jkd_sd Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 2 hours ago, sober4life said: Nothing works to cope with the isolation anymore. This seems to be how most people feel -- which I do understand given the circumstances. But for me, the isolation has been strangely comforting. The big bad world is 'out there', and I am 'in here'. Yes, I would definitely rather be able to spend time with certain people of my choosing, but it is not as bad as I would have expected. Television and the internet keep up the illusion of human interaction, and my two cats provide physical contact and companionship up to a point. A big problem for me is the lack of encouragement to get 'out' into the real world and function. The pandemic has provided a way-too-easy excuse for me to hide from the world, which is exactly what my depression wants. It has been very difficult to fight this depressive episode, but I keep trying. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulgakov Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 (edited) On 7/16/2020 at 4:43 AM, sober4life said: Also they're trying to get rid of the cashiers. The biggest store in my town of 3,000 or so is a Dollar Store. We have two, one at either end of a roughly two-miles stretch that veers off, then back on the interstate, becoming our main street. They're different brands, but both are small, even for Dollars. One just put in a self checkout, like the big stores. It had two cash registers, but removed one to put in the self check out. It looks nuts. In this case, it's a supposed cost cutter. One guy often mans the store now. I use the new auto mate. It's supposed to provide the one guy with help if a line forms. But he just plays like it's a person, and I watched him wheel a cart to the back and disappear as I used the self checkout. What if I just barely miss a barcode swipe? I'm glad the guy has trust in the honor system, but I don't think that's why they were designed. Why not just put in two machines, no people, and rename the store "Looters". 103@12am, Bulga Edited July 18, 2020 by Bulgakov editing never ends 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sober4life Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 2 hours ago, jkd_sd said: This seems to be how most people feel -- which I do understand given the circumstances. But for me, the isolation has been strangely comforting. The big bad world is 'out there', and I am 'in here'. Yes, I would definitely rather be able to spend time with certain people of my choosing, but it is not as bad as I would have expected. Television and the internet keep up the illusion of human interaction, and my two cats provide physical contact and companionship up to a point. A big problem for me is the lack of encouragement to get 'out' into the real world and function. The pandemic has provided a way-too-easy excuse for me to hide from the world, which is exactly what my depression wants. It has been very difficult to fight this depressive episode, but I keep trying. Well I'm afraid of everyone I know so I just sit here and worry that some of them might show up. In real life there is nobody I would choose to see. I make sure I go see them and call them on the phone hoping that's enough to keep them from showing up here. I can't just hide away really. I have to get myself well enough from time to time to go put on a performance for them that's good enough to keep them from coming here and then run back here and hide. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkd_sd Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 1 hour ago, Bulgakov said: One just put in a self checkout, like the big stores. It had two cash registers, but removed one to put in the self check out. It looks nuts. In this case, it's a supposed cost cutter. When the big stores put in the self checkouts, I was kinda miffed. There is no one available to help customers or answer questions. Now they cannot be bothered to show up in person even to take our money! For that and other reasons, I decided to never use the self checkouts. If they want my money, they have to deal with me face-to-face to get it. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkd_sd Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 @sober4life, the list of people I would choose to spend time with is short. That is probably why isolation does not bother me that much. I understand about putting on a performance. I do that, too. 'See, look, I can function. Can I leave now?' I cannot actually isolate, but I have been staying in whenever I can, which has been quite a bit. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sober4life Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 I need to convert all of my money into change and pay only in loose change from now on to help out with the coin shortage. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watalife Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 @Bulgakov the other day I accidentally used the wrong produce code and for the first time I just kept quiet since no one was watching that close. I don't think surely not 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AloneGuy Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 It's been 70 days since I stopped watching/reading the news (except for very specific local issues and unavoidable headlines), and I gotta say life is pretty good for me right now. It's amazing what a break (from anything, really) will do. Also thinking about Shark Week! Only a few weeks away 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JarrodM Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 This is the first time I've been back to this forum in over 2 years. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tymothi Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 I'm thankful I never had children. At least I did that right. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopekaK Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 14 hours ago, Bulgakov said: The biggest store in my town of 3,000 or so is a Dollar Store. We have two, one at either end of a roughly two-miles stretch that veers off, then back on the interstate, becoming our main street. They're different brands, but both are small, even for Dollars. One just put in a self checkout, like the big stores. It had two cash registers, but removed one to put in the self check out. It looks nuts. In this case, it's a supposed cost cutter. One guy often mans the store now. I use the new auto mate. It's supposed to provide the one guy with help if a line forms. But he just plays like it's a person, and I watched him wheel a cart to the back and disappear as I used the self checkout. What if I just barely miss a barcode swipe? I'm glad the guy has trust in the honor system, but I don't think that's why they were designed. Why not just put in two machines, no people, and rename the store "Looters". 103@12am, Bulga Always wanted to go to Quartzsite 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopekaK Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Loneliness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sober4life Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 I've been sitting here all day and every sound I hear I jump up and run to the window terrified someone might be here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sober4life Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 (edited) 20 hours ago, AloneGuy said: It's been 70 days since I stopped watching/reading the news (except for very specific local issues and unavoidable headlines), and I gotta say life is pretty good for me right now. It's amazing what a break (from anything, really) will do. Also thinking about Shark Week! Only a few weeks away The hardest thing on me by far during this time has been the news. I've never needed to hear anything they've said so far. All they do is keep people in a constant panic. Edited July 19, 2020 by sober4life 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sober4life Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 I always think my life is hard but I'm watching the birds this morning after a rain. Their lives are being excited because the rain brings out worms. Their life is being excited about eating worms for breakfast. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tymothi Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 There's been a decrease in mass shootings among schoolchildren since the incurable plague took hostage the world. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sober4life Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 I was sent a mail in ballot today without ever asking for one. There were boxes to check for people and a signature to sign. Yes I am Ronald McDonald.This is a mail in ballot? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hocico Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 (edited) 10 hours ago, sober4life said: I was sent a mail in ballot today without ever asking for one. There were boxes to check for people and a signature to sign. Yes I am Ronald McDonald.This is a mail in ballot? Having mail in ballots just encourages voting fraud, we had seriously problems in the last election here with lax checks on postal votes. Edited July 24, 2020 by hocico 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkd_sd Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 I wish there were some more choices for responses to posts on this site. I like the ones that are there, but they do not apply in all cases. This is not a world-altering problem. I just do not want to offend anyone by choosing 'Like' for a post about a negative issue. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulgakov Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Just now, jkd_sd said: I just do not want to offend anyone by choosing 'Like' for a post about a negative issue. I think about this one also, or the "laugh" response same way. "Check here if you don't at all like the misery described, but appreciate the determination and honesty in the post." etc Bulgakov 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sober4life Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 I've always seen the like response as just me supporting someone. I don't necessarily like it. I just want the person to know they're not alone with their feelings and I want them to know someone out there cares. I myself will never feel offended by reactions no matter what they are. I want people to laugh. I try to make people laugh to lighten the mood sometimes. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tymothi Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 A "like" or a "laugh" icon on a website is still more human contact than I have in the real world anyway, so it doesn't bother me what responses people give me. I just like feeling, occasionally, like I'm not a ghost spiraling endlessly into an eternal void. I don't usually mind being alone, and I don't terribly mind being sorrowful, but I hate being this alone with this level of sorrow. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightjar Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 (edited) Sometimes you have to sit on the bed the cat just puked on and have yourself a cuppa tea The pukey curtain, wall and bed sheets can wait while the DF member has a little bit of R&R no? Reminds me of my favourite line in Avatar when the sergeant is prepping the new blood and informing them of the incalculable horrors on Pandora... "Have you ever been to hell?.... Well, you might wanna go there for some R&R" Edited July 26, 2020 by Nightjar 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulgakov Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 On 7/24/2020 at 4:14 PM, jkd_sd said: I just do not want to offend anyone by choosing 'Like' for a post about a negative issue. On 7/24/2020 at 6:44 PM, sober4life said: I've always seen the like response as just me supporting someone. On 7/24/2020 at 9:04 PM, Tymothi said: I just like feeling, occasionally, like I'm not a ghost spiraling endlessly into an eternal void. Good answers. Bulgakov 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tymothi Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 It felt really good to hear my therapist say she's convinced I'm doing the work. Why did that give me so much unexpected satisfaction? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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