u/IsyABM

First time I've seen people tagging. I was driving in the evening and three lads in hoods with backpacks were shadily walking around. Then they split up quickly and spray any open space (like road signs) and then quickly regroup. They keep moving so I don't even think they get to see the marks left behind.

It was genuinely one of the lamest things I've witnessed.

I wish we had spaces where they get get it out of their system so they don't have to slink around scribbling paint on public infrastructure. It immediately brings the feel of a place down and they're barely putting any effort or appreciating their work. It was like a dog going around pissing on lampposts.

Just sharing so you know how toe-curlingly cringe the hobby is. Say no to graffiti!

Hi all,

I was hoping to learn from you as I've been quietly concerned that I won't understand the life my child faces.

My ancestry comes from the Indian subcontinent as far back as oral histories record. My SO is from the Malay Archipelago.

Neither of us are particularly cultural. Hers is because her family was quite religious whereas mine was because, as a third culture kid, 'my community' would mock my light skin or the way I spoke so I never really fit in. I was also the first in our family to marry out of the culture.

But I've witnessed how tribal people can be: in 'supporting their own' or even small things like how in some countries they ask 'where are you really from' if you're a minority in the West.

Will he have anyone he can relate to? Would he be even more excluded than I was because he isn't enough of anything?

The country I have always known as home is increasingly talking about deporting minorities so I wonder where, in a future where I'm no longer here, my child(ren) would belong.

The above is all to say that I'd love your insights and advice on how to support a child of mixed heritage, particularly when we live in a country that neither of us is from ethnically, and where our racial combination isn't prevelant enough that there is a sub-community of such people who can share in their lived experience.

I'm sorry to rant but I'm feeling so humiliated, frustrated and spent. I just got told after a year of waiting that my RTC assessment will not be proceeding due to funding being cut, despite my responses being provided months prior.

It reminds me of how when my car got stolen and I was called at any time of the day by at least 5 different police officers asking similar questions and giving differing answers to my queries. I was out of pocket for more than £1000 worth of kit and was unable to recover nothing from the guys they caught dealing drugs using the stolen vehicle.

Citizens Advice for free legal advice but they no longer have local clinics and their phone lines don't get answered.

There are so many other examples of things not working. I try to observe the law and do the right thing but when I need help those systems don't seem to care. It's all so overwhelming and feels mildly hostile.

We seem to have systems and services we get pointed to but when they're actually needed there's vague standards, little oversight, and no recourse.

It's just exhausting and I don't understand why it's this way and how this can continue. I've fallen unwell and I feel like such a burden.

Hi all,

I was wondering if, beyond the vibes and the anecdotal experience, there are books you found useful either in articulately detailing the problems with Islam or that were pivotal in helping you leave/live a good life outside of it?

I haven't read many books of late but I found Secularism: A Very Short Introduction by Andrew Copson to be excellent in communicating alternative ideas on how society can be organised and why the Islamic worldview is a threat to it.

Hi all,

I was wondering if, beyond the vibes and the anecdotal experience, there are books you found useful either in articulately detailing the problems with Islam or that were pivotal in helping you leave/live a good life outside of it?

I haven't read many books of late but I found Secularism: A Very Short Introduction by Andrew Copson to be excellent in communicating alternative ideas on how society can be organised and why the Islamic worldview is a threat to it.

You may be frustrated by how your body is behaving in the heatwave - it's not just you! Stay safe all!

A bit shocked to see something like this in the news about a place so close to home!

Is it time for women to be allowed to carry pepper spray?

Edit: honestly don't understand why anyone from Brum would be downvoting this.

Sharing this as it deserves appreciation in how effectively and simply it conveys the problems with the current system of consumption.

I just saw a viral video about an incident in Birmingham where a boy was attacked by other boys before being seized and verbally abused by police.

I'd avoided the video because originally the thumbnail made me think it was the usual yobbery that taints our city's image and didn't realise it concerned abuse of power.

I'm shocked that WMP has doubled down and said that after reviewing footage they believe the conduct was justified. How does one express their concern given this ridiculously poor judgement being displayed should concern us all?

Will share link to the video in the comments rather than in the post itself as I'm suspicious as to why there isn't a thread on this already given the video it's gone viral.

Edit: not sure why anyone feels the need to downvote discussion on policing in the city following a viral incident rather than engage in the discussion.

Edit2: Links:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaS3nhxoSMR/
https://youtu.be/9t8qVtCm3Js?is=t13zmxOWTkzyS-jG (Timestamp ~5.20 for this fight.)

I love how candid Alex is with his thought processes and commitment to honest enquiry but this feels like a problematic (and easily risible) position. Is the position not just living on 'vibes'?

Perhaps there is no objective morality (which many desperately seek) but this is subjectivity -perhaps an honest position- that surrenders all hope in a notion of ethics.

One's feelings can change and be manipulated (or even mass engineered). Feelings cannot be a justification. I imagine Alex would argue that underlying the frameworks people use there are just feelings but there are examples of religions directly addressing this (such as the story of Abraham being prepared to sacrifice his son in total devotion to god).

Feels like Alex is back to square one, which leads me to think there really cannot be any rhyme or reason we can find (or that wandering outside of religion cannot avoid devolving into following one's whims).

Would appreciate anyone with a better understanding sharing how Alex's position is anything short of just resigning oneself to following one's gut through the absurdity of existence?

Hi all,

Was wondering if anyone managed to switch from a smart phone to a modern 'dumb' phone.

I'm desperate to cut down my screen time and most things have failed but any downgrade I make needs text to speech and outlook capabilities (so not a purely 'dumb' phone unfortunately).

Has anyone here made the change and have a model you'd recommend?

Hi all,

I've always felt comfortable in the UK (I'm a British Asian). I volunteer where I can and think there are elements of our culture like our tolerance, equality, and casual/openness that makes Britain a really special place compared to the countries I'm familiar with that can be more unequal or unjust.

But now that I have a brown child of my own, I'm getting concerned about our future here. I've heard stories growing up about what it was like for minorities and, rightly or wrongly, anti-minority and anti-Muslim sentiment is rising.

I'm not interested in the politics of right or wrong (I do believe people have gone unheard and that politics have failed people for generations at this point), I'm more focused on the safety of my wife and child. I've never had to or wanted to think about if we could make it somewhere else (I don't feel comfortable with slave-states like Dubai) so it's a bit overwhelming and I wonder if I'm not being proactive enough to maintain my child's safety.

Regardless of whether you come from the same background or politics as me, I suspect we all feel like things are getting more tense and unfamiliar so I wonder how you deal with that uncertainty either as an individual or as a parent.

I may be overreacting and apologies if that's the case. I'm not posting out of sympathy but I see how we are sliding into a more low trust, angry society and I haven't really prepared for that.