Germination Method

Having a TERRIBLE time this year trying to have an indoor grow, last year every seed i tried to germinate popped within about a day (took a week for just one this year) or so and i would plant it and it would sprout about a day later, this year the seeds seem to just be lifeless, the one i did pop never sprouted above the soil, and the new ones im currently trying to pop are taking about three days now when this was NEVER the case before, the method i use is soak them in a shotglass with water that has sat for a few days, then the minute i see them sink i transfer them to damp paper towels (using tweezers) inside a plastic bag to ensure the paper towels dont dry out when im not there or something. I have heard a few times that u can take a razor blade to the edge of the seed on the side where the taproot comes out and scrape away the seed casing to make it easier for the taproot to come out, is this safe? I have just did this to one of my seeds and actually chipped away a chunk of the seed casing on the taproot side, dont know if this will hurt it. Also, i hear that the oils on your hand will kill the seed if you touch them with your fingers, does this apply to the taproot or to the whole seed itself, I use tweezers most of the time anyway. And the last thing i hear is that exposing the taproots to light isnt good for them, i check on my seed A LOT (3-4 times a day) when im germinating them because im too anxious to plant them so i can finally grow again, does unwrapping the paper towel to check on the seed multiple times a day hurt them?? I figured it would give them the oxygen they need by unwrapping them from the paper towel. I always been told the best way to germ is to give them moisture darkness and warmth and leave them the hell alone, but ive been doing this three times so far this winter and im not seeing ANY results. Advice, tips, a direction to go in! Anything appreciated.

Thats the way I germ, with the exception that I put mine inside a black dvd case.

Jesus dude! Calm down a bit!! A three or four day wait for a seed to pop isn't a long time! If your growing hydro, place your seed into a pre-soaked (ph 5.5) rockwool, or just sow it straight into soil and leave it until the plant shows it's head. Simple. Don't start chipping bits out of them with a razor. If they haven't sprouted after a month or so then throw it in the bin and buy some of the many available strains out there on the net!

I start by dropping them in water for 24-36 hours till they crack (Drop to the bottom of the water). Then I use a takeout container with a clear top and some paper towels. Mist the towel and the inside top of the takeout container every day. I just sprouted 80% of some bagseed I had this way

Everyone over complicates the germ process to shit. Stop it lol Do you think plants in the wild use paper towels to generate offspring? I once planted a pack of seeds in a container outside and left them and a week later there they were. No towels, no propagation etc etc etc

Yea my patience has really went to shit since the first germed seed never sprouted, but the seed i fucked with the razor a while ago somehow has a taproot coming out of it so im deffinately gonna plant it and leave it alone, can anyone answer the question about checking it often tho? ive been wanting to know if it hurts the seed for a while now, other than that, thanks for the input!