Yes, yes and yes. Fuck this circle-jerk as someone below pointed out. It’s all just a form of misery porn. Feeling good about being aware that other people struggle very much in life is vain and narcissistic. Fuck your awareness. Being aware doesn’t mean you’re doing anything other than mindfully not contributing to…

The problem with this whole “campaign” is right there in the first line of the post that went viral: “The black dot on the hand lets professionals know you’re a really vulnerable domestic violence survivor, and that you need help but can’t ask because your abuser is watching your every move.” The campaign suggests…

For once I agree with Trump. Absolutely, the result would have been better! You can bet there would have been more dead people!

I feel this way when I have to go through New Brunswick. You open the tap and there’s just this sulfur smell that comes out. Gross. I’m glad I don’t live there because I would still not want to buy the bottled water on principle and would probably just let myself get dehydrated.

The problem is not tap water vs bottled water. My problem is that my reservoir apparently has a very algae/earthy taste and it’s really awful. But this is specific to me and honestly, I don’t see the point of home filters because the water is already filtered and it doesn’t get rid of that taste.

we say “soft-drink”

we say “soft drink”

My local water supply is currently dealing with a seasonal bout of algae bloom. There’s a subtle earthy taste to my water that reminds me of a bog, it’s like boiled peat moss. It’s subtle to others and disgustingly obvious to me. It’s non-toxic and totally not harmful and yet I can’t stand it and just want to drink…

This may not have been the reason she was let go. Her claim is that it was due to premarital sex, but she can offer no clear evidence that it was aside from the fact that they decided to reinstate her after she pursued a lawyer. It may have been the more troubling issue of discriminating against pregnant women, firing…

I get severe muscle soreness and sensations like I’ve peed myself (makes me very self conscious), asthma like coughing and breathing problems (also with edibles) and paranoia/anxiety. Haven’t smoked in 6 years at least because at some point I realized that I’m an adult and don’t need to prove anything by taking a drug…

I think you missed the core of what really bothers me. But to address your comments about raising awareness, I’ll share an article that might better explain my ambivalence: http://nymag.com/scienceofus/20…

I really do love how Jimmy Fallon can never hide both his complete and utter love of celebrity, and his inner fan-girl. If he was not talented or had the good fortune to make a career in comedy, he would be one of those people doing tours of celebrity homes in California or a person who stands in line for hours at…

Products like phones, cleaners, furniture, etc... are not people and they are not the stories people tell about themselves or each other. They are commodities we use and discard. Stories inform who we are as a people, as a culture, as a society. They are part of the background framework meaning that informs our…

Jenner’s initial statement to Ellen really did a good job of demonstrating what “tolerance” is. To tolerate something is to allow a practice, person, or idea that you dislike (or disagree with) to exist. It is a decision to not interfere or impose your point of view. It doesn’t mean you change your opinion and it…

You are very right. India does have a very serious and deep-seated problem when it comes to the treatment and representation of women. The scope of the problem in India is bigger than what we are seeing in North America and Europe. But, let’s not put words into each other’s mouths. Everything we write here is…

There was a reason I did not respond to anyone or criticize them for what they have said directly, and that is that I am not interesting in curbing what they say, but I did hope to get them to read this and reflect on the kinds of comments they are promoting and interactions they are having with other people on this…

I take your point and will concede to your expertise, as you say you work in the field. I’m not firmly against the sharing on social media of campaigns such as these, but I am ambivalent and I have friends and contacts working in International Development and relief who are far more critical of empathy tourism, so…

I think there are two questions being asked: 1) what should I say in response to stories like these and 2) how can I help without as you put it “being a detriment to the regional movement”. With regards to the first question, I think that if we just stop making or liking superficial comments that don’t do anything…

That was a good read, thanks for sharing. I appreciate the author’s measured tone as I find too often there’s a heavy dose of moralizing and hysteria in articles about cultural appropriation.

I’ll concede that acknowledging local struggles on a global stage is good for the movement, in general terms. But there is a strong western bias in the comments that is not getting put in its place. I am not silencing Reshma, I am trying to silence those who would like to shout above her about how much pain they feel…