See also, this lovely parenthetical from Lolita of which I am very fond:

> My very photogenic mother died in a freak accident (picnic, lightning) when I was three...

I think you posted that before.

Is that supposed to be funny?

Because if it is it's pretty dark...

@GnomeSlice No, not funny.

@GnomeSlice It's beautiful in it's economy; in it's ability to tell an entire story, full of detail, in very few words.

When you look at it that way, I suppose it is.

@WorldEngineer What is? Lolita?

I've never heard of it.

@WorldEngineer Oh, I think you messed up what I was referring to.

@WorldEngineer Lolita is in fact very dark...

But it's also often legitimately funny, and wholly beautiful.

@WorldEngineer No, and googling for 'cyberpunk lolita' is going to give you a whole lot of results that are VERY MUCH NOT BRIDGE APPROPRIATE, no matter how interested in them @GnomeSlice might be.

@LessPop_MoreFizz Not a fan of 'Lolita' in that sense.

But thxz for assuming so

@GnomeSlice It was a joke. Relax.

I know you aren't a pederast.

@LessPop_MoreFizz a... a what.

:13409207 No, you have it right. It should be noted that the novel is the origin of... that particular term.

It is in fact about a man who embarks upon a relationship with a 12 year old girl.

And what a horrible monster he is.

Like I said. It's dark.

I... huh.

Wikipedia says that thing you just said is also same-gender.

@GnomeSlice Huh. Hadn't realized it was a gendered term.

Learn something everyday.

@GnomeSlice But anyways, my point was less to try to call you a pdeophile and more to joke that you are fond of otherwise inappropriate content.

I am sorry if it didn't hit the mark.

Well, I do like inappropriate content.

@LessPop_MoreFizz I figured as much, don't worry about it.

@LessPop_MoreFizz Do you know anything about freelancing, and rates?

I have no idea what to provide this client with

@GnomeSlice Not enough to help you, especially being in a different country.

I think I'm just gonna go with a $30/h rate.

Which might be a really bad choice, because I suspect this first project, if moved forward will take me like an hour.

@GnomeSlice Everyone pads hours. Everyone.

Well yeah, but like. That would be a pretty big pad if I wanted any kind of decent money.

I should have seen that pin coming.

Being a professional is hard...

Your minimum time is always a day. Just remember that. If you ever find that you're able to complete more than 5 projects in a week, other than ongoing clients, then something's wrong.

So I should bill for a full day on something that doesn't take a full day?

You have to be able to cover your unbillable time. An example of unbillable time is meetings with clients before a contract is signed.

I should just get a real job, this is too hard.

@GnomeSlice taxes will be easier too

@MBraedley Oh God, do I actually have to worry about that?

Yes! Self employment taxes are fucking hard. Even if you pay an accountant.

Wait, is that something that should be taken into account in my invoices?

Why can't they just like, not tax me.

Don't they know how hard it is

Nono, your income tax

Yeah, okay.

Ugh

The most important thing you can do is document everything.

You may not have to worry about service tax, I don't know. It partially depends on... things.

@WorldEngineer No, probably not. I suspect it's the same deal.

@WorldEngineer The most American thing you could possibly say. :P

Well. Maybe.

"This thing is not America! It must be annoying!"

:P

offensive

@MBraedley Not an answer.

"Fucking" + "pisses" = offensive

@MBraedley flags

:P

That's not the frost time I've sworn on the Bridge

@MBraedley Maybe if you're 12.

@GnomeSlice Remember, "just because you don't find it offensive doesn't mean other people don't."

@Fluttershy This is certainly true, although that doesn't stop people complaining about 'stupid flags' in chat.

@GnomeSlice There's a difference between someone saying "that flag is stupid", and someone saying "you're 12 if you think that flag is stupid."

I apologize, then.

You're right.

@GnomeSlice Don't need to apologize to me! I wasn't offended. :P

I was just making the point.

I wasn't apologizing to you.

I was apologizing to whoever I was rude to.

I forgot.