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17:16, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Vents with allowed responses - 3.

Posted by GamerHandle
Z.Dianli
member, 11 posts
What goes...
...in here?
Fri 13 Dec 2019
at 04:58
  • msg #1487

Are you listening?

One of the advantages of living in a brutal, authoritarian, one-party system is not being bugged by these annoying ticks all the time.  (Though getting chased down by local Party apparatchik trying to get people to come out and vote in the sham elections they regularly hold is a bit annoying as well.)
Starchaser
member, 715 posts
Gaijin otaku metalhead
Don't poke the deep ones!
Mon 23 Dec 2019
at 08:31
  • msg #1488

Are you listening?

I'm tired of biting my tongue when others trample all over my feelings.

I admired someone because I considered them a strong person. I see now that what I mistook for strength was cold, heartless spite.

[edited)

I'm at the point now where I am really starting to lose faith in human nature. Roll back a decade or so and this sort of callous disregard for other people didn't exist as widely as they did today. We live in a society where the media and culture tells us to be sensitive to other people's feelings and yet people have never been more selfish or spiteful or narcissistic as they are now.

I AM NOT PUTTING UP WITH TREATMENT LIKE THIS FROM ANYONE ANYMORE PERIOD. I AM A HUMAN BEING WITH JUST AS MUCH A RIGHT TO MY OWN HAPPINESS AS EVERYONE ELSE. I DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS.
This message was last edited by a moderator, as it was against the forum rules, at 12:33, Mon 23 Dec 2019.
ShadoPrism
member, 1283 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Tue 24 Dec 2019
at 00:39
  • msg #1489

Are you listening?

In reply to Starchaser (msg # 1488):

Welcome to the Zombie appocalypse - all those self centered persons Are the Zombies.
Also Merry X-Mas and happy Holy Days during this age of the Self Entitled Zombie Appocalpyse!
KingHenryBlack
member, 31 posts
Tue 24 Dec 2019
at 02:42
  • msg #1490

Are you listening?

In reply to Starchaser (msg # 1488):

   In two words, "Boundaries" and "Respect" are the watchwords here. I used to get used and abused like a rug in a busy hallway until I finally sat down and thought about what I'm willing to tolerate. Sure, it messed some people up when I began to call them out for what they were saying, but if you let people use you, you're letting them know what you will tolerate in how people treat you ...

   The "Callous disrespect' you refer to has always been there, since Ancient times. But in our instant information age, where something happening halfway around the world is delivered to your phone/tablet/computer mere seconds after it happens ... it's easy to think that it is more prevalent. (Mind you, if you look hard enough, you'll generally find what you are looking for)

   In short, take care of yourself and the ones you care about. The rest of the world can go hang. But remember, only YOU can determine how people treat you. If they hand you a compliment, it's a bonus - thank them and enjoy it. If they try and slag you for something, let them know how you feel about it. You might lose some people in the bargain, but the quality of your friends is likely to improve. :)

Cheers.
ShadoPrism
member, 1286 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Fri 27 Dec 2019
at 15:58
  • msg #1491

Are you listening?

FICO credit scores are wierd. I just don't get it.
First it tells me my score Dropped because I don't have any loans to pay off (something I am rather proud of really.)
Next it tells me it also dropped cause I used my credit card To much (high balance) but as they were paid off by the next bill, I don't understand the problem. (I had some unexpected expenses, one after another that were over $1200 each, in 2 months time. Apparently having High amounts of used credit lowers the score, never mind if the credit card was actually paid off or not.)
Score has dropped over 40 points since March, because I am Actually using my credit card apparently. (and don't have any outstanding loans.)
How insane is this ?
evileeyore
member, 264 posts
GURPS GM and Player
Fri 27 Dec 2019
at 16:31
  • msg #1492

Re: Are you listening?

ShadoPrism:
How insane is this ?

Very,  And work in the industry so I see some of the backending on these things, even though it's not my department (I work in the credit card mines, where we dig for new suckers customers, it's a predatory business not unlike the mafia).

If you want I can delve a bit into some of the reasoning (or if you don't like as I am)... and honestly, a lot of it comes down to how your card company reports your activity to the credit bureaus.  Most card companies hate it when you pay off the entirety of the balance, and if it was a high balance they might report it in the same manner as a 'paid off loan', which as you've discovered dings your score (not just not having a loan, but when the loan closes out it dings you).

So you're getting a monthly ding for 1) coming close to or maxing your card and 2) closing a "loan".

Talk to your credit card company, find out why they're dinging your credit for "standard" usage (come at it from this angle).  They'll likely explain to you what they consider "standard" usage to look like (or you'll get run around so hard you quit because no one anyone can connect you with understands how the sausage gets made).  At least then you'll know why, when, and how your credit company will be tattling on you to the bureaus, so you might be able work around the dings.
This message was last edited by the user at 16:34, Fri 27 Dec 2019.
Dream Sequence
member, 52 posts
Fri 27 Dec 2019
at 16:49
  • msg #1493

Re: Are you listening?

It's not insane at all, you're just not correctly interpreting what your credit score is and what its purpose in existing is.

Most people think of their credit score as a reflection of their financial responsibility, like if they're prudent with their money and careful about going too deep into debt then they "deserve" a good credit score, like as some sort of congratulatory pat on the back.

This is nonsense!  Even if the strongest measure of your level of financial responsibility is how well you keep from going into debt (debatable), even so, that's not what your credit score is designed to measure.  Consider who it is that invented the idea of credit scores and decided what criteria to use in determining them:  The credit industry.  Your credit score does not exist for you.  It exists for them.  The purpose of a lender is not to reward you for being wise with your money.   They simply couldn't care less.  The purpose of a lender is to generate profit.  Everything they do is designed toward that end, including their fixation on credit scores.  In that light, contemplate that:

Your credit score isn't a measure of how well you pay off your debt.  It's a measure of how well you pay off -interest- on your debt.

If you're using your credit cards but not running up a balance, you're not paying much interest, and so therefore you're worse than useless to the credit card company: you're enjoying the benefits of their services without generating any profit for them.  Why would they reward you for that?
donsr
member, 1781 posts
Fri 27 Dec 2019
at 16:50
  • [deleted]
  • msg #1494

Re: Are you listening?

This message was deleted by a moderator, as it was against the ToU, at 16:57, Fri 27 Dec 2019.
SunRuanEr
subscriber, 180 posts
Fri 27 Dec 2019
at 19:53
  • msg #1495

Are you listening?

ShadoPrism:
Apparently having High amounts of used credit lowers the score, never mind if the credit card was actually paid off or not.)

They definitely don't like when you have over X% of your available credit used (how much that percentage is may vary, but it seems to really hit hard if you're over 30%). But I've had my cards, well under 20% (and closer to 10%) get dinged a few points just for putting a lousy $40 on one (the larger one, where $40 isn't even 1%). It happens. The important thing to remember is that a credit score is a measure over time - yes, you might get dinged this month, but if you keep calm and carry on with regular payments and not routinely running up charges, it'll steady out eventually and go back to where it should be.

...unless your company is really dinging you twice, like evileeyore suggested, in which case I'd maybe contemplate changing cards.
ShadoPrism
member, 1287 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Fri 27 Dec 2019
at 20:45
  • msg #1496

Are you listening?

Can't change cards really - got it through my bank - interest rates on it, if I am late, is only 10%. Every other card I have Ever had was around 18% or higher (one group upped my interest rate to 40% with out telling me - I could not even pay the interest by the time they pulled that stunt - forget anything on the principle at that time in my life [collage]. Had to take out a loan to pay the card off. Which took 5 years to do. Cancled that card though cause of the shiitake* way they treated their customers.)
I get that they don't make much money off me, but punishing someone cause they use over 30% of the card value just seems stupid to me. - Prior to this my credit rating was 750 to 758 constantly - I had emergency situations, only reason I used the card to that level. But I feel like they are punishing me for it.


* I looked up the spelling on this - this is the correct spelling for the mushroom. I am triing to stay with in forum rules here.
evileeyore
member, 265 posts
GURPS GM and Player
Fri 27 Dec 2019
at 21:19
  • msg #1497

Re: Are you listening?

Dream Sequence:
Your credit score isn't a measure of how well you pay off your debt.  It's a measure of how well you pay off -interest- on your debt.

This is fact.

You want good credit?  Someone has to get paid money from you above and beyond what the goods or services cost.

Fastest way to generate a positive credit score?  Take out a loan, pay the minimums.  Or rack up a small card balance, pay the minimums.

Are you about to pay off a loan?  Take out a new one.


ShadoPrism:
Can't change cards really - got it through my bank - interest rates on it, if I am late, is only 10%.

10% is a really good rate.  I'd keep that card.  Just try to leave a small balance on there so it generates a small amount of interest.

quote:
(one group upped my interest rate to 40% with out telling me...

I'm not calling you a liar, but they probably did tell you.  On page 28 of the user agreement, in the smallest of fine print, in legalese.  Probably also in Comic Sans italic or Monotype Corsiva.

quote:
I get that they don't make much money off me...

Oh but they do.  Or more aptly, off the vendors that let you use the card and then pay the CC company fees for that usage.

quote:
... but punishing someone cause they use over 30% of the card value just seems stupid to me.

It's because the higher the immediate balance the greater chance that a setback could spiral you into financial straits wherein you have to default on that debt.  So "maxing out" your cards (or exceeding whatever % they consider to be 'safe') is seen as risky behavior.

Think of it like this.  A credit card is an investment into you by the company, basically they're saying "We're extending you credit in the hopes we make money off of you".  The more money they make off of you (over the long term) the more they reward you with a "credit score".  The less money, or the riskier you start to look, well they'll report this so others won't make the same investment mistakes.  And off course if your credit score drops too low, many companies have a proviso in the contract that they can just dump you, and they will if they aren't making enough money off of ya or your behavior signals to them that you've become a credit risk.
GreenTongue
member, 893 posts
Game Archaeologist
Fri 27 Dec 2019
at 21:30
  • msg #1498

Re: Are you listening?

For this to be true, I should have a very low credit score.
I have only paid interest on my credit card a few times in my life.
My credit score is in the upper 700s.

There has to be more factors than just making the credit company money from your interest payments.
evileeyore
member, 266 posts
GURPS GM and Player
Fri 27 Dec 2019
at 22:01
  • msg #1499

Re: Are you listening?

GreenTongue:
There has to be more factors than just making the credit company money from your interest payments.

There is.  But it's all risk/reward evaluation.
Varsovian
member, 1498 posts
Sun 5 Jan 2020
at 03:56
  • msg #1500

I got myself Pathfindered... again!

Okay, so last week (more or less) I noticed that Humble Bundle is once again offering a bundle with a ton of Pathfinder-related books. I bought two of these bundles in the past and, thanks to them, I now own a metric ton of Pathfinder (1E) PDFs... quite probably more than I can hope to read or use (especially as I haven't been in a PF game here that lasted... my luck, I guess). Nevertheless, for some reason, when I see cheap PF books, I buy them! So, once again, I spent $40 for another twenty Pathfinder PDFs...

And now, as I'm looking through, I once again start to realize: it's cool stuff to read, but I will probably never play or GM this game... especially not with all these options or all this setting material... especially I'm not fully sold on Golarion...

So, why the heck I keep spending money on it???

Gah! *facepalms*
ShadoPrism
member, 1288 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Sun 5 Jan 2020
at 22:21
  • msg #1501

I got myself Pathfindered... again!

In reply to Varsovian (msg # 1500):

Sounds like me back in the day - I got a bunch of box sets for 2cd ed Realms, have never used them and read maybe a few - but every now and then I come across a book I don't have and buy it. Never read it, heck the last group is still in the bag I brought it home in. I don't know why I buy them either as I don't run or play that stuff anymore.
Z.Dianli
member, 20 posts
What goes...
...in here?
Mon 6 Jan 2020
at 04:43
  • msg #1502

I got myself Pathfindered... again!

I collect musical instruments.  Woodwinds, mainly, and some related stuff (like things in the ocarina family and a few reed instruments).

I will never learn to play them all in my lifetime to any degree of competence.  If I picked one and just focused on that, I could probably become decently competent in a few years.  But I keep buying them.  And I keep buying ever-more-expensive ones.

Games?  God yes, collecting those can be expensive!  But musical instruments?  There's a reason why I work seven days a week...
seraphmoon
member, 121 posts
OSX10.15; iOS13 & 12.4
Talks lots. Reads more.
Tue 7 Jan 2020
at 05:45
  • msg #1503

I got myself Pathfindered... again!

You’re not kidding. I’ve only bought instruments to play, and the only one that wasn’t expensive was the accordion.

I have a variety of collections both intentional and un, like plants, menorahs, and offbeat cookbooks. The textiles and art pieces are definitely the ones with the highest price tags, but craft supplies is a close third. Games doesn’t even come close, even though I have a lot.
ShadoPrism
member, 1289 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Tue 7 Jan 2020
at 14:21
  • msg #1504

I got myself Pathfindered... again!

My other collection is more expensive - swords, daggers, a battle axe, a few staves, wands, fantasy jewerly, goblets and so on. The books is just the most extensive of things I have (3 book cases worth). I need a bigger place to display all the weapons I got though.
DBCowboy
member, 38 posts
Played rpgs since about
'81 (D&D Basic ed)
Wed 8 Jan 2020
at 03:59
  • msg #1505

I got myself Pathfindered... again!

Mountain Cedar (it's actually Ash Juniper) is the tree of the Devil and should be eradicated from the planet.  We are at the height of cedar pollen season here and I'm ready to claw my eyes out.  Almost couldn't drive to work today because they were watering and stinging so bad.  It looks like smoke as it blows off the trees in waves.

Thank God for Zyrtec.

$&@#+! cedar
This message was last edited by the user at 04:00, Wed 08 Jan 2020.
OceanLake
supporter, 1090 posts
Thu 9 Jan 2020
at 01:00
  • msg #1506

I got myself Pathfindered... again!

Good in some ways; no consolation for those who are allergic to the pollen.
ShadoPrism
member, 1291 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Sat 18 Jan 2020
at 00:29
  • msg #1507

Stupid evil dvd player

Cyber dvd player locks you out if you don't update to their latest Expensive product. I just got a dvd I wanted to see and the blasted player won't work (actually went in to Task Manager and found it was Suspended from working). I got this computer compatible DVD player and they want to update it every year for more money than I payed for the actual player. The player locks you out if you Don't update it, which means I can't watch any of my DVDs because I don't have the money to go out and get another player. (Don't own a tv anymore, and the only other dvd player I have is an older model that is not compatible with the modern screens.)
I removed this crabapple from my computer but am so frustrated cause I waited a year for the price to drop so I could even get the dvd (its a direct to dvd movie). So SO P.O.ed.
DBCowboy
member, 39 posts
Played rpgs since about
'81 (D&D Basic ed)
Sat 18 Jan 2020
at 00:33
  • msg #1508

Stupid evil dvd player

VLC media player is widely used and well supported. Free though I donated because their product is awesome.
ShadoPrism
member, 1292 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Sat 18 Jan 2020
at 02:33
  • msg #1509

Stupid evil dvd player

Found one on the Microsoft app store called Free Player - seems to work with any dvd type movie. So far so good. Got to watch my movie - and the player is free.
V_V
member, 896 posts
Just like that...
my journey..finds me home
Wed 22 Jan 2020
at 20:45
  • msg #1510

Stupid evil dvd player

I'd rather have used the other thread. It probably would have been better fitting. However, I will put this here instead.

Thank you for those that were helpful caring, and kind.

Thank you those that tried to make as better person, and help me hlep myself.

To those that never liked me, I wish I knew why...specifically, but there are yet so many...the harpy cove has won. Amidst my misery, I have not forgotten you. I've spent more time thinking what, specifically I did that set you on edge to dislike me, and how better I could have handled that moment that drove you spite me. I was not worth the spite, but I want you to know you were worth the consideration. As I write before going home, truly home. Somewhere I've been hoping to go...every day of my life...I just hope you'll give up that spite. I understand the hatchet cannot be buried alone...so I will gladly take it. I'm sorry. Not for what I did, for I cannot be sorry, at least sincerely, without knowing at what point I violated your feelings, or caused you to envenom your interraction with me. I will, however, say, you won. Acired...you won. I hope you feel better, that I freely admit...as you promised...you delivered. It matter not, RPoL was always a window out of my cell. My home...I won't need one.

Good lucm to Tom. Good Luck to Krogan or Kerrigan the red. You I will dare name as IO have, so you know you made the leaps and bounds that carried me a long stretch of this journey. I regre to realize, I would rather be comfortably at home and ill, than waiting for treatment under duress.

Please consider those few of you, the literally five that took the time to really look past ll my shortcomings, time and time again, and endure...for me...and for you too. I won't break the ToA even wqhen it has no pragmatic consequence, I respect jase and almost all the mods far too mucu. Otherwise I would name names. I hope, though you will know who you are. To you, I am truly sorry, I cannot thank you, nor did I enough.

For those countles that rmailed me, yopu kept me going. For those that GMed for me...thank you for the brief but genuine positivity. Finally, to those that...everyone...you was on this leg of the journey. I hopr your journey home is easier, and stops at better ports. I'm just glad I'm almost home. Thank you second most to jae, for being the red hen, for being considerate and ethical and generous and having this place I could go. You have me a window. Finally, most of all, thank you J. I doubt Anne will see this, I think she's forgotten her password, but if she does, you can talk to her yourself. Here's where I get off. Goodbye. I wish there was more, and certainly less, but Goodbye.
This message was last edited by the user at 20:49, Wed 22 Jan 2020.
ShadoPrism
member, 1293 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Wed 22 Jan 2020
at 21:38
  • msg #1511

Sad to see you go

I for one am sad to hear your leaving us V_V, I have enjoyed reading your post and seeing you around the forums. I hope your journey is peaceful at the least.
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