Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

IN GAIA: Ever since the release of the cash shop, with all its tantalizing items, I vowed never to spend my own, hard-earned money on Gaia Online. I never said anything, however, about pissing away a $25 visa gift card, given to me by a disinterested aunt for Christmas. About a week ago, I purchased a bundle of 10 or so Super Prizes (with money to spare). I sold a few so that I could purchase some cardboard back wings, sold a few more for the satisfaction of making some money, opened a couple to be less-than-satisfied with the result, and kept a few as a nice nest egg for later.

I'm going to try and achieve what I never could since my induction in '03 and join the Gaian upper class. I feel like I might actually be able to achieve this with the buying/selling of a few well-selected evolving items. It helps, too, that I've just recently learned how to make big bucks playing Booty Grab. I think as long as I can keep myself from spending too much (I have to spend at least a little, or it won't be fun), then I can achieve the great wealth.

IN REAL LIFE: I hit a new personal milestone today, as I made my first confrontation in defense of my girlfriend. I didn't really realize it until after it happened, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Sandra and I have been dating for only about a week (probably not longer than I've had that afformentioned Gaia cash), and although she isn't my first girlfriend (but not far from it), she's the first one I've ever actually cared enough to defend. That, and I'm not as pussified as I was in high school (something I'm sure you'll be hearing about constantly).

Right after I got home from work, she mentioned that a guy she knew from school was harassing her on facebook im. She gave me her password so I could see the chat. I won't go too far into detail here, but to be blunt, he was insinuating very clearly that he could have her if he really wanted to, boyfriend regardless. Needless to say, I was not about to take that s**t. I opened up the little chat window, and made myself known. Feeling confrontational, but still fully in control, I aptly typed, "I don't appreciate you talking to my girlfriend like that."

After a noticeable pause, he responded. "lol I'm guessing this is Sandra's boyfriend?"

"You can call me Chris." I said bluntly. I know it was just facebook and not a face-to-face confrontation, but I felt especially courageous as I continued. He very quickly addressed me by name, and apologized, stating that he respects relationships and that he never really meant what he said. Sandra of course, saw the whole thing, and adored me for it (a reaction I was hoping for, but not banking on). I asked her privately whether she thought I should accept his apology. She said I'd scared him enough, so I closed it off with a hint of douchebag.

"Just don't let it happen again, kiddo. wink "

"lol I haven't been called kiddo in a long, long time" he said (as Sandra decided to remind me that he's about five inches taller than I), and after a brief pause, ended with "Well I have a feeling I've overstayed my welcome, so I'll just leave. Bye Sandra and Chris."

Once again, I know it doesn't take quite as much guts to confront someone on the internet (people do it on Gaia all the time, after all), but this guy is only in the next town over. And it is much harder to confront something that has a face (and the added potential to kick your a**). Still, it happened exactly as I'd hoped: I was dauntingly civil, he quickly broke under pressure, and although he peppered his posts with "lol," it was fairly clear that I'd scared the s**t out of him. Sandra told me she was proud of me, and I was proud of myself for having the cojones to stand up for another person (and in turn, myself).