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GnomedBinary
3,923 M Seeking Light 4
PathStep 23 Compassion hearts394 Forum posts14 Forum upvotes23 Current upvotes23 Age GroupAdult Last activeMarch, 2024 Member sinceJanuary 12, 2018
Bio

Active Hours: 8:00 PM EDT - 12:00 AM EDT
Pronouns: They/Them
Region: NA



Recent forum posts
My Mom is Toxic
Journals & Diaries / by GnomedBinary
Last post
 March 11th
...See more So this rant has been a long time coming, because I can't vent to anyone else. Ever since high school - my mom has become, I want to believe a bipolar, toxic gaslighter. Oh, can't forget the woman equivalent of a man-child. God forbid anyone tells her she's wrong sometimes, I've never seen a women with so many anger issues and stubbornness at times. Most days, my mom can be chill and collected - but as soon as ANYTHING doesn't go her way, she gets angry and throws a hissy-fit. Family outings are ***, because if anything goes "wrong" or we make a decision SHE doesn't like - she, you guessed it - gets angry and throws a hissy-fit. She constantly blames me or my dad for problems she makes, because she's "never wrong". From telling me to "stop my foolishness" whenever I try reminding her that it is 2024 and nobody cares if you wear pajamas in public (as long as they're appropriate), to me offering to teach her basic computer literacy and keyboard skills - her refusing, later complaining that I "never offered", and having no patience to LEARN when she does eventually agree. Just because you are a "social butterfly", doesn't give you the right to force people around you to be. She refuses to understand the concept of being "introverted" - and then pretends to be "embarrassed" by lifestyle choices that don't effect her in any way, shape or form. Not to mention - she's the worst listener imaginable, treating all of my mental health problems as "episodes". She acts this way and then wonders why I never talk to her, or try to connect with her - this is why. It's gotten to the point where when I eventually move out, I'm gonna keep her out of my children's lives (when I eventually start a family) and cut her from mine.
Night-terrors (CW)
Journals & Diaries / by GnomedBinary
Last post
 March 2nd
...See more I've been dealing with night-terrors since I was a child, they're always so vivid and because of psychosis - I will sometimes remember them in great detail. These night-terrors are often graphic, often following a single theme - death.. my death. The night-terrors are part of the reason why I never got over my fear of the dark, I can't sleep without being able to see a light source - either it be the moonlight, porch light or hallway light. And because of these night terrors, I've become insomnic - some nights I won't sleep at all, not because I'm not tired but because I'm too scared. I know I should probably seek professional help, though I think it'd be awkward telling my doc "Hey, I've dealing with chronic night terrors every night - and I'm not able to sleep without dream catchers." - because I already have sleep apnea, which can also be a contributing factor...
The News is Depressing
Journals & Diaries / by GnomedBinary
Last post
 January 31st
...See more So over the past few months, I've been trying to find a reason to watch the news - of all things. To "know whats going on in the world." as my mom puts it. Problem is, every time I tune into any large network like CBC, CNN or others - they're always reporting on the most depressing things possible. From the war in Ukraine, to covid - to other disasters. Once in a blue moon, they'll report on some charity or local business - something interesting. But then, as soon as its over - its right back to being depressing. Can we not have a network that focuses on the good things happening in the world? Why do I have to resort to Reddit or other social media to find some positivity. If anyone is battling depression, don't watch the news as frequently - trust me. The less you consume mainstream media, the better your mood will be.
Feature Request - 2 Factor Authentication and Account Security Improvements
Site Updates / by GnomedBinary
Last post
 May 4th
...See more So I just realised this when editing my account settings, And I'd like there to be an update to fix this, because I believe this is a glaring account security risk. There is currently no authentication process for changing your account password, and no 2 factor authentication. This means, all someone needs to do in order to steal your 7 Cups account - is know the email you're using. To change your password, you should be required to verify your current one - which leads me to the next problem: There needs to be an optional 2-factor authentication - this feature is standard for most social media accounts, and even though 7 Cups is not a social media - I'm surprised it doesn't have 2FA. This 2-Factor Authentication, when setup and enabled - should require you to verify your 2FA when logging into 7 Cups on a new device, and changing any security related account settings such as your password and deleting/de-activation. (for both Listener and Member accounts, if linked to the same email) I also want to point out that this 2-Factor authentication method should only be for "Authy" or other 3rd-party authenticator apps, while authentication via email should still be available - SMS based authentication should not, as it is vulnerable to social engineering and SIM hi-jacking which can compromise any account (not just 7 Cups) associated with the user's phone number.
My Relationship with God
Religion & Spirituality / by GnomedBinary
Last post
 January 10th
...See more I've never considered myself an overly religous person - I must sound like a broken record, I'm probably not the first person to admit this. I grew up in a christian family, I was baptised as a baby - and as a kid was always dragged to church on sundays. As a kid, I never really understood it - I never truly believed in God; I always questioned what I learned in sunday school - it just never set right with me. As a kid, I found it difficult to believe in him - like others, I wanted "proof" of his existence without understanding that it didn't work like that. I tried praying every night, but felt and heard nothing - I expected a sign, again without knowing how it worked. Every time I would go to church with my mom or other family - we always sang hymes, and I felt as if there was no "real" worship - there was nothing taught and sunday school didn't provide many answers or comfort either. After that, I lost hope - I denounced him, saying "What kind of god gives his followers free-will, but then ignore them when they ask for help - what kind of god allows wars, famine and poverty to exist when he has the power to stop it?" After that, I started distancing myself from him, and going to church afterwards always felt wrong as if I didn't belong there. I even tried hiding in the curch's bathroom, hoping nobody would come looking for me - until it was time to go home. After a few years, we started going to church less and less - eventually stopping entirely - I never stepped foot in a church, bore a cross or touched a bible since then. But I wanted to believe there was some higher power, something greater than myself. Eventually, I turned to paganism - worshipping the norse patheon - without telling anyone. It was during that time, I believed gods were nothing more than self-centered egotists. I believed that Thor, had more of a presence on earth than "God" - thunderstorms eventually facinating me, I was finally seeing the influence of a god. I remained pagan for what felt like years, becoming interested in researching and learning about the occult - and religous artifacts. It was through this vice, I learned that I had a gift - I had a strong connection with ghosts, being able to sense hauntings and spiritual energy. I kept this gift hidden for a decade, never telling anyone about - afraid I might be shunned for it. But at least I finally felt something, and unfortunately it sooned turned sour. One day, while I was at school - I felt if the gods themselves had touched me. I had this... preminition, something bad was going to happen. During class, I had to leave the room crying - the teacher asking me what was wrong and all I could say is that "I lost someone near and dear to me." and this still haunts me to this day - but I still believe that I knew my uncle, the one family member I was ever close with (who passed away to type 1 diabetes) was going to pass away, and sure enough a few months later - my parents give me the news that he had just been placed in palative care and didn't have long left. When we go to see him, it was the day of his wedding - everyone was sad and I knew why. The night after, he passed away in his sleep. I look back at it every few years, constantly asking myself if I had just said something - maybe he would've gotten more help. But as a kid, your voice isn't always heard by adults - and I wonder if thats the reason I never said anything. Fast-forward to 2023, I had tempered my gift - teaching myself how to control it, if I could. It was until recently, after so many years have passed - that I considered that maybe this gift was from God and it was part of his plan. Only recently, in the past few months - I've been reconsidering my faith. I've been wanting to try again, to let God back into my life - but have been terrified to. I'm not the same kid I was when I denounced him. Over the years, all the things I've learned about the church turned me off... the pedophelia, all the anti-LGBTQ propoganda and the phenatics who treat the bible as law and contribute to some of the toxic vibe. But despite that, I've been wanting to give it another chance - maybe with a renewed perspective, and time to mature -I'll be able to appreciate the faith alot more. I've been trying to look for friends who might be able to restore my faith, anyone who are willing to share the experience with me.
Feeling Indifferent
Journals & Diaries / by GnomedBinary
Last post
 December 25th, 2023
...See more I wanna first off say, that I didn't have a "bland" or "boring" childhood - being in a military family, we've moved a lot and visited and lived in several different countries. I hate calling myself "fortunate", "privilaged" or "lucky" - because I find the class based economic struggle to be a hellscape where we all pretend that everything is fair when in reality, the standard for living for the middle class still feels like crap - despite being "well-off". Over the last couple years, I've had to more or less accept my place in all that. I feel guilty whenever the family is able to afford to have a feast or any big meal - because I know there are people who can't. Why should I pretend that the reason we're "well-off" is because of luck, when the reality is just as ugly as believing its "luck". On top of all that, I also had to deal with my own identity - figuring out who I was. Going through a crisis, and now watching good people pass away from cancer or covid this year - while it is tragic, it just feels like part of another link in an ever-growing chain of grief. I've had difficulty showing any other emotion than apathetic indifference, while I acknowledge their significance - I don't give it any more thought beyond "Oh, [name] passed away? From what?" and in the back of my mind I feel horrible thinking that but have become physicaly, mentaly and emotionaly incapable of expressing that grief in any "meaningful" way. Over time, I've developed more of an apathetic view on the world - because positivity has become an afterthought and a short respite from the menial grind.
Online Safety and Privacy (PSA)
50 & Over Community / by GnomedBinary
Last post
 December 14th, 2023
...See more Because I'm advocate for online privacy and safety - and everyone 50+ are often the main target for cyber-crime, one more educated is one less scammed or victimized. https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/General_2450/OnlineSafetyandPrivacyPSA_319177/?post=3428589 I also want to remind everyone to ALWAYS do your own research, while I have 18 years of technological experience - I don't everything and sometimes get things wrong. If any listeners have any questions - or want more resources like this in order to build a workshop, feel free to PM me.
Online Safety and Privacy (PSA)
Safety & Knowledge at 7 Cups / by GnomedBinary
Last post
 December 29th, 2023
...See more I've been an advocate for online safety and user privacy for some time now, and would like to share my knowledge with everyone - especially those in the 50+ community as you guys are the main target for cyber crime. Introduction As anyone whose been on the internet for more than 2 minutes, knows - ads are everywhere and are unavoidable *Vsauce Music kicks in* (Or, are they?) The average internet user probably doesn't realize just how many of these predatory and sometimes dangerous ads are served to them daily - per website that have them. Today, in this thread - I hope to educate everyone on how to better protect themselves online and what your rights are on the internet and how to exercise them. How Many Ads? Oh boy, this number will shock you - on average, the day-to-day internet user who never uses ad-blockers will be served a total of 300,000 or more ads per day - from exploring multiple websites or just using search engines. Most websites on the internet that are free to use, employ monetization strategies in the form of predatory - and sometimes unfiltered ads. If you regularly use Google services such as ***, and actively sign-in to your Google account - it can be even worse as Google will serve you "personalized" ads based on your activity on the internet - associated with your account. Why are Ads Dangerous? Unfortunately, the internet isn't like television where advertisements must follow strict regulations in order to get screen time - online, advertisers have less regulations and quality control. This can lead to bad actors potentially abusing the platform in order to spread malware, misinformation or scams - and unfortunately not much can or is being done to stop this. Individuals 50 or older are the main demographic for online advertisers, these 3rd parties specifically take advantage of people's technological and digital ignorance. However, staying informed about the latest tech news from trusted sources (which I will have linked down below) - and exercising your right to privacy online are the best ways to stay safe. How Can I Protect Myself? This is going to sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people ignore or forget this one piece of advice - but NEVER click on any ads on the internet, no matter who they're from or what website they're on. One click or tap is all someone needs to install malware on your device and cause thousands of dollars of damage. However, you aren't completely helpless - there are tools and ways for you to stay safe. These resources are available to everyone who uses Google Chrome, Mozzila Firefox and Microsoft Edge. uBlock Origin [https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm] - An ad-blocker that blocks and hides ads on the internet, updated regularly - requiring no user input after addition. (Works on YouTube) Ad-Block [https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/adblock-%E2%80%94-best-ad-blocker/gighmmpiobklfepjocnamgkkbiglidom] - An ad-blocker that blocks and hides ads on the internet, updated regularly - requiring no user input after addition. (Will no longer be supported on Google Chrome starting January 1st, 2024) Privacy Badger [https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/privacy-badger/pkehgijcmpdhfbdbbnkijodmdjhbjlgp] - A privacy focused extension, that blocks identifiers (trackers) on websites. While a "add and forget" extension, has advanced tools for experienced users to make custom blacklists along with regular updates. (While not against YouTube guidelines, may get you banned for being "Not Commercially Viable". Yes this is a thing - and yes it is legal for them to do, whether you think its moral is up to you) Opera [https://www.opera.com/] - A privacy focused chromium web-browser, is compatible with above extensions - updated regularly and can import bookmarks, passwords and search history from other browsers. Brave [https://brave.com/?mtm_source=www.google.com&mtm_medium=cpc&mtm_campaign=brand&mtm_content=all&ref=KGV340&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItvqI-7uGgwMV_kpHAR3fFAF-EAAYASAAEgL8g_D_BwE] - A privacy focused chromium web-browser, also compatible with the above extensions - updated regularly and can also import bookmarks, passwords and search history from other browsers. NordVPN [https://nordvpn.com/special/?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_term=8_7289_65768619188d4003416630f4&utm_content=65768619188d4003416630f4&utm_campaign=off30&utm_source=aff83521] - A virtual private network that masks your IP and internet traffic, helping you to stay anonymous online. Online Advertising Laws Around the World UK Consumer Protection Regulations General Data Protection Regulations [https://gdpr-info.eu/] Advertising Standards Authority [https://www.asa.org.uk/] Privacy and Elecontric Communications Regulations [https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/direct-marketing-and-privacy-and-electronic-communications/guide-to-pecr/what-are-pecr/] Competition and Market Authority [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/competition-and-markets-authority] EU General Data Protection Regulations [https://gdpr-info.eu/] ePrivacy Directive [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32002L0058] Unfair Commerical Practices Directive [https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/consumer-protection-law/unfair-commercial-practices-law/unfair-commercial-practices-directive_en#:~:text=Objective%20of%20the%20directive,-The%20objective%20of&text=It%20is%20the%20overarching%20EU,range%20of%20unfair%20business%20practices.] Audiovisual Media Services Directive [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32010L0013] Platform-to-Business Regulation [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019R1150] Antitrust and Competition Law [https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/antitrust-and-cartels/overview_en#:~:text=Antitrust%20and%20Cartels%20Overview,-Antitrust%20rules%20prohibit&text=Article%20102%20of%20the%20Treaty,to%20the%20prejudice%20of%20consumers.] National Advertising Standards Bodies [https://www.easa-alliance.org/#:~:text=The%20European%20Advertising%20Standards%20Alliance,in%20advertising%20and%20in%20brands.] AU Australian Consumer Law [https://consumer.gov.au/australian-consumer-law/legislation] Australian Privacy Principles [https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/australian-privacy-principles] The Australian Association of National Advertisers [https://aana.com.au/] Electronic Transactions Act [https://consultations.ag.gov.au/legal-system/eta/#:~:text=The%20Electronic%20Transactions%20Act%201999,valid%20electronic%20transactions%20take%20place.] Spam Act [https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00614] Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [https://www.accc.gov.au/] US Federal Trade Commission [https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/advertising-marketing/online-advertising-marketing] COPPA [https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa] CAN-SPAM Act [https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/controlling-assault-non-solicited-pornography-marketing-act-2003-can-spam-act] Digital Advertising Alliance [https://digitaladvertisingalliance.org/] California Consumer Privacy Act [https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa] Telephone Consumer Protection Act Sherman Antitrust Act [https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/sherman-anti-trust-act]
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