soloyo215

Only two providers have asked me for a pucture of my face, and none have ever asked for my stats (those two providers apparently were ok with what they saw since we had business). The only exception was one provider who asked me if I weight more than 299 lb, but it was because that was the maximum capacity of his massage table (yes, I weight less than 299 lb). Your last question is the reason why I wouldn't give my stats, which is that many people lie, misrepresent or have convinced themselves about having a type of body or shape that they actually don't have. I also know that this is a sensitive topic to many men. Of course, I don't like being rejected because of my physical appearance, but I know of some men who get devastated when rejected that way. Like BuffaloKyle, I prefer not to deal with a provider who doesn't like my appearance, but I don't necessarily take it personal/wrong if I'm not their preferred client, or if they can afford the luxury of rejecting clients and choose not to take me. At the end of the day, I look at myself in the mirror and like what I see. I am a client, I can take my business elsewhere. Since I've never been asked for my stats, I do not know for sure how I'd respond. Maybe it depends on the tone of how I am asked.

I have experienced both them removing their clothing when starting, and removing their clothing later. I also had an experience that didn't look (at least to me) like anything involving the provider removing his clothing, but we ended up almost breaking the massage table (not exactly massaging each other). Of course, the purely therapeutic massages I've received have been delivered with the guy dressed and he had stayed dressed. Some didn't even see my private parts during the massage or when turning. In those settings there is neither a discussion nor an expectation of nudity from the provider. I've never been asked about my preferences regarding nudity by the provider.

So let me see if I get this right. First you say that you know what my parents are supposed to teach me, now you were able to read the minds of the student population of a vocational high school in the early 80s, so you can assert that they "declared" that they don't want to go to college. You really are a millennial. Good God. Moving on... I agree with some things, but disagree is other things. This past May I finished another MA at NYU, and I was surprised at how watered down education at a Master level has become. The school involves a lot of digital media classes, and I couldn't believe that some students were unable to produce a simple, coherent video. So yes, I've seen first hand that there are many people in college that might use some additional support. I am all for not telling anyone that he/she isn't college material, for that precise reason. There's a lack of some foundational knowledge in college students that I'm quite sure many people have. It's more about interest. In my education sciences classes, I learned that there are several approaches to learning that are intended to be more inclusive, and also more encouraging and supportive of learners, providing what they named "scaffolding" which is specific support for their particular challenges. Also, that approach allows people to bring their own experiences and realities to the classroom. It's a great approach, at least on paper. Unfortunately, educators seem to think that a constructivist approach to learning means participation trophies, never correcting learners, make things up as you go along, and "the sky is the limit" type of bullshit, which is why we have poor quality higher ed students. And that is not even mentioning specialty areas where constructivism isn't adequate. Because of that, I wouldn't place the blame on the students not being prepared; they have been made believe that they deserve everything, that the self-discipline that comes with some learning is punishment, and that cognitive dissonance that is meant to be used for learning, is now being used for getting offended. The cost of education issue, on the other hand, is an entirely different one. There are plenty of research on the topic of the "cost disease" of higher education in USA. It is particulary terrible in for-profit universities, which goal is to provide the minimum and charge the maximum. I went to a for-profit university in my undergrad, and it was very, very bad. The foundational education (at least in USA) needed to prepare students for college is severely politicized, and as such, some of the solutions that they want to apply come from EdTech companies that have never set foot in a classroom. When it comes to social issues, we have an entire crowd of people attacking education over what, when and how to be taught, and the problem of parents who are too involved ready to sue or literally fight over a decision made by a teacher, or otherwise parents who are never seen in school because they use school to get rid of the children. And that is not even mentioning that now there isn't a guarantee that children will come back home alive from school. Who on Earth will be ready for college under those conditions.

I don't see why not asking the provider, but it's on the masseur to (a) comply, (b) comply for an additional charge, or (c) not comply. You can always ask. I'm sure many providers get many requests based on clients' preferences. Wearing a jockstrap (IMO) is not an out-of-the-ordinary request. Is not that you want him to massage you with him in roller skates.

Not if you also go to the wrong public high school, like I did. Again, all I got was decisions that I had to make, surrounded by adults who couldn't or won't provide guidance. My high school counselor was more interested in counseling young girls in mini skirts, and I was in a vocational high school, which means that every teacher there saw us as people who are not supposed to be college material because we were learning a trade. My parents were supposed to do a lot of things that they didn't. They also did a lot of things that they should have.

I would (if facing the right direction).

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.