And it was “ripped from the headlines” then, too. I believe there were multiple instances of this in the late 80s and early 90s.

This is right out of Mothership Law & Order. Anybody remember that episode? It was on last night on the Sundance channel.

I found her thoughtful without being pretentious. She says “bro” a lot and urged me to read her book of poetry

To me ancestry kits are especially fascinating in that they challenge our political notion of where our privacy starts and stops and how much of who we are belongs to us exclusively. It’s an interesting era in the world of science and law.

I think that will depend on the state, because in a lot (most, maybe all? I’m not a trusts and estates lawyer) of states sperm donors aren’t on the hook for child support or anything else to do with a child conceived with their sperm. Plus, if he has a will (which I have to imagine he does), he’s not required to…

That sounds...weirdly plausible?

100% co-sign. My grandma (who lived near Xmas wonderland Bronner’s) gave us ornaments with the year on them each christmas until she died when I was 12. I still have some of them (one is from 1976 and I wrap it in like 50 paper towels each year to protect it). Even when gifts don’t mean a lot in the moment, they can…

I really hope “they’re trying to steal my gift ideas and get the credit” doesn’t get lost in the ridiculousness of everything else, because it’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever read and feels like the thought of an eight-year-old.

This person is insufferable. It is easy to name a dozen things I like. Maybe this person doesn’t like anything and that’s the problem.

And I’m popping in here just to say, I hate when relatives complaining about “not hearing from you the rest of the year” because the phone works both ways, man.

Thank you Brandy!

True. We only know her side of the story, and in her telling of her story she looks petty and entitled.

This person wrote to an advice columnist because they thought their in laws wanting to buy them something nice was a burden. If there’s one thing the letter writer absolutely isn’t, it’s “emotionally healthy.”

My family’s adopted an “adults don’t need a million presents” policy and I love it. We all keep an Amazon wishlist and every adult gets one or two things and we move on with our lives. I can’t imagine being such a brat that I’d roll my eyes at a loved one asking, “What would you like for a gift?” If you don’t think…

Dear Fuck Up, thank you for putting this whiney asshole in their proper place. OMG People we don’t bother with ever ask us what we want for Christmas! They are trying to steal my gift idea! I am over reaching and over thinking and over emotionalizing an email I can respond to with “Gift cards, funny socks, spices” I…

Well aware that not all family relationships are the same. But I mean, the in-laws are reaching out to this person, opening the door, asking for gift ideas. This person could use this as an opportunity to get to know them, tell them things they’ve been interested in throughout the year. Instead she’s slamming the door…

I’m sure I’ve seen uses of the phrase that surpassed this in ridiculousness but can’t think of any off the top of my head. Desperately trying to imagine thinking that“listing off a few inexpensive things I’d find useful” is emotional labor.

They’re her in-laws. They are family. They’re trying to do something nice for her. Maybe they deserve a little ‘emotional labor.’

Hell yes. I love this answer. I am so so so so sick of people who are constantly like “my family is trying to care about me, it sucks!” If they’re trying, even in a small way, be open to it. We only get so much time with them, and you’ll regret not putting in more time with them later. Leave the “ugh parents are so…

I can understand asking for ideas, or if you know they want a certain something, asking for more details in an attempt to not get the wong brand/color/size.