Aw, now I wish I was there to help you! The feedback on Al-Anon in this thread seems to be pretty positive. Have you tried it? 12 years is a long time to handle it all on your own. If I was in charge of hugs, I would send 12 years’ worth of retroactive hugs your way. <3

Long answers are good answers! I’m so glad to hear Al-Anon has helped you. My friend’s mom is losing her physical health fast and her husband of 30 years died of cancer last year. I’m pretty sure she’s lost the desire to live and there’s nothing anyone can do about it, so the sooner my friend gets her own support…

Thanks for the reply & support! Glad to hear I’m not the only one going in support mode rather than for myself. Dullness I can handle.

So agree. I can’t understand the process they used to shut down sites. Like, Kitchenette is gone but the Kristen Cav articles are still coming through? Who wanted that? Do they not understand that feminism — serious feminism, not celebrity gossip for the wimmenz — is a critical part of Jezebel for a lot of its…

Does anyone here have experience with Al-Anon? My mom is a well-recovered alcoholic, but a friend of mine is basically watching her mother kill herself with alcohol. I suggested my friend go to a meeting, and said I’d go with her if that would help, and she gratefully agreed. We’re scheduled for this coming week.

Yeah, it reminds me of the psychopath who showed up at that Texas pool party and went apeshit on a bunch of teenagers, running (and somersaulting) past other cops who were literally just standing around, calmly asking people to leave.

(Psst, Mark is gay and all of Jezebel knows it...)

I think the “how is everyone infected?” question is answered (kinda) in Fear the Walking Dead. There’s a flu virus that essentially shuts down LA’s schools for weeks on end because *everyone* is sick. This is the primary exposure to the Walker virus. First exposure doesn’t kill you, but it creates a latent infection…

Sorry this is such a crazy long response. I’m just spitballing; take what works, ignore what doesn’t, and maybe it’ll help other people in your situation as well. Good luck! :)

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek

There aren’t enough “breaking things” gifs in the world for how I felt after reading this. Fuck that guy.

It’s so, so hard. Weirdly, I find it very easy to stand up for my coworkers and very difficult to stand up for myself. I think having outspoken allies in the office is key. That way if anyone feels uncomfortable, they know there’s another person who will listen and take their concerns seriously. When it’s just you,…

Thanks for posting this. It was so great to read the slew of comments from other people who (1) have their meals commented on all the time in the office and (2) haaaaaaaaaaaaate it.

He is on my laminated celebrity freebie list, for sure.

Um, your regular parties are my fantasy party. That sounds like the best night of my life.

I’m so sorry that happened to you. I can’t imagine dealing with it on your own for so many years in silence, never sure that what you experienced had been real. That sounds like the worst possible manifestation of gaslighting, even if it was completely unintentional on your mom’s part. How awful.

Thanks for sharing your story. I’ve seen a lot of people speaking on behalf of refugees lately, but it’s much rarer to come across refugee stories in their own words. Thanks for adding your perspective.

I HAD FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT THIS. Thank you, kind internet stranger!

Yeah, at the very least the follow-up to “Why [haven’t you killed any people]?” is “How have you managed to stay alive without killing any people?”

I wonder how our attitudes in the US compare to attitudes in similar countries abroad. I’ve always felt that Americans have a particular aversion to being seen as either too rich or too poor. Exchanging salary information with someone gives you a no-nonsense idea of who’s richer and who’s poorer and I think all of us…