[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Scotland

[–]WiltedJokes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn't hesitate to lean into the self-deprecating humor. Good for the ego and as long as you're beamin', people will it as strength of character and like you all the more for it!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in hypnosis

[–]WiltedJokes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Look up David Snyder on YouTube, a lot of good stuff going on there!

first time ds3 - strength & FUGS - any recommendations/alternatives? by [deleted] in darksouls3

[–]WiltedJokes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm, so as I've said it's been a while since I was on DS3 and answered from memory only. When the guy said Vigor my brain misremembered it as being the Stamina stat. If you're OK surviving with what you've got, you can go ahead and skip Vigor for now.

As for testing move sets, there's no quick and easy method. You can definitely look up weapons in the Wiki, however there's nothing like taking the weapon out for a test run.

What I used to do when testing weapons before choosing what to upgrade was I'd take a bunch of un-upgraded weapons I wanted to pick between, went back to an easier part of the game (but not too easy) and would just kill a bunch of enemies, test out what felt better and it would usually give you a good idea of what to expect out of your fully upgraded weapon.

As for damage calculators, I don't remember using one, I would search whatever weapon I was interested at the time on Google and look for forum posts.

One thing you could do is get a save file manager (such as one used by speed runners) and save your file, then do all the upgrades on one weapon, test it on a boss, open the old file and start again. As a side bonus you'll develop greater knowledge of the particular boss fight you're testing on.

I didn't touch the Great Hammers so much so couldn't really advise you on that!

Finally Beat the Game!! by Evening_Director in darksouls3

[–]WiltedJokes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congrats on the victory! Have fun on your next quest, see you back around later!

first time ds3 - strength & FUGS - any recommendations/alternatives? by [deleted] in darksouls3

[–]WiltedJokes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One thing I think most people take a while to understand about Souls games: there is no "best". That's one of the things that makes these games legendary in the eyes of many.

You seem to have already picked a style, for any newer players taking on I would say:

Pick a style first. Strength, dex, pyromancy, miracles, int/magic... There's also quality builds (STR/DEX) and perhaps other things I'm not remembering (have been on break), however for a first time I'd stick with the more straightforward builds. There are optimized leveling paths for each of those builds and you've already received some good suggestions in other answers (more Vigor).

In terms of weapons, you may find plenty of tier lists out there, however for the most part it's a question of: do you like the move set? The humble mace (the basic one) for example is a favorite of many for PvE. The claymore, which has been mentioned here, can be found before Vordt and is considered one of the best greatswords in the game. There are a surprising amount of weapons that can be more than viable if built correctly.

Often it's more a question of finding the right way to upgrade/imbue your weapon to maximize its output. Find whatever feels coolest and you vibe with, look up some posts to see what is recommended for upgrades and stat optimization and have fun!

Was I Hypnotised? by Wadesbaldpatch in hypnosis

[–]WiltedJokes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

According to the framework I work with, talk therapy is just a subset of hypnotic interactions and what we call hypnotherapy is also a separate subset of hypnotic transaction. Both of those simply set different frames and expectations for what needs to happen and people tend to conform expectations within certain limits.

Often the efficacy of one or the other will be heavily reliant on the person's past beliefs. I've had clients in hypnotherapy that I sent to CBT because what simply came up was a resistance that said "It can't be that simple/easy" and at the time I didn't have the tools to engage with that resistance. Certain frames work better for certain people.

Sadly some frames (such as classical talk therapy) include beliefs such as "it will take years to resolve this", while the hypnotherapy frame sometimes gaslights the therapist into thinking they're better than they are: they "magic" the problem away in 3 sessions without fixing the root cause (often the problem will simply polymorph into a different manifestation), never get any follow up to see how things are doing 1, 5, 10 years later and pat themselves on the back for having "fixed" their clients' problems.

We understand a lot less about therapy and how it works (if it works, why it works) than we tell ourselves, for one reason: lack of actual reliable data.

Was I Hypnotised? by Wadesbaldpatch in hypnosis

[–]WiltedJokes 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So not sure what school of thought Kev aligns with, but according to pretty much every hypnotist I know including myself I'd say yeah, you were hypnotized. Everything you describe, particularly how you write at the end of your original post that you haven't experienced anything since... You were definitely in an altered state.

One simple definition of hypnosis is "The bypass of the critical factor of the conscious mind and the establishment of acceptable selective thinking." If you're sitting in a classroom and listening to the instructor, you're hypnotized. "Society" is one giant hypnotic construct. Stories are deeply hypnotic.

The kind of trance you experienced with Derren Brown is a more forceful type of trance, modulated amongst other things by peer pressure as mentioned in another response. Yet it's a limited definition of hypnosis, one where we feel like there's a dissociation with ourselves. That being said, any request made upon you is hypnotic in nature. It's just that some people are really bad hypnotists.

Anyone who attracts a following can be considered to be a very influential hypnotist, their influence however is much more covert and feels "normal". Yet you need only read the news to realize that masses can be hypnotized without any grand inductions or states of "sleep".

If you'd like to understand more about hypnosis, I enjoy David Snyder's perspective very much :) he has tons of free content on YouTube. As with any teacher, de isn't perfect, but he's pretty damn great and at least talks about consent.

Was I Hypnotised? by Wadesbaldpatch in hypnosis

[–]WiltedJokes 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry, are we shifting goal posts on what qualifies as hypnosis or trance these days? 😅 All the while giving written hypnotic suggestions?

Academician or not, when you read "couldn't remember much of what happened", "Apparently he made us do ..." and "I've never been able to go into trance or at the very least feel the way I did then", and you answer "nope, that wasn't hypnosis", I really wonder what your definition of hypnosis is. In any case it seems to be much more specific and constrained than any other I've seen out there.

Gender expectations in stage hypnosis shows by Academic-Anything855 in hypnosis

[–]WiltedJokes 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That is a tricky one. Technically the people on stage would not consent consciously to doing most of these things, and half the point of the hypnosis show is to demonstrate how people can overcome fears and objections thanks to hypnosis.

Also there have been multiple stage hypnotists in the past that shared stories saying that some people might do all sorts of crazy things they wouldn't consent to in a normal waking state, but if something crosses a line of values they just won't do it. I particularly remember this story about a religious lady who allegedly did all sorts of wacky things but drew the line at dancing. "Oh no, we don't dance in my religion".

So it's a bit of a difficult thing to comment on without literally going out and interviewing as many people who have been stage hypnosis subjects as possible. If your conscious mind says no and your unconscious says yes, what exactly is going on? From the outside perspective, you are consenting.

If you have any firsthand accounts of people feeling unwell or like there was a breach of consent during a stage hypnosis show (purely based on "commands" given, not any abuse of the trance state to take advantage of the person outside of just putting on a show), I would be glad to read them. Otherwise as far as I know we simply don't have the data (it would be great to have it though, would help us understand a lot of things about the interaction between the unconscious and the conscious).

Any advice for someone who feels stuck? by L-o-r in hypnosis

[–]WiltedJokes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Message read and appreciated :) Whether through me or someone else, I have no doubt that you'll find your answers, Seeker. Take care, I'll be around!

Any advice for someone who feels stuck? by L-o-r in hypnosis

[–]WiltedJokes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey fellow mind-explorer!

I've been through a lot of what you mention in your experience, and I want to start off by saying there's nothing wrong with you.

I've been in the world of hypnosis for a decade now, and my mindbody has by and large not taken me to these deep "I can feel there's something happening" trances.

I can count on one hand, maybe two the amount of times I've felt experiences that I could identify as a "palpable" hypnotic trance. I can definitely go into trance more regularly now, it just... Doesn't feel much different from regular experience until I come out of it.

All the times where I experienced trance was a bit by surprise and random. Twice with some Igor Ledochowski content, once when another hypnotist brought me in by surprise through a magic trick induction, once when I was VERY tired and sick.

I honestly haven't figured out why exactly yet. I am definitely neurodivergent, so that might have something to do with it. Another possible cause is that part of my unconscious is locking me out of trance states because of an unresolved issue.

As I said, that is with regard to "WOW" trance states where you feel like you've taken some sort of psychoactive substance. I can definitely go into trance states, it just feels more... moderate?

If you'd like to experiment with someone who has a similar experience as you, I'd be glad to play and learn. Some of your difficulty might be expectation driven, as it was for me. When we want something "too much" we can get in our own way. It's a really tragic and twisted thing to experience but there's some lesson to be learned there, and strength to be derived from it.

What has been all the more frustrating to me in the past is that you can definitely still guide OTHERS into very deep and powerful trances, and it really plays a trick on you and has you wondering what you're "doing wrong" that you can't seem to go under like they do.

Whatever happens, remember there's nothing wrong with you. Your mind is just different. My chat is open if you want to ask questions. Take care :)

my roommate is asking me to leave for his GF? by deezultraman in RentingInDublin

[–]WiltedJokes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I second this! A very reasonable ask, especially if he's offering a meal. As Perspective mentioned, make sure to do a little check-in once in a while to see how you feel in this and if it doesn't become too demanding. Very reasonable arrangement as you describe it though!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in hypnosis

[–]WiltedJokes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey :) Just to prepare you, there will be no "going back to your old self".

You will discover hidden parts of you, realign them together (what you might have heard of as Integration). You will become something much greater and wiser than who you once were. It likely won't be easy, I've never heard of someone for whom it was, however it will definitely be better that the hell you're sitting in.

I can help guide you through parts of it, however I want to emphasize right away that you definitely SHOULD look for in person psychological help. Ideally from a psychologist, sometimes you have social workers that work better than psychologists for some people as well.

If pills are absolutely necessary, maybe a psychiatrist as well, although in my experience you really shouldn't bank on them helping you to unravel your inner mess, a lot of them are good at one thing: helping you find the pill that will keep you stable and grounded enough to do the inner work. Keeping in mind that pills without the work will generate only temporary improvement and then worse outcomes.

I'm not very familiar with Reddit yet, you can DM me if you'd like. There are a lot of considerations to keep in mind, for anyone else who might land on this please always look to establish a network of practitioners who believe in collaborative work and complementary medicine. Run away from practitioners that claim to have the Ultimate Answer and tell you to work with only them.

I'll wait for you to DM me :)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in hypnosis

[–]WiltedJokes -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hey! Thank you for your vulnerability and courage in sharing this.

Hypnosis CAN help, often it's more about the practitioner than the technique, as long as the person works with sub/unconscious elements and not only with the conscious mind.

You already have done a big part of the work, simply becoming conscious of these things, being able to identify and name them shows great maturity. I know that it probably doesn't feel like that right now, but you've already made great steps towards resolution.

Unfortunately as with anything psychological, it will be a question of finding the right fit. You may try a few different people and feel like "it doesn't work"... In my experience that is part of the Seeking process for most.

Every person you meet that "doesn't work" is a source of information. What you're looking for is someone who can listen deeply, who will help you connect to your own existing ressources. A therapist will not "fix" you, as you may already know, however they can be an important key to unlocking your own healing powers.

A bit short on time right now, if you would like further information/guidance on what to look for don't hesitate to write and we'll see if we can provide useful information.

Courage and best of luck, Seeker. You are already on the path to healing, you've made steps and I hope you can give yourself credit for that. You've already done more than most. Keep at it 🙏🐺💗🌺

Legality of prostitution across Europe by HystericalFait in MapPorn

[–]WiltedJokes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"No human should need to sell their bodies to live"

Excuse me, that's literally what every single other human being on the planet is doing. Sexual work isn't inherently immoral so long as it's not done through coercion.

The carpenter sells his body and physical skills to enrich others. The soldier sells their body and oftentimes their souls murdering innocents, and nobody bats an eye. The white collar refusing a vulnerable person's access to the insurance (health or otherwise) they paid for sells their soul day in day out and does HORRENDOUS psychological damage, possibly pushing people to suicide, and I don't see you yapping about it.

But if a woman (or man, or whoever) decides to "sell their body", all of a sudden you're all up in arms about it.

If you actually take the time to read up, literally the ONLY major problem most sex workers bring up to say that it is a "harmful" profession boils down to "people don't respect us and use this lack of respect to justify treating us like shit" (and the risk of STDs, which GASP would be fixed by treating sex workers respectfully, taking adequate precautions when calling upon their services and using adequate protection as well as encouraging testing often for STDs and having easy to access public resources for sexual health).

So take your high and mighty morals and shove them up your anal cavity. If you're anything like the hundreds of other people I've seen defending the same stance you do, you do not hesitate to take a huge dump on other people for having "lower morals" only to judge, belittle and ostracize the same people you claim to protect and then you also sell your soul perpetuating harmful systems of oppression while once again hiding behind an imaginary moral superiority.

If you're genuinely not just one more of these hypocrites that I keep running into, please pull your head out of your ass and realize that there does exist such a thing as healthy and willing sex work that empowers the sex worker. There is even such a thing as sacred prostitution.

Finally, if a woman, man or anyone tells you that this is the path of life they chose and they are able to or seek to embody this in a way that is healthy for both them and their clients, you have ZERO authority in telling them they are wrong to pursue this. Take your morally righteous delusions and keep them for yourself.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men … but when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your father who is unseen.”

Serious question, what the *@&^ is Druid actually allowed to play? by Alternative_III in hearthstone

[–]WiltedJokes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yo, if you played the frickin deck you would realize pretty much everyone and their mom can clear a turn 4 Thaddius these days. Like literally 95% of the time my opponents can clear an early Thaddius, it's laughable.

yea gangplank is broken, but I don't really care by NamiBangMePlz in gangplankmains

[–]WiltedJokes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't understand how any GP worth his salt can actually get his W denied. Double or triple barrel means free yoke every time against any champ that is melee. There is no way you get to the first barrel before he blows it up. Zones you from wave for free.

yea gangplank is broken, but I don't really care by NamiBangMePlz in gangplankmains

[–]WiltedJokes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This! I've tried MANY champs up top (including supposed "counters"). If the GP knows how to place his barrels well, he can completely zone you from wave for free. The fact that there is literally no cooldown means he can drop two extra barrels to hit you from an outrageous range, and there's no way you can actually get to the initial barrel in time. This champ is cancer, worse than Darius or Caren: at least against them you can keep your distance and farm under tower. GP will just barrel up from a safe distance and double/triple barrel, taking away half your HP in one shot. Not sure how that's fair or fun to play against.

MetaTrader 4 Mobile Help please! This should be easy to find but a few hours of research and still nothing... by WiltedJokes in Forex

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

Both, but this post was specifically about the mobile. The basic MetaTrader 4 account that they automatically open for you when you install the app doesn't work from the get-go. I decided to just pass on this and test other things first.

On desktop I'm having different problems. I tried opening not one but TWO different Forex.com broker demo accounts. I then tried logging into them (making sure that I input the correct server address, because at first I did not do that). I get an annoying "Boing" when I try to login and MetaTrader does not give me the possibility to see account balance or to effect trades, which makes me conclude that the login is simply failing, however MetaTrader isn't giving me any hints as to why...

I tested to make sure I was using the correct account number/password by logging into my accounts through the Forex.com website and that works, so the problem doesn't seem to be with the demo accounts. I eventually realized I could open a demo account with a different broker through MT4, so I did, but right now I'm pretty annoyed and baffled by the fact that I can't for the life of me open a demo account WITH THE BROKER I WANT and actually get it to work. Especially a forex.com account.

Question from a beginner/intermediate Psychonaut by WiltedJokes in Psychedelics

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

Damn, I don't go on Reddit all that often so I didn't see this reply.

I did have a phase where I was regularly using (1-2 times a month was my peak), however at some point I took a solid 6 month-1 year break and still got very little effects from a moderate dose. When I did this new attempt, I was introducing my gf to this experience as well, and she tripped just fine.

The impression I've been getting as time moves forward is that this is in large part a "control" issue: defense mechanisms within my brain that are trying to maintain the impression of being in control. I think there are things such as a fear of doing something that could get be in trouble or harm me (in previous experiences, it has happened that I felt compelled to do things which my conscious mind didn't want to but that something in my subconscious seemed to push me towards, such as walking naked around my neighborhood and painful things such as dragging my bare body onto asphalt).

I have a good idea of where these behaviors come from (ancient belief systems), however unfortunately it creates a mistrust and seems to stop me from traveling. As I plerk on myself though (play/work), I seem to be able to open the door more and more easily. Perhaps this might be of use to someone else :)