In the media I consumed a lot of focus during Covid was: if we cannot perform and we don’t get financial aid, how do we continue make music/art/theatre etc. and it clicked for me that listening to Spotify will not feed the artists.

So as soon as some kind of open air, distance concert was on, I purchased tickets. For me it was kind of cool, because I am very small and never see the stage. Having beach/ deck chair concert or “sitting” at a table was nice since I could see the stage. But I obviously are happy to have the opportunity again to jump into a pogo pit or Schlagerstrudel.

Teenage me would be very confused to know I listen to hip hop now too. But I try to enjoy new music, listen to upcoming artists and just be excited.

Since Covid I go to concerts more often. Try to purchase a new ticket before I go to the last concert I already have tickets for.

So I go to 2-4 paid events and maybe 1-2 for free events a year. This includes concerts and 1-day-festivals. I shifted from only seeing the one fav-band I have and now buy a ticket for everything I like and like to support. No matter if they are small or big names. When I was young, I only saw the one punk rock band. Now I go to pop concerts, gangster rap etc. just listen to whatever I think is cool.

I have a scar in my left armpit. I have several patches of skin all over my body which looks and behaves funky. I have brown straight hair but where my funky skin is I have blond spare curly hair which doesn’t grow long. I got it lasered on my neck and face as a teenager because I was told it needs to go because insurance didn’t want to continue paying for an acid creme to make it brighter (the skin is also darker and uneven). + random assholes asking me if I didn’t wash my neck. Under my arm the skin got often inflamed from sweating and looked like a rough naked mole. They tried to laser it and I got bad scarring and they decided to cut it away. Roughly 10 cm. The scar is ugly as hell. I can’t feel shit and it is uneven and hard to shave around. Lifting my arm for sport like jumping jacks hurt. Lucky me I hate sport anyway.

Switched for the same reason. I have the feeling that in the last couple of weeks lemmy got a lot more interactions, especially after Elon tried to ban posts on reddit, but maybe it is just a feeling. Initially I really missed Reddit. Some inside jokes where missing for my communities. Having this girl show up in everyone’s inbox felt like the first kind of sitewide memory to look back onto. I don’t miss the porn. Having to see crazy attractive people all the time made me feel bad. Would prefer fair trade porn if I seek it.

The DeutschlandTicket is by far one of the best decisions we have made in years. I am a public transport Ultra. But it is just the best thing to just hop into a bus anyfuckingwhere you want in Germany. No need to look for zones. The public transport zoning in Germany required an advanced degree to navigate. Most of the time I just travel within two cities but I nearly almost break even and I don’t t want to think about 3€ I might have saved not using the DTicket. But going once in a while to a different city makes it worthwhile. Should it be cheaper for students, pupils, disabled and socially disadvantaged: absolutely fucking yes (travelling in a wheelchair in Germany is still a nightmare). Or make it free for all and get rid of the Dienstwagenprevileg (tax privileges which makes it very cheap to get a car through your employer).

But what really makes my blood boil is the following: for a couple of months now they have discussed supporting making a driving licence because it is too expensive for young people: if we had functioning public transport we wouldn’t need to make a licence with 17 to drive to a job as a trainee where we earn a little compensation. Public transport would benefit everyone in the region not one person.

It is not a no one should ever use a car, it is one does everyone believe there is no alternative to a car.

And I am very confused why people constantly bring up people with disabilities cannot drive bikes but can drive cars. The most people with disabilities cannot drive cars. You only see people with who have the means to drive a car. The rest is just stuck at home. It is not only having a wheelchair, but sight, hearing, age, epilepsy, mental capacity all those things restrict your ability to drive. Building a car to enable one person is so much less efficient as building infrastructure for all regardless of age, income and diasability.

One more thing to freedom of travel. Imagine having a car. You park it and visit a sight. You are done and have to return to your car. You can in general never just leave. This may apply to a bike too but in comparison public transport or on foot it is a hassle.

You say it yourself: Granted, all of those use cases should be covered by a good public transport system.

There should be no but afterwards.

I get you and sure some themes hit harder than others. I myself no kids etc thought pet sematary was an ok book and I have read many comments saying it hits harder being a parent/father.

But there is a difference between: will we get the male perspective and I am not interested in the plot of a female one. Therefore devaluing it.

In a radio show introducing an entertainment to your audience, giving a platform to an author and then being dismissive feels so stupid.

I am especially enjoyed since it was on air in the youth centre. Boys and man constantly use girl and woman and anything related to it as insult. (And obviously gay, which is my personal journey to remind everyone that it is not an insult.) Just selecting a female team in FIFA was nearly too much to ask.

A couple of month ago I was volunteering in my youth centre. We always have the radio on. On air was an interview of a female author writing about a woman and her struggles as a mom and wife, falling for another man. The male interviewer had the audacity to ask if there are any themes in the book which could interest him as a male reader (imagine a very condescending tone).

Reducing “female” themes to lesser themes is so annoying, hurtful and stupid.

As someone mentioned before: play boardgames. The nice thing is you don’t need any cause we gamers already have plenty and are always looking for people to play with.

Also go volunteering. You’ll meet people of different ages, genders and backgrounds. I myself volunteer in a youth centre in my neighbourhood. Initially I knew no one on the streets. Now people recognise me, teens and parents alike, say hello and acknowledge me. I myself like this. It makes the neighbourhood feel more welcoming and save. Initially I „hid“ behind our counter having a save distance between me and the teens until I felt comfortable and feeling like I can intrude their space. It takes time. But it is worth it.

It is a great podcast. But all of Michael Hobbes podcasts are. He still co hosts maintenance phase and now Sarah is running you are wrong about alone.