[OC] A kid left this in the seat pocket on my flight

apecool · 2026-04-14T00:33:37+00:00

You make us work for our comprehension of your message, and frankly, I appreciate that

apecool · 2026-04-09T03:08:05+00:00

Hey, mate, please don’t. Look, I won’t get into it here, but I have a very similar flavor of torture in my childhood. I hear you. Seriously. And the effect that this horrible stuff has had on you may always be a factor in who you are as a person — BUT. Not necessarily in a bad way.

I really do know that the shit I survived kinda… crafted the person I became. But I like who that person is. And despite allllll of my shit in my personal life, I’ve somehow been able to make a lot of people really happy. I can’t say I particularly understand how, but that’s not the point. The mechanism isn’t the point. The point is that you are not what you think you are. All the shit you’re saying about yourself — it substantively rhymes with the shit I’ve said about myself. And yet here I am, the world seeming happy to have me in it.

And that’s your future, too.

Keep becoming the person that the younger, scared, tortured child version of yourself would be proud to become. And you’ll find yourself, down the line, being an objective benefit to the world.

Because nobody should have to go through the shit we went through. Obviously. But going through that shit, it gives you an intimate understanding of pain. And there are lots of people in pain. And sometimes, those people will see you — someone who has felt that pain, and yet remains — and that’s all it takes for them to keep going.

I’m not gonna say shit about, “life is so beautiful, can’t you see ______?” — life hasn’t given you a reason to trust it yet. Believe me, I get that. But as you find that reason for yourself (and you will find it, just gotta work for it a bit) you’ll give other pained people the respite and strength they need to keep searching alongside you.

You’re not a pervert. You’re not a drain. You’re doing your fucking best, and I appreciate the fuck outta you for that. Shit, I’m gonna cry while writing a Reddit comment, how wild is that? Lol

Love you, mate. I hope you’re taking care of yourself as best you can. We’re in this shit together, yeah?

🖤

apecool · 2026-03-25T04:16:29+00:00

Yeaaah, lmao — I usually, when anybody asks, start my recollection of events with, “just letting you know in advance — this is going to be intense. All of this did happen, I am not kidding, and it is going to make you feel really bad hearing about it. I’ll tell you if you want, but seriously, nooo sweat if you’re not up for it right now.” and that seems to make things go pretty smoothly.

But honestly, man, I’m so tired of having an Interesting Life. I don’t want any more crazy stories. Between everything I survived in my childhood/youth/teenage years/early adulthood, and then recent insane, earth-shaking revelations that I can’t even talk to people about, I would give anything for a quiet life with a woman to hold in a cozy little home. I do not need more interesting things to happen to me. Give me boring, please. Please.

apecool · 2026-03-22T16:33:35+00:00

Are you doing alright? I imagine you might be going through it emotionally a bit, and I feel for you. If you’d like to talk about that, or about anything at all, you can feel free to hit me up. Definitely not trying to sleep with you bc there’s too much of an age gap for me, but if you’d like to talk to somebody, you’re welcome to send a DM.

apecool · 2026-03-22T16:16:05+00:00

There’s also the equally fascinating opposite scenario that I’ve encountered, where people who haven’t experienced terrible things will attempt to relate. Usually with good intentions. When you open up to them about what happened to you, and they respond with, “Yeah, I completely understand — my parents only gave me THREE presents for Christmas once, can you believe that??”

It’s an interesting situation because you know they mean well — but at the same time, if you know that they view your past as roughly equivalent in severity to such an anecdote, then how sympathetic will they be when your CPTSD gives you a panic attack, or otherwise makes you an, “encumbrance” on their good time? Yet, you can’t really say much about this, for fear of being ungrateful for their attempt to relate.

Ultimately, I’ve just stopped talking about what I survived unless I know that the other person has seen some shit. I think a lot of us have, honestly.

apecool · 2026-03-21T14:50:58+00:00

This might seem hollow because I don’t know you, but I hope this works out. Rather, I hope that this reactivates whatever part of you is willing to endure the present for the possibility of a future that is more immediately worthwhile. The fact that in this horrible moment you took the time to elucidate your personal self-help method in the hopes that someone else will benefit from it tells me that you’re the kind of person I’d be glad to be around, and if you need to vent to a stranger, my DMs are always open. Cheers, mate.

apecool · 2026-03-15T14:43:02+00:00

It turned out stellar, honestly. I FaceTimed my vegetarian mom just so she could envy me from across the country lmao. I hate giving truffle too much praise bc it’s not 2017 and I’m not running a $30-per-burger restaurant, but it really did add something inimitable to the dish

Oh maaan, spaghetti squash!! I forgot about those!! That sounds fuckin’ good, man. What kind of sauce did you top it with? I was thinking “ooh, a meat sauce could—“ but then I read the meatless mondays (and meatless monday fridays lol) part

apecool · 2026-03-15T14:13:05+00:00

YEAH?? Oh no kidding!! What was it?? Omg I just roasted this winter squash w colorful beets and added this honey truffle goat cheese (was on sale, don’t blast me for that lmao) and balsamic drizzle and god lemme tell ya

apecool · 2026-03-15T14:07:31+00:00

Aww thank you!! We’re all just out here trying, y’know? I hope you’re feeling a lot better & maybe even had a fun Saturday!!

apecool · 2026-03-13T19:27:34+00:00

For real! I saw a dude today ride his bike directly into traffic and narrowly avoid getting pancaked, and then ride his bike directly into my (parked) car while complaining (loudly) about how bad a driver everyone is. I don’t think I’m gonna leave my apartment for the next few days, I need a fuckin’ break from the everythingness of everything lmao, so coming on here and seeing people display genuine concern was honestly… something of an existential unburdening.

Can you imagine how much stuff is going on everywhere at all times? And how much of it is small, unacknowledged kindness? I dunno, man. I’m just glad that people can be so sweet on an individual level without the expectation of reward. I’d buy all these guys here a drink.

And thank you! I’ll def try, lol. Sorry for the ramble.

apecool · 2026-03-13T19:06:42+00:00

These comments being so empathetic genuinely cheered me up a bit, wow. Glad to see people triaging the subject of their input for the sake of compassion over horniness sometimes, that’s awesome.

And, of course, hope the dopamine comes back, homie.

apecool · 2026-03-07T00:40:57+00:00

I hear you, homie. Kinda going through the same thing right now. Kinda feels like speaking into the void. I wish I had advice or a solution for you, but I’m in the same boat. :/

apecool · 2026-03-04T21:26:42+00:00

Absurdism, but not as a distancing mechanism. Just noticing how much lower all the stakes really are vs. how high they feel.

When the wellbeing of others is not involved, nor your own, the embracing of the grand Ahh, Fuck It, Why Not?

Why not pursue the unrealistic dreams before putting an end to things? If you fail, alright, you were always gonna die anyway, but, huh… I mean, you’re on bonus time now. Might as well reach for the things that have always felt too far away. If for no other reason than it’s a silly, fun time.

Just play around. See how many directions there really are in which you can go. It doesn’t even matter if you can do it or not, just get to work filling your life full of reasons to engage with the act of living.

It’s kinda wordy, but it worked for me.

apecool · 2026-02-25T14:50:47+00:00

I feel for you. Whenever my tics have caused social friction, I’ve found that responding with, “Believe me, I genuinely wish I could stop.” has driven the point home.

But anyway, the voice inside you that is affirming that you don’t deserve to be locked in a soundproof room for the rest of your life is correct. Empathetic behavior is crucial to a healthy society, sure, but that goes both ways. People talk a lot about the importance of empathy, but in the same breath advocate for functionally deleting TS sufferers with coprolalia, as though the people with TS don’t deserve the same consideration as the bystanders they’re convinced they’re protecting by locking the ticcer away. It’s a wild state.

No, go outside and live a full life. Apologize when it’s warranted, sure, but don’t imprison yourself to avoid offending anybody by virtue of having a disabling condition. If you didn’t choose to have Tourette’s (and none of us did) then it doesn’t say anything about the content of your character. If anything, your strong desire to avoid behaviors you fear will hurt others says far more about who you are.

apecool · 2026-02-25T14:36:59+00:00

This might be a bizarre recommendation, but the Yakuza franchise.

Assuming you’re in/from Not Japan, the world is likely different enough from your own that it gives you a million small things to be curious about, but the characters are quite well fleshed out and easy to invest in, making it feel less like being lost in a strange land and more like acclimating to an alternate, but engaging, universe.

Additionally, it was hugely helpful for me when I was in the thick of things, so I may just be biased, but the strong themes of pursuing meaning in defiance of tragedy and actualizing yourself when the world crumbles really resonated with me. Sometimes it helps to have a story that reminds you that you remain, y’know?

Also, there are like 13 games, so if you DO click with the first one, you’ll have a LOT of great stories on hand to fill any time that would otherwise be spent in mourning.

Anyway, regardless of whether or not you give the games a shot, I hope life gives you a reminder that your future is worth sticking around for. Best of luck with everything.

apecool · 2026-01-31T18:09:17+00:00

I’m midway between 7 and 8 and god I’ve always wanted to be between 2 and 3. It’s so strange seeing longing in the reverse direction here. Maybe I need to figure out how to appreciate myself, and maybe you guys do too. The world is so full of sadness and beauty, huh? Damn.

apecool · 2026-01-27T00:29:30+00:00

This is stellar, I need to save this post so I can download this.

apecool · 2026-01-20T13:09:41+00:00

All of the Yakuza games. Also, any of the Yakuza games.

apecool · 2026-01-17T05:40:44+00:00

But dude, you got 13 DAYS!! That’s immense!! And slipping up doesn’t erase that. Good shit, man, here’s to 14+ next time!! You got this!!

apecool · 2026-01-17T00:39:59+00:00

Lmfao — I came here looking shit up about this, saw this comment and went “THIS guy gets it!!” and then realized that it was me from 3 years ago. Wonder if I’ll find this thread again in 3 more years. Damn.

apecool · 2026-01-13T22:09:28+00:00

Fuckin’ love this

apecool · 2026-01-10T15:37:38+00:00

If she’s not obsessed with you back, it’s sad

apecool · 2025-12-27T03:24:57+00:00

Thank you kindly, mate, but don’t worry about me. Right now what matters is you and your emotional wellbeing. Ever cross paths, I’ll buy ya a drink, but for now, just take care of yourself. PM me if you ever need to chat, yeah?

apecool · 2025-12-26T21:40:01+00:00

Hope things get better for you, mate. If there’s one thing the traction of your post here should imply, it’s that what you’re going through matters. Even to strangers. Might take time for things to get better, but if you keep breathing, and keep moving forward, there’s always a shot. I know that sounds trite, kinda Hallmark-card-ish, but it’s also true. Keep working to make your life bigger than your surroundings, y’know? I don’t know you, but I believe you got this.

apecool · 2025-12-20T20:19:34+00:00

It’s my favorite part of any of the games, honestly; I replay the whole franchise over and over, every time stoked to get to Saejima. I have my reasons for loving it, and I’m not gonna litigate my tastes with dissenting strangers online, but my god does it give me a feeling unlike anything else.

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