<<Midwest Coffee Talk: The Tens>>

[vid]

It's ignorance. They simply don't understand what they're doing, why they're doing it, or how it impacts the people around them.

[rockyi]

Originally Posted by mobyhead

For me it's always been a constant roller-coaster. Up times followed by down times. 2008 was the suck. My brother committed suicide in May. One month later I lost my job of 13 years due to bank "down-sizing". I sighed a lot that year.

My really "bad" years are coming together more frequently......1975, 1979, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012......No real bad years in the whole decade of the 80's. Back then I would wake up in the morning to challenge the day and socialize all night....today I just wake up in the morning.

[Ayreonaut]

Just spent two nights in Victoria. I think there was some blood in my alcohol stream.

[LMich]

Originally Posted by Dralcoffin

I just can't imagine how people can perpetuate such a harmful atmosphere.

Really? Did you not go to middle school and high school? Anything that makes you "different" can be an in for bullying. I remember in middle school this one girl in my class that wasn't conventionally beautiful to put it kindly and decked out in braces and headgear and who happened to be an ethnic minority on top of that who was just absolutely tormented by some of the boys in my class. I think she was at our school for maybe a year or two and I'm not sure what happened to her, but to this day I feel guilty for not doing anything to try and stop them from doing it.

Kids can be some cruel little bastards if left to their own devices. Fortunately, outside of that continued instance that I can remember, my school was so small and tight-knit that bullying usually only went on so long before something was done about it (the teachers could never claim ignorance because of how small the school was). But even in this more controlled environment than most it went on. I can only imagine would it must be like in the schools where it's impossible for administration and the teaching staff to personally know all of their students.

[Strange Meat]

Or beat someone up. Get some respect.

[Dralcoffin]

Originally Posted by LMich

Really? Did you not go to middle school and high school? Anything that makes you "different" can be an in for bullying.

I did, but I was an oblivious high schooler. I was all withdrawn and only paid attention to a few kids I knew really well. The whole "sit at a corner of a lunch room and not talk to anyone" kid; that was me. I was this depressing, depressed little piece of crap, and how I wish I had acted differently then.

Thank God I grew out of that. College has helped me become so much more aware of what's going on around me, but the past year I've also realized just how screwed up the world is. But now I want to help change something, even if it's something small. I'm considering going to the GLBT group here on campus and seeing if I can help organize events or something to help out. I never get around to doing things like that though; a physics degree takes up a lot of time and this forum sucks too much of my free time away too.

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by Dralcoffin

Thank God I grew out of that. College has helped me become so much more aware of what's going on around me, but the past year I've also realized just how screwed up the world is. But now I want to help change something, even if it's something small. I'm considering going to the GLBT group here on campus and seeing if I can help organize events or something to help out. I never get around to doing things like that though; a physics degree takes up a lot of time and this forum sucks too much of my free time away too.

Unfortunately, the "adult/real/business/whatever world" is more like High School than College ...

[touraccuracy]

Originally Posted by Ayreonaut

Just spent two nights in Victoria. I think there was some blood in my alcohol stream.

excellent.

Originally Posted by LMich

Really? Did you not go to middle school and high school? Anything that makes you "different" can be an in for bullying. I remember in middle school this one girl in my class that wasn't conventionally beautiful to put it kindly and decked out in braces and headgear and who happened to be an ethnic minority on top of that who was just absolutely tormented by some of the boys in my class. I think she was at our school for maybe a year or two and I'm not sure what happened to her, but to this day I feel guilty for not doing anything to try and stop them from doing it.

Kids can be some cruel little bastards if left to their own devices. Fortunately, outside of that continued instance that I can remember, my school was so small and tight-knit that bullying usually only went on so long before something was done about it (the teachers could never claim ignorance because of how small the school was). But even in this more controlled environment than most it went on. I can only imagine would it must be like in the schools where it's impossible for administration and the teaching staff to personally know all of their students.

i found that in middle school, it was sort of a layer or gradient; you had someone picking on you and you deflected that onto someone lower than yourself in the food chain. i was picked on quite a bit and i picked on one or two kids to try and deflect the attention onto someone else. you'll do anything to get out from being at the bottom of that food chain. i'm friends with those kids now though, things changed quite a bit in high school.

[Dralcoffin]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

Unfortunately, the "adult/real/business/whatever world" is more like High School than College ...

I've heard that, although I'm looking towards a career in academia and hard science, which I've read is sheltered somewhat from economic and social vagaries.

That's enough about me; I hate describing myself to people I don't know and I've already said way too much.

P.S. Where can you change your username? I hate mine; the "Dr." is a holdover from when I was considering medicine, AL are initials, and Coffin is an old nickname that has this bizarre story behind it.

[vid]

^Go to the Forum Issues section, there is a stickied "Name change request" thread.

Originally Posted by LMich

Fortunately, outside of that continued instance that I can remember, my school was so small and tight-knit that bullying usually only went on so long before something was done about it (the teachers could never claim ignorance because of how small the school was).

In my high school, which only had about 700 students at the time, the teachers had to be forced to a tolerance course to be convinced to do something about rampant anti-gay bullying. Several teachers and one of the vice-principals made very homophobic remarks at the time and none of them lost their jobs or were suspended for it.

That was in 2005. In Canada. Same sex marriage had already been legalized and the teachers at my school had to be forced to learn how to respect gay youth. Some of them were really pissed off by the experience and treated a few students like shit because of it.

As I've mentioned before, there were a few instances in which I simply stopped going to school on a regular basis.

[jd3189]

Originally Posted by Dralcoffin

I just can't imagine how people can perpetuate such a harmful atmosphere.

Well,humanity isn't perfect.

[Dralcoffin]

Originally Posted by vid

^Go to the Forum Issues section, there is a stickied "Name change request" thread.

Thanks. I've posted; now to see what happens.

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by Dralcoffin

I've heard that, although I'm looking towards a career in academia and hard science, which I've read is sheltered somewhat from economic and social vagaries.

Well I work in the environmental consulting business with a background in soft science, hard history and business. I don't like it.

[Dralcoffin]

So far, I'm liking physics/astronomy. What I get to study is absolutely fascinating. Programming, not so much, but no discipline is perfect.

[Centropolis]

aw fuck man, i love the art of law. i'm an art man, not a science man. i dont want to spend a lot of time doing stupid ass shit, either. i'm like a southern country lawyer at heart (too many dumbass Grisham books growing up).

Tulane law '15. ?

[1ajs]

vid says: its funny, even in the middle of summer when days are longest I am still getting up before sunrise

vid says:I have a thick blanket but I usually need it like bitch black

vid says:bitch black omg

1ajs says:lol

vid says:I like it dark

1ajs says: hahahahahah

vid says:my mom calls me room "the cave"

vid says:its dark, warm, and red tinted

vid says:its like I live i na giant vagina

vid says:so ironic

[rockyi]

I hate it when I'm at work and have to use the bathroom and the toilet seat is really warm. This is one instance where I prefer it cool.

My two cents.

[vid]

OMG Why did you post that???? Look at all the spelling errors! Guys, I wasn't drunk, for seriously.

Originally Posted by rockyi

I hate it when I'm at work and have to use the bathroom and the toilet seat is really warm. This is one instance where I prefer it cool.

My two cents.

Yeah that is gross. Interacting with someone elses butt warmth. Any where you sit and it is still warm is really weird.

[rockyi]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

my mom calls me room "the cave"

1ajs is really Popeye?

[Dralcoffin]

Holy hell, it's raining!