Hah, but is *this* what we want teens to be aspiring too? Yick.

I agree. I think that unadulterated trust for years and years on end is just a realistic goal. Everyone gets insecure and suspicious and sometimes (often!) rightfully so. I hope next time I have these feelings I can just talk to my partner about them...but that smart phone sure starts looking tempting!

I agree that this is not the most offensive thing UO has done probably even just this last week. But I do still see this as problematic. Sure, a lot of teens drink, but as a result I think it's just become too normalized. And I do see these shirts as playing into this.

I worked at UOs in NYC and Seattle for waaay too long, and while they do have a college audience, I would say it's much more for high school girls. That's also definitely when I shopped there the most.

I don't think it's okay, but I have done it. Unfortunately, the first time I did it I found out my (VERY EX) boyfriend was cheating on me. So now it's somehow justified in my head. I am lucky that my current boyfriend knows I am the world's biggest snoop and finds it endearing. I went through his phone and then…

Exactly! I mean, maybe there is some missing piece and the social worker acted inappropriately. But from what can see, this is pretty much how the system is supposed to work. If folks have an issue with the system, I can understand that—it is clunky, but kind of necessarily so. Either way, it doesn't seem like it's…

Thank *you*. I was starting to feel a little alone in this! Heh.

But the thing is that "reasonable cause" is subjective. Obviously, this social worker felt that this instance represented reasonable cause. This didn't end up being abuse. That doesn't mean that she was necessarily wrong to make the call, and I think that we would need more facts to really know one way or another.

Yay to the one person on this post that seems to know what mandated reporting is! Yes, that is exactly the idea of mandated reporting. Reporting a case to CPS or APS feels shitty. If you stop and think to yourself "Oooh, I don't know, is it reaaaaally abuse or neglect? Does it really warrant a call?" then you will…

I am a mandated reporter and a social worker (in a hospital at that!). I feel like maybe some of y'all don't understand what that means? It means you report whenever there is even suspicion of neglect or abuse. Did this end up being abuse? No, it did not. That's probably what happens a lot of the time in CPS cases.…

I am also a mandated reporter (and a social worker at a hospital). I don't think we have enough information to condemn this social worker. And frankly, you don't just have to report "imminent risk of harm" (at least not in my state), but also any time you have "cause to belive" that a child has suffered neglect or…

YES! I am also staunchly team Payson! Who else would I root for? Lauren? Please.

Ugh, right? Emily Kmetko was such a drag. And yes, WHAT OF THEIR DREAMS?!?! Don't leave us hanging like that, ABC Family!

Haha, did you ever see her on "Make It Or Break It" (shut uppp, guilty pleasure!!). She obviously insisted on all these Jesus-ey storylines and is always trying to pray with everyone. And she's a virgin, or course.

I don't know, I think it had cute parts. It just needed to be edited or something. I didn't find it so horribly offensive. And I would rather look at James Franco doing something badly than almost anyone else. The tone was off, but I don't think it's the worst commercial ever by any means.

I hope you get to go! Drive the Ring Road! You miss so much if you just kick it near Reykjavik.

Yes, a crap ton! Here are the links:

I agree! This is beautiful, but Iceland is this times 1327232892873. I just went and did the Ring Road this past May and am also thinking about going back in the winter. Such an amazing, special place.

You bring up a good point. If I can look like a (lady version) of that at 50, I am ready for you, Scientology.

I guess. I just get pissy about how we are all anti-body snark, except for when it comes to a short guy.