If anybody is arguing here, it is you.

Cordial? How is it cordial to make a hurtful sarcastic comment like "shouldn't you be playing kids video games - you ARE best at that right?"

Sounds to me like you got your feathers ruffled be Darkness didn't feel your advice was helpful to him. Not all "solutions" work for everyone. So what? Let him figure out WHAT DOES work for him instead of insisting he listen to you. Do you somehow always know the "right answer"? He has in fact taken into consideration other people's advice. Did you bother to read the rest of the thread before making your snide remarks?

Darkness was very kind in his responses to you. I would have been much worse if you had said those things to me and I would have filed a report on you on top of it.

Now.... Sorry to get off track but I couldn't let that go without saying something.

Darkness, First I am sorry I didn't see this sooner. I have been wrapped up in my own bs lately. Next, you certainly are neither useless nor incapable of making friends. You have my friendship and help me a great deal which makes you very useful. I probably am not the best of friends to you and for that I apologize because you certainly have been nothing but kind to me. The very fact that you can put a computer together from ground zero makes you more skilled than I. There is NOTHING wrong with gaming. It is a good release valve, but don't let it take over. I did that once. It made my life miserable, just as it is yours. As hard and painful as it is... the only "cure" for it is allotting yourself a set amount of time each day (that you can break up any way you want each day) and the rest of the time find other things to do. Clean. Do homework. Watch TV. Go walking. Go out to the movies instead of staying home to watch them. Go out to eat. Go read a book. Take a nap. Learn a new hobby. Paint something. Listen to or play music. Whatever you want, but keep busy. You will find after a time you become happier with yourself.

Self esteem. Make a goal. Break that goal down into steps. Each step becomes small goals. As you complete each small goal, celebrate the completion by rewarding yourself.

For example:
Goal: get a job
Steps
1. Apply to (a set number) of places each day.
2. Get out amongst people to "brush up" my social skills
3. Read up on and practice at home any social skills I am not given opportunity to use in public.
4. Go to interview.
5. Accept job offer.

That's an example, you may decide a different method. There are also different goals to make. The point is though, you won't just celebrate getting the job. You will also reward yourself for completion of steps 1,2,3, and 4 too... and step 1 is more than just once so it can reaffirm you. Steps 2 and 3 can also be more than just once. But when you do get the job you allow yourself the biggest reward. The other rewards are things you do that are "nice for yourself " that you would not otherwise do. The final reward is something you look forward to and either never or rarely ever do. Then you tell yourself upon each reward "you did good, you deserve this!"

You are worth more than you know.
♥