Random Life Stories and Unpredictable Moments

I am a 20 year old man in university. I was raised in a religious household and wasn't allowed to date. Despite leaving my religion I have remained single due to the fact that I want to put my life together before getting into a relationship and also I have been struggling with my mental health for the past 2-3 years.

My mental health has improved in some areas however I am struggling with a huge insecurity related to women and it's caused me to become very depressed and suicidal. Just to clarify I don't hate women I just feel really confused and depressed.

A while back I came across many articles and studies that claim that straight women watch lesbian porn. So my question is why do so many "straight" women watch lesbian porn? None of the explanations I've heard make any sense at all and seem like excuses. As a straight man I don't get aroused by watching men kissing or sucking each other's cocks. If women don’t like straight porn because it’s too violent why don’t they watch straight porn that focuses on the woman’s pleasure? It’s not hard to find at all. I looked it up and there are plenty of sensual straight porn that focuses on the woman’s pleasure yet women choose to watch lesbian porn. Again I think the women who say they watch it because “it’s sensual and I like to imagine myself in the woman’s place” are just making excuses and are bisexuals or lesbians in denial. If I as a man said “I get turned on by watching two men kissing and sucking each other’s cocks but I’m 100% straight I just imagine myself in the man’s place” everyone would look at me like I’m crazy and rightfully so. As a straight man I don’t like to watch gay porn and I’m disgusted by it. I watch porn that only has women in it because I am 100% straight and I am not attracted to men at all. Yet women seem to prefer getting off to other women and make excuses that people believe.

I believe that little to no women on this planet are straight and the vast majority if not all are either lesbian, bisexual, or comphet (conditioned by society to be straight but deep down lesbian or bisexual).

I’m a straight man and I just want to be with a real straight woman who will love me the same way I love her and as much as I love her. I feel like this is not possible and it’s made me really depressed and suicidal.

Someone please help. If there are any truly straight women out there tell me this isn’t true and it’s just the internet. Or if not explain to me why so many “straight" women watch lesbian porn because I'm honestly confused.

The celebration of Canadian Thanksgiving is quite a tradition in our home in the United States, owing largely to my stepmom's Canadian heritage. Every year, her mother travels from British Columbia to host a grand Thanksgiving feast for our mostly American family. But, truth be told, my step-grandmother, whom I affectionately refer to as my “step-grandma,” lacks a certain finesse in the kitchen. More so, her personality brims with passive-aggressiveness, especially during our festivities. Each year, without fail, she magnifies her culinary efforts, expecting endless adulation for her rather unsavory dishes.

Every Canadian Thanksgiving, my husband and I find ourselves designated as the dishwashers, a task we’ve reluctantly accepted. While I don’t inherently mind washing dishes, being the sole helpers when we are guests starts to feel more like an imposition. Originally, it seemed logical since we were the youngest adults, but over the last few years, even as my stepmom’s younger relatives joined, they’d quickly retreat to luxuries like the hot tub, leaving us to labor alone. It’s particularly frustrating when I'm interrupted during rare moments spent playing with my nephew I barely see, only to hear my step-grandma's loud hints about needing help in the kitchen, followed by my dad enlisting us yet again.

The previous year marked our move to a different city. When the annual celebration rolled around, they inquired if I would attend. Initially, I hesitated and eventually declined, citing uncertain reasons before outright refusing even their offer to cover our travel costs. Truthfully, it wasn’t about not being able to go; I was simply tired of the unfair expectation that we, alone, should contribute through chores while others socialized or relaxed.

Discussing this with my two older brothers brought mixed reactions. One brother sympathized, understanding my frustration, while the other dismissed it as a trivial issue. This leaves me questioning: am I being unreasonable here?

Imagine if this scenario unfolded on a reality show. Cameras rolling, capturing every whisper and conspicuous glance, the tension and the drama heightened for viewers at home. How would the audience react to seeing one family member consistently laden with tasks, their genuine annoyance veiled under polite compliance? The dynamics of sympathy versus judgment from the public could swing widely, possibly siding with me for feeling singled out or against me for making a 'big deal' out of family help.

Given this context, I wonder if my frustration is justified or if I should just accept these family roles silently.

I am 30 year old female who definitely does not want to work anymore. I dropped of college and started working and building myself and understanding jobs and everything which made me realize that I don't want to work anymore. My biggest issue is coworker and manger will FAFO. Since Trump ran for president in AMERICA, the economy is sinking and I heard that jobs are on a FREEZE and I honestly don't know what jobs are really hiring or not due to GHOST JOBS and what not because its really hard to say if I want to go apply for jobs. All the times I learn about jobs is that coworkers and managers are not your friends and I try my best to just be very careful because in the past I became a blubber mouth and was angry about everything; how jobs are structure and what not. I don't want unemployment because in my mind (i don't know if it true) but I found out that some people will teach others to lie on the form for unemployed and they will get while the others get rejected. That my stress and it bothers me because I am trying to live my life and do what I want to but again people love to mess up situation. Recently there was drama at work, a coworker was disrespectful telling me to clock out somewhere else and basically acted she is the manager but she doesn't do much. For me this my first time in industry never know how it might work every system has their ways and for me, I think I did well but that coworker is just trying to make it hard for us. That why I don't want to work anymore. There so much issues within work and due to job searching its hard to find a job that will take you seriously but some jobs won't even train you to make sure you get the work done. Any tips and advices because its jobs are really hard right now?

Where do I start?

There are a lot of people that say they "have no one". I have no one. The only person I ever talk to is my alcoholic ex-spouse.

No friends.

No coworkers.

Nothing.

I had some legal issues that started a few years back. The drama around that (with the fans flamed by the ex - we were still 'together' at the time) caused anyone that I hung out with to fully cut me off.

I ended up spending a bit of time on a grippy sock vacation in the psych ward.

No one called.

No one reached out.

Nothing.

Crickets.

I spent the last 2 or so years still living with the ex, still trying to deal with their issues, burying mine, with no support.

I spent my entire life supporting everyone else - parents (even as a child), spouse, volunteering, etc.

I spent my entire adult life trying to better myself. I wanted to be able to provide better than my parents were able to. I achieved that. I was the first in my family, even extended family, to graduate college. Then a master's degree. Then nearly 20 years at the same organization, working my way up through to a trusted mid-level manager with a six figure salary.

Fast-forward.

The legal issue came to a head. I made a big mistake. Once.

I've heard that we shouldn't be defined by our biggest mistake. We can't ignore the good. We can't label someone based solely on one point in time, one event, one moment...good or bad. Seems like people like to say that to make themselves feel good. They don't apply it to others.

Maybe, someone does.

But I cannot find or even try to find that someone.

Due to the legal situation, I lost my job, I'm struggling to find one.

I have about 4-5 months that I'll be able to still financially support myself.

I have so many restrictions.

Places I can't go.

Things I can't do.

I can't go to places where adults usually gather (because they serve alcohol). I can't go to places that don't serve alcohol because there are kids present.

I have nothing.

I have no way to find support.

I just exist.

That's it. Existence. Nothing more.

I don’t know why, but everything I do is wrong for some reason. If i unintentionally do the wrong thing, say the wrong thing, move wrong, I get yelled at.

Only a few days ago, I had a few things lying around. I didn’t have to time to clean yet, I’ve been busy with school and work. Ofcourse, I got hit. It doesn’t hurt but it’s scary. Everytime I hear them yelling, I’m scared that they’ll come up to me and hit me, even if I did nothing wrong. I just can’t help but freeze or even flinch when they raise their hand at me yet they still wonder why I refuse to hug them anymore, like to be near anyone or for others to be in my space.

I often prefer to be at school rather than at home. I dread going home, I like it at school. I’ve recently gotten a really good review on my behavior. They told me I was an outstanding student. I liked it. My parents don’t ever tell me that because im not good enough to them and i know it.

Sometimes, i wonder if the reason why i hate personal touch within my family is something that I struggle with mentally, but don’t know about yet. I’m just really conflicted. I honestly can’t wait for the day I turn eighteen. Only a year to go. I really want to move out as soon as I can.

Merry Christmas everyone! ❤️🥰

I was a toddler, I was texting someone who used to be friends with her and found out she told them I was the one who s#xually assaulted her. I was a toddler, she knew better, she's the one that did it to me severely and now she's playing the victim. Whenever because of her actions I can't even be comfortable showing any skin or accepting any touch? She blocked me after I tried asking her why she would lie about that and since has done nothing but just blatantly lie about my name? Not even just that but I know she did it to her little sister too, and remember the friend I said I was talking to? He was also a victim of her yet she denies it. She literally got mad when she asked to do something to me when I was 9 Infront of her little sister because I said no? She's a grown ass adult and I'm a minor at the moment and the fact she's blaming me is crazy.

lately, it’s like i’m walking around in my own body but everything feels off. like im not really here, like someone swapped out the real me and left this weird, tired, distant version behind. i still do all the same things—wake up, go to work, see people, even laugh at jokes—but none of it feels right. there’s this weird fog in my head, and even when im smiling, it doesn’t feel real. i keep thinking back to how i used to be. more energetic, more excited, more… alive, i guess. but now? now i just go through the motions and hope no one notices how weird everything feels inside. it’s like my brain is on autopilot and i’m just watching. and what’s worse is i can’t even explain it properly when someone asks what’s wrong? cuz i don’t know. i don’t know when it started, or why, or what triggered it. all i know is that i don’t feel like myself anymore—and that terrifies me.

some days are worse than others. sometimes i wake up and for a second i feel okay, like maybe today’s the day it breaks and i’ll feel normal again. but then something small happens—like i forget something stupid or someone says something in a tone that hits wrong—and boom, it’s back. the emptiness, the disconnection. i try to force myself to do the things i used to love. music, movies, friends, even food. but they don’t hit the same. i keep waiting to feel something spark again, something that says “yes, this is you,” but it just… doesn’t come. nd the more i try to force it, the more fake i feel. like i’m pretending to be okay because im supposed to be okay. i mean, nothing major is happening, i have a roof, a job, people around me. but still, this weight sits on me like i’m broken in a way no one else can see.

i thought maybe it was stress. maybe burnout or something. or maybe it’s just one of those phases people go through when they’re figuring stuff out. but it’s been weeks now, maybe even months, and i still don’t feel right. i’ve started pulling away from people cuz i don’t know how to be around them when i feel like a stranger in my own skin. i cancel plans or show up and zone out the whole time. nd it’s not that i don’t love my friends, i do. but i feel like im watching myself from the outside, doing and saying what i’m supposed to, while inside i’m just numb. or sad. or tired. or all of it. nd it makes me feel guilty too. like i’m wasting time, ruining things, making people worry when i don’t even have a good reason. so i just say i’m fine, just tired, hoping no one digs deeper, cuz i wouldn’t even know what to tell them if they did.

i just want to feel like me again. i want to wake up and not feel like i’m bracing for something i can’t even name. i want to look in the mirror and recognize what’s behind my eyes, not this dull, distant look that doesn’t match the person i remember being. i miss that version of me—the one who laughed loud without forcing it, who got excited over small things, who didn’t feel so... out of place in her own life. i don’t know how to get back there. or if i even can. but i’m trying. slowly. some days, just getting out of bed feels like progress. and maybe that’s all i can do right now. keep trying, keep showing up, even if i feel like a ghost of myself. cuz somewhere deep down, i know i’m still here. i have to believe that. even if i don’t feel like myself right now... maybe, someday, i will again.

Am I polysexual? Still figuring it out... Living in a collocation with five other people has definitely made me question a lot about myself, especially when it comes to attraction. Before moving in, I thought I had it all figured out: boy meets girl, girl falls for boy, end of story, right? But then I started realizing that my feelings weren’t always that simple. One of my roommates, a girl, made my heart race just as much as this guy I met at a party last week. And then there’s another roommate, non-binary, who I just click with in a way I can’t even explain. It got me thinking… maybe I’m not just into guys, but also not fully pan? I started looking into it, and that’s when I found the term polysexual... attracted to multiple genders, but not necessarily all. And honestly? It feels like the closest thing to what I’ve been experiencing.

But figuring this out hasn’t been easy. It’s weird, because I feel like I should have known myself by now, but every time I try to label it, my brain goes into overdrive. What if I’m just confused? What if it’s just a phase? But then again, what if it’s not? I’ve been scared to even bring it up with my friends because I don’t want them to think I’m making it up or looking for attention. I know sexuality isn’t something you have to define perfectly, but I also want to understand myself better. Right now, all I know is that I feel something real, and maybe being polysexual is part of who I am. I’m still figuring it out, but for once, I don’t feel like I have to rush to have all the answers.

My husband and I have been married for three years. From our dating days, his mother, Julia, would often sneer at me and our relationship with her son, Daniel. The day we first met, she inquired about my hometown and upon my response, dismissively remarked, "We don't take kindly to people from there." As time progressed, Julia critiqued Daniel for the flowers he bought for me, ridiculed our date nights, and even attempted to sideline me during family gatherings by insisting they were for 'family only.' When Daniel and I went on vacations, she bombarded him with calls and messages, questioning why he hadn't checked on her or fabricating crises. Daniel often downplayed her actions by saying he had become accustomed to her manipulative behavior.

Over our three years of dating, Julia started to soften her approach towards me. It was an unexpected shift, and though skeptical, I was relieved to see less confrontation. When we got engaged, the proposal filled us with joy. However, telling Julia resulted in a scornful glare directed at me, followed by an accusation towards Daniel for not informing her first. Post-engagement, we reduced our interactions with her considerably.

As we began planning our wedding, Julia's attitude took a harsh turn as she sent extensive messages full of scorn and allegations to both Daniel and myself. She accused me of being disliked and Daniel of selfishness for proceeding with a wedding she disapproved of. Pushed to his limit, Daniel confronted her, stating that continuing this behavior would lead to us cutting off all contact. In response, she resorted to spreading falsehoods among her family and even doctored text messages, painting Daniel and me in a negative light. This resulted in his family siding with her and choosing to skip our wedding. The truth about her deception surfaced after our wedding when Daniel’s sister began to question inconsistencies in Julia’s stories. Eventually, the extended family learned about the manipulation and approached Daniel seeking reconciliation, which was challenging due to the depth of their betrayal. Since then, we have completely ceased contact with Julia.

Recently, I encountered her at a store. She approached me, attempting to engage in casual conversation. I sternly told her, "Just so we're clear, you and Daniel have been nonexistent to me for three years. That's not going to change, so stop talking to me." She was visibly upset and left immediately. Following this, Daniel's family has been urging us to forgive her, labeling me harsh and condemning my inability to forgive a mistake that happened three years ago.

Imagine if this drama unfolded on a reality show! The tension would certainly capture the audience's attention, sparking debates among viewers about whether my confrontation with Julia was justified or overly harsh. The intense family dynamics and the pivotal store confrontation would potentially be pivotal episodes that highlight the struggle between personal boundaries and family pressure to reconcile.

Am my being too unforgiving toward Julia?

There are different type of people. "My parents are divorced", "My parents are happily married". My parents SHOULD be divorced. I don't want them to get divorced, but at the same time, they're clearly not healthy for each other. They argue every day and their personalities don't match at all. Twenty five years of marriage, and they've never really loved each other. I think they both could be been happier in anther world, where they never met each other. My mum met someone she loved and married him in that universe. My dad never settled down and traveled the world. I was never born in that universe, but they're both happy that way. I love both of my parents and I want them to be happy. They bring out the worst in each other, and it's painful. I feel so afraid, because their moods become sour. If I mess up, my mum gets angry. If I get upset over her arguing, she tells me to not make it about myself. I'm not blaming her, because I know this could have been avoided if my mum was with someone else. I know they're only staying together "for the kids" (aka me and my siblings), but even their children can see how unhealthy this is. I can't tell them to divorce, neither can I mend their relationship. So I just have to live through it for a few more years. But I don't know how much more I can take.

I'm a 32-year-old guy whose girlfriend, who is 33, recently bought a quaint little house. I didn't sign the deed, and honestly, I’ve had no issues with that arrangement. However, things took a slight turn when she asked me to chip in about 20,000 euros for home renovations and new furniture. It’s true that I would enjoy the improvements as much as she would while we're living together, but using up a big slice of my savings for a property that isn't in my name feels pretty risky.

Rather than making a hefty one-time investment, I suggested paying ongoing rent instead. It seemed like a fair solution to me; I’d help with the living costs without tapping deeply into my reserves. But my girlfriend didn't take it well. She believes it’s unfair because she’d have to shoulder the renovation expenses alone, potentially straining her finances. She can’t seem to wrap her head around why I'd prefer renting over helping her directly with the cash. In her eyes, paying rent would ultimately be an expensive path, and she thinks I am abandoning her in a financially tough spot.

I want to be supportive and definitely see a future together, but I must think about my financial stability too. Contributing in a way that also safeguards my end seems reasonable—doesn't it?

Now, imagine if this whole situation were part of a reality show. Audiences might be split on this drama! Some might side with my girlfriend, seeing my refusal to invest directly as a lack of commitment to our shared life. Others could empathize with my need to protect my own financial interests, particularly since I don’t have ownership of the house. The debates would likely intensify in social media comments, making for quite the storyline that keeps viewers hooked and fiercely debating the roles and responsibilities in a relationship related to money.

Am I a jerk for opting to pay rent rather than a lump sum into a house that isn't mine?

Im 15, female I feel like I can’t turn to anyone right now even to family and friends, but I can’t even talk to anyone anyways because my mom had taken away my phone for a month because of my grades and I’m not sure when I’ll get it back. And my family can’t even handle their own feelings and yell too much so I don’t know or wanna know how they would handle mine, I’m uploading this on a computer by the way. I don’t have a problem with my phone getting taken away but she thinks I’m too distracted with it even though school ended a month ago, so when I went on call with one of my friends on a zoom meeting because I was getting lonely and I didn’t have anything else to do. She came in my room and I tried to turn off my computer because I knew she would get angry and she did. And she was also mad at the fact that I was trying to hide it from her, so she just started yelling at me how I never tell anything to her but I don’t like to because she assumes the worse about me when I explain. She asked if I was hungry after she yelled at me but I said no because why would I wanna eat around her right after that so she walked out of my room leaving my door open and started yelling again that she’s gonna take away my door and that I can choose not to eat then become anorexic and she made sure I heard too then she was just like “but Im right though” like that would give her an excuse to say that. I honestly don’t know why she even said that, it’s not even about the devices anymore. I didn’t know how to react when she said that I felt so numb at the moment. This was too difficult for me to tell anyone I know and her words hurt me so bad for the past few days and even now she did that right before my birthday in June. I didn’t really want to do anything for my birthday the next day. And I feel like all of that is too normalized in my family and maybe it’s because of generational trauma idk anymore because my mom acted normal towards me the next day. My relationship with my mom wasn’t always like that though I was a mommy’s girl because my dad is present in my life, and after my mom said all of that she was like “what happened to my little sunshine” but I don’t know what happened either. This summer break made me realize that school is an escape from my house and I think all of done this summer was lay in my bed and hope no one came to bother me in my room. Im pretty scared for the future especially the future generation because as I keep getting older expectations get higher, I know it may be apart of life but maybe Im not fit for existing here. I do hope I can get through it though because things can change in the future. This was hard for me to share even anonymously please be kind to me.

My husband cheated with his ex wife before we got married. I found out about a month before the wedding. I went ahead with the marriage because I was blindly in love. They have to talk all the time because they have a young child. I'm ok most of the time but when I have to be around his ex at sports, birthday parties, ect. It weighs on my mind. I start to scrutinize their every interaction.Last week, I was at their daughter's ball game and when she got a runner out, he looked toward his ex to share that moment with her. I've decided to quit going to going to games and this has made him mad. I also compare myself to her. She's taller, thinner, and younger. They have a friendly relationship and it eats me up. He says it's just for their daughters sake. His daughter is 8 and still sucks her thumb. We argue about this too. I want her to stop but it g do odd t bother him. I said it was embarrassing to be with her in public. He says I have mental problems and I'm being immature. What are your thoughts and or suggestions.

I don't know where else to vent, I feel like I've unloaded enough on a friend of mine and don't want to burden him any longer so...

My Grandma passed away not too long ago and there's some drama going on about the will. Apparently, some aunts and uncles have been manipulating Grandma to give them more things or be given things that other people have taken better care of. Like my cousin wanted to buy Grandma's house after she was moved out of it and she was willing to sell. But then some aunts got in her ear and made her make my cousin pay more for the house. One of the aunts said I would be named in the inheritance, my Mom thinks it's because Dad died and his portion would be split with his kids. She told me not to sign off on anything.

Then again I've heard her non-stop complaining about everything about Dad's side of the family which increased after he died. Pretty much have been discouraged from talking to anyone other than a select few she likes. Part of me understands considering some drama but also feel like she doesn't have the best judgement. She tends to talk down to me even though I'm an adult now and constantly calls me wet behind the ears even when I express interest in going outside my comfort zone and doing new experiences to be not so wet. But of course, she's the Mom and I'm the child so in her opinion she seems to know everything and she's always right, and I'm always wrong. When she asked for my credit card password and I said no she was all "Thank you for trusting me." But who in their right mind would share their credit card password with anyone? Who knows where that info will end up? Then there was the time in high school when I started having a tough time and asked if I could go to the doctor's to see if I had depression. But of course, she said no, I didn't have depression because I didn't act like she did when she had depression. Later I would get so nervous about school that I would get physically ill and I eventually called the doctor myself. And what do you know, I was prescribed anti-depressants. Recently, I was diagnosed with blood clots in my lungs but before that, I had a really bad cold that even took away my voice for a bit. But one night it got so bad I couldn't sleep and my chest was in serious pain. I had a bad feeling so I called 811, they suggested I get Mom to take me to a hospital. I tried to get her to but she refused, insisting it wasn't that serious. But it didn't get better and after half an hour I called a cab to take me to the hospital. There I was diagnosed with pneumonia and stayed there for just over a week, even spent two days in the ICU. When Mom finally came she was all apologetic but when I was checked out I learned she told relatives and friends the reason she didn't take me was because I wasn't clear enough. Even though both the 811 operator and cab driver saw it was urgent and that I was having trouble breathing. It was clear enough for them but not for her?

I believe she thinks I'm a goddamn idiot and so naive I need to have my hand held for every goddamn thing. If I could move out and cut out most people from the family I could but apparently I was hit with anti-employer spray because I can't get a job in my field to save my life. I feel useless but also feel like I could snap at any second. When I tell Mom how I feel, she turns it around and says it's my own fault for feeling that way. When I tell my siblings they either go on about how both sides are to blame or take Mom's side. The same Mom that screamed at them for other things, including one where she threatened to disinherit one of them from Dad's will for not doing what she wants. Granted it involved staying with a not-so-great romantic partner but her having a fucking meltdown only pushed that sibling further into the arms of the fucking creep so it took longer for my sibling to finally break it off with that jerk.

I do have a therapist that I talk to but he's not cheap and I leave still feeling furious. He does give good advice but I never feel myself in the right headspace to act on said advice.

It feels like I'm in a fucking soap opera only the people around me seem to think I'm oblivious to the whole shitshow. It feels like I'm one bad day away from exploding and I don't know how to defuse this timebomb.