I feel like I need to make a post about this, because lately I’ve been feeling stressed for multiple reasons.

Firstly, college has been draining for me. This week, I had to do THREE exams. One is a practical exam on my level 2 electrical diploma, and I also had to do my GCSE maths paper 3 exam and also my unit 203 electrical installations technology one. In all fairness, I managed to pass the last exam and I actually scored the highest in the class, which I didn’t think would happen but I’m surprised (and grateful) that I did. However, I still have to complete my practical exam which is likely going to take another week or two. Secondly, I’ve been dealing with some bad people online. A few months ago, I posted a photo on Instagram and somebody commented something rude on it and I responded to them. Then they started directly messaging me and it turned into a fight. It got so bad that I had to block them. I told another follower of mine about this and they were pretty nice about it. However, I soon discovered on a group chat that they had sent something rude behind my back. I directly messaged them and they started being rude as well. They even created a group chat and kept inviting me to it just to harass me, and they sent rude messages to me outside of the chat too. At one point, I was even asked by another user if I support stoners and at first, I didn’t know what that meant so I searched it up and apparently a stoner is a person that frequently takes drugs. I do NOT support that in any way and tbh I just ignored that message. So I’ve basically been betrayed. It’s not just online that I’ve been dealing with bad people, but it’s also happening in real life too. One of my lecturers was bossing me around just because my equipment wasn’t on the table and I got really angry, then later that day I saw another student breaking a locker and one tried framing me for it and I got really angry again, and another one picked on me and once again I got really angry. So this is what I’ve been dealing with for the past few months. 2025 has been a pretty awful year for me so far and it doesn’t help that so many councils around me have been changing their streetlights to LED recently, taking away parts of my childhood. I’ve complained about 2024 and its problems, but this year has made them worse. I’m really hoping this year will turn around and become an even better year than it currently is, but idk at this point. My motivation for posting lighting related stuff has also been reduced lately due to college and it’s a shame because lighting is one of my biggest interests and I’ve been interested in it since I was 7. Also the fact that everywhere is going LED now (not just streetlighting) is partly the reason I feel like this too.

Apologies for the long rant, I needed to get this off my chest because it’s been bothering me for quite a while now.

It feels good to get stuff off of your chest. I hope that things improve for you!

The only advice I can offer is to completely bin social media!, exam stress is unfortunately something you can’t avoid, nether is the LED take over 😬, but social media is the single worst thing that happened to the internet!
It maybe my age too🤔, but Instagram, Twitter, X, Facebook, TikTok and all the rest of that type of snake pit out there, I wouldn’t entertain! 😁👍

@AngryHorse
Agreed, I just now got my first social media app because my college wanted me to get it, but I don't think I have checked it in a week lol. If it ain't in the news, then it ain't important.

@Baked bagel 11 - Thank you. Sometimes I feel like it’s better to express yourself than bottling it up.
@AngryHorse - Yeah, exam stress and the LED apocalypse are sadly impossible to avoid, though tbf I am actually given help by a technician in my practical exam so it isn’t all bad. As for social media, I’ve actually thought of quitting Instagram before, mainly because of how toxic most of the streetlighting community is on there and it’s taken a toll on my mental health a bit. I hardly use TikTok, Twitter/X, or Facebook.

Please be aware that stoners are really just chill, zonked out people. Weed is significantly less harmful than alcohol and does not turn people into dickheads. A stoner wouldn't just ask 'Do you support stoners'. If anything they'll invite you to come play games and have a BBQ in the park while chilling in the sunshine.
I live at 30 minutes of cycling of Amsterdam's city centre, trust me - i would know.

Meth heads and people on amphetamines or those who are on the edge of heroin withdrawals are an entirely different story.


It does sound like you're in some weird toxic troll-like environment. How old are you? This is really middle/high school like behavior. In university i've never encountered that kind of (...).

Either way, block all of those people, TAKE RECEIPTS and if they are related to your studies or employment, take the receipts to the dean, HR or whatever. If things get very bad harassment-wise you can also ask the cops if this is a reportable offence. 

@Laurens
I was gonna say that, these are the sort of things people in my high school do!

Please be aware that stoners are really just chill, zonked out people. Weed is significantly less harmful than alcohol and does not turn people into dickheads. A stoner wouldn't just ask 'Do you support stoners'. If anything they'll invite you to come play games and have a BBQ in the park while chilling in the sunshine.
I live at 30 minutes of cycling of Amsterdam's city centre, trust me - i would know.

Meth heads and people on amphetamines or those who are on the edge of heroin withdrawals are an entirely different story.


It does sound like you're in some weird toxic troll-like environment. How old are you? This is really middle/high school like behavior. In university i've never encountered that kind of (...).

Either way, block all of those people, TAKE RECEIPTS and if they are related to your studies or employment, take the receipts to the dean, HR or whatever. If things get very bad harassment-wise you can also ask the cops if this is a reportable offence.

Idk about you, but in my religion it’s considered unlawful to take any sort of drug, no matter what type it is. I don’t feel comfortable revealing my real age cause I don’t want to encounter any weirdos, but I’m somewhere in my late teens. The people I’ve encountered online are either young teenagers or they’re in their 20s, and the students in my college are roughly the same age as me, some being younger or older, though they have the mentality of primary/secondary school children. And don’t worry, I’ve already blocked those people on Instagram.

Throw all the social network bullcrap away of your life and things will improve at least by 50%, granted. One has to deal with bullies already enough in real life, no need to have them tormenting you on the Internet too.

School stress, especially during exams, is a thing of life and you just have to learn to deal with it. Angry teachers are too, and while I don't justify a teacher being angry at his/her students for futile reasons, they exist and you can't completely avoid them unfortunately. You can only find your way on how to deal with them. Things after school will eventually become even harder because, well, that's adult life (job/colleagues/bosses, bills to pay, responsibilities, etc...), and the sooner you're going to learn how to deal with this stuff the stronger and confident you're going to become.

Take this not as a criticism but as a sincere advice, from a guy that was bullied at school (like many others, by the way...), whose life was fulled with insecurities and psychological issues and is starting now at the age of 40 to deal with them. I understand your struggles.

Regarding LEDs replacing older lights that is making you feeling bad, don't take this as a reason for getting angry or sad. I also don't like all the fluorescent/HID stuff being taken over by LEDs and every time I see a row of HID streetlights being replaced by LEDs I feel slightly annoyed, but I don't see this as a reason to feel really bad and neither should you. As said before, life is already on the hard side, no need to make it harder with trivial things like old lighting technologies being replaced with newer stuff. Do yourself a favor, don't do that. That's by the way a lesson I had to learn myself too so, again, I can understand your feelings on this matter.

Best wishes for all, you can do it.

Thank you Mima. Appreciate the comment.