*Side Eye*
LGBThread |OT4| We're (still) Here! We're (still) Queer!
- Thread starter RatskyWatsky
- Start date
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BlueBadger
Banned
Happy page 200 GayGAF!! <3
Or Happy Page 100 to Superior Gaf.
Blood Diamonds
Banned
It is! It's kinda hard though... but it did keep me from eating Chinese food today.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
High five!
The one thing that always loads on my phone is Neogaf even though I use 100ppp
Snappy even with EDGE. Maybe not when they're heavy on GIF/pictures, but I haven't been annoyed so far.
BlueBadger
Banned
I don't know what Superior Gaf is ;_;
The one thing that always loads on my phone is Neogaf even though I use 100ppp
Snappy even with EDGE. Maybe not when they're heavy on GIF/pictures, but I haven't been annoyed so far.
I envy you.
I live in a rural area so a lot of the time there's no phone reception. It works fine when I'm in the city (about 40 minutes away) but I don't go there often so eh.
100 posts per page.
Look in yo' settings.
CornBurrito
Member
The internet makes getting over crushes extremely difficult. Fuck.
Dead Prince
Banned
Hone that stalking skill
Indeed
CornBurrito
Member
Only so far you can get thanks to Facebook privacy settings.
I'm from a rural area as well. The area has the population density of Idaho and the school I went to as a child with all seven grades was small enough to fit in a classroom (around 20 students). You can check out Vesterålen in Google Maps with street view to compare the ruralness
Some areas with bad reception, but overall really good when you consider how deserted it is.
BlueBadger
Banned
SpaceBridge
Member
Been a long time. Quick question: what's with the influx of gay mean, who are HIV positive engaging in bareback sex. I dunno how many times I've been hit on online by guys who wanna fuck bareback when they are positive. Did we find a cure I didn't hear about?
Edit: I'm not judging per se, just seems insane when guys are hitting me up saying they only fuck "raw". Like no exceptions.
Edit: I'm not judging per se, just seems insane when guys are hitting me up saying they only fuck "raw". Like no exceptions.
Watching RuPaul's Drag Race makes me want to be a drag queen, I just want to be sassy and fabulous
They might be into pozzing, which is a very dangerous fetish to have, makes me not even want to try casual encounters
Something i always wondered, is pozzing real? It has the makings of an internet troll taken too far yet It seems too elaborate for a hoax/urban legend. On the other hand, i have never heard of it in mainstream media and you'd think this would be the kind of thing that makes headlines and increases ratings. The silence on that front makes me suspicious of pozzing's veracity.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Yes, definitely.
CornBurrito
Member
Oh my god don't I know it.
Yeah, it's like a drug. I know it is unhealthy and yet I can't stop myself.
Also, since this thread seems to support general discussion:
I basically don't have any real hopes, dreams, or ambition. I know from past experience that I'll be extremely unhappy if I do nothing. I need some form of employment. Right now I am a Biology major. Now Biology degrees don't have great employment prospects. The thought of being unemployable somewhat terrifies me. Not because of student loan debt, but because of the uncertainty. I hate uncertain futures. That hatred led me to spending a great deal of my freshman year revolving around dreaming up when/where/how I would commit suicide, with my reasoning being that planning such would inject some certainty into my future. Now I'd gotten past that, but it is now starting to slowly creep back into my mind, prompting this post.
I'm at a bit of a crossroads right now. As I approach my senior year there are two routes I can think of going with my Biology degree. One route is graduate school. I think genetics would have the best job prospects so I would go with that, even though I do think I have a love for Zoology. Zoology has terrible job prospects though so yeah, not gonna go for that. The thing is, I'm not sure if I have any talent for genetics. I'm not really the most self-confident guy. I recognize I have some academic talent, but I really don't know if I am smart enough to do graduate level genetics research for a career. I don't know if I have the talent to earn a PhD in that field. The plus side is that PhD programs for this sort of stuff is typically paid for. Failing would be bad, but not costly.
The other route I could go is medical school. Despite my general lack of confidence, I feel I actually could obtain the GPA and MCAT score required to get into medical school. The MCAT would take a bit of studying, but that's what gap years are for anyway. The GPA is the tricky part. I have a 3.657 right now. The "minimum" GPA for medical school is basically 3.5, but that's pushing it. A 3.657 is probably competitive enough to get in, and I know people who had even less than that get in. I do have to take two extremely hard courses (Organic Chemistry I and II, which have like... D+ averages) in order to satisfy pre-med requirements, but if I take them over the summer (which I am currently doing) and focus I could possibly get through them with decent grades and maintain my GPA. I am a bit worried what I would do once I actually got into medical school though. With no real passion to actually be a doctor (neither money nor saving lives interests me much, I just want stable employment), I don't know if I'd actually make a good doctor. And medical school is pretty expensive. Trying and then failing out would be really bad. The upside to medical school over graduate school is that a career in medicine probably is a lot stabler and pays better.
So what should I do? Graduate school, or medical school?
chronos4590
Member
Good to see you around again. Yeah that is scary and alarming. As rayis said probably people into that type of scene. It's interesting why though. Are you getting these hits on from the same area online? Or multiple places online.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Where are you seeing all of this at? Grindr?
I guess it's because, for a lot of young gays, due to all of the advancements that have been made in medicine since the 80s, HIV/AIDS isn't the scary horrific thing it once was. "No longer a death sentence", etc. They probably don't think it's that big of a deal or something. Maybe they're really ignorant (I mean, obviously) and think the chances of infection are really low with no condoms. They're dumb, but at least they're up front about their status.
That was quite the event.
If it's the guy I'm thinking of, I still feel pretty bad about it (though forcing him out of the thread, let alone forcing him into a dangerous lifestyle was not even remotely what I was angling for).
SpaceBridge
Member
The app I'm using is Scruff. The age range is younger guys to guys my age who should know better. I've known friends who passed away. And while I'm aware treatment had come along way, some guys treat it like it's diabetes. Seriously blows my mind. Yes, you can get it down to undetectable levels, but you are still infected. Listen, I know ppl fuck up, I get it, and nobody should live in shame. That being said, to only engage in sex raw, without exceptions is madness. I even had a guy stand me up last week cuz he wanted to go to a bareback gang bang. He was even partnered. Wouldn't his partner be concerned. Like wtf? We, as gay men, should know better. It's shits on the memory and legacy of out fallen brothers.
I cringe and feel deeply ashamed whenever it is mentioned / stated that gay men are the demographic that is the most likely to get HIV. It's shameful, it's sad, it's disheartening. It's freaking stupid. Not to say I discriminate people who live with HIV, but that's different to being a total brain-dead idiot about getting infected, let alone freaking infect other people. I hope I don't sound too harsh, but it's something that really bothers me
BlueBadger
Banned
Hmm.. I know it's hard to hear in this day and age where employment is harder than ever, but I'm still a firm believer in doing what you love. Because I feel like if you love it that much, you'll find a way into the field somehow, yknow? But if you're really dead set against pursuing zoology and you want to be more certain about your future, I think med school might be a good idea. I don't know about where you live, but my area has been in dire need of physicians and specialists that will actually accept new patients.
I also know how you feel with uncertainty. You and I have about the same GPA (3.67) and I'm doing my degree in criminology. I love it a lot, but I seriously have no idea what I'm going to do with it. The minimum admission GPA for law school in my city is really high (usually 3.8 unless you do exceptionally well on your lsat). I really want to be a singer, which I'm sure everyone in here knows by now, but that's probably one of the world's most competitive and jobless industries haha. I've been looking into teaching recently though, because when I was teach assisting grade 8 math I found it to be really rewarding.
I'm someone who also really fears an uncertain future
but the thing that's helped me has been taking things one step at a time. Focus right now on just finishing your degree in whatever you'd like it to be. After that, then you can focus on what's next. That's what's been keeping me sane Henchmen21
Banned
SpaceBridge
Member
I cringe and feel ashamed whenever it is mentioned / stated that gay men are the demographic that is the most likely to get HIV. It's shameful, it's sad, it's disheartetning. It's freaking stupid. Not to say I discriminate people who live with HIV, but that's different to being a total brain-dead idiot about getting infected, let alone freaking infect other people. I hope I don't sound too harsh, but it's something that really bothers me
Not harsh at all. When I was younger abd coming out of the closet circa 1998-99, I actually refused to support the Toronto AIDS Walk because from my younger, ignorant, and militant point of view these gay men deserved what they got for getting HIV. As I grew up, came out, met gay men who were positive I realized that I was wrong. And that these were normal guys who were victims of uneducated and ignorant mistakes who sought redemption. Fast forward to today, and I'm genuinely shocked at what I'm seeing, online and on these apps. Seriously, im not judging on kinks and fetishes abd sexual liberation, but you need to be smart, sane, and safe about it. To purposefully seek out barebabking, with or without positive men seems beyond stupid. It's anger inducing for me personally. My two friends, who struggled with this, who tried to live the best they could even knowing that they would pass. It's heartbreaking.
JeFfrey IIRC. He was also against the LGBThread having lesbians in it and bashing other things too. Very friendly fella.
michaeltraps
Member
When did this happen? I've been lurking GayGaf even longer than I've been a proper member and I can't for the life of me remember this.
CornBurrito
Member
He changed his name? Anyway I remember him being called out in an OT thread. Very unpleasant man.
He changed his name and made a thread when he got HIV IIRC. If you look at his post history you can probably find it.
That was his user name when he posted that stuff.
chronos4590
Member
BlueBadger
Banned
Henchmen21
Banned
That's who I thought but couldn't remember his username
Necromanti
Member
Time to go all serious gay.
What other classes do you require? What is the GPA of just your science classes? Medical school usually requires that you take a certain amount of quarters/semesters of physics and organic chemistry lab, as well. There are a lot of (hidden) requirements that might just end up counting as one of your electives if you aren't majoring in something like pre-health.
I'm majoring in "Molecular, Cellular, and Development Biology", and I wouldn't have the chance to take those labs since my degree don't require them, and would also not have the additional time to take them as well.
There are a certain number of factors to keep in mind when pursuing a career or a graduate/post-graduate degree.
Motivation is important. Is the subject something that you can find interesting enough that you can maintain motivation? With most things, it's not a matter of how good or bad we are at something; it's a matter of whether we are willing to invest the amount of time necessary to overcome our obstacles and become proficient at something. I am of the belief that nearly anyone can learn anything; some may pick up certain things faster, but given time, anyone can learn it (like a language). People who are good at something often put in a large number of hours reflecting that fact.
If we are missing certain skills, find certain things harder than others, and cannot find the drive and persistence to improve at something, we will often end in failure. Picking something you are more likely to enjoy controls for one variable that could contribute to that failure.
A lot of people choose to go to medical school because they have either been pushed into it since their childhood, held a strong desire to help people for a long time, or been motivated by money; a person without any motivation in pursuing medical school would not fare as well against them. It would make it even more likely for you to want to drop out after all the grueling hours of work, sleeplessness, studying, and so forth. It is not an easy path for anyone, and if you don't really want to, then I would personally reconsider it.
If you are struggling with suicide ideation, then it probably wouldn't hurt to see a therapist. It's probably the last thing anyone wants to hear, and a lot of people may have tried it before, but it's worth maintaining to at least get some help in not adding to the problem. I meditated upon a single, obvious truth after my 2nd failed suicide attempt many years ago: my life is not over until I am dead.
Take things piecemeal, and don't let an uncertain future lead you to want to make it certain through ending your life; that is the only time when all is truly over. Most things are not the end of the world and can be overcome. Your life would not end if you failed a class, for example. Focus on daily aspects and the immediate future instead. Make small, realistic, and attainable goals that pave a way to a life that, while a tad unpredictable, would not lead to a road filled with regret. You have a near infinite number of paths awaiting you; it only takes making the best of the one you do end up choosing. We are conditions to constantly fear failure through the air of almost inevitable hopelessness that is weaved by the mantras we currently hear: there are no jobs, the economy is terrible, it is impossible to get a job, doing such and such is impossible unless you have so and so, and on, and on. And no matter how true each of those points may be, giving up does absolutely nothing in addressing them. It just becomes self-fulfilling, self-defeatist masturbation once we internalize all that negativity.
You may have to move to another city to find work depending on what field of biology you are in, but it's a pretty flexible field, and it's not like you'll be forced to pursue the subject that your undergraduate degree revolved around. In cities with a lot of biotech companies, the prospects are not as bleak. Again, this depends on what you're interested in.
It would be helpful to have some lab experience (if you have any interest in that) if you could. Speak to some of your professors and try to find out if there is are any labs you can help out in, or if there's any research they are pursuing that you could get involved in. If you are interesting in zoology, then I'm sure there are a large number of projects that would fit your criteria, including several that involve fieldwork. Branch out to institutions, conservation efforts, or zoos/aquaria/museums and see what tickles your fancy. Paleontology has always been awe-inspiring and humbling for me, for example.
Try to think back why you chose to major in biology to begin with, even if you find that ambition to be hazy. At the core of that, deep down, you know what it is that interests you, what it is you could possibly see yourself doing (and what you could never see yourself doing), and what drew you to the subject to begin with. It also wouldn't hurt to choose a less limiting path and allow yourself as many backup plans as possible.
Anyway, I forgot more than half of what I wanted to say, but I think that is enough of blabbering for me. I'm in the same situation as you. I have no idea where I'll end up or how to even begin figuring out what sort of degree to pursue; I've debated getting a Masters in something business related, and then a PhD in a specialized area of biology, and then working for a biotech company. I've considered cancer research and genomics. I've thought about working for the NIH. Medical research interests me. I'm going to try to find a lab position and narrow down my interests a bit more, and speak to my professors for advice. But in the end, I will do everything I can do not regret whatever choices I do make, and conscientiously try to make the best of what I can control.
The rest I leave up to the universe. (This may just be the Taoist elements of my tea ceremony class speaking.)
Is it common for people to be taking organic chemistry as seniors at your school? Just curious, as I'm taking the 3rd and final class (in the long series) as a senior this summer since I didn't have an opportunity to take it earlier. I also have biochemistry awaiting me...
What other classes do you require? What is the GPA of just your science classes? Medical school usually requires that you take a certain amount of quarters/semesters of physics and organic chemistry lab, as well. There are a lot of (hidden) requirements that might just end up counting as one of your electives if you aren't majoring in something like pre-health.
I'm majoring in "Molecular, Cellular, and Development Biology", and I wouldn't have the chance to take those labs since my degree don't require them, and would also not have the additional time to take them as well.
There are a certain number of factors to keep in mind when pursuing a career or a graduate/post-graduate degree.
Motivation is important. Is the subject something that you can find interesting enough that you can maintain motivation? With most things, it's not a matter of how good or bad we are at something; it's a matter of whether we are willing to invest the amount of time necessary to overcome our obstacles and become proficient at something. I am of the belief that nearly anyone can learn anything; some may pick up certain things faster, but given time, anyone can learn it (like a language). People who are good at something often put in a large number of hours reflecting that fact.
If we are missing certain skills, find certain things harder than others, and cannot find the drive and persistence to improve at something, we will often end in failure. Picking something you are more likely to enjoy controls for one variable that could contribute to that failure.
A lot of people choose to go to medical school because they have either been pushed into it since their childhood, held a strong desire to help people for a long time, or been motivated by money; a person without any motivation in pursuing medical school would not fare as well against them. It would make it even more likely for you to want to drop out after all the grueling hours of work, sleeplessness, studying, and so forth. It is not an easy path for anyone, and if you don't really want to, then I would personally reconsider it.
If you are struggling with suicide ideation, then it probably wouldn't hurt to see a therapist. It's probably the last thing anyone wants to hear, and a lot of people may have tried it before, but it's worth maintaining to at least get some help in not adding to the problem. I meditated upon a single, obvious truth after my 2nd failed suicide attempt many years ago: my life is not over until I am dead.
Take things piecemeal, and don't let an uncertain future lead you to want to make it certain through ending your life; that is the only time when all is truly over. Most things are not the end of the world and can be overcome. Your life would not end if you failed a class, for example. Focus on daily aspects and the immediate future instead. Make small, realistic, and attainable goals that pave a way to a life that, while a tad unpredictable, would not lead to a road filled with regret. You have a near infinite number of paths awaiting you; it only takes making the best of the one you do end up choosing. We are conditions to constantly fear failure through the air of almost inevitable hopelessness that is weaved by the mantras we currently hear: there are no jobs, the economy is terrible, it is impossible to get a job, doing such and such is impossible unless you have so and so, and on, and on. And no matter how true each of those points may be, giving up does absolutely nothing in addressing them. It just becomes self-fulfilling, self-defeatist masturbation once we internalize all that negativity.
You may have to move to another city to find work depending on what field of biology you are in, but it's a pretty flexible field, and it's not like you'll be forced to pursue the subject that your undergraduate degree revolved around. In cities with a lot of biotech companies, the prospects are not as bleak. Again, this depends on what you're interested in.
It would be helpful to have some lab experience (if you have any interest in that) if you could. Speak to some of your professors and try to find out if there is are any labs you can help out in, or if there's any research they are pursuing that you could get involved in. If you are interesting in zoology, then I'm sure there are a large number of projects that would fit your criteria, including several that involve fieldwork. Branch out to institutions, conservation efforts, or zoos/aquaria/museums and see what tickles your fancy. Paleontology has always been awe-inspiring and humbling for me, for example.
Try to think back why you chose to major in biology to begin with, even if you find that ambition to be hazy. At the core of that, deep down, you know what it is that interests you, what it is you could possibly see yourself doing (and what you could never see yourself doing), and what drew you to the subject to begin with. It also wouldn't hurt to choose a less limiting path and allow yourself as many backup plans as possible.
Anyway, I forgot more than half of what I wanted to say, but I think that is enough of blabbering for me. I'm in the same situation as you. I have no idea where I'll end up or how to even begin figuring out what sort of degree to pursue; I've debated getting a Masters in something business related, and then a PhD in a specialized area of biology, and then working for a biotech company. I've considered cancer research and genomics. I've thought about working for the NIH. Medical research interests me. I'm going to try to find a lab position and narrow down my interests a bit more, and speak to my professors for advice. But in the end, I will do everything I can do not regret whatever choices I do make, and conscientiously try to make the best of what I can control.
The rest I leave up to the universe. (This may just be the Taoist elements of my tea ceremony class speaking.)
BlueBadger
Banned
I need that secret tbh.
I just finished reading that thread, it was such a depressing read :/
Masquerader
Member
Don't do it, Badger! It's inevitably a trap~!
SpaceBridge
Member
Is there a link? I'd like to read it too.
CornBurrito
Member
Thanks for the chat Necromanti. Responses in bold (sorry, that will make it extremely difficult for you to quote them if you want to respond).
It's really scary to think the percentage of gay people who are positive in big cities. You have places like the middle east where percentages are very low for obvious reasons, but go to San Franciso and in gay bar it could easily be that 1 in 4-5 people are positive, and the worst, they do not know.
It scares me greatly, I do not understand anyone who is willing to get it, it has to be pure ignorance about what HIV really implies, even if modern treatments have come a long way and will give you a very long life.
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