Yeah, I think what strikes you about that article and these conversations, that's so incredibly important to point out, is how it's so not about "PDAs" and getting it on in front the childrenz. I can't imagine how tough it is, how draining, on a day to day basis to be running up against all this, weighing options and predicting reactions before you can feel comfortable saying (or not saying) completely innocuous every day life stuff.

weighing options and predicting reactions before you can feel comfortable saying (or not saying) completely innocuous every day life stuff.

Yeah, some of it is just....how much do you say, and how much do you let people assume? And if you let them assume, do you take the risk that later, they'll be pissed?

"Do you have a boyfriend?" "Uh....no"

I like the sash idea. Vegetarian; single; yes, I do own a skirt; the sneakers are a necessity, not a fashion choice; mathematician; like any sports that give me some way to move faster than I usually can; will rant about US food and agriculture policy for hours if given an opening; if I seem standoffish, just keep talking to me, and I'll get comfortable enough to respond eventually.

I've noticed that, with the vegetarian thing, if I'm telling some story or whatever where the fact that I'm a vegetarian is relevant (like, talking about trying to find a restaurant or something), a huge number of people will respond with something like, "Oh, I could never do that, I LOVE meat." And the way I was saying it, it was pretty obvious that "I'm vegetarian" was leading into another sentence, but people seem to feel the need to interrupt me to tell me how much they love meat.

Also, there are the annoying people (the people who do this are almost always male and over 50) who'll immediately start asking things like, "Do you wear leather? Do you eat gelatin?" to try to catch me in a contradiction. I so don't understand the "I'm gonna show you that you haven't really thought through this decision you made nearly fifteen years ago" people.

I so don't understand the "I'm gonna show you that you haven't really thought through this decision you made nearly fifteen years ago" people.

All it takes is one really, really good logical inconsistency and you'll suddenly love hamburgers Jesus dick the war whatever it is.

All it takes is one really, really good logical inconsistency and you'll suddenly love hamburgers Jesus dick the war whatever it is.

And if there's one thing I've learned in life is that the interesting part *is* the inconsistency. I'm not sure I can make sense of what I mean there, though... so, maybe nevermind.

ION, I am going to the 'rents this weekend. I offered to help mom with something, and she said, "Honey, I really think you just need to rest and be taken care of." Ok. We can go with that.

Your mom is wise.

Your mom is very wise, and you should listen to her.

Blah. I just had to send an email to a student telling her that she needs to cut two pages out of the essay she just turned in (was supposed to be 2-3 pages and was instead 5 in small font). She needs to learn how to write focused, concise papers. I'm doing her a favor by making her edit down before I grade it, but I doubt she'll see it that way.

You could give her a choice that's really not a choice (as in, "I can grade it as is, but I should warn you in advance that it does not meet the requirements for the assignment...").

Liberal/Progressive AND Christian

GF was singing some Johnny Cash the other day and then said (rhetorically), "Why is Cash so awesome???!!!" I replied that I thought it was because he was a liberal Christian and that that's a pretty rare combination that seems to make for a pretty great person. I had kinda forgotten that we have some of these rarities on b.org - love you guys!

For me, I wouldn't want to have a sash. I actually like the process of getting to know another person, having all those points revealed in their own time.