The theory I’ve read is that lots of people are into a bit of the taboo/forbidden partner aspect of an attraction they have toward a real person in their life: their neighbor, platonic friend, co-worker, etc. But most of these connections don’t really feel all that taboo when it’s someone else, so the “step-” angle is just a generic stand in that carries the forbidden aspect without going too far.

The low 000s are all generally pretty meta subjects, how we interact with and organize knowledge in general. Journalism and library science deal with reporting and classifying information, computers and programming deal with processing generic data, unexplained phenomena deals with things that can’t be assigned to a specific subject by their very nature.

Witchcraft, Feng Shui, and Tarot are all generally found in 133 (Parapsychology and Occultism), although I could imagine particularly high-level books to be sorted into 003 (Systems), since they are supposed to be comprehensive systems.

Books about computer hardware would be next to electronics. Computer science is where it is because it’s a more abstract topic about general information processing. If anything, I’d argue that fundamental mathematics belongs in the 000s with it.

Maybe not everything, there were a few less-than-greats in his catalogue. It’s been a while, but I can’t imagine The Pebble and the Penguin or A Troll in Central Park being particularly good as an adult.

Eh, you can circle back through nihilism into absurdism, and wind up in a place close enough to self-confidence to actually turn into it eventually.

Ask me how I know.

To be fair, she did explicitly refer to the bimbo aesthetic. That’s not just dressing “like a woman”, it’s a pretty objectively sexualized aesthetic. Not that what you’re saying doesn’t also happen.

Based on the fact that you came to Lemmy for relationship advice, I’m gonna go ahead and assume you’re a huge dork. Fear not, I was once also a huge dork. I still am, but now I’m a kinda hot dork with a hot dork wife. I’ll tell you how I did it.

I’ll break this up into a few sections:

-1. Be Attractive

Rule 1 & 2 reign supreme. Even that quiet nerd you have your eye on wants a relatively attractive partner.

First, basic hygiene. I don’t know if this is an issue for you, but it was for me. Fresh breath, clean hair, and no detectable BO go a long way.

Second, exercise. Compound lifts and cardio. You’ll build discipline, a more attractive physique, and stamina for the consequences of being in a relationship.

Third, style. T-shirts and flip flops aren’t very attractive. Invest in a couple nice button downs, a nice pair of jeans, and shoes that make you look like a grown up. Go to your barber and have an honest conversation about hairstyles that suit you.

-2. Be Sociable

First, learn how to talk to people. It’s a cliche, but Carnegie’s HtWFaIP is a great starting place if you have difficultly maintaining small talk. But the best thing you can do, ultimately, is getting low stakes practice talking to people. Chit chat with the cashier, compliment random strangers on shirts you like, go to bars and strike up conversations. Conversation is a skill even introverts can learn.

Second, learn how to be rejected gracefully. Not every conversation is going to pan out. Understand that a failed conversation is not the end of the world, and appreciate it for the brief social practice. Not everyone is going to vibe with you, and that’s okay. But if you never put yourself out there, you’ll never find the ones that do. Learn to be okay with striking out, or fizzling.

Third, try to be interesting. Learn about things that other people find interesting. You can go a long, long way just asking people questions and letting them talk, but knowing a little about the topic they’re taking about makes for better questions.

-3. Get Out There

Other people have touched on social hobbies, but it bears repeating. There’s not really a better way to find a partner than going to gatherings of people with similar interests. That’s where all the people who like the same stuff as you are.

Plus, the more you get out there, the better you’ll get at communicating.

It took me years to find my wife, but the journey developed me as a person, and I had a surprising amount of fun in the process.

Better than “dipshit”.

Lots of things. Working on a project, reading a good book, a nice meal, vibing in nature, pleasant exercise. There’s a lot of suffering in the world, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy everyday things.

I consider unwarranted dickishness to be a subset of harmful takes

Crack my skull and spine, pull out my spinal cord, brain, and eyes, pop 'em in a robot body.

Who dares. To love. Forever?

I upvote things I like. I don’t downvote things I don’t like, I only downvote lies, misinformation, or harmful takes.

Rewind by Hotel Eden

Windowsill by McBaise

Both albums have some great tracks that fit that vibe.

If you’re feeling extra spicy maybe sprinkle in some .Temp by Graham Kartna

Nobody cares

Edit: I don’t think y’all understand

If my early homebrewing days taught me anything, it’s that vinegar is so easy to make you can do it by accident.

I like /srs, but /gen is growing on me

This feels, prescriptively, like the correct answer

I maintain like a dozen playlists with specific vibes. I constantly try to discover new music, whether through algorithms or active searching. When I find a really good album I’ll just sit and listen, maybe doing something that doesn’t require concentration.

There are bands that I really like that I bring up all the time. When I find a new one, I’m telling everyone who might like them. There are some I’ll listen to over and over, and some I ration to try not to burn out.

I like great art, but I’m also down with meme music and other goofy shit.

Some people are wealthy because they provide a valuable, well-paid skill (neurosurgeons, for example). Some people are in positions of power because they sincerely want to make their communities a better place.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s probably more likely to get there through sociopathic greed. But that doesn’t mean they are all horrible people.

Are you talking about specific wealthy, powerful people?

Except that it literally was a commentary on me though. If you wanted to tell your own truth you could’ve made your own comment, but you responded to mine to tell me why your worldview was superior.