Arlington is also one of the hottest and most expensive areas in one of the most expensive areas of VA (Northern VA, near DC). You could go south to Fredericksburg or a little east to PG County, MD and find much, much cheaper housing.

Sorry, that’s exactly what I thought you meant. I wasn’t disagreeing, I was just trying to add another data point. Good luck on your progress review!

When I was in HS, there was a girl who followed me around. She gave me a box with “her favorite things” from magazines pasted all over it, told people I was her boyfriend, etc. I tried to be nice to her, but I told her that thanks, I wasn’t interested. One day, when I was with my (actual) girlfriend, she sat in front…

I’m a man who just finished defending his dissertation; I was also given the advice to pause before answering, to show that I thoughtfully considered the questions.

I surrendered to necessity and decided that my dissertation only had to be "good enough." I defend soon, so I guess I'll find out if good enough is really good enough.

Thanks for responding. Do you have a theory as to why Tolle's work appeals especially to MRA types?

Is there anything in the book itself that you take issue with, or is this a guilt by association thing for you?

OK, then I would just suggest that your experience is not universal.

Are you telling me you don't touch a woman for the first TWO dates you go on? You don't go for the kiss at the end of the first date? You are overcautious.

Yes, but your advice lists nine attributes (of which only one is definitely shared by the letter writer) and that you have no problems getting laid. Either you are listing extraneous details, or you are saying that these attributes have something to do with getting laid. You then advise going to the gym. Your…

Off the top of my head, Maimonides wrote that imagination was the combination of separate things into one body in 1190. I'm sure that he wasn't the first to express that view.

Dupe

I empathize. One problem is that we use a lot of euphemistic speech in romantic interactions. It is normal and saves embarrassment. But it also means consent is less explicit. If you want to avoid ever being in the same situation again, ask her if she likes things as they're progressing. If she tells you yes, that's…

So asking a friend to set you up is patriarchal objectification, now?

What gym do you go to that makes you white, tall, blue eyed, and hung?

Women aren't a monolith, and some do like casual touching. Not the same as grabbing ass.

No, you can't be reasonably blamed. Stop calling yourself a rapist. You can empathize with her and realize that something was going on with her, but that doesn't mean you necessarily did something wrong.

Except that there are people who have severely reduced or absent libidos because of medical problems. The absence of a drive is different from an orientation of a drive. Of course there are people who have no hormonal problems and are one form or another of asexual. But when someone says "I'm different in a particular…

My hair goes down to my butt. I need to cut probably a 6-12 inches. Probably this summer. I don't think I've had anyone compliment my hair since high school. I did have some coworkers try to convince me to cut it at my previous job. Otherwise, just the occasional comment of "wow, you have long hair!"

Right on. I have a ponytail (really long hair), and sure people tell me that women are less likely to date me because of it, but it's a style that works for me, damn it.