Vent

[Jeb_CC]

Technically I could adopt, but a male 23 year old adopting a female 16 year old might raise some eyebrows...

Wait, Jeb's only 16? I never would guessed. I thought she was in her mid-late 20s. Never bothered to check her profile until now though.

 

Oh gosh. Thank you! I'm taking that as a compliment.

[Psychotic Ninja]

Technically I could adopt, but a male 23 year old adopting a female 16 year old might raise some eyebrows...

Wait, Jeb's only 16? I never would guessed. I thought she was in her mid-late 20s. Never bothered to check her profile until now though.

 

Oh gosh. Thank you! I'm taking that as a compliment.

 

Some people have mistaken me to be 16-17.

[Binky The Rabbit]

Some people have mistaken me to be 16-17.

Guilty. Soz.

[Scorpia]

same. I'm a 24 year old soldier and i still look like i just joined outta high school

[Average Internet Guy]

same. I'm a 24 year old soldier and i still look like i just joined outta high school

 

Almost the exact same situation here, except replace "high school" with "middle school".

 

On topic: god I hate my broken-ass body. With the amount of problems I've been having, I'm fairly convinced that I'm literally going to turn in to an amorphous mass of caffeine, bone, and meat within the next year.

[Selfsurprise]

Ugh, this week in World Weary Retail Assistant: The Real Life Series. There are too many things to gripe about, but I will single out this one nugget of abject tumour fuel...

 

I have a lovely two-and-a-half year old cousin that I regularly babysit. One of his absolute favourite things to do is to rummage through his box of plastic animals and ask me what they are called, what noises they make, and recently even asking where they live and what they eat. He has loads of these Schleich figurines at his house, all kinds of stuff, from generic farm animals to really odd stuff like a Sawfish and a Pangolin. Obviously when I'm looking after him I don't have access to these animal toys, but I do have a big box of Monsters In My Pocket and Mighty Max stuff I procured from my childhood home once I began looking after him, "playing with my baby cousin" being my ostensible excuse for playing with my rad old skool toys ;p

 

But in all seriousness I've grown up obsessed with monsters, so I have a plethora of monster related stuff for him to play with, and plenty of picture books filled with animals and other things if he is in the mood for reading - I even have a modest amount of children's books on standby if he just wants to be told a story. In other words there's no shortage of stimuli for his rapidly expanding mind to absorb. Clearly all of this talk of monsters and aliens has filtered through to his dad, a somewhat conservative Greek gentleman that my sister married. He apparently doesn't want me to allow his son to learn about and play with anything monster related. He feels it's "not right" for his child to learn about monsters. It really really depresses having to converse with his father, as much as I love my cousin and my sister and can't fault the aforementioned guy for being a decent, hardworking, kindly person. But to not put too fine a point on it - what in the living fuck, man?

 

This kind of thing isn't worth falling out with extended family members over and I'm no avowed anti-religionist (I lean far more towards the agnostic/ignostic spectrum, if anything!) but what exactly is fundamentally wrong with learning the names of a few fictional creatures? I'm not sat in my flat delivering an occult sermon to the kid, we're playing with multicoloured toys made in the likeness of the Loch Ness Monster or a Yeti. What is it about organized religion as opposed to a personal interpretation of spirituality that all too often forces limitations on its subscribers? My cousin's interest in the monster paraphernalia was borne partly out of necessity (I have little else for him to play with, unless his dad would rather he goofed about with my unusually large number of tin openers I own for some reason) and partly out of his own entirely innocent curiosity.

 

I'm not totally insensitive and naive, I'm not exposing him to traumatic and obviously frightening material, and even if his father absolutely insists upon this my cousin is more than welcome to come around my house - I won't bar him due to his father's ignorance. But ever since my sister met him and set up home with him, I've never been able to shake the feeling that he would rather we all unanimously convert to his nation's orthodox church. He's well within his right to practice those tenements according to to his cultural traditions, thats his right. But if I was feeling like an unfair arsehole I might be tempted to point out that the Manticores and Cyclops his son occasionally singles out of my pocket monsters are equally part of his (and his children's) heritage. But like I said before, this isn't worth familial drama if it means my cousin can have a happy and contented childhood with his myriad relations.

 

Whatever I've suggested to him so far (like lending me some of his older animal toys, promising to read animal books exclusively, etc) his dad doesn't seem overtly pleased with the reality that, sometimes, I'm looking after him. It's purely to do with work commitments and the fact that I always have Wednesday's off - so usually I'm the only legit or convenient person to look after him on that day of the week. He's never been able to have a civil conversation with me without resorting to some archly critical comment of some book or imagery I have on my person or around my home. Life was just so much easier when I could (politely, I should say) inform him to either accept my idiosyncrasies, or failing that, not come and visit me. It's less simple now there are wholly blameless children involved, including my cousins several month year old little sister. I haven't looked after her yet but I figure it will come up eventually. I dread to think how Mr. Mount Athos is going to respond to my flagrantly queer liberalism when babysitting her - assuming he even lets me. If you've ever been made to feel that you should justify your secular attitudes and lifestyle you probably know how I feel at the moment.

 

P.S. My sister (the little boys mother) said I should go right ahead and keep playing with the monsters when I looking after him :3 Given that she loves the aforementioned father, she is vastly more at ease around him then I'll ever be.

[BTGBullseye]

The 'monsters' you're mentioning are all historically relevant... You could play the 'teaching him world history' card quite easily. I know I'd do it. If the kid has at least some intelligence in him, (and judging by what you say he's doing, he has quite a bit) he can distinguish between something that was never real, and something that is real.

[Binky The Rabbit]

I lean far more towards the agnostic/ignostic spectrum, if anything!

Same here bruh.

What is it about organized religion as opposed to a personal interpretation of spirituality that all too often forces limitations on its subscribers?

'Force' - I reckon what you're mentioning here is what a lot of anti-religious people would cite if asked about their opposition to religion.

I've never been able to shake the feeling that he would rather we all unanimously convert to his nation's orthodox church. He's well within his right to practice those tenements according to to his cultural traditions, thats his right.

I had that with my ex, and I'd say her father too. I have a feeling that my lack of faith and her reliance on it was a factor to why we broke up. And on your second point - I'll never stop a religious person practicing their faith, but if they impose it on someone else - that I have a big problem with. But that's a debate for another thread.

 

I'm definitely on your side. No harm is being done to the kid by playing with your monster toys - forcing him to stop and never play or think about the toys is much more likely to be harmful.

Also, hope he's treating Nessie well. She's an old lass.

[Jeb_CC]

I am going to stab whoever made Origin. I just want to play my Sim game... but noooooo! It instead launches itself, from Steam, into Origin. Fuck off Origin! Nobody likes you! I uninstall Origin, and now The Sims 3 says it requires Origin to be played. Nooo, you don't. You were working a few months ago when Origin didn't exist on my computer you fucking twat! *growls* I have no idea what to do now...

EDIT: Origin, I will murder you, your wife, your offspring, and anyone else living in your house - including the cat!! Look what you made Steam do!

 

 

Okay, fine, I'm just going to reinstall it and hope it works. Fuck you Origin!! Making me wait a day to play my game cause it's fucking 14GB's and I have Australian internet. Fuck it!

And upon reading back on this, gosh, I am SO mad. XD Why am I so mad?? Ugh, what is wrong with me... Someone needs to lock me up in a jail, cause that's apparently where I belong at the moment. Fucking hell. I'm so aggressive today. >.< Why??

 

EDIT: The only reason I wanted it to run through Steam so bad was so that it would keep counting up my hours played. I should NOT be mad, I'm the one making a big deal out of it. XD God, being a girl with emotions SUCK. Why am I so fussy? Why am I such a perfectionist?? Holy fuck my insides hurt.

[Blightmare]

I want to buy an airhorn so the next time I have to repeat a question 4 times while my parents seem to ignore I'm even speaking I can bust out the horn and scare the stupid fucking answer out of them. I literally asked "what temperature does the pork need to be for fully cooked?" 4 times before I had to shout "DING DING DING EARTH TO MOM AND DAD CALLING ALL BRAIN CELLS" just to get them to acknowledge I even asked a question.

 

And they STILL didn't answer. All they said was "You don't need to shout." Yes. Yes I fucking do. Now answer the question for fucks sake, it's right on the thermometer that I can't see with you two crowding around it.

 

It's 170 F internally btw. Had to wait for them to go away to check myself. Seriously...

[Psychotic Ninja]

I want to murder my internet... Well not murder it, but at least scare it into submission.

[Zaraki]

Why is it so fucking cold in the spring?WEATHER,STOP BEING DRUNK.

[Selfsurprise]

The 'monsters' you're mentioning are all historically relevant... You could play the 'teaching him world history' card quite easily. I know I'd do it. If the kid has at least some intelligence in him, (and judging by what you say he's doing, he has quite a bit) he can distinguish between something that was never real, and something that is real.

 

Thanks for understanding my situation BTG. I've wrestled with my consciousness as to whether I'm giving my cousin potential nightmare fuel with my available toys, but it's not as if I'm showing photographs of Linda Blair or otherwise obviously traumatic material. Despite my own fears regarding the morality of my interests and my cousins almost inevitable exposure to it, it doesn't seem like the "scariness" of the monsters is even what his father has an issue with. I'll be the first to admit that I'm rather touchy about the idea of certain strands of knowledge being unavailable, unfavoured or outright forbidden by small-mindedness and pettiness.

 

I had that with my ex, and I'd say her father too. I have a feeling that my lack of faith and her reliance on it was a factor to why we broke up. And on your second point - I'll never stop a religious person practicing their faith, but if they impose it on someone else - that I have a big problem with. But that's a debate for another thread.

 

I'm definitely on your side. No harm is being done to the kid by playing with your monster toys - forcing him to stop and never play or think about the toys is much more likely to be harmful.

Also, hope he's treating Nessie well. She's an old lass.

Thanks pal I ought to confess he calls Nessie "a Dragon that goes outside". I tried teaching him in several instances that her name was Nessie but he found his own alternative and is sticking with it. He actually corrects me sometimes, right after asking me what a particular monster or animal is. All Lions are called "Mufasa's" now, due to obsession with a certain Disney title.

 

"What animal is this?" I'll ask.

"A Mufasa!" he replies.

"Very good! But what type of animal is Mufasa? Do you remember?"

"A type of Mufasa".

 

Two year old logic is impenetrable.

 

Why is it so fucking cold in the spring?WEATHER,STOP BEING DRUNK.

 

APRIL YOU ARE DRUNK

GO HOME

[PriestOfJudas]

It just snowed here a few days ago. And not some pussy snow that falls about a hair-width deep. It was reaching almost my fucking ankles. Shame I don't have pictures, though. Seriously, Mars looks pretty good right about now.

[Psychotic Ninja]

It just snowed here a few days ago. And not some pussy snow that falls about a hair-width deep. It was reaching almost my fucking ankles. Shame I don't have pictures, though. Seriously, Mars looks pretty good right about now.

 

 

This was two years ago, around the same time. Yes, that's my car.

[BTGBullseye]

Thanks for understanding my situation BTG. I've wrestled with my consciousness as to whether I'm giving my cousin potential nightmare fuel with my available toys, but it's not as if I'm showing photographs of Linda Blair or otherwise obviously traumatic material. Despite my own fears regarding the morality of my interests and my cousins almost inevitable exposure to it, it doesn't seem like the "scariness" of the monsters is even what his father has an issue with. I'll be the first to admit that I'm rather touchy about the idea of certain strands of knowledge being unavailable, unfavoured or outright forbidden by small-mindedness and pettiness.

Ok, so here's my viewpoint, from how I grew up. I'm 100% totally Catholic. Both parents are Catholic 100%. They started teaching me about ancient world mythology when I was a year old. I never had any nightmares about ANY of the 'monsters'. There really is no way to when all of the stories have a 'kid friendly' version where the hero wins. Besides that, it taught me to think way outside the box to solve otherwise impossible situations. (thinking about the Jason and the Argonauts here, a movie my parents let me watch when I was 2 years old) NONE OF THIS HAS EVER EVEN COME CLOSE TO WAVERING MY FAITH! (and I was a surprisingly average kid)

 

Now you have evidence to support your position of those 'monsters' being harmless to teach a kid about, even when dealing with religion.

 

Just don't get the kid hooked on D&D, and he should be perfectly fine.

[Selfsurprise]

Thanks for understanding my situation BTG. I've wrestled with my consciousness as to whether I'm giving my cousin potential nightmare fuel with my available toys, but it's not as if I'm showing photographs of Linda Blair or otherwise obviously traumatic material. Despite my own fears regarding the morality of my interests and my cousins almost inevitable exposure to it, it doesn't seem like the "scariness" of the monsters is even what his father has an issue with. I'll be the first to admit that I'm rather touchy about the idea of certain strands of knowledge being unavailable, unfavoured or outright forbidden by small-mindedness and pettiness.

Ok, so here's my viewpoint, from how I grew up. I'm 100% totally Catholic. Both parents are Catholic 100%. They started teaching me about ancient world mythology when I was a year old. I never had any nightmares about ANY of the 'monsters'. There really is no way to when all of the stories have a 'kid friendly' version where the hero wins. Besides that, it taught me to think way outside the box to solve otherwise impossible situations. (thinking about the Jason and the Argonauts here, a movie my parents let me watch when I was 2 years old) NONE OF THIS HAS EVER EVEN COME CLOSE TO WAVERING MY FAITH! (and I was a surprisingly average kid)

 

Now you have evidence to support your position of those 'monsters' being harmless to teach a kid about, even when dealing with religion.

 

Just don't get the kid hooked on D&D, and he should be perfectly fine.

Ultimately nobody has any any control over what a kid does and doesn't find frightening, but based on my experiences with my cousin he is absolutely fine with monsters. As a two year old he isn't even considering all the valuable historical context you've rightly cited, but who knows what he'll be interested in when he becomes older and advanced? Your parents example is how people ought to expose their children to new ideas. Bluntly put, even if his father doesn't approve of it, if I'm looking after him I'm going to let him explore anything he shows an interest in.

[BTGBullseye]

Well, I do recommend staying away from the Occult and porn... (they aren't safe for the young)

[Vapymid]

I would say - the man isn't very sure of his own faith if he thinks that playing with monsters is an ideological competition for his child...

 

Just my two cents...

 

Regards

[Selfsurprise]

Well, I do recommend staying away from the Occult and porn... (they aren't safe for the young)

Someday they'll name a University in your honour and this which be the foundation's motto.

 

I would say - the man isn't very sure of his own faith if he thinks that playing with monsters is an ideological competition for his child...

 

Just my two cents...

 

Regards

I know right! It's not as if there were any Christian stories featuring terrifying monsters, or demonic tempters, or unearthly celestial beings, or burning plants that could talk, or anything like that. No sir.

 

*cough-cough*St. Martha and the Tarasque*cough-cough*