It's Personal...

[Wesley Street]

Every kid is a space cadet and every dad forgets that he was once a child and did the same damn thing.

But here's a question to ask yourself: do you legitimately have difficulty concentrating on tasks... or... when you're panicked/anxious/desperate do you make mistakes that could have been easily avoided?

And seriously - knock it off with the booze. You're not helping anyone by behaving like the plot to a country western song. I had a friend who drowned her sorrows after her husband cheated on her and the resulting divorce. It was just sad.

[CatharzGodfoot]

(Ask me about the time I chugged a liter of Jager one time. I get sick smelling the stuff now.)

I know, right?

And it makes me feel bad because my dad always lectured me about how I was a "space cadet", and that I was going to be worthless as an adult if I couldn't pay more attention, and no matter how hard I try I just can't get my brain to cooperate.

Your dad was an asshole, and amphetamine is $4 a bottle at Target.

[Count Arioch the 28th]

Drugs are actually cheap these days, I'm just fighting to get to a doctor. I'm trying the free clinic, because a regular doctor/shrink around here charges $200 for an office visit if you're not insured.

[Maj]

I eMailed Pike Place Market in Seattle and informed them that their payphone company is a scam (and they wrote back and wanted more information so they could talk about it with the Operations Director). And I applied for a job for my son today.

Odd, but cool.

[Neeeek]

I eMailed Pike Place Market in Seattle and informed them that their payphone company is a scam (and they wrote back and wanted more information so they could talk about it with the Operations Director). And I applied for a job for my son today.

Odd, but cool.

In what way is it a scam? For what job?

[RobbyPants]

Also, isn't your son two years old?

[Maj]

I eMailed Pike Place Market in Seattle and informed them that their payphone company is a scam (and they wrote back and wanted more information so they could talk about it with the Operations Director). And I applied for a job for my son today.

Odd, but cool.

In what way is it a scam?

Remember that message Ess left on your phone? He originally just used cash to place the call, but the phone ate the money. So he swiped his card only to find when we got home, there was a charge for $14.98. Three days later, there was a second charge for something like $12.14.

We resolved the issue to our benefit through his card company, but we did a little digging on the company listed in the transaction and found that this is apparently a rather common thing for them to do. I eMailed PPM and told them what was going on so that they had the option of doing something about it, and they were actually quite interested in the situation.

For what job?

Modeling. Via my sister, of course.



She works for a kids' modeling agency and gave me info on what to look [out] for. Don't worry, though... I'm not going to be one of those psycho pageant mom types.

Also, isn't your son two years old?

He just turned three on the 30th. The world is now doomed.

[Neeeek]

So he swiped his card only to find when we got home, there was a charge for $14.98. Three days later, there was a second charge for something like $12.14.

We resolved the issue to our benefit through his card company, but we did a little digging on the company listed in the transaction and found that this is apparently a rather common thing for them to do. I eMailed PPM and told them what was going on so that they had the option of doing something about it, and they were actually quite interested in the situation.

They charged you $27 to leave a freakin' 30 second message on my voice mail? And they do this often? You might want to contact a local class action lawyer to see if they will take the case.

[Maj]

They charged you $27 to leave a freakin' 30 second message on my voice mail? And they do this often? You might want to contact a local class action lawyer to see if they will take the case.

Ess' card company refused to let the charges go through, and the charges were refunded. And we did report it to a law firm that's currently suing the company in California.

So no worries for us - it all worked out. But it's something that I thought the Market should know so that they can change payphone companies/rip out the phones/hang warning signs/whatever so that other people who may be intimidated by the company's run around have a warning in advance.

[Count Arioch the 28th]

I'm going to therapy starting tomorrow.

I'm also hoping to be getting on crazy pills within the month.

With any luck, I can further reduce the crap I've been carrying with me my entire life.

[K]

I'm going to therapy starting tomorrow.

I'm also hoping to be getting on crazy pills within the month.

With any luck, I can further reduce the crap I've been carrying with me my entire life.

Good luck, man.

[Whatever]

If you can, try more than one therapist. Finding the right person to talk to can make a huge difference.

[Orion]

A huge percentage of therapists are either terrible, or terrible for you (in my experience). Don't be afraid to walk away from one you don't like, but don't cancel on him until you've made an appointment with someone else.

[Juton]

A huge percentage of therapists are either terrible, or terrible for you (in my experience). Don't be afraid to walk away from one you don't like, but don't cancel on him until you've made an appointment with someone else.

This is really good advice.

[Count Arioch the 28th]

The last one I had was worthless. She kept asking me "How does that make you feel" every time I said something, even if I was explaining how something made me feel.

EDIT: I've come to the conclusion that even if she's very skilled and talented and intelligent, a woman can't understand my problems. It's nothing personal against her and this is no slight whatsoever to the gender at large, but I have gotten the impression from every woman I've talked to candidly that they just don't "get it".

[CatharzGodfoot]

The last one I had was worthless. She kept asking me "How does that make you feel" every time I said something, even if I was explaining how something made me feel.

That means she was doing things 'by the book'. Acting as a mirror can be a surprisingly effective therapy technique when the patient lacks introspection and/or just wants to rant about their problems to someone who will listen. It's unfortunate that computer programs are just as good at this technique, and that it tends to piss off people who are already introspective.

A better therapist will try to understand you as well as helping you understand yourself, and try to offer you their own insight.

[tzor]

It's unfortunate that computer programs are just as good at this technique, and that it tends to piss off people who are already introspective.

One of the biggest opponents of AI was a programmer who basically created a basic parser program that did just that. He was totally shocked at how people would pour out their hearts to this simple program. A better (funnier) example was the proposal by "The Inventions of Daedalus" of the auto confessional. Basically a booth with a basic responder circuit and a soothing facial image that would print out a receipt at the end of the session." (More effective than the one used in the movie "The adventures of Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother" but you get the point.)

[Orion]

I've only ever seen male therapists. In my case I think seeing a woman might be alright, but honestly I definitely prefer men. And for you, Count, I absoultely 100% agree that you need a male therapist.

[Maxus]

The last one I had was worthless. She kept asking me "How does that make you feel" every time I said something, even if I was explaining how something made me feel.

That means she was doing things 'by the book'. Acting as a mirror can be a surprisingly effective therapy technique when the patient lacks introspection and/or just wants to rant about their problems to someone who will listen. It's unfortunate that computer programs are just as good at this technique, and that it tends to piss off people who are already introspective.

I've done that. A lot of what people want is a sympathetic ear--a listener with the feeling of being on their side. Although I don't go 'how does that make you feel'. I just listen like a black hole and make agreeing noises and the occasional relevant comment while they work it out on their own.

[fbmf]

Confidential to the douche wad who first thought up the idea that APA and/or MLA format was a good idea for anything except a scholarly paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal (for which I more or less concede the necessity of uniformity):

I'd like to kick your bare genitals while wearing a golf shoe.

Game On,
fbmf

[Count Arioch the 28th]

Two more job openings. One great, the other less great but tolerable and pays well. Here's hoping (and yes, I checked and double-checked to make sure I didn't pull the same boner as I did last time).

[fectin]

Confidential to the douche wad who first thought up the idea that APA and/or MLA format was a good idea for anything except a scholarly paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal (for which I more or less concede the necessity of uniformity):

I'd like to kick your bare genitals while wearing a golf shoe.

Game On,
fbmf

Could be worse: "custom" citation requirements.

Here's a secret though: if you're not in an English class, and your citations are obviously internally inconsistent, no-one will catch on.

[Neeeek]

Confidential to the douche wad who first thought up the idea that APA and/or MLA format was a good idea for anything except a scholarly paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal (for which I more or less concede the necessity of uniformity):

I'd like to kick your bare genitals while wearing a golf shoe.

Game On,
fbmf

Could be worse: "custom" citation requirements.

Here's a secret though: if you're not in an English class, and your citations are obviously internally inconsistent, no-one will catch on.

They will if you are in court.

[Cynic]

I think my family (3 people) set a new record high* at the library.

We now have 54 books checked out.



*Probably not. There are several college towns around.

[fectin]

Confidential to the douche wad who first thought up the idea that APA and/or MLA format was a good idea for anything except a scholarly paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal (for which I more or less concede the necessity of uniformity):

I'd like to kick your bare genitals while wearing a golf shoe.

Game On,
fbmf

Could be worse: "custom" citation requirements.

Here's a secret though: if you're not in an English class, and your citations are obviously internally inconsistent, no-one will catch on.

They will if you are in court.

Do legal documents require MLA? I thought they had their own requirement for citing cases, and whatever you could get away with for anything else.