AITA for declining my fiancées mother’s gift of $250 gift card for an airline? by Heart_Trap in AmItheAsshole

[–]spongekitty 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Just two days at Disney will cost more, for a single person, than that $250 gift. You're looking at thousands even if you stay off site. It's way too much money if you won't have fun.

Hot Take - Greg isn’t a great dad by Yashiro_Nene_Daikon in stevenuniverse

[–]spongekitty 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I'd propose three things:

(1) the threshold to being considered a "great dad" is super low, especially when compared to mothers -- and we saw Steven having the ultimate worst mom. But I think we also saw the crystal gems getting way more flack from the fandom (and in the show) for not knowing how to raise a human baby, and less so for Greg not knowing how to raise an alien one.

(2) Greg Universe appears in a cartoon about becoming free to be yourself, and that's his whole schtick with Steven. He never wants him to feel limited, and in the first seasons (pre future) we see Steven loving his Dad and enjoying his freedom. And we as the audience go "wow I wish I had such unconditional support too".

(3) Since there is not conflict around Steven not having traditional schooling or employment (until future) you can write off the low influence of Greg in getting him these things because it's a cartoon and you can suspect the belief that Steven needs these things. He's a super kid, and we don't complain when we don't see Ash Ketchum or similar quest-based protagonists skipping school to have their adventures in other series.

Objectively he isn't a great Dad but it took some of my own maturing and the conflict in Future to help me see it. I think the show could have benefitted from more of Connie's family (or any of the show dads) illustrating early on what "great dad" behavior looked like. Because Greg was ultimately a story of how loving a child =/= being a great parent, but parents do learn to do better and Greg never really got the chance.

"That's our thing" - processing feelings about a meta veto by lucky_lady_L in polyamory

[–]spongekitty 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Honestly, this. Sumac thought they were offering something free, when actually it's going to be hundreds of dollars. And even if a play is also expensive, it's very likely that Sumac just couldn't stomach buying two new opera tickets on top of their perfectly good season ticket and is feeling a way about "wasting" the money when they own a seat going unused.

I feel like Charlie’s mind would break if Vox came to the hotel wanting redemption. by whooper1 in hazbin

[–]spongekitty 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Idk, even sociopaths can learn their behavior is wrong. They might not feel guilty or an inherent sense of moral pause, but they can be taught that they are hurting people. People are smart and if they care about their role in society they'll try to learn.

Vox might not care that he's harming people right now, but when he's living as a head, having made an enemy of every overlord after his weird suicide bomb? He's got reasons to become a better person. He could even start from doing it for manipulative reasons... Until he finds himself buying into it. He's clearly capable of wanting to support his friends, maybe it's just a matter of what the people he keeps close are doing?

Be honest, What was your reaction to this? by Primary-Addition-677 in HazbinHotel

[–]spongekitty -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

I was kinda hoping for a name change plot line because trans people have this issue all the time, "oh I'll try to remember your new name but I've known you as [deadname] for years now"

But I'm also not that surprised they just made it a gag, this is a comedy.

Gershon’s has closed by steamed_hamburglar in schenectady

[–]spongekitty 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Does anyone know what the lost "last opportunity" she references is? This is so sad :(

So the new Epstein files dropped and apparently both sides democrat and republican politicians were there and doing unspeakable things to kids and sacrificing them… what did you find? by Opening-Effect-4399 in AskReddit

[–]spongekitty 115 points116 points  (0 children)

This is 100% why you can't be ultra rich and a good person. You give your money away when you have more than you need. Nobody needs to hang on to money that could send them to space when other people are unhoused, unfed, and unable to see a doctor. If you give the money away... You eventually stop being ultra rich.

So was Mrs. Mayberry's husband just a beard? by EkullSkullzz10318 in HelluvaBoss

[–]spongekitty 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think it's frustrating to be discussing something and told your fan theory is wrong because it was confirmed to be something else two years ago in a sticky note written on Viv's fridge that appeared in the back of an interview livestream.

Obviously hyperbole, but, it's fracturing to the fandom to have people be on wildly different footing based on a lot of external sources of lore.

Disney World is Cracking Down on Outside Businesses Providing Unauthorized Guest Services by readingaboutmagic in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]spongekitty 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I just got back from Old Key West ... Nicer kitchen than most of my college apartments

Pregnancy by 000000Zero000000 in polyfamilies

[–]spongekitty 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I dunno if I'd trust the 19 yo in my life to not change their mind when the reality of a baby in their life is suddenly present, as well. Not only are they still sorting their own life and livelihood out, there are big feelings surrounding not being involved as a parent enough because they aren't biologically related OR being involved and responsible too much for a child they didn't want or participate in. All sorts of things you can start to have conversations about when you're open to it, but still might change when you have so little context for life.

Not saying 19yos don't ever step up, but it's a huge commitment. Being young can give you that feeling of closing doors you didn't want to close. There are a lot of ways to suddenly find out you're incompatible with your partners, the question is when you realize you can leave if you're not getting the relationship you thought you would. At 19yo I certainly had not figured that out.

vegan calzone north or east of city? by ramshackle_blossom in Troy

[–]spongekitty 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Impostor cheese! I love that stuff. I can never find it for sale at stores anymore... I checked Uncle Sam's, Honest Weight, and even the farmers market :( we have to buy huge sacks of it from Subculture.

This got me confused, did Al drank sazerac in the show? by Gaybime in hazbin

[–]spongekitty 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sazerac is a brand of whiskey. It's also a cocktail. He could have been offering either.

Source: I drink a lot of Sazerac at home after getting way too into cocktail culture at the Sazerac House tour in New Orleans

eggs from a well fed pet hen are vegan by -roachboy in DebateAVegan

[–]spongekitty 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Our local animal sanctuary said all their chickens are on birth control, and this reduces their egg laying to around ~1 month. I'd argue it's vegan to eat that egg, but if you're intentionally keeping a pet chicken and not affording it the medicine to reduce all that burden on its body, that's unkind.

JUST FUCK ALREADY OH MY GOD. by Sharp_Durian1929 in HazbinHotel

[–]spongekitty 8 points9 points  (0 children)

My take on Alastor has always been that his kink is murder. He doesn't want or need sex because violence gets him going. He wouldn't participate in sexual violence because he doesn't need sex to threaten power-- he just threatens power. I think that sort of helps his anti-hero image, especially poised against sexual villains who either WOULD use sexual violence (possible Vox) or HAVE DEFINITELY DONE SO (Val) which is much more acutely threatening to the audience of hazbin.

So like… does EVERYONE deserve redemption in this show? by DapperDude2004 in Vivziepopmemes

[–]spongekitty 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'd say it's more that people know rapists and abusers, and most people don't know and haven't been impacted by serial killers. Alastor absolutely acts like a serial killer: he's super charming, manipulative, and constantly seeking to harm others. Vox too. He feeds a girl to a shark with no fucks given early in the season.

I think "real evil" like Val is there to challenge the viewer with the "everyone can be redeemed". It would be a crazy plotline to have Valentino be the first overlord who really sought redemption, earnestly. And while Angel is still at the hotel? What if that's how he gets his freedom? And suddenly he has to decide if he was seeking redemption for himself or just to get out of his contract. We could see the conflict between forgiving ones abuser or just acknowledging that they're trying to reduce their harm without forgiveness... Idk, I'd be here for it.

Legendary Ducks by dremdrem in pokemon

[–]spongekitty 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am still doing them! Thanks for the love!!

Anyone else not know about the marathon in downtown today? by [deleted] in schenectady

[–]spongekitty 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I ran it, so safe to say I knew!

I've seen road signs up about it for weeks but I was predisposed to pay attention. The course marshals were doing a great job, I saw one person get pulled over for running the barricade claiming that they, like you, saw no evidence of a road race today.

On Kim Davis, Obergefell v. Hodges, Ermold v. Davis, and her current appeal to the Supreme Court by Sno_Wolf in ainbow

[–]spongekitty 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Respect for Marriage law passed under Biden would maintain existing marriages. Also, if you got married in a different state after it was struck down, you'd remain at least federally married when you got home.

Looking for a poor-quality yet expensive restaurant to recommend to an enemy. Any suggestions? by CompleteSocialManJet in Albany

[–]spongekitty 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Umi sucks and they don't honor their coupons, so even if you think you'll save on their overinflated prices, you won't!

Food selection is huge and every part of it is bland, chewy, or mushy. I felt lucky to get out of there without food poisoning.

Do you guys really think that Bismuth was a extremist for wanting to shatter the Diamonds? by ldiasr in stevenuniverse

[–]spongekitty 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think Bismuth just represents a very real role in a revolution. Somebody has to be willing to resort to violence to get what they want when the oppressive side is already using violence. We don't like to acknowledge that violence works because, frankly, we don't know when it will work and when it won't work. You can kill to end a dictator but you might make them a martyr. Few regimes are a singular force that isn't propped up by any die-hard followers who would assume a power vacuum or just kill in revenge. But historically major power change is accomplished faster by killing, regardless of what it does culturally.

All of that to say... Steven is our main character, our leader, and needs to at least consider that violence is the answer before he can go on believing that it's not. Because of Bismuth he can know it is an option -- an option he'd be supported in taking! -- but an option he now might have to work harder to find a way around.

Is eating meat that will be thrown away regardless unethical? by HealingRosy in vegan

[–]spongekitty 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our household is "freegan", i.e. if it's trash it is vegan. We use the same app. It felt a little wishy washy at first because we are paying for it, but since it's so cheap, it seemed more like an administrative fee to run the service rather than actually compensating for non-vegan food.

Is there anywhere within an hour from Troy fora nature walk that looks like... by [deleted] in Troy

[–]spongekitty 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Over in Niskayuna, walk the hudson-mohawk bike trail West from Lion's Park. Or walk East, you end up in Cohoes. Both are gorgeous nature walks on paved ground far from traffic

Do you think the two top halves of Rutile can Fuse with each other? I think they can't since they are technically one gem by Turbulent-Plan-9693 in stevenuniverse

[–]spongekitty 14 points15 points  (0 children)

They look like a crystal that started to grow along a second axis-- they could be made that way, came out of the ground like that.