Thread "Happy 2021! General Discussion Thread" in forum "Comic Talk and General Discussion *"

Posted at 7:08AM, Aug. 14, 2021

Genejoke wrote:

Anthropology is a science, but given what it's the study of I can imagine belief could come into it a little more than some other scientific fields.
what do I know, I'll never claim to be an expert…

On a different note, there's been a mass shooting in the UK. granted it's not the first but they are uncommon, anyway the thing that got me was the shooter has been said to be involved in Incel culture. It made me wonder, would something like that have happened without the internet making it easier for such subcultures to evolve?

Anthropology is supposed to study the belief systems on their own merits not as orthodox Canon or revealed truth which is what the Wiccan Anthropology degree holder was doing. Her insights are interesting as a believer but not necessarily factual like I mentioned about previous recently re-evaluated research like Margaret Mead and the lies told by researchers about the Dogon tribes supposed advanced knowledge about the universe.

Incel is another subculture belief system just begging for major study.

Posted at 7:08AM, Aug. 14, 2021

Genejoke wrote:

On a different note, there's been a mass shooting in the UK. granted it's not the first but they are uncommon, anyway the thing that got me was the shooter has been said to be involved in Incel culture. It made me wonder, would something like that have happened without the internet making it easier for such subcultures to evolve?

I don't think it's just a case of the internet making it easier. I think a side effect of social media algorithms is that they actively promote the growth of these rabbit holes and funnel people into them. There's a lot worse to come if this isn't addressed.

Posted at 10:08AM, Aug. 14, 2021

usedbooks wrote:
I decided to retire from breeding rats, a hobby older than all my other hobbies. I started in 2001. Man, life can change a lot in 20 years. I had the rats through it all. (I was a teenager when I started. o_o I am now an old.)

I nearly lost a favorite pet in labor in February. But I wanted to end on a high note, so I have some new baby rats, my last baby rats. Tbh, it feels pretty good. I loved breeding but it was stressful, and hobbies should bring joy, not heartache. I'm keeping nine of my 15 new babies. I plan to continue keeping rats in the future but not breeding them.

I love genetics and breeding. My plan is to eventually get a couple acres and raise chickens. I have three pet hens now (middle of the city, small city yard). Chickens are fun and easy, and (most importantly) I don't feel any emotional bond to them.

I don't usually get involved that much in discussions, since I'm new and it doesn't matter. But I kinda wish I'd seen this before. Found a little hairless creature on the road I thought was dead. It looked a bit like a hiarless kitten, but with longer hind legs. Had no idea what it was, but then I saw it was breathing. It was alive. For some reason I couldn't just leave it, so took it with me. Found it was a baby rat from checking the net. It's eyes still closed. Probably the crows around here got at the mother and she abandoned it in a panic or got taken/both.

And tried to nurse it back to health, but I didn't really have anything I needed to try and nurse it back to health and it would take me next Monday to get to anywhere (it was sunday). It also had blood on its nose I noticed later which I suspect meant internal injuries. Didn't really have a clue what to do, so I kept it warm.
It was dead by Monday morning.

At least it spent its last moments in warmth.

Posted at 4:08PM, Aug. 14, 2021

Ironscarf wrote:
Genejoke wrote:

On a different note, there's been a mass shooting in the UK. granted it's not the first but they are uncommon, anyway the thing that got me was the shooter has been said to be involved in Incel culture. It made me wonder, would something like that have happened without the internet making it easier for such subcultures to evolve?

I don't think it's just a case of the internet making it easier. I think a side effect of social media algorithms is that they actively promote the growth of these rabbit holes and funnel people into them. There's a lot worse to come if this isn't addressed.

That's an interesting and scary thought. It's quite sad really, I reckon many would go a whole different route with the right support.

Posted at 6:08AM, Aug. 22, 2021

man…life. i found my old account on here and was reading through posts way back from like 2008 when i was in high school, it's…erm, interesting to see how much i've changed even from a small bit of text. i do wish i wouldn't have deleted everything, as seeing my old pages and stuff would've been cool, but i've still got those saved away.

i've been reworking my comic, figuring out what i want to do with it, where i want to go with it. what i'm trying now, while i liked the result from the first page, i find myself second guessing a lot. i'd really like to get back to work on something quite soon, as it always tended to make me happy.

also dealing with a cervical sprain, it's been a rough time and between that and work, at some point i must've pinched a nerve in my neck or…something?? but have been dealing with this since monday, and tried working like 3 shifts in a manner that quite probably made the situation worse, but i didn't want to lose my job as i just got back working there. to say that everything is a bit of a mess right now is an understatement, but that's what taking it one day at a time is for.

i just read through one of my old favorites on here, from start to finish. probably the first comic i've read in months. it was really really nice. and it's also really nice seeing a lot of old familiar names and avatars. hope you're all doing well :) (Ryuthehedgewolf was my old name)

also surprised this is my very first post on my newer account, v cool

Posted at 8:08AM, Aug. 23, 2021

Ryuthehedgewolf? I remember you, which is no mean feat for me these days, hope you're feeling somewhat better soon. Comics are definitely the best medicine, aside from laughter. And actual medicine.

Posted at 6:08PM, Aug. 26, 2021

welcome back, nicolaimcfist! I don't think i ever knew ya, but welcome back nonetheless!

Posted at 7:09PM, Sep. 2, 2021

Sorry if I had been absent on this site for a bit. Been through a lot though. I am working on the fourth issue of my webcomic while at the same time I have been working on the printing addition. I should be finished soon before the big announcement. Anyway, here is a test cover for you all before the official one comes out (note the UPC CODE is a test code before I buy my own). :).

Posted at 7:09PM, Sep. 2, 2021

nikolaimcfist wrote:
Ryuthehedgewolf was my old name

Didn't you used to post about getting stronger and exercise a lot? :D
And you were also super positive all the time?

Posted at 8:09PM, Sep. 2, 2021

MegaRdaniels wrote:
Anyway, here is a test cover

Nice cover!

————————-

Hey!
Yesterday while I was working on my computer I was getting bored so I had to take some time off and look at facebook for a while. As I was perusing I came across that Sponge Bob horror comic of Patrick turning into a real starfish and eating Sponge Bob.
I'd seen that many times before but THIS TIME it had a whole lot more pages!
I started reading and couldn't stop.
That was one of the best can comics I've ever read. First class piece of work.

That praise doesn't come lightly, I'm not really a fan of fan comics, horror comics, or reading comics on Facebook. Plus, I've been reading entire webcomics every second week for maybe 14 years now (at times it was every single week), to feature for the site.

It was GOOD. Epic work. Wish it was hosted here. But sadly it couldn't be featured because it has copyrighted characters XD

Posted at 9:09PM, Sep. 3, 2021

The page organisation feature is LIVE now!

Posted at 5:09AM, Sep. 7, 2021

holy sh!t ! i just tried it … thats pretty coool m

Posted at 7:09PM, Sep. 7, 2021

lothar wrote:
holy sh!t ! i just tried it … thats pretty coool m

Thanks man!

Posted at 7:09AM, Sep. 8, 2021

I used it to reorganise all my pages and put them back in the right order easy as can be. No more fancy jigsaw puzzles for me.

Posted at 8:09PM, Sep. 16, 2021

So quiet here haha! What are you all doing?

Well I've broken up with my ex again… We may get together again… I don't know. I still love her but we're not really getting on.

Posted at 4:09PM, Sep. 20, 2021

This place is wayyy to quiet.
It's like we are all drifting away in space. The communication lag time gets longer and longer.

Posted at 12:09AM, Sep. 21, 2021

Yup the feature works great, has made life a hell of a lot easier when inserting pages when I have a four month buffer.

In other news I've made some lifestyle changes lately, have given up smoking, that's proving a challenge but progress is being made. My diet has changed, less processed crap and fewer carbs and the weight seems to be dropping a bit. Had some dental surgery, that was unpleasant as teeth did NOT want to come out. They gave me all the anaesthetic they could and it still hurt. One in particular… the nerve pain as they ripped it out. UGH!

Next up is surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome, not looking forward to the recovery period as I won't be able to do much with my right hand for weeks.
After healing they will do the other hand.

Then if I shift some weight and surgeon feels it's safe I might finally be able to have spinal surgery next year.

Posted at 6:09PM, Sep. 22, 2021

Good on you, Genejoke! Kudos for making those efforts. Best of luck on the surgeries too ✅

Posted at 9:09PM, Sep. 22, 2021

Yeah, kudos GJ! That's huge!
Facing pain and challenges like that is pretty damn hard.

@Lothar- Exactly! We're all off exploring the solar system. Time dilation is getting longer and longer…

————

I'm still on and off with my ex. Just taking things as they go :)
I love her a lot

Posted at 8:09AM, Sep. 23, 2021

Genejoke wrote:

In other news I've made some lifestyle changes lately, have given up smoking, that's proving a challenge but progress is being made.

That's a tough one. I wanted to give up for years but couldn't get the motivation. What finally did it was running out of money and cigarettes at the same time, so it was either hold up the corner shop or go cold turkey. Well done for tackling all of those issues.

Posted at 10:09AM, Sep. 23, 2021

Ironscarf wrote:
Genejoke wrote:

In other news I've made some lifestyle changes lately, have given up smoking, that's proving a challenge but progress is being made.

That's a tough one. I wanted to give up for years but couldn't get the motivation. What finally did it was running out of money and cigarettes at the same time, so it was either hold up the corner shop or go cold turkey. Well done for tackling all of those issues.

Good on you both. It's so hard to do.

———-

My ex is having trouble with alcoholism again. I finally realised that was the entirety of her issues. She's great when she doesn't drink…
But when she does, try and suggest it's a problem and you're "gas-lighting" or "manipulative" or a "narcissist" - which I finally realised was a way of avoiding the issue and saying it was someone else's fault rather than actually accepting it and dealing with it.

Posted at 4:09PM, Sep. 23, 2021

Some people turn psycho when they drink. I don't know about your situation but I know some people are just kind of holding back the rage when they are sober and alcohol just gives them an excuse to let loose the demons.I had to cut her out of my life after she tried to kill me.

Posted at 9:09PM, Sep. 23, 2021

lothar wrote:
Some people turn psycho when they drink. I don't know about your situation but I know some people are just kind of holding back the rage when they are sober and alcohol just gives them an excuse to let loose the demons.I had to cut her out of my life after she tried to kill me.

There's definitely an aspect of that. It lowers the inhibitions and lets the madness flow… All the anger, petty slights, any and all impulses are acted on.
She's usually got enough control not to get physical though.

I'm really sorry that happened to you man.

Posted at 4:10PM, Oct. 14, 2021

It's crazy How this year is almost over. Like time is going faster. So much I wanna do but I have to spend my time doing crap I don't like

Posted at 9:10PM, Oct. 15, 2021

lothar wrote:
It's crazy How this year is almost over. Like time is going faster. So much I wanna do but I have to spend my time doing crap I don't like

Hi Lothar,

Advice given to me when I was a high school freshman, twenty years ago—

1. Do what you Need to do.
2. Do what you Want.
3. Do nothing else.