this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2023
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To be fair I still do these things but only when I'm alone.

Personally I love finding big puddles and then dig drains with a stick or my heel and watch the water flow.

Also love to throw a piece of wood into water and then toss stones high up in the air and try hit it imagining it's a warship I'm trying to bomb.

Then also without going into details there are some pieces of clothing I would like to wear but don't because they're considered femine or gay.

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[–] [email protected] 58 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I do whatever the fuck I want, unless it is unpolite or could hurt somebody's freedom.

I learnt that, as I don't give a shit about what people are doing, they must also don't give a shit either. People just care about themselves most of the time. The day I realized that, I had a strong freedom feeling.

Having kids multiplied this attitude by 1000 and actually, I see people smiling and interacting with us while we're fooling around.

GO PLAY WITH FUCKING PUDDLES WEARING PINK PANTIES ON YOUR HEAD MY DUDE ! I might join you.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Ideally yes. But as a guy I have been insulted in public for small things like wearing nail polish, and that's in a liberal German city. Most people don't care, some don't like it, some compliment it and some make me feel unsafe.

And that of course has an effect in other areas too: what if my boss or my coworkers don't like me wearing nail polish? They would never be open about it (our company would not allow it), but it might lead to some bias against me. And as they wouldn't be open about it, I couldn't react to it (by calling them out or changing jobs). Instead I might just advance more slowly and wonder why that is. It really fucks with your mind, when you know there is bias against you (or something you do) but you never know in which situations it actually comes into play.

I still wear nail polish most of the time, because fuck the haters and we need to make progress somehow, but it's not as easy as "I don't care about them so they don't care about me".

[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago

I got you. Of course it's easier said than done. But you got to be nuanced and able to read the room. Maybe think ahead to avoid being in trouble (work, edgy neighborhoods).

But in the end, you must not care. Even insults. Insults have the value only you give to them.

Take care ♥️

[–] [email protected] 40 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

Because when I do what I want, I get called a "retard" or asked "what the fuck are you doing?" by the people around me. I make a point to try to do things quietly (stopping to observe a cool bug, making chalk drawings on the sidewalk, saying "wheee!" on the swings, etc.), but it really doesn't matter.

I've caught glimpses of people filming me before, so I now only do what I want in privacy.

Also doesn't help that I've been accused of "doing it for attention" or worse: labeled as a "manic pixie dream girl." Nah, my dude, pretty sure I'm just fckin' autistic.

I only want people to leave me alone now. I don't like having to justify my actions when I'm just trying to enjoy myself.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 10 months ago (1 children)

People who love you should be happy that something's bringing you joy.

I would gently suggest surrounding yourself with kinder people. You should be able to stop and look at an insect in fascination or swing on a swing without being abused.

You'll find those people :)

[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago

Thank you. Maybe one day.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago

I hate this so much. People should be free to act like they want (as long as it doesn't hurt anyone), because why the hell not? What's so objectively better about acting in the 'normal' way? But everything outside the very narrow idea of normal is treated like a problem by default.

I have some tics that come out when I'm alone that I've filtered out around others as long as I can remember, and honestly I think that's part of why I feel so claustrophobic in social situations. I don't even know how to act like 'myself' in public if I want to.

Seeing people being themselves regardless of how it looks to the current typical sensibilities is the only thing that lets me feel like I might be able to do the same. So fwiw, every little bit of rule breaking you have done or will do makes the world a little better for me, and anyone else who doesn't feel welcome. Thanks.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

I've always been such a child at heart and my soul is bursting with whimsical energy when I see kids playing pretend at the playground next to where I walk my dogs. I'd love to play pretend with them, encourage the children to really let their imaginations run wild and free. I was often lost in my own world as child. I know what it's like to be so consumed by it. I want to fight the robot king, too!

I'm an adult male however. I would definitely look like a child predator, so I must go on my way.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 10 months ago

To all of you guys who enjoy playing pretend, I want to suggest to try playing improv theater. There are often beginner courses and its a kind of slightly guided cooperative make believe. My personal recommendation: try long form Impro and not just short form (which I learned to be the goofier of the two). For me it was very freeing to find an outlet for this stuff where it’s suddenly even cool.

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (5 children)

In my past I used to take on janitorial or maintenance jobs, but the grossness of the job combined with the attitude of the general public just made it unbearable. People would ask me if I was a citizen and when I said yes, they'd tell me that it's a job for immigrants. They'd also say that it's a job for slaves and ask if I felt like a slave doing that kind of work.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Some people are so horrible...

[–] [email protected] 10 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Holy shit. Those are horrible people.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago

Go get a job pumping septic tanks. Customer disrespects you? Walk off the job leaving them with backed up poo. Generally people are glad to see you. Good money if you can get to the point of running your own truck. Some dudes making good money posting about septic pumping on YouTube too. Get out the auger and whip up a poop smoothie. Mmmm! Smells like money!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago

I used to do Janitorial work, And I got respect for it.

And you deserve respect for it to.

because decent people understand you are the fulcrum upon which their nice world balances on.

People like you deal with have less value than the effluence from an overflowing toilet.

Sorry you deal with such shitty people man.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Sounds like you're still a kid at heart. I've got a 2yr old and I immensely enjoy playing these sorts of games with him. My wife always jokes that I'm using the sandbox more than him, she even snapped a couple of pics of me playing alone in there.

What kind of clothes are you talking about? A skirt on a man is still pretty courageous, but if you're talking about a pink shirt just go for it. You'll not be judged.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago (1 children)

What kind of clothes are you talking about?

Overknee socks, crop tops, tiny shorts, speedos, yoga pants ...

I'm perfectly aware that it's not that others care that's holding me back but the fact that I care. Doesn't make it any easier though.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 10 months ago

not much these days. ever since I realised people will judge you even if you don't do anything. e.g. I used to be shy because i was worried about what they'd think of me when i spoke. this caused them to think I'm shy. so I made a decision that I'd rather have people judge me for who I am rather than for someone I'm not.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Wear a mask wherever I go. Not so much because for health reasons, but because I like to hide my face. I feel more comfortable that way, but at the same time people stare at you like you're some kind of terrorist.
I prefer to wear scarves or other items that hide my face below my eyes.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago

There's loads of little daft hobbies I either don't do at all or hide. I went magnet fishing with a friend once, we found some cool jewellery that I still have and it was fun, so I went home and bought my own kit, I've never been though cause I don't want to be that person doing it alone, or to actually ask anyone to come. Just lives in a box.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago (4 children)

Wear a fanny pack/carry a non-backpack bag as a man.

It's so convenient to have a bag full of stuff on you. Like I'm out and have a headache, boom Aspirin. At dinner and got some food in your teeth, bam flosser. It's very satisfying when a situation comes up and you have the exact thing to solve a problem right there in your bag. But a backpack is too big and bulky and anything smaller becomes a purse and this looks down upon for a man to carry.

I only get the courage to wear it when on a trip where I can overly justify it. Like hiking, or a theme park or convention. I feel like if it was an everyday thing I'd have to explain it or hear about it more than I'd want to.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Practicing DJing. Neither my wife nor daughter are into their quality house music (neither am I, they would argue... 😀) and we have elderly neighbours, so I find it hard to find time to make a real effort to practice, and get self-conscious and disheartened pretty quickly.

My setup is in our living room area, so it's not very convenient when people are doing just about anything downstairs. Would love to have a bit more space to make mistakes and make a noise without it bothering others.

I'd still be crap at it right enough... ;-)

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Breaking my very long period of unplanned celibacy.

I think I could get laid, but I’m worried I wouldn’t perform well in bed and that I’d be shamed for it.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Personally, I'd love to give streaming a go, the Twitch kind. I like playing games and I want to share my time with others, but social anxieties say otherwise

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I used to stream a bit back in the justin.tv days and I would usually only get a handful of viewers but even to this day, it was some of the most unique gaming experiences I had. I used to try and play games that no one was streaming/talking about and a couple of times I actually ended up with the devs watching the stream and those were such great memories.

One time, I played this flash game where you had timed "lives" and the dev was watching (without me knowing) when I ran out of lives. I mentioned I'd be going to play something else while I waited for my lives to come back and he sent me a DM telling me that he would go and remove the timer so I could keep playing if I wanted.

That being said, I haven't streamed since then and I'm honestly not even sure how I'd start again. I don't think I'd ever enjoy having a large audience but I definitely enjoyed playing with a few people helping out on what to do next.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (5 children)

I'm so scared to be seen, that I can't even go for a walk. I also want to get skateboard, but I can't for the same reason. I'm terrified to be seen alone, or just seen in general.

Yet despite this, somehow I'm the opposite of that and manage a bunch of girls with compete confidence when I'm at work. I also have to deal with a ton of customers and don't even hesitate to say no or let them have negative judgement to me. I'm very socially competent and meet new people all the time without fear of rejection and opening up. I definitely stand out, in a good way.

Yet I'm scared of them simply watching me going for a walk outside??

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago

Interesting. I'm not scared of being seen but I like to not be seen. I spend a lot of time in nature and I always wear only earth tones. I like it when other people pass me up close but fail to notice me. I wonder if it has something to do with my voyeuristic tendencies. I love to just sit in a cafe to and watch people passing by.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Bone gnawing for me. And I genuinely mean that, I find gnawing on a piece of bone insanely calming for me, but it makes literally everyone I talk to insanely uncomfortable. I love gnawing on bbq ribs, chicken wing bones, pork chop bones, T bones. I love bone marrow and trying to dig for it. Family says it's bad etiquette, though my partner doesn't mind.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Not about being judged but I was planning on starting my YouTube channel last September. I got hit by a pickup truck on my way to work riding my bike and I haven’t made a video since. In fact I took down all my planned videos and deleted them. I regret that but I wasn’t at all prepared to make and manage a channel when i couldn’t even manage my own bathroom breaks by myself. I was embarrassed and shamed and didn’t think I was capable of making videos anymore.

I’m ready to start again though. I’ve already started by doing some YouTube shorts just to get people a little interested and see what type of content they like engaging with. So far my “practicing piano” shorts are the most popular which was surprising because I’m not great at playing 😅

[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

I've been into BDSM stuff since I was a kid basically, but I've always been to embarrassed to tell anyone or act on it because it's some seriously kinky shit.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago

not much anymore these days. the older I get the more I realize other people are full of shit anyway and I don't need their opinions for anything. the only judgement I fear is of law enforcement, so I guess, crimes?

we all like to think we are good people but studies have shown that the number one deterrent for murder is...a very strict and harsh law against murder

[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago (12 children)

Basically everything. Telling a joke that I love. Showing excitement for something I love. Doing my silly voices; especially my batman and girl voice. Taking my shirt off. And so much more. Damn social anxiety and confidence issues.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (10 children)

Pretty much that last paragraph of yours.

I don't care if people see me as childish, weird, or even dumb. I do lots of things that make me seem all of those things.

But that makes me hesitate for some reason.

I did open up about it to some friends I was sure wouldn't judge, and it helped a lot.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago
[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago

Thinking out loud

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I'd be more comfortable with physical contact. I'm NB, but most people still perceive me and treat me as a man (even though I've said many times that I'm not) and that comes with the stigma of keeping distance.

I also love to play with LEGOs, it's kind of therapeutical I guess. It's just me, talking about random things. It's the same with videogames, I mostly play RPGs, but it isn't as "weird".

BTW, while I'm non-binary, I'm still involved in man's problems because I live them for my appearence. I also help some male friends with their problems with masculininty and feminism, so they don't end up being redpilled alpha sigma males lol

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago

I don't pick my nose or fart in public. I don't lick a plate or use the finger to scoop what's on it if I'm in company. I also don't phase out and daydream half as much in public, an exception would be on public transport as everyone is kind of gazing at nothing so it's not obvious I'm in another dimension entirely.

As for other things, no, I don't have that kind of filter. I will occasionally stop and stare at that interesting pattern on a tile or leaf, follow closely with attention what the birds are doing, sniff if I sense an animal and see if I can find its trail (possums and rats usually) etc. I still build sandcastles at the beach and if the opportunity arises I'll scribble on cardboard coasters or paper napkins.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago

I have an imp on my shoulder, lot of intrusive thoughts that are only funny to me. I pretend not to have them, and I'd rather just share whatever dog shit pops into my head. But I'm afraid I'd be committed.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago

Probably make videos of interesting things I do. Sometimes I do something and think this is the kind of stuff I watch on YouTube.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Travel the Caribbean & document my travels & the cultures & concerns of the people I meet with my own eyes

Why not? Well, I'm an actual idiot in reading social situations, Knowing who to trust, inferring details, attempting any meaningful level of reading comprehension on the spot, avoiding the urge to hyper focus on random stuff (makes people uncomfortable sometimes), trying to be humourous in terms of wordplay, and nowadays just avoiding social exhaustion.

Now with all that, imagine the amount of judgement & talking down to I've gotten just entering into social events or even bars.

A trip to the Caribbean to understand people?

Not happening lmao!!!

To those of you who can, you're all blessed.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Arm bands. I probably read or watched too much fantasy as a kid. For a while I braided leather arm bands and wore them. Mostly they were covered by whatever I was wearing. Then all the Brohs started getting arm band tattoos and it killed it for me. I recently said fuck it, and have a pounded metal arm band and I love it!

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I’ve been talking with someone to try and figure this out as well. One thing pointed out often is that judgement will happen no matter what, but judgement isn’t always negative, we just tend to frame it that way. It could be that you wear that clothing you like and people make the judgement that you have good style and seem like a cool person.

When I think back and am honest with myself, when I’ve gone out on a limb and did something different, it has almost always been judge positively. And if somebody judged in negatively, fuck em, they’re probably a miserable and projecting.

Of course all of this is easy to say, but hard to integrate (at least for me).

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (5 children)

As soon as you leave high school, if not before, you should be your own person. Blaming others for things you want to do isn't healthy and shouldn't be used as an excuse.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 10 months ago (2 children)

This comment reminds me of telling a depressed individual to “just smile more”.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

True. But not possible for everyone. Hence the millions of therapists out there being busy .

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

ITT: People who want to cross-dress and relive their childhood. I heartily approve of all of it.

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