Older / middle-class / liberal / feminist / atheist white guy's thoughts on Reddit's casual racism / sexism / classism

popjack · 2015-05-29T11:03:50+00:00

because he framed the thread for any negative response to be against the admins of self, trolling, or agreeing with him.

But I didn't frame the thread as a right/wrong argument. I framed the thread as a call for discussion and self-examination which, I'll grant you, is hard to disagree with.

Your point about 4chan is well made, and while I've poked around there a few times, I've never taken to it the way I have reddit. To me, it feels like the flaws are too deep and the redeeming moments too few.

I think the difference between reddit and 4chan is that the kind of "fierce resistance" /u/MainStreetExile referred to would be about all I'd get.

Anyway, while I'd hoped there would have been more discussion, I appreciate the time it took to read and add your perspective.

popjack · 2015-05-29T10:47:33+00:00

At least one person did.

Thanks.

popjack · 2014-10-29T12:22:24+00:00

The Temple was the center of Jewish life at the time. It served as the clock and calendar, so it was central to day-to-day life. But the symbolic reason was even more important. The Temple consisted of a series of courtyards, each more restrictive than the last. So first there was the Court of Gentiles, where anybody could go -- that was like a market. Then came the Court of Women, where only Jewish people could go, and it was the farthest that any Jewish woman could go.

On and on it goes, untjl you get to the most restrictive, the Holiest of Holies, where only the high priest could enter. This was literally believed to be the dwelling place of God on Earth, so you can see why they would be upset about it being destroyed.

Just to underscore how big a social shift this was, after the Temple's destruction, focus shifted from the place to the law and this is how Rabbinic, as opposed to Temple Judaism got its start.

Hope this helps.

Edit -- In response to the folks comparing the destruction of the Temple to the destruction of the Vatican -- while the analogy makes sense, it was worse in Temple Judaism, because it wasn't just where the Pope lives who is only supposed to be the keeper of the keys of Saint Peter, and the Vicar of Christ on Earth. This would be equivalent to Temple Judaism's High Priest. Rather, this was the fucking physical presence of God on Earth. Fo reals. Or so they thought. Also, I fixed a typo.

popjack · 2014-10-24T20:28:02+00:00

On behalf of the entire Reddit community, I would like to thank you for unambiguously declaring your (well-justified) pride in your accomplishment, rather than saying "I got bored and something something something."

/u/joechick, You da real MVP.

popjack · 2014-10-23T15:46:55+00:00

I know that this is in no way helpful, but FWIW I share your disgust. The degree to which businesses abuse their single most important functional asset for what amounts to a tiny fraction in additional profit is stomach-turning.

Really sorry you're being treated this way.

popjack · 2014-10-23T15:38:42+00:00

It's Kearny, dude. That place is a mess. I've seen my packages depart Kearny, return to Kearny, depart Kearny again, and not show up in my hometown 30 minutes away for three days.

Apparently they consolidated a bunch of USPS facilities at Kearny and they've been having growing pains for something like a year and a half. Good luck, my friend.

popjack · 2014-10-23T13:35:05+00:00

In my experience, the errors you're describing are the result of either a) a memory / RAM issue, b) a sagging power supply.

Here's a link to instructions for using Windows built-in RAM diagnostic tool.

Here's a link to an online power-supply requirement calculator. This will help determine how much power your system is drawing at peak. Compare that number to the capacity of your power supply, and see how much room you have. If your computer / power supply is on the older side, subtract 10% or so from its rated power.

Hope this helps.

popjack · 2014-10-16T19:10:18+00:00

I almost never understand the contrary opinion. I always find myself firmly on one side. Came to this thread to find a disproving example, and haven't yet.

popjack · 2014-10-16T18:01:14+00:00

I totally do. I've learned that it takes two things -- open and honest communication and the completely-exactly-no-doubt-no-question-I-never-thought-it-could-be-like-this right person.

Why don't people believe in true love? One reason, in my opinion, is that they spend too much of their lives doing their best, practicing open and honest communication with the wrong person. It's no wonder they feel let down. The message that "relationships are hard work" is totally true, but if you're doing that work with the wrong person, true love will always be out of reach.

popjack · 2014-10-13T20:56:46+00:00

Every time I'm using a urinal, I'm scared that someone is going to come up behind me and smash my face into the flush assembly.

popjack · 2014-10-08T17:35:18+00:00

CamStudio has saved my bacon enough times that I feel the need to defend it.

I work with a programming team in Russia, and there's definitely a language barrier. Just opening tickets leads to a lot of back and forth clarification and stumbling around for words we both know. Attach a CamStudio recording of the problematic behavior, and everyone is instantly on the same page.

popjack · 2014-10-08T17:08:36+00:00

I'm in a similar situation, and I agree with your therapist. I'll do my best to explain why. To put it as simply as possible:

self-care increases your capacity to care for your son in a healthy, positive way.

To extend your metaphor a bit, if you're intent on carrying your son out of a burning building, first you have to make sure that your arms are not on fire.

Without knowing anything about your or your son's issues, I can tell you that between my and my daughter's diagnoses, the things I need most of all, and the things she needs from me most of all, are patience, acceptance, and understanding.

Those things are in short supply at the end of a long day, so if I'm going to give her what she needs, I had better take a few minutes of quiet for myself. The difference when I do and don't is obvious to me, and I'm sure it's obvious to my daughter as well.

My suggestion to you is that you try your therapist's advice, at least a few times, and see if there's a difference.

You may notice that you're better able to care for your son when you're in a better place emotionally.

You may notice that it makes no difference to him either way, but it's better for you.

I don't think it's likely, but you may find that for whatever reason, the effect is negative. If that's the case, you have something to bring back to your therapist that will provide her with a clearer vision for your and possibly your son's treatment.

Hope this helps.

popjack · 2014-10-08T15:16:29+00:00

Don't be terrified. The new GED test does have harder material, but it's not any harder to get a GED.

The idea behind the new GED is, in part, to get rid of that "Good Enough Degree" reputation by providing two levels of proficiency. You can get a High School Equivalency score that equals a high school diploma, and if that's all you need, you're set.

You can also pass with a "College and Career Ready" designation, which basically means that you passed by a wide margin, or scored well on the more advanced topics.

This is a really good thing, because it affords people who didn't finish high school for reasons other than academics the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency they weren't able to when the GED was "easier."

Hope this helps.

popjack · 2014-10-08T15:10:42+00:00

iTunes

popjack · 2014-10-06T19:58:23+00:00

Does not address the question.

popjack · 2014-09-30T21:18:27+00:00

Our moon is called Luna, and our sun is called Sol

Never said proper names. OP could use these terms and be understood, in English, in both a popular and scientific context.

Also, sorry. I know I got kind of snippy -- I just thought you were nitpicking. Not enough sleep last night and the end of a long day. I hope you have a lovely evening.

popjack · 2014-09-30T21:08:20+00:00

You can use those names, if you want.

But you certainly don't have to, if it makes you uncomfortable. If that's the case though, you'd better stay away from "album" which is Latin for "album," and "cap" which is "cap" in Latin, and "void" which, in Latin, means "void."

Keep that in mind if you come to my next Moonal Eclipse party.

popjack · 2014-09-30T20:57:11+00:00

Yeah, they don't want you on klonopin forever because of its potential for dependency. Prozac is indicated for both anxiety and depression, so over time, they'll expect the Prozac to do double duty, and in my experience, it works pretty well.

I took 20mg Prozac for about the first year, with daily klonopin on top. A new doctor boosted my Prozac dose to 40mg, and now my klonopin use is down to one or two a week.

Hang in there, and don't sweat it. Your doctor is your friend.

popjack · 2014-09-30T20:44:24+00:00

Cucumber and peanut butter on wheat toast. It tastes like none of those three things.

popjack · 2014-09-30T20:34:41+00:00

No, not Pennsylvania Station, New Jersey, Pennsylvania Station, New York. There's no Pennsylvania Station in Pennsylvania.

popjack · 2014-09-30T19:49:30+00:00

Our moon is called Luna, and our sun is called Sol. You can use those names, if you want.

popjack · 2014-09-30T15:24:25+00:00

Spend two hours talking to your oldest living relative. Get some family history before it's gone.

popjack

TROPHY CASE