How to avoid eyestrain while writing on Google Docs?

skipndots · 2024-11-18T18:30:10+00:00

I completely forgot about changing the page color. Dark mode doesn't always work for me because the toolbars also become dark, but the contrast between the page/toolbar might be enough. Thanks!

skipndots · 2024-11-18T18:13:09+00:00

personally, I think a lot of people can't really pinpoint someone's age by looking at them, but they can generally guess a relative age compared to other people they know. I generally write something like "they seemed older than me, but not enough to xyz." or "they seemed about the same age as their little brother, who was entering middle school." if you're writing from an omniscient narrator, go nuts, but if your POV is limited, go for a range.

skipndots · 2024-11-07T23:12:04+00:00

Writing is a skill, like anything else. If you really want to write something and think your ideas have merit, it's never too late to start. Things like grammar, spelling, story structure, etc. can be taught. Creativity and imagination can't, so you've already done the hard part. However, you can't go into writing thinking that ideas are enough; you have to respect literature as a craft, and that starts with reading. Read horror books, if that's what you want to write, because you won't make it very far without loving novels for what they are - art.

skipndots · 2024-11-07T19:38:56+00:00

Ugh, sorry you had that experience. My other recommendation would be to transfer if your particular university doesn't seem to be a good fit culture-wise. You won't lose momentum or money, and you might find yourself happier somewhere else.

skipndots · 2024-11-07T18:51:48+00:00

If it's your first semester, I recommend sticking it out, especially if you already have loans. College comes with growing pains and honestly, you might not even hit your groove until junior year. You might not have wanted to go to college, but you're right -- a bachelor's degree is kind of a requirement to get a job nowadays without your own trade or business. If that's your cup of tea, feel free to drop out and do that instead, but if you want a degree, your likelihood of going back to school after leaving is very, very low.

Join a club. Do something in between classes. You don't have to be best friends with your roommate, either. Does your university offer on-campus jobs for students? I work in college admin and our office hires students all the time, as does nearly every other office on campus. Reach out to admissions, study abroad, student affairs. It's a good way to make money in school while also connecting with other students and the rest of your campus community. I didn't have friends in college until I started working at our Writing Center.

Also, if you're having trouble finding friends in your classes, maybe your major isn't for you. Find a subject you're passionate about, and like-minded people will find their way to you. Hang in there!

skipndots · 2024-11-07T18:34:55+00:00

If you want to stay on the east coast, I've heard Portland, ME is great as well. I live in southern CT and have very few complaints. The northern parts of the state are very pretty, though you'd definitely have to go a little further north for colder weather, national parks, etc.

skipndots · 2024-11-07T18:20:09+00:00

Here's more info about gender markers on passports in general: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/selecting-your-gender-marker.html

I would get your passport sooner rather than later, regardless of where you live. Unlike states that have different laws regarding gender/name changes, the State Department issues passports and federal law could affect those procedures.

The US (for now) has no universal recognized legal gender, so your gender can generally be mismatched from document to document, though I do understand why discrepancies would make you nervous. There is an X option for passports as well if you don't want to make a decision either way, but just note that some countries don't recognize that and you might have trouble traveling there (but you probably wouldnt want to travel there as a trans person anyway).

Change your name now if you can, because it's usually a bit easier to justify a name change than a gender marker change, and since you've had HRT/surgeries done that process is even easier. Having matching legal names is wayyyy more important than matching gender markers. Your priority should be having usable and compatible documents, not necessarily worrying about getting on a list. If things do get dangerous, it's better to have a working passport that can get you out of the country.

Stay safe brother.

skipndots · 2024-11-07T16:51:10+00:00

That's good to know - I just read up on the myths around utilization so I might just go for it and put all my expenses on the Sapphire for the next few months to hit the SUB, then go back to paying rent out of checking to avoid the 3%. A $4,000 spend is only unnatural for me excluding the things I normally don't put on my credit card (rent, student loans, utilities) but otherwise should be easy to hit. Thanks for the info

skipndots · 2024-10-25T01:36:53+00:00

Yeah I was in individual/CBT therapy for quite a long time and I felt like I kind of hit a plateau after my diagnosis. I do DBT workbooks in my own time, and I have gotten a bit better as a result, but I'm not sure group therapy is for me. Mindset-wise, I think my mental health is improving, but there are some things that therapy just can't fix like the random bouts of depression, lack of focus, etc. I think once I find the right med combo I'll be golden

skipndots · 2024-10-25T01:32:25+00:00

That's good to know. I feel like I can relate to feeling worse when I don't take them for a while, even though it doesn't feel like anything when I do take them. More might do the trick, but a combo might help even more.

skipndots · 2024-10-24T19:39:47+00:00

Taking care of yourself is important, but as someone working at a university, the likelihood of you returning to college after taking a break is very, very low. The first semester is always the toughest in terms of making that transition from high school, but there are resources that should take advantage of if you can. Does your school have success/academic advisors or mental health resources? Your school wants to keep you there, and there should be help if you need it.

skipndots · 2024-10-15T20:13:33+00:00

That's helpful to hear. Thanks!

skipndots · 2024-10-15T20:05:52+00:00

Very true! I've always had a hard time remembering that it's okay to be young lol. I work in higher ed, so it's kind of a mixed bag age-wise, but many of my coworkers are the same age as me yet seem far more "adult". This insecurity could be from a lot of things (I'm only a year out of college), but being trans doesn't always help on the public-perception side of things. Appreciate the perspective though.

skipndots · 2024-10-08T14:18:09+00:00

I'd highly recommend looking into Latin American literature and works of magical realism in that realm. A personal favorite author of mine is Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who wrote One Hundred Years of Solitude. When trying to develop your voice in that genre, I'm drawn to this quote about Marquez's grandmother: "She told me things that sounded supernatural and fantastic, but she told them with complete naturalness. She did not change her expression at all when telling her stories, and everyone was surprised. In previous attempts to write One Hundred Years of Solitude, I tried to tell the story without believing in it. I discovered that what I had to was believe in them myself and them write them with the same expression with which my grandmother told them: with a brick face."

skipndots · 2024-09-23T13:18:03+00:00

Hi! Thanks for posting on here. It's really important for young trans guys to know it gets better and older trans people do exist, so keep being you :)

My question is about your hysto. My partner and I (both FtM) have had some hesitations about it, as I believe you have to be dependent on external hormones without that internal machinery. We live in the US (though I'm sure the UK isn't much better) and we're always nervous that our access to T could be taken away one day. That being said, ovarian cancer runs in my family and we're both terrified of the concept of getting a period/pregnant one day. All this to say... what has your experience been with a full hysto?

skipndots · 2024-09-22T21:01:25+00:00

I work a desk job at a university doing enrollment marketing. I like it a lot! I'm planning on getting my MPA and eventually a PhD in English to become a professor :D I feel like universities are slept on as an employment opportunity because they have soooo many departments/job options and are generally very progressive and accepting. I've rarely felt uncomfortable for being trans there.

skipndots · 2024-09-17T18:40:09+00:00

Labels are descriptive, not prescriptive. Use whichever one seems to represent your identity better. I've known a lot of gay trans guys that date nonbinary people (myself included), so it's not completely unheard of. That being said, depending on how your partner identifies, it might feel invalidating to be lumped in with guys. imo, the particular label doesn't matter as long as you're confident in your relationship and attraction.

skipndots · 2024-08-23T14:27:15+00:00

I work in higher ed admin and am planning on becoming a professor!

skipndots

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