Does it have to be all or nothing?

From my admittedly vague understanding of the cultural expectations, yes.

I've tried to be supportive of P-C respectfully declining to participate in an arranged marriage. But respectfully. And secretly emailing a girl (from his perspective) / prospective wife (from his parents) behind everyone's backs isn't respectful in this situation, to me.

My response above was to Laga's post, not yours, P-C.

I am entirely uninterested in the Process, and I have said so numerous times.

But can you see how starting up communication with a woman that your parents see as a prospective wife is blurring that line?

I just think that if you want them to respect you as an adult who wants to chose their own mate, you need to steer very clear of the potential wives they find for you. Otherwise they have no reason to stop pestering and poking and trying.

In any case, I never heard back from her after the initial response.

So it doesn't matter anyway, eh?

I wish there was some way for everyone to be happy. But maybe the only person you can make happy is yourself, P-C.

But yeah, easier said than done.

But can you see how starting up communication with a woman that your parents see as a prospective wife is blurring that line?

I can.

I just think that if you want them to respect you as an adult who wants to chose their own mate, you need to steer very clear of the potential wives they find for you. Otherwise they have no reason to stop pestering and poking and trying.

As I said, lesson learned. I thought I could make this work out somehow.

As I said, lesson learned.

Days we learn something aren't always easy days, but I think they are, in the end, good days.

Sorry it's such a rough learning curve though.

P-C, not to make light of the situation, but previously e-mails you have shared were all ASSCAPS, so at least she got her finger off the shift button, right?

Hooray for lower case!

Yay Spidra!

{{{P-C}}} I have no words, man. Really. As Typo wrote, stay strong.

And also, {smonster}. Just because.

Continued ~ma to Fred Pete, Hubs and Marie.

The stories will come once the storytellers feel safe, I think.

30 seconds before you sent this, a woman sent me x-pages long word document, specifying every sexual assault, rape, abuse and harassment ever been done to her.

Due to my strong sense of privacy, I skimmed and skipped and didn't read what isn't on the site's agenda. I will direct her to consultation and to the site which collects stories of survivors, and ask for her permission to post only Hollaback stories.

But God. Even though I skipped and skimmed what didn't seem to be a written for the site (and therefore, for my eyes), it was all too much. My heart goes out to that woman. She's exceptionally brave.

Edit: and, three seconds ago - first interview request for one of the top three daily newspapers in Israel. And we only just begun!

Holy shit Shir! That is so cool! Take back the streets for women in Israel! So proud of you!!!

eta: Yup, heading to bed now. Teaching again in the morning. Breakfast is ready. Lunch is made. Just gotta wake up and get on the road early. Woot.