It's Personal...

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 5:01 pm

Well, I've seen worse ideas...

RobbyPants · Post by **RobbyPants** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:57 am

I just got my four-year-old girl into (a very simplified version of) D&D Sunday night. Now, she's been asking to play on a daily basis.

I'm so proud of her.

Ted the Flayer · Post by **Ted the Flayer** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 6:50 pm

So, haggling on a car price.

Let's say (to give an example), that I'm looking at a car at a lot that they have 10k on, and KBB says is worth 8.5k. How far should I try to haggle the price down?

RobbyPants · Post by **RobbyPants** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 7:08 pm

I'm not sure, but one thing I've heard is that silence (on your end), can really help you. People naturally want to fill voids in conversation when they feel there should be talking, and salesmen are no exception.

It might work for you to simply mention that the car's KBB value is $8,500 and just not say anything else. If he comes in with a lower offer (but not low enough for what you want), stay silent. I've both read that this is effective, and I have a friend who said he had a lot of luck with it, too.

Meikle641 · Post by **Meikle641** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:12 am

So, that girl I mentioned before? Yeah. After acting interested in me and such, she suddenly got weird.

Decides she doesn't like the band for the concert we were supposed to go to. I say I'm disappointed, but whatever, and ask what music she does like.

"Can I ask you something?"
Well, that's never a good sign. "What, did I misread things?"

"That's my question. What are you expecting from this exchange?"

"Company for a show," says I. I say that I was interested and wanted to see how well we get along in a social thing, blah blah. Y'know, normal expectations for a fun date, right?

Doesn't bother to respond, so I say that answers that. I then wished her well, and said goodbye.

Some time later she claims she didn't mean to mislead me, etc.

I don't get the change. It was like a switch was flicked, I dunno.

Anyway, between income tax BS and other things, that pushed me a bit over the edge yesterday. Got through work without freaking out about anything, then got hammered and played TF2 with a bro. Woke up feeling like a million bucks, and still feel that way.

Of course, now I'm stuck with multiple tickets to the Protomen concert on April 2nd. Fuck.

Dr_Noface · Post by **Dr_Noface** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:34 am

That sucks, dude. But don't worry, you'll be blasting ass again in no time.

Count Arioch the 28th · Wed Mar 13, 2013 2:23 pm

Meikle641 wrote:So, that girl I mentioned before? Yeah. After acting interested in me and such, she suddenly got weird.

Decides she doesn't like the band for the concert we were supposed to go to. I say I'm disappointed, but whatever, and ask what music she does like.

"Can I ask you something?"
Well, that's never a good sign. "What, did I misread things?"

"That's my question. What are you expecting from this exchange?"

"Company for a show," says I. I say that I was interested and wanted to see how well we get along in a social thing, blah blah. Y'know, normal expectations for a fun date, right?

Doesn't bother to respond, so I say that answers that. I then wished her well, and said goodbye.

Some time later she claims she didn't mean to mislead me, etc.

I don't get the change. It was like a switch was flicked, I dunno.

Anyway, between income tax BS and other things, that pushed me a bit over the edge yesterday. Got through work without freaking out about anything, then got hammered and played TF2 with a bro. Woke up feeling like a million bucks, and still feel that way.

Of course, now I'm stuck with multiple tickets to the Protomen concert on April 2nd. Fuck.

Eh, women are just like that. Remember that you're better than any bitch out there and move on.

Kaelik · Post by **Kaelik** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 3:23 pm

Count Arioch the 28th wrote:Eh, women are just like that. Remember that you're better than any bitch out there and move on.

Oh look, Count thinks that some guy he's never met is better than every woman ever. That's a huge surprise, because normally Count doesn't articulate a worldview in which all women are somehow worse than all men.

sabs · Post by **sabs** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:15 pm

If you're taking Relationship Advice from the Count... You've already failed.

Meikle641 · Post by **Meikle641** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:03 pm

I think he means that you (singular) are better, but not much difference... yeah. Anyway.

I've shrugged this off, but dating is awfully frustrating. My last few dates I've been on... haven't gone well.

Count Arioch the 28th · Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:03 pm

I don't advocate my personal life choices to most people, but I will say this: regardless of whether you're a genetic toilet like me or some bronzed adonis that women throw themselves vagina-first towards regardless of what commitments they have, build an identity that has nothing to do with women. I don't care what anyone claims, no one is happy if they devote themselves to the whims and fancies of others. The amount of sex you receive is irrelevant compared to whether or not you can respect the person you see in the mirror.

A man chooses. A slave obeys. Remember that.

Orion · Post by **Orion** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:09 pm

It's indeed true that women are just like that, and you can't let it get you down. However, as the Den's resident Bronzed Adonis and Giant [EDITED] (Or F-BAG), let me assure you that men are also like that.

Count Arioch the 28th · Wed Mar 13, 2013 10:41 pm

I also must note that you'd think people would stop being shocked at the things I say. It's not like I'm saying new things...

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 11:25 pm

My son got into preschool because he had a language delay, and they felt he needed extra support. In preparation for kindergarten, though, they asked that I get him re-evaluated because he won't sit still.

The problem is that cognitively and linguistically, he's pretty much caught up to where he's supposed to be - but he won't sit still. In order to keep him eligible for preschool, his teachers want a diagnosis of "something" from a doctor. In order to keep him from getting lost by the system, his teachers want me to consider anything that will get him to stop moving, including medication. They originally thought that they would just hold him back in preschool for another year, but he tested too smart, and they're worried that boredom might exacerbate his problem.

The doctor, however, doesn't want to diagnose Giovanni with anything other than being a healthy four year old boy, and isn't willing to consider medication because one-on-one, there's not really much evidence of a problem. The doc especially doesn't want to consider medication because lack of evidence, age, and previous diagnosis of epilepsy.

I'm stuck in the middle running interference, with a large possibility of having to explain to my son why they won't let him go to school anymore. And if his behavior is too much of a problem for him in school next year, I may even end up homeschooling.

Count Arioch the 28th · Wed Mar 13, 2013 11:49 pm

When I wouldn't sit still my dad would knock me out of the chair. Try that.

Meikle641 · Post by **Meikle641** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 12:32 am

I'd guess he just needs a way to wear off some of his energy in a non-destructive way. He's a little boy, after all and there's likely nothing pathological about it.

It may get worse as he enters normal school; I know plenty have tried to get rid of recesses and many don't even have playground equipment. Don't really have solutions for you, but I can sympathize.

erik · Post by **erik** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 2:36 am

Maj wrote:My son got into preschool because he had a language delay, and they felt he needed extra support. In preparation for kindergarten, though, they asked that I get him re-evaluated because he won't sit still.

My kids are about in some similar straits, I reckon I'm trailing you slightly with a 4 year old and 2.5 year old who will be able to start preschool in September. My eldest has been able to be in preschool since turning 3 due to his language delay, and he's come a long way I think in large part due to the structure and exposure to other kids in a learning environment. At 3.5 years old he had no grammar and without that had a nigh impossible time grasping or expressing minimally complex thoughts.

I keep hoping that someday we'll have public preschool available without having to pay $200 bucks a week per kid. I hate worrying about what happens if he gets caught up, even though that's what I want.

I think my eldest is actually going to be just barely within the delay/autism spectrum that he'll be given the go-ahead to stay in preschool for next year. Too early to say on the youngest but at least it looks like he'll probably get in for 1 year of preschool on the public's dime. If not then they'll have to be home-preschooled since we're getting by now on about $30k/yr after my crappy past year of mostly-unemployment.

I was lucky myself in school because my parents did not medicate me for being hyper tho they were advised to put me on Ritalin by school functionaries, and my teachers endured my inability to stay put. I'd go to the back of the room and quietly play with legos/blocks or curl up into bookshelves to crawl around (I was super-tiny) while teachers gave lessons, and I'd be targeted with lesson questions to make sure I was actually paying attention (and I was, but I'm sure it didn't look like it). I'm sure it was more work for the teachers and I dunno how they kept the other kids in their seats while I was not, but I'm thankful things worked out.

My brother got held back a year for being emotionally unprepared for 2nd grade, and my mom likes to tell me that I would have been as well, except apparently so many kids in my class would have had to have been held back they passed us all on to 2nd grade. So maybe that circumstance is part of why I had some more slack cut my way.

Count Arioch the 28th · Thu Mar 14, 2013 2:37 am

How do you deal with living with racist family members that you are living with? Telling them to stfu got me exiled from the house. I am currently getting drunk but that is not longterm. I am talking about "i am joining the kkk and killing all the [EDITED]" level of racism.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 5:19 am

Make it look like an accident and hope you get the house?

PoliteNewb · Post by **PoliteNewb** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 6:29 am

Count Arioch the 28th wrote:I also must note that you'd think people would stop being shocked at the things I say. It's not like I'm saying new things...

We're not shocked at the things you say. We're annoyed that you persist in saying them.

Count wrote:How do you deal with living with racist family members that you are living with? Telling them to stfu got me exiled from the house. I am currently getting drunk but that is not longterm. I am talking about "i am joining the kkk and killing all the [EDITED]" level of racism.

On this one, I sympathize a lot, and wish I had a good solution for you (other than murder). Have you tried vicious sarcasm and pointing out that being a racist is retarded (or is that basically same result as the STFU attempt)?

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 3:23 pm

PoliteNewb wrote:
Count Arioch the 28th wrote:I also must note that you'd think people would stop being shocked at the things I say. It's not like I'm saying new things...
We're not shocked at the things you say. We're annoyed that you persist in saying them.

I, personally, think it's hilarious.

Ted the Flayer · Post by **Ted the Flayer** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:57 am

Managed to get my car. I decided to not get a loan at all and just buy a car with the money I saved up. It's got some years on it, but it's solid and has a good engine. It should last me for a while.

Have a new job, walked out of the old one without notice because the manager wouldn't stop staring at me. And he kept wandering over to me to talk to me like I was fucking retarded.

To give an example, I walked towards a shelf holding a bundle of boxes, and the fucker literally called over the walky-talkie and said publicly "Ted, you need to open the box BEFORE you put them on the shelf!" Later on, I was putting up two-packs of notebooks, and he took it upon himself to start cutting them open despite the fact that they were labeled and sold as a double pack (no barcodes on the individual items).

So I left a note saying I wasn't going back (the coward had left by the time my shift ended, the fucking tool), and mentioned I couldn't stand him staring at me and talking to me like I was stupid (I would have mentioned the fact that I'm not a fucking toddler and he doesn't need to slap my fingers every time my cart is six inches away from where I'm putting stuff up, but I ran out of room.)

What the fuck ever, my new job starts tomorrow, and my take-home pay is not only doubling, it's higher than it's been since before the economy went kablooey. I'll be making close to what he does as a store manager on my virst day, so it sounds like I win capitalism.

Meikle641 · Post by **Meikle641** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:08 am

Good on you, Ted.

I had an unpaid position like that in highschool shortly after I was discharged from the army. Apparently the auto parts shop up the street from the school is where they normally ship retards, and I'd foolishly gone there instead of doing a desk job. Co-workers constantly bitching if I so much as sat down for five minutes during the 4 hours a day I was there, talking to me like and calling me a retard, etc. Once I had my hours logged I left and never went back.

Maxus · Post by **Maxus** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 5:04 am

I'm lucky enough I didn't catch any of that when I started my current job.

Of course, the old guard (about half-gone, now) were so corrupt and lazy that the bosses jumped for joy when I showed up and started trying to do with the work