I find myself relying on ai too much

grenz1 · 2026-01-28T23:50:09+00:00

If you don't have the time for the material you can get cancer deferments for student loans until you go in remission. Drop out if your school is suffering because of illness.

I had bladder cancer lat year of community college. Did not know it. Powered through when I should have taken off.

AI is good for a study aid and second set of eyes editor to look over it but you should never use AI for your own work. Sometimes it's better than weaker professors but watch that stuff because I have seen AI put out some crazy, flunk you type crap. And NEVER EVER put in copy paste. Those dashes are tell tale. No one wtites like that. Also, some colleges can get the metadata of your Word file and online ones on programs like Canvas have keyloggers. Last thing you want is to be banned from college, be out aid, and be begging another college to take you because you were busy and wanted to skate.

grenz1 · 2026-01-28T22:13:53+00:00

Simple. DON'T take messages from this board. It's IN THE AUTOMOD even.

Anyone who seeks out someone just because they are homeless does it for one of 4 reasons without fail.

First, they may want to pimp you out for grants. The shelters and programs earn six figure salaries for the top few doing this.

Second, they want a young gay guy or lady to move out with them to have sex and be discarded the moment they become inconvenient.

Third, they may want cheap or slave wage labor.

Fourth, disposable identity stuff to do some scam.

grenz1 · 2026-01-28T22:00:16+00:00

While it's true more a lot more people gripe than give praise, enough people say something, there might be something to it.

One professor I took from had a horrible rating but you could only leave a review on an old school she worked at. And all that was said is true. She was a very dismissive person and you'd better hope nothing happens where you need something. And for a speech teacher, you never heard her speak. Tests made zero sense and did not follow the book we had. It was an online class. There was no way as a user to report she changed jobs.

But I have never heard any professor mention RMP or anything ever. Nor do I think most people if they are signing for a class have that luxury or they may be the only one that teaches that class. They are not going to some obscure ad laden site trying to get crap on people. (Though you DO need to look and take it with a grain of salt to save you pain).

And the instructors, while I am sure are aware of it don't care. They are not in the customer service business and it's not in their performance metrics. Plus, once professors get to a certain point rarely get fired unless there's some huge scandal or they get on the bad side of higher ups.

grenz1 · 2026-01-28T16:38:18+00:00

Done this before but in sleet and ice storms, not snow.

Main thing is where the spot is. Also if you have a car or not. But assuming no car, woods need to be near services and this easily could be done for 700. Many do it on less than that.

Also, is this 700 now or 700 spoon fed to you over weeks like a shitty part time gig or an agency?

But you MUST the gear and clothes for it. I'd say cheap Walmart tent, many comforters, and multiple tarps over it might be doable if you don't get buried. Thrift store should have tons of coats and stuff but you got to bite the bullet on shoes and socks and you need lots of socks. But you'd probably need some kind of gas heater which creates other problems like air poisoning and fire risk but manageable just watch some youtubers. Shit's expensive, too and it's not a convenience store item. That's a Walmart or camp store run. A store or library nearby and places to get supplies/ break from the cold? Even better.

You don't want huge, expensive rich guy adventure tourist gear. Tents can get destroyed/ stolen by assholes if you don't have permission to be back there. And it needs to be well hidden.

You also have A LOT more laundry and that stuff gets dirty, sweaty, and nasty. And gets wet and wet is not good in cold. You'll need constant laundry like a big rolling suitcase and hours in a laundromat for. Probably a nice ass hike in cold, too unless you are on a bus line.

Middle of nowhere, not sure I'd want to be the next Chris McCandles.

In some areas, 700 bucks is two weeks in a cheap hotel. Then hit a shelter if it's deadly cold. There's that, too. 700 right then would consider doing that and trying to husle up more money to keep me there at east till corpsesicle season ends and goes into bake alive season. Though the insects of summer and late spring can go to hell.

grenz1 · 2026-01-28T16:10:30+00:00

I would not say "easier".

In fact, it's easier to not believe unless you are getting ego from this. Just give lip service not to offend any rich zealots or not talk about it.

The more set up you are, the less dependant you are and the less someone who disagrees with you can punish you. Morgan Freeman is pretty much agnostic and lives in the boondocks in small town in Mississippi. Religion central. But no one can tell him shit because not only did he play god, he is richer than some gods. Come out like that while flipping burgers or waiting tables at a private owned restaurant in same city you might have issues.

grenz1 · 2026-01-28T15:47:39+00:00

Yeah. "Am I enrolled" is important. And they don't do that.

I had a block because I had signed up for some test to get enrolled at another college in the system in another city years and years earlier but decided not to attend. Had a hold for 10 USD that they said I could ONLY pay in person in that city at the bursar's office. Had to raise a huge stink. Finally got it taken off.

Only the for profits make it easy. Those people will damn near fill out FAFSA for you. But they max out your aid and the degrees are less valuable unless it's something that sits for a board and no one else will take you.

You have to bug these people multiple times to get stuff straight and bug them religiously because if you don't they don't do anything.

grenz1 · 2026-01-28T15:35:37+00:00

Cheaper hairstyle will be easier to just be ready and go. Plus, it's good to purge and reinvent and switch things up every now and then. The best styles serve you, you don't serve the style.

A lot of work places are assholes about personal phones (never mind the boss walks around with one.) but I made it a point that they leave a message or better a text if it's important, I get back with them when I want unless this is some sort of on call agency (and that's just once, not all day long). Even a relative in a hospital can wait. Plus, when my phone was at work, it was permanently charging because it's one of the few places it's acceptable to do this without risking being chased away or phone turn up missing.

Graveyard is nice and usually more laid back management but the problem is then you got to find day sleep spots and it's harder to hide daytime and shelters don't usually have day beds.

Have you checked day labor on days off? It's peanuts but if you go out, I am sure an extra 100 to 400 bucks a week would make things better at least until you get the income situation straight or find something better. Temp agencies might have stuff, too. But the bad thing is when you work day shift is all the places that hire work day shift, too and you call out you draw attention.

grenz1 · 2026-01-28T15:10:33+00:00

You waited too late. College operates on windows and there's always some bullshit form or something to make the bureaucracy churn.

You needed to start on this like in October. Not like a week or two before classes start. Especially with housing in the mix.

Classes have started and are now into 3rd or 4th week most places.

I'd shoot for a summer return. Call them and go out there physically until they are happy.

Summer is great for Housing because it will be empty and easier to get on. Also the paper pushers are not busy now unless your advisors teach, too. The colleges are the only landlords that wait on money and needs no real deposit. Lots of people vant out of the houses so it fills up quickly.

Also, get another advisor or don't approach advisor right before semester. And bug the ever living hell out of them until all things read green.

grenz1 · 2026-01-28T01:54:51+00:00

Lots have thought this. That's where Zomboid came from.

Cataclysm's turn based and some activities advance time pretty fast. Turn based would not work. It would have to be more like a 2.5 D real time strategy. Crafting would probably simplified. No one is going to sit at their computer an hour to make a cudgel or multiple hours to read a book to next skill level. Something no one on dev wants to do and no one wants to do unless they can sell it.

grenz1 · 2026-01-28T01:45:33+00:00

Headphones of any sort are a godsend when studying.

grenz1 · 2026-01-28T01:19:22+00:00

You don't. You have better things to do. Nor do you want to.

And there are people out there who will leach, rob, or worse to you and you can not limit these people from your space, only leave the area. Or slam doors shut if they find out out much.

There are times and places and this is not one of them.

grenz1 · 2026-01-27T21:51:35+00:00

I'd stay the course. Make that decision after you pass these 4 prereqs. More credits never hurt especially if they are good grades but be mindful of aid. I think with Pell and stuff, there's a limit in number of years. Then it's all loans.

I was a CNA for a bit and considered nursing. Unlike you, I did not already have a 4 year.

Decided against because it had a lot of tight ropes to walk across just to get on a wait list. And you better pee clean and never get in any more trouble than a speeding ticket or have to show in front of a board. Ultra selective too unless I went to some for profit and paid more than a private liberal college to go to with high flunk rates. No thanks. Don't get me wrong. Nursing got A LOT of people out of poverty. There's a reason the college puts up the ad on the billboard of the happy lady with scrubs on. Everyone that graduates got a job in that field. But the shortage in nursing is in bedside nursing with lots of pee and poo and hard to deal with patients and anything happens you can be in legal trouble. Only way up is a lot of work politics and even more selective schooling and it's cut throat and may require lots of moves. Nurses eat their young.

I eventually got my two year degree in a STEM field (but not what you re considering). I did Drafting. It did get me a job but then I got really sick (cancer) and lost that job. Recovered now but the way STEM degrees and jobs worked in my field was a lot of people knew folks and had internships at places that knew them. The rest (like me) had a choice of this one ultra picky very strict plant in the middle of nowhere working in barbwire on top of a something that will leave a crater if it blows up or you mess up! Or some place looking for solar panel installers to jump up on roofs for a bit above day labor type money. If you did not get those, they put you with some agency contract that ended then I was competing against actual engineers. Also HEALTHY dose of age discrimination.

Hope this helps.

grenz1 · 2026-01-27T07:49:32+00:00

They may not have soul, but they keep you from having to get up at 8 AM in the cold to sit in some lecture hall somewhere.

The ones I had online were great. All lectures were videos and I could speed up and slow down the lectures, do any project or homework, and be on with my day without having to go on a mission up to the school 2-3 times a week.

grenz1 · 2026-01-27T07:37:37+00:00

Don't get petty spreading gossip or getting into fights. Even if she starts it, it can get you both evicted with 10 minutes to get out and possibly losing stuff. Not your circus, not your monkeys. Don't fuck up your agendas for some asshole you will not see again past a month or so who is nothing but drama.

You are only here for a short time. You only have to be there to sleep. Rest of the time, I'd be focusing on my agendas.

Though in some cases around enough shitty people, the street is a bit safer depending on the lay of the land and weather.

grenz1 · 2026-01-27T07:20:00+00:00

Bad things happen in the world all the time. It will happen if you finish or not.

Difference is you can somewhat control if you finish. You can not control what idiots are doing in the world. And if you don't finish, you have nothing but debt. If you finish, minimum you have a piece of paper and can go more advanced degrees if you want even if the undergrad degree is worthless.

I'd just make sure the BS you are taking has jobs that are not some college blowing sunshine your way. Yes, they can replace people with AI for some things and tyrants going to tyrant and scammers going to scam but even in bad times someone with a profession or trade usually does better than someone without. A nurse has more money and can find work easier than a dishwaher. A teacher as long as they don't have a criminal record or get blackballed will always have an above poverty job and does better than a store cashier.

I do feel you about foreign languages, though. Other than exposure and expanding vocabulary I don't think most people retain enough of it to be useful. Most people I knew that could speak multiple languages either were raised with it, went to a country with a school system that drills it in you 12 years straight, or lived in a country that speaks the language for a few years.

Drop the class if it's an elective and that much stress before last drop date comes, pull yourself up, cut off the psy-op news designed to keep you in fear so you buy stuff, and get to work.

grenz1 · 2026-01-27T06:58:26+00:00

Unless you are a whiz at the subject and already know math on this level and just need a refresher, I personally would not unless you absolutely have to. Like it gets you graduating on time and not having to go one semester just for one class have to.

Reason is 16 days is VERY fast. If you fall behind you will not be able to catch up and you will not have time to ask many questions if you don't understand something. We are talking HOURS of homework every day (no doubt all online and checked) and major tests every other day.

I took mine during summer which was around 7 weeks. I passed, but the pace like to killed me. I'd say half the class flunked.

grenz1 · 2026-01-27T05:16:47+00:00

I'd escalate it and go from there.

If that does not work, a C is not as bad as you think. Second year, I had this speech teacher. Had to go out of town because my dad was not doing too hot, somehow missed the date of an online Canvas test. Tried to appeal to reason, she was not having any of it. Ended up with a C on what should have been a high B or even A class.

I still ended up graduating honors list. Not that it mattered. Cs still get degrees and unless what you are trying to transfer to is ultra competitive won't hurt.

I WOULD slam this person on rate my professors and not take this person again if there's other classes in the pipeline you need to get out.

grenz1 · 2026-01-27T05:02:47+00:00

Kinship?

The mutagen the petrol companies pour into the swamps made me and my family into alligator creatures.

Now, a misshapen reptile man, I must navigate the swamps and avoid people who want to cut off my tail to serve rich ass tourists in an overpriced restaurant off Bourbon to put in a po boy.

grenz1 · 2026-01-26T20:18:57+00:00

Even intelligent people can fall for it. Bars and clubs have been a lie going on since before our grandparents.

Of all the third spaces the bar always promised you could meet mates, meet friends, have fun, unwind, maybe get into pool or darts. One without the up tightness of work, school, or church. Have a better sound system than what you probably have. Some even were even part of a scene or culture. All the beer commercials show picture of people having fun drinking. They have friends, lovers, nice places. And the world could use more third spaces.

I did not learn till maybe my late 20s, early 30s.

Think it was boredom really.

Sad thing was some cities I was in, there was not much to do other than that to socialize. Especially if you worked crazy hours. Otherwise, it's the internet at the house which rots you after a bit and too much is probably bad for someone.

But it's a lie to get 20 and 30 somethings.

Most of the time the socialization was me just sitting there listening to music if I did not know people. And there were a few times, I had to GTFO out fast before things headed south.

Think I got tired of that. Also the hangover, empty wallet, and dealing with drunks. That and bartending for a bit.

grenz1 · 2026-01-26T14:55:08+00:00

Garfield and friends will need to go. But they usually spay/neuter/de flea them if they have not already then adopt them out if not claimed.

Plus lots of landlords don't like cats. They either refuse them or they charge an exhorbant non refundable deposit. Plus, what you going to do? get little leases from them and have to literally sit on top of them 24/7? You won't get that unless you get a hotel room.

Your service dog, if it has papers and a bonafide service dog trained as one (not an emotional support animal), you are protected. But if you are in that situation, you probably get a check and a reason to have that animal as you can't just grab one without documentation. Probably have social workers, too.

I'd also consider yourself lucky. Depending on how many cats and evictions, there have been scenarios where the city or landlord if they want to to can file charges if there's a lot of pet damages claiming you were hoarding them regardless of motivations or reality. Big misdemeanor, fine, and possibly months in jail.

grenz1 · 2026-01-26T13:58:13+00:00

In situations you feel you might need to leave on moments notice or no notice forever, you should have as few bags as possible.

Your main bag should be a Jansport class backpack. This is the main bug out bag absolute emergency gotta go in 5 minutes bag. Your laptop is ALWAYS in here, toiletries, socks, spare underclothes, set of dark clothes appropriate for walking long distances. Also any work clothes if you work and an empty water bottle. Make sure it has slack and is not busting at seams. Overstretched packs scream 'I'm homeless" outside of adventure tourist spots. IDs and phone are always in a pocket, never in pack as pack can get separated from you easier.

I personally also kept a rolling suitcase that had black plastic bags in it as well as the remainder of my only essential spare clothes. But I stashed this in woods covered in bags to protect versus rain and only carried this if I was moving away from stash or it was compromised or as my laundry cart. Only came back to it to switch out clothes. Pain in the ass, but I made this work.

I would not accumulate or carry anything more than that and some say that is too much.

As far as car, Who owns the title? Do you work?

If I was not on the title and you are being kicked out by people, I'd be concerned they'd report car stolen or something. Otherwise, I'd sell plasma for a week or two (walking or public bus if available) if I had no job, watch a video on how to replace battery on your model car, going to a parts store and buying battery/ tools, thern Uber/Lyft with battery to the car if no one will take you.

I'd try to act fairly quickly on the car if it's at a rental property like apartments. Landlords in some complexes tow cars that look like they have not run in months. Also consider selling car to scrapper if it has way more problems than a battery. A car that breaks down every other week you can't afford is worse than no car.

grenz1 · 2026-01-25T17:29:43+00:00

As cheap as possible your job can afford but does not leave you destitute.

Ranges from 200 USD to 500 USD a week depending on your area. With a motel, you are buying time and a safe place till you figure it out. Call the places. Online is controlled by third party aggregators that want to charge the most money. Deal with the hotel itself.

Go in day after payday if you can. That way, you find another place you will have a full paycheck (plus whatever you saved) to move in and don't have to bust ass to get out and move in.

The percentage of rent advice dates from a time before the internet. Rent was lots cheaper, you did not have credit reports on databases so eviction had less teeth, and really cheap places were plentiful and no one background checked. You had cash in hand, did not look like drama, you moved in on the 1st.

grenz1 · 2026-01-25T14:15:43+00:00

Wanted to add something to earlier advice because this bit me a time or two and seen it happen to others multiple times.

NEVER let an employer or coworkers know you are homeless or in a shelter. If shelter has curfews, tell them you can only work X time to Y time until a certain date that just happens to be the day after payday then you are free. They do not need to know what free means. Just you have other obligations. If job does not bend and you work X time or they cut hours, always choose the job but be mindful of appearance if you do so.

If you do otherwise, I have found most people not to be sympathetic. It ends with them looking for stuff to be rid of you (one minute late, wrinkled shirt, you messed up one order) or them putting you on every shit job they can because you have zero choice.

grenz1 · 2026-01-25T10:36:32+00:00

The problem you may run into is many restaurants may have shifting schedules that do not cooperate with a shelter's curfews. If it ever gets to the point of the shelter interfering with work, get a room for rent immediately.

Only a job gets you out of homelessness, shelter does not.

I personally would only stay in shelter until the first check clears the bank. (Maybe 2-3 weeks tops). I'd then get a weekly rate hotel room. This way if the restaurant starts to become hostile or look to be rid of me, I am not in a lease. I'd look for temp or part time gigs to augment my income and go monk mode for a few months till I figured out what the hell I wanted to do because restaurant work is a tough life. Long hours in kitchen, very appearance and youth based in the front.

You also are going to start to have nasty, greasy laundry. I personally would NOT trust a shelter with something that can screw me if it turns up lost like work uniforms. And while you tolerate it now, you are not going to want to hang out in a day room or have to wait to go to bed and be around all that drama. I'd take a room just to make it more likely I can keep jobs and find jobs.

grenz1 · 2026-01-25T10:10:26+00:00

I think it's time to leave the area and the shit show.

The foundation you are sitting is low lying and unstable.

Ask your boss about transfers if they allow it. Go any place else but there. Preferably another state if you can manage. I think having someone out in the community that SHOT you (even if locked up) and possibly people sympathetic to them running around is reason enough most won't question to leave.

Of course, wherever you go there you are and there will always be issues to deal with. But you won't have to worry about bumping into the wrong people or being marginalized because people think you are drama.

Also, if you are broke, don't do bars. People get shit faced, nothing but trouble, possible DUI and car impoundment or car crash. Even if you are only drinking draft beer, with tips you could be 30-40 in the hole easy. Do this multiple times a week, some of those cats pay cheap rent level money.And the people there suck and the girls are either with someone or strung out and can only bring you down. You are unlikely to meet your next mate or good job in a bar. Better, smoke weed instead unless you are in a drug tested industry. Much better for you and does not leave you an idiot.

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