“where McDermott had been living under his birth name.”

Oh, but he’s special. Just ask him. And yes, I’m being facetious.

And apparently could never afford a condom. Dude, you don’t want kids, wrap it up.

He’s no Baldwin, but looking that good isn’t free either! Gotta have that gym membership!

And, sure, there is that gym membership, but only because the one thing people like less than a poor person is a fat poor person; I don’t need to be inventing new reasons for prospective employers to resist me.

You don't need a gym membership to stay thin. Run around the block and do some push ups.

“the custodial parent doesn’t get that chance”

I think this guy is waiting for a decent paying job to fall into his lap.

I’m 53, 5 years ago I took a half day gig running our local Post Office (to even out my income that I derive from woodworking). The USPS is always hiring. Glamorous? No, but it’s steady. Age shouldn’t be an issue, but there could be more to it. I feel for the writer, the system is broken.

Agreed. Jezebel’s writing is so tone deaf. How could any one feel so entitled to “pursue their dream” while they have a family in need. Once you have children, your dreams are secondary. Our generation doesn’t understand how to ever stop thinking about ourselves.

I work two jobs, a security guard and part time as a stocker at a grocery store. Between the two I pull in 39k and some change. Neither of these jobs require degrees. Neither of them require experience.

Under the federal consumer protection act, up to 55% can be garnished....so I call bullshit on that.

Exactly. He’s a deadbeat who wants approval. He’ll get none from me.

This didn’t happen overnight. He has THREE kids. No excuse for that selfishness.

“Try not to knock her up.” - SO MUCH this.

And? If you’re serious about caring for your children, be the UPS driver whose wages are garnished 70%. That’s still more money than “I get paid a couple hundred dollars once or twice a year to write a rambling and unsympathetic think piece for websites like Jezebel”.

Ditto. Another out of work writer ergo not a good writer right? You chose to have kids, so support them. Seems like a nice guy but the pity party is not something I'm buying.

Exactly. Custodial parents don't have the luxury of giving ious to their kids. Am I supposed to feel bad for this guy?

Also what in heck is wrong with working for UPS? he didn’t want to work that job because it paid too little to HIM even though it was apparently providing his kids with money.

I sympathize with him only to the extent that I know CSS is screwed. That said, I agree that he has the freedom to choose to continue to attempt to wring out a writing career where the mothers of his children have no choice but to try and piece a living together without any help from him. THAT is something to feel…