[unofficial weekender] You are not alone

[sundancer 44943xp 0]

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First time visitor to OTT? Then please introduce yourself in the New Member Thread and look around in the Project System. Then come back and read on…

https://www.ontabletop.com/forums/topic/introduce-yourselves-new-member-thread/

https://www.ontabletop.com/project/

Read all of this before you start as it will save you any trouble later.

First thing you must do is make your “pledge”. It can be anything gaming related, big or small, and you don’t even have to finish it. No, in here, happiness is the road. Have fun doing whatever it is, but it is not a race. Accompany your work with pictures or we might think you are do something sinister and just using us for cover.

You are also presented with a few questions. It is to get the conversation started. Try and keep your answers ‘conversational’, no text speak, and certainly no “basically”. This is how we all get to know each other better. While you are here feel free to tell us a story, show a picture, joke, tales of love or woe, or just add your own little bit. This is the whole point…in here it is just us.

If you have never taken part before we may bark and bite, but we also like a cuddle! It is all done in the best possible taste and it is character building. feel free to give as good as you get.

A few other things to note: NO RELIGION & NO POLITICS! Glasgow pub rules are in effect. If you need to make a better point then it is fine, but don’t take the piss. And always keep it civil. This includes no philosophy, no home computer culture wars.

Play plenty of music to go with your work. Loud and through proper speakers. Write us a playlist of things we might not have heard before.

Now, after all of that there is only one ‘real’ rule in here and it cannot be broken: NO DICKS! (Exceptions may be made for little fighting men with little plastic/resin/metal wieners)

And don’t forget the highlights of the weekend: The Weekender on Friday and XLBS on Sunday. And the little show that is The Hobby Hangout over at twitch.tv

If you fancy to see some nice WIP pictures go to the WAYPN thread https://www.ontabletop.com/forums/topic/what-are-you-painting-now-2025-edition/

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[sundancer 44943xp 2]

No question this week but more of a call to arms for everybody who needs it.

In the last few days I have seen an influx of people in my immediate (virtual) surrounding that are (in one way or another) fighting the Black Dog. I’m not going to name names here even if one or to where very public about it but there is no point in doing so.

I feel that with all the “festive stuff” (Christmas decorations, candy and crap in stores) coming earlier and earlier, people burn out much more quicker. Especially if the Christmas days are not days to them that brings them joy. And there is multiple ways of how Christmas can not be fun to one person. Maybe they are alone and all by themselves? Maybe they are financially in a bad spot and are not able to buy presents for loved ones or even some kind of special food. And for some it’s the first Christmas without a parent that has deceased in the last 10 months.

There are multiple reasons of why someone might really not enjoy Christmas and all the forced happiness. And all of them are valid.

So if you feel overwhelmed and alone and depressed please know: you’re not alone. Reach out to people in your community, look for others in a similar mood or call emergency numbers if it gets too bad.

I’ve been on record for having had bad times a few years back and sometime it still growls in the background. But thanks to friends, family and just talking about it, it stays in the back room.

And if you’re in need of some more help, look for people like https://metality.org/ A German heavy metal registered non-profit organisation that is building a network to catch everyone. They also have the slogan “you are not alone”. I’m pretty sure there are more organisations around the world that can help. So I ask you, the reader, to put down here links and addresses to such organisations that are local to your country. That way we can curate a list that hopefully has one entry for every OTTer.

Again: you’re not alone. And remember: when you’re up to your neck in shit, don’t hang your head!

[pagan8th 15377xp 3]

The gesture is appreciated @sundancer, but if you were thinking of me as one of those affected by the ‘Black Dog’ then don’t worry I’m fine. I’ve never been a cheerful soul at the best of times, but I have friends in the real world.

As for the ‘Black Dog’ I had to google that as I was not familiar with the term.

But your idea is good. People do feel lonely around xmas and not every household is full of cheer.

The world is filled with doom and gloom. Wars, corruption, cyber attacks… and that one in france where they ruined food in fridges and freezers… that’s attacking the poor because the supermarkets just increase prices to offset losses.

[limburger 22659xp 1]

There’s also the impact that ‘AI’ has on a lot of jobs.
It gets really depressing to think about that aspect and how private equity is going to respond … and we all know how that’s going.

For those who haven’t heard it before:

A bridge was built, and a bridge-keeper was hired to staff it. Since this diligent fellow had to be paid, a cashier was brought on. The cashier was followed by an accountant, who in turn required a typist.

Then, some form of leadership was needed, so a supervisor was appointed. But since you cannot leave a supervisor to muddle along on their own, a higher-level manager was hired—who, in turn, had a senior official placed above them.

Next came the appointment of a director, who soon required an executive assistant. By this point, things had become so complex that a board of directors was established.

The board decided that drastic cost-cutting measures were necessary—and, consequently, the bridge-keeper was laid off.
// —

It can be hard to find the fun in life these days, but it is out there.
One thing I can recommend is to abandon as many of the (anti)social apps as you can.
You’d be surprised how much more fun life is when you’re not endlessly doom scrolling or diving down rabbit holes as the algorithms fill your feed with click bait driven negativity.

I’m kind of glad that I got to experience the internet when it was a library.
These days it is more like a shopping mall filled with relentless ads for all sorts of crap we don’t need.
/rant

Last weekend before Halloween.
It’s never been a tradition in these parts, but the local neighbourhood has asked for folk to decorate their house and scare the little kids. As such it has been growing on me. And despite knowing ahead of time for some reason I doubt I will have everything ready for the event on Friday.

It is weird seeing kids dressed up as various monsters from movies they can’t possibly have seen at their age …

Overall … so much better than Christmas.
I think it helps that both neighbours participate and somehow the crafting of decorations has triggered something in me.
One day I will have some form of animatronic, but not this year.
I do hope I’ve got enough candy to hand out this year. I got pretty close last year.

[zoidpinhead 13080xp 3]

As someone with counselors and therapists in the family I would recommend seeking professional help if you are suffering from pervasive low mood.  The first step is to recognize when your state of mind is having an impact on your life.  The next step is seeking help.  Talk to someone.  It will make a difference.  Not everyone has the sort of relationships where that is an easy conversation.  There are plenty of professionals who can help.

In the UK the charity MIND has an excellent resource that explains the different ways to access talk therapy:

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/talking-therapy-and-counselling/how-to-find-therapy-or-counselling/

There will be similar charities and information sources in other countries.  The first step is to recognize when your state of mind is having an impact on your life.  The next step is finding some help.

For those of you who want some positive mental health that is hobby related I can recommend Henry Hyde’s recent short videos.  You can find him on most SM.

[sundancer 44943xp 2]

if you were thinking of me as one of those affected by the ‘Black Dog’ then don’t worry I’m fine.

@pagan8th That’s good to hear but you where one of at least 4 in my immediate surrounding.

The first step is to recognize when your state of mind is having an impact on your life. The next step is finding some help.

Word!

[limburger 22659xp 2]

Creep is such a cool song.
especially the uncensored version as it doesn’t hit the same without the F-bomb that’s in there.
You can really lean into the sarcasm of that sentence.
At least that’s what I do when doing the karaoke version. Probably one of the few songs I ever had some measure of success with in the Singstar/Rockband genre of games.

this song somehow made me smile :

I know these are ‘AI’ generated songs (not sure how much help the meatbags were for these), but it is what it is:

besides … if you remember the milli vanillie (sp?) incident of ages ago then you’ll know that fake artists and artificial products aren’t exactly a new thing in the music industry. It does suck for the genuine talent out there as with the help of AI anyone can flood the system with their attempts at ‘music’. I’ve used the free tier of Suno and it is surprisingly good and fun.

[limburger 22659xp 0]

This is so cool …
It looks like they made a pretty good conversion of 40k as space marines are incredibly lethal in this bat rep :

[sundancer 44943xp 1]

if you remember the milli vanillie (sp?) incident of ages ago then you’ll know that fake artists and artificial products aren’t exactly a new thing in the music industry.

True but it still had real people make real music. It was only to “pretty faces” put up front of an ok band. IIRC “The Real Milli Vanilli” still make music?

[horati0nosebl0wer 20657xp 0]

Pledge: Gets more stuff finished

@limburger seeing the T’au here is interesting as I just took on a commission for a Spearhead box. They initially seem pretty bog standard as far as their septs but are open for all sorts of anime hijink painting. Client wanted a grey scheme but I think I’ll break out the airbrush for something like Kryptech camo using an airbrush stencil for Kor’tal.

[pagan8th 15377xp 0]

I know AI is not a therapist and can’t be trusted to solve my problems, but sometimes just chatting to it helps me to fill some of those quiet times. Sometimes another voice, even an artificial one, helps.

And before everyone starts shouting at me that I should talk to real people and not use AI… I know… and I do talk to real people, but real people are not always available because they have lives of their own.

[limburger]

Anyone old enough to remember Eliza ?
https://elizaemulator.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELIZA

It probably is a lot safer than the various ‘AI’ chatbots for this.
You could always talk to a rubber duck …  ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck_debugging )

Oh and then there’s this:

I wonder if they can ‘fix’ the sequels too 😉

• This reply was modified 8 hours, 25 minutes ago by limburger.

[sundancer 44943xp 0]

@horati0nosebl0wer those pattern look… they… brain… BRAAAAINS XD

Sunday. XLBS. now.

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