What Made you Smile/What Ticked you off Today?

[Erik_Twice]

Even in this forum, in which the overwhelming majority is thoughtful, extremely nice and full of people who give the benefit of the doubt I'm sure a good chunk think I'm some kind of weird extremist.

Hahaha, no, we just think you're European.

Isn't that a synonym Ack?

Still, I appreciate it. I'm in a terrible mood and it made me laugh

[Key-Glyph]

I've been accused of being a homophobe for saying "not all gay people are effeminate" in class. It's really toxic and it sucks.

Wait, what? How does that even work?

Erik_Twice: No, I don't believe that every individual in an entire group of people unfailingly fits their exaggerated cultural stereotype.
That_Guy: YOU MUST BE A HOMOPHOBE THEN
Everyone_Else: wat

I mean, that doesn't even make sense. They're not just mislabeling you as an extremist -- they don't even have their categories of extremism sorted out.

[Forlorn Drifter]

I've been accused of being a homophobe for saying "not all gay people are effeminate" in class. It's really toxic and it sucks.

Wait, what? How does that even work?

Erik_Twice: No, I don't believe that every individual in an entire group of people unfailingly fits their exaggerated cultural stereotype.
That_Guy: YOU MUST BE A HOMOPHOBE THEN
Everyone_Else: wat

I mean, that doesn't even make sense. They're not just mislabeling you as an extremist -- they don't even have their categories of extremism sorted out.

I've seen some odd things like this pop up. There was an LGBT group who invited me to a thing a while back, and a group of feminists with very upset with the transgender folks, because they argued they were helping to push stereotypes about gender or something along those lines. I'm not even totally sure how they were basing their argument.

[Erik_Twice]

Wait, what? How does that even work?

Erik_Twice: No, I don't believe that every individual in an entire group of people unfailingly fits their exaggerated cultural stereotype.
That_Guy: YOU MUST BE A HOMOPHOBE THEN
Everyone_Else: wat

I mean, that doesn't even make sense. They're not just mislabeling you as an extremist -- they don't even have their categories of extremism sorted out.

It's simply a gut reaction, they were so sure about their position that they saw a complain against it as being opposed to the position as a whole.

The girls who were involved thought gay men were effeminate. They didn't think badly of them or anything, in fact, they were arguing against homophobia that day.They simply had a flawed image of gay people because we were all teens and didn't know any better.

Then I made a complain about what they were saying. That is, I opposed them. And if I was opposing them it must mean I had a problem with what they were saying and since they were defending gay men in their mind it must mean I was a homophobe.

Now this is easy to spot because it's clearly dumb. But often you have an opinion which is not so clear-cut and people will still aggressively assume the worst. And even if you explain yourself, many people will still hold a grudge because they feel you are wrong and they will remember those feelings more than they will remember what you said, specially if it was a difficult argument.

There was an LGBT group who invited me to a thing a while back, and a group of feminists with very upset with the transgender folks, because they argued they were helping to push stereotypes about gender or something along those lines. I'm not even totally sure how they were basing their argument.

This is extremely common. For many years a sizable portion of feminists claimed that transwomen were some sort of evil patriarchal inside agents that wanted to become women to infiltrate their spaces and rape them.

Wish I was kidding.

[MrPopo]

Seriously, can we just start landing people on Mars so I can escape this insanity?

[Luke]

Seriously, can we just start landing people on Mars so I can escape this insanity?

Canada is much closer.


Smile: Being part of a peer support group for the DAV (Disabled America Veterans). I'm far better suited to assist them with fundraising/accounting/finance/marketing, but this is a start to climbing the ladder, which is a ladder I plan on climbing quickly.

Mentoring vets is challenging, and at times frightening, but if I've ever had a "calling" this is it. My gal pal Nikki (name drop! She was Miss Iowa 2013) has been giving me great advice, although her focus is on kids with physical disabilities.

So! Simple challenge!

Well, simple for me, mind boggling frustrating for others. Few steps (and feel free to use your elbow as a nub, but no cheating):

1) Using only one hand, dress yourself.
2) Putting on underwear doesn't count. Pants, socks, shirt (with buttons), and belt.
3) With your shoes on your feet, tie your shoelaces with one hand (again, you can use your elbow to assist if you'd like).
4) Let me know how you did and what was your biggest obstacle.

Or don't. Your world.

I'm also working on creating funds for a center for children who have parents with disabilities. "Your Daddy is going to come home a bit different" is something that needs to be addressed with care and by specialists with experience.

Lots more in the works, so don't expect me to be around as often as I used to be.

Smile: Going to the ECU vs. Temple game tonight with some long time friends. We're going to pack six dudes into an '84 Ford Festiva that is painted purple and gold...somehow.

Smile: On top of the museum, DAV, and current consulting jobs, I picked up a few more short term consulting jobs.

Smile: The Cubs won their division. The Mets brought the brooms to Wrigley for the NLCS, but all in all this was a great season for my Cubbies.

Frown: Time crunch. Meeting at 4pm. Friends arrive at 5pm. Game is at 7pm. I do not want to miss the kickoff, but it seems inevitable that we'll miss it. You've got the "Hello's", the driving, the parking, the punching, the standing in line...Never a dull moment.

[Ack]

So! Simple challenge!

Well, simple for me, mind boggling frustrating for others. Few steps (and feel free to use your elbow as a nub, but no cheating):

1) Using only one hand, dress yourself.
2) Putting on underwear doesn't count. Pants, socks, shirt (with buttons), and belt.
3) With your shoes on your feet, tie your shoelaces with one hand (again, you can use your elbow to assist if you'd like).
4) Let me know how you did and what was your biggest obstacle.

Or don't. Your world.

Done it. Broke my hand a few years ago and spent several weeks dressing with only one hand.

[emwearz]

So! Simple challenge!

Well, simple for me, mind boggling frustrating for others. Few steps (and feel free to use your elbow as a nub, but no cheating):

1) Using only one hand, dress yourself.
2) Putting on underwear doesn't count. Pants, socks, shirt (with buttons), and belt.
3) With your shoes on your feet, tie your shoelaces with one hand (again, you can use your elbow to assist if you'd like).
4) Let me know how you did and what was your biggest obstacle.

It is 6:27 AM and I just saw this on my phone, so I figured, why not.

1/2/3/4) I woke my girlfriend up as when I was trying to put my pants on, I kicked down too hard and it made a big thump so I stopped and crept out of the room as stealthy as possible.

[nullPointer]

So! Simple challenge!

Luke! Glad to see you around man! I was just today wondering if you were going to be the next one showing up in an APB thread. It's awesome that you're helping to make a difference for the better in the lives of others. You've got a great attitude for it.

Well, simple for me, mind boggling frustrating for others. Few steps (and feel free to use your elbow as a nub, but no cheating):

1) Using only one hand, dress yourself.
2) Putting on underwear doesn't count. Pants, socks, shirt (with buttons), and belt.
3) With your shoes on your feet, tie your shoelaces with one hand (again, you can use your elbow to assist if you'd like).
4) Let me know how you did and what was your biggest obstacle.

I haven't attempted this yet, but I can say unquestioningly that the shoe tying thing would be my Achilles heel in this endeavor. Luckily for me Merrell Mocs are some of the most perfectly designed footwear for my feet, and they're slip-ons. Seriously it's as if they designed a shoe just for me with my feet specifically in mind.

Or don't. Your world.

Oh you.

[Luke]

Done it. Broke my hand a few years ago and spent several weeks dressing with only one hand.

What was your biggest obstacle?

Glad to see you around man!

Happy to be around, and it's always a pleasure hearing from you.

The shoe tying can be very tricky, especially if you think there is only one way to tie them. I do tie my shoes with a traditional knot, but there is also a very easy way to tie your shoes with one hand and an easier knot.

NO cheating! Or cheat. I won't be able to tell.

Hint. You can tie a knot with only one lace.