What David said (typo that was tempting to keep in? Typed "Shat" instead of "What"). I wish I'd set boundaries earlier. I would have been happier. Learn from my middle-aged wisdom! You can love your family and yet admit that they're driving you crazy. Set boundaries. Protect yourself. Sometimes that even makes the relationship with the family better. But at the least it will make your experience in life better. Ah, sanity.

P-C, this latest round of "stay off the computer" sounds more like technophobia than any specific thing about you. I'm going to guess that they don't have a frame of reference to know what Internet-based interaction is like, so they assume it's bad because it's different.

(See also "Help! My child is a goth!")

I recently read a book called "A General Theory of Love" (it's about neurophysiology) which in some part explains why arranged marriages work (because they do have a better success rate than love marriages) and also explains why finding the right counselor is crucial. So I'm resisting the urge to quote this book constantly...but you should all read it! Plus it talks about echidnas.

Once again, my Amazon wish list, which I, somewhat confusingly, also use to track the books I want to borrow through the library, grows upon reading b.org.

Also, your commas, they are ALL MINE!

Also, I really should go to sleep before posting any more.

P-C, this latest round of "stay off the computer" sounds more like technophobia than any specific thing about you. I'm going to guess that they don't have a frame of reference to know what Internet-based interaction is like, so they assume it's bad because it's different.

Oh, they all assume everyone I could possibly talk to on the Internet is a serial killer. They saw it on Oprah.

I recently read a book called "A General Theory of Love" (it's about neurophysiology) which in some part explains why arranged marriages work (because they do have a better success rate than love marriages)

My theory on this "success rate" is that the stigma for divorce is even higher in cultures with arranged marriages.

Oh, they all assume everyone I could possibly talk to on the Internet is a serial killer. They saw it on Oprah.

hides axe behind handbag. whistles innocently

P-C, I have to say that if I was you, I'd just be lying to my family in whatever way keeps them quiet. Which I'm fairly sure makes me a bad person.

But anyway, I had a most wonderful day yesterday. I haven't seen much of le bloke recently, living next door to each other not withstanding, as as soon as I handed in all my semester work, his deadlines started looming. But he took the day off yesterday, because the weather was just glorious. So we walked to a local park for a picnic , some snoozing in the sun and frisbee, then walked to the botanical gardens, where it seems as though everything was coming into bloom. And I think I may have got a little sunburned. Yay summer!

P-C, I have to say that if I was you, I'd just be lying to my family in whatever way keeps them quiet. Which I'm fairly sure makes me a bad person.

Well, I do that so often it's like second nature these days. Which kind of disturbs me.

Nah, whatever makes them happy. Or happier. And keeps you from complete mentalitude.

And hey, I left the country because I was sick of dealing with my family, so I think you're definitely doing better than me.

My theory on this "success rate" is that the stigma for divorce is even higher in cultures with arranged marriages.

I think that's probably true. However, one point this book made is that people, if left to their own devices, tend to pick partners that match their expectations of what a love relationship is, and often those are fucked-up expectations. Like, "people I love always criticize me" or "people I love always hit me" or similar.

Not that I'm in favor of arranged marriages necessarily, but they do work, and they sometimes keep you from marrying someone just like your mother (or father).

So anyway, P-C, has your family suggested positive alternatives to go with their negative statements? You can't be on the Internet, and you can't socialize in person with girls...have they proposed options for what you *can* do?

You can't be on the Internet, and you can't socialize in person with girls...have they proposed options for what you *can* do?

I get the impression that all my time must be spent A) interacting with family in the vicinity, B) meeting and greeting extended family who happen to visit, and C) finding male Indian friends.

Oh, I'm also not supposed to read books all the time.

With that, I go to bed.