I've been on the outside observing this escalating shit show for 8 years now and I think I've finally reached the point where I don't even have the words to convey what I feel about the current state of American politics.

I mean, I know there's a lot of history behind it etc., but just the past months? I don't even..

I hope shit gets better for ya'll, I sincerely do.

This guy really likes to dig himself into the stupid hole any chance he gets, huh?

Him being a pretty smart guy overall surely has at least some sort of continuity planned.

..and then they'll never trust you fully again. Ever.

This is the most shortsighted shit I've seen in a long time.

You might not have anyone close to you to talk to right now, but you did choose to post here and because of that you're not alone. I'll talk to ya for as long as you need to if you want. I don't have any experience with the trans part, but I've been homeless with absolutely nothing before - by all rights I shouldn't even be here, but I am.

Many of us have been in some variation of your situation and most of us make it back to some semblance of a normal life. It's hard to not give in to despair but it doesn't have to be impossible. I'm not going to say you're too young to give in to that despair because I know that shit doesn't help, but things do change when one gets older. The perspective can be refreshing.

Everyone has a plan until a pneumatic metal fist hammers them silly.

I was a decently rated chess player (nationally) in my youth and I have level 5 aphantasia i.e. I see nothing at all.

While I absolutely cannot play or picture game states without a physical board in front of me like most pros can, I had no great difficulty otherwise.

I practiced with a friend at the same general skill level that was very good at playing sans voir, which incidentally is how I realized I don't have the same mental imagery as him. This was ~25 years ago, and I didn't run into the word aphantasia until around 2020.

I would have, but I didn't remember it offhand and didn't have time to check. She deserved far better than she got though, that's for sure.

Too late, as the one who broke the story got murdered years ago. She's not talked about nearly enough.

He makes his living by fucking with people he doesn't like and he certainly got off easy compared to the damage he's caused.

The man is a swedish speaking Finn originally, it kinda comes with the territory. We might technically be a minority but we're still as Finnish as the rest of them (to a certain degree at least).

Covid with a side order of severe pancreatitis.

Almost checked out permanently just in time for Christmas.