December Randoms

SpongeWorthy

@brookert615 The more I learn about you, the more I think you actually ARE Ron Swanson.

celticknotfire

I'm another Xennial (1982) and I am also grateful social media wasn't around when I was in high school and college.  Honestly I'm happy I grew up in the era that I did because it could have been a lot worse. 

I also agree with 9/11 being a defining characteristic of our generation.  But it makes me feel so old and sad to hear of kids that have no idea what happened on that day.

kagesstarshroom

@lillywonderland yes! i went to college in Boston, so we were one of the first colleges to get, ahem, thefacebook. seemed like just another friendster/myspace at the time--so innocent!-- but-- welp, now it's influencing elections and what have you. anyway, i'm 84, right before you, so also definitely an "xennial."

brookert615

@SpongeWorthy I wasn’t kidding when I told you guys I was the female version of Ron Swanson! My Facebook cover photo was literally a steak on the grill for YEARS! 😂😂😂 

littleredm

lcking82

I had an emergency cell phone in college and didn’t memorize my number until senior year!  I just never used it, plus it was expensive!  

I finally got got a phone with texting capabilities (one of those Paris Hilton flip open style with the “full” keypad) during my intern year (2008-2009) because it was a MUST when rounding and on call. iPhone was hubbys hand me down around 2011. It’s so funny to me how far behind I was!  

inthewoods23

I definitely had quite a few angsty statuses back in the day. I hope to God nobody goes back that far to read those...

emeraldduchess

When I was in college we didn't have Facebook, so we all got our angst out on Instant Messenger via our "away message". 
I am really glad that social media and texing were not around when I was in middle school or high school.  I can only imagine what that would have been like for me as someone who was bullied at school.  At least when I went home, it was a safe space. Now with texts and twitter and all that, it's probably so much harder to get away from. 

lulu1180

*TW for children mentioned*
Has anyone else seen this article?  It compares middle school in 2008 vs middle school in 2018 and this is exactly why I'm so glad cell phones and social media didn't exist when I was growing up.  I was almost exactly this kid
https://www.waituntil8th.org/blog/2018/11/12/middle-school-misfortunes-then-and-now-one-teachers-take

emeraldduchess

This was on my local news station this morning.  Ladies, I give you:  the puffer dress. 

prpl11butterfly

@lulu1180 that article hits home for me too. I was bullied in middle school, by my own cousin. Who also lived directly next door to me. I never got a break from him. Luckily my parents realized how bad it was getting and moved. Not far, 1 mile away, but enough so that I had time to actually relax without fear. If social media had existed then, it would have been aweful. 

lulu1180

@prpl11butterfly I'm so sorry you had to endure that.  There was a girl in my elementary school that bullied me in 7th grade.  She would mercilessly tease me.  I was so happy when she went to another high school.  Not that I ever really fit in great there either but at least it was kind of a fresh start.

radiohd18

@lulu1180 that article was eye-opening. I've always known social media can be troublesome for everyone especially young people but this gives me a scenario I didn't expect.

I was born in 1979 and didn't have my first cell phone as a college graduation present when I was 22. But, I remember getting dial up America Online when was about 12 years old and spending many hours in chatrooms.  I am definitely worried about people and the reliance on smart phones-- including myself. 

lulu1180

@radiohd18 I agree.  I got my first cell phone when I moved in with a guy my parents didn't approve of.  I knew they wouldn't call on our landline so I got that so they could still call me.  If you want to have your eyes opened further, check out a movie called Cyberbully.  It was a ABC Family/Freeform original and stars Emily Osment (those that remember her from Hannah Montana).  That movie made me realize how bad things can really get for teenagers nowadays.  I think it might be available on Hulu

marebear15

I got Facebook in high school, which was actually rather late about 2 years after it had gone mainstream. I can attest to the puberty pictures, random statuses, and even the frantic refreshing the page to see another "like." I was homeschooled, so I was protected from any bullying that could have happened to me (a frizzy haired nerd complete with braces and glasses).

kiki047

@lulu1180 thank you for sharing that. Wow. Really powerful article. Sad to say it wasn't that eye-opening for me as I see all too much of it but it is certainly a good reminder of how much the world has changed since we were kids. It scares me that this is the environment my own (future) children will grow up in. And hopefully it doesn't get even worse... 

inthewoods23

@emeraldduchess wtf kind of event would a dress like that be appropriate? A fancy outdoor winter party???

And $2,710??? Whyyyyyy

The gloves really kill me too! Who pairs green with light pink?

ruby696

@lulu1180 Not sure that this is news in the rest of the country, but in the Bay Area, we hear a lot about Silicon Valley and tech exes not allowing their kids access to phones/tablets/screen time because they know how harmful it is to young children. If the people who created it won't let their kids use it, that says a lot 

lulu1180

@ruby696 That should open people's eyes, but unfortunately, I doubt it will....

lulu1180

Change of subject....
Any other MCU fans out there...they released a teaser trailer for the next Avengers movie and I am so excited it's almost embarrassing!

zamoraspin

@lulu1180 Jic this is spoilers for folks who haven't seen all the movies yet...

The trailer definitely piqued my interest. I just checked and I think it's exciting that Captain Marvel is coming out in March and Avengers 4 is coming out in May. It seems like the Captain Marvel movie and character will have a big impact on what happens in Avengers 4 based on that little snippet where Fury was trying to reach Captain Marvel. 

I know most folks loved Avengers 3 but I thought in some ways it was a cop out because they killed off characters we know have sequels coming out. It felt, overall, low stakes to me for that reason. But I do appreciate how hard they've worked to make the movies work together and build towards something, across multiple storylines, for what, like a decade? I don't think that's been done before and in general I think it's been done well. Although also shame on them for only getting around to having a female lead in a movie of her own in 2019!

lulu1180

@zamora_spin It’s actually coming out in April, not May!!  

brookert615

@lulu1180 & @zamora_spin YESSS! So excited!

marebear15

Anyone know of any funny TTC blogs or books?

holly321

I may be wearing a sweater I bought my mom for Christmas.  

b_1029

For anyone who was interested in our pet picture with Santa:

galentine

@emeraldduchess, I'm a few days late to that puffer dress, but what in the WORLD. I don't know what's worse, the puffy down-comforter dress, or the puffy Hulk gloves.

kiki047

@nomangos23 to pick up from WTO and finish my thought, I realized this morning that I'm feeling super vulnerable because I hate being the center of attention and I hate asking people for help or to do anything that might in any way inconvenience them. So I had a little moment of self doubt in the car on my way in to work about my MOH. My BFF is more like my sister, but she lives on the other side of the country. We don't talk as much as I'd like, partly because we're both so busy, partly because of the time difference so by the time she gets home from work I'm getting ready for bed. I was having doubts about asking her to be my MOH, not because I don't want her by my side, but more because I feel like it's just so much to ask of someone that's so far away. Dunno where all this guilt is coming from lately but I can't seem to shake it!

nomangos23

@kiki047 Is there anyone else you can imagine being by your side on your wedding day? If the answer is no, she's your girl. And she'll probably bend over backwards to be there for you, if she's a good bff, which I'm sure she is. Would she be offended if you didn't ask her? 

kiki047

@nomangos23 no, I always imagined it would be her. I don't think she'd be offended if I didn't ask but I don't actually know who else I'd ask if it wasn't her. MF is my best friend in the whole world, but he's already busy that day...  

nomangos23

@kiki047 you're too cute!! 

nomangos23

Any good drama going on lately guys?? I always get my lurk updates here! 

lulu1180

@nomangos23 The recent drive-by decided to make another AW thread on the 1st Tri board instead of posting in the thread that she was specifically directed to (and the only place on TB that you can post pee stick porn)

b_1029

 ^ reading is hard when you have line eyes.

inthewoods23

@b_1029 I almost spat out my lunch!!! Lol!

marebear15

Ugh, got my first warning. I knew I shouldn't have, but I did...

inthewoods23

@nomangos23 there's a decent juicy read in the 1st Tri board that I noticed from a deleted account so I figured it was a good read. There are 2 posts. Unfortunately she seemed more concerned with maintaining her current figure than being happy about the idea of having a baby.

Idk about you guys, but I've been at this so long I would welcome all the downsides to being KU!

nomangos23

@inthewoods23 I saw that one! And yes, gift me all the pregnancy barfs

b_1029

@marebear15 for what?!! 

marebear15

@b_1029 - I politely told Line Eyes Gal that BCB are better for pee stick photos. I thought if I was nice about it, they'd let it go. Apparently not. Learned my lesson...