Maybe the bike... 'spoke' to him...

That's a trick question; she's always been obnoxious.

No worries. Besides, why take anything too seriously? ;-) Someday we'll all be dust anyway. May as well try to enjoy it, at least a little.

I was being whimsical. But yes, of course you are correct. Interestingly, both gentil and gentle derive from the Latin 'gentilis'.

While I don't disagree with the entire spirit of this, no one has ever demanded anything of me in that way.

I spent most of my formative years not in the United States, and I know exactly what you mean. And I agree wholeheartedly.

And beheading. Let's not forget the beheading. He was a prick.

very good. Very good.

Agreed they are old enough to know better. And I'm certain they did. What they did wasn't done out of ignorance. It was selfish malice.

I grant you that.

But see, that is exactly my point. Exactly! Whose discretion should it be?

not shifting. Adding to. Gigantic difference, and if you can't see that, more's the pity.

aside from the root words 'gentle' and 'man', you mean.

I skipped prom altogether, actually. Not my scene. And I skipped the after party largely because I knew there was going to be booze, and likely some trouble.

I'm kinda not. I'm sorry, but I don't think the idea that these are horrible people AND ALSO that they shouldn't have had access to these things are mutually exclusive.

I absolutely agree. But the legal drinking age in the US is 21, not 18. So someone sold them the booze. That's a crime.

Ah, but if you are going to talk about context, then you introduce a certain... fluidity. Whose context? Whose set of standards need apply? Bearing in mind that though school systems are delineated as 'districts', they obey national standards, which have to deal with what people in California think as well as New York.

Jezebel's on a roll today. Another incredibly well-written article. Thank you!

And to you, as well. Thank you again.

That's a really fair set of points. All those things have improved, and I am certain, as you say, the internet has helped. If for no other reason, for the sheer amount of awareness it brings.