As promised...more "If you're 'not allowed' to say no to someone, they are not acting like friends" content. I have kept the Letter Writer's subject line as the post title so that readers too can have the "Wait, where is the part where this person is an actual mom" "Oh wait, phew, this person isn't … Continue reading #1208: “Question about Mom Friends being too Mothering:” BOUNDARIES SCHOOL is in session.
Category: how to say no
#1207: “I moved away from a roommate who treated me like her on-call therapist, but she won’t let go. How can I tell her ‘nicely’ that I don’t want to be friends anymore?”
This is going to be the first of a two-part series on how people who can't hear the word 'no' are not your friends. Hey Captain! I (she/her) just moved out of a group house. I lived with five other people in the house, including a couple (Elsie and Jenna). Elsie (she/her) and I are … Continue reading #1207: “I moved away from a roommate who treated me like her on-call therapist, but she won’t let go. How can I tell her ‘nicely’ that I don’t want to be friends anymore?”
It Came From The Search Terms: The Last Day In May
Hello gentle friends, it's time for that thing where we treat the things people typed into their search engines to find this place as if they are questions in their own right. As is traditional, we begin with a tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi5A9OCAyIk Then we begin the no-context guessing games and assumptions! 1 "Adult male using … Continue reading It Came From The Search Terms: The Last Day In May
#1200: “My mom is bugging me to clean my room.”
Dear Captain, About a year ago I was able to save just enough money to say, “F@&$ you!” to a really depressing living situation and moved cross-USA into my mom’s new house in the very expensive area near where I grew up. I’m lucky that my mom and I are fairly compatible personality-wise (and that … Continue reading #1200: “My mom is bugging me to clean my room.”
#1147: “My lover wants me to keep our relationship secret from his ex and kids.”
Hello! I'm sorry, this is complicated. I am in my late thirties and have fallen in love for the first time in my life. We have been in love for a year. I believe he is the love of my life, which I have never believed about anybody, and he believes that I am his. … Continue reading #1147: “My lover wants me to keep our relationship secret from his ex and kids.”
Short Answer Friday/Chat – August 3 – Pledge Drive Concludes
Hello, it's on! Patrons can submit questions here (advantage: 1st dibs, more words). Anyone/Everyone can submit on Twitter (@CAwkward, #awkwardfriday), questions close at noon Chicago time, I answer as many as I can and update as I go between noon and 1pm. Whatever I don't have time for gets held over for next week. Comments … Continue reading Short Answer Friday/Chat – August 3 – Pledge Drive Concludes
#1113: Weed Allergies, Geek Social Fallacies, and the Gordian Knot
Ahoy Captain, I am a part of a lovely circle of friends that at its core is good and strong and free of toxicity. If you graduate out a bit in the social circles, we have a couple of friends that kind of move in and out of the friend group that are prone to … Continue reading #1113: Weed Allergies, Geek Social Fallacies, and the Gordian Knot
#1079: “Boundaries and ‘shoulds.'”
Dear Captain, I’m a woman in her mid-30’s who’s been dating a man a few years older than myself. We’ve only been together for about 6 months. Neither one of us has a very extensive dating history; he’s only dated one other woman, and I’ve only dated two other men. At first he seemed like … Continue reading #1079: “Boundaries and ‘shoulds.'”
#1078: “Sooooooo…what are you doing this weekend?”
Dear Captain, I have been thinking about this one for some time now, and I'm stuck: What is a good response to "What are you up to tonight / this weekend / next Thursday?" I loathe this question, and I've been getting it a lot lately. I get it from friends (who usually just want … Continue reading #1078: “Sooooooo…what are you doing this weekend?”
#1063: Is this all-in-good-fun old-timey-cosplay flirting or weird boundary-pushing flirting?
Dear Captain Awkward, Four years ago, the first fling I had after I left my ex was with a guy at a large multi-day costume event in a far-off state. He came on really strong (in character) and as we have friends in common, I knew he was engaged and asked him about this. He … Continue reading #1063: Is this all-in-good-fun old-timey-cosplay flirting or weird boundary-pushing flirting?
