No, you are right, there are ways to have the conversation about prostitution without criticizing the prostitutes. There are many instances of abuse, of sex trafficking, etc. But that is not always the case, and I think a lot of times, the women who have the agency, who made the choice are left out of the…

Right? The words we use matter. How can we have rational, thoughtful, world-changing discussions when we are marginalizing an entire group of women, essentially saying that being a sex worker, no matter what the circumstance, is the worst, most disgusting thing in the world?

Last bit got cut off: without calling women whores and prostitutes, because those are okay things to be. If you are trying to use that as an insult, you aren't doing feminism any favors.

Exactly. When 'whore' is an insult, it's slut-shaming. If you can't have a conversation about female sexuality without equating sex-workers to the lowest of the low, to the thing that no person should ever want to be, how dare they, it's slut-shaming.

I totally get that! It's an easy way to try to turn it around on people who do this type of thing. But I think that it's still important to acknowledge the inherent problems in a question like that, even if we only do it after the point has been made.

You are going to do whatever you are going to do, no matter what, right? Internet stranger here, and I know that nothing I say will change that. You can hold onto those pics forever, that is up to you.

I totally see why people ask this question, and I appreciate that we are trying to get him to understand. But I also hate this question, because it really reduces women - they are only important as wives, sisters, daughter, they are only important in relation to the men in their lives. I feel like a better question…

You know what WOULD make you a better person than this scumbag? Deleting those pictures. You don't have a right to get revenge, you don't have a right to post those private pictures just because you spent money on someone. You were hurt, and that sucks, but holding on to the 'possibility' of posting someone else's…

Don't forget slut-shaming in ironic quotation marks, because it's obviously not a real thing and come on guys, look at those clothes.

My mind is blown. Thank you!! It's amazing how many of these damaging messages are so ingrained and difficult to see.

Do you want pie pictures in return? My boyfriend's grandma makes six or seven pies for the holidays. It's basically pie-pornography.

Yay Burt on Thanksgiving!! :D I'd say I'm thankful for this, but it seems rude to be thankful for your turkey salad while I eat three slices of pie.

oops, double post. damn phone.

Sorry, I have to disagree. First of all, racism is not a bad word. It is a bad thing that people need to talk about, and calling it "The R-word" doesn't make racism disappear. Also, stereotyping based on race is racism.

Thank you! I was hoping it would come across as sweet and not awkward. Hopefully I can finish it in time.

I know the feeling! Good luck to you too!! Hope you land something awesome. :)

No, just taking a very roundabout route to undergrad. I switched majors three times. Maybe four. I've lost track at this point.

My therapist is leaving town. I am happy for her (she's doing awesome things) but also really sad. She is absolutely amazing, and helped me so much, even though I think I have more work to do. I crochet, and I am planning on crocheting her a blanket (she is always cold, and has multiple blankets in her office, and…

CONGRATS!!!! Still working on my 8-year (hopefully, please, oh ye gods of higher education) plan.

I am completely embarrassed about how long it took me to get this joke. Well done, internet denizen. Well done.