trenton

Men's issues While women face many unique challenges, there are also certain issues that disproportionately impact men. Here are a few key examples: Higher rates of suicide: Men are more likely than women to die by suicide across all age groups and ethnicities. This may be related to factors like societal pressure to suppress emotions, reluctance to seek help, and higher rates of substance abuse. Workplace deaths and injuries: Men are significantly more likely than women to be injured or killed on the job, in part because they are overrepresented in dangerous occupations like construction, mining, and law enforcement. Homelessness: Although women face high rates of housing insecurity, men make up a larger share of the homeless population, particularly among single adults. Factors like mental illness, substance abuse, and lack of social support networks contribute to male homelessness. Incarceration: Men, especially men of color, are imprisoned at much higher rates than women. This is due to a complex web of factors including bias in policing and sentencing, harsher punishment for certain crimes, and systemic barriers to education and employment that can lead to criminal behavior. Lack of emotional support: Traditional masculine norms often discourage men from expressing vulnerability or seeking emotional support. This can leave them isolated and less able to cope with stressors like relationship problems, job loss or grief. Educational attainment: While women now outpace men in college graduation rates, boys and men, particularly those from low-income and minority backgrounds, still face challenges in K-12 education. They are more likely to be held back, suspended or diagnosed with learning and behavior disorders. Military service and combat deaths: Because men make up the vast majority of active-duty military personnel, they bear the brunt of the physical and psychological risks associated with military service, including higher rates of combat-related injury and death. Parental rights: Although child custody laws have become more gender-neutral over time, men can still face challenges in asserting their parental rights after a divorce or breakup. Some feel the legal system is biased against fathers in custody disputes. Rigid masculine norms: Societal expectations of masculinity can be confining and harmful for men, requiring them to project an image of toughness, dominance and stoicism at the expense of emotional and physical wellbeing. Men who don't conform to these norms may face bullying, discrimination or social ostracization. Underdiagnosis of certain conditions: Some health conditions, like eating disorders and depression, are often stereotyped as female problems. This can lead to underdiagnosis and lack of appropriate treatment for men suffering from these issues. Men may also be less likely to seek preventative care in general. It's important to note that these issues don't negate the very real inequities and discrimination that women face. Gender-based disadvantages cut in many directions and are often interconnected. Also, just as women's experiences are shaped by other aspects of their identity, so too are men's. Men of color, low-income men, gay and bisexual men, transgender men, and men with disabilities often face compounded challenges based on these intersecting marginalized identities. Addressing the issues that uniquely or disproportionately impact men and boys will require challenging rigid gender norms, expanding mental health resources and social support systems, reforming education and criminal justice policies, and implementing workplace and public health interventions to reduce male injury and mortality, among other strategies. At the same time, it's critical that efforts to support men and boys go hand-in-hand with continued work to dismantle sexism and advance equity for women and girls. The goal should be to expand opportunity, wellbeing and self-determination for all genders, not to pit one gender's needs against another's in a zero-sum conflict.

Women's issues Women face a number of unique challenges and disparities that men often don't experience to the same degree. Here are some key examples: Gender wage gap: Women, on average, earn less than men for doing the same work, and this gap is even wider for women of color. The disparities persist even when controlling for factors like education, experience and job title. Underrepresentation in leadership: Despite making up roughly half the population, women are significantly underrepresented in top leadership positions across fields like business, politics, academia and entertainment. This limits their power and influence in key decision-making roles. Sexual harassment and violence: Women experience higher rates of sexual harassment, assault and intimate partner violence than men. The threat of such violence can limit women's freedom and opportunities and take a heavy toll on mental and physical health. Reproductive health disparities: Women face unique barriers to accessing comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including contraception and abortion services. They also bear disproportionate burdens related to pregnancy and childbirth, which can impact their health, education and careers. Caregiving responsibilities: Women often take on greater responsibilities for unpaid caregiving work, such as caring for children, elderly parents or sick family members. This can limit their ability to work outside the home and lead to long-term financial disadvantages. Beauty standards and objectification: Women face intense societal pressure to conform to narrow beauty standards and are more likely than men to be objectified and valued primarily for their appearance. This can fuel body image issues, eating disorders and self-esteem challenges. Imposter syndrome and self-doubt: Due in part to socialization and stereotypes, women are more likely than men to experience imposter syndrome and self-doubt in professional settings, even when they are highly qualified. This can hold them back from pursuing opportunities and advocating for themselves. Online harassment: Women, particularly those with public-facing roles, often face disproportionate levels of online harassment, stalking and threats compared to men. This abuse can take a severe psychological toll and even threaten physical safety. Intersectional discrimination: Women with multiple marginalized identities, such as women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and women with disabilities, often face compounded and unique forms of discrimination and bias based on the intersection of their gender and other aspects of their identity. Lack of representation and role models: The relative lack of women in positions of power and influence means fewer visible role models for girls and young women to look up to and emulate. This can make it harder for them to envision themselves in such roles and reinforce limiting gender stereotypes. It's important to note that while these issues impact women as a group, individual women's experiences will vary based on factors like race, class, sexuality, ability and other aspects of identity. Addressing these disparities will require targeted efforts to dismantle gender-based discrimination and bias, as well as broader work to advance equity and inclusion for all marginalized groups. At the same time, it's also important to recognize the ways in which rigid gender norms and stereotypes can harm men and boys, such as by discouraging emotional expression, reinforcing aggression and violence, and limiting their options for self-expression and caregiving. Ultimately, dismantling patriarchy and achieving gender justice will benefit people of all genders. But given the historical and ongoing inequities faced by women and girls, targeted efforts to address their unique challenges remain essential.

Racism continued Addressing systemic racism and creating a more just society will require sustained efforts on multiple fronts, from policy changes to shifts in cultural attitudes and individual behaviors. Here are some key steps that could help move the needle: Criminal justice reform: This could include measures to reduce racial profiling and discriminatory policing practices, end mass incarceration, eliminate mandatory minimums and racial disparities in sentencing, improve police accountability and training, and invest in community-based alternatives to incarceration. Economic equity policies: Efforts to close the racial wealth gap and expand economic opportunity might include increasing minimum wages, strengthening worker protections and unions, investing in job training and apprenticeship programs, promoting affordable housing and homeownership, supporting minority-owned businesses, and implementing "baby bonds" or other wealth-building initiatives. Educational equity: Increasing funding for schools serving predominantly students of color, desegregating schools, expanding access to high-quality preschool, implementing culturally responsive curricula and pedagogy, reducing disparities in school discipline, and improving teacher diversity and training could help level the educational playing field. Healthcare equity: Expanding access to affordable, quality healthcare, increasing funding for community health centers, implementing implicit bias training for healthcare providers, investing in public health initiatives in underserved communities, and addressing social determinants of health like housing and environmental quality could help reduce racial health disparities. Voting rights protections: Strengthening and enforcing the Voting Rights Act, implementing automatic voter registration, expanding early voting and vote-by-mail options, ending felony disenfranchisement, and preventing racial gerrymandering could help ensure equal access to the ballot and fairer representation. Reparations: Providing some form of reparations to the descendants of enslaved people, such as direct payments, college scholarships, or investment in Black-owned businesses and community development initiatives, could help address the ongoing harms of slavery and discrimination and reduce the racial wealth gap. Inclusive narratives and representation: Elevating diverse voices and stories in media, school curricula, public memorials, and other forms of cultural representation can help challenge stereotypes, build empathy, and normalize a more inclusive and equitable vision of society. Confronting individual bias: While systemic change is essential, individuals also have a role to play in examining their own biases, speaking out against discrimination, and advocating for equity in their workplaces, communities and social circles. Anti-racism education, training, and dialogue can support these individual efforts. Research and data collection: Improving data collection on racial disparities, supporting research on the causes and impacts of systemic racism, and rigorously evaluating the effectiveness of anti-racism interventions can help guide evidence-based policymaking and track progress over time. Political and institutional change: Electing policymakers and leaders committed to racial justice, diversifying leadership in key institutions like businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies, and organizing and advocating for structural reforms can help shift the levers of power toward greater equity. Of course, these are just some of the potential approaches, and the specific policies and strategies would need to be developed and implemented thoughtfully, with input and leadership from impacted communities. Progress will require difficult conversations, uncomfortable realizations, and a willingness to challenge entrenched systems and norms. But while the challenges are significant, there are also reasons for hope. Awareness of systemic racism is growing, and there are more tools, resources and models for anti-racism work than ever before. By taking concerted action across multiple domains, and staying committed for the long haul, a more racially just future is possible. What's needed is the political will, moral urgency and sustained effort to get there.

Systemic Racism Systemic racism continues to impact Black Americans in profound and far-reaching ways, creating disparities across various domains of life. Here are some key areas where the ongoing effects of historical and present-day discrimination are particularly evident: Criminal justice: Black Americans, especially men, are disproportionately likely to be stopped, searched, arrested and incarcerated, even when controlling for factors like crime rates. They also face harsher sentences and barriers to reentry after imprisonment. This has devastating impacts on individuals, families and communities. Economic opportunity: The racial wealth gap is stark, with the typical white family holding several times the net worth of the typical Black family. Black Americans face discrimination in hiring, promotions, and access to professional networks. They are also underrepresented in high-paying fields and overrepresented in low-wage work. Education: Black students are more likely to attend underfunded and highly segregated schools, face harsher discipline, and have less access to advanced coursework and gifted programs. These inequities limit academic and career prospects. Health: Racism is increasingly recognized as a key social determinant of health. Discrimination, both overt and subtle, causes chronic stress that harms mental and physical wellbeing. Racial disparities in health insurance, healthcare access and quality also drive worse outcomes across a range of health measures. Housing: The legacies of redlining, restrictive covenants, and other forms of housing discrimination have limited Black families' access to homeownership and quality affordable housing, with ripple effects on wealth-building and economic stability. Residential segregation also reinforces other forms of disadvantage. Political power: Voter suppression efforts disproportionately impact Black Americans, as do racial gerrymanders that dilute the influence of Black votes. This makes it harder for Black communities to elect responsive leaders and enact policies that represent their interests. As a white man in America, you do benefit from certain unearned privileges, even if you don't consciously realize it. This doesn't negate whatever hardships or challenges you may have faced as an individual. But it does mean there are certain barriers and burdens you are less likely to encounter by virtue of your race and gender. For example: You are less likely to face discrimination or bias in interactions with law enforcement, employers, educators, healthcare providers, and other institutions. You are more likely to see positive representations of people who look like you in media, leadership roles, and other spheres that confer social status and influence. You are less likely to have your competence, character or belonging questioned or stereotyped in professional or academic settings. You don't have to worry that your individual actions will be taken as representative of your entire race or gender. You are more likely to have access to family wealth and social capital that provide a safety net and expand your opportunities. Recognizing privilege doesn't mean discounting one's own efforts or absolving personal responsibility. But it does mean acknowledging that systemic racism creates an uneven playing field, with benefits for some and barriers for others based on race. While individual prejudice certainly plays a role, these inequities are also perpetuated through institutions, policies and cultural norms in ways that don't require overt bigotry to persist. As a society, grappling honestly with these realities is necessary for meaningful progress toward racial equity. For those with privileged identities, this includes learning about systemic racism, listening to those most directly impacted, and taking action to challenge inequities and expand opportunity for all. It's not about shame or guilt, but rather a sense of responsibility to help create a fairer, more just society.

Polarization Political polarization is indeed a major challenge facing the United States, one that makes it harder to address pressing policy issues and erodes public faith in democratic institutions. While there are no easy solutions, here are some steps that could help ease polarization and foster a more collaborative, productive governing environment: Reduce partisan gerrymandering: Drawing congressional and state legislative districts to create safe seats for one party contributes to more extreme candidates who have little incentive to appeal to voters from the other party. Independent redistricting commissions and neutral map-drawing criteria could lead to more competitive districts and more moderate representatives. Reform political primaries: Closed partisan primaries tend to favor candidates who appeal to the ideological extremes of each party's base. Opening primaries to all voters, regardless of party affiliation, or adopting ranked choice voting systems could boost more moderate candidates with cross-party appeal. Strengthen campaign finance laws: The outsized influence of money in politics can fuel polarization by making elected officials beholden to narrow special interests and extreme donors. Stricter contribution limits, disclosure requirements, and public financing options could help curb these distortions and make politicians more responsive to ordinary constituents. Invest in civic education: Greater knowledge of democratic processes, constitutional principles, and the complexities of policy issues can help citizens engage in politics more thoughtfully and see beyond simplistic partisan narratives. Prioritizing robust civics instruction in schools and expanding access to adult civic learning opportunities could help foster a more informed, discerning electorate. Improve fact-based journalism: The fractured media landscape and spread of misinformation contributes to polarization by allowing people to retreat into ideological echo chambers. Strengthening and expanding sources of objective, fact-based reporting and promoting news literacy could help counterbalance this trend. Encourage cross-party dialogue: When people primarily interact with those who share their views, it's easier to demonize the other side. Creating more opportunities for respectful conversations across party lines, both among politicians and ordinary citizens, could help build empathy and understanding. This could include things like town halls with elected officials from different parties, community dialogues, or even initiatives that pair up partisans for one-on-one conversations. Reform congressional rules and norms: Procedural changes that reduce incentives for obstruction and encourage good-faith negotiation could make Congress more productive. This might include things like restricting the filibuster, committee reforms to empower bipartisan cooperation, or stronger norms around holding votes on popular legislation. Bridge socioeconomic divides: Polarization is often entangled with deeper economic and cultural resentments. Policies that boost economic security and mobility for working-class Americans, reduce concentrated poverty, and expand access to higher education could help ease some of the frustrations that fuel polarized politics. These are just some of the potential approaches, and of course the details of effective reforms would need to be hashed out through rigorous debate and implemented carefully over time. Progress will likely be incremental. The lure of polarization as a political strategy won't disappear overnight. But even modest reforms in the direction of a more open, representative and collaborative political system, along with a more engaged and empowered citizenry, could start to move the needle toward a healthier democracy. And that's a goal I believe most Americans share, even if they may disagree on how to get there. Finding common ground on democratic reforms, where possible, could be a first step in reversing the cycle of polarization.

Education There are a number of potential changes that could be made to improve the US public education system. Here are a few key areas where I believe reforms could make a meaningful difference: School funding equity: The current system, which relies heavily on local property taxes, leads to vast disparities in per-pupil funding between wealthy and low-income districts. Establishing more equitable funding formulas at the state and federal level could help level the playing field and ensure all students have access to quality resources and opportunities. Early childhood education: Research shows that high-quality pre-K provides a strong foundation for future learning and development, especially for disadvantaged children. Expanding access to universal pre-K and investing more in early interventions could help close achievement gaps. Teacher support and training: Attracting and retaining high-quality teachers is essential, particularly in high-needs schools. Higher pay, better professional development, improved working conditions, and more opportunities for advancement could help make teaching a more appealing and sustainable career path. College and career readiness: Too many students graduate high school unprepared for the rigors of college or the modern workforce. Increasing access to challenging coursework, dual enrollment programs, vocational training, and work-based learning opportunities could smooth transitions and boost post-secondary success. School climate and student supports: Factors like positive relationships, sense of belonging, mental health and social-emotional skills are key for student well-being and academic success. More counselors and mental health professionals, restorative justice practices, and explicit SEL instruction could help create healthier, more supportive school environments. Personalized and competency-based learning: The traditional, one-size-fits-all "factory model" of education doesn't meet the needs of all students. More flexible, student-centered approaches that allow students to progress as they demonstrate mastery and provide individualized supports could improve engagement and achievement. 21st century skills and technology: Evolving workplace demands require skills like critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and digital literacy. Project-based learning, STEM programs, and thoughtful technology integration could help foster these competencies. At the same time, investments are needed to close digital divides and ensure all students can access and effectively use technology for learning. These reforms would require significant investments, policy changes, and shifts in practice. They may face challenges around political will, capacity, and entrenched systems resistant to change. And their effectiveness would depend on smart policy design and implementation. But I believe they represent promising directions for improving outcomes and equity in the nation's schools. It's also worth noting that schools don't exist in a vacuum - societal factors like poverty, segregation, and family instability create barriers to learning that even the best education policies can't fully compensate for on their own. So comprehensive efforts to support children and families, within and beyond schools, are also an important part of the equation. But targeted reforms to the education system itself could go a long way in expanding opportunities for all students.

There is a group of online predators coercing children into committing the most evil acts possible. This includes killing pets and committing suicide. All of this is being done for the amusement of these predators. I have important questions about posting on a subject like this. Is it morally wrong to give groups like these attention? Should I stay quiet instead of giving evil people more infamy? There are mass shooters who want people to be drawn to infamy. Is it wrong to do what I am doing now?

I have one thing I suspect I might be wrong about. This is a case of being deeply wrong. I want to build up more independence in my life. Therefore, I don't want to rely on other people for emotional support. Instead I want to educate myself on emotional mastery and use meditation to better process my emotions. However, a lot of sources keep telling me that humans are social animals and can't function optimally without support of others. Relationships are important even for people with autism like me. Part of me hesitates to trust other people because I have a lot of experience with betrayal from my family, thus I created lots of emotional distance from them. I have been devaluing relationships in favor of higher intellectual ideals since I was a child. I don't see value in emotional connection because ultimately the people I love will die. The more I love people the more I suffer when they are gone forever. Changing my attitude toward love, relationships, and intimacy will take a lot of work and change. I would have to change deeply as a person to see inherent worth in other people and my connection with them.

@Buck Edwards I tried this exercise long before the new video. The problem with this approach to contemplation is that if you hold any belief, then you do so because you believe it is true. Therefore, you get stuck trying to find ways in which you are wrong. A better approach is to ask yourself "what beliefs do I hold as true?" From there you question the beliefs such as "how do I know this" "what is the evidence" or what is the alternative? If you are open minded to new perspectives, then that will be much better than directly asking how am I wrong.

The process of letting go of a long-held dream or passion, such as your aspiration to become a professional chess player, can indeed involve a grieving process similar to what people experience when facing other types of significant losses or life changes. The concept of grief is often associated with the work of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who proposed the "five stages of grief" model. While this model was originally developed in the context of terminal illness, it has been widely applied to various types of life transitions and losses. The five stages are: Denial: In this stage, you may find it difficult to accept that your dream of becoming a professional chess player might not be feasible. You may try to convince yourself that things will work out or that the obstacles you face are not insurmountable. Anger: As reality sets in, you may experience feelings of anger, resentment, or frustration. You might feel upset about the circumstances that have made your dream challenging to pursue or angry with yourself for not being able to overcome the obstacles. Bargaining: In this stage, you may find yourself trying to negotiate or make compromises in an attempt to hold onto your dream. This could involve thoughts like, "If I just work harder, I can still make it happen," or "Maybe if I give it one more year, things will change." Depression: As you begin to acknowledge the loss of your dream, you may experience feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or despair. This stage can be accompanied by a lack of energy, motivation, or interest in other activities. Acceptance: In the final stage, you start to come to terms with the reality of your situation and begin to look forward. This doesn't mean that you're happy about letting go of your dream, but rather that you're ready to explore new possibilities and find alternative ways to find fulfillment and purpose. It's important to note that these stages are not always experienced in a linear fashion, and not everyone goes through all stages or in the same order. Some people may move back and forth between stages or experience them simultaneously. Acknowledging and allowing yourself to experience these emotions is an essential part of the healing process. It's okay to feel sad, angry, or lost as you navigate this transition. Be patient and compassionate with yourself, and allow yourself the time and space to process your feelings. Engaging in self-care activities, such as spending time with supportive loved ones, pursuing hobbies or interests outside of chess, or seeking professional support through therapy or counseling, can be helpful as you work through the grieving process. Remember that grieving the loss of a dream doesn't mean that you're giving up on finding happiness and fulfillment in your life. It's a process of letting go and creating space for new opportunities and experiences that align with your evolving goals and values.

I have been struggling with this philosophical problem lately. I finished watching Leo's new video and reflected on the traps I am susceptible to. I am prone to falling into social traps whether it is scams, being a doormat, or misreading social situations. Part of the problem seems to be that I have an overly optimistic view of humanity. At the same time I am trying not to swing the pendulum to a cynical view of humanity. One of the worst traps I fell into nearly had me framed for being a child predator or rapist. I was talking to a couple at the park when a young boy started approaching us. The man told me that the boy was his brother and asked me to get him. I ran up to the boy saying "your brother wants you." The couple ran away as the boy ran to his mother. It turned out that the boy didn't have a brother and the mother thought I was a child predator which could have ruined my life over the guilty appearance. Having a balanced view of human nature would be practical for these kinds of situations. I'm also not sure how this trap is a gift. Part of the problem may be that I fundamentally misunderstand love. My theory of human nature is that at its core it is love, but human love is finite and biased. The result is that love can drive us toward great acts of kindness and terrible acts of destruction. A common example is in group versus out group. Trying to defend a tribe is an example where partial love can lead to great destruction. As one's capacity for love increases, so to does their capacity for goodness, making them easier to exploit in practice. Another problem I ran into is that I tend to bias selfless love over selfish love. This is partially because I associate selfishness with evil. This is a sign that I misunderstand love if love is so all encompassing that it is both selfish and selfless. In this sense there is no correctness between choosing selflessness or selfishness. I don't understand this paradox, and there might be a middle ground. having a balanced view of human nature should help avoid the traps I fall into. How would you describe human nature?

@Lyubov I think human nature is complicated and I don't understand it. I want to avoid the opposite trap of becoming paranoid. Finally, I want to see examples of a good middle ground when dealing with other people.

@Clarence I am autistic and I faced exactly the same challenges for years. When reflecting on my childhood, I realize that I was more naturally spontaneous, extroverted, and social. The problem is that a series of traumatic events from many parts of my life piled up and drove me to becoming more introverted and socially isolated. I have also become depressed compared to my jovial childhood self. When I went to school, I often made people uncomfortable simply through following my natural urges. This includes my restless legs which drive me to pacing back and forth while laughing out loud instead of in my head like most people can do. I often felt ashamed of myself and felt that I was morally obligated to avoid making people uncomfortable. No matter how hard I tried to be good, I constantly failed. I started self reflecting deeply about life. I was under the impression that there could always be Another point of view from which I am a bad person. My thoughts and actions could always be framed in an infinite number of ways and be interpreted in so many possible ways, that I could never guarantee that everyone would be happy with my actions. It helped me when I distinguished between relative goodness and absolute goodness. Holding yourself to a high standard in the hopes of re-establishing your sense of self worth is an example of relative goodness, but you will never fit every possible moral compass, especially since "high standard" is subjective, making it impossible to please everyone and their preferences and judgement. Absolute goodness transcends and includes all forms of relative goodness. You can start by letting go of your moralisms to yourself. I still struggle with this sometimes, but not as badly as I used to. Keep in mind that OCD is a common co occurring condition in autism that can make you hyper vigilant of every immoral thought for fear that it will translate to immoral action. I fall into a lot of the same thinking patterns you do. When dealing with other people, I'm constantly analyzing potential wrongs of giving up on communicating my point of view, seeing it as useless. I can't seem to bring myself back to who I was a child. I wish you the best of luck.

I just finished another tournament. I had three wins and two draws. One of my wins was against a national master. I therefore gained 82 rating points from this tournament. I had a few problems this tournament. My stress and anxiety were so bad that it made it hard to stay focused. I had stomach problems, a nervous bladder, and a loose stool. I had a hard time controlling my anxiety and it made it difficult to properly calculate everything. This became especially problematic in the last two rounds of the tournament. Fatigue started setting in partially because I couldn't sleep until midnight and ended up waking up a 5. I was technically winning the last two games, but I didn't play as well due to fatigue. I had excellent results with the Sicilian najdorf variation. I won both games with black and defended against an unexpected rook sacrifice. Here is the study with all five games. https://lichess.org/study/viLkAozp/pHfkuTzL

I saw the total eclipse. It was fucking awesome and I was awe for every second of it. I couldn't look away as the whole sky turned dark and I saw some distant planets. The eclipse looked magical with the sunlight glowing from around the moon from behind. I'm glad I got to see it. It far exceeded my expectations and was absolutely incredible.

@MuadDib that looks like a great idea. I haven't tried the upgraded versions of these ai. I should definitely try that for life purpose questions.

I have been disinterested in relationships for various reasons 1. I am goal and career oriented, causing me to see this as a distraction. 2. I struggle to feel any emotional connection to anyone and feel dissociated from the rest of the world. 3. I have very little faith in relationships as see them as causing way too many problems to be worth it. 4. I can't afford my own house and there isn't enough space in my grandma's house for a girlfriend. 5. I see relationships as meaningless as all of them will eventually fell apart in some fashion or another. If I could feel love, then maybe there would be a point to this drama and suffering.

I have been using chat gpt 3.5. If there is a huge difference between this and gpt 4, then I need to check it out. GPt 3.5 is terrible at chess and I don't find it helpful at all.

More about emotional mastery in schools. Apparently, social workers have developed these kinds of programs and they have started Integrating them. It is called SEL or social emotional learning. It helps children to develop emotional resilience while learning how to manage relationships. This is important for children who suffer from abusive and dysfunctional families because they don't know who else to turn to and are often unaware of the resources available. There are a few problems though. Schools are poorly funded, making it difficult to integrate these programs as much as they need to be integrated. This makes it difficult to fully staff these programs because resources are stretched thin across many different schools. In order for these programs to be successful, schools need to have a bigger budget than they currently have.

I have been working with a career coach, a life coach, and an employment agency on this issue. Here is what I came up with. I know what my top picks are in terms of career choices, but for the most part they are unavailable. for example, I could be a full time chess teacher, but these jobs are rare. I would have to move to New York, and it would make it difficult to pay for housing. Secondly, I would be interested in joining a think tank, but this requires both a bachelors degree and that I move to Washington D.C. It doesn't make sense for me to get away from my family before finishing my education. The area of social work I am most interested in is research at a macro level. I would like to use my research to inform policy decisions. This is similar to what I would be doing at think tanks. I would like a job that requires me to constantly learn because I seem to crave intellectual stimulation. The employment agency said that they would help pay for my tuition. I would require at least a master's degree and possibly a doctorate. If I go down this path, then I would like to finish my book about mental illness and society. My dream is to reform the educational system to include emotional mastery and thus prevent suicide, but I don't know how to go about this goal. The best I could find was volunteering for NAMI so I could go into schools and discuss my history with mental health challenges. There are all kinds of things I enjoy studying, but I don't like the career prospects. I like philosophy, sociology, and psychology, but social work seems to have the better career prospects.

@Bobby_2021 I plan on joining college soon. I took a course in computer science and I don't plan on making it my career.

I would like to rethink my entire approach to problem solving because there are probably better ways to solve my problems. I am curious about the approaches other people use to solve problems and I hope that we can come up with better methods.I have been dealing with a lot of problems in various forms (to which you can probably relate.) The problems I am most successful with are chess problems. I approach these problems through a combination of intuition and rational analysis. I find weaknesses in my opponent's moves, exploit them, and win the game. I combine this with constant study and computer analysis with the goal of improvement. This may play to my strengths as someone with autism given how My brain is wired. This is how I defeated a grandmaster for example. My meta problem is that I approach my problems in life as if they were chess problems because I am good at solving in that way. There is a problem with this approach to problem solving. First of all, chess is a game with perfect information. Given perfect information, one can reliably predict the result of a move, but even then one's reasoning can be flawed leading to mistakes. Many of life's problems come with imperfect information. Rational analysis is therefore even more unreliable and is prone to even more mistakes. Furthermore, I often try to think my problems through and come up with a solution. This leads to rumination, causing me to feel trapped and lost. It becomes torture. I analyze my past and present situations again and again only making me even more frustrated. I can't find solutions to my problems by thinking about them, but I still cling to the hope that a solution exists. This causes me to not give up, repeating the cycle. One approach to moral problems seems to be a good for me. I can take a set of relevant principles, weigh their application to a moral dilemma, and then come to a conclusion through analysis. It becomes possible to build up interesting moral positions through this approach. It is kind of like applying the principles of a chess game to guide you to a good move. This could be a principle such as countering a flank attack with a central expansion. I seemed to be very good at moral and academic philosophy when I took a course back in college. I seem to be terrible at managing relationship problems. First of all, my theories fall apart quickly when trying to manage a situation with other people. My conclusion is now that there are no consistent principles to be applied because people react to and interpret your behaviors and intentions in different ways. Each person is unique and requires a unique approach to build any kind of relationship with them. In most cases I have a hard time understanding situations and other people, leading me to be taken advantage of and making mistakes. I often see it as hopeless to communicate my feelings because they can either be rejected or invalidated or completely ignored with no hope of change. Most people are disinterested in deep intellectual work, so I am easily bored with shallow people. These situations are a common weakness for people with autism and obviously rational analysis doesn't help unless I'm trying to predict how someone else will respond and adjust my behavior accordingly to make a calculated move which will probably be bad anyway. It makes it look like my values don't matter a damn and there is nothing I can do about it. In general I hold self education as the key to solving most of life problems. Self education is the key to constant self improvement similar to teaching myself chess to get better. My hope is that I will discover a new idea that will solve my problems. Unfortunately, even this doesn't seem to be enough sometimes. Another kind of problem I dealt with is past trauma. Forgiveness seems to be helpful for this. I tried therapy with limited success. I tried reading several books on emotional mastery with partial success. At the end of all of it I was still depressed and still had thoughts that I would be better off dead. At least I don't need to invent stories about why incest is fine anymore, so that's a plus. Apparently, good relationships are key to solving trauma because they reinforce the belief that you deserve to be loved. ever since the incident from when I was six, I have been struggling with self worth. I have been trying to love myself, but I can't do it. I have been trying to re establish my self worth through accomplishments in career and chess success. (Chess can improve a person's self esteem if they are good at it.) However, I feel trapped at my job at Kroger and I struggle to build a career that uses my strengths. I have tried career coaching and life coaching. I have been given conflicting advice with one saying don't give up on chess and the other saying chess is not a viable career. The opportunities are too rare, and I would be better off joining a think tank. I might need to go back to college. The problem with trying to solve a problem of self worth through accomplishments is that the proof may never be enough. I have earned a hero bonus for working during the COVID pandemic, I helped an abandoned three year old girl, I helped a victim of predatory loaning, I became a chess teacher, I won several chess tournaments, and I helped my suicidal brother. I still don't love myself. Maybe in reality my actions are not proof of my self worth. According to chat GPT my worth and value as a human being is intrinsic. Unfortunately, I think that value is extrinsic and leads me to feelings of nihilism. How do you prove intrinsic value? What are your approaches to problem solving?

What does "getting points to resolve it" mean?

If I were being as rational as possible in terms of my career problems, this is what I would think. According to Cal Newport, following your passion is a bad idea. It can cause you to end up on food stamps. If I pursue chess by moving to New York to get the job, I will struggle to afford housing. Even then, I will put myself through a lot of suffering to try to become a grandmaster. I wasn't given a chess coach at a young age, so realistically this career path will not work. It is not a problem of my abilities, but rather a problem of circumstances. These circumstances happen because chess is a game and does not provide enough value to the world. The reason I didn't give up is because I believe I am supposed to overcome these circumstances and achieve my dream anyway. This is idealistic and will force me to tie myself in knots. As it stands my career options are limited because I only have an associate degree. I will have to go back to college to expand my options. Other career paths could include joining a think tank to inform public policy or becoming a mental health educator. One reason I have been sticking with this path I'm on is because I don't like the solution. If I want what is best for me, then I might have to do something I don't like. I don't know how I'm supposed to be happy in that case, hence I become lost and confused. But rationally I should stop trying to organize my life in such a way as to become a professional chess player.

@Karmadhi good question. I don't know how to evaluate when a war is hopeless. Russia can apparently sustain the war for at least two or three more years whereas Ukraine cannot. Ukraine can't stay in the war unless they keep receiving aid. How can you tell if the war is hopeless for Ukraine?