No, giving me shit for being so confused about what to do.
I hear you guys-and I’m looking into it, believe me. I guess I just needed to vent, you know?
(If you looked at the dashes, you’d see it started with something else :rolleyes: )
FireUnderpantsBoobs, what the hell is your damage?
And Guin, I know it sucks right now, but think of it this way: Things can only get better, right?
Inability to use dashes? What the fuck? Given that we don’t have em dashes available on this board it’s bit wanky to carry about incorrect usage. Setting dashes solid is a style decision, not a punctuation decision.
Guin, hang in there, hon. It will get better. IMO it is better to be an unkissed 23-year-old than a trollop sleeping with every creature who comes down the pike. By the time I was 23-years-old, I was leading a wild life and I wish I hadn’t.
I don’t know why I’m responding, in that what you need is some good practical advice and I don’t really have any. I am dumbfounded to hear this from you. All your posting here and on other boards gives the impression of a popular person; I saw your picture on the SD people pages and you are an attractive girl.
Graduate school may be the ticket.
P.S. Looking for work is about the most stressful thing I’ve ever experienced.
Thanks, peeps. I want to go to grad school-but again, money, I need a job.
I guess I’m not REALLY that depressed-I just need to vent every once in a while. Oh no, I used a DASH AGAIN!!! TWICE!!!
Primaflora wrote:
Well, technically, if an actual em-dash isn’t available, you’re supposed to use TWO hyphens, preferrably with a space on either side of 'em. Like so:
Kmart – FUCK.
BTW, RugbyMan, what is this “Suck N’ Save” you speak of? It sounds like a discount brothel. 
Actually tracer - no. You might do it like that (and in Word it will turn into an em dash except in my freaking computer which has decided not to do it) but that doesn’t make it right. FI my MLA handbook says if you don’t have a working em dash, it’s OK to use two hyphens set solid.
Honestly, believe me it’s stupid to argue over dashes, hyphens, em dashes, set solid or otherwise because there is no one right way. Personally I don’t set them solid but I’m not going to say it is wrong if someone else does.
Well, unfortunately it’s nothing as exotic as that ;). It’s the nickname for the Shop N’ Save, which is the second most popular and successful grocery store in Pittsburgh (compared to Giant Eagle, a lot of people would probably say a distant 2nd!).
I’d probably be a bit better off if it was a brothel!! Probably wouldn’t be able to sit down after work, but well, wouldn’t have to worry about paying for college either ;).
Ah, Slop and Slave, eh? I hope it’s not one of those owned by that Vic guy. shudder
It has one of the worst reputations for working conditions as far as I’ve heard. Anyhoo, I like Giant Eagle better.
I’m thinking of turning in an application at Walden book store in the meantime, until I can find something better. I’d KILL to work at Borders, but they’re never hiring.
I’m so glad you asked. Thank you for caring.
It’s not like Guinastasia is immune to flaming. If she had posted this in MPSIMS, I definitely wouldn’t have responded. However, the dash thing does piss me off every time I see it because my natural inclination is to string the two words together–not read a separate clause, as intended. Also, not having been kissed is hardly a thing on which to get hung up. Aren’t you glad you’re waiting for Mr./Mrs. Right rather than kissing anything that breathes? I wish my parents would let me live at home when I’m 23 rather than kicking me out as soon as I go to college. I know you have some psychological difficulties (is that correct?), but you must agree that your life is probably a shitload easier than those who have psychological difficulties and have to make it on their own (or even “normal” [I shudder to use this term, not to imply that you’re abnormal or subnormal] people trying to make it on their own).
Eh, so I replied to Guinastasia’s post in a mean/snotty manner. Were you shocked upon reading it? Sorry, if she wished for a love fest she would have posted in MPSIMS. She’s a longtime poster and she clearly knows the “risks” associated with posting in the Pit. I apologise if I was too, too harsh.
To get an em dash (—) simply use the html escape sequence — and remember to submit from the preview page. Or find it in Character Map.
Not that I really care, but some people seemed to think it was important to have others get it right.
Guin, I want to add something to the advice you’ve already gotten that I know will sound trite, but I found it invaluable.
People always used to say to me, “If you want to meet people, or get a job, join a club or a church group!” Ugh, right, that’ll solve all my problems, won’t it. And laughing when people insult me will make it all go away, too.
Thing is, I’ve found that it works sometimes. I’ve gotten 2 jobs out of all the ones I’ve had by turning in an application. The rest I got because I knew someone who worked at a place, or because I had a temp job there first, or whatever. Given a bunch of applications that are all more or less the same, people will prefer to go with someone they already know they like and can deal with.
Now, don’t think you can join a club and two weeks later you’ll have a great job. It can take quite some time. Five years after joining a group, and being a regular member, another member offered me a job because he knew I was reasonably intelligent, had a background in the right field (I’m actually almost working in my major!!!) and knew I was home with kids (it’s a part-time work from home kind of thing–just perfect). I didn’t join looking for a job, and I didn’t “network,” I just enjoyed my time with people I liked, doing something I was interested in. I don’t know what your field is, or your interests, but if you’re gunning for a library job, I’d make a point of going to the library frequently and regularly, being friendly with the folks there, and maybe looking to see if they have, say, a book discussion group going or something. Consider your time at the library to be recreational, not a job search–plan to enjoy yourself there, block out a few hours to sit in a comfy chair and read something fun, join a book dicussion because you’ll enjoy the reading and the talk, etc. (This is assuming you’re actally interested in reading and libraries.) Then when there’s an opening, they see your app and say, “Oh, that’s that nice Guinistasia! She’s so pleasant, it’s a pleasure to see her! She obviously likes it here, and we like her, let’s interview her!” I don’t say you’ll have a job next month or anything–it’s a very long-term plan.
At the very least, finding a club or organization in your interest area(s) will help your sanity. It’s amazing how a few hours a month (or twice a month, or whatever) of that sort of thing can help your stress levels. Don’t worry about not being able to work those hours–your sanity is worth more than a few hours work at KMART could earn you.
On the same principle, I’d advise temping, at least for awhile. I’ve almost never been able to get a job I applied for cold, but I’ve also never been able to have more than one or two jobs with a temp agency before someone wanted to hire me.
On the romance front, the truth is, it’s not that you aren’t good enough for romance, it’s that all the guys you’ve met so far aren’t good enough for you. Absolute truth. Put that at the bottom of your priority list anyway, because you need to be happy with yourself whether or not you’re being kissed. Focus on that, first, then worry about the other things. In fact, I’m sure people will tell you that once you focus on getting yourself together and happy with yourself, the rest usually falls into place.
Just 'cause something is in the Pit and you’re allowed to be mean doesn’t mean it’s always appropriate.
I really wish people would learn that.
Aw, damn… that was me, not Scott…
Sorry.
Yes, but I wanted to reply like that. It’s not like I thought, “I’m feeling mean today. I’ll pick a thread at random and bitch at the OP.” I replied to this thread in the manner I did because it was how I reacted when I read it. All I meant by what I said in the quoted part was that I would have passed it over in MPSIMS; I know that personal attacks outside the Pit are frowned upon. Luckily, Guinistasia posted in the Pit, so I could reply with my opinion.
To totally overlook the content of a sensitive thread because of her use of the hyphen?
Right… Whatever floats your boat.
Hey . . . I thought I was the resident anal-retentive doper when it came to pointless observations regarding improper punctuation usage.
In this case I’d have to go for an “It isn’t a paper she has to turn in for a grade, and it doesn’t affect reading ability that much, so I’ll go for an ‘I don’t give a fuck and it ain’t really worth pointing out.’”
Oops . . . I’m too late.
Attempt at humor. Heh. Cute.
Coulda fooled me.
In fact, you did. So congrats on that.
Remind me never to rant again when you might react badly to it . . . who knows, you might even degrade my use of semicolons, and we sure can’t have that happen, now.
There is a time for everthying, FUB.
This line from the OP reminded me of similar dialogue in the great movie Office Space:
Uhmmm, are you sure your people skills are as good as you think they are? 
Also, I feel I must add my two cents to the em-dash conversation…I love the double-dash, and would use it–at least every other sentence–if I didn’t forcibly restrain myself.
**
[QUOTE]
***Originally posted by FireUnderpantsBoobs *
Eh, so I replied to Guinastasia’s post in a mean/snotty manner. Were you shocked upon reading it?
FUB, isn’t it about time you checked into the SDMB Menstrual Hut? They will leave a light on for you…
It sounds to me like you are saying I should ignore anything that she says that I disagree with–grammar usage or the rant itself (apparently, calling her a baby was A-OK with you guys but the dashes were taking it too far)–because it might upset her. I’m sorry; I didn’t know Guin was officially The SDMB Resident Baby. I’ll watch my footsteps more carefully in the future so I don’t wake her up.
In fact, I didn’t. So congrats on not knowing my thought process while I was replying. I didn’t pick this thread at random. (I agree that I bitched at the OP. Congrats to me on that.) It seems that Guinistasia acts immature frequently and I have to change my whole understanding of grammar/punctuation to read her posts (do you want some cites?).
“Hey! Wimmins get PMS sometimes and mebbe that’s why they are mean! Hur hur, must be that time of the month again!” Here’s a clue, jackass: people can be bitches without having PMS. FYI, I am two weeks away from starting my period, and my PMS doesn’t start quite yet. I’ll be sure to let you know when it does.