Everyone has something they can’t stop themselves from nerding out over - but often it’s hard to find people to talk to about it. So go ahead, share your interests, and tell us about them!
Honestly? Myself. No one in my life asks how I’m doing, what I’m doing, if there’s anything new… Then again I’m too much of a pushover anyway.
I think that, most of the time, we’re all locked in our own tiny worlds that are completely filled by our lives, making us forget to really inquire about the people around us. But if you start talking about things, people are usually interested! It’s not an easy thing to do, especially if you don’t have many opportunities - but I can really recommend trying to share some bits and pieces about cool things that the other person might enjoy. Worst case they don’t respond and you can drop it. But there’s also a good chance it will lead to good things! :)
That’s true for a lot of people but my situation is complicated. Like I said before, I’ve just learned to live with it.
Besides, the problems temporary enough. Eventually I’ll die and then it’ll solve itself.
I love your posts and have assumed that you chose your username after one of my favorite Trek characters in the history of the franchise, but did you know that Paul Stamets the Discovery mycologist was named for the actual Paul Stamets, a real life mycologist? Real-Stamets is interesting particularly because he is largely self-educated in mycology and who has multiple publications and awards in the field?
I did! You are right in guessing who I named my account after. He’s also one of my favorites. First openly gay main Trek character meant a big deal to me. I know way more than I should about Discovery, including a lot of research and choices when it came to Stamets and Culber.
I love my little gay boys.
I guess giving advice on job hunting and interviewing. I’ve done it so much and learned a lot, I can literally SEE how absolutely NOT confident ppl are about job hunting. ( which I get. More precisely they don’t see their value)
More importantly, they are blind to their value on the market and believe a toxic work environment is normal and hating their life because they hate their job making them miserable is just a part of working.
When really, when you see and acknowledge your worth, you don’t take that shit. You have a CHOICE. Employment isn’t a one way street. And employers realize that and treat you with respect.
Idk it’s a whole thing.
It’s interesting that you’re writing this, because I’ve literally just quit my job due to these reasons, and am starting to look for new things. Any particular tips you’d like to share?
Well you got this, and congrats on standing up for yourself by getting out of that shit whole environment. It’s not normal and not something you should accept.
Apply only to jobs you are qualified for that meet your expectations. Expectations? They pay adequately, the hours are decent, it’s not to far from where you live, and their job requirements aren’t insane.
Insane job requirements? Toxic employers say this on their job posting;
"Must be able to work under consistent pressure in a stressful environment while handling multiple tasks at once. Must be able to work a flexible schedule with little notice including nights, weekends and holidays. Must be on call. Must be able to complete other duties as assigned not directly relating to X role. Must be able to take direction. Must be obsessed with customer satisfaction. Customer service, customer service, customer service. (Employers obsessed with customer service care more about the customer then they do about you. So they’ll treat you like shit and let customers treat you like shit. You basically don’t matter)
Any misspellings and their job posting, requiring a cover letter, and requiring quizzes questionnaires and personality assessments. Employers seriously looking to hire the right candidate don’t waste their time on bullshit like that. If you’re qualified they will schedule you for an in-person interview within a drop of a hat.
Look at Google reviews glassdoor and indeed and get rid of your LinkedIn profile (unless you’re in tech) LinkedIn is used to SCREEN YOU OUT.
Employers don’t need to see your connections, a picture of what you look like, and your inspirational statement. all they need is your resume and if they feel that you’re qualified they can schedule you for an interview that’s all they need to know is the information that’s on your damn resume.
Realize you’re worth and have some standards. Don’t let employers dick you around. Because they will and once you show them that you respect yourself and your time it’s easier to weed through the bullshiters and you’ll find and actually good healthy employer.
Anyway lol I could go on all day lol
Can you follow up on the weed you out linkedin thing? I got a job at an engineering firm and set one up because all my coworkers had one.
Do you mean employers look at it to judge you on what you look like and what you post? Or that employers pass by anyone that has one?
Thank you very much for all those points, it#s a good thing to read them summarized like this! My last employer actually did have some negative Glassdoor entries, and I convinced myself it’ll be different since I worked in a different part of the company. Definitely learned my lesson that these problems are not local to only parts.
By any chance do you have some go-to examples of good resumes you like to point people to as what to do with theirs vs. what not to do? I realize this will vary given jobs and you should tailor it accordingly, but some base starting points are better than nothing.
https://www.blueskyresumes.com/
This helped me tremendously. Look at their before and after examples.
I did my resume 14 times until I saw this and was finally done using the examples they gave
Oh wow, that’s a load more examples than I’d expected, thanks! I’ll have to look over these for what might apply to what I’m interested in.
Null models for weighted bipartite networks, and why people choose dumb network summary stats because they are lazy
Linguistics and the prescriptive bias of assuming a word’s meaning based on its blatant etymology
How skill makes games less fun and we need to embrace more chance in board games and video games
How cool it would be if we wrapped copper wire around the moon and used the earth-moon system as a huge electrical generator
Trains are awesome and we should have more of them
Well, you can’t mention all those interesting topics and not talk about them more!
I can really only talk about:
How cool it would be if we wrapped copper wire around the moon and used the earth-moon system as a huge electrical generator
You’re referring to induction from the magnetic field of earth, right?
Tolkien Lore. And WWI.
Tolkien Lore Quick Fact:
Technically speaking Aragorn married his first cousin 65+ times removed.
WWI Quick Fact:
While thought of as a defensive struggle that lead to stalemates, generals at the time weren’t necessarily wrong to keep up the attack. Both sides were able to capture ground. Including enemy trenches. The issue was that neither side could bring reinforcements or supplies up to support those breakthroughs and keep the offensive going faster than the defenders could.
Okay, now I must ask - do you have more Tolkien Lore incest facts to share? Because I certainly didn’t expect that one!
Another interesting fact about WWI: There was a lot more movement than people tend to envision, especially during the first months of the war on the Western front.
WWI is also a hot bed of really interesting and weird firearms development. They tried some wacky stuff around that time.
Are you familliar with the imgurian Ngugi? I could read that stuff for hours on end.
… not the same as proper discussions with likeminded people, but still super interesting IMHO.
I don’t know if “rarely” is quite the right description, but I foster kittens. I meet lots of people who are excited to hear about it on a surface level and see pictures/videos/play with them, but it’s been challenging to connect with other people who also foster. I’m desperate to trade stories, learn from, and teach other foster parents. I even started a community on Kbin and have posted there a few times, but haven’t gotten any engagement (other than votes) so far.
In case anyone is curious, I’m still confused about how to properly link cross platform, but it’s at fosteranimals@kbin.social
That’s awesome, thank you for doing it! I’d love to foster as I’ve lived with cats my whole childhood and FREAKING love them, but I don’t think I could give up a single one once they’ve lived with me :( how do you do it?
Honestly, I feel like I discovered a cheat code! It’s always a little hard to say goodbye, but I really enjoy having “illegally smol” kittens around, and they don’t stay that small very long. I only have so much time, space, and money, so if I want new tiny kittens, I have to say goodbye to the ones that are weaned and healthy. Also, most of the people who have adopted my fosters share updates with me as they adjust to their new homes, so I still have a small connection to each of them and know they’re in good homes.
Ooh that’s a good solution :) the small kitten phase is certainly uniquely cute. When I was very young one of our cats had kittens (my parents didn’t get her spayed quickly enough - luckily the only time it happened), and we kept one from the litter. It’s a very special experience!
