That’s one thing Reddit doesn’t somehow grasp: They outsourced their brand experience a long time ago when they were late to building an app of their own. To me and many others, reddit definitely is reddit is fun. There’s no putting that genie back in the bottle.

This is the best answer. For a long time, VCs were willing to load up all sorts of startups and growth-stage companies with cash. But that changed last year. Suddenly, some investors found it made more sense to park their money in less risky, less time-consuming opportunities. That included stuff like bonds. Higher interest rates and an economy in crunch mode made the need to make money now more important than before.

I definitely miss Jerboa. But the past month has already brought so much chaos to my internet use. What’s a little more?

No. I’ve been using Prednisone. I finished my cycle yesterday evening, so I’m optimistic I’ll be good to go soon!

Thanks so much!

Here are a few nonfiction books I couldn’t stop reading and ultimately finished in a couple of days. They might be a little niche, but I’d recommend them for everyone.

• “Tranny” by Laura Jane Grace (autobiography by the lead singer of the band Against Me!)

• “Where You’ll Find Me” by Ty Gagne (story and analysis of a woman who died hiking New Hampshire’s White Mountains in winter)

• “This Land” by Christopher Ketcham (kind of one big reported essay on how big industry and cowboy culture are destroying the American West)

I’m on steroids to treat a gnarly poison ivy rash that spread across my body. The meds have been waking and keeping me up throughout the night. It’s a bummer, and I’m tired, but it’s also fine. I feel better than I did when I was drinking. I’m still parenting, working, exercising, and reading.

Grateful for life even when it’s a little hard.

IWNDWYT.

Thanks! And that is scary. It’s definitely easy to forget how fragile this is if we don’t care for it. Glad you’re doing great now.

The early weekend was crazy. It was such an excuse for me to obliterate the majority of my workweek because god knows I was worthless on Monday and part of Tuesday. Did better late Tuesday, crushed Wednesday, and then was down and out for Thursday and Friday.

It didn’t always happen like that. And toward the end, that was really rare. But damn do I remember when I was at my worst. The pain in my head as my alarm blared after a couple of hours of strained sleep. The horror of waking up. The immediate regret, the dread, the feeling that I’d trade anything to be anyone else.

No thanks. Life’s better on this side. It wasn’t easy to get here, and I still face days when I wonder whether this sober person is really me. Did I really make that change? Did I really set those boundaries? Am I really no longer a drinker, something that was core to my friendships, family relationships, and identity?

The answer is yes, so long as I don’t take that next drink. IWNDWYT.

Another sober day = another good day. IWNDWYT.

That’s true. July is definitely better where I am, but the blueberry festivals are starting this weekend.

Blueberries fresh off the bush. Tis the season.

Sure thing. Sounds like you really thought it through. I’m gonna borrow a page from your book during a slippery situation tomorrow. Thanks!

Lol it’s seriously crazy how much less active this place felt a couple of weeks ago. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be someone who was here years ago.

Happy Friday! IWNDWYT. But I will definitely eat pizza with you today.

Nice job. I know how hard that kind of situation can be.

I’m sorry you felt like an outsider. As someone whose family and friend groups is full of binge drinkers, I know that feeling well.

What works for me has always been leaving when I feel like it. I’ve also set boundaries with loved ones, which helped me prevent being in many – but not all – difficult situations. And my wife, kid, and I do a lot of fun, active stuff – and more and more, people we know want in on that, which helps a ton.

Anyway, you’re a champion. Way to go!

Super cool! Do you know for sure it’s a hawk? I don’t have the best eye, but it might be a falcon because it looks a little smaller, but my perspective could be very, very off.

Either way, such a cool morning treat!

This brings up a good question: Do we really want everyone we can get?

On one hand, it’d help flesh out fledgling communities and keep threads and feeds more active.

On the other hand, the more people who come here, the more likely we are to see lower-effort, lower-value, and even counterproductive content and comments.

There’s probably some magic number, an adoption level where communities thrive but are not watered down. I have no idea what that is, though.

Yes. It has already replaced a lot of my reddit time. More and more of the communities I enjoy are budding up here. I have high hopes!

Thanks! You have my word that I’ll try my best. I’m typically a bit more passive in this community on Reddit because I don’t have the depth of experience or expertise as some of the users there, but I’ll try my hand, for sure.