soloyo215

And his About-Me doesn't say much, leave alone anything about being certified or educated in massage therapy. Maybe he has student loans to pay for his PhD (unless that stands for "Pretty Huge Dick").

That's great, but it's a major challenge to first-generation college graduates who don't have parents that can tell them things based on experience (even if bad advice, they do know about university life). I am a case of having to figure everything on my own, and I could not have chosen a worst college for my undergrad simply because I didn't know better and that's what felt right to me. So I think it's more about making educated decisions. Parents don't have all the answers and can give bad advice, but if they went to college they can provide the right kind of support. My parents were just happy that I got access to the education that they didn't; that's as far as they could go.

No, never did.

I deal with this question about universities and colleges being worth the expense. Like everything else, the right answer is that it depends on many factors. I work in the healthcare industry, and my health system has performed kidney transplants to humans from genetically modified pigs. They have conducted face transplants, and have an entire ward dedicated to gender affirmation surgery. Would you like a kidney transplant performed by a person who learned how to perform surgery on the streets? I don't think so. So university education is essential in that arena. Same goes for Engineering and the law. Those are regulated professions that require formal education in the areas of expertise, and requires maintenance by continuing education, research and additional professional studies. Now, when we talk about BS (and that's not short for Baccalaureate in Science) degress, such as women studies, philosophy, gender studies, and other similar areas, the panorama can be different. Professions that don't require licensing, certification, or that are not regulated don't seem to be very useful regardless of how expensive or inexpensive the cost of obtaining a degree in that area is. When it comes to learning and education, it is a completely, all-over-the-place situation. First, especially since the pandemic, learning technology has become quite critical. However, teachers are not required to learn technology, not even learning sciences. Yet, there has been a major exodus of teachers delving into instructional design and learning technology, as well as L&D in corporate settings. The issue is that there are no reliable numbers about the result of that exodus because our wonderful government doesn't even list learning technology or instructional design as legitimate professions, so there isn't any data collection about it (from the same who claim to want to fix education). So in that respect, it's the wild west out there. Depends on how you market yourself, what made-up concept you make up that becomes catchy, and how you sell yourself. Furthermore, another major issue is that we keep attacking higher education as if companies actually have their act together when it comes to managing, training and even appreciating areas of expertise in people. Something common to hear now in companies is them saying "we can train skills, so we prefer to hire people who fit in our organizational culture", which is the biggest bullshit ever since they never train skills to people; it's just a way for them to choose and hire candidates based on personal preferences. That is a larger issue to deal with that should be addressed as we also address the cost disease of higher education.

I find interesting how last night, MSNBC gave quite a spin to the story to make it look like a plot from some people. In the All-In with Christ Hayes show, hosted by a different person covering for Mr. Hayes, it claimed that the “bad faith” campaign against Ms. Gay and other university leaders, was spearheaded by congressional Republicans like Elise Stefanik and right wing activist Christopher Rufo, declaring that “Republicans want America’s elite institutions to remain run by conservatives and conservatives that they like. Period. And they’ll come up with any phony controversy to achieve that end.” This is why I hate current media. At the end of the day, even if she was being under scrutiny by conservative nuts, the reason for her leaving is legitimate. Don't try to make her look like some kind of victim. She isn't. Of course she face the "nothing-new about it" pressures for being a member of a racial minority while holding a high position at an IV league university, but the fact remains that she did plagiarize work and presented it as her own.

I hope you can take the good of all you got from him and hold on to the good memories.

Terrible news. Harvard University of all places. At a time when higher education is being attacked for mediocrity, high cost and lack of affirmative action. Sad all over.

Trust me, many Philadelphians who live in the city for as long as you have been away from it (like me) didn't know her either. What I think is that pretty much anyone is better than the clown that just left. Nothing wows me in this city at all. I guess it's good to have a person who looks more like the people in the city. Didn't know anything about her, so time will tell.

No different than clients who do the same. What's wrong with using Viagra (I'm asking for a friend)?

I think that providers know (or should know) that we, clients, look for more than one provider when choosing. That's why some of the websites have features for you to create a list of prospective providers. So it's not out of the ordinary that you have looked or reached out to multiple providers. There's absolutely nothing wrong with stating that at the moment I am unavailable to request an appointment, but that you will keep him in mind for the future. And yes, there will be a future interest in booking another session. Nothing out of the ordinary in that. Yes, acknowledge the responses, especially since high chances are that you will want to try such provider in the future, and if not, it's just courtesy and good manners to do so.

Ranges from walking away and never looking back to the place, to push my boundaries, to not being a big deal approaching a person and talking to him. Many times when I don't feel safe or comfortable in a place it's been because it's not the right environment for me, not because of something I am or do. Introversion is only one of the many factors that will make me shy away from connecting with others. Furthermore, the more electronic device oriented a person is, the less social skills they develop. I am in charge of only my 50 percent of any interaction with another person. Yes, I certainly don't flirt with prospective friends. Besides, I have come to realize that sometimes if I find myself thinking "strategy" to something that's supposed to be exciting and enjoyable, maybe I'm pushing myself to something I am not sure I will enjoy anyway. My experience in group settings, including sex parties and places for hooking up, is that they have "moods". I've been to the same place for hookups in different occasions, and the experiences have been different because there seems to be a "mood". For example, one day the place feels like people are incurring in activites that I find beneath me (although I don't judge, I know well what does it and doesn't do it for me), and a different day I feel like the place is my home. So in that respect, sometimes even when the intentiions are obvious, there are no guarantees that there will be people that I could connect well. However, when a place has a specific purpose (i.e., a sex party), We definitely don't need to wonder if people go there for sex (altough there might be people who might tell you otherwise), so that will make certain premises easy to understand. What you should not do is: Rely on something like alcohol or drugs to "losen you up" Make up stories or excuses The opposite to #2, it's a social setting, not a confessional Take rejection as something that you did or are Assholes and predators are everywhere, so always count on finding at last one and don't take it on you Ignore your insctincs Present yourself as someone you are not Think that the night is ruined because of a rejection Also, I hear a lot of people who use introversion in a discriminatory manner. Keep in mind that we introverts are as humand and deserving of consideration and respect as everybody else. I hope this helps.

Thank you, ICTJOCK. Looking good. Happy New Year to you too.

Every year a friend of my husband invites us to a NYE get together. I went there and enjoyed drinks, food, music, great conversation and fireworks from down the street. We also saw bands marching, rehearsing for today's yearly Mummers Parade. I had a great time.

I'd try a different gift, maybe a more specific gift card that is specifically identified as such. Glad there was no harm done, but please, read the label before purchasing or giving things away.

I know the last post of this thread was in May, but my inlaws and I are planning on visiting Punta Cana, DR this coming May 2024. Never been to Punta Cana, but I have been to Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, Santiago, La Romana, Higuey, Boca de Yuma and Cabarete. I've never been by myself, and only one time I've been to a resort in Santo Domingo. I never feel 100% safe there, and I find it super annoying that one cannot stand on a street for 5 minutes without some kind of character approaching you for something, some sending children to ask you for money. Trying to sell you something, selling merchandise, wanting to give you a tour of the city, offering money exchange, or offering women, men, children or themselves. It's been a while since the last time I went (probably 2010, way before I started hiring, for sure), so if there's anyone who decided to visit recently, I'd like to know information about whatever is necessary to know. I "behave" when I'm with my husband and inlaws, but it's good to know where to go or what to expect just in case. So I'm bumping this topic for any updates or useful information if anyone has it.

It's not a big deal, but it has become one in this society. There's this obsession with regulating and controlling sex and sexuality, especially male and male sexuality. I was also thinking that maybe he's old enbough to be comfortable retiring early, and therefore can afford the luxury of getting fired. Doesn't seem to bother him. Maybe he hated his job and that was his way of saying "screw it" (literally).

To me, knowing where it comes from is easy. I watch the Investigation Discovery channel, and know of [too] many stories of people who have gotten killed over walking over other people's lawns.

Doesn't bother me at all. Boy, men, doesn't matter which word they use for as long as they are neither actual minors nor trying to portray themselves as such.

I don't buy into the "new you" bullshit, but I do make new year's resolutions and follow them up through the year. I don't advertise them, I don't brag about them, but I started in 1998 or so, and since then it has been a good/workable thing for me. I like structure, and having a realistic list of things to accomplish for the year has been a good thing. The key is being realistic, not buying into a "new me" thing that will never happen, and leaving who/how I am perfectly intact. I have not accomplish every siongle item in the list, but I have accomplished many things. The "new year, new you" thing seems to come from advertising, where companies try to capitalize on people starting fresh. One side note: I fucking hate posts of people telling other people "Stop..." Stop telling people to stop doing things.

I actually wrote something similar that makes your point, and then removed if for some reason. I completely agree. The look/talk-down attitude can be displayed from either side. In fact, something that sometimes I wonder is how providers deal with clients who try or actually make them feel cheap, or those who display a mistreating attitude, maybe become verbally abusive. And yes, things go smoother with kindness and politeness from either way. And I also endorse the other side shielding themselves the moment they get (or perceive) the wrong attitude.

I'm indifferent to any those things. Whoever choose one way of cruising or another, it's their business.

I am scotch illiterate, but I've liked every mixed drink I've had with it, and when I've had it on the rocks. Sorry I can't contribute more.

Happy ending, but not from a story he tells you (unles that's what does it for you). I guess how happy the endig can be might be negotiable.

If you asked me before my recent trip to PV, I'd say I do Reverse Leo. However, I selectively got young providers, some of which were great. In my experience, even when I was in my 20s, young guys tended to be "too mcuh enthusiasm, too little essence". However, I remember me not considering myself to be like that, so I figured that there are some young guys who know how to have sex like a more mature guy (and yes, there is a difference), and conduct themselves as such. The opposite is true too. I've had one or two terrible experiences with Reverse Leo guys, so I finally concluded that though age is a factor to consider, the risk of having a bad experience exists in the entire spectrum. At a romantic level, most of my relationships were with people around my same age, with the exception of one, that was with a much older guy (and it was a terrible relationship, but for reasons other than age difference). My husband is nine years older than me, but I believe that from certain age that doesn't make a lot of difference anymore. I am fairly new to this scene, so I started hiring Reverse Leo people, but I have been open to the idea of Leo people. In all honesty, there are certain things about the younger generation that I find off-putting, and that's the main reason why I have avoided hiring Leo people. That changed a few weeks ago in my recent vacation, and I had a great time. I guess what I'm saying is that I've grown to be more accepting of a larger age range. For me, that happens anyway with people of all ages. I don't know what is it about me, but people just tell me things about them. It's always been like that with me. I have shared in this forum that some providers have disclosed all kinds of rather very personal information to me (i.e., psychiatric medications they take, medical issues they have, childhood traumas, plastic surgery done, having a criminal record, to name a few), most of them in my first (or only) visit. Not sure why, but I just listen, and I get what I hired the guy for anyway, so not a problem to me.

There always going to be people who get into your personal business. Relatives of mine still ask me the question, and depending on my mood or who they are, my answer fluctuated, from "...so I have a marriage like yours, or my parents' or my siblings? No, thank you", to "...none of your mother fucking business". Now that I am legally married to a man, they stopped asking, and they don't acknowledge my husband. So in my experience, their questions have never come out of real concern for my well being; it's been about the cheap thrill of putting me in what they seem to think is some kind of awkwardness. Today, with people continuously making shit up, and creating made-up, overlapping, and sometimes downright ridiculous sexual orientations, things seem to become easier to give answers that have people leaving them alone, or to cover up their own sense of sexual inadequacy.