That’s a good point about the name Muhammad. And a good point/caveat about being born into a Muslim family. Having a name doesn’t mean that you’re observant at all. I bet there are plenty of Khan’s and Mohammad’s in the UK who are mostly secular.

Aren’t names sometimes deceiving? I have a friend with an Arabic name but he's Coptic. If I didn't know him personally, I'd think he was Muslim.

I wanted to find out because I really, really wanted a girl and was just excited and nervous.

I hear you. I went to St Paul’s, but long before this case. When I think back, it’s like throwing your kids to the wolves. There was virtually no awareness of or protection from sexual assault. The school is so insular and private, their response doesn’t shock me. Sicken, perhaps.

Not from what I’ve seen. I live in France with my French husband. French are very proud of their secularism and even their atheism. There isn’t even a good translation of “spiritual.” “Espirituel” means “intellectual.”

The law about “sincerely held religious beliefs” is American. In France you only have the freedom to practice your religion in private. That being said, laws about laïcité are being used as an excuse for misogyny and Islamophobia.

It’s interesting that so many people find their story far-fetched. The only thing that surprises me is that more people haven't been attacked. I spent about 8 months in Brazil and have lots of Brazilian friends. Before I went they made sure to sufficiently scare me about the crime and violence so that I’d be super…

You do realize that forcing the other children into foster care punishes the children, right? Do you know anything at all about the terrible outcomes for kids in the foster care system? I don't understand all the people who want to punish parents and remove remaining children.

That sounds cool. I live in France and if people hear you co sleep you get some serious side-eye. Freudian ideas seem to have had a big influence on parenting. So maybe what I said only applies to France.

My babysitter had her baby in the Philippines. Everyone sleeps with their baby in the bed and there's no formula. She wanted to bottle feed so the snuck it in. Really interesting how North Americans and Europeans are so freaked out by cosleeping.

Thank you thank you thank you

I’m glad you are honest about how if you didn’t have it yourself you would have agreed it was just depression. At least you’re honest. But I’m really curious: why is it so hard to believe someone just because you haven't had the same experience?

Thank you. Best response ever to these bs claims that it’s “just depression.”

Your point being?

Last I checked, the dsm doesn’t list memory loss and tremors as criteria for major depression. Personally, I have depression that is very well-treated, but those meds don’t do shit for my other symptoms.

I’m think that doctors/professors/bosses especially like to think that when the sufferers are disproportionately women. A doctor recently told my father in law that diabetes can be set off by stress. But he didn’t tell my FIL that he should be in therapy as his symptoms are obviously psychosomatic. Or heart disease…

Thanks for saying that. I honestly don’t understand the attitude around here of blind faith in the medical establishment and the CDC. No other entity, especially of the govt, is afforded such blind faith by Jez commenters.

Thanks for sharing that story. I used to be a high achiever who wanted to go to med school, but then I developed a chronic illness. it's nice to hear someone believes people like us!

I’m not anti vax, but I know a lot about the movement. Andrew Wakefield did not start it, not by a long shot.

I’ve no idea if you’re trolling or not. Regardless, I think you have a point about vaccines having risks. One of the known risks is encephalitis and brain damage. It’s a very tiny risk, but it’s real. Many commonly used interventions have risks of severe reactions, even if they're extremely rare. I think if the pro…