Ask HN: Have you ever had a changed-your-life moment? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had a changed-your-life moment?

#231

Post by ramesh31 » Thu, Jul 28, 2022, 1:49 PM UTC

gaws wrote: post #215

ramesh31 wrote: post #112

In 2007, I joined the US Army infantry at the height of the Iraq war, two months after my 17th birthday. I had grown up brainwashed into the idea of military service being the single best thing a person can do, and wanted nothing more at that point than to get out of my small hometown. As I was training with my unit for deployment, we were spending days on end practicing combat drills to storm buildings. This was the…

> Eventually turned myself in and (miraculously) got out with an honorable discharge. How did you swing this?

>How did you swing this?

Mostly luck and timing. I was in a combat unit that was deploying to Iraq in a matter of weeks as part of the troop surge. They didn't have the time or interest in court martialling me for the AWOL charges when I came back. So they busted me down to E-1 private, put me on extra duty, and told me I was still going to deploy.

At that point I knew I had to get out. My first thought was to go for Conscientious Objector status, but that only gets you reassigned to non combat duties. So I spoke with an army doctor about why I went AWOL, and convinced him that it was part of a bipolar manic episode. Bipolar disorder is one of a few preexisting conditions that can qualify you for an honorable discharge, so as soon as the diagnosis was made, I was put on the "do not deploy" list and processed out.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had a changed-your-life moment?

#232

Post by gaws » Thu, Jul 28, 2022, 2:07 PM UTC

ramesh31 wrote: post #231

gaws wrote: post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Eventually turned myself in and (miraculously) got out with an honorable discharge. How did you swing this?

>How did you swing this? Mostly luck and timing. I was in a combat unit that was deploying to Iraq in a matter of weeks as part of the troop surge. They didn't have the time or interest in court martialling me for the AWOL charges when I came back. So they busted me down to E-1 private, put me on extra duty, and told me I was still going to deploy. At that point I knew I had to get out. My first thought was to go for…

> So I spoke with an army doctor about why I went AWOL, and convinced him that it was part of a bipolar manic episode. Bipolar disorder is one of a few preexisting conditions that can qualify you for an honorable discharge, so as soon as the diagnosis was made, I was put on the "do not deploy" list and processed out.

And you're still dealing with bipolar disorder?

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had a changed-your-life moment?

#233

Post by gautamcgoel » Thu, Jul 28, 2022, 7:49 PM UTC

oleander73 wrote: post #223

usgroup wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you do now?

I'm retired. I live in a country where healthcare costs aren't an issue and have enough savings to live on for my projected lifespan.

Which country is that?

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had a changed-your-life moment?

#234

Post by cies » Thu, Jul 28, 2022, 9:45 PM UTC

gaws wrote: post #217

cies wrote: post #17

When a kid (10+ years younger) at a rave told me --being a vegetarian at the time-- that I'm not "nice to animals" and not "doing enough" and if I cared to be consistent with my beliefs I should go vegan. Also: children, DMT, studying Buddhism and a not to be named hard-core socialist music festival near Berlin.

> not to be named hard-core socialist music festival near Berlin. Why not name it?

Keep the rest in the dark. They dont want it to be advertised, it already attracts more people than it can handle.

Try Burning Man, some say it has similar vibes minus the radical socialism.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had a changed-your-life moment?

#235

Post by dhubris » Thu, Jul 28, 2022, 10:05 PM UTC

Finally getting the courage in my mid-thirties to get therapy for the sexual abuse I experienced in my early teens. Wish I'd done it sooner.

In my early fifties now and pretty sure I'd be dead by now if I hadn't.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had a changed-your-life moment?

#236

Post by ramesh31 » Thu, Jul 28, 2022, 10:40 PM UTC

gaws wrote: post #232

ramesh31 wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>How did you swing this? Mostly luck and timing. I was in a combat unit that was deploying to Iraq in a matter of weeks as part of the troop surge. They didn't have the time or interest in court martialling me for the AWOL charges when I came back. So they busted me down to E-1 private, put me on extra duty, and told me I was still going to deploy. At that point I knew I had to get out. My first thought was to go for…

> So I spoke with an army doctor about why I went AWOL, and convinced him that it was part of a bipolar manic episode. Bipolar disorder is one of a few preexisting conditions that can qualify you for an honorable discharge, so as soon as the diagnosis was made, I was put on the "do not deploy" list and processed out. And you're still dealing with bipolar disorder?

> And you're still dealing with bipolar disorder?

Yes, although mild. Even though my service triggered and agravated it, I don’t have any claims to disability because it was considered preexisting.

The deal with my discharge was basically “We’ll give you an honorable in exchange for not claiming disability”. I think it was a fair trade.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had a changed-your-life moment?

#237

Post by p0d » Fri, Jul 29, 2022, 6:22 AM UTC

paulryanrogers wrote: post #230

p0d wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's a funny thing. My bookshelf was disturbed this morning with a new book. My wife was clearing out her car and left it for me. I randomly open the book and read a discussion on how intelligent design is more falsifiable than Darwinism. I am not a Scientist, like my Professor friend. I think you may enjoy this book, The Case For A Creator. I imagine it will confirm or challenge your views.

So god of the gaps; trust these fringe 'scientists'; overlook mountains of other evidence for macro evolution; and an eternal, preexisting, immensely powerful, intelligent being as more plausible than eternal matter in a potentially infinite universe eventually coalescing to create simple life that gradually evolves into more complex forms (sometimes repeatedly, like crabs). Occam's razor would say go with the simple…

It was good to chat. I teach a class today on cyber security then fly off on holiday with my family for a week. Good luck on your life journey.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had a changed-your-life moment?

#238

Post by em-bee » Fri, Jul 29, 2022, 3:37 PM UTC

hobabaObama wrote: post #52

I was WAY behind in my study schedule and would have likely failed. But in 2001 earthquake stuck and the exams were postponed. That extra time helped me complete my studies and I got more marks. Which helped me get into good college and have a stable career. A tragedy actually changed my life.

this just shows how ridiculous our current school system is, forcing everyone to learn at the same pace, and if you can't keep up you fail and don't get a chance to improve when all you really needed was a bit of extra time.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had a changed-your-life moment?

#239

Post by openfuture » Fri, Jul 29, 2022, 3:48 PM UTC

xem wrote: post #84

I'm just going through it. I'm 35, Web Dev since 2009, work from home (2 hours away from work) since 2020, and my company just decided that they want everyone back at the office immediately, or quit. So I quat. And I decided I'll never be an employee ever again. I'm gonna make a living out of my passions: write a book, create video games, adopt pets, photo, video, and if I run out of money I can still do Web Dev as f…

Yea I'm also im the never again employed camp. Trying to build myself a sustainable solution to this problem of eating and sleeping though.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever had a changed-your-life moment?

#240

Post by em-bee » Fri, Jul 29, 2022, 3:54 PM UTC

bradlys wrote: post #227

I’ve had too many to count and they all seem insignificant when you see all of them individually. Together is where the picture of my life is drawn and you start to understand. One that comes back to me a lot (cause I’m divorced) is the first time I fell for a lady due to her personality and not her looks. She wasn’t repulsive but she wasn’t exactly anything to look at either. To be honest - the idea of sex with her…

I’ve learned that selecting a partner on personality also has strong drawbacks

the drawback was that it didn't feel as fulfilling or something like that because she wasn't as physically attractive?

as someone who prefers to look at personality only, i feel that physical attraction gets in the way. at least that was my experience. when i was younger i actually didn't recognize a few times when a girl was attracted to me because i had my eyes on someone else who wasn't. i regret rejecting them to this day. my life could have taken a completely different direction if i hadn't. (not that it would have been better, just different, since we are talking about life-changing experiences. although i'll never know if it really would have been life-changing)