I'm trans and was personally never able to get through the entire story when it was first published. It irritated me somehow, but it was more of a flow/word choice thing for me, I found it tough to absorb the content/context.

I can still remember the backlash, and I'm still incredibly mad people rushed to judge the author. That seems to be the most common reaction to everything now. "How can I get mad about this thing, rar rar?!?!" Nice to see she got some apologies, but why can't people hold their judgement for a second anymore (thanks, Internet!).

Sigh.

Doctors and therapists have pushed me to try it my entire life, as I have ADHD-i, ASD, and major depression/anxiety (late 40s). After literal decades of wrestling with the entire topic from one direction or another, I've come to the conclusion I do less psychic damage to myself by not even trying at this point. Basically, It would have a relatively large likelihood of increasing anxiety and/or depression each time I practiced, to the point it was almost a guaranteed trigger to spiraling by the time I gave it up. (Which would've been sometime in about 2020 or so?)

None of this is to say you shouldn't keep trying! Just attempt to be aware when it's having more of a detrimental effect on your mood than beneficial, and be prepared to shift your focus as needed.

I love the idea of a different way to tie my shoes. In practice I was never able to get the Fast Knot secure enough. It just always tied too loose and came undone for me.

Granted, I only tried for like a year, but it was far enough back I don't remember if I tried the Secure one or not. Just that I eventually gave up and went back to the standard double knot, which really is secure for me.

The horrors persist, but so you do. Continue to exist to spite the universe, if nothing else. <3

I never haggle.

Haggling always feels incredibly confrontational and disrespectful to me. Watching others do it makes me annnngry. Usually because I'm wanting to pay and leave, like 99% of the others in line behind them.

If someone is trying to scalp me for a few bucks on some used tech I'm selling online, it's even more pointless, as the web is full of used stuff. Why force me to get dressed and meet you somewhere if you aren't even interested in honoring the price I'm asking?! I'm typically more inclined to walk away or drastically increase the price at that point, because it feels like the buyer isn't respecting my time, just fucking with me. Why not reciprocate in kind at that point?

As others have pointed out, it's also very time-consuming: personally I'd rather pay what's on the sticker and move on. Wasting energy on mere cents or dollars is never worth my time.

Definitely a Stellar's. And they definitely love emptying bird feeders. Typically looking for something they like that's not even in the feeder, seemingly. :/

I'm so sorry. It's tricky for everyone, I suspect. Maybe more so for some.

I wish I had some expert tips, but I never had any luck myself, and eventually gave up. It just always hurt too much when everything was secure enough not to "pop out" on me. Which made leaving the house that way untenable as all heck: who wants to walk or drive with their groin aching from the deathgrip of pain holding them by their tender bits? :c

I hope you have more luck with the gaff. It's something I never got around to exploring, as I figured for me it would be more of the same constant dull ache. I'm old enough not to worry too much what people think if they notice, which I know isn't a solution for everyone.