If you don't know what to say, revert to first principles: Something is probably better than nothing.
Category: advice
#1312: Did I make the wrong decision? And–why can’t I listen to everyone telling me I made the right decision?
I believe the classic phrase is "don't set yourself on fire to keep somebody else warm."
#1305: “Please help me close up the proverbial ‘woodwork’.”
"Say, Old Bean, it was really fun to have sex for a while, but I'm going to need you to find a new topic of conversation."
Links: The Holidays and What To Do About Them
Weird holidays, weird year.
It Came From The Search Terms: October Symphony (Oct. 2020)
Greetings, it is the time for the periodic tradition where I answer search strings people typed in as if they are questions. First, I want to share a few links - Here I am at Vice, writing about family arguments, and I also want to call attention to S. Bear Bergman's recent post there: How … Continue reading It Came From The Search Terms: October Symphony (Oct. 2020)
#1285: “My sister is in love with someone she knows tried to rape me.”
The subject title is the content warning. No graphic details, but the situation is exactly that bad.
#1283: “I need to resign as my friend’s son’s godmother.”
How do you back out when when someone manipulates you - successfully- into something you don't want to do? Plus, help for when you need to ghost a baby and his manipulative parents.
It Came From The Search Terms: July 2020
Yes! It is time! Time to treat the search strings people typed in right before they washed up on these blog shores as if they are actual questions! Inside: Mask etiquette, reformed Nice Guy™ apologies, overly-neighborly neighbors, favor-sharking defined, and more.
#1281: “Every conversation with my mom is an interrogation of my life choices.”
How does a gentle reminder about doing your laundry from someone who loves you become an existential struggle? Plus, strategies for changing unhealthy communication patterns that do not rely on *persuading* the other person to change for you. Dear Captain Awkward, What are some good scripts for telling my mother I don't want or need … Continue reading #1281: “Every conversation with my mom is an interrogation of my life choices.”
Link! How To Make More LGBTQ Friends
I don't know who needs to read this but S. Bear Bergman is at Vice today with a piece on how to make more LGBTQ friends that includes both in-person hangouts and activities and online community recs tailored to these pandemical times. j/k I know exactly who needs to read this, half of you wrote … Continue reading Link! How To Make More LGBTQ Friends