the one person in the race to single out being against marriage equality as her signature issue even though it has NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

I knew a guy in high school who was so proud of the fact that the only city council candidate he voted for was the one who was a member of Right to Life, even though City Council has nothing to do with reproductive rights (or the ganking thereof). And when I said as much, asking him what the point was voting for someone who had a position on something Council will never address, he said it proved she was the only one with strong moral character, and if the other candidates don't respect unborn life, how can we know they respect the lives of city residents?

He was a varsity level douchebag, in case that wasn't clear.

Also, that candidate didn't win.

Oh god, Consuela, that's upsetting. I hope the cat's okay, too.

I don't understand why someone with a dog they know is dangerous and lunges after cats would walk it on a flexi-lead. That's just asking for trouble.

Because people are terrible.

And when I said as much, asking him what the point was voting for someone who had a position on something Council will never address, he said it proved she was the only one with strong moral character, and if the other candidates don't respect unborn life, how can we know they respect the lives of city residents?

See? Terrible.

I had a supremely satisfying conversation earlier where I called someone to say I was dealing with something because another colleague was on vacation, and she said, "Oh good -- I'd much rather deal with you! He's such a pain in the ass!" Which is what I generally think, and generally try to keep to myself. So I'm relieved it's not just me.

Voted Sunday. (We are a vote by mail state. Voting means: put your ballot in the mail, or drop it in a drop box.) Voted against one woman near tea partier. Identity politics is very problematic. Not support for women's rights or rights of people of color or gay rights, and generally being against oppression based on identity. But the actual belief that being a member of an oppressed group entitles you to support of that group regardless of actual politics. Women can oppose women's right. Black people can support all kinds of stuff that is horrible for Black people. (Hi, Clarence Thomas and your support of suppressing voting rights.) Personal experience does matter, so other things being approximately equal it does make sense to choose someone other than a white male where possible. But relying on that alone is a really dangerous heuristic. (Until last year, I was represented by a Latina right wing Republican Latina, and I'm pretty sure the "Latina" part had a lot to do with it. Now represented by a "centrist" white male Democrat pretty much fellates the military and corporations, but at least votes decently on social issues and whose staff was actually helpful in navigating my exchange. (Tip, if you need help with the exchanges, call your congrescritter if she or he is a Democrat. Call the congresscritter for nearest Democratic district if yours is Republican, because many Republican congresscritters will deliberately give bad or misleading advice in order to increase the chances of Obamacare failing.)

IO9 ran a "fanfic friday" for a while in which one of their regular commenters ripped a random fanfic to shreds. There was a weak disclaimer saying he likes some fanfics, this is just a bad one.

He'd come over from a popular site, and that had been a regular draw there, but I wrote in that unless they were giving weight to celebrating fanfic (like they do fanart all the time--just calling it concept art), this made them sound petty and shrewish and like the bad guys. For a site run by two gay women which will bring up slash organically from time to team in non-demeaning ways, is this really how you want to be positioned?

I was not the only petitioned for the end of the piece (not the guy--he's good at other stuff--his barbed wit is better served someone other than a sixteen year old who's exploring concepts (and anuses) with a story that is enjoyed by someone. You don't have to like everything, but you don't have to use a megaphone when you're not liking either...

The people pissed at the removal were almost all male (and many came over from his site, which was male dominated, with stereotypical values given to manly expressions of geekdom), but the people that petitioned seemed to be fifty fifty.

I love the term congresscritter. If I should ever run into Mike Lee--he's from my district, I did vote against him for what it's worth, which isn't much in this state, which adores him--I believe I'll call him that. Though I doubt they'd let me get close enough.

I remember that, ita. And that's bad enough: I do think it's even worse when you're going after people in your own community. That guy on I09 was, presumably, not on the same mailing lists and forums with the writers he was mocking.

And when I said as much, asking him what the point was voting for someone who had a position on something Council will never address, he said it proved she was the only one with strong moral character, and if the other candidates don't respect unborn life, how can we know they respect the lives of city residents?

See? Terrible.

This dude is THE WORST. When I saw him at a high-school reunion party, he was going on and on about how health insurance is a scam and if people can't pay healthcare costs out of pocket, they should "better themselves" and get jobs that pay better.

I did NOT tell him I hoped he would get flesh-eating bacteria, but I did leave the party shortly thereafter because I was so angry. Like, physically shaking with anger.

I do think it's even worse when you're going after people in your own community

I think it's two different kinds of bad--having your work criticised in public, by a bigger fish in a bigger pond, and people who hate fanfic anyway are going to shit all over you.

Well, the shit stinks however it got onto your shoes.

I am pretty sure that bridal showers, people with whom you enjoy nekkid or funny things between friends who both find them funny are the only times you give undies.

When my sister got married my mother got her a peignoir set. My aunt got her a peignoir set. I was incredibly skeeved. If a blood relative ever got me sex clothes I'd burn them.

Just the sex clothes. Probably. My sisters have been thoroughly briefed on this should I ever wed.