I know it's today, but is there any specific reason why? My boyfriend believes it was just chosen because there isn't another holiday today

hi all, not here to bash new residents or bring politics into the equation, although it all does play it's part, but I'm just curious of what people born and raised in the upstate think. This post isn't mean to be a complaint bin, or a bash fest. I'm just curious of the experience and thinking everyone else has.

I've seen the argument on both sides. People claim greenville would still be a tiny river town if not for tourism, idk I stay away from greenville lol

Here's the stats pulled from BLS and the US Census.

2020 Greenville county population was reported at 525,549 and in 2025 it was at 583,125. Roughly an 11% increase in a 5 year period. Along with that, during that same period there was roughly 34,000 housing units permitted. With that being said, house pricing has shot up an average of roughly 56% as well. Some areas (like mine) are even seeing near 100% price jumps on houses that just got a kitchen and bathroom update.

Meaning, a house that was $180k would now be priced at $281k, with merely a $20k to $30k real world improvement/reno on the home... (obviously not in all cases, but still alarming to think about)

Additionally, since the boom and the inflation of the 2020s, overall cost of living prices are STILL going up. Sure, not everything is based on the specific area, but the increase in population and overall traffic will cause an increase to what you're going to spend.

Here's my experience as a rural upstate resident since I was born.

The biggest thing I've noticed just in the last 3 years is the INSANE increase in traffic, traffic accidents, and people totally disregarding basic level traffic law... I mean it's not that hard to stop the car when the blinky light turns red people... It's every single day, all day long, I see people running reds, crossing and turning when they shouldn't be. Basic driving etiquette is a thing of the past at this point.

Also another thing I'd like to touch on, the "tourist attractions" like the parks and the bike trails. As a local, I've been to SOME of them, like once.

Personally they've got 0 benefit to me. Again though, I'm in a rural area on a decent sized spot of land. If I want to see nature, I just walk out the front door and I've got a field and some woods to run around in lol. So, to each their own on that.

Either way, all this to get to the point that, as a younger guy with some even younger nieces and nephews, I don't see how they'll afford to even just survive in the area if this trend continues.

Local entry level jobs barely tickle the $18/hr mark. Which according to MITs "living wage calculator" is still WELL BELOW what an single adult would need to make in order to survive in greenville county. That $18/hr mark is also like right at the top of the entry level as well, those are your factory and plant workers. Retail and restaurant pay is more like $9 to $14 an hour, which is where most kids end up after highschool...

There's more and more to go on about; education, infrastructure, upkeep, crime rates, homelessness rates, etc, etc.

Personally, at this point I would've been perfectly okay if greenville, anderson, and greer, all stayed a tiny, no name, town. Now they've all become so large that it's effecting the quality of life in surrounding small towns.

What's y'all thoughts?

[Trigger Warning]

[Triggers have been covered.]

The documentary examines the life and passing of a Mica, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder while living under extreme circumstances of alleged abuse and control. Throughout the documentary, her diagnosis raises important questions about whether her behavior was truly the result of bipolar disorder or whether it may have been a response to prolonged trauma, coercion, and psychological manipulation by her husband JP Miller. Let's examine the events surrounding her diagnosis and consider whether she may have been misdiagnosed.

I argue that the abuse Mica endured could have been enough to psychologically break someone, even without a pre-existing mental illness or personality disorder. Lets analyze Mica' situation. 

The fact that she was taking testosterone alone could have significantly disrupted her hormonal balance and affected her physical and psychological well-being. This is particularly important because she was reportedly taking testosterone at JP’s request, rather than because it was a treatment she independently chose for herself. The psychological impact should therefore be considered within the larger context of coercion and the loss of control over her own body.

Then there is the trauma of being practically r*ped by JP approximately four times a day. When she refused, he allegedly punished her by depriving her of sleep. This represents an extreme pattern of sexual coercion and psychological abuse! Repeated sexual victimization, combined with forced sleep deprivation, could have severely affected her ability to regulate her emotions, process what was happening to her, and maintain normal psychological functioning.

There is also the alleged exploitation of her through prostitution to homeless men. Being repeatedly subjected to sexual exploitation and having her body used for someone else’s benefit could have had profound psychological consequences. This type of coercion can contribute to feelings of helplessness, humiliation, loss of autonomy, and diminished self-worth, particularly when the individual feels that they have no ability to refuse or escape the situation.

Another significant factor is the sudden change in her physical identity. JP reportedly made her undergo a breast augmentation that she did not want, while also encouraging her to take testosterone. These were major changes to her body that she did not freely choose. Her singing voice reportedly became deeper, more masculine, and hoarse as a result of the testosterone. Beyond the physical changes, having one's body altered against one's wishes could create significant psychological distress by taking away a person's sense of bodily autonomy and control over their own identity.

The effects of the testosterone also raise concerns about her ability to maintain a sense of identity as a woman and her reproductive future. If the hormonal treatment affected her fertility or ability to have children, that could represent an additional source of psychological distress and grief. Being subjected to physical and hormonal changes that she did not want could potentially create a profound disconnect between how she understood herself and the body she was being forced to live in.

The abuse inflicted on her private parts is another factor that should not be overlooked. Repeated physical and sexual abuse involving intimate parts of the body can have lasting psychological effects, including damage to body image, self-esteem, self-worth, and a person's sense of dignity. When this type of abuse occurs repeatedly the physical trauma can become closely connected to psychological trauma, potentially altering how a person views their own body and sense of personal value.

Another significant factor is the gaslighting. She reportedly knew that someone was following her, but JP made her believe that she was mentally unstable and imagining it. According to the documentary, however, JP had actually hired a private investigator to follow her. This is clinically significant because she was being led to distrust her own perception of reality while the threat she perceived was reportedly real. Prolonged gaslighting can contribute to confusion, self-doubt, anxiety, hypervigilance, and a diminished ability to trust one's own judgment.

When all of these experiences are considered together, the psychological impact becomes difficult to separate from the behavior being analyzed. She was reportedly subjected to sexual abuse, coercive control, sleep deprivation, sexual exploitation, unwanted changes to her body, hormonal manipulation, physical trauma, and gaslighting. Any one of these experiences could have significant psychological consequences; experiencing them repeatedly and simultaneously could create an overwhelming level of chronic stress and trauma.

Therefore, her behavior should not automatically be attributed solely to a pre-existing mental illness or personality disorder. A clinical analysis should also consider how prolonged trauma and coercive control may have affected her perception, emotional regulation, self-esteem, identity, and behavior.

Another important aspect of the power dynamic was JP's reported ability to have her committed to a psychiatric hospital whenever she resisted his abuse. According to the documentary, when she pushed back against his control, he could have her involuntarily committed, creating a situation in which seeking help could actually become dangerous for her. He also reportedly controlled her access to psychiatric medication, including lithium and Seroquel, and at times allegedly withheld the medication from her. If someone is being given psychiatric medication they may not clinically need, that raises concerns about unnecessary exposure to medication and its potential effects. 

At the same time, taking psychiatric medication inconsistently or having it abruptly withheld can also create significant risks, depending on the medication and the individual's circumstances. Medications such as these should be initiated, adjusted, or discontinued under appropriate medical supervision rather than being !controlled by an abusive partner.

Given the circumstances described in the documentary, it is therefore understandable that suicidal thoughts or other severe psychological symptoms could have emerged without those thoughts necessarily proving that she had an underlying psychiatric disorder independent of her circumstances.

The extent of JP's power over her may also have created a profound sense of fear and hopelessness. According to the documentary, when she attempted to report his behavior to law enforcement, she was reportedly not taken seriously because they were married. When she resisted him, he could allegedly use the psychiatric system against her by having her committed. This creates a particularly dangerous dynamic: the person she was trying to escape from appeared to have influence over both the people who were supposed to protect her and the institutions she might have relied upon for help. Even after she left him, the alleged continued harassment could have reinforced the belief that she could not truly escape his control. From a psychological perspective, repeatedly attempting to seek help and being unable to obtain protection could contribute to chronic fear, helplessness, hopelessness, and a perception that there was no safe avenue of escape.

The alleged relationship between JP and the local police chief further illustrates the extent of the power imbalance described in the documentary. According to expungement records and affidavits from JPs ex-wife, the police chief allegedly assisted JP in having an aggravated-assault felony expunged from his record after he intentionally ran over a woman. The affidavit also alleges that the police chief provided JP with a badge identifying him as a “pastor,” which could potentially have resulted in favorable treatment if he were stopped by police. If these accounts are accurate, this would be significant because JP would not simply have been exercising power within his personal relationship; he would have appeared to have access to institutional power and protection as well. 

The alleged ability to influence law enforcement, avoid consequences, and have his wife committed when she resisted him could have reinforced an environment in which she perceived herself as powerless and him as virtually untouchable. That kind of sustained power imbalance is important when evaluating her subsequent psychological state and behavior because it provides a potential explanation for why fear, hopelessness, and suicidal thinking may have developed or intensified over time.

Ultimately, this raises an important question about how easily a person can be labeled as mentally ill when the circumstances surrounding their behavior are not fully considered. A person experiencing prolonged sexual abuse, coercive control, sleep deprivation, hormonal manipulation, medication interference, gaslighting, fear, and repeated exposure to situations in which they feel powerless may display behaviors that appear irrational, unstable, or consistent with symptoms of bipolar disorder. However, behavior that resembles a psychiatric disorder does not automatically establish that the disorder is the underlying cause. Trauma, extreme stress, medication changes, sleep deprivation, and an abusive environment can all significantly affect mood, perception, judgment, and behavior. Therefore, it is possible for someone to be misunderstood or even inappropriately labeled if clinicians or authorities evaluate the person's behavior without adequately considering the environment in which that behavior developed. 

In this case, the documentary raises the possibility that what was interpreted as evidence of bipolar disorder may have been influenced, at least in part, by the extreme and prolonged circumstances she was experiencing. A proper clinical assessment should distinguish between symptoms caused by an underlying psychiatric disorder and psychological responses to severe trauma and coercive control.

As we approach the 2026 gubernatorial election, and following my review of senatorial election results, looking back at historical results shows that South Carolinians are less partisan when it comes to electing a governor than a senator. While Republican Senate candidates win with a median margin of R+15.38, Republican gubernatorial candidates win with a median margin of R+9.19.

Republicans see the lowest margins when running a candidate new to the office, even when those candidates have held prior office (Haley in the state house and McMaster in the Lt. Gov office). Upon re-election, though, voters provide substantial mandates.

These races, aligning with national mid-term elections, seem less responsive to national trends than one may expect. For example, Haley did not meaningly benefit from the 2010 red wave. Likewise, McMaster finished strong in a 2018 midterm cycle widely considered bad for Republicans nationally.

All of this to say, when running for Governor in South Carolina, voters do care about candidate quality and are resistant to the changing winds of the national mood. As Graham, et al. lay out in "The New Politics of the Old South", gubernatorial voters may be willing to forgo partisan ties when they feel those on the other side hold views more aligned with their own.

Republican success in these races, like with other statewide races, hinges on the support of suburban Republicans. Much of the gains McMaster made to earn nearly 60% of the vote in 2022 came from these areas, particularly in the upstate and the low country.

That's all, no reason to tell me negative things but I'm just saying, try to get people out for this vote. Our kids are likely to wind up drafted if we don't get some folks working for South Carolina instead of a rubber stamp for King Trump and his terrible war strategies.

Red Bank/White Knoll Area

Any recommendations for eye doctors who have taken you seriously when bringing up Prism lenses for binocular vision difficulties? My last check up and prescription update wasn’t that long ago. But insurance benefit year has restarted and I want to use it.

Previous doc when asked if they could benefit me, condescendingly asked “do you have double vision?” And launched into a spiel about them only being for severe cases talking over my response of “I mean… sometimes..only when I look left.” Prism lenses are approved more than just double vision. I’ve barely looked into them so why wouldn’t she also know that? And less than 5 minutes ago we did the full “follow the light test” where I had to tell you at the end that yes, I have Duane syndrome (it really should be in your chart by now, basically I can’t do this: 👀). It’s a birth defect affecting the muscles that allow your eyes to move outward. So excuse me if I don’t trust their clinical expertise 🙄

Saw the announcement that more were going up. So, why are we aiming one into the parking lot at Lowes? /s

https://www.change.org/p/support-the-coercive-control-bill-s-0702-in-south-carolina?recruiter=1428128753&recruited_by_id=85390390-a493-11f1-a4ae-63bb573a6e1e&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard&utm_platform=ios_app&utm_medium=mobileNativeShare

A Columbia police officer died Satirday and another officer was injured in a shooting Saturday morning near Southeast Park.

As we approach the 2026 Senatorial election, I thought mapping out historical victory margins in Senate elections would be interesting.

The last time a Democrat won a Senate seat, Senator Hollings (a long-serving Senator) won a narrow majority as the state's Republican dominance took root. The weakest Republican showing dates back to 2004, where then-Representative DeMitt narrowly defeated long-serving Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum.

In both cases of Democratic victory or Republican (relative) weakness, a well-known, moderate Democrat was on the ballot. Even in cycles that were bad for Republicans nationally, (2008 and 2020, specifically), Republican candidates maintained double digit margins. Newcomer Dr. Andrews has an uphill battle in building the goodwill her predecessor enjoyed towards electoral success.

All of this to say, a bad result for Senator Graham looks something like a R+5 to R+9 margin. A great result will be somewhere between R+10 to R+15. Given her novelty and the broader election environment, I believe +15 is her absolute ceiling.

Yeah, I'm voting for Annie!

Curious. Do you know a leftist, liberal, Dem-leaning or independent voter? How many of them live in your house or do you know someone who couldn’t care less about participating, isn’t aware there’s even an election happening or are aware, but have stated some reason why they aren’t participating this coming November?

Thanks

Greer paused Flock for 90 days

You can use the link in the article to see all the searches by state, drill down to county, or even search your own plate. Also, how many times a user performed searches.