ratboy

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 12mo ago

Hi there, first I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. It's on a much smaller level but I've always struggled with body dysmorphia and clothes shopping is an absolute nightmare, it doesn't help that sizing can vary so greatly between brands and most of what is carried in stores are for "average sized" people.

Anyway, I really think you'll probably have to just shop online AND probably go to a tailor, based on what you've shared about your shape. It sucks, but then you can get something that fits you perfectly and it will probably feel much better than just getting something way oversized that is super baggy in some spots and not in others.

I found this website called Johnny Bigg that carries dress shirts up to an 8X. According to their size charts, an 8x can fit a 69-71" chest, so I'm thinking that you could get away with buying shirts from there, maybe, and bringing them to get tailored. Here is a nice button down shirt from them. It is possible that you might need to buy completely custom made dress pants though. Do you wear your pants over or under your belly? Not sure your exact shape but if you are able to wear pants under it, that might not be preferable for you but can cut down on the size significantly.

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 12mo ago

Jeez thats a huge cut from Patreon what the hell! Will definitely switch

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ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 12mo ago

Are any of the posted platforms better or worse to subscribe to? Patreon is easiest but if there are any percentages taken out etc etc I'll switch it up

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 1y ago

I think YouTube would be the toughest for me to quit as well. But I use it almost exclusively for music; I listen to a lot of underground/independent artists and its just so easy to find everything I want, and their algorithm works decently well so that I can discover or rediscover artists. Being able to use the app on my TV is another attractive part of it too. I admit I havent spent too much time in newpipe or any of the other alternatives; it would probably get easier if I made myself use it and ease in but I just don't!

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 1y ago

Hey there, first off I wanna say that you being a highschooler having found this place and being interested in communism at all is fucking fantastic. I was an ignorant jerk in highschool so you're miles ahead of where I was. That said, being more politically inclined makes it so much harder to cope sometimes, I feel.

My only advice is to try and become invested in your own community. There is so little we can do individually to effect change on a large scale. Being constantly bombarded with the news and fear mongering makes me want to hide in a cave. I do also get anxious about Trump. I know ultimately the machine will grind people down the same, Democrat or republican...but the reality of it right now just feels horrible. BUT, we do have the ability to make a difference in our own communities and that can make things feel a little less bleak when you're around people who care.

Are there any opportunities in your community to volunteer? Feeding or handing out cold weather gear to the homeless, trash pick up, communist reading groups, even a punk community? Often in punk communities there is a political element. May lean more anarchist but you might find comrades; a lot of all ages shows are thrown around my town and there are often benefit shows and people who do cool things for the larger community.

It's terrifying right now, I know, but you'll figure out what you need to do. Love & solidarity

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 1y ago

Good on you! Do you have any sort of budget at all? Single speed bikes can be a bit cheaper than those with gears. By single speeds I don't mean fixed gears, which I am even weary of riding even though I've been an avid cyclist for like 12 years. If you look on craigslist or Facebook marketplace (if you're in the US) you can usually find bikes for decent prices that are used! If you go that route and find a single speed, make sure the brakes seem to work okay how I do this is ill stand by the bike, press both brake levers down, and try to push it forward. If it only moves a bit or not at all, it's probably fine. I'd try both the front and back individually. If the levers press all the way down to the handlebars before they start to give any resistance, that means the brakes need to be replaced (cheap), but could mean they need to be adjusted. Not a bad thing necessarily as you can bring it to a shop, but just something to look out for as an extra immediate expense.

Depending on where you live, there may be shops that refurbish old bikes for discounts too so search around. There may also be bike rentals, too. Might be a good option so you can try a bike without committing to purchasing at first.

Getting on a bike can feel intimidating but you'll get it. Practice riding in a straight line in a place where there is no car traffic. If you go too slow, you will probably fall because it takes a lot more balance to keep yourself up if you're barely pedaling; that's why "track stands" are so difficult. So try not to be afraid, you have your breaks and your feet so if you feel yourself tilting you can always put your foot down while gently pressing on the brakes to keep yourself from falling over. You could even just push yourself forward kinda hard with your foot without pedaling to get a feel for how the bike moves and you can stop yourself with brakes/feet. You wont fly over the handlebars when you're learning. In my opinion the worst that might happen is that you fall on your side if you're pedaling too slowly, or if you trip over yourself when biking. The worst thing to be hurt is your ego, though lol.Always a good idea to get a helmet too. I'd say it's mandatory.

An important thing is to make sure that the bike is a good fit. This is a chart. You can ask the seller what the size is if they haven't specified. Some people like the feel of a bike that's a little smaller or bigger but youll want to generally follow the guide. You can adjust the saddle size to fit you as well. Ideal saddle height is when the saddle hits your hip bone. It might feel a lil scary/tall if you're just starting to learn but that's what it should be; your pedaling will be most effective and your knees will thank you. When you bring the bike home you can slam the saddle down lower so that you can learn to ride and get comfy on the bike but once you learn to do it raise the saddle back to your hip bone. Youll get used to it and you'll probably be able to tell the difference.in comfort and that your pedal strokes will feel more "powerful".

Let me know if you have any other questions and I'm happy to help!

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 1y ago

Wire, Boards of Canada and vaporwave? Magnificent

I have definitely danced drunkenly around a living room to Pink Flag with friends. GOAT

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ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 1y ago

I read an article yesterday, may have been from CBS News or something??? It took FOURTEEN PARAGRAPHS before ANYTHING at all was mentioned about the "death to arab" chants and burning of Palestinian flags. Before and after that paragraph it was all talking about jews being chased down in the streets, it's horrifying that people would do this, in ashamed of our country, it was a pogrom....then just casually dropping the real reason it happened. I couldn't believe they even included that info at all

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 2y ago

Hey, sorry to respond so late to this! I appreciate your detailed response a lot, will give me a lot to think about. I don't know that it sits right with me to say that an anarchist would "do better" when it comes to recognizing abusive patterns of behavior cuz that seeks to be a broad generalization but I have not ran in explicitly anarchist or ML spaces Irl so maybe it's more likely than with MLs in general. I am also surprised/not surprised to hear about the lack of self critique in actual active leninist groups. People here seem to be able to, for the most part, reckon with the fact that there are problems and issues with lenin/marx/Stalin etc. But maybe, being pretty new to studying this stuff, there is more apologia going on than I recognize. When I have some time I'll look at the links it included. Thanks! (I've never used it/it's pronouns so I hope "it included" is correct instead of "you included")

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 2y ago

Geriatric Beseen Sailor Moon Chat user signing in

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 2y ago

Superb music taste; love Gang of Four and Molchat Doma

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 2y ago

nooooooooooo

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 2y ago

I am so sorry that you have to bear witness to that, and that any of those people have to be subject to that absolutely vile abuse and trauma. I work with homeless folks and I don't have to bear witness to the majority of things they have been put through in their lives, just hear it mostly and even then it's so hard to take. And just having firsthand experience with these systems, watching the way they just grind people down can make someone so fucking cynical and bitter. I feel like it takes a unique kinda person to stick it through and try to stand beside folks and offer some reprieve or support or when you can get away with it be angry with them.

Idk what else to say but you're doing good work and I appreciate you

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 2y ago

Yes! It's served me well for about 8-9 years

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ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 2y ago

My bike all packed up for my first (and only) bike packing trip

ratboy [they/them] @hexbear.net 2y ago

Yeah the cough is insane, the whooping part is so so uncomfortable I feel like a freak. No other symptoms though! My breathing is fine too. I hope it's not going around with my clients, many of them do have COPD :/