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I hate to admit this...

SamanthaAnastasia

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I know a bunch of gamers who pay top dollar for computers but they don’t know or don’t have time to build a computer themselves.
My husband always gets offers to build his buddies computers.
Put a Craigslist ad along the lines of custom gaming computer builder. You never know
 
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Richard T

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Glad you explained that. Nothing wrong with taking disability, or that you spend your money on some great computing. I think that is totally up to you and your wife. It is too bad your family is not more accepting. Maybe you should talk to them directly about these feelings if you have not tried it before?
 
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Neostarwcc

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Neostarwcc,

No one needs a $6,000 dollar computer for every day tasks. The majority who spend that amount are using it for professional purposes and have a write-off. You have an expensive hobby. Are you saving money too?

Yours in His Service,

~Bella

Because I'm on SSI the government doesn't allow me to save money. I'm not allowed more than $3,000 in countable assets which includes money in my bank and money in my safe. I do have money saved right now for fuel this winter but, I'm only allowed to have it because it's my stimulus check from last March. That money everybody is legally allowed to have until March of next year. Then it will start to count against our $3,000. Luckily I only have about $700 of it left (I gave most of it to chairty, it helped me with rent since March, I bought about $120 worth of hamburger with it from a farmer because they were selling 95% hamburger for $3.80 a pound. When in a market or online it's $8.50-$10+ hamburger you cannot even get 80% for $5 anymore. and the rest I'm keeping for fuel.

The exception to the $3,000 in assets is, you can have several million dollars worth of stuff in your house and still qualify for SSI. (Which is stupid) you just cannot sell it if it's going to put you over the $3,000 mark and if you do sell it you have to call Social Security and report it.

You're right, a majority of gamers build themselves spend $3,000-$4,000 on a computer everytime they build. But $6,000 is a luxury build for me, It's very rare. But when it comes to computers there's really no limit, you can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a computer if you want to put it on liquid nitrogen and buy motherboards partially made out of gold (which are apparently better functioning motherboards but I'll never have the money for one),

Believe it or not there are many computer enthusiasts who do stick their builds on liquid nitrogen and make lots of money competing in overclocking competitions where the grand prize is over a quarter million dollars. There's money in being computer enthusiasts. Me, I just build them for fun and to show them off. And naturally, I build them for gaming with. Very rarely do I just build a computer to just browse the internet. You can do that decently on a microwave oven these days.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Do you see professionals to help you manage your condition?

I do see a therapist once a month for various different things. She just recently talked me into taking my Ativan again.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Yeah it really depends on the gamer and how deep their pockets are. Like I said, some builds the sky's the limit. I know of gamers and enthusiasts who have built quarter million dollar plus computers. Nvidia has many multi hundred million dollar supercomputers. What I like is, I'm not spending my entire money on computers. If I was, people might have a point that I need to slow down a bit because, as a Christian I should be giving regularly to charity. I'm not bragging or anything but I like that I've been regularly giving to charity since about a year after my conversion to Christianity (2014). I've spent tens of thousands on computers since then but I've also given away 10's of thousands. Like I said, A majority of my stimulus check I just gave to Charity because I honestly had no need for the money besides fuel and rent. I could have spent it all on that but I figured charities would have needed it more.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Quite the life? I guess, but there are bad points to it too like everyone else. I've honestly only worked a few times in my life I worked for about a half a year when I was 16 and worked off the first computer I actually paid for by myself. My parents had to give me $100 or so because I lost my job before I could finish it but, It was quite the working experience I actually liked it. It was back 2002 or so when minimum wage was $5.25 an hour. I remember. It took me forever to make enough money to buy my own computer. So, I do know to a point what it's like to work for things but, I've never had to work for most of my life no. After I graduated high school to almost the age of 26 I lived with my parents virtually free of charge. They didn't start charging me rent until I started getting SSI in 2011 or so.

Tbch, I removed most of the Spyware and tracking features from Windows 10. I'm trying to encourage my parents to upgrade because Windows 10 is SIGNIFICANTLY better than Windows 7 and it's being updated all the time and will continue to be updated for a few years after windows 11 comes out. It's not the fact that my parents pirate their Windows 7 but the fact that they can't update it because it's pirated and they can't get updates anyway because microsoft hasn't updated windows 7 in years. My parents are just honestly asking to get hacked. They use very insecure passwords on their most sensitive of information and they have a lot of stuff to steal lets just say that. It makes me very worried about them but they refuse to upgrade to Windows 10 because they know how to use Windows 7 and don't care about my security concerns. I'm just afraid of one massive hack happening but they do at least keep a majority of their assets and important at home and not stealable by the online world. We live in a town in the middle of nowhere. We've lived here since I was 10 years old virtually and we only had one theft ever. Somebody tried to break into one of our neighbors's cars but stole and got nothing. So, I'm worried about online theft. Especially since I have a history of that kind of stuff years ago and I know how easy it is to get their information. But... people will be stupid.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Algebra is used to a point is, like.... it's been a while since I took C++ and C# and It's probably way different now. But, basically when you're making a double integer like,

using namespace std;
#include <cmath>

int main ()
{
double test;

test = pow (4.0, 2);
test = pow (3.0, 6);
}


Like... you need to know algebra to understand how that works and how that's going to compile and run in the computer. I do remember basic algebra like that. So, I guess Calculus would be necessary but, why you need to go up to Calculus III for a bachelors degree I have no idea. You probably wouldn't even use that advanced of math ever. So, I understand why you need to go all the way for algebra for a computer science degree but, Calculus?
 
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Neostarwcc

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Yeah its nothing illegal don't worry. I completely abandoned my old ways when I converted to Christianity including the desire to want to become a software engineer or hardware engineer. I've grown to love theology over the years and I would love to study as a theologian now. But, I just don't think I could ever pass the classes required and especially at my age I should have started becoming a theologian AGES ago when I first started school. So, I'm just a theologian in my head now
 
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JesseRaymondBassett

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Normally I do not give advice here on CF, but here I go.

First point, if your a computer nerd like myself, get rid of Windows entirely. Zorin OS is a perfect replacement and it is free (unless you go for the $40 Ultimate which is what I did). It is based on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. Very reliable. Second point, as for getting along with your parents, just live and let live. Be a peacemaker not a turmoultous child. Third point on the SSI thing, I have SSI too...I do not work but presently am working on changing that so I can make a little extra cash on the side. Here in Minnesota I can work 20 hours while being on SSI.

Just my thoughts,
Jesse
 
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Kenny'sID

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I'm on disability as well and only DIY out of the need to save money. And yes, there it a certain secure feeling knowing I'm getting the best machine for the buck, and that I'm saving money by only upgrading when I need to. Still, my year old $1000 build does all I need it to do, and there's no way I'm spending 5 grand for a machine.

Point being, IMO, you're going a bit overboard for your situation, but at the same time, it not only is none of my business how you spend your money, but I do get it, and if that brings you some enjoyment in life...go for it.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Can I pm you? It ont be until this afternoon im busy atm but I'd like to talk to you more in private.
 
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Bruce Leiter

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The way I see your description, you have at least two problems, controlling parents and idolatry. First, stop worrying what your parents think about you, since at the end of Genesis 2, God's Word says that husbands leave their parents and hold on to their wives. It's normal for you to have a primary relationship with your wife and a less-important one with your wife. The commandment in the Ten Commandments says we are to honor our parents, not necessarily obey them, when especially when they have abused us. Respect their opinions, but find God's way instead.

Second, you say that building and buying computers gives you happiness. It sounds to me that your pleasure is most important since you admit that it's God and computers. What you need to do is fall on your knees and confess your idolatry of computers and always paying the most for the best. Remember that God owns all of your money, not you; you're just the caretaker of it. Keep confessing that you have made computers too important in your life until you receive assurance of his pardon.

Third, how do you define "fundamentalist Calvinist"? I'm a Calvinist, but i wouldn't say I'm a fundamentalist.
 
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JesseRaymondBassett

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Contenders Edge

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It seems to me that you have instilled in you a passion and love for technology and computers for a reason and one thing I do know is that God does not give us our passions, gifts, and talents, whatever they may be, in vain, but does do with a purpose in mind which is why I find myself encouraging you to continue to pursue and carry out your passion.

It is also a blessing that you have a wife who seems to have no objection to your pursuits. I do not know your situation or why you are living off of government assistance, but especially during these uncertain times, I would not continue to rely on that assistance indefinitely but would strongly encourage you, if you are not doing so already, to find a way to make a living off of your technological pursuits and earnestly seek Gods wisdom and direction on this matter. It sounds like you have a quite a talent. Don't let it go to waste. Would be a tragedy if you did.

And remember, what other people think, whether they be those of your immediate family, household, your respective fellowship, or anyone else for that matter, does not matter, but rather it is whether or not you are faithfully following the call of God on your life and using your talent to bring honor and glory to His name which matters.
 
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ripple the car

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Most of us are theologians in our head, dude.

I would focus on saving money, as much as possible. It's ok to have a hobby, and it's ok to be on disability if you are truly disabled. But based on some of your past posts, it sounds like focusing on taking care of yourself, taking care of your home, and if you eventually feel able, exploring the possibility of earning some income, even if from home, or from a side business, should all be priorities for you right now.

Families often have theological gaps. It happens. Do the best you can to build bridges, love your parents, and leave the rest to God. He loves them too.
 
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thecolorsblend

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No offense to you or your family. But your parents sound like major league Boomers.

The divide between the Boomers and the Millennials is very real, very serious and very sad. We simply do not see eye to eye with each other.

Still, there is a way to handle this which might be successful. Stick with safe subjects around them. Obviously, technology and your personal relationships are both dangerous grounds. So, stick with something else.

Family should be about happiness. If one's family only adds to one's stress level, they're not good for much. Surely there are some safe topics you can discuss with them. Sports, favorite TV shows, fond memories from your childhood (if you have any), etc. Talk about that stuff! And skip the heavy subjects as much as possible.

There are certain things that parents owe to their children. In your case, you're married. In any conflict between you and your wife, you have to take her side. She's your wife and they have to find a way to make peace with that. Sadly, there's not much you can do to make them do what they need to do when it comes to accepting your wife. But the fact remains that they have the obligation to accept her.

It's a challenging situation, no doubt about it. But I wish you well.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Yeah I was meant to be a theologian in my head, God didn't want that career path from me. Tbch, as of this second idk what he wants from me now. I'm going to have to pray and wait and follow your advice. It's great.
 
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