Oh, sure. I'm not calling anybody an idiot, but it's pretty bizarre, as someone who grew up in the midst of the Troubles, to see the extent to which many people romanticise *all* of Ireland, like it doesn't have serious social problems and a crappy economy and moderately awful weather. Like, some of it is the contrast…

They do have some nice pubs. But personally, I hate Guinness. :)

Heh, yes, as someone who grew up in Belfast, I do get the occasional giggle from how much Americans seem to have bought into the whole "mystical, cosy, beautiful, whimsical Ireland" thing, like the entire country is made of lakeside walks and pints of Guinness by roaring fires while dogs snooze at your feet.

Oh, right, sorry! Yes, I did not get that. And was slightly confused. :)

The manager's response reminds me of the delightful time that a sports coach made repeated jokes about touching my boobs and, when asked to stop and also to stop calling me, my MIL and SIL "girls", told me I was "just being silly". Silly, offended girls!

Thing is, though, research and other countries demonstrate pretty reliably that removing access to guns works rather well in stopping these things from happening, and is faster and easier than effecting cultural change. People cannot commit multiple murders in a very short time space without guns.

...um, yes. I can pretty much tell the difference between public and private.

That line is for when I'm sorry they have the FEELINGS about it, if only because it'd be easier for me if they didn't, but have no intention of doing anything different and feel totally unrepentant about it.

Hmm, no, not really. "White" = "Bride" is as consistent here as in the States. These just might be 2 random examples. I've never seen another white bridesmaid's dress, unless you count teeny flowergirls.

Ha!

Hi, Thomas! I didn't realise you commented here. Keep up the awesome work.

AFAIK, breastfeeding is - for this reason - a marginal issue healthwise in affluent populations in the developed world. It is a much more significant issue in poorer communities and/or the developing world. That said, shaming women for not breastfeeding is NEVER the way to go.

Thomas Macaulay Millar at Yes Means Yes has also made that point, although I can't find the article where he does right now. http://yesmeansyesblog.wordpress.com/

The kind of guy who attacks a girl, does he do it when others are present? No. When a guy pesters a girl for sex, does he do it in public? No.

Yes. And? This didn't really strike me as the most penetrating criticism on this particular story. Sure, discuss the whole concept of Everest commercial expeditions; I will too. There are lots of criticisms to be made of how Sherpas are treated and if wealthy Westerners who need a lot of support should be taken up…

That's kind of my point really; Lopsang Sherpa was incredibly fit, one of a tiny, very select group of people anywhere capable of summiting Everest without oxygen, and he made himself very ill short-roping Sandy Pittman before he got anywhere near the summit. They also didn't have her on a sledge, as I recall; they…

Assuming that she actually summited (and photos would easily prove/disprove that), Sherpas would not have been physically capable of carrying her up there.

I probably would prefer that, yeah, because the opportunity for fulfilment and self-enrichment would be just as large and the chances of dying would be a lot less.

From the limited amount I know about it from trekking in the Himalayas and reading a lot of books about Everest expeditions, it seems to be mostly older rich Americans flown in and out (maybe because young ones can't afford it).

...did they? Nobody mentioned anything about makeup for my postgrad graduation (or my Oxford undergrad one), although I don't wear that much anyway.