What Made you Smile/What Ticked you off Today?

[AppleQueso]

Maybe throwing yourself into a situation that you know will make you uncomfortable would be a good way to loosen up a bit and maybe get through a few of your problems?

Just a thought.

[BogusMeatFactory]

Maybe throwing yourself into a situation that you know will make you uncomfortable would be a good way to loosen up a bit and maybe get through a few of your problems?

Just a thought.

Very true. It helps to acknowledge your anxiety and go out on a limb. If your anxiety gets the best of you, admit it. Being open of your discomfort makes it a lot easier on yourself and on the people around you.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Dorms are absolutely the way to go if you're a college kid.

You're within walking distance from all your classes and cafeterias, you meet tons of people (and girls ), quality internet and phone service, you get set-up with a campus mailbox, etc... There are tons of perks.

I knew people who thought they had "outgrown" the dorms by age 19/20. They moved into apartments and quickly began to regret the decision as they now had to deal with slumlords (and there are tons around any college campus), cooking, driving to campus (in the snow), parking (in the snow), and other assorted nonsense.

Unless you live in a permanent resident (house or whatever) that's relatively close to your campus (as I happen to now) you should most certainly live in a dorm.

And fears of a sketchy roommate and whatnot are always overblown. Plus, it's pretty easy to switch rooms if you're in a dire situation. Most universities have "single rooms" anyway if you're into that.

[KitKatCara]

One of the things I really don't like about college though is that I'd have to stay in a dorm. That would drive me nuts, that many people that close. I've never shared a room, and haven't shared a bathroom in years, I don't think I could handle that. And, knowing my luck, I'd get a dorm with someone who doesn't speak English or is a complete douche.

I haven't looked out of state because it is more expensive. I couldn't afford a low end college here, let alone out of state.

You don't have to get a dorm. You can always rent an apartment or student house depending on how money is.

Also, out of state college is not always more expensive. If for whatever reason we have to move back to La, I can still attend my college online. I just have to come back for certain classes, and between pell grants and Stafford loans, that won't be a problem.

There are scholarships for everything. You said you were in FFA if I remember correctly. Why not go into agriculture? I know that when I was in FFA, I half assed everything and still got offered a scholarship in forestry. Some scholarships only require you to write an essay to apply.

College isn't like high school either. It's nothing like that. Teachers don't breathe down your neck and hassle you to turn shit in. You don't have a set 7 hours that you have to go. It's more laid back, but the work itself is usually harder. There also isn't little pricks hassling the teachers and getting them so pissed off that they don't teach.

You don't have to go into college right out of high school though, you can wait a few years. I dropped out of school thinking that working was more important and it was a waste of my time. (That particular school was, but because of how the teachers handled asshole kids, I didn't drop out thinking education was a waste of time.) I got a job and made actually really good money for an 18 year old, but I felt stuck. It was a job that I could climb the ladder and I could have stayed and made more money if I wasn't hot headed and flipped off my general manager and walked out. This is my fourth year out of high school and I'm just starting college.

Don't let your own fears and misconceptions hold you back. Take Jinx for example. All of you know how nervous and stressed out he gets. For him to move his family to a totally different state for a job that he just thought was a joke to apply for was a huge step for him. Sure, he is stressed out now, but this is nothing compared to how he felt when we lived with my parents. Both of us were stressed and felt suck, now we are living on our own, paying our bills, saving money and even have enough to occasionally go out on mini adventures around Houston.

You said that your dad would allow you to live there as long as you need to. It sounds like you have parents that love and support you. If you do go out on your own and it doesn't work out, you have them to fall back on. Don't be afraid if something doesn't work out. You are young, and we all learn from trial and error. You have to get out there to find out what works or doesn't work though.

[BoringSupreez]

All I have to say about college is remember that you are a paying customer. It's not high school, don't let anyone boss you around.


: Is anyone else getting really sick of the gaming media constantly trying to drum up issues? The Washington Redskins is a racist name, COD is causing violence in our young people, GTA is misogynistic, game developers treat women badly, there aren't enough games featuring black player-characters, games for girls are stereotypically "girly." Ugh, I just don't care. I don't freaking care at all. As far as videogame sites go Kotaku and Gamespot are the worst for pushing this stuff. In this regard they're starting to resemble the real media.

[dsheinem]

All I have to say about college is remember that you are a paying customer. It's not high school, don't let anyone boss you around.


: Is anyone else getting really sick of the gaming media constantly trying to drum up issues? The Washington Redskins is a racist name, COD is causing violence in our young people, GTA is misogynistic, game developers treat women badly, there aren't enough games featuring black player-characters, games for girls are stereotypically "girly." Ugh, I just don't care. I don't freaking care at all. As far as videogame sites go Kotaku and Gamespot are the worst for pushing this stuff. In this regard they're starting to resemble the real media.

Game-news websites don't typically engage in the "COD causes real world violence" shtick, so I'm not sure where you're getting that.

Everything else is not really about "trying to drum up issues" but rather the result of A) gaming getting bigger and B) having an abundance of older and more thoughtful people interested in the hobby. That means that gaming media sites' content will change accordingly to appeal to a broader set of readers. Do these discussions irritate people who want gaming to just stay the same as always? Sure. Are they important and vital to the future health of the industry and its cultural relevance? Absolutely.

[BoringSupreez]

All I have to say about college is remember that you are a paying customer. It's not high school, don't let anyone boss you around.


: Is anyone else getting really sick of the gaming media constantly trying to drum up issues? The Washington Redskins is a racist name, COD is causing violence in our young people, GTA is misogynistic, game developers treat women badly, there aren't enough games featuring black player-characters, games for girls are stereotypically "girly." Ugh, I just don't care. I don't freaking care at all. As far as videogame sites go Kotaku and Gamespot are the worst for pushing this stuff. In this regard they're starting to resemble the real media.

Game-news websites don't typically engage in the "COD causes real world violence" shtick, so I'm not sure where you're getting that.

Yeah that one doesn't belong there, that's the regular media's position.

Everything else is not really about "trying to drum up issues" but rather the result of A) gaming getting bigger and B) having an abundance of older and more thoughtful people interested in the hobby. That means that gaming media sites' content will change accordingly to appeal to a broader set of readers. Do these discussions irritate people who want gaming to just stay the same as always? Sure. Are they important and vital to the future health of the industry and its cultural relevance? Absolutely.

I think it very much is about "drumming up issues," and for the exact same reason any other journalism website or show does it: controversy draws viewers/clicks, and therefore creates ad revenue. However, I'm sick of it. I wish they'd find a less aggravating way to make money.

[BogusMeatFactory]

All I have to say about college is remember that you are a paying customer. It's not high school, don't let anyone boss you around.


: Is anyone else getting really sick of the gaming media constantly trying to drum up issues? The Washington Redskins is a racist name, COD is causing violence in our young people, GTA is misogynistic, game developers treat women badly, there aren't enough games featuring black player-characters, games for girls are stereotypically "girly." Ugh, I just don't care. I don't freaking care at all. As far as videogame sites go Kotaku and Gamespot are the worst for pushing this stuff. In this regard they're starting to resemble the real media.

Game-news websites don't typically engage in the "COD causes real world violence" shtick, so I'm not sure where you're getting that.

Everything else is not really about "trying to drum up issues" but rather the result of A) gaming getting bigger and B) having an abundance of older and more thoughtful people interested in the hobby. That means that gaming media sites' content will change accordingly to appeal to a broader set of readers. Do these discussions irritate people who want gaming to just stay the same as always? Sure. Are they important and vital to the future health of the industry and its cultural relevance? Absolutely.

I agree with you on this Dave wholeheartedly. Gaming is becoming bigger, reaching a much larger audience and therefor is facing the pressure of diversifying. What we are experiencing in the gaming industry is the same thing that stage plays, film and various other forms of media have faced when growing.

I do not think that the issue is that there are games that do, "Insert issue here," it is more that games do not do, "insert another issue here."

Games can still be games. We are not saying that every Grand Theft Auto game from here on out must make racial and gender sensitive decisions in their game. It is more like, the industry needs to start diversifying their works.

Also, you don't have to read those articles or take part in those discussions. Game News websites/ blogs do not deal exclusively on those topics. I can't look at the comments of any kotaku article related to Nintendo because it usually is the works of madmen.

[Flake]

Frown: woke this morning to a busted pipe under our lawn. Well, that's 350 dollars literally down the drain.

Smile: watching the New Adventures of Captain S with my step daughter. Now she wants a sega genesis.

[Forlorn Drifter]

You said that your dad would allow you to live there as long as you need to. It sounds like you have parents that love and support you. If you do go out on your own and it doesn't work out, you have them to fall back on. Don't be afraid if something doesn't work out. You are young, and we all learn from trial and error. You have to get out there to find out what works or doesn't work though.

I just watch too many people go off, go to college, get a degree... and then end up working a shit job here or going to the oil field. Rarely do I see someone go off and do something with themselves, and when I do, they were prepared to do it by the time they were 14. They had a plan, a design. I don't have that.

I could get scholarships, as you mentioned, especially in ag. But then again, why the hell should I need to go to college for ag? I've been telling people that's what I'll do, but I don't really know about that. There's only so many colleges good for ag around. Texas Tech, A&M, and Angelo State are pretty much the only options for me, and I'm not really thrilled by them. A&M is huge, full of people that went to my school, and absorbed over their football team, which usually sucks. Texas Tech somehow attracts most of the "country preps", and is in Lubbock, which I really don't know if I like or not. Angelo is one of the better options for me in many ways, but there isn't shit to do in San Angelo.