That sounds so horrifying for an elementary schooler to witness. Did y'alls teachers actually show you guys this on tv?

This was peak conversation at school at the time.

i DESPISE needing to make an account for every app, for online shopping, haircuts, I fucking hate all of it. just let me buy or schedule shit and be done with it; and all these damn places just sell your info so you can get spam called and spam emailed all hours of the day. I don't even use my real phone number or email anymore, it's all scrambled random shit. I don't answer my phone either, if you call me you better leave a damn voicemail otherwise you ain't getting a call back. Shit, i'm 31 and sound like i'm 80; please tell me i'm not the only millenial out there with these kinda views.

When I was in the 5th grade, I was pulled from class with two other students. One of the kids definitely had autism (asperger's at the time), and the other didn't. We had these sessions twice a week for almost the entire school year. I had reconnected with the other student who didn't have autism years later, and we were confused about why we were there. The only thing we all had in common was we were super into computers. Funny thing was, we never did anything on the computer there. We just played board games, word matching exercises, and talked about feelings. I wasn't a bad kid growing up.

I was thinking about this the other day, how some things we took for granted growing up now feel like a privilege. Like having uninterrupted free time as a kid. No notifications, no pressure to be productive, just... existing.

Chime in

I've never been married. I did things different from nearly everyone my age that I know: I spent my twenties and early thirties traveling, working different industries to up my skills and find where I want to be. I live with a partner that I truly love, however my life certainly does not revolve around them.

So many people I know who married in their twenties are separated to beginning to separate to full on divorced.

For better or worse, I wonder if this is a trend? I don't mean any of this in a negative way. I'm all for you doing what's best for you.

I really want to get rid of my Facebook account (for details I can’t say here because Reddit won’t let me post about my political leanings). It’s become too much reading anti-humanity posts/comments. I’d like to create a secret account so I can keep up with local news/events pages (and not engage in said conversations). But there are people I only have connections with via Facebook now who I don’t want to lose touch with.

Anyone been here? Asking for my mental health ❤️❤️❤️

I also use this as a meme to explain my day to day life...

I just remembered that back in high school, we were all told to line up and we were checked for scoliosis. this was around 2005-2007.

I never moved away from my hometown. it's about 50k population. Not super exciting but not super boring. Safe to raise my children and I bought a house 6 years ago and my income is fine.

I do a property inspection job and recently went into a vacant house that once was the house of a middle school friend. I only went in that house once in middle school but still remembered every detail and going back into it sent my memory synapses down a trip. It all hit me with a realization that almost all of my friends are no longer in my town. Everyone's life moved on or went somewhere differently. It's really hard to describe why it bothers me so much.

it almost motivates me to move to a new place and start over but I know that's possibly a terrible idea with the support system I have with family and current friends plus jobs.

it's just such an intense feeling of loss, regret, and good memories of childhood.

The older I get I realize I take it for granted that our friend group even if some of us live on the opposite ends of the planet still talk regularly and try to get together at least once a year.

Some of these people I grew up on the same cul-de-sac and have known for over 30 years. As soon as we were old enough be able to walk to school alone, we walked to school together almost every day until we graduated.

Most of us met in middle school/high school though and we have all stayed close considering the circumstances.

Even if a year or two passes, when we get together it's like nothing has changed (other than a few babies appearing and growing into toddlers)

Still get up to the same old stupid childish shit... sometimes get too drunk... Still like to go to the odd festival or rave and dance until sunrise.

I just shared one of my favorite birthday photos of myself to a FB group for ND folks and some young kids are telling me I'm crazy.

Am I nuts??

Look at how happy I am!