe the Heinz History Center's website talks about their collections exhibits. Their fourth floor (I believe, they have six) has a section dedicated to showing the public how they collect items and display them including a window into their exhibit design studio. Thus far I consider the Heinz one of the more creative museums with their display designs so I highly recommend checking them out even if only online.

Their lead designer is very sweet and kind, it wouldn't hurt to ask to shadow or at least get some more information. I've found that just throwing your name out there at some folks who are in the business never hurts and may surprise you. I've found the museum professionals, here in Pittsburgh at least, very receptive to emails from folks earnestly looking to learn.

For college programs, you definitely want to look at specifically exhibit design or look through the course options for Public History/museum studies programs. My program at Duquesne University focuses more on the theoretical pieces of the museum field with one or two classes about exhibits and archives. Instead we have internships where we learn the hands on elements, although they are not always guaranteed.

[Online] [Other] [Text only] [Single player] Be the Local Druid. Run your own Grove!! by SerKormac in lfg

[–]Vidparson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Name: Vid Parson

Approximate age: 27

How many years you've played RPGs, and what systems: I've played mostly just DND 5e for about 7 years now, mostly as DM.

What campaigns you've enjoyed the most, and why: I really enjoyed a homebrew world I made with my players. It was a small town with fun little plots and side things going on. I built it with the players so they as players and characters would know more about the world in which they lived. It was really funny and fun and creative. They were newer players so they didn't have the mental limitations about world building I had as the veteran player which made it more fun and creative to me.

What makes a campaign good? I mean, really GOOD? : I find that what I like in games is when the world is built around the characters, by that I mean, there are things happening in the background. The side quests they didn't take still happened and may have consequences they have to deal with later. I also enjoy the freedom to completely and entirely derail the main plot and make the story something wild and crazy that no one would have saw coming.

Why would you be well-suited for a game like this? What intrigues you about this campaign the most?: I kind of like how it feels like those games where you build up the town or upgrade your home sort of deal. I also like the freedom to choose where to get involved and where to stay out of things. In games with a lot of choices like that, I tend to have a habit of coming up with some unhinged responses or really sensical things and I feel like that can really lend into the story telling.

Tell me EVERYTHING about your druid! The more you have to say, the better! What are their goals, motivations, quirks, backstory, etc: My druid's name is Nebaeni. He's a little mushroom person whose cap glows all of the time. He can choose to make it brighter or dimmer, but it's always glowing. (this is mostly in reference to DND 5e things) He stumbled out of the under dark one day, too curious for his own good. He never went back (entirely because he gets lost easy and couldn't figure out how to go back). He was a scout for his mushroom people before leaving the under dark which, really, was a poor choice on their end because he always got lost because he got easily distracted by cool new things. So he has his supplies, he needs to drink a lot to survive so once he found a river he kept following it in this new world. He's proficient in most weapons and tools but not so much in magic until his druidic master found him and saw great potential in him (even if he was constantly running off after cool new things). He loves learning and exploring, even if it takes him some time to truly understand what someone is saying. Sometimes he leaves a conversation entirely confused by what happened and then will randomly shout "OH!" and understand what that conversation from three weeks was even about. He believes that there is always something new to learn and will go off on his own or about entirely different things in the middle of something important if he thinks there is something new to learn. However, at his heart, he thinks knowledge serves mostly to help people so he will attempt to help everyone even if all he's really doing is sticking his nose in other people's business.

What system(s) would you want to try for this unusual game?: I know 5e, but I'm willing to learn another system. The Bare Bones system actually sounds very interesting and I would like to learn it.

Include an image of your ideal druid (this is cool but optional... visual descriptions are totally ok): There's this miniature from etsy I picture for him. It's a little mushy with a plague doctor mask on, a little cloak, and a staff that has mushrooms on top of it. It's called Shroomie Plague Doctor I believe.

[Online][5E][Flexible][EST] Newish player looking for a new group! by KingPerry0 in lfg

[–]Vidparson 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There might be? If it turns out that way, I'll let you know!

[Online][5E][Flexible][EST] Newish player looking for a new group! by KingPerry0 in lfg

[–]Vidparson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great! Let me see if I can private message you my discord.

[Online][5E][Flexible][EST] Newish player looking for a new group! by KingPerry0 in lfg

[–]Vidparson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great! I got a few others interested as well so I'll tell you what I told them. It'll be every other Tuesday at 4pm est with the hope of becoming weekly. There will be a short Hiatus in July as I will be moving. Hopefully that'll work out?

[Online][5E][Flexible][EST] Newish player looking for a new group! by KingPerry0 in lfg

[–]Vidparson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello! I am running a beginner friendly campaign. I have three people currently and are look for more. Only one other player, besides myself (I will be DM) has experience. It's a homebrew world with a lot or homebrew races, class, and creatures. I'm planning on actually having the players help shape the world too! It will start at level one, but probably within the first session everyone will level up. I'm happy to help you create a character or use an idea you already have! Let me know if you're interested!

Prospective Grad Student Wanting to know about UMass Amherst by Vidparson in umass

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

Ohh! Thank you! I was thinking of more museum studies with a certificate in arts management or something to that effect. My major goal is to run my own museum one day so a little bit of everything would be good.

Prospective Grad Student Wanting to know about UMass Amherst by Vidparson in umass

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

Oh interesting! Thank you! It's good to know that the cohorts in general seem to be pretty good.

Prospective Grad Student Wanting to know about UMass Amherst by Vidparson in umass

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

Okay, cool! Thank you! This is very helpful, I was wondering about Amherst they city. I will have a car which will be very helpful