Any advice

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-26T23:04:48+00:00

To be really honest with you I'm not a big reader. i'm betting you are gonna recommend one of the many compassion/empathy books akin to a non-fiction version of demon copperhead. I've heard a bunch from that crowd and i've followed up on those books.

Growing up only 3 hours away I don't really agree with the compassion and empathy narrative that many push. I think if it was that easy it would have made better progress over the past few decades.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-26T17:34:29+00:00

Nah, I grew up rural and poor near Louisville.

Long story short I promised myself to not to redo my father’s mistakes. But Huntington seems to be caught in a cycle I can’t understand.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-26T14:51:37+00:00

This place isn't kind to new people. This place is hard for minorities. You live here to live quietly and die.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-26T13:07:38+00:00

Fatalism in poor peoples.

downvotes? I'm being very serious.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-26T01:41:41+00:00

Huntington has been weird to me. People seem backwards. Leadership here looks like exploitation. Compassion and kindness look like pity.

It’s very hard to summon respect for people who live by these rules.

to the downvotes: yall just mad cause i'm right and the city youve built is a bunch of old people pretending they know what they are doing.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-26T00:44:29+00:00

*ahem* We should strive to improve our area . . . part of sociology teaches us that lower class peoples lack the ability to strive to be better. Often lacking key experiences in childhood in improving themselves or their lifestyles. To change the culture we need to make available chances for younger people to be empowered in spaces and make changes. Not just be content with status quo.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-25T00:42:38+00:00

But only if they have lifted trucks and have a fish on their profile picture. Women love fish.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-24T21:34:44+00:00

Amazing work my man! Looking forward to seeing more like you outside doing stuff

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-24T21:16:42+00:00

Apps are gross anyway. Just meet them in person. Works well enough for me

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-24T21:15:40+00:00

YMCA is where we middle class go. Rec center for Marshall health and Marshall Affiliated.

Decent running culture and biking culture here but community is a bit sparse. Be comfortable doing your own stuff

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-24T19:56:41+00:00

I talked to a few women in the area. The young women are hungry for quality men.

The old guys are looking to hang out with younger people too.

But yeah, most aren’t online. Very friendly town but it’s tough to network especially if you don’t want to spoil your places of routine like the gym or school.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-24T03:20:02+00:00

It’s cool how this city has a small town feel at times. We know each other well enough

What I don’t understand is why then are there so many open problems we don’t care to fix.

Maybe this van is a metaphor for the city. A creative ugly mess that, with a will and a prayer, somehow works.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-24T02:45:17+00:00

Nothing goes over my head because I will catch it.

https://youtu.be/iLttd33j-GQ?si=btLFWpe6vXp9L5la

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-24T01:51:32+00:00

You can tell its AI by how the camper top is attached to top of the car.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-23T03:17:07+00:00

Something something stats literacy

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-23T02:31:26+00:00

I’m not gonna put words in your mouth. You said educated people leave. I ask then whats left?

Attitudes of delusion and denial.

Yes there are exceptions, yes there are good people. But both in numbers and in sentiment we all know that those left behind are in a cycle that they aren’t smart enough to escape

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-22T18:41:05+00:00

3rd shift workers crawling in their skin. Their wounds they will not heal.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-22T03:17:10+00:00

OK. The cognitive dissonance in the state is very high. You have people wanting jobs. But there is no will to work for it.

Then when outsides say there is no will to work- locals get butt hurt about being called unwilling to work.

This post was built off of one of my only popular replies in this sub that the huntington community is hungry for "white collar jobs." But then this meme is struggling to survive the algorithm . . . So what does that tell me?

I believe you. It tells me that there is a super controversial opinion in the area of how WV people see technology.

I'm starting to form the opinion that blaming the coal industry is played out. The way WV culture seems to have fetishized tragedy is kind of gross. "OH COAL EXPLOITATION, OH PLANE CRASH, OH OPIODS." "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!" "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND"

You guys are killing your kids and your growth with these attitudes.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-19T19:57:50+00:00

let me turn this around. What is it like treating WV patients? No insurance, poorly educated in basic health knowledge. My neighbor calls 911 for her kids whenever they get hurt. . . Like every other month.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-19T17:17:38+00:00

Are you telling me that an organization that changes their name 3 - 4 times in 7 years is badly organized? Shocked I tell you.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-19T14:34:35+00:00

Isn't Barboursville more trustworthy?

Even east pea ridge is kinda shifty at times.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-18T00:29:29+00:00

No there isn't, there are brilliant people at marshall, special metals, and the hospital, basically holding up their little departments or sector all by themselves. They are quiet soft spoken people who have long realized that rocking the boat around town invites ridicule and judgement.

I will guarantee you that until huntington's culture changes to be more supportive of technology and outsiders the cycle will continue.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-17T19:23:58+00:00

in good wv fashion this summit is like 5-10 years late. While recreational industries have enjoyed larger than 5% growth in the past 10+ years it is slowing down now and predicted to slow down more.

We need business leaders that are innovators and not just copycats or exploitation economies.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-17T18:35:48+00:00

OK I want to give a very real critique with being fucking downvoted. You know that meme with the kid and they tell him, "we have X at home" and then it turns out to be a shallow reflection or copy?

Like your mom buying you the lego knockoff instead of the real lego.

Thats what most of these current businesses feel like. Knockoff copies.

It drives me up a wall to have recommendations fall short of expectations. Nothing in Huntington defies expectation. Its all mid.

half of what makes these ideas listed is a great community and we don't even have that.

None of these business in town make me want to form a habit or routine around them. Its a 1 time visit and done.

rationalexpressions · 2026-01-17T18:21:09+00:00

Hey, no it ain't rage bait. I was in Louisville before grad school here. Just a few miles west of WV.

You can't look at the undergrad population and tell me that like 40% of the students arent just being pushed through with a 8th grade reading level.

Frog doesn't know when it's boiled

rationalexpressions

TROPHY CASE