So ...imperial or metric, then!

Many pounds sterling of important related experience?

I think "a metric buttload" is really universal, though.

how nice she thought it was to show kids all the different ways people live.

But it's so way niche. And also pretty easy to achieve, if that's what you want. I just..is there a gaping hole of representation of platonic life partners, or it's something that inspiration really counts for? It's room-mates. It's low impact, and not endangered or erased or anything.

I mean, apart from how everyone's going to think you're gay married, but Ernie and Bert don't really have any bearing on that. It's like seeing representation of, I dunno, breakfast nooks or something. It's nice that people who want breakfast nooks can see sorts of breakfast nooks out there, but it's not really a poorer life for not having seen it on TV.

I always assume B&E were cousins. Not sure why.

IRL, my neighbor still gets asked about her 'wife' at the market. Who was her platonic housemate for many years. 4 years ago. They were always shopping and planning meals together, so people assumed. They do still share custody of the cat- he sometimes lives with the ex-housemate or her parents when they're out of town for extended gigs.

I have to explain white kind of white person I am.

The sexy kind!

Is there a word for people who love to read, like "something_phile"? "Bibliophile" means someone who loves books, but that's not exactly the same thing, and my BFF and I are going nuts trying to find the exact right word.

Thankfully, something that I've been banging my brain to numbness on, understanding at least at a high level what every single tool in our workstation software does for financial planners (I have never planned more thoroughly than "don't sell your body for rent") of all sorts, in order to be able to recommend the software tool model for new offices, and I was sure I was not only out of touch with the information, but also with the expectations of me. Well, the latter seems to be true, because I over-delivered. So, oops, might need to keep doing that.

This is sort of unrelated, ita, but I was doing an email search for something else and came across one from you 2 years ago about ERISA...I know more about it now, and was embarrassed that my answers were vaguely not helpful then. I hope it didn't hurt you!

aren't they going to be somewhat surprised when no one understands why they're living with someone they're not romantically attached or related to?

I wouldn't be surprised or confused by two people living together as adults who aren't romantically involved or related. I've seen it happen more than once, mostly women as it happens. Hell that was me for a good decade of my life.

I find this whole conversation confusing. Somehow people I find very dear are upset, and I have to admit I didn't hear anyone on the board say anything about how friendships are structurally oppressed in the same way gay couples are. All I heard is that some think friendships tend to be discounted as less important. And then, after Plei reminded me of how much I hated Ernie as a kid because he was so mean to Bert, I'm kinda just in the zone where really the pair shouldn't be considered role models for anybody.

I have to explain white kind of white person I am.

I am now imagining the question as "How white are you?"

I know more about it now, and was embarrassed that my answers were vaguely not helpful then

Nah, I fucked myself over on that one.

Somehow people I find very dear are upset

Shit. Who have I upset?

Perhaps me zipping all over the playing board doesn't help, but...Ernie and Bert aren't, to me, demonstrating rare because it's weird and we need to support you behaviour. It's rare, I'd assume, because not many people want to do it. It's not a typical friend behaviour, and if Ernie and Bert are setting expectations, it'd come to naught. But I don't get why anyone needs to be told it's okay either.

And, since people are upset, I guess that's the entirety of what I was apparently very badly saying.