cross-posted from: https://feddit.de/post/3190681
You've seen Louis's rant about how difficult it is to cancel gym memberships. But I think he's mad at the wrong thing here, or at least not at the main wrong thing.
The worse issues, as I see them, are:
The main issues are:
Where I live (Europe), gyms, swimming pools and other such establishments are walk-in. You come, pay an entry fee and leave whenever. Memberships and tickets for multiple entries are offered, but it's just to save money if you want it and are a regular anyway. So there's a steep discount coming with those. Businesses need go actually earn your membership money.
I kept seeing people joking about gym memberships in US TV shows and comedies, and just had to shake my head.
Not that people aren't trying to bring this subscription/membership rot here. One large local gym/wellness chain now requires membership and a phone app to enter. The membership itself is free (presumably you pay with your data in some way) and there are still just single entrance fees, but fuck that.
As far as I know, Europe-wide laws require cancellation of contracts to be easily available, at least using the same way as you can sign up.
So if the laws don't demand this, and businesses don't respect this simplest, basic logic, then there's something fundamentally more wrong than just "making it difficult to cancel".
And overall, it also just shows how far can things get when subscriptions are just accepted as normal thing. It always gets worse and worse, unless the law intervenes (if it does). That's why it's pretty much best to avoid subscription services and memberships whenever there's an alternative available. Sure, exceptions apply, but always think what the situation with your service will be in 10 years.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alistaircharlton/2023/09/07/bmw-drops-controversial-heated-seats-subscription-to-refocus-on-software-services/?sh=5f4b74336d1d
BMW has made a U-turn on a controversial subscription service that saw drivers pay a fee to activate the heated seats fitted to their car.
Handheld consoles sound like a pretty cool concept in schools I guess? I'm just now realising it's never been much of a thing where I live, but I'm sure it has been, or still is, for a lot of you.
What kind of games do you play, or remember playing, when killing time during breaks? Tetris? Pokémon? Xenoblade? Or some multilayer game? Do other people participate?
And also, what handheld is the best model for this purpose I wonder? Sounds to me like the original GB just might be the best choice due to how bulletproof it is. Or maybe 2DS from the more modern era.
So Metal Gear is back in business with the remakes. While the series had started on older platforms, it was MGS1 on the PS1 that really put it into the spotlight, and some even say basically kickstarted gaming as a serious art form. What's your take on the series? The individual games? Kojima's madness to the method?
I've only played MGS3 on the PS3 (and a little on the 3DS) and truly loved the thing. Considering it was a PS2 game originally, it's wild how elaborate and modern it feels.
I really appreciated one detail that was a bit before its time - slowly squeezing the trigger by slowly pressing the (face) button. Or the ability to stand on tiptoes. Well now I want to play that thing again.
https://embrace-autism.com/unhealthy-relationships/
Autistic people are at a higher risk of victimization and revictimization. As such, here are some guidelines to recognize an unhealthy/abusive relationship.
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