ObamaSama [he/him]

On one hand seeing the absolute depths humanity can sink to makes me want to join him but on the other hand I feel it’s worth sticking around to see just how bad it gets

Come through pal, we’ve got room for one more at the crash pad

Same energy as saying “I make the best ramen” when it’s instant noodles with an egg thrown in. My heart goes out to all the grown ass people with such limited culinary experiences they’re that easily impressed. Just use fresh ingredients to make things from scratch with your partner, it’s a blast! The heavily processed ready made slop is only needed when you dump all the responsibility on one person

Mutual interests are the best way! You can skip past awkward small talk and just chat about something you’re both interested in. There are loads of social hobbies that are great ways to meet people, just pick one that you’re interested in and try to find a local group for it. I’ve met some great people from board game meetups, running groups, scuba diving, protests, you name it.

It’s also incredibly easy to make friends with other expats if you’re traveling in other countries, they’re usually also lonely and directionless so they’re much more open to hanging out with randos. Staying in a hostel is pretty much a guaranteed way to meet some cool people! Locals are also more forgiving if you’re a little “eccentric” since there isn’t the same expectation of following all the unspoken social norms that some ND people can struggle with. Obviously don’t be an obnoxious tourist with no respect for local customs but like, you have some extra wiggle room in interpersonal interactions. I know travel is a very privileged thing but I highly recommend it if you’re able to.

Last year I was incredibly depressed with literally one friend and almost never left the house. I’m now a bona fide social butterfly making new friends every time I go out, you CAN make that change. It’s a matter of getting out there and putting yourself in situations where you can meet people. It does take courage and a willingness to be open and vulnerable to others, just taking that first step can be scary. However, I’ve realized that people are way less judgmental and cliquey than I previously thought. If you approach people with genuine respect and sincerity they’re not going to give a fuck about all the silly little things you’re insecure about and will usually reciprocate that same respect.

Genuinely stoked to go to Vietnam in a few days, any comrades in the area know of any mutual aid I could get involved in? Gonna be in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi for a few weeks

That’s the most concerning part of this post, what adult eats PB&J for a real meal? I can understand it as a “there’s literally no other food in the house” thing occasionally but damn. Am*ricans really do eat the unhealthiest shit by choice

That’s good, I’m definitely the opposite. I’m overly self conscious about becoming sloppy and obnoxious around others so I reel it back, if I’m alone I’m way less aware of how drunk I am and end up in a depressive spiral until I pass out. It does sound like a snarky joke but I tried my best to minimize time alone where I would normally want to drink by forcing myself to go out with friends more. Not necessarily even drinking with them (although usually at least a bit) but just getting outside my own head and touching grass helped reduce my desire to drink quite a bit.

Idk what kind of demons you’re trying to drown but they’re probably not going anywhere any time soon if you keep trying to tackle them on your own. I know it’s a lot easier said than done but I’ve managed to make a lot of good friends in the past few months by really making an effort to get out there and distance myself from environments I know are not good for my mental health. Even something as simple as going for a run can be really helpful to pull yourself out of a rut just by physically distancing yourself from it all

I found the best way to stop solo drinking was to drink with other people instead

Oh fuck this immediately triggered memories of the Christchurch shooting. I’ve seen an insane amount of people die on the internet and irl but that video still really haunts me on a deep level. Seeing people larping as tacticool operators shooting up a mosque is sickening

Is Mahjong soul easy to get into? I’ve tried a few browser versions but they all automate so much I can’t wrap my head around scoring. My buddy took me to a mahjong parlor yesterday and all the old Japanese guys basically told us to fuck off and practice more first lmao

I’ve somehow never even considered that my massive increase in caffeine intake over the past few months may be contributing to my increased anxiety. Thanks for the idea fren, I will try cutting it out to see if that helps any

Yup came to post the markus, most comfortable chair I’ve had and I’ve tried all the fancy herman miller and gamer chairs. It’s especially nice if you’re tall, most chairs require me to slouch a lot for proper head/neck support but this one is perfect for me at 6’2”. I don’t think it looks particularly “office” either, it’s just a very minimalist simple mesh back in muted colors.

I’ve met some really good people through dating apps but it really is a numbers game. I’d say that on average out of 100 matches I only have 4-5 conversations that last longer than a few days before one of loses interest and stops replying. It can be pretty disheartening to churn through so many people but from my experience it pays to be picky. I’ve only ever been on 5 dates through dating apps but they all turned into relationships because I didn’t waste my time with anyone I didn’t feel a mutual connection with.

Stick with it and eventually you’ll find someone, just gotta be patient. Also it depends on where you are but I’ve found bumble to be the best as the girls on there are usually much more serious

I bounced off of other paradox games pretty quickly but this one grabbed me immediately. Like others have said, it’s a materialism simulator where your internal politics actually matter and are directly affected by how you play. It’s also a lot of microing supply and demand of various resources with local and global economies interacting. It’s less plotting to assassinate a rival leader and more plotting to tank their economy by becoming the biggest exporter of steel. There are a lot of systems going on but for me it felt really intuitive just from a basic understanding of material drivers of politics and economics

going back to clear some starter quests after you hit endgame and get bored

wearing a mask because you care about the health and well being of others

wearing a mask because of social anxiety and neurotic self esteem issues

You’d think more “leftists” would at least do it for the latter reason, I love not showing my face in public

I do the same, I prefer to listen to my own music/podcasts or just appreciate the silence. I played 98% of disco elysium on my deck with the sound off entirely and don’t feel like I missed anything. I tend to hyper focus and block out sound when I’m fully engaged with something anyway, silence helps me focus more easily.

I learned my gf’s last name from hotel staff calling her “Obana san” this morning, stifling a giggle and not just saying “Obama” over and over was quite the herculean feat

I’m in Sapporo right now and it’s unfortunately nearly burger levels of car brain. The buses and trains run once or twice an hour with very limited routes, I couldn’t even go to the big national park just south of here via public transit. My gf was quite shocked at how poor the public transit here compared to Tokyo so just be aware that if you come to Hokkaido you really need a car

Yeah I went to a pro Palestine protest in shibuya a few weeks ago, it was super cool! Everyone in the crowd was vibing, not a single Zionist to be seen