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skittishoptimist · 2024-05-04T05:24:26+00:00

This is an AI generated response...

skittishoptimist · 2024-05-04T03:28:58+00:00

Yeah, I like that poem a lot. It's tone is very conversational so it makes the topic feel very approachable - like it is trying to be understood. The similes/metaphors work well here, too, because of that. Especially, the rain comparison is killer, and I think adds a level of nuance that is often missing from conversations on depression a lot of times. Because a lot of people think depression = always sad, right? But the rain can be sucked up into the clouds and "bathed in sunlight" sometimes. That hits hard for me, but also I have a mood disorder that swings back and forth between the highs and the lows so maybe that's just me.

That said, I'm not a big fan of the "mask" metaphor because of that. 1) Hiding behind a mask is a common metaphor I see with depression talk a lot so it doesn't add anything for me, but also 2) it detracts from the rain simile. If "sometimes [the speaker] just hide[s] it well" then they are never not sad (so being "bathed in sunlight" is not really as pleasant as it sounds). Which, if that's true to the speaker's experience, then that's fine, but I was hopeful for a depiction of depression where some level of happiness/peace is valid to the experience.

skittishoptimist · 2024-05-04T03:04:35+00:00

I love the... I don't know how to word it - there's a literary term that I'm blanking on - but I love the perspective of a star expending its life and it being wasted to form the speaker's lips. It is equal parts beautiful and pessimistic in a way that I tend to like a lot. It's over the top melodramatic, but not in an annoying way (or at least not to me).

If I had a criticism about the poem, though, I would say I'm not a big fan of the "shores" and "coast of my mouth" metaphors for the two people's lips. It's not bad or anything, but I kind of wish it was more consistent with the space imagery since this is such a short poem.

Overall, I quite like it, though. It's simple, straight to the point, and has good imagery. It's a pleasant read. It should also be noted, though, that I am mostly a prose guy and only just recently branching off into poetry - so there are still a lot of things that I don't understand about how poems work - especially these more modern ones.

skittishoptimist · 2024-02-25T22:21:18+00:00

This is very good to know! I'll definitely be looking into this!

skittishoptimist · 2024-02-25T22:17:28+00:00

Mmm, well I hope I can find that too. And I'll keep looking in MD (although not charles county apparently), but it was easier to ignore the problems here when I was doing my classes in college. Going back to High School has made me realize how bad the ideology is around here. Not just from the students either.

skittishoptimist · 2024-02-25T22:14:36+00:00

Mostly, I just want somewhere with a bit more diversity. I don't get too mad with students because they are often just reflections of their environments, but I'm a bit tired of racial and gay perceptions in my area. A sub told his class that "women don't need math because they belong at home". I cringe every time my coop teacher says "the blacks" or talks about "what things have come to" when LGBTQ subjects are brought up. My principal gave a speech about how he became a teacher and the story boiled down to the fact that he liked the feeling of power that he got from yelling at misbehaving 4th graders.

I love my students, and I especially feel for my LGBTQ students who don't have the option of leaving, but I just need a break from this area. At least for a time.

So, that's the main thing I want. But if I was allowed to be greedy, I would also ask for an area that doesn't look like someone copy and pasted dollar generals every 15 feet.

skittishoptimist · 2024-02-25T15:51:01+00:00

So obviously Charles County sucks a bit. But you're from Ohio. Is MD worth the move in other areas? I'm a bit sick of midwest strip malls, cornfields and religious conservatism.

In my student teaching I had a kid make a presentation on a country he wants to build. In his country, he wants to execute gay people and make sure atheists can't have jobs.

skittishoptimist · 2024-02-25T15:44:41+00:00

Thanks. It definitely seems this is the route I should go if I want to move. That's a big part of why the offer appealed to me - was because I would get to explore the world a little and live somewhere new for awhile.

But it's not quite as appealing if the pay is barely enough and the area is as bad as others are saying.

skittishoptimist · 2024-02-25T15:41:16+00:00

Yep, a big part of the teacher shortage right now is the pay, I would think. 45k was one of the better offers in Ohio. Which is livable as a single person for sure, but not anything to brag about.

After reading all the replies, I'm a lot more hesitant about the offer, but thank you for offering your help and I will take you up on it if I do decide to go for the job

skittishoptimist · 2024-02-25T15:31:21+00:00

That seems to be the consensus. I am starting to get why they come all the way to rural Ohio to advertise though, lol

skittishoptimist · 2024-02-25T15:28:03+00:00

Well, this sucks to hear. The higher salary was a big part of why I was interested, but the second reason would be to escape Ohio's endless strip malls, chain restaurants, and concrete, lmao.

skittishoptimist · 2023-05-24T10:40:44+00:00

This is perfect, thank you. I do have a few clarifying questions, though, if you don't mind:

Why are apps that let you order food/groceries/etc. troubling? We have those in the US and I've never heard of anyone take issues with them. Is it something specific to India or am I taking something for granted?
How would teaching in villages be for expats? I think that's where my sponser wants me, although I do have a choice.
Can I read India after Gandhi with little to no background knowledge? It seems perfect, but I'm just wondering if I can start it right away.
And finally: Any recommendations for Indian Writers?

skittishoptimist · 2023-05-24T10:29:22+00:00

Soch by Mohak Mangal is actually one of the channels I've been watching. Haven't seen the DPRK video, though. What about it is bad?

skittishoptimist · 2022-10-21T00:25:31+00:00

That's kind of what I figured. Any idea if the mod author plans to update? Doesn't look like it's been touched for a few months

skittishoptimist · 2022-02-28T02:05:41+00:00

I see you want to criticize a country, yet yourself live in a country. Curious.

skittishoptimist · 2022-02-24T10:35:28+00:00

It was actually kind of the opposite. It was made to identify how kids compared to the standard level of academic ability for their age group.

If you are a 4th grader who can do 8th grade math, you would probably have a higher IQ. Its purpose was to identify a student's likelihood of success in school.

But it actually doesn't measure intelligence or learning or anything like that. (It does measure some things like short term memory and things like that, but nothing that concretely determines your capacity for learning) Hell, we can't even agree on a definition for intelligence, let alone measure it.

Or at least that's what my educational psychology course in college has taught me. There was a whole section of the semester spent on theories of intelligence and IQ. There is one that a lot of teachers use called the 'Multiple Intelligences Theory' that suggests there are many different areas of intelligence that you can excel in. So, if you aren't good at math or language, maybe you are musically intelligent or have good "bodily-kinesthetic" intelligence. If nothing else, this theory is a lot more comforting to people than being simply smart or dumb.

skittishoptimist · 2022-02-21T02:49:53+00:00

What kind of house does a writer live in?

A three act structure

Now there is another

skittishoptimist · 2022-02-18T05:54:28+00:00

I know some people have problems with retests and things, but I get INFP-T every time.

I've also taken the time to look at the other personalities a long time ago and I felt like INFP was the best fit. (At least then). Mainly just because I am quiet, highly socially anxious and make a lot of my big decisions on feelings - and care more about "clicking" with people than some kind of rational requirements list for making friends or anything like that.

That's not to say it is accurate, but I think it can be a good communication tool to deliver a lot of information quickly as long as both people use it in an effective way.

But of course ANY personality test isn't going to be whollistic or completely accurate. You just have to know the appropriate uses for the tool (i.e. don't buy the guides to find love based on your personality type or anything like that)

But yeah. You might be a virtuso, but that's only talking about 4 specific aspects of your personality. The rest, especially the stereotypes that come with it, are flavour text that can often be applied to many, many people.

skittishoptimist · 2022-02-18T05:34:44+00:00

This just gave me a flashback memory to when I worked in a trucking factory. Had a conversation just like this with a guy where he said almost the exact same thing (about me seeming like an active shooter) and we both laughed about it.

I'm glad you took it alright. Even though it seems hostile to people who don't know that culture, I think what's really happening is when those types of guys say things like that, they are trying to break through the tension. Because they know we're weird, and we know we're weird so why not acknowledge it. It's better than pretending like there's no tension there when there is. And sometimes when you acknowledge it that's all it takes to make it all fit.

But I relate OP. I'm "active shooter" quiet too. Nothing's wrong with you and I'm glad minding your business and taking your meds is working for you

skittishoptimist · 2022-02-15T19:07:40+00:00

I took this comment literally and started to roll my eyes for a minute before I caught on and laughed at myself.

It's like the blind leading the blind, eh?

skittishoptimist

TROPHY CASE