Yup?

You’re right on the mark there: I missed the point, a good number of times, which sent me into a downward spiral.

It took a good amount of time and help to aknowledge I was responsible for 90% of my suffering.

And I was countering your reply.

So you try, you get turned down. Does it hurt? Yes. Is it the end of the world? If anyone replies with “yes” that is a serious issue because it is not.

Getting a “no” for an answer is almost guaranteed. What is there to lose? Perhaps the lost “yes” for not trying.

It goes above and beyond being feminist.

If a guy doesn’t want to go out with a girl that actively asked him out, he is plain, basic, stupid.

Bullshit.

It’s a social - stupid - standing that states romantic/social/sexual advances must be started by the male part, which automatically relegates the female part to a passive/subdued part.

If you want someone, be bold. Doesn’t matter how you define yourself either.

I don’t really care if you are shy and can’t speak or any coping mechanism you may have built to justify your awkwardess. Just try.

Write a note. Have a mutual friend act as a liaison to help the first step. Write a letter. Blurt out the most incoherent speech you can muster. Then say it all again, only ten times slower. Send smoke signals. Use a parrot or a crow. But try.

It hurts a lot more to punish yourself for not trying, later in your life. Failure and rejection are part of it. Get used to it. Learn from it.

I respect that.

I’m in no fashion whatsoever a prude or a moralist - hey, I admit the concept is actually interesting! - but I’m too stern to allow myself to go to a boobies bar and enjoy it with no concern on my mind. Let’s call it a personal mental barrier.

No amount of consent in the world would aid in making me feel as not taking part of an exploitative arrangement. That would be my problem.

Regarding bad food… I’ve worked in hospitality. It can always be worst.

Don’t think I be able to motivate myself to go to one.

It’s one of those things that sounds nice in theory but would have disastrous outcomes if ever attempted.

Titty bar = topless bar?

So, what we should take from this is that any foray into any art is useless, therefore we should surrender any and all creative impulse to faceless companies.

Fuck no.

I’d rather distribute my work for free and have it read and enjoyed nonetheless than not write at all.

I think I know the concept behind Hooters and other generic boobie bars (not an american) but I honestly don’t think I could go to one of those venues and, if I went, I have serious doubts I’d be able to enjoy myself or the meal.

They accomplish that and the already diminutive presence they have in the world will shrink even more.

The Greeks were isolationists. Each city-state considered itself the center of the world. It wasn’t on their list of priorities to share or spread their culture, unless it involved complete obliteration by conquest.

So, you’re talking about the people that emulated greek culture as they viewed it as more refined than their own?

And you are correct!

I should consider having one of these made to hang on my door.

The French Foreign Legion is an elite force, open to non french individuals to enlist.

Because it is, by nature, a multicultural force, the legion has a specific trainning regime to develop unit spirit. These are not cannon fodder: any individual that can make the FFL, can after three years of service request french citizenship.

Russia seems to be just trying to find bodies to fill the ranks.

Tell me what you think of this, then.

In my country, an landlord owner can not forbid pets in a house unless there are specific rules that completely prevents it (like an HOA imposition, where no animals at all are allowed in an apartment building); it was ruled by our Supreme Court having a pet is an unwaivable right the individual has.

(Yes, most people ignore this and just outright ban animals.)

However, the owner of a house can demand certain conditions to be fullfilled, in order for an animal to be housed there, like the animal being registered (ID chip), licensed (paid annually), vaccinated, properly kept (cages, terrariums or whatever necessary to accomodate, safely, the animal(s)), behaviour (a dog can not spend their time barking their head off, a cat yowlling, birds screeching) and for the guardian to assume full responsability for any and all damages the animal causes.

This part is legal and most people would run for the hills if they found such a clause on a leasing agreement, as for the moment they sign it, they are legally binded by it and failling to observe any condition is legal ground for breach of contract.

I own a few bottles of very old wine, that were gifted to me. Besides sentimental value, the bottles are worthless. But wine can be produced in order to be able to age in the bottle. I’ve seen wines, commercially available, capable of being stored and aged for up to 10 years. And as a kid, I visited a vineyard that had sealed barrels aging for more than 80 years. So, it is possible to age a wine and age it well but above all else wine is made to be enjoyed.

Next, try Portugal.