25 votes

Regrets

What regrets do you have in your life, minor or major?

Personally, I regret signing up to a new cool website without name changes and NOT just taking the name Scar or Whom, instead making my name long and awkward.

50 comments

  1. [6]
    Deimos
    Link
    Haha well, I can probably change your name for you - which one do you want?

    Haha well, I can probably change your name for you - which one do you want?

    15 votes
    1. [5]
      Whom
      Link Parent
      I swear this wasn't a roundabout way of asking for a name change! lmao Changing it to Whom would be nice, though.

      I swear this wasn't a roundabout way of asking for a name change! lmao

      Changing it to Whom would be nice, though.

      9 votes
      1. [4]
        Deimos
        Link Parent
        Alright, let's give it a shot. I think this should work fine, but I'm not totally certain if it might have a weird side effect like logging you out.

        Alright, let's give it a shot. I think this should work fine, but I'm not totally certain if it might have a weird side effect like logging you out.

        9 votes
        1. cfabbro
          Link Parent
          Incidentally, given the invite only nature of ~ right now, you should probably consider formalizing a means for people to request username changes. Especially as the site grows I can see this...

          Incidentally, given the invite only nature of ~ right now, you should probably consider formalizing a means for people to request username changes. Especially as the site grows I can see this becoming a more common request.

          18 votes
        2. Whom
          Link Parent
          Woo, account still functional! Didn't log me out, just scared me for a moment when I got a 404...but that was just my old user page. Thank you!

          Woo, account still functional!

          Didn't log me out, just scared me for a moment when I got a 404...but that was just my old user page. Thank you!

          6 votes
  2. [10]
    meristele
    Link
    I regret not persisting in practicing a musical instrument. I love music, and I suck at playing it.

    I regret not persisting in practicing a musical instrument. I love music, and I suck at playing it.

    13 votes
    1. [3]
      eritbh
      Link Parent
      Same here. I was in band in middle school but ended up dropping it before hitting high school, and every once in a while I think, "Man,it sure would be neat if I could still do that..."

      Same here. I was in band in middle school but ended up dropping it before hitting high school, and every once in a while I think, "Man,it sure would be neat if I could still do that..."

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        sparks88
        Link Parent
        Hey me too! Did you do it because your band director was a huge jerk too? One time he literally got mad at us for hiding from his vitriol behind our music stands. I found out that the year that I...

        Hey me too! Did you do it because your band director was a huge jerk too? One time he literally got mad at us for hiding from his vitriol behind our music stands.

        I found out that the year that I was graduating from middle school he was switching to the high school I was heading to. So I was done with that noise.

        1 vote
        1. eritbh
          Link Parent
          Heh, that wasn't the case for me. I just couldn't handle the time commitment and tailed off. Kinda regret not trying harder to make it work, but I have plenty of other stuff filling my time now :P

          Heh, that wasn't the case for me. I just couldn't handle the time commitment and tailed off. Kinda regret not trying harder to make it work, but I have plenty of other stuff filling my time now :P

          1 vote
    2. SoulIsTheAnswer
      Link Parent
      Same here... :/ But you know what, a colleague of mine actually took up playing contrabass and is taking lessons for that. And she's three years older than me...I'm still working up the courage,...

      Same here... :/

      But you know what, a colleague of mine actually took up playing contrabass and is taking lessons for that. And she's three years older than me...I'm still working up the courage, but I wanna start taking music lessons (also money). Music lessons aren't just for kids!

      3 votes
    3. [5]
      Brian
      Link Parent
      Pick up a ukulele. 4 strings. 4 fingers. Most popular songs are some arrangement of 10 chords. It's very mobile. A decent one isn't expensive.

      Pick up a ukulele. 4 strings. 4 fingers. Most popular songs are some arrangement of 10 chords. It's very mobile. A decent one isn't expensive.

      3 votes
      1. [4]
        meristele
        Link Parent
        Ukulele, ACQUIRED. Fingers...apparently not used to working in any sort of concerted effort besides holding art media. >_< I'll have to report back in a week.

        Ukulele, ACQUIRED. Fingers...apparently not used to working in any sort of concerted effort besides holding art media. >_<

        I'll have to report back in a week.

        8 votes
        1. Emerald_Knight
          Link Parent
          Finger dexterity is really funky to get used to at first. This may sound silly, but I actually started playing guitar after playing Guitar Hero. I remember just how horrid my coordination was when...

          Finger dexterity is really funky to get used to at first. This may sound silly, but I actually started playing guitar after playing Guitar Hero. I remember just how horrid my coordination was when I first started playing.

          Also, a quick warning: your fingertips may end up hurting like hell for a while at first until you build up some callouses. If you need a quick fix in the short-term, you may be able to get by with a light layer of super glue. I'm not sure how bad it is with a ukulele, but I figure it's worth noting :)

          3 votes
        2. [2]
          Brian
          Link Parent
          Check out the ukulele teacher on YouTube! It's a good place to start and he's got a lot of popular songs.

          Check out the ukulele teacher on YouTube! It's a good place to start and he's got a lot of popular songs.

          3 votes
  3. [5]
    cfabbro
    (edited )
    Link
    As mad as I was at reddit Inc, I regret deleting /u/cfabbro and disappearing into alt accounts for so long. Especially since it is now difficult or impossible to get back in touch with many of the...

    As mad as I was at reddit Inc, I regret deleting /u/cfabbro and disappearing into alt accounts for so long. Especially since it is now difficult or impossible to get back in touch with many of the friends I made there, since lots of them are also now [deleted] or have been inactive for years so won't likely ever see any messages I send them. I also almost burned some bridges with people I cared about by leaving without a word and not letting them know I was safe and still around too. :/

    11 votes
    1. [3]
      Whom
      Link Parent
      I feel that. It really sucks not having a way to get in touch with old internet buddies. It can feel like you abandoned them, even if the choice to leave had nothing to do with em.

      I feel that. It really sucks not having a way to get in touch with old internet buddies. It can feel like you abandoned them, even if the choice to leave had nothing to do with em.

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        Parliament
        Link Parent
        It's honestly the only reason I'm still active in my subreddits. I'm on a slack with all the ex-default music mods, and we shoot the shit way more than we discuss moderating.

        It's honestly the only reason I'm still active in my subreddits. I'm on a slack with all the ex-default music mods, and we shoot the shit way more than we discuss moderating.

        5 votes
    2. Natanael
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      This is part of why I'm always going to keep this nick alive. Not that it's unique or meaningful or something, but people I used to know can always find me again.

      This is part of why I'm always going to keep this nick alive. Not that it's unique or meaningful or something, but people I used to know can always find me again.

      2 votes
  4. [2]
    aphoenix
    Link
    The one regret that stays with me is not following this advice: eat less, mostly green leafy things.

    The one regret that stays with me is not following this advice: eat less, mostly green leafy things.

    7 votes
    1. meristele
      Link Parent
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmK0bZl4ILM Mmmmmm~~ Green Leafy Things <3 It's not too late! If you're ever in my neck of the woods, I'll craft you a salad!

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmK0bZl4ILM

      Mmmmmm~~ Green Leafy Things <3
      It's not too late! If you're ever in my neck of the woods, I'll craft you a salad!

      2 votes
  5. 1369ic
    Link
    I try not to regret anything. The old joke "it seemed like a good idea at the time" is pretty much how life works. At any given time you are who you are, you know what you know and you have the...

    I try not to regret anything. The old joke "it seemed like a good idea at the time" is pretty much how life works. At any given time you are who you are, you know what you know and you have the willpower you have. You can wish you'd known this or that, or that you'd had more willpower, but as Scotty famously said, if my grandmother had wheels she'd be a wagon.

    If there is one thing I could change it would be letting my daughter start school at 4. She's done very well academically, but I think she was socially behind her classmates. She paid a price for that because kids are basically terrorist assholes, especially starting around middle school.

    7 votes
  6. [7]
    planNine
    Link
    I sometimes regret quitting Aikido (especially since I watched The Man In The High Castle). I had a lot of fun learning it and practicing it with others. Maybe in the future I'll pick it up again,...

    I sometimes regret quitting Aikido (especially since I watched The Man In The High Castle). I had a lot of fun learning it and practicing it with others. Maybe in the future I'll pick it up again, once Uni stops kicking my butt.

    For anyone wondering (probably not) I got to a green belt (only ones left were: blue, brown and black).

    6 votes
    1. [2]
      Silbern
      Link Parent
      Hell yes, this is an amazing show and I'm astounded more people don't watch it. It's very original and fits our zeitgeist quite well, it's easily imo the best Amazon exclusive. Can't wait for...

      The Man In The High Castle

      Hell yes, this is an amazing show and I'm astounded more people don't watch it. It's very original and fits our zeitgeist quite well, it's easily imo the best Amazon exclusive. Can't wait for season 3 :D I even looked up the Japanese song playing in the club in season 2, turns out it's "otemoyan", there's even a Youtube recording of the exact version they're playing. Cool stuff!

      I used to do karate too, and it's even worse, I made it to the brown belt but not quite black. In retrospect should've stayed and finished...

      2 votes
      1. planNine
        Link Parent
        I've tried watching the show twice before and never made it past the first episode. A few weeks ago was the first time I did (third time's the charm, I guess) and was hooked. I love how even an...

        I've tried watching the show twice before and never made it past the first episode. A few weeks ago was the first time I did (third time's the charm, I guess) and was hooked.

        I love how even an alternate history like that, has a lot of similarities to our current world (maybe that's just me + I don't really live in the US, so I wouldn't know what's like).

        1 vote
    2. [4]
      meristele
      Link Parent
      I miss studying Aikido too. The nearest place to practice is a 30 minute drive from my house. :(

      I miss studying Aikido too. The nearest place to practice is a 30 minute drive from my house. :(

      1. [3]
        planNine
        Link Parent
        30 minutes doesn't seem a lot to me. Why the sad face? How long did you study Aikido?

        30 minutes doesn't seem a lot to me. Why the sad face?

        How long did you study Aikido?

        1 vote
        1. [2]
          meristele
          Link Parent
          I guess I'm a little spoiled! XD I live on an island, and 30 minutes of driving is considered a bit of a trek. Driving that many times a week when I used to walk a block to attend seems...

          I guess I'm a little spoiled! XD I live on an island, and 30 minutes of driving is considered a bit of a trek. Driving that many times a week when I used to walk a block to attend seems inconvenient. When I moved back here I wanted to practice again, but the sensei near me is taking a break.

          I studied Aikido for 4 years in college (only twice a week.) It was a long time ago, but I still use the stretches for my hands and wrists. My favourite part has always been when I'm thrown. I have no idea what rank I was - everyone was white unless they were black.

          1. planNine
            Link Parent
            That was one of my favourite parts too, until I later started training Jiu-Jitsu. When you're thrown the first 15 or 20 times it's fun, but the 50th time is a bit less fun (especially when your...

            That was one of my favourite parts too, until I later started training Jiu-Jitsu. When you're thrown the first 15 or 20 times it's fun, but the 50th time is a bit less fun (especially when your training partner used to train Judo) :).

            1 vote
  7. Emerald_Knight
    Link
    I regret throwing aside the best relationships I had with people when I was still in high school. Unfortunately depression can make you do some stupid shit.

    I regret throwing aside the best relationships I had with people when I was still in high school. Unfortunately depression can make you do some stupid shit.

    6 votes
  8. [3]
    Catt
    Link
    My latest regret - not packing my bag last night. Packed it this morning instead and forgot my headphones. It's been the quietest day at work in a while.

    My latest regret - not packing my bag last night. Packed it this morning instead and forgot my headphones. It's been the quietest day at work in a while.

    5 votes
    1. [2]
      SoulIsTheAnswer
      Link Parent
      You gotta have those emergency headphones in your desk drawer! That's a rookie mistake. Or in your jacket (that's what I do...but I'm definitely gonna place some in my desk drawer as well).

      You gotta have those emergency headphones in your desk drawer! That's a rookie mistake. Or in your jacket (that's what I do...but I'm definitely gonna place some in my desk drawer as well).

      4 votes
      1. Catt
        Link Parent
        I had backups at my desk, but I accidentally snapped them... :(

        I had backups at my desk, but I accidentally snapped them... :(

        3 votes
  9. [6]
    greenie
    Link
    I regret not exercising more in my 20s. Now that I'm older, I really wish I was in the routine of exercising. Its more difficult now.

    I regret not exercising more in my 20s. Now that I'm older, I really wish I was in the routine of exercising. Its more difficult now.

    5 votes
    1. [2]
      zowesiouff
      Link Parent
      never too late to start a new routine :) it's harder, but maybe it increases the sense of pride and accomplishment if you manage to get into it? /only-half-joking

      never too late to start a new routine :) it's harder, but maybe it increases the sense of pride and accomplishment if you manage to get into it?

      /only-half-joking

      3 votes
      1. greenie
        Link Parent
        Yeah I walk a lot and my girlfriend has been trying to get me into deadlifting (which she does) but I'm afraid I'd break in half lol.

        Yeah I walk a lot and my girlfriend has been trying to get me into deadlifting (which she does) but I'm afraid I'd break in half lol.

    2. [3]
      JJT
      Link Parent
      As a person just about to turn 20, do you have any more advice?

      As a person just about to turn 20, do you have any more advice?

      3 votes
      1. Lazarus
        Link Parent
        Don’t ever burn bridges. The world is a very small place.

        Don’t ever burn bridges.

        The world is a very small place.

        2 votes
      2. trazac
        Link Parent
        From a person not too much older than you, don't take yourself too seriously. Five years from now you're going to see the world as a drastically different place. Not better, not worse, just more...

        From a person not too much older than you, don't take yourself too seriously.

        Five years from now you're going to see the world as a drastically different place. Not better, not worse, just more nuanced. Don't hold to tightly to your current personality or beliefs. Be open minded.

        Understand that you're still very young. When I was 20, I was really hung up about how much of an adult I was. You're a young adult and there is a lot of life to live. Chances are, five years from now you'll be in a crisis about who you are and what you're doing. Most people take their 20s as a time to grow and learn. Don't get too hung up about growing up, buying a home, starting a career, and having kids. There is a lot more life after 20.

        And don't take anything I say seriously. Appreciate the time you have currently, make good habits now (when you have the time), and enjoy yourself. There is too much hate in the world, we should all spend more time finding ways to be happy.

        2 votes
  10. Mastrstroke
    Link
    I regret looking in the past so much. When I was younger I played hockey and had some chances at going professional. I got injured during tryouts two years in a row, and when I finally had an...

    I regret looking in the past so much.

    When I was younger I played hockey and had some chances at going professional. I got injured during tryouts two years in a row, and when I finally had an offer for a team, I ended up not taking it because of family pressure.

    It sucked to deal with, but your life only moves forwards you know? There was a lot of time sulking about something I couldn't change.

    5 votes
  11. [3]
    arghdos
    Link
    Naaaaah, you gotta stick by your oldest internet handle for the rest of time. Or at least, that's how this one has worked ;)

    Naaaaah, you gotta stick by your oldest internet handle for the rest of time.
    Or at least, that's how this one has worked ;)

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      Whom
      Link Parent
      I figure that policy only works if you weren't on the internet as a child. I'd rather not be still [favorite star wars character]fan or [my brother's name]smellslikepoop.

      I figure that policy only works if you weren't on the internet as a child.

      I'd rather not be still [favorite star wars character]fan or [my brother's name]smellslikepoop.

      4 votes
      1. arghdos
        Link Parent
        Haha, fair. I definitely was on the internet as a child though -- this username dates back in some form or another to like... me playing CS1.6

        Haha, fair. I definitely was on the internet as a child though -- this username dates back in some form or another to like... me playing CS1.6

        3 votes
  12. Cleb
    Link
    I regret some of the old names/aliases I used to register on websites and stuff. Not because they're awful or hateful or bad or anything, but because the most common one is tied to bad memories now.

    I regret some of the old names/aliases I used to register on websites and stuff. Not because they're awful or hateful or bad or anything, but because the most common one is tied to bad memories now.

    3 votes
  13. [4]
    tape
    Link
    I regret thinking I could do math in college and not just going for the degree i got from the start. Fuck math.

    I regret thinking I could do math in college and not just going for the degree i got from the start. Fuck math.

    1 vote
    1. [3]
      Michael
      Link Parent
      How far into it are you? I switched to Math in college under different circumstances, and initially had a lot of resentment toward it. But I ended up finding a lot of enjoyment out of it, and...

      How far into it are you? I switched to Math in college under different circumstances, and initially had a lot of resentment toward it. But I ended up finding a lot of enjoyment out of it, and getting good grades (or even passing!) some of the classes I took gave me a great sense of pride and accomplishment.

      What would you rather be doing? It's never too late to switch.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        tape
        Link Parent
        I already graduated with the degree I wanted, but I started off as something else and took 7 years to get my shit together. Still graduated instead of droppin out so it all worked out in the end.

        I already graduated with the degree I wanted, but I started off as something else and took 7 years to get my shit together. Still graduated instead of droppin out so it all worked out in the end.

        1 vote
        1. Michael
          Link Parent
          If it worked out that's all that matters! The past is the past but what matters is that you're in good shape for the future

          If it worked out that's all that matters! The past is the past but what matters is that you're in good shape for the future