u/Acidic_Huntsman

I'm noticing a lot more young teens posting in this sub than usual these few days. Some as young as 14. Their posts are all expressing how defeated and hopeless they feel about still being short.

And hey, that’s a very normal thing to feel; I don't blame them. I felt the same when I was their age.

But what worries me is that the replies are ALL people giving them ways to try and force themselves to be taller through medication, physical alterations, clothing illusions. Or simply just ways to avoid height as a topic all together.

And I'm not saying those who do this are all negative. People who try to keep things positive still only try to offer advice that presents any alternative solution that avoids self love and acceptance.

At that young age, it should be top priority for those older to explain how even though these younger users aren't done growing, they need to learn to love themselves no matter what height they officially land on.

Pushing down and avoiding insecurities as you grow up will just result in self esteem issues you won't know how to express later on. That will ruin relationships, opportunities, and general mental health.

I only say this now because I've seen quite a few posts from young teens in just a few days, and I assume there will be a lot more.

So right now we should focus on positive and healthy coping methods for these impressionable users

I'm new to this discussion, so it might not be unpopular, or maybe it is.

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Don't get me wrong, I LOVE aerials, and I'm learning how to do some myself!

But during large dance competitions or showcases, the pro routines slowly become less about swing dancing and more about the aerials. It’s like I'm watching acrobatics.

To an outside perspective, sure, it’s awesome, entertaining, and thrilling. But I came to see dance, connection, footwork, styling, etc. And a routine where the majority of it is just: “flip, jump, catch, flip and spin, throw, flip, triple step, FLIP, walk off.” I stop seeing it as a dance.

I'm here to see the best swing dancers; I want to see DANCING.

Now I'm not saying they should never do them. I just think Swing Dancing showcases should mostly prioritize dancing.

An aerial at the end of each measure as the fancy finale seems like the perfect amount. Impress the audience with the dancing, then surprise them with an aerial at the end. That surprise keeps it interesting.

Because, like, don't any of you get “aerial fatigue” when an entire dance is just Aerials, Aerials, Aerials, with some steps sprinkled in?

It might sound harsh, but it feels like you’re jangling keys in front of my face and saying, “Whoa! Look at this cool flip, don't focus on the dance footwork that doesn't matter, just look at how high we can go!”

And let me make it clear, I believe aerials take A LOT of talent. And those who can implement them in dance routines are amazing dancers. I just think they are relied on too much and unintentionally distract us from the actual dance. They’re more effective in small doses

This is why I like Mix and Matches (Jack and Jill) so much. With a new partner, you can really see people's dancing abilities. No preplanned aerial routine, just dance. It highlights the skill of social dance. Being able to dance with anyone, to any song, even if you met 2 seconds ago.

What do you think?

I’m in the process of getting out of credit card debt to be able to start saving for an apartment. I’m trying to drive as little as I can because gas is taking a good chunk of my paycheck.

I’m trying to get around $1k extra a month.

I was hoping for some advice for knowing what’s out there for evening side hustles in Santa Barbara that don’t rely on constantly driving?

I know uber and Lyft is a big suggestion, but I don’t want to be using my gas

I feel like first-time creators definitely need a manager to give them a push and help them get started and be seen. But I also understand you don't want to waste your time if they never get traction.

How small of an account are social media managers willing to work with? Are there some that work with new people who don't have a large following ($1k or less), but still have the drive to become bigger?

If not, where should accounts be to consider one? And how are they supposed to reach that point without help?

So, I’ve heard many people on here call Loveme hair a “beginner wig.” What does that mean? What’s the difference between a beginner wig and an actual wig? Is it price?

I use LoveMe hair, but I would love to switch to a higher-quality brand that doesn't fall into the beginner category. But I'm not sure what to look for because I thought loveMe WAS better quality.

I don't want to spend $1k on a single wig. Are the only “non beginner” wigs all above $1k?

Budget: $500 (willing to go higher)
Human hair
18 inch
Body waves
Side part

I’m planning to get an Alto saxophone after I get money from the grand piano I'm selling. Since that’s going to take a few weeks, I wanted to know what I can do in the meantime to prepare for when it finally arrives.

I believe the best use of that time will definitely be to learn how to read music. But after looking up ways to learn, I see that most people talk about learning it while already having the instrument.

What’s the best way to learn how to read music on my own without the saxophone with me?

Any app recommendations, videos, or online books?

Thank you