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[Raphael]

Leaks can be tricky to fix, especially as plumbers are optimists ("this thing I did will fix the problem!"). Believe me, I know because it's happened to me, more than once.

For some reason, my dentist's office keeps getting water damage caused by leaks. Fingers crossed for my appointment next week.

[Starbeam]

My entire workplace is full of ultra-conservative MAGAs. For those living in other countries, imagine if everyone else in your workplace voted for AfD, RN, or Reform. Imagine they regularly wore shirts with swastikas to work or ranted about how Alfred Dreyfus had it coming. How much clemency would you honestly expect from people like that?

Okay first off, people outside America can just look up what "MAGA" means, and most of them already know anyway. It's not like they asked for an explanation. But also, i'm explicitly referring to your bosses, including people parallel to or above your level, even if you rarely hear from them. Your peers really do not matter.

I also have anxiety (and depression!), and I also live in a very red state where people think a lot of very conservative things. I also know I won't get fired for going to court for a speeding ticket or get evicted for "bothering" the landlord, and that often they just want their money. (Not to mention if they try to evict you without cause, or too quickly, that would get them in legal trouble.) The biggest difference between malloc and I, besides me being trans and so having MORE reasons to be worried by the current administration, is that instead of lying down waiting to die, I figure if I'm going to die I'll die trying to do something about it. That and I'm medicated.

I didn't say anything about how you should agree with Malloc in the slightest. I was talking about not blowing your lid off at somebody already stressed out. Medication isn't easy to get in this country, so i understand how anyone acts without it. That said, i agree he should be more assertive with his life rather than panic in the fetal position. I'm forgiving about it, but i hope he takes being less obsequious to heart.

[malloc]

When people speak of 'criminal charges' they practically always exclude routine traffic violations. Your job is not going to fire you over a speeding ticket.

Maybe not, but they will consider a criminal conviction and missed work when deciding who to lay off in the next recession. If an employer has a choice between someone with a spotless record and a convicted criminal, they will ditch the criminal. Even a minor crime would suffice if the workers are otherwise evenly matched. Getting another job will prove incredibly difficult as well since I will have to compete with people without criminal convictions for any open slots.

[Starbeam]

When people speak of 'criminal charges' they practically always exclude routine traffic violations. Your job is not going to fire you over a speeding ticket.

Maybe not, but they will consider a criminal conviction and missed work when deciding who to lay off in the next recession. If an employer has a choice between someone with a spotless record and a convicted criminal, they will ditch the criminal. Even a minor crime would suffice if the workers are otherwise evenly matched. Getting another job will prove incredibly difficult as well since I will have to compete with people without criminal convictions for any open slots.

I mean, now you're moving goalposts. We are already in a recession and as Travis said this is not nearly what they're worried about. If they have a deciding factor to fire you, it's for not being a MAGAt, which i'm sure you don't want to become. And if you're looking for other jobs, you only need to worry if you have a felony. By law, this would be a misdemeanor.

[Travis B.]

When people speak of 'criminal charges' they practically always exclude routine traffic violations. Your job is not going to fire you over a speeding ticket.

Maybe not, but they will consider a criminal conviction and missed work when deciding who to lay off in the next recession. If an employer has a choice between someone with a spotless record and a convicted criminal, they will ditch the criminal. Even a minor crime would suffice if the workers are otherwise evenly matched. Getting another job will prove incredibly difficult as well since I will have to compete with people without criminal convictions for any open slots.

You did not even read what I wrote! When people speak of 'criminal convictions' they do not mean routine traffic violations. When job applications ask you to write down prior criminal convictions, they practically always say to omit routine traffic violations -- this is for a reason.

(Of course, if I repeat myself, will that increase the chances of what I write actually getting through your brain.)

[Travis B.]

When people speak of 'criminal charges' they practically always exclude routine traffic violations. Your job is not going to fire you over a speeding ticket.

Maybe not, but they will consider a criminal conviction and missed work when deciding who to lay off in the next recession. If an employer has a choice between someone with a spotless record and a convicted criminal, they will ditch the criminal. Even a minor crime would suffice if the workers are otherwise evenly matched. Getting another job will prove incredibly difficult as well since I will have to compete with people without criminal convictions for any open slots.

I mean, now you're moving goalposts. We are already in a recession and as Travis said this is not nearly what they're worried about. If they have a deciding factor to fire you, it's for not being a MAGAt, which i'm sure you don't want to become. And if you're looking for other jobs, you only need to worry if you have a felony. By law, this would be a misdemeanor.

In a lot of places, a routine traffic violation is not necessarily even a misdemeanor.

[malloc]

In a lot of places, a routine traffic violation is not necessarily even a misdemeanor.

Unfortunately my ticket was going 85mph in a 60mpg zone which qualifies as a misdemeanor. It will definitely appear on a background check unless I can find some way to get acquitted.

I mean, now you're moving goalposts. We are already in a recession and as Travis said this is not nearly what they're worried about.

Well then, I should expect them to announce layoffs sooner rather than later.

[Travis B.]

In a lot of places, a routine traffic violation is not necessarily even a misdemeanor.

Unfortunately my ticket was going 85mph in a 60mpg zone which qualifies as a misdemeanor. It will definitely appear on a background check unless I can find some way to get acquitted.

Here in WI on a good few occasions I have gotten my tickets reduced points-wise by simply coming into the court hearing and agreeing to pay the fine as-is.

[zompist]

In a lot of places, a routine traffic violation is not necessarily even a misdemeanor.

If we're apparently the only adults malloc ever talks to, it's important to get things right. Speeding in Missouri is a misdemeanor (but not a felony).

Unfortunately my ticket was going 85mph in a 60mpg zone

Were you going 85? This again seems like something someone should have told you. Though no one can tell you that speeding is safe, less than 10 mph over the limit is pretty routine and won't get you into serious trouble. If you're going 85, or even 80, that's dangerous and, as you've seen, liable to attract a cop's notice. There is no road in Missouri where 80 is OK.

[Travis B.]

In a lot of places, a routine traffic violation is not necessarily even a misdemeanor.

If we're apparently the only adults malloc ever talks to, it's important to get things right. Speeding in Missouri is a misdemeanor (but not a felony).

I was thinking of here in Wisconsin, hence "a lot of places". I was not aware of the details of traffic law in Missouri, hence why I did not say "in Missouri".

[Travis B.]

Okay, just checked, and in Missouri, yes, if you speed 25 over it is a class B misdemeanor and you are required to make a court appearance.

And just for the record, as zompist says, simply don't go 25 over, really...

[malloc]

Were you going 85? This again seems like something someone should have told you. Though no one can tell you that speeding is safe, less than 10 mph over the limit is pretty routine and won't get you into serious trouble. If you're going 85, or even 80, that's dangerous and, as you've seen, liable to attract a cop's notice. There is no road in Missouri where 80 is OK.

I don't think I was going 85 but it's my word against the cop's so there is little I can do. I am honestly stumped on how to fix this sort of problem. My expenses were already bad enough and this will undoubtedly force my car insurance premiums beyond what I can currently afford. You can call it catastrophizing all you like, but I really do feel like my life is ruined.

[zompist]

In a lot of places, a routine traffic violation is not necessarily even a misdemeanor.

If we're apparently the only adults malloc ever talks to, it's important to get things right. Speeding in Missouri is a misdemeanor (but not a felony).

I was thinking of here in Wisconsin, hence "a lot of places". I was not aware of the details of traffic law in Missouri, hence why I did not say "in Missouri".

You know perfectly well that malloc lives in Missouri. Laws can vary a lot between states, and malloc does not need to know about general laws, but about laws in his state.

[lëtzeshark]

You know perfectly well that malloc lives in Missouri. Laws can vary a lot between states, and malloc does not need to know about general laws, but about laws in his state.

And if you did the licensing process in one state, then it's likely they hammered home the rules specific to that state. If you're traveling between states, there may be differences, naturally (speed limits, thresholds for speeding seriousness, tolerances, fines...); the same's also the case here for speeding offenses, some traffic rules, or, really, any sort of legal stuff. (Some of my coworkers almost forget that you have to pay for the public transit anywhere outside Luxembourg, and they almost get in trouble.)

Here in WI on a good few occasions I have gotten my tickets reduced points-wise by simply coming into the court hearing and agreeing to pay the fine as-is.

There often are ways, as well, to negotiate the charge down (plea bargain). A common one in "my" state (NC) is to plead guilty to an equipment violation for speeding, to negotiate a plea to a less serious speeding charge (the recklessness threshold in NC is at 16 over, so sometimes they'll go for 14 over to fall below it... or maybe 9 over to avoid the insurance hit), or to go for a deferred disposition/"prayer for judgment continued". Some states also offer an option to do a traffic school to avoid points/a conviction. Point being, there usually are options!


Random: I'm starting to pack for traveling back to the U.S. in two weeks, and I'm quicly figuring out that the suitcases I originally planned to bring with me probably aren't going to work size-wise, especially for all the things my family wants me to bring back. (These things are mostly food.) It's also a bit strange to realize this'll (hopefully) be my last big trip with just a U.S. passport.

[malloc]

The maintenance people are finally working on the leak and it looks worse than originally thought. They cut up the ceiling to find the leak but couldn't find anything. They will have to wait until Monday to address the problem more thoroughly. They put a dehumidifier in here which will make sleeping impossible for the next few days while also driving up my electric bill considerably. There is also quite a strong chance that I will have to leave the apartment temporarily while they make extensive repairs or even move out entirely.

My life has consistently gotten worse over the past few years. Every week brings some new disaster or chips away one more amenity. How much more am I supposed to take?

[linguistcat]

In happier news, my daughter (3) has started taking an interest in Japanese songs (my preferred lang) and German (hubby's).

[Raphael]

In happier news, my daughter (3) has started taking an interest in Japanese songs (my preferred lang) and German (hubby's).

Glad to hear! Good luck with the parenting thing in the future!

[Travis B.]

As languages go, my daughter's been studying German in high school and has been into K-pop...

[Raphael]

Almost forgot: Happy St. Nicholas Day to whoever celebrates it!

[Travis B.]

Almost forgot: Happy St. Nicholas Day to whoever celebrates it!

It's traditional for kids to get small gifts for it here in the Milwaukee area.