Redwall Abbey

This topic is a thought I've had for several months but wasn't sure how to go through with neatly. It's a topic for questions that I have for all of you that may sometimes call for a poll vote and sometimes a short answer, if you feel up to it. It's a little different from other inquiry topics, like James' thread and Ami's Random Questionnaires, in that everything I ask here will be based on 1.) a discussion that originates in one of my college classes, 2.) my campus community, or 3.) my own experiences. So, at least for me, the questions won't be random at all. I will not use your answers as data, and I will always ask permission if I plan to take your answers away from the forum (like using them in a discussion). This makes it sound so serious, but you can look at it like another question topic.

Question 1: Did you study/Are you studying English grammar in high school (or your homeschool high school equivalent)?
If you are still in middle school or the equivalent, sorry to exclude you this round.

This question comes from my course on learning to teach English as a foreign language. I had grammar units in my English classes, both general and AP, each year of high school, but I'm one of the two (of nine) in my current college course who did. I hadn't realized that the study of grammar in high school was dying out until it was brought up by my professor. I won't use your answers for anything; I'm just curious about this trend.

Nope. No English for me. However, there may be English in my future, because college. (I might be doing it sooner, though, thanks to a new law)

Nope or not really. We had a 2 week grammar lesson in grade 10 and a short test/bigger quiz after. We also had to pass an English literacy test in grade 10 but it was kind of a joke- the pass rate was like over 95%.

English class, was mostly about reading novels-predominately Shakespeare analyzing them and then writing the odd essay comparing or contrasting two books or about one. It was kind of useless tbh unless you planned on going to be an English major or something. I wouldn't even say that English class developed writing skills as there would only be like 1 or 2 essays a year (each like 1000 words or so). They were also the typical "hamburger essay"- intro, 3 body paragraphs, and conclusion. Depending on the field, these essays aren't standard.

I'm not really sure how to vote in this poll as its between the first or third option but in all honestly its leaning more towards no- given the short duration of it than the first.

I'm just starting High School, but there's a policy that we have to take it all four years, no exceptions.

This is honestly interesting. Thank you.

In the land downunder, English is compulsory for the first 4 years of High School. In your last two years, you choose between Senior English and English Communication (but you still have to do one of the two). Senior English, which I do, focuses more on skills like analyzing literature and persuasive writing/speaking. English Communication focuses more on grammar, creative writing, and interpreting literature, rather than going into the detail of a full analysis and deconstruction.

If you want to get into university, you have to do Senior English. Otherwise, you do a year-long STEPS course to do the subject (As well as any other subjects required for your course that you neglected to do in High School). English Communication is the subject you do if you're going into a trade apprenticeship or getting a full time job after leaving school.

You have 6 years of high school?


??

I'm not sure everyone is on the same page.
there's a distinct difference between English class and Grammar. English classes cover a whole range of things: essays, literature, etc., with grammar lessons usually included in it.
Grammar is all of the rules of the English language: how to use punctuation, proper use of synonyms, sentence structure, etc. In my high school, we only covered grammar in the english class of the first year, but we had English all four years.

Just to clarify if it wasn't clear, I had English in all 4 years in high school and it was mandatory. However grammar specifically we just had it for 2 weeks in grade 10.

Thanks, Galli. I'm not concerned with English classes, just with the study of grammar in English classes. If I'm understanding Groddil right, he doesn't study grammar because it's not covered in the specific English course he's taking.

Quote from: Banya on December 09, 2016, 05:20:44 PM
Thanks, Galli. I'm not concerned with English classes, just with the study of grammar in English classes. If I'm understanding Groddil right, he doesn't study grammar because it's not covered in the specific English course he's taking.

Basic grammar was dealt with in our junior years, and was included in the standard English subject everyone has to do. In the last two years, you only need to do Grammar if you do English Communication. University English doesn't require it, because if you're doing that subject you should know how to use grammar anyway.

@Sagetip:

Yes, we do. 7 years of primary school, 6 years of high school. I start my 5th year in late January.

Poll results: Did you study/Are you studying English grammar in high school (or your homeschool high school equivalent)?

Yes, we have/had grammar units in SOME (at least one year but not all four) of my high school/homeschool HS-level English courses
    - 5 (41.7%)
Yes, we have/had grammar units in ALL FOUR YEARS of my high school/homeschool HS-level English courses
    - 4 (33.3%)
No, I'm not studying/didn't study grammar in my high school/homeschool HS-level English courses
    - 2 (16.7%)
I'm not in high school yet but I want a poll option too
    - 1 (8.3%)

Total Members Voted: 12

Thanks for your input, everyone! New question: Does facing adulthood leave you feeling more anxious (nervous, worried, etc.), more excited (optimistic, etc.), or equal parts of both? Is that because of the experiences of others or your own insecurities/reassurances about the future?
Sorry to leave out the younger members again.

We can still relate, we know it's going to happen. ::)

You're part of the age group included, Ashleg. :) Actually, I guess everyone is. We don't have any 11- or 12-year olds anymore, do we?

Poll results: How are you feeling as you face your impending adulthood?
My anxiety about adulthood outweighs most other emotions.
- 8 (50%)
My excitement about adulthood outweighs most other emotions.
- 1 (6.3%)
I'm perfectly equal parts anxious and excited. I guess this is happening.
- 4 (25%)
I don't have to think about this yet. Send me a postcard from the real world.
- 3 (18.8%)
Total Members Voted: 16

Thanks so much for voting, everyone. I had no idea until now that so many of you have anxiety about the future. That's pretty eye-opening. We'll all face it together.

New question, based on recent events: At what age were you allowed your first drink, what was it, and for what occasion? Mine was champagne to celebrate New Year's 2004. I was nine.

My vote was serious, I just added that note to be silly. ;)

I lol'd.

I'm not sure if having one little taste really counts or not, so I haven't voted yet.  It was back in 2012, and my dad and I were at his aunt's house in New Zealand.  She had a bottle of sparkling strawberry juice, and it smelled really good but tasted horrible.

Quote from: Jukka the Sling on January 02, 2017, 06:26:14 PM
I'm not sure if having one little taste really counts or not, so I haven't voted yet.  It was back in 2012, and my dad and I were at his aunt's house in New Zealand.  She had a bottle of sparkling strawberry juice, and it smelled really good but tasted horrible.

That's what mine was, and I counted that. I suppose it's up to you.

My findings with alcohol:

Bailey's: Disgusting.
Cider: Nice but has a weird aftertaste - may have just been because it was cheap.
Beer: What I've had was awful, but all beers are different so...
Wine: Tastes bad.
Champagne: Unoffensive, but I really don't get what the big deal is.
Whiskey: Smells so bad I'm never going to drink it.
Rum&Coke: Blech.
Pepsi with Vodka: Just tastes like Pepsi, though I imagine there are stronger mixes, whereas the one I had was weak.

Guess I'm just not an alcohol person.

Dont go to Belize, Jet.
They like rum in Belize.

Quote from: Kitsune on January 02, 2017, 06:38:47 PM

Quote from: Jukka the Sling on January 02, 2017, 06:26:14 PM
I'm not sure if having one little taste really counts or not, so I haven't voted yet.  It was back in 2012, and my dad and I were at his aunt's house in New Zealand.  She had a bottle of sparkling strawberry juice, and it smelled really good but tasted horrible.

That's what mine was, and I counted that. I suppose it's up to you.

Hmm, okay.  I voted.

I've had alcohol chocolate with brandy, but that doesn't really could as a proper drink.

Too young, never had it.

Quote from: Jukka the Sling on January 02, 2017, 06:26:14 PM
I'm not sure if having one little taste really counts or not, so I haven't voted yet.  It was back in 2012, and my dad and I were at his aunt's house in New Zealand.  She had a bottle of sparkling strawberry juice, and it smelled really good but tasted horrible.

Sparkling doesn't always mean it was alcoholic, but if it was, then it counts.

Yeah, it was alcoholic.

On a completely random note, non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice is pretty good. XP

Yes it is! Non-alcoholic sparkling limeade is one of my favourites as well. Sparkling Limeade is a username I use on one of the Wikis I edit. :D

Quote from: Jet the binturong on January 02, 2017, 08:58:35 PM
My findings with alcohol:

Cider: Delicious.
Beer: What I've had was awful, but all beers are different so...
Rum: Also pretty good, but only in small amounts. Good in deserts as well.

I've had maybe 5 sips of alcoholic drinks. Once beer, once sherry, once Chardonnay, twice Sangria. I didn't like the sangria, but the other stuff wasn't bad. But I've never had a full drink.

I tasted some cheap booze my grandpa had, and it wasn't too bad.

What I'm wondering is why everyone's giving their -10 kids alcohol.

Because they want us to know early on that alcohol isn't an evil. In moderation, there's nothing wrong with drinking it.

Also, most of those votes are probably people who just sampled it from their parent's glass rather than drink their own.

Quote from: Jet the binturong on January 02, 2017, 08:58:35 PM
My findings with alcohol:

Bailey's: Disgusting.
Cider: Nice but has a weird aftertaste - may have just been because it was cheap.
Beer: What I've had was awful, but all beers are different so...
Wine: Tastes bad.
Champagne: Unoffensive, but I really don't get what the big deal is.
Whiskey: Smells so bad I'm never going to drink it.
Rum&Coke: Blech.
Pepsi with Vodka: Just tastes like Pepsi, though I imagine there are stronger mixes, whereas the one I had was weak.

Guess I'm just not an alcohol person.

Yeah people put way to little vodka and way too much pepsi, juice or whatever else in those "cocktails". I never really understood why. If you don't want to taste vodka then just drink the pepsi or juice. If you want vodka drink it straight or at least a decent %. Dunno I always preferred it straight, I've only sometimes added a bit of water to this vodka https://www.masterofmalt.com/vodka/balkan-176-degree-vodka/

Its also harder to tell how much you've had to drink when its mixed up and that can lead to problems.

But as far as the poll goes the first time I tasted alcohol was in my early teens, can't remember the exact age though...

Yeah. And I only had permission to try it once. ;)

Quote from: Ashleg on January 03, 2017, 04:16:37 AM
What I'm wondering is why everyone's giving their -10 kids alcohol.

Because party every day!1!!11¡¡11!!!

Quote from: Banya on January 03, 2017, 04:22:15 AM
Because they want us to know early on that alcohol isn't an evil. In moderation, there's nothing wrong with drinking it.

...objection ;D

Quote from: Wylder Treejumper on January 07, 2017, 04:57:10 AM

Quote from: Banya on January 03, 2017, 04:22:15 AM
Because they want us to know early on that alcohol isn't an evil. In moderation, there's nothing wrong with drinking it.

...objection ;D

Based on your ethical/moral views or ?

As LDS, we believe that the use of alcohol and all other forms of addictive and mind-altering substances, especially for recreational or social purposes, is not right, whether or not is is accepted by society.

So then what are your views on: smoking, coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks etc... ?

Quote from: Banya on January 03, 2017, 04:22:15 AM
Because they want us to know early on that alcohol isn't an evil. In moderation, there's nothing wrong with drinking it.

Yes, my thoughts exactly, I am allowed the occasional sip. Wine tastes ok, I'd much rather have kombucha though, I don't like beer at all, those are the only two I've ever had, even then just a tiny bit.

Quote from: Grond on January 07, 2017, 05:32:25 AM
So then what are your views on: smoking, coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks etc... ?

I'm curious about this too.

From my understanding, Mormon doctrine is opposed to them all.

I heard they're okay with soft drinks now.

Quote from: Grond on January 07, 2017, 05:32:25 AM
So then what are your views on: smoking, coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks etc... ?

Smoking and coffee are out, but soft drinks and energy drinks are up to the individual. Some Mormons avoid caffeine altogether, others avoid large quantities of caffeine, and others are okay with it.

Quote from: Mask on January 07, 2017, 03:32:59 PM

Quote from: Grond on January 07, 2017, 05:32:25 AM
So then what are your views on: smoking, coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks etc... ?

Smoking and coffee are out, but soft drinks and energy drinks are up to the individual. Some Mormons avoid caffeine altogether, others avoid large quantities of caffeine, and others are okay with it.

That sounds like a pretty healthy way to live.

It does sound healthy.
But I love coffee...

Are Mormons opposed to drinking Kombucha? I now it had a tiny amount of naturally occurring alcohol... After searching the internet I found that it usually has less than .5% alcohol content (with some exceptions, for if it is left un-refrigerated for a while, it will start becoming more alcoholic, which some makers have actually done and then sold them as alcohol with about as much alcohol content as beer, but that isn't the kind I'm talking about) which is the maximum for any drink to not be considered alcohol, I drank three bottles on New Years, and I was not drunk, and I'm 12 yrs old so it can't have much alcohol in it. But there is a warning on the back of the bottles that one might not want to drink it if they are pregnant or have religious beliefs that are against drinking alcohol.  :-\

Ohh, kombutcha. I tried that once and almost puked. But I want to try it again. I think that might've just been a bad day.

If I am correct, kombucha is fermented tea. Mormons don't drink tea either (real tea made with tea leaves, not herbal tea and such), so no. Even if we did, being rather orthodox and doctrinaire, I would not, and I guess most Mormons I know wouldn't either- but not all.

Thanks so much for all your votes and input! I enjoyed that discussion.

Poll results:
How old were you when you were allowed to have your first drink?
10 or under
- 6 (27.3%)
11-12
- 1 (4.5%)
13-14
- 0 (0%)
15-16
- 2 (9.1%)
17-18
- 1 (4.5%)
19-20
- 0 (0%)
21
- 0 (0%)
I'm underage and I've never had an alcoholic drink
- 11 (50%)
I'm of age and I've never had an alcoholic drink
- 1 (4.5%)
Total Members Voted: 22

New query: Have you ever been a part of a protest, march, sit-in or other social movement? What was the reason behind it? Did you face any opposition, and how did you deal with it? If you didn't directly take part, how do you support movements for causes you believe in?

Quote from: Banya on February 11, 2017, 08:52:02 AM
New query: Have you ever been a part of a protest, march, sit-in or other social movement? Yeah, once. What was the reason behind it? It was part of a thing to stop the people in charge where I used to live from killing the deer. Did you face any opposition, and how did you deal with it? No, don't think so. But it was years ago. I think I was like seven. If you didn't directly take part, how do you support movements for causes you believe in?

Fun fact about the above: This event documents the time I was on TV. They got a picture or something of us protestors, and my family was up front. But I got the logo stuck right over my face :P

Haha that's really too bad, Peo.
Thanks for voting, everyone! Thanks for the comments, too.

Poll results:
Have you ever been a part of a protest, march, sit-in or other social movement? (comments are optional but please elaborate below)
Yes
- 1 (12.5%)
No, I don't really actively involve myself in social movements
- 6 (75%)
No, but I actively involve myself in social causes in other ways
- 1 (12.5%)

^I know who voted for the third option and I'm curious about their answer.

New query: Have you ever failed at something that meant a lot to you? A class, game, goal, etc. If you'd like to post it, how did it affect your next choices and actions?

I've failed at a lot of things that meant a lot to me. I always move on by just trying to do better and not make the same mistakes again. Most recently, I've failed at taking care of myself.  I have a tendency to put anything and everything I care about before my own needs, and there ended up being too many people and responsibilities I needed to take care of, so I ended up neglecting myself badly.  That, in turn, resulted in me failing to do a job I was volunteering to do that really meant a lot to me. I don't have the job anymore.

Right now I'm trying to actually take care of myself, learn from the experience, and hope that when I'm better maybe I can get that job back. I plan to communicate with people better in the future so that when I'm not in the right shape to deal with something, I can take the time off I need.

Well. Er. Wrong choice.
I wouldn't say I failed, perhaps I failed once, but of course if something means a lot to me (and honestly, most things in life are things I could care less for) I'd keep trying till I don't fail.

Gotta get that career one day.

Thank you for voting!
I've failed at important things too, repeatedly in making myself assertive and once in a class, but I learned.
I feel like I understand Andy's desire to be there for others and neglecting one's own responsibilities in the meantime, but like you said, we try to do better and not repeat our actions.

Poll results:
Have you ever failed at something that meant a lot to you?
Yes
- 13 (92.9%)
No
- 1 (7.1%)
Total Members Voted: 14

New query: Fluff question because mood. Favourite Girl Scout cookie?

None of those exist down here. The only Girl Scout cookies I've ever tried tasted exactly like plain biscuits.

So I vote for Tim Tams instead.

My stupid fluff poll has been up for 4 months and something happened in the code that skewed the results. Moving on, I have a lot of questions waiting, so I'll try to move quicker.

Results:
Favourite Girl Scout cookie?
Thin Mints
- 3 (60%)
Tagalongs
- 1 (20%)
Trefoils
- 0 (0%)
Samoas
- 0 (0%)
Lemon Coolers/Savannah Smiles
- 1 (20%)
Do-Si-Do's
- 0 (0%)
Total Members Voted: 5

New query: When should you move out of your parents' home? Is it a certain age or is it a stage/time?

I think it's more than one thing.

I myself am not moved out, but I plan on doing so. My mentor wholly agrees. . . But recommends that I wait a year.
Financially it should be a good idea to wait until you have a good enough income (do a budget sheet to place all your spending in front of you) so you don't have to worry about missing payments or going into debt. I am amassing a year's worth of rent as a buffer and to get used to spending it. Don't forget that there are other things you will need to pay for when you move out, like various insurance, internet, phone service, FOOD, etc.

If I had to move out at age eighteen, well, I think I'd die and/or wind up on the streets. Ha.

Quote from: The Skarzs on August 04, 2017, 10:12:42 PM
I think it's more than one thing.

I myself am not moved out, but I plan on doing so. My mentor wholly agrees. . . But recommends that I wait a year.
Financially it should be a good idea to wait until you have a good enough income (do a budget sheet to place all your spending in front of you) so you don't have to worry about missing payments or going into debt. I am amassing a year's worth of rent as a buffer and to get used to spending it. Don't forget that there are other things you will need to pay for when you move out, like various insurance, internet, phone service, FOOD, etc.

It sounds like you have a really solid financial plan for the process of moving out on your own.
I would place your personal situation in the 2nd option in the polls. There wasn't enough room to spell it out, but I generalized late teen/early 20s to say when you're working and have enough money, which won't be immediately after graduating, but a year or more into the workforce. What separates that from option 3 is that option 3 cuts off things parents might still cover, like a family phone plan, insurance, a downpayment on your car, etc. So option 3 isn't actually possible until age 26 because of healthcare coverage. And what separates that from number 4 are students obtaining their doctorates or who only found unstable or low-income employment or young adults not in the workforce. There are so many factors in play and it was hard to fit this subject in a poll.
But yeah if there's ever a better way to word the options in any of my polls let me know!

One fear, Prez.

I can't personally completely move out on my own for several years. (I haven't made any sort of announcement anywhere yet but) I'm moving overseas in under 3 months and I rely on my parents for a permanent US address and a place to store many of the things I don't need right now but don't feel I should get rid of. So it's hard to answer the poll because I may advocate options 2 or 3 but my personal experience is more like 5.

Another option is to find one of your bezt friendz to board with so you can split the rent and wifi and utilities. Unfortunately I don't have that option.

A reason I believe many young folks don't move out is that they aren't prepared. They aren't taught important things like taxes and what really goes into lving life, and thus are not prepared mentally when they suddenly decide to make decisions that are way bigger than they initially thought and are immediately crushed under the weight of their ignorance. I'm not saying it is their fault entirely, as their guardians must, in my opinion, prepare them for such happenings, but- and this is only my thoughts- if they don't choose to pursue the proper knowledge then they are doomed to get knocked down.

'Whenever they are financially dependent...'

These be tough times. I don't know about other countries, but at least in England, house prices have kept going up and up, but not so much wages, and it is very hard for young people to start out now as their parents once did. Most will rent, but even that can be costly, and you're better to find someone to share with to spread some costs. With university fees too, unless you can find a fitting job pretty soon after, you may be stuck finding something irrelevant to your studies, and something that you could have been doing if you hadn't gone to university, so that may not pay your way to realistically go independent from your parents.

I'm a good one for this question, I suppose, seeing as I am late 20s and am still living at home. At this stage I could not realistically afford to move out. Even if I could move in with a partner or other share, I'd still need to be sure to get a job which would properly finance me. Sadly what I'd ideally like to do is not something which will constantly rake in money and I am facing uncertain times at the moment which again would keep me best here. What I will say for myself is that I have spent a few months living away from home since uni (which was also elsewhere), so it's not like I've never experienced independence.

It has become less taboo (thankfully) to still be living with parents because of the financial difficulties nowadays; although it still feels like sooner or later you should become more independent. Wait too long and it could be awkward and more difficult to 'launch' for various reason. I think it is fair enough and fine that young adults need to stay home for a while, but if they can at least experience some time from home, some time to get some independence, in their 20s, then great. And of course if you're happy and able to become independent in your 20s, then that's great, too. 18 feels quite young to me to become fully independent, but that is when many here will start university, so they'll get their first taste of it.

To approach it from another view, and reading what Skarz has said, I would agree that youngsters are not properly prepared for real life post-school, such as how taxes work, bank-related things, and a gazillion more things. Guardians can do so much, but I think it is primarily at school where these things should be explained. The place where you're supposed to learn and be prepared for working life, should be where you're also learning how to be prepared for other important things in life to at least give you some chance of being a more rounded, knowledgeable person. I think it's utterly ridiculous that they didn't go through these things at school. Maybe they do a bit now, but not when I was there. You can learn with experience some things, but some things it can take time to understand. I've felt stupid plenty of times when people have just expected me to understand these things 'just like that'. You can try and look up online 'how tos' these days, yet I find they're often not very clear, and there's contradicting information.

I think I've probably gone away from the question -- what even was the question? ;D Also I'm sure I've forgotten to include a few points. I think there's something relevant somewhere in these many lines...

Honestly, school, even college/university, does nothing to prepare people for the so-called "real world" like they always said in school. As a child and teen I didn't pay attention to the adult stuff my folks were doing unless I had to, and as a result, upon graduating college (which, I might add I had to live at home during even because I couldn't afford a housing plan) found myself underprepared for adulting. At 23, I was trained for a job that doesn't exist around here and knew nothing about working real jobs and very little about taxes and such. If I'd known what I know now, I wouldn't have gone to college, and would have instead just gotten a job, because I've now spent the last year or so learning to adult properly and not only am I not capable of getting a job that would make me financially independent (as entry level work doesn't do that and what I'm trained to do doesn't exist here) but my parents also need my assistance oftentimes to keep the whole family afloat. So yeah, when people are financially able to move out is when they should.

Well. . . unfortunately there are very few jobs that will actually make you financially independent.

Aye, that is the problem. As MeadowRabbit said, prices have gone up, but wages have not followed.

So you gotta perhaps have multiple jobs.

And then you have no life. :P

Some people can and do pull off multiple jobs. I'm not personally capable of that. Too much stress in life from things other than work as well as from work. People who can do that and don't mind doing it, or absolutely have to do it, that's exactly what they do.  Some people have too many external factors for multiple jobs, though.

In my case, depression, anxiety, and stress aside, the fact that my family has 5 people and 2 cars and I've gotta take care of getting my 9-year-old cousin to and from school (on foot), I couldn't take a second job, or go full time, if I wanted to (or if work would let me; I know the "full time" employees at my job often aren't given that many hours and in fact I'm worked more than some of them).

Mm.