Why is that ironic? That’s literally how libertarianism works: the state regulates as little as possible, while people organize themselves in associations to regulate their (neighbourhood, profession, whatever) as they see fit, with the ability to choose whether or not to join, or to remain in, any such organization.

Is that the Star Trek inspired one? I’m an SF fan and was looking forward to it, but am somewhat easily disturbed. Should I stay away?

What I was wondering, too. The cost of putting him on the next flight back/to his actual destination would have to be way smaller than the cost of turning an entire flight back and compensation everyone for missed connections, etc. Unless there was some political issue involved (ie the person lacked a visa and the…

Thanks so much for this.

Agreed, on what to emphasize.

Honest question - how often do guys have sex they don’t want because they can’t think of a socially acceptable way to back out? I’m sure it’s not zero, but I’m also sure it’s an order of magnitude (or two) lower than for women. Power differentials aside, social conditioning is brutal.

OOC, how much do you pay for Symbicort? I used to have a prescription, new provider doesn’t cover it, so I’d pay $800/month. I have a doctor relative who gets me samples, but can’t do this indefinitely.

I also never knew it was NOT normal to be terrified all the time. I have a demanding job and get published lots and my family is ok, so everyone including me assumed I was functioning, until I told my therapist I struggle not to cry whenever I’m alone because I’m so scared. Buspar, after a week, transformed things. I…

I hear you, but to me, it is a big problem that so many people have these conditions. (Also agreed that we need to put more thought into “are more people depressed/whatever or is the number about the same but more people are getting appropriate help and/or no longer ashamed and lying about it?”) I am equally…

My therapist said, when I told her after starting Buspar that I didn’t have a constant buzz of fear my every waking and sober moment, “this is how you’re supposed to feel.”

The Evangelical movement began, in America, to oppose the conflation of the state with religion. I wonder if this imbeciles have any idea how badly, and for how many generations, they are damaging their movement?

I like this discussion because while I knew Sia from Sia-songs, I had no clue about her previous work. Feel free to post more obscure favourites of yours from her back catalogue! And South Park is a work of musical genius.

How is this argument different from “women who dress provocatively should expect catcalls/groping/assault”?

I have had both Asians and white Americans tell me, unironically, that “Asians are basically white,” while denying that race is socially constructed.

How did I not know it was a movie? I loved the book!

Academic snark is best snark.

“I am taking a leave of indefinite duration to spend more time with my divorce lawyers.”

Why does news need to cater to women? Is news for women actually qualitatively different? And if it is, must it have a breathless-and-yet-cynical tone?

Given the number of writers here who defend sex work as something women can freely choose, it seems odd that they’re not granting the same agency to surrogates. And yes, while there are undoubtedly some people somewhere who’ve used surrogates for convenience or vanity, the vast majority do so because of medical…

Yeah, it’s really poorly written at best, and wildly wrong (if she’s saying that therefore Kim isn’t the biological mother) at worst.