u/Odd_District_6205

Just looking for any insight/advice based on where I am:

So I came up with an idea for a video game controller thumbstick grip. I made a prototype out of silicone and super glue to test proof of concept. It went well and I decided to take the next step. I hired someone on Upwork for $600 to create this into a real product and make me a CAD. I just 3d printed it and it is good but not perfect. I think mine is better but we are going to refine it. I debated going to an engineering firm but decided to take the cheaper approach and hire someone overseas.

I contacted a patent attorney and have been looking into that. Basically got quoted $2,000 for a patent search and $15,000 for a utility patent. I’m not even sure my product will sell so I am not going to jump directly into the utility patent. However, I think paying for the patent search might be beneficial to see if I run into any issues selling it myself. Maybe I should’ve done this first.

Right now I plan on getting a finalized version of my product. That is kind of my main focus. I tried to lay out the full picture so if anyone has insight on any part in this I would greatly appreciate it.

I invented a thumbstick grip for video game controllers and I’m wondering if 3d printing will be viable. Is 3d printing just as good as getting it manufactured? My friend told me 3d printing is very high grade and that I should just do that.

I’ve done it a few times now. Sometimes in catan you can really get kicked while you’re down. Cities and knights particularly you can just get ravaged like 10 turns in a row with the robber, losing city and the brutal development cards.

So I’ve created a new invention and am curious on which route I should take. I want to start selling it soon. I am young and this is a solo project. I have money but obviously not like a massive corporation that can just throw money away. Ideally I’d like to try and get everything done for as cheap as possible. I also have no proof that people will like it. I personally see potential obviously but not sure how it will hit the market.

Should I file for a provisional? I’m kind of new to all this and don’t have much knowledge but I know a utility patent is like 15 grand. Also, any recommendations for a patent search? An attorney told me $2,000 for one which I feel like is a lot to dish towards that but I will. Overall just looking for opinions from people like you with knowledge about all of this. Thanks in advance.

My friend has been abusing the science bonus and I find it to be kinda cheap. He will purposely work his whole strategy around it. Basically he will make sure he is only on like 3 different numbers and strictly go for the science bonus. That way if anything other than those 3 numbers roll he gets whatever he wants. It’s been very cheap and I’m curious if anyone else does that. It’s one thing to get it but expand but I feel like it’s kind of exploiting. Thoughts?

So I have been trying to figure myself out. Not necessarily looking for a label to give others. It’s about self identity. I posted about this in r/bisexual and r/LGBTQ but feel like this could be a better place for it.

I’d like to try to paint a picture clearly of my situation. So I have never felt a pull towards males. Never developed crushes or found them attractive. I can obviously identify when someone is objectively good looking but i don’t feel attracted. Not to face, body or personality. However, I think I have some type of fantasy of bottoming. I am turned on by it but it’s not connected to an actual person bc I don’t find males attractive. To add the fantasy just doesn’t work with females, I think it’s about power dynamics or something. I also think the only attraction id have would be towards the penis but it’s more about the role than the actual penis I think. When I was really young like 9yo maybe I actually was able to connect it to 2 of my friends but I didn’t feel attracted to them like I do to women. Going to go over that area now.

As far as males I pretty much painted the full picture. I actually think I pushed it down when I was young and it’s recently resurfaced about 20 years later. Or maybe my lack of attraction caused a shift in focus.

So women. I have always felt very visually attracted to them. A strong need to like stare basically which I’ve never felt with males. It’s like I can’t keep my eyes off an attractive girl. Face, body, personality I’m very much into them. Specifically love a nice ass. However not on the flip here, I have always been a little put off by vagina. It doesn’t turn me on tbh. I am very capable of being turned on by women but the times I’ve tried PIV I’ve went soft. Yet i can get rock hard just talking/texting a girl I like. I get nervous talking to them which I’ve never felt with males.

Where my head is at: the same sex thing could be fantasy. I think I have some type of erotic mirror or inversion thing where I can identify with performing what turns me on with women if that makes sense.

I’m just looking for some opinions I guess. I really wish it was more clear and I was all in. I’m not sure if I’m straight, gay or bisexual. Like it would be nice to just know. Regardless i feel like I wouldn’t have enough to provide either gender tbh.

I am a male. I am confused where I stand with sexuality. So I am and have always been attracted to women. Always had crushes growing up and still do. From face/body to personalities. However, I always lacked attraction to vagina visually. Although recently I feel like I’ve gained more interest. But I’m more sexually turned on by their butts/face. Sometimes just basic interactions with girls will give me an erection.

Now on the opposite end, I have never found a man to be sexually attractive based on their face/body/personality. I have never developed crushes on males and do not notice them ever in public in a sexual way. I only notice girls in public as far as like catching my eye for attraction.

So now where I question my sexuality is I feel turned on by the idea of bottoming. I think it’s a role/dynamic based type of fantasy bc i cannot connect a person/face to it. I wish I could tbh but I don’t find myself attracted to males like that and before anyone says it I would never get pegged by a woman. Also to add what turns me on is specifically the role/dynamic and what im doing not so much on the other person.

After really thinking into it I feel like it is from identifying with what turns me on with woman. Almost swapping into their shoes. I can identify with what turns them on. I think it started when I was like 8 years old and watched my first porn video. It was a gang bang where the girl was really into it. I was turned on by her enjoyment and her energy. I think I like identified with it in a way or something.

I’m not sure where I stand with sexuality but I feel like I painted a decent picture and I’m curious on opinions.