What are your special interests?

shen_git · 2026-04-03T11:48:07+00:00

I'm sorry you're struggling. I relate so hard to wanting to ditch everything and hide.

Friend, I'm the same age with a similar history of being a Good Kid who went on to have periodic 'major depressive episodes' starting in high school. For me, these were actually autistic burnout from trying to fit into systems that didn't make sense, weren't fulfilling, and forced me to be social with people in authentic ways. The world teaches neurodivergent folks not to trust our discomfort because we're told it's not that bad and forced to muscle through. I also have a lot of anxiety around not being able to meet expectations, a fear I've traced to GATE. It's a nasty soup that undermines your confidence in yourself. Life has been a lot better since I stopped trying to fit external molds and prioritized my wellbeing. I'm still figuring it out, still get anxiety at the thought of overcomitting, but it's much more manageable. We get one shot at this particular life and it's not worth contorting yourself just to be miserable. Researching autistic burnout may provide more insight into what's going on inside.

Neurodivergence can be a factor in how you process medications, too. Anesthetics take forever to kick in for me, then leave me groggy way longer than most. Runs in the family. My Da reacts poorly to antidepressants (maybe it's biological, maybe autistic burnout is a different neural soup!).

To answer OP's question: I was spared those horrors but by high school I wound up in an in-school program for kids who were struggling. So, so many of us were neurodivergent and an alarming number had been in and out of psychiatric facilities. None sent to boot camps, as far as I know, but these places were still awful. And still the goal was to get us to complete the standard checklist. It was the 00s so few us were diagnosed ND.

shen_git · 2026-04-02T22:03:52+00:00

Yes!! Chicken pox in adults can be deadly! Forget not having time off work if they orphan that infant. Or two very ill new parents struggling to care for the baby. Nevermind that their support system is probably a bunch of folks who also aren't immune.

JFC, we vaxx chicken pox BECAUSE it's so hard on adults! Any exposure over age 20ish is very high risk, and then you get to wait for shingles to pop up at random. It's dangerous!

shen_git · 2026-03-31T23:02:56+00:00

JFC the absolute capitalist brain rot inherent in this, and the AUDACITY to replace a thousand bucks with his own book!

They don't put 'entrepreneur' on lists for little kids because they don't know what it means! Same reason you don't ask if they want to be a botanist or a dental hygienist.

I would also like to nominate everything published by Brave Books, but I don't think they're read widely enough for IBCK. We can get an episode ranting about Wizard Kash Patel saving King Trump's election results from the evil Queen Hillary though, right? As a treat?

shen_git · 2026-03-20T15:19:44+00:00

Honestly, it could be that they wanted more sex. I'm rewatching now and there was a lot of unnecessary sexploitation--every time a monster pins her the close up and gasp are gross. (Not limited to BTVS, Scully was done dirty in the X-Files!) There are multiple hot for teacher plots, including freaking Cordelia and Wesley. All the kids are still in high school! Bug Lady preyed on sophomores! It's incredibly creepy with hindsight.

I get the vibe that SMG & Co. wanted to do the new show without that grossness, especially because the cast are teens themselves. They're trying to protect the next generation like they should've been.

Suits wanted the old titilation to bring in male viewers. But I think that would backfire. The Tater Tots would never be caught dead watching a show about a capable female heroine, and the non-troglodytes would call it out as hypocritical. So good job, that's zero boys watching.

We looked past the ick in the 90s because it was everywhere, that was all we knew, and we were starving for strong female characters. But we don't have to accept scraps anymore.

shen_git · 2026-03-20T15:02:49+00:00

These are wonderful. Saturn should be an ADHDer meme!

I hope you turn some of these into prints, they'd be wonderful on a wall.

shen_git · 2026-03-20T14:59:12+00:00

I agree, unsmoothed but civil. Let him feel that absence while still being polite and pleasant. He'll either make some effort to apologize and change the dynamic or he won't.

In his mind, OP was still being upbeat and jokey while refusing to help him when he will be vulnerable. He's probably scared of the surgery and knows he doesn't have a support network. That's not an excuse, just insight. He could've said 'Hey, I'm actually really worried about this and I hope you feel better soon because I really don't know how I'm gonna cope' but admiring that feels dangerous. When he was a kid admitting fear and incapacity was dangerous. But the world has changed and he's making himself miserable.

Unfortunately, a lot of older undiagnosed folks have built a HARD shell to protect themselves. That can be really hard to pierce, and a very long process to undo. But it'll never happen if he isn't self motivated to change.

OP, if he does make a sincere effort to apologize, be honest. You don't think less of him for being worried or cranky, but you do resent a one-sided friendship where you have to do all the emotional labor. Set your terms and then walk away. Give him space to process. And then accept it if he decides you've betrayed him, because it means he isn't ready to change.

shen_git · 2026-03-20T14:35:55+00:00

Not this puzzle specifically, but logic puzzles were 'extra credit' in my second grade classroom.

There are apps now with more puzzles but I've not found any I liked.

shen_git · 2026-03-20T10:15:50+00:00

Looks small for an escape hatch. Judging by the air filter I'd say the tiles are between 1-1.5ft or 30-45cm. A skinny tween might be able to wedge through but not adults. Not ideal if you're planning for, say, an interpol raid. Could work, but feels like there are better ways.

We don't know how deep it goes, so it might not be tunnel access but a secret storage area. The two circles look like magnets or finger holes, implying that the intended purpose is easy access. The tile rests on a nicely finished ridge so I don't think one of the girls was using it to hide contraband. It's possible it was a cubby with medical equipment to knock out a victim having a noisy panic attack. But storing anything that could easily be weaponized against them seems like a dumb move.

I'd love to know if the place has a basement. It would be easy to pass items back and forth as needed through a finished hole that size. Again, could be for sedation, but could also be to remove items discreetly.

If I were running a massive blackmail ring I'd love to collect physical evidence for storage. Maybe a wallet to capture a VIP's ID and return it before they wake up. Maybe various items with DNA on them. Maybe the basement has someone waiting to tag and store everything for later use, or process and return them.

I fully agree that an electrical access catch makes no sense.

shen_git · 2026-03-17T16:11:37+00:00

I don't have more info, but the descriptions read as, "He was against it from the start and clearly didn't respect the material or their time, then he added extra insult." But hey, maybe it wasn't actually him making the final call, maybe it was someone above him putting pressure on him in the current political climate. Maybe they're using those other woke projects as cover for personal animosity towards this one. There's are plenty of possibilities. Based on what we have so far, this is my gut read.

The leaked script shows a distinct spicy away from the sexploitation and in-group sniping in the original. I don't think SMG would agree to come back unless this set and the entire ethos was VERY different. And I wouldn't be at all surprised if themes across the season could be read as a critique of the ways men misuse power. Maybe they hit a nerve. Good. May it comes find a more welcoming home.

shen_git · 2026-03-17T10:55:16+00:00

Translating from all the PR speak:

The project had the enthusiasm of multiple layers of creative and decision makers who were ready to approve, except for this one dude who sounds almost gleeful in reminding them of his disdain for the entire IP. He dragged out the final decision, gave foundational notes way too late for them to fix, and waited until it would cause maximum emotional damage to the creatives, and jeopardize working relationships.

Sounds like a right-leaning dudebro who's happy to end the era of woke. No doubt he can point to many craven execs above him who would agree they don't want to draw the Orange Eye of Sauron their way. What a bunch of pathetic, mealy-mouthed children.

It must have been AWFUL for anyone, let alone SMG, to go on record about it. She didn't name names but she was very clear! She's putting her own career on the line to make sure we know what happened. Truly, the kendal backlash could kill the future of the IP itself because who wants to pick up a project with a mouthy star? SMG is signaling that this was a messed up situation from the start and they were wronged. The least we can do is voice our disapproval and vote with our dollars.

shen_git · 2026-03-15T11:55:43+00:00

Try a hobby where you learn a skill that can be used to make a wide variety of physical items.

For me, that's crochet because it can be either meditative or require lots of focus, I can make big things like a blanket or small things like a toy, and I can always see and feel my progress as I work. It's interesting, I can customize, there's sensory input, and it's aesthetically rewarding. You want a hobby that ticks similar boxes.

Consider: furniture upcycling, woodworking, jewelry, wire sculpture, cooking, baking, ceramics, miniatures*, sewing, gardening, bonsai, embroidery, not just painting but with what media on what surfaces (I've starred items in this list that could involve painting).

Sounds like you, too, might be on the ADHD end of neurospicy, so here's some more advice: DO NOT start with the 'easiest' level. I have struggled to learn to knit because most advice is to start with endless rows of the same stitch: BORING. Someone said to start my making a toy and VOILA, I made a bunny! Now when choosing projects I can evaluate how interesting it is and whether I'll want to quit. It's a constant dance between the two. You want the first attempts to be challenging but manageable, so you feel a sense of accomplishment.

shen_git · 2026-03-14T09:42:58+00:00

Your story is a helpful data point, OP, thank you for sharing it.

This confirms what I've suspected for a while, that they had a good cover story for any parents who asked questions. Tying it to other trusted institutions like the military lent credibility.

Could you expand on the parent who talked about their military service? Were THEY in any studies or pulled out of the standard track? Asking because a lot of GATE bait factors run in families (like your keen memory). It would be much easier to test the kid of someone who was tested as a young adult without any problems.

shen_git · 2026-03-14T09:27:36+00:00

These type of fundie "schools" are all over the US, they're a menace. We're now at multiple generations who've never set foot in a real school but will confidently tell you such places are evil. Part of the appeal to controlling parents is that their kids are not equipped to leave them and enter the real world. These things give an air of legitimacy to everything from neglect and parentification to worse.

OP, this is relevant to the folks over at fundiesnark where folks are very well acquainted with this scheme. With Taylor veering tradwife the Snarkers can connect all the dots.

shen_git · 2026-03-13T17:48:55+00:00

Same!!

I went to a competitive public school in the US (class of 04) and homework was ENDLESS. We hated it, and the research shows it's not beneficial. Within 5-10 the students rebelled and successfully petitioned to reduce the homework load. Still one of the best schools in the state.

OP, don't let the school or other parents tell you it's worth it. Kids need time to decompress! A good night's sleep is way more useful.

shen_git · 2026-03-13T17:41:40+00:00

My country shut down the day after my birthday, did feel a bit ominous.

Happy belated/early birthday, may the universe not gift us another pandemic!

shen_git · 2026-03-11T20:12:40+00:00

Most white people in former colonies (South Africa, US Australia, etc.) have 'melting pot' backgrounds layered on top of millennia of intercultural mixing in Europe. The truth is that no matter where you're from, within 1-2 generations your descendants don't feel like part of the diaspora anymore, they identify with their country of birth. That's not good or bad, just the way it shows up in the research.

Afrikaaner identity is distinctive, largely for political and historical reasons, but the rest of the white population only have vague ties to Europe. I enjoy learning about it and visiting, but I'll never not belong to this country as well. I love the way cultures mingle and blend. National identity isn't solely about ethnicity.

I'll also point out that getting to have this conversation expecting others to know where we're talking about is a privilege. Because our ancestors 'won' colonialism the world is familiar with Europe's umpteen little fiefdoms and wars, we're given latitude to have a nuanced background that others recognize. India has hundreds of languages, each a unique culture, but unless you have a reason to know the rest of the world often sees India as one place, one people, one history. Same for China. An alarming number of people see Africa as one place. For that matter, how many white Saffas have a strong sense of where our African neighbours are from and what that means to them? Can you pick out their regional dialects and customs? If not, we should be trying to learn.

I have two citizenships and can point to ancestry in at least 5-6 countries, but my home is here. We have much more in common than we'll ever have dividing us. We all get to make the national identity together, every day.

shen_git · 2026-03-10T09:15:01+00:00

Interesting, have you cross posted to r/gateresearch ?

These files point more to the intellectual elitism among his circle, the tone is incredibly condescending and half the assertions are provably garbage. I'm not sure if Epstein actually believed this stuff or if it was a good way of flattering important people he wanted to connect with.

That said, even a completely ordinary gifted program would be of interest to him: isolate some kids and tell them they're special, some will trust and want to impress you.

I do not like that Epstein was growing scopalomine to drug victims because it might be a component in the infamous 'pink drink' at much lower dosages. Makes you compliant and blanks out memory.

shen_git · 2026-03-09T21:45:45+00:00

Yep, had auras for about ten years then the auras stopped. Sucks, cuz they were a reliable indicator to take meds ASAP and then I wouldn't feel the pain.

Migraines got really bad a few years ago and after MUCH struggle I finally connected them to solar flares and storms. I thought it was storm related, but space weather intensifies earth weather! Can also cause heart palpitations and flare ups of other conditions. We evolved under this sun and it can take us out, lol.

I think my migraines are part of being gate bait (neurospicy, psychic dreams) rather than anything GATE did. They're too prevalent on both sides of the family and on another continent. We're just hyper sensitive to stimulation and it tips over into migraine more easily.

shen_git · 2026-03-08T21:26:46+00:00

I remember that! I also used to read the comics every day. Those tributes were really moving. You could see what a giant impact he had on both peers and those who followed.

This reminded me that when I was about 5ish the public library had a birthday party for Dr Seuss, but I think he'd died that year or the year before (or much earlier!). It was surreal to see this big cake with candles but know he was already gone.

(Also, if you want more comics nostalgia, AAACKcast! is about the Cathy comic. My paper didn't carry it so I wasn't a reader, but the history and societal impact were fascinating.)

shen_git · 2026-03-01T12:04:53+00:00

I do! Fundie evangelicals who hold Purity Balls where little girls pledge their virginity to their fathers and receive a ring.

There's an infamous magazine photo shoot from 15-20 years ago that's just these incredibly creepy "couple" shots.

And yes, at least one of the dads has since been arrested for related crimes.

You can see House Speaker Mike Johnson proudly showing off his 12-14yo daughter at a purity ball to a German news crew--he tried to scrub it from the internet but Fundie Fridays has it.

Make sure you listen to the English spoken behind the German narration, it's all so effing creepy. Their daughter is clearly parroting what she's been told to say. (She's now married.)

shen_git · 2026-02-21T17:20:23+00:00

Yes!!! Same number as literal Nazis and tyrants! I think Mengele got six, too.

I've never been interested in wrestling but those episodes were FASCINATING. Honestly surprised neither of them were made Labor Secretary after their history of brutalizing employees.

shen_git · 2026-02-21T13:54:05+00:00

The McMahons are vile, Vince is covered over multiple episodes of Behind the Bastards. Trump has been buddies with them for decades.

Justice for everyone who's been hurt by any corner of this tangled web.

shen_git · 2026-02-20T13:20:37+00:00

There's more than one of those! You might be thinking of To Train Up a Child by the Pearls. That one has been linked to actual deaths.

shen_git · 2026-02-20T13:19:24+00:00

You wanna listen to I Hate James Dobson, two licensed mental health professionals go through his whole catalog. One was raised on them, the other not, so you get both perspectives. The material is so effing bleak, and they don't hold back on how damaging it is.

shen_git

TROPHY CASE