My grandfather (~75) and uncle (~60) both died of colon cancer. My uncle just passed away late last year. They were both already at stage 4 by the time it was discovered, and their deaths were preceded by rapid declines and weeks of immense pain.

Looking back on it as an adult, I realize that his behaviors in class were so inappropriate that he should have been fired long before the FBI got involved. But as a 12yo, I was just thinking “maybe this is normal and we’re all just bullying a socially awkward man????” It was messed up.

I just shared my story in another comment here. Even after our 7th grade teacher was caught downloading c**** p****** at the school, on his work computer, we were shushed when we tried to talk about how uncomfortable he’d made us feel in his classes.

I am so proud of the children in this article. (And disappointed in the adults around them.)

Same as any cult-like organization? In times of chaos and turmoil (personal or external), being told what to think and do can provide a sense of security—and someone reached out in a vulnerable time.

It’s just obtuse not to recognize that a 20 year difference can cause a huge power imbalance, especially as most cultures around the world connote age with wisdom and value “respecting your elders.”

Pugh can have agency and Braff can be a creep all at the same time.

Or, and I guess this is a hard thing for you to grasp, maybe it’s dangerous to normalize relationships like this as perfectly healthy because it is extremely common for abusers prey on younger people—especially women.

Heteronormativity is why people willingly accept relationships between 20 year old women and 50 year old men. We’ve been told to accept relationships between old men and young women for millennia. Women have been pushed into or sold into relationships like this in patriarchal cultures for millennia. They still are.…

Sick.

I agree, it’s nothing about Florence and who she chooses to date/love/whatever.

March Madness does not wait an hour for a date with a potential life partner to wrap up, Snide-O-Mite. If you couldn’t see that you weren’t as important to him as sports betting, well, that was entirely your fault. Lol.

Oh yeah, you definitely feel like you hold all the power when you end a date/relationship... because the other person can’t bother to show an interest in, or respect for, you as a person. It’s such a powerful feeling to not be cared about.

Yeah, I thought about responding to one of his “women are lying and think emotional availability is for losers” posts, but realized before typing out a complete sentence that this guy obviously just hates women and that I’m not going to waste my time trying to convince him otherwise.

I went on so many first dates in the months before meeting my husband, probably about one a week.

She was eventually able to get the medical care she needed and has physically recovered. Mentally/emotionally the situation took a huge toll, however, so she has chosen not to try to get pregnant again.

The uneducated, incurious dipshits in my state already voted for our total abortion ban. 62% to 37%.

I think it’s relevant to note that we all saw the result of a “mutual abuse” case last year, when Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie were stopped by the police and Gabby herself claimed she hit him first and was in a bad mood and was being mean to him because of her OCD. The police even noted that she slapped him in…

I tried really hard not to feel involved or invested in this trial—I don’t know anything about this relationship and I don’t want to assume innocence or guilt when such horrifying accounts of domestic violence exist on both sides.

I fucking hate my state.