#1304: “Fox News stole my mom and replaced her with a ranting lady who won’t let me say or do anything without it setting her off. How do I get along with her until I can leave for college?”

On calling bluffs, escape velocity, and the futile, necessary, but probably still futile, work of reclaiming some of our relatives from history's flaming dumpster. Content note: Sometimes honestly talking about authoritarian stuff and white supremacy means describing it, so there are examples of actual racist and xenophobic statements from relatives herein.

#1251: “My friends are mad because I don’t like talking in the dreaded Group Chat from WhatsApp Hell.”

Dear Captain, I looked through the archives and I couldn't see anything on this particular topic, but apologies if I missed something. It does seem connected to the Geek Social Fallacies though. My question is about how to deal with awkwardness and anxieties over the dreaded Group Chat. I have a group of friends who … Continue reading #1251: “My friends are mad because I don’t like talking in the dreaded Group Chat from WhatsApp Hell.”

Two internet advice columnists walk into a bar: Captain Awkward & Ask A Manager Collaboration (Part 1 of 2)

My combined Christmas/birthday present this year was a trip to Washington, D.C. to catch up with some very old friends who were managing to be both in the same country and the same city all at the same time for the first time in almost 20 years. We've seen each other piecemeal over the years … Continue reading Two internet advice columnists walk into a bar: Captain Awkward & Ask A Manager Collaboration (Part 1 of 2)

#1242: “What’s a helpful holiday gift for my 10YO niece who has crappy parents?”

Hello, Captain, Quick aside: I really like your switch to allowing comments only on select posts. It makes the whole site somehow calmer and more inviting. Being able to read your writing without the distraction of subconsciously wondering what sharp poky things might turn up at the bottom is relaxing in a way I wouldn't … Continue reading #1242: “What’s a helpful holiday gift for my 10YO niece who has crappy parents?”

Linkety Links + “We need to talk” vs. “Hey, knock it off” conflict management strategies

Good news, Mikki Kendall's beautiful book, Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History Of Women's Fight For Their Rights, is finally out. The IndieBound link is above, Amazon is here, it's illustrated by the amazing A. D'Amico and just breathtakingly wonderful and gorgeous. Mr. Awkward is cataloging his year of ambitious projects with his blog/email … Continue reading Linkety Links + “We need to talk” vs. “Hey, knock it off” conflict management strategies