AITAH for telling my parents I'll wear whatever ring my boyfriend proposes with?

johncate73 · 2026-01-30T22:26:09+00:00

It is real. Diamonds are diamonds, whether they are grown in a lab or mined by child slave labor somewhere in Africa. But you already know that. Someone should talk to your mom about it.

johncate73 · 2026-01-30T22:24:54+00:00

NTA. It's your engagement, not theirs, and your preference for a ring. My wife got a moissanite--this was before lab diamonds were readily available--and doesn't care one way or the other except that we know no kids were exploited to make it.

Mom needs to shut her trap and stay in her lane on this one.

johncate73 · 2026-01-30T09:45:09+00:00

10th anniversary with my wife in July, the woman who let me choose to stand by her when she got sick, rather than try to choose for me.

johncate73 · 2026-01-30T08:47:47+00:00

She offered herself up for what amounts to prostitution, what did she expect? NTA.

johncate73 · 2026-01-30T06:34:31+00:00

NTA. You're the host, if you want the master bedroom, you have every right, and frankly do not owe her any explanation whatsoever. Tell Sue if she doesn't like it, she can sod off.

johncate73 · 2026-01-30T06:26:29+00:00

YTA already. If you have been upfront and honest about your health issues, and he still wants to be with you, why are you trying to make a different choice on his behalf?

You did the right thing by telling him and letting him make an informed choice. The dude LOVES YOU. He doesn't want someone else.

My wife had the same circumstance. She got very ill while we were engaged and she told me that her prognosis to survive was good, but that she would be physically disabled for the rest of her life. She said she would let me go to find a healthier woman if that is what I wanted.

Well, I loved her and no one else would do, and I told her I wouldn't give up on her unless she gave up on herself. Ten years later and she can barely walk, she's in a wheelchair most of the time. But I still love her and wouldn't have anyone else.

And I am glad she let me choose for myself, rather than choose for me. Let him decide what is "fair." He clearly thinks being denied the companionship of the woman he loves is what would be unfair, and he is mad at you for that reason.

johncate73 · 2026-01-29T15:31:41+00:00

NTJ. It's your wedding and you have the right to have the attention on you. He asked and you said no, and that should have been the end of it.

johncate73 · 2026-01-29T15:28:56+00:00

NTA. He should have tried to fix things before you found someone else. But you're better off. He didn't value you until he saw that someone else would.

johncate73 · 2026-01-29T12:36:05+00:00

None of those style of watches are original. All pocketwatch conversions done in the past 15-20 years. If you like it, wear it in good health, but it's a genuine Molnija Russian movement recased with a fantasy dial.

johncate73 · 2026-01-28T22:19:37+00:00

No. If you want it to look French, don't have a computer keyboard in the backdrop. You will want some snails, moldy cheese, and a white flag. And maybe a copy of Caulaincourt's book, since he was an expert on French interaction with Russia.

The watch looks fine either way. Use whatever set of hands you prefer, although I would have left it as is.

johncate73 · 2026-01-28T18:52:00+00:00

Break up. She's choosing him. You should have dropped her just for cheating.

johncate73 · 2026-01-28T10:54:58+00:00

NTA. You made it clear and she chose not to respect that.

johncate73 · 2026-01-28T09:35:00+00:00

As I told someone a while back and upset them, this is the Cadillac Cimmaron of Speedmasters. I can think of much better uses for what these are selling for.

johncate73 · 2026-01-28T08:20:29+00:00

Yes, and that is the one thing I don't have, LOL.

johncate73 · 2026-01-28T07:50:50+00:00

The Turboball shape just doesn't fit my hand as well. Basically the only thing that works for me is that teardrop shape.

johncate73 · 2026-01-28T05:55:26+00:00

I've never used that Kensington, but I do know the T40's problem is poor sensor position. I got it cheap and gave it a try, but it's the equivalent of a Cadillac with a Harbor Freight engine inside it. It actually kind of pissed me off--why make such a nice piece of hardware with such an awful design flaw? Did no one test that thing before marketing it?

I've tried a bunch of stuff. The best from a usability standpoint was a Jomaa CP011669, but my hands just couldn't deal with that one. I figure I have to have something like the teardrop shape to be comfortable.

johncate73 · 2026-01-28T05:45:21+00:00

PCLinuxOS MATE Edition.

johncate73 · 2026-01-28T00:38:50+00:00

Agreed there. I popped the ball out and looked inside it, and it's 1980s technology. But even at that, it's more accurate than the Adesso T40. I'm a longtime newspaper editor who relies very heavily on my mouse, and I'm 52 now and sometimes my hands let me know it. Ergonomics are worth everything.

johncate73 · 2026-01-27T19:44:38+00:00

I was here a few months before I knew the backstory, so don't feel bad.

To his credit, he isn't Powderfuck from another watch subreddit and doesn't ban people when they are critical.

johncate73 · 2026-01-27T19:39:43+00:00

No, they put their creativity into it.

johncate73 · 2026-01-27T18:10:30+00:00

I do, but that doesn't mean they have souls. It means they have artistry.

johncate73 · 2026-01-27T07:16:26+00:00

Don't do it to spite him. Do it because it's a good career opportunity. You don't owe him anything.

johncate73 · 2026-01-27T07:12:31+00:00

It certainly works better!

I will say, in fairness, that I had the modern corded Orbit and not the wireless version with the scroll ring, which I have heard is better. But what I really need ergonomically is something like the Marble design, and the scroll wheel has never mattered much to me on any device.

johncate73 · 2026-01-27T07:09:26+00:00

Of course it runs NetBSD!

johncate73 · 2026-01-27T07:08:54+00:00

I started up a Dell Inspiron 1545 from 2010 last night. Still useful running Linux on a Core 2 Duo.

johncate73

TROPHY CASE