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5 votes
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Why has the Republican response to the pandemic in the USA been so mind-bogglingly disastrous?
11 votes -
I have cancer and now my Facebook feed is full of "alternative care" ads
36 votes -
An app lets you de-stress by screaming at the Icelandic wilderness from afar
9 votes -
Have you ever been discriminated against because of a disability (specifically mental illness?)
Hey gang! So it has been a minute! I alluded to my plan to venture off into the woods in prior posts but didn't go into too much detail. Any who, I'm back but not on my own accord. The reason I...
Hey gang!
So it has been a minute! I alluded to my plan to venture off into the woods in prior posts but didn't go into too much detail. Any who, I'm back but not on my own accord.
The reason I ask this question is because it just happened to me. I've struggled with depression and anxiety for going on 15 years, I've talked to a lot of people about it, gotten help, and received a lot of support over the years. I have never had it blow back in my face like it just did. Super long story kind of short:
- I want to offer some context here, that not more than a week prior, my organization had a "getting vulnerable" meeting whereby we were asked (but not required) to share some information about ourselves with our crews. Crews worked and lived together in remote back country settings for months at a time, to be honest it went pretty well. I did not open up too much at the time as I had just met everybody, but eventually I got more comfortable.
- I told the wrong person at my work, my direct supervisor (I was in no danger at any point during my employment, this information was given in a contextual fashion. Because we work so closely together for weeks at a time and also live together, these types of things tend to come out.)
- They told the wrong people (management).
- I was talked to for 5 hours in a closed door meeting with the top brass of the organization (read: interrogated and asked to give a comprehensive psychological background, even though I had already given them a topical briefing during the hiring process.)
- I was pulled out of the field for liability reasons (I openly objected to this, saying that said field was best for my mental health.)
- I was placed on an "in-town" crew that I did not want to join (I openly objected to this as well.)
- I tried to exist on the new crew, but found it immediately and chronically untenable. My new coworkers were OK people, but the stark contrast in personalities between my old and new crew was jarring. Given our line and nature of work, this is super important and there's no way top brass didn't know about this. I voiced this and once again requested to be placed back in the back country at a base camp, I was ignored.
- My mental health began to catch up to me. I did not like my position in life or at work, having to live in the city which is something I came out here to entirely avoid was crushing any and all morale I tried to work up.
- The writing was on the wall. I didn't like it there anymore, and my employer didn't seem to care (despite their claims) about where I was within the organization.
- I voluntarily resigned due to mental health reasons rather than just walk out. The urge to entirely burn this bridge and emphatically explain to them why what they did was so improper was incredibly strong, but I decided not to. This organization is a big name in our field and the field isn't all that big, they stated that I'd be welcome back, I'd sooner clean a peanut butter covered shag carpet with my tongue.
The general mood and sentiment during all of my conversations with staff members could be described as tense. The way in which I was treated during all of those meetings was as though I was a conglomeration of suicidal, homicidal and a direct threat to anybody near me. I could literally see their brains doing very careful dance numbers as they walked over what they thought were eggshells, when at no point was that the case in my view. Their actions, disguised as being motivated by empathy, came straight out of the Harvard Business School of Cover Your Ass. At one point they mentioned they had a psychologist on retainer that they were consulting. I have seen so many damn therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, shrinks and every other name in the book over 15 years. I have never met one that would ever make any absolute statements or suggest any concrete actions before even meeting a patient. Their inability to even empathize with what I had been going through was apparent. At no point did they seem to consider the human in the room, it was always "we appreciate what you bring", "you are a good resource to have", and the worst of all "we hear you, but..." Holy fuck the lingering but was bad. "I'm not racist, but...", dude sit the fuck down.
So that happened within a week or so. There's quite a few more details but I don't want to make the entire point of this post to rant (even though that's what it has turned into.) I am now jobless, homeless as housing was through my work, in an entirely new city to me and floating on savings. It's not too bad to be honest. This is not my first homeless (hobo, vagabond, rubber tramp) experience/adventure, I'm not financially comfortable (I'm on borrowed time) but I'm not broke and honestly I'm in a good place mentally. I've been camping in the woods and I've got everything I need to survive. I'm even super involved in a local activist group, if that's any testament to how comfortable I've become in my current position.
So, does this sound familiar to anybody here? Have you been discriminated against in this fashion? How'd you react? Cope? Where did you go from there? I'd like to hear from others to simply know I'm not alone in this bullshit. I've been in support groups for mental health, and other reasons, but I've never realized the need for this subset of people to seek support. It's been 10 days now and I'm honestly still in shock.
Feel free to get as vulnerable as you want, I won't tell your fucking inept boss.
20 votes -
US Coronavirus data has already disappeared after Donald Trump administration shifted control from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
6 votes -
You've been through a lot this year and it looks like you need the perfect place to let your frustrations out – record your scream and we'll release it in Iceland
7 votes -
The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crash have caused 5.4 million Americans to lose health insurance, the largest drop ever recorded
11 votes -
Sweden has become the world’s cautionary tale
24 votes -
Do Americans understand how badly they’re doing?
28 votes -
How to know you’re not insane (And how a Cards Against Humanity staff writer was fired)
14 votes -
Into the fog: How Britain lost track of the coronavirus
6 votes -
White House ordered National Institutes of Health to cancel coronavirus research funding, Anthony Fauci says
15 votes -
Using the menstrual cup and open menstrual discussion
I'm a female working in the construction field and was wondering how to dispose of my feminine products discreetly and hygienically in a portable potty with a crew full of males where male...
I'm a female working in the construction field and was wondering how to dispose of my feminine products discreetly and hygienically in a portable potty with a crew full of males where male toxicity exists... 'twas weird.
I've been meaning to make the jump to the menstrual cup (due to my sustainability inclinations), but due to laziness/squeamish reasons, I didn't make the jump until I realized how practical it was with my profession!
I'm able to keep it in for a half day before emptying, so it's awesome for the jobsite! I can urinate with it too! which is also awesome... and! NO SMELL! I feel so much cleaner now. and the internal pressure kinda releases some cramps... not all the cramps, but some! And it's totally comfortable to work out in (for reference: I do outdoor running). Not to mention, there's way less waste and cost! (And for those who find bodily fluids cool, the thick, deep, dark red that you see when you empty makes me feel powerful, like you can conquer anything... in reality, I just sit with my Chimmy plush and wait for my significant other to plop chocolate goodies in my lap.)
The only downside I could find is that it took some time to get used to (about 1 cycle) and I can't hold my pee (I know I'm not suppose to anyway, but it's a nice privilege... these pipes had some major damage).
Anyway, any cycle stories/tips/tricks? embarrassing moments? origin story?
I'll go first, my mom was in a ferocious fight with my older sister for spending the night with some guy or whatever. As my mom was ripping my sister's clothes/throwing her out the house, I got my first period. I had to interrupt the fight to ask what I should do... middle child problems! I guess I found a good way to break up a fight...35 votes -
Employees at Crisis Text Line tried telling the board about a pattern of racial insensitivity at the company — but when that didn’t work, they went to Twitter
7 votes -
Norway's data inspectorate has banned the use of public health app Smittestopp to control the spread of COVID-19 over data protection concerns
9 votes -
The US federal government will now allow health care providers to deny care to anyone they perceive as trans or gay
38 votes -
'More masks than jellyfish': Coronavirus waste ends up in ocean
11 votes -
Crisis Text Line CEO fired amid staff revolt
6 votes -
Seattle’s coronavirus surveillance program resumes after being shut down by the FDA
7 votes -
Brazil’s favelas, neglected by the government, organize their own coronavirus fight
7 votes -
Black Lives Matter protesters aren’t being tracked with Covid-19 surveillance tech. Not yet
6 votes -
European Union proposes $825 billion coronavirus rescue plan, giving Brussels power to raise money for first time
12 votes -
The Black American amputation epidemic
7 votes -
Andrew Cuomo gave legal immunity to nursing home execs after big campaign donations. Critics say data proves New York's liability shield is linked to higher nursing home death rates.
11 votes -
Ontario to explore criminal charges against five long-term care homes in scathing military report, says Premier Doug Ford
7 votes -
WHO warns millions of children at risk as Covid-19 pandemic disrupts routine vaccinations
7 votes -
Finland has demonstrated that it is possible to reduce the number of smokers without seeing a surge in e-cigarette users
7 votes -
Families of children with disabilities face acute challenges under COVID-19
8 votes -
Florida's strategy to protect seniors from COVID-19
7 votes -
Apple and Google launch exposure notification API, enabling public health authorities to release apps
8 votes -
Johnson & Johnson to stop selling baby powder in US and Canada after tens of thousands of lawsuits from consumers claiming its talc products, including Johnson’s Baby Powder, caused their cancer
10 votes -
Hospitals in Latin America buckling under coronavirus strain
8 votes -
‘Hard stop’: US states could lose National Guard virus workers
7 votes -
Explosive whistleblower complaint by ousted US Health and Human Services official says he was pressured to give contract to Donald Trump-friendly pharma firm
11 votes -
What we know about your chances of catching the virus outdoors: Pandemic life is safer outdoors, in part, because even a light wind will quickly dilute the virus
8 votes -
A military contractors’ report circulating on Capitol Hill claims to have evidence that COVID-19 escaped from a Chinese lab. It’s filled with information that’s just plain wrong.
5 votes -
TSA working on plan to check temperatures at some American airports
8 votes -
An entire city (Noida, India) has been told to download a controversial contact tracing app — Or face jail: "Not installing the app will be considered a violation of lockdown orders," police say
9 votes -
US GDP doesn’t credit social distancing, but it should
6 votes -
Jair Bolsonaro's health minister quits, deepening Brazil coronavirus crisis
9 votes -
Science fiction builds mental resiliency in young readers
7 votes -
Virus hunters rely on faxes, paper records
4 votes -
COVID has badly affected wealthy nations, what will it do to poor ones and how can they stop it with their limited means?
5 votes -
NHS publishes source code for UK contact tracing app
8 votes -
Finnish basic income pilot improved wellbeing – first major study of scheme comes as economic toll of coronavirus prompts fresh interest in idea
13 votes -
Paris has a plan to keep cars out after lockdown
20 votes -
“Political connections and cronyism”: In blistering whistleblower complaint, Rick Bright blasts Team Trump’s pandemic response
7 votes -
How Jared Kushner's volunteer force led a fumbling hunt for US supplies
4 votes -
What happens next? COVID-19 futures, explained with playable simulations
6 votes