Do things with fear. And make that phone call. Make that video call. Reach out to that person you have been meaning to. Go inside that store that intimidates you for some reason. Put your hand up and give your opinion if you have something to say. Literally, do it even with the fear, otherwise you never will. I’m holding your hand and rooting for you. GO GO GO.
DO NOT VOLUNTEER TO BE A CO-SIGNER OR GUARANTOR FOR SOMEONE ON TUMBLR.
I just saw a ‘mutual aid’ post going around where instead of asking for donations, the person was asking someone to be a “guarantor” - also known as a “co-signer” - for their rent.
DO NOT DO THIS.
I am all for mutual aid. I think credit scores are a scam designed to fuck poor people. I get it. I do. BUT. Being a guarantor/co-signer for someone basically means that if they don’t pay what they owe, for whatever reason, their landlord, bank, creditors, etc. can and will come after you for the full amount.
It seems like such an easy way to help someone. You don’t need to pay any money, just lend them your name and good reputation so they can get permission to borrow and spend their own money. It feels like you’re getting one over on the shitty capitalist system and using your privilege of good credit/income to help someone else.
But it is a HUGE risk. Do not do this. All it does is give that shitty system more ways to get their hooks into you and create tons of problems for you down the line.
You can really fuck yourself over in the long run by getting tangled up in a financial situation like this. Even co-signing for someone in your life who you trust, like a sibling or a parent, can be really risky. No matter how much you trust someone not to purposefully leave you holding the bag, now you’re on the hook if they end up with financial problems neither of you anticipated.
Do not co-sign for another person’s loan, car, rent, etc. unless you are able and prepared to pay the full amount or subject yourself to the mercy of whatever that person gets themselves into.
ESPECIALLY do not do this for someone on the internet, where scams are rife. Do not share your personal information with people online and NEVER allow someone else to use your personal information for their finances.
I… I can’t believe this is actually a thing that’s happening. Babies, PLEASE don’t cosign for someone on social media! Even if it’s someone you trust, it can go tits-up real fast. We talk about it in this episode of the podcast:
“Walkable city” is not “City where to have to walk everywhere.”
“Walkable city” is.
Sidewalks big enough to fit you, your stroller, your wheelchair, your guide dog, or anything else you need when you’re getting from one place to another.
Safe crosswalks frequent enough so you don’t need to walk in traffic.
Bike lanes to keep bikes out of foot traffic and car traffic.
Accessible and affordable public transit.
Cities where the essentials are close enough you can travel on foot (or in wheelchair)
Cities where it’s reasonable to be able to get from point a to point b without requiring you, yourself, to drive
People get so caught up in the “Walkable” part of the term and like to spout “Walkable cities are abelist because not everyone can walk”.
Bitch. The modern city structure is abelist because not everyone can drive. And classist because not everyone can afford a car and it’s pretty damn impossible to get a job if you don’t have a car.
Walkable cities are cities where people can reasonably get from pointA to pointB without requiring a motor vehicle.
“But fae. Disabled people have issues using the paths in modern cities.” Bitch abled people can barely use the paths in modern cities. That’s kind of the fucking problem.
Also walkable cities have fucking benches. Not only for disabled people. But sometimes you just twist your ankle and need to sit for a moment.
“Put fae. If you have benches, homeless people will sleep on them.”
Then get fucking housing for the homeless. Problem solved. They’ll sleep in their nice warm homes instead of on the benches.
