I miss this thread (even though it’s only been a couple months) and wanted to share a positive moment and hopefully read others too.

Our youngest kiddo has started communicating better and working on not yelling/cursing/fighting when they get mad.

When we praised them for this and asked what brought on this determination they answered, “I am not scared I’ll have to leave anymore. I know this is my home and I want to be happy.”

We are their 10th home. Our kids (biological siblings) moved into our home a few years ago as a foster placement. The adoption has been finalized over a year now. They have each had their own struggles and victories. I know our journey will continue to have highs and lows. Today though? Is a definite high.

@KarmaBum Happy Pride Month! ️🧡

Not new to MUSH, but new to this site. So figured I’d start with a positive!

When you think you’re just logging onto a new game because it sounds fun and then over a year later you feel like you’ve always been there. The fact you’ve found friends who, even though you’ve never met face to face, help you feel better on your down days and celebrate with you on your high days. When you check on each other because you both know the other values you as a person/friend before a character/scene.

Glad to be here. Hope to meet new friends and continue interacting with current ones! waves

I want to say first how encouraging it is to see everyone come together and collectively speak out against such disgusting behavior, show support for the person faced with the final staff decision and all around prove the mush community is filled with more good than bad.
Second, I hope you’re all able to self care, hydrate and step back from the keyboard as needed to focus on your own emotional well being.

This topic is one that affects most, let’s be honest likely all, of us to some capacity. Whether experiencing it directly or knowing someone who has experienced it. Sexual harassment/assault is a terrifying experience whether on a game or in person and understandably has various lasting effects.

I’m sorry first of all to @Cobalt that you had to not only face the experience of addressing this situation but how it affected you directly. You handled everything more tactfully, professionally and swiftly than I’d have been able to. To all others on this board who are obviously invested in this topic and conversation, you have my support and my inbox if you need.

@Pavel Also for the reason ‘it’s funny’ made me full cringe. The awareness and still lack of accountability. I wish I could say it made me feel better to have my own experiences and views of the person validated, but it honestly makes me feel ill.

This is a vent and a happy, but I’m posting it here because I’m choosing to focus on the positive so follow me for my roller coaster ride.

I got laid off from my job today. (Booo!)

Tomorrow is my birthday! (Yay!)

My boss said it is no fault of my own, I’m amazing and it’s the company downsizing so she’s giving me severance and has provided a glowing recommendation letter. (Yay!)

My entire household is sick. (Boo!)

I already have three interviews set up after an afternoon of application submissions. (Yay!)

My mini panther is giving me early birthday cuddles! (YAAAAY!)

So yeah.

Real footage of me today:

More of a real life cute, but wanted to share. This is a recent development that now seems to be routine.

Backstory: Our oldest cat has diabetes and has to get injections. Don’t worry, he’s doing fine. Grumpy old man, but his levels are good and he’s moving towards remission. That being said, since he has to get a shot twice a day he gets fed a little away from the other cats and gets some extra cuddles after.

Present Day: One of our youngest cats started to walk up and whine when I was administering the post-shot extra cuddles to Oldest Cat. So I laughed and said, “You only get extra cuddles if you get a shot.” He head donked me and meowed.

Just for fun I took the insulin pen (so solid plastic cap no needle to it) and gave him ‘his shot’. I said “There you go! Good job!” and cuddled him.

Now he comes up every feeding, every injection, and waits his turn patiently for ‘his shot’ and extra cuddles.

An All Happy Update!

I’m now older (still waiting on that wiser part)!

The household is less sick.

I got a job offer today!

I still have mini panther cuddles.

As a side note, another real life happy is how much I’ve improved with handling my anxiety even in the last year. Before when I’ve lost my job I’ve fallen into overwhelming depression with self deprecating panic. This time I stayed calm, focused on what positive I still had and knew the situation would change it wasn’t an ‘if’ it was a ‘when’.

Idk if that’s the wiser part. Either way it feels pretty great.

@Wizz said in Tough Calls:

@somasatori said in Tough Calls:

ah yes, brain damage. what a laugh riot

I gotta be honest, that alone would probably be enough for me to tell someone to take a while to reflect and grow somewhere else before trying to play a game I ran again.

This. Media already tries to humorize or romanticize physical, mental, and other struggles enough. It’s triggering. I had someone pull off this ‘grand’ and ‘hilarious’ plot twist in a scene where their character was revealed to have a brain tumor so not only did that 1) Make all their actions ok it 2) Made my character and asshole for not instantly supporting them and me oocly an asshole for removing my char from the story and hook.

My husband was still dealing with his brain tumor at the time. Did the person know that? No. Should I have to tell them or explain how “brain tumors aren’t comedic content” for them to have common sense? No.

The past few months of my life have felt like years in both the most stressful and wonderful ways possible.  I’ve taken on challenges and responsibilities that, even as they were happening, I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to face.  All I knew is that quitting wasn’t an option.

During these months I’ve had to sacrifice significant time from MUSH and other online and RL interactions and, while it was difficult to start with, my journey helped me find a healthier balance and outlook towards life in general.  It’s amazing how the toughest times in our life can also be the best.  How what breaks us down also leaves us stronger than we ever thought we could be.

I’m happier now.  I realize that self care isn’t selfish.  Kindness doesn’t require tolerating mistreatment.  Simply put…life is too damn short to spend it making yourself miserable.

I know realistically I will always struggle with my confidence and worry about letting others down.  It’s just part of being a recovering people pleaser.  It sure does feel nice to finally be in a place where I can look in the mirror and genuinely love the person I’m looking at though.

TL;DR: Life is short.  Love yourself.  You’re worth it.

@Coin It’s giving:

More of a real life cute, but wanted to share. This is a recent development that now seems to be routine.

Backstory: Our oldest cat has diabetes and has to get injections. Don’t worry, he’s doing fine. Grumpy old man, but his levels are good and he’s moving towards remission. That being said, since he has to get a shot twice a day he gets fed a little away from the other cats and gets some extra cuddles after.

Present Day: One of our youngest cats started to walk up and whine when I was administering the post-shot extra cuddles to Oldest Cat. So I laughed and said, “You only get extra cuddles if you get a shot.” He head donked me and meowed.

Just for fun I took the insulin pen (so solid plastic cap no needle to it) and gave him ‘his shot’. I said “There you go! Good job!” and cuddled him.

Now he comes up every feeding, every injection, and waits his turn patiently for ‘his shot’ and extra cuddles.

@Tez said in Wikibara’s allegations:

@voiceinthevoid said in Wikibara’s allegations:

@Kestrel

Just – to be clear. You’re fine. Just want everyone to know who I am, which is Tez, with a z.

@bear_necessities It’s also ok to remove yourself from a situation if your no isn’t respected. Whether that’s the person dealing with the My Guy or the My Guy themselves. If it doesn’t bring you joy? Marie Kondo it. I don’t know, but life is too short.

While it’s not our job to point out what seems to be obvious negative traits in rp, I also will say sometimes all it does take is one person being willing to not complain behind the scene and instead go “Hey…I’ve noticed this trend. I think you might get more positive results and interaction if you try meeting people halfway.”

They might be ‘My Guy’ but that doesn’t mean they are ‘My Guy’…or something >.>

@Roadspike Exactly. Sometimes the ‘why IS my char here?’ makes the best memories. It’s fun and a chance to step outside their comfort zone with no rl consequences.

We don’t have to play normally at all or stick with certain ‘would and would nots’ because it’s ic. OOC sure don’t disrespect a boundary and don’t let people push you past a comfort zone (in MUSH, friendships, life, etc.) It’s MUSH though. By pushing my char’s comfort zones I’ve actually ended up growing my own confidence irl and used fiction to help encourage ooc growth.

@chorus This. Yes, there is some level of ‘staying true to your character’, but acting like your character is an actual existing person vs…ya know…a character you created and are in control of the actions of…always baffled me.

There is a difference between “I don’t know that my char would be much use in this scene” or “My char just had a bad run in in that location so would avoid it” followed with “but thank you for thanking of me!” and being totally unwilling to find compromise or being offended you’re left out as a result of the limits you set.

It’s reminiscent for me of characters who always start a scene sitting off to the side or doing a task that obviously distracts them from the events around them in a group or even a one on one scene. Then, don’t get involved until a character specifically approaches ic to get their attention.

Like, yes I’m willing to work with you in a scene and contribute my share. I’m not begging you ooc or ic to hang out with me/my char. That’s not fun. I deserve to feel just as prioritized in the rp as who I’m rping with.

On a bright side now I have the “What is up, My Guy?” soundclip in my head! XD

@helvetica

@MisterBoring Could just refer to one as AOH and the other Age since that’s how the websites lead. Or just let the chaos unfold and observe.

@Roz

@Rucket