You don’t have to take me seriously at all. But if I say something sensible, but you get distracted from it by my handle (and your own preconceptions), then you’re losing out.

Men are also afraid that men will kill them.

Except that this conversation about “semantics” is in the context of an article which is specifically taking Trump to task for failing to use the word “terrorist” to describe this action; so the meaning of terrorism seems pertinent to the discussion.

You’re only missing Iron Mask? It’s a great conclusion to the story! (And good on you for reading the virtually unknown books along the way...)

“This is how every story should be approached—Start the story in the middle of the action then backtrack if necessary.”

“a planned follow-up film that—like the second half of the book—catches up with the It kids once they’ve grown up”

Why shouldn’t you take my word for it? You could simply comment on my example in the spirit it was offered (just as I took you at yours), and if you need a caveat, a simple, “If that was truly the reason, then...” or something would suffice. That’s how friendly people interested in conversing with each other could…

Edit (thanks Kinja): “international” > “foreign.”

Another potential explanation is possession by demons; but based on what I’ve read and seen in the subsequent years, it does appear that Turner corporate wanted to eliminate the perceived negative connotations of “international.” Or at least, that appears to be the conclusion reached by those who have done the…

Sir, while I do read/enjoy WrestleCrap from time to time (though it’s been a while), that’s not the primary source of my anecdote; I’m old enough, I’ll admit, to have been watching WCW at the time. I can’t swear to how many times “international object” was used on-air, but it was frequent enough so that my…

I like your “master”/“slave” example, but here’s my favorite: It comes from a very specific world — that of professional wrestling — so bear with me...

You know the thing about kids, though? Sometimes they’re wrong. And old men sometimes know what they’re talking about, what with all the experience and stuff. Not to tread on your meme wisdom — you are an AV Club commentator, of course, with all of the obvious respect that commands — but Mel Brooks is something of a…

I’m reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, about a quarter of the way through. It’s my first time reading Dawkins. So far, to be honest, I’m not terribly impressed. As far as atheist polemics are concerned, I’d listened to God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens on mp3 about a year ago, and enjoyed that much…

I’m no fan of socialism, but this group is doing the right thing here.

Actually, I was thinking of things like this.

Defend oneself? Absolutely. But there’s a difference between actual self-defense and deciding on a course of violence, where you show up at a peaceful demonstration with weapons and attack the people who disagree with you (or the police, or both).

You know what? Good for them. I’ve got no personal connection to this subculture. No interest in the music. But peacefully organizing over shared interests (including Faygo, whatever that is; I don’t think that’s a thing where I live) and standing up to the powers that be? — those seem to me to be praiseworthy things.

The commentariat is becoming more and more ideologically driven (or they were; I don’t know what has survived Kinja). South Park comes from a different ideological background, therefore it is anathema.

See, so this provides more data. There were plenty of people out there upset at the idea of a Ghostbusters remake who won’t be troubled by this; for them, at least, it’s less to do with gender swapping and more to do with rebooting/remaking beloved properties. (And of course, there were also misogynists. But fuck…

What’s earnest about Fieri’s persona? I don’t know. I don’t know him. I expect that some aspects of his personality are heightened for television, but that it isn’t a complete put-on. This sort of approach — exaggerating aspects of one’s personality for the sake of entertainment — isn’t just common to food celebrities…