Re: Whoever said Atlas was probably one of those jackasses...

[JeffK]

Also, they can be angry as they please at me not being consistent emotionally; it's not my problem. It's a shame my personal character affects them so much. I haven't had this much attention since I made the mistake of dating crazy.

We're not angry so much as frusterated and maybe a bit sad, I certainly had my phases of failure-obsession and introversion in high school, but I was lucky enough to get over it eventually and it wasn't as bad as yours seems to be.

[ineededausername]

I just read this entire thread.
Sometimes, these forums are pretty creepy... One out of every three bitcoiners has issues.
Just yesterday I was wondering what the hell happened to PinkiePie...

[Rassah]

I haven't had this much attention since I made the mistake of dating crazy.

Woah-woah-woah. That sounds interesting! Care to share? Or would that make your headache worse?

[repentance]

I'm curious whether you chose Dr Branden because you believe he's the most qualified to treat you or because he was once Ayn Rand's lover.

He realized the flaws in her philosophy and I had come to similar insights... I thought I would give him a call in the name of those similarities.

Fair enough.  While I don't think that common philosophical ground automatically makes someone the best qualified person to advise or treat you, I totally understand that it can make them seem more approachable and make you feel like they're more likely to understand you - which in turn can make you more likely to seek help when you need it rather than trying to tough it out.

I have absolutely awesome mental health professionals now, but I've had some shocking ones in the past and I know that a few bad experiences in that regard can strongly influence your attitude towards the profession as a whole and the likelihood of you taking their advice.

[JeffK]

Wow. Someone didn't learn to take constructive criticism from people and move on. Son I am disappoint.

lol Matthew, this is just friendly conversation.

I don't think it is. I think it's a bunch of guys who are emotionally stable picking on your for not being consistant, and in the midst of it all, you're doing the same shit I did by defending yourself instead of just listening and accepting it. Nobody here cares about you or me or anyone-- until of course we start walking around like we want to be Bruce.

You don't have to agree with their political stance or lifestyles, but no real man can look himself in the mirror and know he's a man if he can't accept his mistakes and ask for help.

JeffK and Fatlass are assholes, but they're the kind of assholes who pick on little kids who can't do math-- they're doing it so that the little kids will actually learn math. Thick skin is pointless if your head is equally thick and real friends help each other so here's my help.

Stop talking about things until they're done, stop pretending your way is the only right way, and if you must be a public figure of some sort, don't share every little whim of an opinion without testing it thoroughly on some sort of pointless...forum...ohhhh...I see what you did there.  

My arms and legs are sore from working out yesterday and I have a headache. I have time to waste.

Don't stop this by the way, good consistent mood booster and helps with confidence, especially if you are careful with diet for bulking/cutting/whatever

Nope. Not yet. When I have it fleshed out and ready then I will reveal it. It's just not in its best interest otherwise. Thanks for your interest though.

I'm not so much interested in the project itself as I am in the framework (investors, escape plan, etc) you are building it on, since we all know your previous plans didn't have much past "make a forums post for investors" behind it.


Also, I don't fully understand your obsession with being the founder of a business. I mean, I won't bash it because I know I can geek out about Linux or swimming or beer, but at your age shouldn't you be drinking and wasting time with friends and hooking up with girls and generally figuring out how socializing with people works?

There's not many people that get along with me at my age. When I find the occasional mature friend or girlfriend, yeah, I'll chill. I'm not obsessed with being a founder of a business but creating value, bringing people value directly. I don't feel that I am making the most that I can cleaning toilets at Taco Bell.

Again, all I really want to do is create value for people and I plan to do that greatly through this venture. I will say I have consulted with various specialists to get this thing off the ground. I may not be the only one with passion invested into this. I have a financial consultant who is showing great interest. I am being very cautious with this to say the least.

The displaying of the name is only to build mystery and a nice press release.

You should look at what you like and realize what you have in common with your peers - you probably have a lot more in common with the ones you think are less "mature" than you think. You remind me of myself at your age; it took me years upon years of putting myself into situations with people very different from me to do a bit of growing up. If/when you get to college, I highly suggest you look into joining a fraternity when you get there - it's a huge opportunity for someone like you to do some unintentional learning and growing up.

I also don't get how someone who likes the idea of creating value for others is so stuck on the ideals of objectivism, which are generally very self-serving in nature. You seem like you'd be a better fit for some open-source sommunity than starting a business venture, unless the only people you are truly concerned in creating value for are your con-investors and co-workers.

[Rassah]

I haven't had this much attention since I made the mistake of dating crazy.

Woah-woah-woah. That sounds interesting! Care to share? Or would that make your headache worse?

It's not really interesting. It actually has a happy ending. We become good friends and now she is happy, etc. Insecurity doesn't build good relationships to say the least. You have to love yourself to truly love or at least to not be an annoying bitch that asks for affection all the time.

Heh, sounds like my first one For some reason I make it a point to stay friends with those I've dated long term. I spent so much time getting to know them and having them get to know me, why waste all that work or you can still manage to keep a good friend?

[JeffK]

Unremorsefully, I get a very selfish pleasure from building up other people. That's the cornerstone of objectivism that people don't seem to get.

If you'd rather be scorned as a stepping stone for another than revered as a contributor by many that's your decision.

[Rassah]

Perhaps Atlas still needs some work on expanding his vocabulary, and some confusion  is occuring from imprecise use of words?

[Rassah]

I am enjoying this Chopin solo too much.

Woah, hey, awesome. I love his stuff. Used to play a lot of it back when I was 9 (wishing I had time to re-learn how to play). Most people here have no idea who he is though

[rainingbitcoins]

In fact, if I commit suicide (which I won't) you can have the whole shebang.

How the fuck am I supposed to get Bitcoins from a dead man?

[Rassah]

What does "caress up" in goon parlance mean?

[rainingbitcoins]

What does "caress up" in goon parlance mean?

It means you aren't registered and are browsing with the word filter on.

[Rassah]

Atlas, why is a university not on your list of potential plans?

[rainingbitcoins]

Lolie, I have felt despair today and I will feel it in the future but I know how to take it with a smile. In the end, these severe emotions are only primal fear.

You know how to take it with a smile at this moment because you're manic and have no other choice. Like a guy on heroin who thinks he'll be shrouded in bliss for eternity.

[rainingbitcoins]

"I felt compelled to exercise until I couldn't go anymore and also I'm awake posting about this stuff at 2AM on a school night" are signs in favor of a manic state, not proof against it.

[repentance]

Given the number of threads I've read from young Americans who are in significant debt from going to university to get essentially useless degrees, I think it's wise for young people contemplating tertiary education to think about what they want from further education and to realise that an undergraduate degree isn't an automatic passport to the middle class.  

Unless you're willing to owe large amounts of money for "the college experience", sometimes it makes a lot more sense to pursue something which is more directly vocational straight out of school.  

I took a cold shower this morning. I did push ups until my muscles involuntarily tensed to where they could no longer contract. I felt tremendous pain and effort. I mourned over previous losses this morning. All the usual depression I felt was very there but I took it with a smile. I am fine but I am going to take the high ground on this one. I have nothing to prove.

I don't think people are trying to prove you wrong.  I think that they're genuinely concerned.  While insomnia is a known side effect of Cymbalta, it can also be one of the major forerunners of a depressive episode.  It's not a big deal if you have the occasional night where you can't sleep and your thoughts and emotions are all over the place, but you need to be cautious if it starts occurring with any regularity.  One of the best ways to prevent major mental health episodes is learning to recognise when you're trending in a particular direction and take action while it's still manageable.  Good sleep hygiene is really important to good mental health, so try not to be dismissive of people's concern.

Meditation and moderate exercise are also great for emotional well-being but moderate is the keyword here.  Pushing yourself to the physical limit occasionally if you're having a shitty day and just want to physically exhaust yourself is one thing is fine - making a habit of it, not so much.

[JeffK]

Given the number of threads I've read from young Americans who are in significant debt from going to university to get essentially useless degrees, I think it's wise for young people contemplating tertiary education to think about what they want from further education and to realise that an undergraduate degree isn't an automatic passport to the middle class.  

Unless you're willing to owe large amounts of money for "the college experience", sometimes it makes a lot more sense to pursue something which is more directly vocational straight out of school.  

Unfortunately, a bachelor's degree today is becoming what a high school diploma was 20-30 years ago: It's basically the requirement to enter any non-shit job or skilled labor position

[repentance]

Given the number of threads I've read from young Americans who are in significant debt from going to university to get essentially useless degrees, I think it's wise for young people contemplating tertiary education to think about what they want from further education and to realise that an undergraduate degree isn't an automatic passport to the middle class.  

Unless you're willing to owe large amounts of money for "the college experience", sometimes it makes a lot more sense to pursue something which is more directly vocational straight out of school.  

Unfortunately, a bachelor's degree today is becoming what a high school diploma was 20-30 years ago: It's basically the requirement to enter any non-shit job or skilled labor position

I understand that's the case but I don't totally understand why the US seems to require people to do undergraduate degrees before they can even undertake the studies which will qualify them for their actual profession when in so many other countries you can enter those programmes straight out of high school.  I know that our degrees are structured somewhat differently, but I can't help wondering if US universities have a financial stake in keeping things that way.

[JeffK]

The boss's fiance shot herself in his million dollar house, dropping the value, and caused my boss to freak out on me for random shit like having a crease in my shirt.

What the fuck, was just skimming and saw this part, but what causes you to think your boss was freaking out because the value of his house dropped and not because his fucking fiance shot herself.?

[Cussmob_CUE]

I know you very well from the way you present yourself. You are me, about 22 years ago. The difference is that I was religious. Southern Baptist. I was so religious and sure of my conviction in Christ that I would witness to anyone who would stand still long enough to listen. I was CONVINCED that I was right, to the point that I preached to my mother about how she wasn't following God's word closely enough.

You are just as sure of yourself now as I was then, and just as wrong. I know there is nothing I can tell you that will change your mind, but if you will just learn to listen to what others have to say and not automatically reject it, you will learn wisdom.

There's another difference between me and the old you:  I am sure I am ignorant and proud to be. I always listen to what people have to say and I have listened to you very well. You are the very thing you are fighting against.

Another difference between you and him is that he believes that Tough Love actually helps in child-raising.

I mean teenage objectivism is probably just as bad as being an ignorant backwoods authoritarian (six of one, half-a-dozen of the other, in a way), but anybody who can say this:

No, [he doesn't need meds and love], he needs a good kick in the ass. His parents suck. Not everyone is mentally ill. Some are just big babies.

Still clearly has a far ways to go before enlightenment. Shades of the stereotypical fat, xenophobic redneck saying, without even a hint of irony, "yeah well my parents done kicked mah ass around with a hickory switch and I sure turned out fine, didn't I".