John

If I see the doors with the steel bars on them and i have to hold them my anxiety gets super high, and sometimes i just can't do it. Has anyone ever held these doors? What is it like - people's reaction?

I worry that the steel bar gets too comfortable and if I hold it too long and then I get weird looks. So I just don't it at all.

An example is:

http://www.yatesandfelts.com/wp-content/uploads/20...

I know this is a new "trend" in offices (I have seen it in mine). I've also seen articles about in elementary schools and am wondering if they are used in college or high school?

what is it like?

I want to know what it's like holding the door open for others as part of a job. How do you hold the door open? Do you have to smile and say anything? Where do you work? Where do you work and what kind of job do you do?

Also, does anyone hold this either of these kinds of door open as part of their job?

http://www.taylorsecurity.com/assets/1/15/DimRegul...

http://www.sargentlock.com/products/images/2007031...

Anyone remember sitting in these desks in high school with the metal bar on the side and hard plastic chair?

Not only were they uncomfortable, but they were embarrassing too. I'm wondering if anyone is/was familiar with these desks and is willing to share their experiences with them.

They look similar to these: http://service.virco.com/Pages/3400br.htm

http://service.virco.com/Pages/9400br.htm

I feel like I messed things up and I'm very sad. We've been together for eight months, love each other but sometimes I worry about her health since she weighs more than me (I'm 5 inches taller). Something happened and it came up in a conversation. She cried a little but said she was happy I bought it up since she needed the motivation. I told her I love her (very true), and sometimes I worry about her (also very true) since I want her to be healthy, happy, and safe at all times.

I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't love her - I believe being honest is what love is all about. This has nothing to do with looks at all - she knows I'm attracted to her and her body but rather her health and wellness. The same day we went shopping and spent about $50 on fitness gear to help her.

I just want to know if I was being a douchebag and what I should do and if I did anything wrong. I know I'm far from being a perfect boyfriend, but I try my best to be as loving, caring, and honest as I can be. We've been together for eight months, so it's well beyond the initial spark stage and we are deeply in love.

As a 27 year old working man, I know what it means to be an adult and have responsibilities such as paying bills. But I feel that my responsibilities as an adult pale compared to that of a parent. I'd like to know from parents who around my age (or younger) the responsibility level of being a parent vs the responsibility when you didn't have kids.

If you are a single parent, does being single have a role?

Right now I don't have kids or pets, and I plan on having neither for the time being. I have a girlfriend, and working in a job requiring a college degree. What do you recommend to be "baby-ready"?

I've been thinking about what "pro-life" really means. To keep it simple, the accepted terminology is the opposition of abortion. But is there more to being pro-life than just abortion?

Whenever someone is not TTC, they are in effect preventing a life from being created. For instance, if my parents didn't plan on having a baby, I would never have been born and the right to my life would have been DENIED. Had the Octomom not used the special technology, the kids she had would have had their right to life DENIED. If someone is voluntarily not TTC and staying is staying Celibate, they are in effect KNOWINGLY preventing an egg from being fertilized which is in effect preventing that egg from turning into a life, which is what would have happened had the person been TTC.

An EGG is just as much of a living thing as a fetus, and a baby. And whenever the period happens, what could have been a fetus and eventually a baby will be DENIED that right permanently, just as much as an abortion would.

Actively TTCing should begin as soon as one is fertile. Technology should be used whenever possible (however, pregnancy should happen naturally).

Please note that is not representative of my actual views and is just a devil's advocate perspective on what "pro-life" means. However, there are people who really hold views similar to this with the Duggar family coming to mind (20 kids).

I have minor, high functioning autism and am using an internet dating site to see what is out there and hopefully meet new people and see if I can make a friend or a relationship. It does affect me in the fact that my social skills are relatively poor; primarily when it comes to meeting new people. However, it's not severe enough that I need any kind of support to be able to live independently (I work, drive and live on my own with no supports). I have dated someone with autism before and I would not do well with someone else with autism (exception being a REALLY high functioning person).

I'm not completely sure when to reveal my autism in the dating world. I'm only interested in someone who likes me for who I am as a person and nothing else. Should I reveal it on my profile, before the first date, during the first date, or after the first date? My main concern about revealing it beforehand is that people may assume I'm looking for someone to take care of me or that I'm incapable of a relationship without getting to know me. I see concerns about waiting on the other hand.

What are people's opinions on this matter? How should I reveal it?

I'm a 26 year old with autism (not aspergers as I had a significant speech delay) that has made several mistakes in life (such as managing to become a recluse and a video game addict in the past and having an asocial/extremely negative and hateful personality most likely due to being ignored/hurt in the past).

Things have changed recently, I have matured, and my personality has taken a 180 degree turn, and I grew out of my addiction on my own. I will admit I am still egocentric; I find this hard to control, but I have been improving. In addition, I am sort of going through the phase of feeling sorry for myself, but deep down I know that will get me nowhere and I work very hard to keep these thoughts to myself and my therapist. The sooner this phase ends, the better, and I will do anything I can to make it stop. I'll admit it's a little hard though knowing how far behind I am socially - and blaming myself for it. I don't hate society or myself, but I do feel like I've made some poor decisions and am regretting them now.

I want to get my life back together. I live on my own and am completely capable of taking care of myself. I work out at the gym to maintain my sanity and keep me in shape as well - I use to be obese but now I am confident in my appearance. Despite all this, I feel very lonely, sad, and like it's too late and would like to escape this state of mind. I do have an introverted personality, and find it hard to approach strangers and start a conversation unless there is a purpose for doing so.

I know that reading books and watching videos will not work for me; I must experience it myself to learn. I have considered volunteering, but that makes me a little anxious, plus I do not support any of the autism organizations at all. I have tried the autism support groups three times and hung out (and even dated someone) with others that have autism, but it never worked out - I feel like everyone can hang out with others similar except for those who have autism due to the nature of the disability.

Yes, this was written on valentine's day. Yes, I am single - and with the exception of a short relationship (< 6 months) as well as a few first dates, I've never dated (I'll admit I'm kind of devastated that I made it this far without any kind of experience). Yes, I would eventually like to get married (don't care about kids) - it doesn't have to happen now but I feel like romance is something I would like to experience in life.

With this said, I need to get my life together first. Sometimes I feel like I am fighting an uphill battle. But I need to fight it. I need to get my life back together. I honestly feel like I am trying to find a purpose for my existence.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

25 years old diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder when I was little. I was treated like crap due to my disability in elementary school through college and am trying get my life back together after I quit my video game addiction this year.

I do live on my own and have a job that requires a college degree, and I take care of myself - I work out at the gym a lot, at least 2 to 3 times a week. I'm not necessarily the best-looking person but I'm not ugly.

I want someone to care about and have romantic feelings for, not something. My main issue is that I really don't talk to people unless I relate to them, however. I can relate to people better than I can to animals/objects. I'm not too socially awkward, but I am a bit shy due to my past and I am horrible at recognizing flirting signs. I have been on a few dates before due to online dating, but they didn't work out well.

I'm straight by the way.

Any advice? Thoughts?