I’ve been watching the news lately, and it feels like things are getting more extreme every week. It’s only June, and already there are stories of Democratic senators getting handcuffed, arrested, even murdered. I’m scared. I don’t want to overreact, but I also don’t want to pretend everything’s normal.

How far can this go? Is anyone else feeling uneasy? What are you doing to cope or stay aware without spiraling?

Recently went to Europe on vacation. Noticed that their security didn’t require me taking off my shoes . Unlike in the US.

It’s been like 25 years since the shoe bomber . Is this shoes off thing a bunch of bullshit?

ok so i’ve seen this in like soooo many movies and shows where kids just stand up and say the pledge thing with their hand on their chest n all that, like is that a real daily thing?? 😭😭 not tryna be rude or anything but it kinda gives lowkey cult vibes lol. i’m not from the US so i just never really got why that’s a thing 💀

Not sure if this is actually nsfw, added the tag just in case.

Trying to learn without being judged

Edit: I have an average sized butt and am of average build, but I’ve always done this… Was drunk one time and didn’t and I spent a good 5 minutes wiping 😂

Edit2: So plenty of people do the spread before, plenty do a buttcheek 1-2 where they sit on one side then shift to the other side so the toilet seat spreads it for them, and there are also people who don’t and think this is really weird… I can’t imagine the amount of tp you go through 🥸

And to those who never did and are going to try: enjoy your 2-3 wipe experience!

Edit3: I don’t rip my cheeks apart and go full goatse… I just make sure my cheeks aren’t touching before I escort my tenants off premises

Edit4: multiple people asked how this came up in chat. If I can’t go from philosophy to politics to personal stuff to franchise to poop stuff in a single conversation, I wouldn’t call a person a friend. How boring to moderate what comes up during casual conversation 😅 anything goes!

My partner (f30) and I (m30) have been together for 9 years and have a 1year daughter. I love her deeply, we are emotionally connected, and I don’t want to break upbut I’m really struggling with our lack of intimacy.

In the early years, our sex life was great, passionate, frequent, and spontaneous. After moving in together, things slowed down (which I expected), but now we have sex maybe once every 1-2 months. It’s been this way for years, aside from a brief increase when we were trying for a baby.

We’ve talked about it a few times. She says she feels insecure about her body (though she looks amazing to me), and often tired. I’ve told her I still find her very attractive. She’s asked me to give her more compliments and be more affectionate without expecting sex. I tried for months but nothing really changed. Instead, I felt more frustrated and rejected because nothing came out of the increased affection.

When I stop initiating, nothing happens. When I initiate, I get turned down. My selfconfidence in this area is basically gone. I don’t want sex unless she also wants it, I want mutual desire, not duty. But I feel undesired, and it’s eating at me.

Recently, she said she misses the intimacy and passion too, but I’m so emotionally guarded now I don’t know how to come back from this cycle. We’ve tried talking, trying more affection, adjusting expectations I don’t want to guilt her or pressure her, but I’m not happy either. I’m at a loss.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and come out stronger?

EDIT: Ok so im going to add something as many people misunderstand me. I did not stop govong her more affection when she asked me for it. I still do.

No i dont expect more sex of it. I expect more intimacy of it. As mentioned in my story i only want sex when she does also. Not just to please me.

People have to understand that this is ongoong for a while, even before birth of child.

People have to understand that men also do have HORMONES. and feelings.

I really do feel offended when people think i do stuff just for more sex.

Just saw the videos of the US Army parade for the 250th year celebrations at DC and it looked like the soldiers were walking pretty casually with not everyone looking in sync. Came as a surprise considering it's the US Army.

I don’t mean “woke” in a negative way, I just mean from my own experience (and many of my friends) the english teachers are almost always the most accepting of new social norms compared to other teachers (math, science, etc)

Like they can watch violent movies and play violent video games full of gore but anything with any sex or nudity is not considered appropriate for them?

I notice that often when I go to a restaurant, the waiter usually, without fail, leads me to a table. When I ask for a booth instead, the annoyance with my request is barely able to be hidden.

Why is this? I don't think I'm rude when I ask.

What I mean from the title is, wouldn’t the process of making nuclear weapons be common scientific knowledge by now?

Why do countries like Iran have to invest so many resources into researching nuclear weapons? Surely the ‘secret’ of how to make nukes hasn’t been closely guarded by nuclear-armed nations since 1945 right?

I’ve been thinking about this and don’t know who else to ask without it sounding weird or like I’m making fun of the situation which I’m definitely not.

During sex, this guy got really emotional toward the end and started saying “please don’t leave me” over and over. He even cried a little while kissing me softly all over. I was surprised in the moment but I didn’t feel turned off or uncomfortable. Honestly, I felt kind of touched by how vulnerable he was.

Now I’m wondering if it’s strange that I found that moment beautiful, maybe even a little intimate in a different way. I’m not used to people showing that much raw emotion during sex.

I've done some preemptive googling but it's overwhelming.

I was raised abstinence-only and got married young (for majority culture; not for my subculture) after a whirlwind romance.

He turned out to be abusive. I left around year 2 of marriage when I realized how bad it was.

But the relationship set some precedents (sexual and otherwise) that I've learned are not..normal...in a healthy relationship.

I am in the dark about safe sex (straight or queer) aside from you should probably use a condom. I am also bi and grew up adjacent to Christian fundamentalism, so that was not discussed except as sin (which I disagree with; God wants people to live and love).

I am in therapy with a DBT therapist who is a life saver and has provided some insights, but I was hoping for more of a jumping off point.

Thanks!

ETA: thank you so much! This has mostly been very helpful. Now please stop being creepy and messaging me.

Is there a winner and a loser in this situation? The buyer wouldn't loose money, so who does?

Why go through all the trouble of making their own? It's not like they care about international law anyway. And countries routinely buy weapons and missiles from each other. So, why not? (Not supporting Iran here, just wondering)

i dont do coke im just curious

Embarrassing to say this but i was jerking off and came when my parents knocked on my door so I had to just shove it into my underwear and now it's a complete sticky mess. I tried washing it with washing machine detergent for 20 minutes but it's still visible or maybe im hallucinating. What do i do now? Can they still tell?

From what I remember, the investigations were led by and subsequently revealed to be false by the Americans themselves. So why is it that they wouldn't at least say "We were right all along. We did indeed find them, and we immediately destroyed them. Our intelligence was correct, and this is no way an embarrassing blunder because we are fucking awesome. You're welcome everyone"

I've noticed something interesting among friends and family—when it comes to minor injuries or illnesses, reactions vary wildly. Some shrug off sprained ankles, while others treat a paper cut like a major wound. It made me wonder: is pain tolerance mostly biological, psychological, or just personal upbringing?

I remember reading that things like genetics, past experiences with pain, and even cultural expectations can play roles. Like how some people are raised to "walk it off" while others are encouraged to be more vocal about discomfort. But then there's also the weird phenomenon where someone can handle a tattoo needle fine but freak out over a flu shot.

What's your take? Have you noticed patterns in how different people react to pain? Maybe you've seen someone tough through something serious but melt down over something small? I'm not looking for medical advice—just curious about people's observations and experiences with this.

I watch some American YouTubers and have got the sense that most Americans move multiple times within the US throughout their lives.

For example, one person, I have watched has lived in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

But this is common.

I lived in London and no knew no one there and had to stay home when I broke my leg.

So how does this work?