The Summer of Brennan is real, folks! Critical Role has announced that BLeeM is DMing a sequel to ExU: Calamity with Downfall, a three-part series kicking off on July 11! The players will include CR regulars Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, and Laura Bailey, along with Akubakar Salim, Noshir Dalal, and Nick Marini. Between this and Never Stop Blowing Up, we're headed in for a wild ride.

My boyfriend (28M) is mad at me (26F) for telling my parents I got a second job. For some background I am a long distance daughter, I am very close with my family and I would say we have a relatively healthy relationship. I moved with my boyfriend after we both graduated college and we have been dating for 10 years. I recently picked up a part-time job on top of my full-time corporate job. I picked up the second job just to get some extra income and save. Yesterday I had told my parents about my part-time job, as we were having a phone call conversation. Now my boyfriend is mad at me for telling them about the 2nd job. He says that I don't have to tell them everything and I am not a "child." But I don't see a reason to keep it a secret. When asked "what did you do today?" I'm just supposed to lie to my parents? I don't understand why I can't tell them. It's my life and I like to keep my family informed as we have a close relationship. Now he is mad at me and giving me the silent treatment. This isn't the first time he has acted this way. He likes to pick on me for having daily conversations with my mom and things like our family group chat and daily "good morning" texts. l am open to my parents about most things besides personal relationship issues. I keep those to myself. But he seems to have a problem with the kind of relationship I do have with my family. To me I have a normal healthy relationship with my family.

I'm annoyed that he is mad at me for something that I see no issue with. But I am questioning if he may be right...idk. I was upset yesterday because I felt like I was talking to a brick wall when I was expressing my feelings on the situation. I had told him that I would never change my relationship with my family for him or to make him feel better. I don't see a reason to distance myself from my family, just for him. Is the 2nd job something I should have kept to myself? Is he right in I don't need to tell them everything because I am older and haven't lived with them in almost 5 years?

UPDATE: it’s been since Sunday since we talked at all. We been ignoring eachother for days. Usually I am the one to give into the silence but this time I chose to stand my ground. But today I broke the silence by saying I am second guessing our relationship. I explained how I felt that we have different values(one being family) and that it does not sit well with me that he 1. Does not care about the situation at all 2. Try to settle and talk about it. All he had to say was if that how you feel you don’t have to stay in this relationship. Now I’m even more mad but seriously considering leaving this 10 year relationship. But I just can’t wrap my head around how he just does not give a fuck! Not wanting to talk, not wanting try. Nothing. Just easily tells me to go…is this worth ending a 10 year relationship? I don’t see how we can work this out, with him not giving in and standing in his own beliefs and views. Plus, not even wanting to apologize for his actions.

This is so funny to me mostly because IT WORKS. My partner and I are both F in our 20s. We’re both neurodivergent, and I’ve found that she has a lot of demand avoidance. If I ask her or tell her to do something directly, she huffs or doesn’t want to do it, etc and it can put her in a mood for a while afterwards.

I’ve started using gentle parenting methods on her by offering two choices to her. “Hey honey! Do you want to either a)do the dishes right now so it’s done or b) do them after we watch an episode of our show?”, for example. This is working surprisingly well and her reactions are much more positive overall.

I feel like she may be a bit mad if she found out I’m using gentle parenting methods on her, but hey it works, and it’s made our communication better! I don’t believe it’s doing any harm, but a small part of me wonders if this is being manipulative somehow-even though it’s with good intentions..?

AITAH?

I really gotta agree with Bob, the cyber truck is ugly as hell, I don't think bob and I would agree on what vehicles look good or not because I like 4X4 Trucks and older muscle cars, but I will 100% agree that the Cyber truck is just garbage.

TL;DR: I was deep into Jordan Peterson's teachings but found my way back through compassionate friends, workplace health and safety concepts, and short, insightful videos. Here's how you can help friends and family stuck in similar cognitive holes.

(This post is a prompt-engineered rewrite of a comment thread I participated in, edited for brevity and clarity.)

I wanted to share my journey and offer some advice on how to help friends and family who might be trapped in reactionary ideologies like I was. I hope my story and tips can make a difference.

Back in 2014, my life was a mess. My girlfriend of five years broke up with me via text, revealing she was pregnant with her boss's baby. Shortly after, my mother passed away from cancer. Professionally, I faced several setbacks, and I was living alone. I was misdiagnosed with depression and put on an increased dosage of SSRIs. To top it off, I had undiagnosed general and social anxiety and ADHD.

During this dark period, I found Jordan Peterson through anti-SJW YouTube channels and influencers like Sam Harris and Dave Rubin. Peterson's confident and articulate manner drew me in. His messages about personal responsibility made me feel like I could fix myself if I just tried hard enough, and he provided a convenient scapegoat for my problems.

I dove deep into this content, watching Daily Wire videos and way too much Dave Rubin. The COVID-19 lockdowns only intensified my immersion into reactionary thinking. My critical thinking was compromised, and I rationalized all the gaps and harmful ideas these people promoted.

Here's what helped me break free and how you can help others:

Show Empathy and Patience: Compassionate friends played a crucial role in my journey. They listened to me without judgment and offered different perspectives. It's important to be patient and understand that the person you're trying to help might be scared, lost, and confused. Judgment and confrontation can push them further into their beliefs.

Encourage Critical Thinking: A significant turning point for me was my involvement in workplace health and safety (WHS). A lecturer challenged my views by insisting that any injury or illness in the workplace is a system's fault, not the worker's. This idea helped me see systemic issues everywhere. Encouraging critical thinking and systemic analysis can help others see beyond personal responsibility rhetoric.

Recommend and Share Thought-Provoking Content: Podcasts and YouTube channels were instrumental in my recovery. "Decoding the Gurus," SomeMoreNews, Hoots, Behind the Bastards, The Majority Report, and DaveRubinClips helped me critically evaluate and reject harmful ideologies. Share short, insightful videos rather than long debunkings. People are more likely to watch and absorb shorter content.

Foster Open Conversations: Engage in open, non-confrontational conversations. One of my friends would let me rant and then calmly refuse to buy into it, which confused me and made me rethink my positions. Another friend simply mentioned she wasn't into Jordan Peterson, planting a seed of doubt in my mind. These small interactions can create "chinks in the armor" over time.

Lead by Example: Showing empathy, understanding, and patience in your interactions can lead by example. People are more likely to change when they see positive behavior modeled for them.

Conclusion

Breaking free from reactionary ideologies is a complex and personal journey. Compassion, patience, and critical thinking are key in helping others see beyond harmful beliefs. By fostering open conversations and leading by example, we can support those who are struggling and guide them towards a more balanced and empathetic worldview.

Thanks for reading my story and advice. I hope it helps you support someone who might be struggling like I was.

Hope you all have a great day!

(Edit: link to original post: )

Scott advertises PFT on the CBB tour in the episodes. PFT is great, but he's only on the Best Of's end of year. I'd rather see a-list classic guests on tour like Andrew Lloyd Webber or Werner Herzog or the Grizz. What gives