I agree that it’s irresponsible for a public figure to make such comments, but it’s also a fairly common sentiment among bipolars who often express that their creativity, productivity, and perceived clarity of mind thrive during mania.

Actually being in a relationship but having my own place is my ideal!

I think Bob Jones University has to be up there too.

I, as an American working in immigration law, would also like to be left alone in Canada.

I agree. To me it is telling that the first church in West Africa was built squarely in a fort used to ship slaves to the Americas. There is a long and disturbing tradition of missionaries destroying cultures.

And here I thought it was barbecue elitism.

He apparently tried to say something to them in a South African language he picked up when he was teaching soccer there. Because all black and brown people speak the same language.

If they knew about pathogens, the Sentilenese could burn it. If outsiders could get to the body without contacting/infecting the Sentilenese, they could retrieve or burn it - or communicate that it needs to be burnt. But none of those options are necessarily easy or doable.

yes, but the biggest issue isn’t the forcing if religion. that is indeed bullshit, but:

Also, this isn't what the majority of Christian missionary work is, which is to help people in need -- my church growing up took us to a very poor part of the U.S. and I worked at a thrift store and a nursing home. The Sentinelise have been doing just fine by themselves for hundreds of years. They didn't need him!

Even if his remains are a health hasard, I say use loudspeakers to tell the Sentinelese how to torch that body and call it a day.

If I understand correctly, part of the reason behind wanting to retrieve his body is so that it doesn’t release any non-native pathogens that could impact the people there.

I should add, I don’t think anyone should be trying to retrieve his body.  His family needs to live with the fact that their son died being incredibly stupid, and that putting others in danger (including the very residents of the island) to retrieve the body is selfish.

Fuck this guy and fuck anyone that wants to retrieve his body. I’ve been fortunate to work with a variety of indigenous communities (in strictly non-religious contexts, and sometimes in direct opposition to the local religious nutjobs) and don’t feel a shred of sympathy for anyone that supported this selfish,…

Here is a thing I wrote yesterday about this very article:

Just leave him. You don’t get to act like a paternalistic colonizer and then get your body recovered through even more outside contact with a society that clearly wants none. He can rot.

I was in Boise for less than 24 hours a few years ago. While walking from my hotel to a Denny’s, I was called a homophobic slur and had a beer can thrown at me from some hicks in a monster truck. Later, I was called the n-word by a different passing car. I’m a straight, square-looking white guy with short hair. As…

For the guy whose wife is having an affair... man, I’ve been in your exact (two kids, great jobs/house, etc.) situation and I feel for you. First, you are not crazy to want to reconcile. You have a lot of history, a family, and you love her. When I was in your situation I thought “this is either the thing that ends…

Went to see Mount Rushmore - Meh

Hi Trippy,