In reply to GreenTongue (msg # 1479):

Indeed!  Animals may be puzzled that someone doesn't like them, in my experience they are even more apt to go to that person - to try and change their mind?  But if the animal shows aggressive behaviour to someone, or seems threatened by them, beware, they probably sense something you don't!

One of my greatest mostly secret guilty pleasures is when a dog (or cat) comes up to me to be petted and the owner looks surprised and says something like, "Oh! He doesn't usually like new people!".  Most animals know the people that will spoil them some more :D

LOL Depends on the animal though.  My cat doesn't get exposed to a lot of people she doesn't already know, and she's willing to check them out, but it's more curiosity I think, and after she checks, she's back to her usual nervous self.  And I remember a cat we used to have who really wanted my MIL to be pals, even though MIL was terrified of her and would screech when approached.  But they are very different cats, the one I have now doesn't like to sit on laps, for instance, and the previous one did.

I have one cat that likes people and one who hides from everyone but me. That second one was a rescue, born under one of my land lords out buildings. So he was semi wild from the start. But over time I became the only person he likes or will let near him. Only time he sits on my lap though is when he wants to mooch my food. My fault there, was trying to teach him it was ok to sit on my lap and that is how it turned out.

Sometimes I think cats just have a perverse sense of humor. My cat is a friendly cat, most of the time, but she goes above and beyond when my mother - who does not like cats, and makes no bones about not liking cats - visits. Normally, the cat is content to simply be in the same room with people, and doesn't go begging for pets from those who don't live here regularly, but the moment my mother appears the cat is just THERE all the time for her. Leg rubs, head butts, trying to climb in her lap, sleep on the bed with her... all while my mother tries (hilariously) to nudge and shoo her away without being mean about it.

I'm convinced the cat thinks it's a game.

Seriously, folks.  Got a political survey call, asking about whether I was going to participate in a caucus and my opinions on certain political candidates and/or their platforms.  This particular pollster was obviously for a particular politician, one I had never heard of.  His last passel of questions was asking my opinions on a number of platform statements referencing that same unknown (to me) politician.  I told him very clearly that I had never heard of the guy, and thusly could not give an opinion.  Then he asks me another question about a statement... about the same politician.  I told him, very forcefully, that if he had any subsequent questions about that politician, all of my answers would be the identical, "I have no opinion, as I've never heard of him."  He asks me a third question... about the same politician.  I laughed in frustration and hung up.  He called back.  I ignored the call, and blocked the number.

I know the guy has a job, but if you can't listen to me, then I'm not going to waste my time giving my opinion.

In reply to Isida KepTukari (msg # 1485):

That sounds like some of the online surveys I take. They ask the same question over and over, just modify the wording slightly, but it means the exact same thing as they try to force you to give them the answers they obviously want to hear. I have gone so far to tell them how see thru those kinds of questions are in the comments section they often supply. Which I doubt anyone really reads.
Just how stupid do these people think we are anyway ?

One of the advantages of living in a brutal, authoritarian, one-party system is not being bugged by these annoying ticks all the time.  (Though getting chased down by local Party apparatchik trying to get people to come out and vote in the sham elections they regularly hold is a bit annoying as well.)

I'm tired of biting my tongue when others trample all over my feelings.

I admired someone because I considered them a strong person. I see now that what I mistook for strength was cold, heartless spite.

[edited)

I'm at the point now where I am really starting to lose faith in human nature. Roll back a decade or so and this sort of callous disregard for other people didn't exist as widely as they did today. We live in a society where the media and culture tells us to be sensitive to other people's feelings and yet people have never been more selfish or spiteful or narcissistic as they are now.

I AM NOT PUTTING UP WITH TREATMENT LIKE THIS FROM ANYONE ANYMORE PERIOD. I AM A HUMAN BEING WITH JUST AS MUCH A RIGHT TO MY OWN HAPPINESS AS EVERYONE ELSE. I DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS.
This message was last edited by a moderator, as it was against the forum rules, at 12:33, Mon 23 Dec 2019.

In reply to Starchaser (msg # 1488):

Welcome to the Zombie appocalypse - all those self centered persons Are the Zombies.
Also Merry X-Mas and happy Holy Days during this age of the Self Entitled Zombie Appocalpyse!

In reply to Starchaser (msg # 1488):

   In two words, "Boundaries" and "Respect" are the watchwords here. I used to get used and abused like a rug in a busy hallway until I finally sat down and thought about what I'm willing to tolerate. Sure, it messed some people up when I began to call them out for what they were saying, but if you let people use you, you're letting them know what you will tolerate in how people treat you ...

   The "Callous disrespect' you refer to has always been there, since Ancient times. But in our instant information age, where something happening halfway around the world is delivered to your phone/tablet/computer mere seconds after it happens ... it's easy to think that it is more prevalent. (Mind you, if you look hard enough, you'll generally find what you are looking for)

   In short, take care of yourself and the ones you care about. The rest of the world can go hang. But remember, only YOU can determine how people treat you. If they hand you a compliment, it's a bonus - thank them and enjoy it. If they try and slag you for something, let them know how you feel about it. You might lose some people in the bargain, but the quality of your friends is likely to improve. :)

Cheers.

FICO credit scores are wierd. I just don't get it.
First it tells me my score Dropped because I don't have any loans to pay off (something I am rather proud of really.)
Next it tells me it also dropped cause I used my credit card To much (high balance) but as they were paid off by the next bill, I don't understand the problem. (I had some unexpected expenses, one after another that were over $1200 each, in 2 months time. Apparently having High amounts of used credit lowers the score, never mind if the credit card was actually paid off or not.)
Score has dropped over 40 points since March, because I am Actually using my credit card apparently. (and don't have any outstanding loans.)
How insane is this ?

Very,  And work in the industry so I see some of the backending on these things, even though it's not my department (I work in the credit card mines, where we dig for new suckers customers, it's a predatory business not unlike the mafia).

If you want I can delve a bit into some of the reasoning (or if you don't like as I am)... and honestly, a lot of it comes down to how your card company reports your activity to the credit bureaus.  Most card companies hate it when you pay off the entirety of the balance, and if it was a high balance they might report it in the same manner as a 'paid off loan', which as you've discovered dings your score (not just not having a loan, but when the loan closes out it dings you).

So you're getting a monthly ding for 1) coming close to or maxing your card and 2) closing a "loan".

Talk to your credit card company, find out why they're dinging your credit for "standard" usage (come at it from this angle).  They'll likely explain to you what they consider "standard" usage to look like (or you'll get run around so hard you quit because no one anyone can connect you with understands how the sausage gets made).  At least then you'll know why, when, and how your credit company will be tattling on you to the bureaus, so you might be able work around the dings.
This message was last edited by the user at 16:34, Fri 27 Dec 2019.

It's not insane at all, you're just not correctly interpreting what your credit score is and what its purpose in existing is.

Most people think of their credit score as a reflection of their financial responsibility, like if they're prudent with their money and careful about going too deep into debt then they "deserve" a good credit score, like as some sort of congratulatory pat on the back.

This is nonsense!  Even if the strongest measure of your level of financial responsibility is how well you keep from going into debt (debatable), even so, that's not what your credit score is designed to measure.  Consider who it is that invented the idea of credit scores and decided what criteria to use in determining them:  The credit industry.  Your credit score does not exist for you.  It exists for them.  The purpose of a lender is not to reward you for being wise with your money.   They simply couldn't care less.  The purpose of a lender is to generate profit.  Everything they do is designed toward that end, including their fixation on credit scores.  In that light, contemplate that:

Your credit score isn't a measure of how well you pay off your debt.  It's a measure of how well you pay off -interest- on your debt.

If you're using your credit cards but not running up a balance, you're not paying much interest, and so therefore you're worse than useless to the credit card company: you're enjoying the benefits of their services without generating any profit for them.  Why would they reward you for that?

This message was deleted by a moderator, as it was against the ToU, at 16:57, Fri 27 Dec 2019.

They definitely don't like when you have over X% of your available credit used (how much that percentage is may vary, but it seems to really hit hard if you're over 30%). But I've had my cards, well under 20% (and closer to 10%) get dinged a few points just for putting a lousy $40 on one (the larger one, where $40 isn't even 1%). It happens. The important thing to remember is that a credit score is a measure over time - yes, you might get dinged this month, but if you keep calm and carry on with regular payments and not routinely running up charges, it'll steady out eventually and go back to where it should be.

...unless your company is really dinging you twice, like evileeyore suggested, in which case I'd maybe contemplate changing cards.

Can't change cards really - got it through my bank - interest rates on it, if I am late, is only 10%. Every other card I have Ever had was around 18% or higher (one group upped my interest rate to 40% with out telling me - I could not even pay the interest by the time they pulled that stunt - forget anything on the principle at that time in my life [collage]. Had to take out a loan to pay the card off. Which took 5 years to do. Cancled that card though cause of the shiitake* way they treated their customers.)
I get that they don't make much money off me, but punishing someone cause they use over 30% of the card value just seems stupid to me. - Prior to this my credit rating was 750 to 758 constantly - I had emergency situations, only reason I used the card to that level. But I feel like they are punishing me for it.


* I looked up the spelling on this - this is the correct spelling for the mushroom. I am triing to stay with in forum rules here.

This is fact.

You want good credit?  Someone has to get paid money from you above and beyond what the goods or services cost.

Fastest way to generate a positive credit score?  Take out a loan, pay the minimums.  Or rack up a small card balance, pay the minimums.

Are you about to pay off a loan?  Take out a new one.



10% is a really good rate.  I'd keep that card.  Just try to leave a small balance on there so it generates a small amount of interest.


I'm not calling you a liar, but they probably did tell you.  On page 28 of the user agreement, in the smallest of fine print, in legalese.  Probably also in Comic Sans italic or Monotype Corsiva.


Oh but they do.  Or more aptly, off the vendors that let you use the card and then pay the CC company fees for that usage.


It's because the higher the immediate balance the greater chance that a setback could spiral you into financial straits wherein you have to default on that debt.  So "maxing out" your cards (or exceeding whatever % they consider to be 'safe') is seen as risky behavior.

Think of it like this.  A credit card is an investment into you by the company, basically they're saying "We're extending you credit in the hopes we make money off of you".  The more money they make off of you (over the long term) the more they reward you with a "credit score".  The less money, or the riskier you start to look, well they'll report this so others won't make the same investment mistakes.  And off course if your credit score drops too low, many companies have a proviso in the contract that they can just dump you, and they will if they aren't making enough money off of ya or your behavior signals to them that you've become a credit risk.

For this to be true, I should have a very low credit score.
I have only paid interest on my credit card a few times in my life.
My credit score is in the upper 700s.

There has to be more factors than just making the credit company money from your interest payments.

There is.  But it's all risk/reward evaluation.

Okay, so last week (more or less) I noticed that Humble Bundle is once again offering a bundle with a ton of Pathfinder-related books. I bought two of these bundles in the past and, thanks to them, I now own a metric ton of Pathfinder (1E) PDFs... quite probably more than I can hope to read or use (especially as I haven't been in a PF game here that lasted... my luck, I guess). Nevertheless, for some reason, when I see cheap PF books, I buy them! So, once again, I spent $40 for another twenty Pathfinder PDFs...

And now, as I'm looking through, I once again start to realize: it's cool stuff to read, but I will probably never play or GM this game... especially not with all these options or all this setting material... especially I'm not fully sold on Golarion...

So, why the heck I keep spending money on it???

Gah! *facepalms*

In reply to Varsovian (msg # 1500):

Sounds like me back in the day - I got a bunch of box sets for 2cd ed Realms, have never used them and read maybe a few - but every now and then I come across a book I don't have and buy it. Never read it, heck the last group is still in the bag I brought it home in. I don't know why I buy them either as I don't run or play that stuff anymore.

I collect musical instruments.  Woodwinds, mainly, and some related stuff (like things in the ocarina family and a few reed instruments).

I will never learn to play them all in my lifetime to any degree of competence.  If I picked one and just focused on that, I could probably become decently competent in a few years.  But I keep buying them.  And I keep buying ever-more-expensive ones.

Games?  God yes, collecting those can be expensive!  But musical instruments?  There's a reason why I work seven days a week...

You’re not kidding. I’ve only bought instruments to play, and the only one that wasn’t expensive was the accordion.

I have a variety of collections both intentional and un, like plants, menorahs, and offbeat cookbooks. The textiles and art pieces are definitely the ones with the highest price tags, but craft supplies is a close third. Games doesn’t even come close, even though I have a lot.

My other collection is more expensive - swords, daggers, a battle axe, a few staves, wands, fantasy jewerly, goblets and so on. The books is just the most extensive of things I have (3 book cases worth). I need a bigger place to display all the weapons I got though.