When you want to share an extremely mood-ruining thing (death of a parent) without ruining the mood: Be brief and direct, and let other people be nice to you for a minute.
Category: COMMUNICATION
#1311: “I don’t wanna hang out post-pandemic.”
The question u asked: "How do I decline future social invitations from people I don't like anymore?"
The question I answered: "It is okay to outgrow friendships and only RSVP 'yes' to the parties you want to attend."
#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."
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)
#1291: “My husband is never, ever sorry.”
If he apologizes he might shatter into a million little pieces, this is Very Serious!
#1290: “My husband says ‘my pushiness’ ruined his life.”
Hi Captain, Six months ago my husband got a new job. It was a top management position that I thought he really wanted. The application process was very involved and I gave him a lot of help with it. I thought I was being loving and supportive, and that we were working as a … Continue reading #1290: “My husband says ‘my pushiness’ ruined his life.”
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.
#1278: “My partner is pushing me to start a family before I’m ready.”
Dear Captain My fiancé and I were supposed to get married this April but the wedding was postponed until May 2021 due to the pandemic. We are both in our early 30s. He’s always been keen to start a family, I’m open to having a baby but really want to be married first. This is … Continue reading #1278: “My partner is pushing me to start a family before I’m ready.”
#1277: “Abuse, agency, and the limits of advice.”
Behind a cut for mention of physical and emotional abuse of adult children by parents as well as some frustrations and victim-blaming attitudes that are common in friends and support networks of people who are embroiled in abusive situations. Abusers ruin everything, pretty much. Dear Captain Awkward, I (31, nb, he/him) have a friend who … Continue reading #1277: “Abuse, agency, and the limits of advice.”
#1276: “Setting boundaries when there’s a significant power difference (and you’re the one with less)”
Hi Captain, I’m wondering if you have a script for setting boundaries where there’s a significant power differential. Briefly, I’ve recently hired a lawyer who specializes in disability rights to represent me in a human rights case against a corporation that discriminated against me based on my mental health disability. The lawyer is very competent, … Continue reading #1276: “Setting boundaries when there’s a significant power difference (and you’re the one with less)”