Do you know if you want to keep seeing them? If you do, or if you aren’t sure yet, I think you just need more info. They might have experience with a violent ex, and so they’re hyper-tuned to worry “what if this person I like suddenly becomes violent.” Talking about an ex would definitely be a trigger for a lot of violent people, so it makes sense she was worried about that topic specifically. Anyways, maybe sit them down and say something like:

“Thanks for giving me a little time to process things, so I wouldn’t say something I didn’t mean. I was surprised when you said you were afraid I might become violent, as I’ve never been violent with another person, and I don’t think my behavior is even very aggressive.” (Assuming that’s true about you, which I can’t really know). “I want to know why you were worried about that possibility, and I don’t feel like you gave me a clear answer last time we spoke. That being said, I totally understand this might be a sensitive subject for you, so I don’t want to rush you if you’re not ready to talk about it. But I like you, and I want to get to know more about you, and it will be hard for me to feel comfortable continuing to see you if I don’t know what caused you to say what you did a couple days ago.”

Or hey, maybe you aren’t the best judge of yourself. Maybe include something in there like “If you feel like I have raised my voice or acted aggressively sometimes, I would really like to know, as I’m not aware of behaving like that. I promise I will be calm and collected if you want to tell me something like that.”

I dunno, or maybe ask ChatGPT, it can probably write up something pretty good.

Oh yeah, but in summary, I think you are assuming her intentions were malicious due to your saying she’s gaslighting you, when I’m not really 100% sure that’s the case yet. I’d give her a chance to explain, but if y’all keep seeing each other, just keep an eye out for any further weirdness.

I mean, I’m definitely voting for Biden, but I hope it saves the country.

I mean, if Trump wins the election, it might literally be our last election. They have a plan to dismantle our government. So no, unfortunately, I think they’re arguing in good faith, trying to use this tool the GOP has set up against them to save the country.

Yeah, that’s a good point, I’ve seen a lot of suggestions that seem to go beyond the scope of this terrible terrible ruling. I guess he could order the military to prevent congress and the SC from meeting or doing anything. Then he could just issue executive orders, or declare war on a faction of politicians trying to stage a coup maybe?

Peter: I wouldn’t say I’ve been “missing” it, Bob. 😉

I can’t image HR getting a complaint that you aren’t making small talk, and saying “That’s outrageous! We’ll demand his medical records right now!”

HR exists to keep the company from getting sued, and I think there’s a lot less risk for them to tell one employee “He doesn’t want to talk to you, deal with it.” vs demanding medical records for a non-work-role related issue.

You said you were out sick for 4 weeks? Do they know why? Maybe you could spin that, say “sorry, I got some scarring in my throat and talking can make it worse, so I really need to only talk about work or I’ll be up all night in pain”. Or something like that.

Or you could try “sorry, I like working with you, and I know I’ve talked in the past, but I need to admit that I have Asperger’s/autism, and trying to make small talk is very stressful for me, so I hope you’re not offended but I feel like I’m going to burn out unless I make some changes like sticking to only work-oriented discussions from now on. Thank you for your understanding.”

Bonus points if you type that up and hand it to people, like you can’t even tell it to then directly.

I know both my answers are “lie in a way that makes you look abnormal” which you may feel like isn’t something you should have to do. Which is true. But you want to minimize them thinking you’re judging them, and they KNOW you are able to talk, so the best way I see is to make them think it’s a problem you have, not about them.

🤷‍♂️ Good luck!

I vote starvation. I think a big percent of the world will starve, with a few countries holding out. A bit later I think all those people will starve too, with only like 20 billionaires surviving. And then when THEY run out of food a few years later, I dunno, they’ll OD on drugs?

It does sound crazy, but some of their echo chambers have spent YEARS repeating two conflicting messages 1) we need to use violence to “fix” the country and 2) anyone who actually tries to organize any activity is an FBI member trying to arrest people. It’s true that a sane person still wouldn’t try to go kill politicians by themselves, but it’s no surprise to me that some of those members eventually do come to the “I am the only person who can fix this” conclusion.

The tent looks reversed, but I believe all the rest. Crazy stuff.

To get out of those spirals, I just remind myself that I’ve probably forgotten hundreds of things other people probably regret saying/doing, and odds are most people probably forgot mine. Even if I’m sure someone didn’t forget it, I doubt they ever think about it anymore.

I am beyond stoked for this new release!

But that sounds haaaaard to design…

Hey, maybe here’s an actual good use for AI, study how lots of people play strategy games, and teach a model to play at varying skill levels.

“and all your income from these calls will go to zoom”

Looks gorgeous, like the original. I’m curious if it’ll be harder than the original, being in full 3D. With the ability to freely run around everywhere, it might be easier to miss something than if you only jumped between predetermined points. Maybe not, I can’t remember if everything important in Riven was visually distinctive, or if there are things hidden in the background that are easy to overlook.

If the names are listed vertically, than obviously the name on the bottom is carrying all the ones above it.

Even if he played Sorry, when he knocked someone back to start when they were on the home stretch, he probably STILL wouldn’t even say “Soooooorrrryyyy!” in a super sarcastic voice, like you are supposed to do.

I feel like besides being a silly title, I feel like it would rub me the wrong way if I worked at that company with any other title.

Because of the implication.

Probably a good time to stock up on toilet paper and N95’s!

But then how do you poop if no one is begging? Uhh, asking for a friend.