Honestly, it worked because the intended audience was growing up with the books as they were released. A kid who was 11 when the first book came out (same age as the protagonists) would have been 21 when the final book came out, so more able to read a longer book with more adult themes. It’s not like GRR Martin…

Definitely a compliment!

I’m glad he didn’t watch Dexter.

I have a lot of history with the OC.

There are people in jail for longer for shoplifting a few dollars worth. You can guess the reasons for that. 

You can’t. There are people who run scams to make money because that’s how they eat, and then there are people who run scams because they think it’s funny. The latter are, if not sociopaths, unredeemable.

This is one of those very few situations that shakes my general position as being pro-prison abolition. Like most fraud, this was clearly a deliberated upon scheme to cheat people perpetratrated by a person with plenty of options and prospects. I don’t know how you rehabilitate whatever it is that makes a person…

Honestly, everyone shits on Tom Cruise constantly because he is a member of a cult (I GET IT) but ignore good things like his implementation of COVID procedures to keep people employed and now giving back his Globes to use his star status for good. 

Same. Reality shows are a dime a dozen now, but back then, RW:SF was one of the few, and definitely the best. Pedro was the first person living with HIV that many of us younger Gen Xers came to “know” and I really do credit him with kick-starting a wider conversation about how urgently a cure was needed.

Pedro And Me is a great (heartbreaking) read, both about how close Winick and Zamora became behind the scenes, but also how little many people (including Winick) knew about HIV, even as late in the epidemic as 1994.

The masks that prevent HIV go on your dick, numbnuts.

Why? Because there was a medical breakthrough in the form of antiretroviral medication. HIV is not airborne, so not sure why you think masks or social distancing would be required to stop its spread.

This reminds me of the time I complained to my high school about a bullying problem I was having and their advice was to talk to one of the peer counselors, and the peer counselor they assigned me was my bully!

This is the same guy who said in an off-the-record interview (so his name wasn’t attached to the quote until after his death, but it is genuine):

Agree. A letter that makes it clear you are advocating for the kids and letting him know exactly what effect his bullying had on you is the best way to address it, if you can stand it. Some teens think bullying is acceptable teasing or tough love because that’s what they get at home. A close friend of mine is…

The absolute worst homophobic abuse I suffered in school was from someone who came out 4 years later (and then somehow expected us to be pals). You'd hope that holding it in would make people empathetic, but it doesn't always work that way.

And it is perfectly reasonable to ask the school board, “Do you have a system in place that effectively prevents my experiences with this person from happening again?” That's the reassurance I think she's looking for.

Could be triggering. Mine is rape.

I found out that a guy who bullied me in high school is a vice principal at a small town middle school. I considered it his penance. It was also 20 years after high school that I found out. Eight years might have felt too fresh to be convinced that he had some great insight into his behavior and made a life change,…

Ugh, this reminds me of an old boss I had who was the biggest a-hole and bully, who is not only fucking successful, but flourishing. Lots of awards and recognition for being a top person in their field. I hate those people.