Militarization of the police is a reference to the post 9/11 trend of DHS/DOD selling local PDs MRAPs and other military surplus for below cost. This did begin in 1996 with Section 133 of the NDAA and escalated post 9/11.

NO.

Nobody is denying that, but having a tank roll down Main Street, USA with men holding scoped assault weapons has a way of dialing up the crazy.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is what a hero looks like.

My MIL wore a sparkly white dress and a pink camisole, purchased after I told her I was wearing a sparkly white wedding dress with pink beading. If I had known it was a sign of just how crazy she was going to be I think I may have run away screaming right then.

I'm bothered, as well. It feels like my comments aren't worth posting, and why would I bother typing out a good/long response is no one sees it because I'm stuck in troll-land? (I was in the grays before, when they had grays and never got out until the system changes. Hmm. Maybe folks are trying to tell me something.)

+1

Yeah, my understanding is that you have to be followed either by the blog (Jezebel) or one of the writers to be permanently non-gray. I wish they'd just create a thread specifically for the purpose of un-graying people and follow all those. I feel weird having to beg to be un-grayed in the comments section for an…

I hate that the approval is site specific. I have been posting on Gawker for almost 10 years, auditioned, former starred commenter —I'm approved there (and 3 other GM blogs). I have been posting on Jez since Day One. The very first day. But no author followed me here during the last grey phase or this one, which is…

Yup, I thought the point was the keep the trolls out, not just let a select few comment. I spent a lot of time in the grays before kinja and eventually just gave up on commenting because it was useless, no one was reading it. Even now, people seem to be getting un-grayed on a comment by comment basis. Doesn't seem…

This was mentioned by another commenter on a different article, but this return to "the greys" make me feel like I have to be somewhat calculating in my comments (being one of the first commenters on an article, commenting in response to a well-known poster) in the hopes that I will not just be pulled out in an…

I've been commenting forever and have tried to be a responsible commenter but I'm perpetually grey.

the lack of notifications in my inbox is making me very sads ;-( been posting here on and off since 08 and it's making me a feel a lil desperate unpopular kids again.

I have a couple ideas

Yeah, I was a starred commenter back in the day, then took a long hiatus to concentrate on school. When I decided I had time for Jezebel I came back, but my moniker Carrie Brooke was gone, and this depressing ghetto of "The Greys" was here. I saw quite a few people I remembered from before seemingly stuck there. I…

I feel like there is no hope and I've been commenting here forever. :( good luck.

Every time I go to comments I hit All Replies and Show Pending Comments. Thanks to the people who do!

Do what you feel comfortable with. For me, family is one of those things where I have to really trust my gut. If I have an uneasy feeling about a gathering, for example, I just don't go. My mom and older bro are alcoholic and have breaks with reality. (It's never clear if they drink to self-medicate for mental…

I'd just like to share that I have really enjoyed using the dismiss button today. "I think you're overreacting." Dismiss! "WNBA players are uggo." Dismiss! "Nobody watches the WNBA." Dismiss! "Argle bargle blah blah blah!" Dismiss, dismiss, dismiss.

He's toying with you. He felt you pulling away and beckoned you back because he needs attention. You're better than that. Move on. He will never give you what you need.