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.
Category: Social Interactions
#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.”
#1268: “I tanked a job interview at a place I really want to go back to someday. How do I get over the shame?”
Hi Captain! I hope today is treating you gently. 🙂 Last year, I (twentysomething, they/them) moved across the country to be with my partner. The relationship is good and healthy! The town is friendly, walkable-ish, mild weather, etc. When I visited, I could see myself living here – and more importantly, working at this one … Continue reading #1268: “I tanked a job interview at a place I really want to go back to someday. How do I get over the shame?”
It Came From The Search Terms: Spring 2020
We are overdue for the blog feature where I answer the search strings people typed in to find this place as if they are questions. Let's do it! First, as is traditional, a song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2ccC4aULow RIP to one of the coolest, realest artists I was lucky enough to share the space-time continuum with. :cries … Continue reading It Came From The Search Terms: Spring 2020
#1266: Pandemic Distance-Learning Teacher-Student Boundaries
Hi Capt. Awkward, I/she/her am a high school teacher and we’re not returning to campus until next year. That means we have 12 more weeks of distance learning. Right now we’re completing Week 3. I have a student (11th grade, so around 17) who has a variety of mental health needs, gender identity stuff, etc. … Continue reading #1266: Pandemic Distance-Learning Teacher-Student Boundaries
#1262: “My housemate keeps exposing herself to me/the world/everyone.”
Dear Captain Awkward, My 50+ y/o housemate has a problem, and I don't know how to help. Sounds stupid but her pants are always falling down. At any given moment inch(es) of her rear crack are exposed. It started years ago, most often when she would bend over, but it has progressively gotten worse--any time … Continue reading #1262: “My housemate keeps exposing herself to me/the world/everyone.”
#1261: “Scripts for Shelter-In-Place Peer Pressure.”
Hi, I live in an area that is under a shelter-in-place order due to COVID-19. A few of my friends have been inviting me to activities that violate the order. My go-to excuse (and the truth) has been bringing up that I live with a high-risk individual, so I'm going to stick to the shelter-in-place … Continue reading #1261: “Scripts for Shelter-In-Place Peer Pressure.”
Two Answers to Many Questions: COVID-19, Crushes, and Closure
Answer 1: On Crushes So, you have a crush on a friend.* But everything is terrible/uncertain/stressful. Send the love poem. Say the thing that's in your heart. If not now, when? What's the worst that can happen? They don't love you back, i.e. the status quo? What's the best thing that happens? They do! The … Continue reading Two Answers to Many Questions: COVID-19, Crushes, and Closure
COVID-19 Update & Questions #1258 (How do I help my friends?) and #1259: (Social-distancing for extroverts)
Hello, readers, thanks for your emails, your support, and your questions in this time of global pandemic. How's everybody doing? (Yes, I know the first iteration misspelled COVID as Corvid, I ❤ ravens and crows and have been doing it all week, what can I say). Personal update: Mr. Awkward and I are both virus-free … Continue reading COVID-19 Update & Questions #1258 (How do I help my friends?) and #1259: (Social-distancing for extroverts)
Twenty-Three Ways Of Saying “Let’s Not Talk About Politics Right Now” (& Twenty Questions To Maybe Ask The People You Love Instead)
I got to be on the radio last week, talking about Love & Politics & is it possible to date across political divides. My segment starts about 35 min in if you're curious. Two questions I think about a lot (A LOT)(Really, honestly, so much): When we say "Oh, let's not talk about politics right … Continue reading Twenty-Three Ways Of Saying “Let’s Not Talk About Politics Right Now” (& Twenty Questions To Maybe Ask The People You Love Instead)