Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on its evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Avoid long drawn out arguments. This should be a place to relax, not to waste your time needlessly.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Please do not spam at the top level. If you have a lot to post each day, try and post them all together in one top level comment
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Try keep things light. If you are bringing in deep stuff, try not to go overboard.
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Things that are clearly on-topic for this board should be posted as a separate post and not here (except if you are new and still getting the feel of this place)
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If you find people violating these rules, deport them rather than start a argument here.
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evoloving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Got my first down doot!!!!! Finally said something somebody didn't like. Dont know why cause I got 9 up doots from others!!!! Should I be scared a blue haired shreiker is after me??? Probably get down doots on this!!! LOL!
I thought I'd help out by giving you a downdoogle*NB.
If you just got your first downdoogle, then you need a few more. They'll make you more robust, if you can weather the storm. But no, don't have to fear the blue haired shriekers. Downdoots and downdoogles originate from a variety of source, some legit, some not so legit.
NB: updoogles have been found to be 45% more effective than updoots (Source: Scientific American Journal, Vol 17.)
Take your pick been called both, and worse. It was probably a handshake like me that hasn't learned the board. I probably gave some down doots also and didn't know I did!
Note:
For many decades in the previous century, in Australia, "bastard" was a popular and frequently used term of affection between men.
As in "Owya goin ya old bastard?"
I understand. And appreciate it! Thank you!
Congrats, you are now one of us.
KEWL! I haven't graduated to the suspension club yet, but I am trying to avoid that club!
Wait. You're account is 11 days old? So you actually haven't lurked long time. Hmmm...
MEME NEEDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
biden building charging stations while the rest of the world is building army meme
I dunno why, but this created an image in my mine where that trans health official in Biden - Levine or something - is giving a speech at White House, when he suddenly pauses mid sentence, and Biden comes running saying "See I told you it will be useful" and starts charging the trans guy by plugging his cable into a nearby pole marked "Charging Stattion for Cyborgs". Kek.
O.o
Love this:
https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/133/048/782/playable/3a19df013ecd5fe8.mp4
Why is it that we hate TikTok, again? Why is it a threat? Is TikTok any worse than Twitter and Facebook, or are we being told that it is because Congress doesn’t control it?
Tik Tok is literally Chinese Spyware, even more so than what’s already on your phone.
It exposes children to porn and other neuron-killing content. It will make your children socially messed up, crowd pleasing deviants.
I was wondering the same thing. How is TikTok any different than all the rest of the globohomo spy shit?
Because the CCP is the primary geopolitical pawn of the DS, and having the TikTok app on your phone gives them full access.
That means they can accumulate data on Americans as a whole, which they will use to harm / kill us. If you're a patriot, they can easily use that data to target you for coercion or other abusive manipulation (which will harm the greater patriot movement).
Oh -- and Trump himself repeatedly warned against TikTok many times.
Do you really need a better reason?
Right??
I don't understand the appeal of Tiktok in the first place, except for social media addicts. When you consider the CCP connection I can't see why any patriot would defend that platform.
Chyna spy with more than barroon. kek Here are a few links.
I can't find one article I read about the algos sending suicide videos to teenage users if they put in anything about being depressed. That was the real eye opener piece for me. Wish I could find it.
Edit - found it https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.sumofus.org/images/eko_Tiktok-Report_FINAL.pdf
https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2023/03/23/tiktok-ceo-spying-not-right-word-for-surveillance-of-americans-on-behalf-of-chinese-communists/
https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/who-owns-tiktok-and-why-is-the-app-considered-a-national-security-threat
https://twitter.com/jsolomonReports/status/1561515011452829702
The DS and neocons are desperate for excuses to start a war with china, so they resort to scapegoating stupid shit like tik tok
PS. Ningen Isu 人間椅子 translates directly to "Human Chair" in English.
The bald guy in the monk suit is most definitely a big KISS fan, methinks.
On an unrelated note, have you seen/heard "Chicken attack", RT?
Strongest geomagnetic storm in 5 years last night.
Anyone else felt the effects?
Yes! We had a lightning strike that caused the bulbs in our house to glow brighter. I kid you not. It was the weirdest thing. I have never experienced anything like that before. Not even sure what would cause it. They didn’t dim afterwards.
Turn off the router! No games, no social interaction. Turn off phone privileges (if the child has one) at 8pm. Make a nice big dinner, perhaps with turkey and gravy, to eat no later than 6pm - lots of tryptophan for sleepiness making. Time to turn the ship around! Turn off the main TV by 8:30, take the remote. Good night!
@Jack put Bluesky in the App Store a few days ago. https://www.news9live.com/technology/app-news/jack-dorseys-bluesky-social-debuts-on-the-app-store-as-a-twitter-look-alike-au2181-2080013
u/purkiss80 mentioned it about three weeks ago. https://greatawakening.win/p/16aTHG0VJ0/icymi--jack-launches-bluesky-to-/c/
I have a degoogled phone, so I don't use the App Store or the Play Store, but I'm not seeing it in the Aurora Store. Does anyone have eyes on this? Decentralized social media seems like something we should keep eyes on, at the very least.
I wouldn't touch anything Dorsey creates with a foot long pole.
Same. But eyes on.
Good work!
https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/132/987/099/playable/d2032970cb51e38e.mp4
No! The spray bottle did NOT work. Any suggestions on how to wake a 9 year old who wants to stay up all night and not get out of bed on a school morning?
As a kid who was also a notorious oversleeper, it's because your child isn't motivated. I would take time to figure out why that is, and learn how to motivate them. Spraying them with a bottle or banging a saucepan is just gonna make everyone tense
Had a talk with his Mother when she got home. She is going to start waking him up when she goes out the door at 4:15AM and make him take a shower. Then we will see what happens. If not, he will be getting out of bed at 2 AM when she wakens and kept awake until the bus arrives.
I think that's a pretty terrible idea, tbh. I can tell you right now, that's only going to make things more combative. You don't want to start a war with your child
We've tried everything else. We will eventually find something that works.
Good points. But our thoughts was that (IF) we got him up at that hour; then he would be ready to go to bed around 7 or 8 with no problem; just like we do. And dimming lights and quiet time before bed wouldn't work as he shares a bedroom with 2 other brothers. All these boys do is 'fight' and 'complain' as boys do. It is an argument between them all from the time they wake until the time they go to sleep. I have never seen anything like it. These are my step-grandchildren as I wasn't a part of their lives until they youngest was 5. Their ages now are 8, 9, and 10. So they are at that close of an age where all they want to do is fight and argue.
They argue over who gets on the bus first, so now I have to appoint them days. I started with the oldest, then the middle, then the youngest. Then they argued over who got to bring the mail inside. So whoever's day it is to get on the bus first is who gets to bring in the mail. Then they argued over NOT wanting to brush their teeth. So whoever's day it is is the first one to brush their teeth. You have to 'buckle' down on them and beat them at their own game. So I have tried different ways to work things out for the better. It's just this sleep problem got the best of me this week so I cried out for some help. Thanks for all the suggestions I have gotten as I have written them down. God bless you all.
I’m raising my grandchildren. It’s tough. Hugs to you. My daughter teaches elementary art and is a Godsend. The issue is electronics. It keeps their attention span really short. He needs something to do besides the tablet or phone.
One hour at least before bedtime the electronics need to go into Moms bedroom. The last hour he can watch a movie ( not YouTube or cartoons). Something to calm him down. He can choose to read a book put maybe play legos.
When you are there try playing board games. My grandsons are 8 and 10 and love chess and poker. Piker sneakily teaches math but we will let that be our secret. Lol
Maybe he can help cook or build something out of wood even make cards for mom and Dad. Boredom is such a problem for a generation that is used to instant gratification.
I’ll ask my daughter for suggestions. Her method w have always worked for me.
Something she taught me is not to tell but to bend down to their level and speak softly. If you want their attention whisper in their ear. It works like magic
We all live in the country and there is a shortage of bus drivers so there bus has to do two routes. They get home around 4 PM in which I spend that time before their mom gets home helping him do his math. The oldest one doesn;t care about his grades because of the "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND POLICY' and the youngest does excellent in school. The 4 year old is on Nursery Rhymes as he is in Head Start. So the hard to wake ADHD one is the one I spend my afternoon/early evening teaching him the math that he has a hard time of comprehending. Tell your daughter 'Thanks' for the wonderful suggestions. The whisper and speak softly will most likely work.
She also said keeping the routine is a must even if it sucks for Mom a bit. Kids thrive best on routine. Also limit tablet time or make it be educational. My boys love board games and you can get them cheap at thrift stores.
You haven't tried everything else though. Just a few minutes ago someone suggested a more motivating and encouraging idea (the sticker system) that wasn't combative and you commented as if you hadn't heard of it/tried it
You are trying to use force and antagonizing tactics to get him out of bed. You need a totally different motivational approach
I also said that I WOULD SUGGEST IT to his Mother. No one said that I was trying combative ways of waking him. Only you. God bless and have a wonderful day my friend.
Yes, I know. That's great that you would suggest it. The fact that you're suggesting it means you hadn't tried it yet.
So stop trying antagonistic tactics like pots and pans and leaf blowers, and start suggesting more encouraging options. The sticker system is a great start. Keep thinking more on those lines.
Your reply to me was a combative solution though!
^ How is this not combative?
Don’t let them stay up all night. Take away their devices. The problem is not waking them up, the problem is, you’re allowing them to stay up all night. It’s clearly the adults fault.
When my son is home, he shuts them off from all devices on school nights. But when he is gone every 2 weeks for his 2 week stint in the oil fields, his wife lets them do what they want as she gets up at 2 AM and is tired after getting home at around 4 PM. She is not awake to see what they are doing. I do NOT live with them. I live 3 miles down the road and come in to babysit everyday. So it is not my fault.
Wow. It sounds like a difficult situation. If the mother is absent, and cannot take proper care of them, that's the real issue I think. (Saying so probably doesn't help, but...)
Pure cause and effect. If the cause is that there is no proper supervision when it's necessary (aka 6pm onwards until bedtime), then no amount of rear end solutions (waking, doing x or whatever) will have any lasting effect, imo.
That might sound harsh, but that's the reality.
I think that rooftops suggestion is likely one of the best. A reading time before bed yields so many benefits. Greater connectedness, better sleep for the child, fostering a love of books and reading, etc. In this case, better sleeping hours and more normal sleep / wake patterns.
If the mother is not available, is there an older sibling, who could read? Are there a number of them?
Removal of the devices past 8pm or so is an absolutely necessary move, but we don't really know enough about the circumstances there to know how that might be achieved.
Take courage as you fight on! Prayer will be a good starting point.
Thank you for your suggestion. There is NO HOPE for the removal of the electronics unless my son is home. But once he's gone for 2 weeks, she simply gives them back to them. I counted the electronics the other day, there are 5 Tablets, 4 Laptops, 4 handheld Nintendoes, 2 X Boxes with TV's, and 1 Play Station. My son has the Internet on an App on his phone where he can shut it all down. So I called him and told him he needs to shut it all off at at least 8 PM EVERY NIGHT. This will probably cause a squabble between me and the mother, but hey! someone has got to say something.
Hang in there, nan.
Thanks friend.
I didn’t say it’s your fault. I said it’s the adults fault. If that happens to be the mother - then it’s her fault! Perhaps you could make a suggestion to her or your son or both?
Yes and I'm sorry that that came out that way. It has been a very trying day and I aim to give her all the suggestions every passed my way. Truly I am sorry. I also bit someone elses head off on here that I didn't mean too. So please forgive me as I do need a break from the monotony of it all.
No worries! I understand it’s a sensitive subject, and I would never want to offend you personally. You are my FREN! 🐸
Christ is in us, so patient, so understanding, so how could I not be with a fellow friend. God bless you and have a great day.
Thank you for understanding. God bless you and I pray you have a very lovely weekend.
🙏💕
Actually, I could like to ask for prayer for my mom. She fell, and her ribs were bruised. But now she’s having back pain so we don’t know if there’s a vertebrae that was damaged. There’s more details, but I don’t wanna get into all of it. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.
you could use some type of visual sticker chart that appeals to 'his' interests. make it big & the stickers motivating/get a timer & break the chart into chunks of the day that would be manageable- morning, afternoon, evening-closer increments depending on behavior level.
then when he has a positive period of time, he gets a sticker. so many stickers & he can 'buy' rewards. also start helping him make a list of positive rewards & 'why' that is the best choice, so he's not just picking crap. also remind him that many people struggle to make such products for low wages, so be mindful of their time & energy.
Thank you much friend. I will suggest this to his mother.
That would be a great idea if the Mother wasn't 'dead on her feet' when she got home. Remember, she gets up around 2/ 2:30 AM just like I do and has to be at work by 5 AM. Her job is about 25 mile away and so it's a slight drive in the darkness. By the time she get's off at 3:30 PM she is 'spent.' Then sometimes she has to stop by the grocery as the 2 year old drinks a lot of milk. So she may not get home until 5 Pm. Then she has to cook supper and give the 2 smallest kids their baths. The 3 older boys then have to get theirs and by that time she is 'OUT.' I will suggest this as it sounds like a very good idea. I wish she didn't work so hard and would take more time for the kids, but that's not for me to decide. God bless.
you're welcome:) it's often called a 'token economy' if you want to look up examples
I will and thanks again.
Cake for breakfast.
I am not lying.
Cake for breakfast got me out of bed ASAP
Bake a delicious birthday cake, chocolate cake, his favorite cake, without him knowing
and tell him there is cake for breakfast, he won't believe you the first time then when he gets to the table (mind blown)
Pizza for breakfast is also an option
I am trying to take the whimsical, sweet route by the way. I am sure there are other methods but my thing is...
I didn't have a tablet as a child (they didn't exist) I would still stay up in bed wondering what super hero would beat who or thinking about pretty girls. So even without screens, when kids want to stay up, they will stay up.
So true. But the Cake won't matter, neither will the pizza. They basically live on the stuff.
Right. Sugar is very bad especially for kids with ADHD.
Do you think Mighty Mouse could beat up Superman? I saw the other day, he was carrying five elephants in one hand!
As others have said, after bedtime the tablet needs to be forbidden.
Blue light keeps you awake, internet / games / social media keep the dopamine flowing. Makes it impossible to fall asleep naturally.
Without adequate sleep, really can't blame the child for not wanting to get up.
Right. That's why I asked his Mother to start waking him at 2 or 2:30 AM when she gets up and DON"T let him lay back down. She said she will wake him at 4:15AM when she leaves for work and make him start taking a shower every morning. She said he would fall asleep in the tub, so that is out. This way it should wake him up and make him alert. PLUS. she will be waking him up and not ME.
That is what we are wanting to do. Get him up early and tire him out quite a bit for a couple of days until we can get his body adjusted to where he is completely tired out, body and mind and he can sleep. The bus here runs at 6 AM sharp and it is still dark outside and with a bus driver who has to run 2 afternoon routes due to a bus driver shortage, sometimes they don't get home until 4 PM. So we HAVE to adjust his sleep to help him get on the Bus schedule. We are not doing it for cruelty. We are simply trying to help him adjust. After about 2 days of getting up at 2 AM then we can do 3 AM and then 4 Am and then get back to our regular 5 AM schedule. We were going to do this in increments to help his internal circadian rhythms ( that is if his is working at this time.)
Remove the bedding and drag him out of bed by his feet? Bang a spoon on a saucepan?
Firm handling is definitely needed. If this is a regular occurrence, maybe a mild herbal sleep aid would help to re-set his circadian rhythm.
That is what my parents did with me. Lol.
My son has done that and so has Papaw. My son has went as far as going to the garage and getting the leaf blower and turning it on him. This however wakes up my 2 year old granddaughter which is too early for her to get up. His mother is going to try other options after I talked to her today. I threatened to QUIT and let her and my son find a new sitter.
My mom did these things to me.
All it did was cause more yelling and screaming in the morning tbh bc my sisters would wake up too
"Genchat"
I just thought of a slogan.
~ Genchat. It's better even than ChatGPT. ~
What about FrenChat ?
Pardon? 'Frenchat'?
Any european hat should be fine....
🤭Okidoki: PedeChat, then🤓
Dress hats
Maybe not from my past, but I‘ve heard older people complain about the current trend of suit jackets only having the top button fastened. They point out the sloppiness of the tie, shirt, and belt revealed in a triangle below the top button.
I’ve just been doing the top button probably out of habit or haste, but I wouldn’t mind seeing the old style come back of fastening two or three buttons.
Suspenders.
Such a practical accessory.
Modesty
Phat pants!
I knew you'd appreciate it. 😃
I was a Grind brand guy. And the shirts were dope, clever and subversive. Early Fresh Jive, etc.
The "underground" really created a nice little alternative economy BITD.
Hypercolor!