u/Haunting_Jacket6073

In courtrooms or confirmation meetings one is often sworn in with their hand on the bible. Would this be inappropriate if the person being sworn in Is not a Christian? It seems this is disrespectful to Christians.

How should a non-believer respond to someone aiming "bless you" if they sneeze? I was not raised to say bless you to people so it has always made me feel uncomfortable when someone does it to me. Also if someone sneezes and I say nothing I have caught a side glance. To me sneezing is just a body's natural function like hiccups or passing gas.

TL;DR: Would I be wrong to cut contact with immediate family members to ensure I avoid generational issues? In the past, I have been guilted and manipulated by my mother. She used me as her verbal punching bag for things that were beyond my control. My sister now has children, and I feel guilting not having a relationship with them when I know what the adults in their life are like. My nervous system is on fire.

Hello. My family background is saturated with mental illness, suicides, alcohol abuse, and a lack of financial literacy. I left the area 18 years ago and kept in contact from a distance. My sisters are divorced, have multiple kids, are unskilled laborers, and are financially illiterate. My mother has always used me as her verbal punching bag in place of dealing with her mental issues. On several occasions, she has guilt tripped an manipulated me to get her way. Recently, I have stopped giving money, helping and started pushing back against her lies. In turn, she attacked my husband. I have worked very hard and made sacrifices to reach my current position. My sister has married, started an affair and divorced. Lost multiple vehicles to repossession. Student loans and credit cards in collections. My grandfather at 91 yrs old has had to pay some of her bills. Her new boyfriend is 12 years older than her, is a multiple repeat felon with a wrap sheet 60 pages long. My mother attempted to lie her ass off to cover this. My sister keeps sending me pictures of her kids. She got bitchy that I have not been home to meet her almost 2-year-old kid with her affair partner. My sister and I are already vastly different, but since she became a mother in 2018, she has become downright insufferable. Add in my mother's narcissism, and I just do not want to associate with them. The thought of interaction or visiting feels like I will be backed into a corner. Manipulated into watching the kids. Spending money to fix their never ending problems. I feel a bit of guilt with not wanting to be an adult for these kids who are subject to emotionally immature adults. These kids will likely struggle with the very same issue I had. Unfortunately, I cannot put my nervous system at risk dealing with my mother, step-father and sister. I do not want to meet my sister's deadbeat boyfriend. My mother berated me when her marriage to my father was over. When the brief relationship I had with my older half sister ended she guilted me about that. I simply see this mess with my younger sister as a pattern that is repeating and I do not want to be around for it. Any I wrong here? Contact feels like willfully slamming my hand in a door.

TL;DR: Would I be wrong to cut contact with immediate family members to ensure I avoid generational issues? In the past, I have been guilted and manipulated by my mother. She used me as her verbal punching bag for things that were beyond my control. My sister now has children, and I feel guilting not having a relationship with them when I know what the adults in their life are like. My nervous system is on fire.

Hello. My family background is saturated with mental illness, suicides, alcohol abuse, and a lack of financial literacy. I left the area 18 years ago and kept in contact from a distance. My sisters are divorced, have multiple kids, are unskilled laborers, and are financially illiterate. My mother has always used me as her verbal punching bag in place of dealing with her mental issues. On several occasions, she has guilt tripped an manipulated me to get her way. Recently, I have stopped giving money, helping and started pushing back against her lies. In turn, she attacked my husband. I have worked very hard and made sacrifices to reach my current position. My sister has married, started an affair and divorced. Lost multiple vehicles to repossession. Student loans and credit cards in collections. My grandfather at 91 yrs old has had to pay some of her bills. Her new boyfriend is 12 years older than her, is a multiple repeat felon with a wrap sheet 60 pages long. My mother attempted to lie her ass off to cover this. My sister keeps sending me pictures of her kids. She became upset that I have not been home to meet her almost 2-year-old kid with her affair partner. My sister and I are already vastly different, but since she became a mother in 2018, she has become downright insufferable. Add in my mother's narcissism, and I just do not want to associate with them. The thought of interaction or visiting feels like I will be backed into a corner. Manipulated into watching the kids. Spending money to fix their never ending problems. I feel a bit of guilt with not wanting to be an adult for these kids who are subject to emotionally immature adults. These kids will likely struggle with the very same issue I had. Unfortunately, I cannot put my nervous system at risk dealing with my mother, step-father and sister. I do not want to meet my sister's deadbeat boyfriend. My mother berated me when her marriage to my father was over. When the brief relationship I had with my older half sister ended she guilted me about that. I simply see this mess with my younger sister as a pattern that is repeating and I do not want to be around for it. Any I wrong here? Contact feels like willfully slamming my hand in a door.

Hello. I have 100% permanent disability from the VA after serving 9 1/2 years active duty. The cause is MH and some minor medical conditions. This December will be 8 years of retirement. While I have been a caregiver and spent time doing construction projects I am not fulfilled. My medical board was 2 1/2 months start to finish and I was not in a great space mentally. Admittedly I still do not have a grasp on how this whole system works. I spoke to another veteran who said that if you are 100% you can earn an income you have to report it to the VA. After a certain income they will reduce your disability pay. Is this accurate? ​I want to go back to college, continue my pilots license training and start a contracting business. I get shit on for being "retired" but it is not all that great. I am grateful for the pay and security however, I do not enjoy being at the house and I need work and a sense of purpose. Wisdom is much appreciated.

My grandfather was born in 1934 and married in 1957. His take is that things were actually very difficult. The majority of the population did not have much money, and every task required immense effort. It seems that the 1950s are given the Norman Rockwell treatment when the reality was different.

Hello. I am 12 flight hours into my PPL, flight physical scheduled. Averaging one flight per week at $325 per lesson. I have come across multiple videos and forums stating that GA is dead. Its to expensive and the little planes are aging. The A&P mechanics are averaging 55 years old and looking to retire.

I did 10 years in the military as a helicopter mechanic and was either deployed or station overseas so never stable enough to pursue flying. Post career was spent care giving. Now that I finally have some calm and a predictable environment it seems that I have missed the boat (or plane). Is PPL worth pursuing at this stage? Also I have part of the courses towards the A&P but that seems to be a moot point.

Are my fellow Millennials having issues with dating and distant for the opposite gender? Is the manosphere just douche older guys making content to fling at gen z? I do not remember any of this misogyny/misandry being an issue when I was younger.

What does Wisconsin's farming future look like?

I watched a few interviews over this past year. My take away was beef is sold at below replacement cost. Many farmers are not replacing herds. The cost of crop inputs and fuel prices will result in a loss per acre. Some farms have forgone planting or scaled their planting down. My interpretation is loss of revenues on the back end.

What is the end state of this situation? Sell land and implements or are there other options on the table?

How would you gently redirect someone who is overbearing with their religious views?

On several occasions a self identified Christian near our home will find that I and my immediate family do not hold religious beliefs or practice. Their response is to question us half to death and then dump a pile of books (ex. 23 Minutes In Hell - Bill Wiese) on us with the expectation that we read them. A week later they will show back up uninvited and grill us on if we read their books. I support those that follow a faith but these tactics are unwelcome and intrusive and a bit rude. Any guidance would be appreciated.

I have been out for almost 8 years. I have spent this time being a caregiver for my in-laws and working remodeling jobs. I feel like I cannot separate myself from my 9 years of service. I slightly fear that my service will be the only big accomplishment in my life. I am not ungrateful to the people and opportunities that the military provided but I do not want to get stuck in the military veteran orbit where it is assigned as your identity. Am I off base? Is my current geographic location with an older population skewing my perception?