The whole controversy on our campus surrounding Cru and their “I Agree with Markwell” campaign has gotten me thinking about proselytism. (Proselytism, in case you don’t know, is just a fancy word for trying to convert people to another religion.) In my view, proselytism is wrong. I have two foundations for this view. One of …
Tag Archive: communication
Apr 13 2012
My opinion is not a personal insult to you.
[Snark Warning] It never ceases to amaze me how the act of expressing an opinion opens you up to the most outlandish assumptions about your personality. Good girls, I know, don’t blog. Or at least, they don’t blog about anything substantial, and they definitely don’t do it using their real names. Blogging about your personal …
Apr 05 2012
Northwestern Sex Week and Conservative Hypocrisy
Northwestern’s annual Sex Week is coming up next week. Sex Week is basically exactly what it sounds like. I quote their website: “our mission is simple: we want people to start talking. Sex Week is meant to provide students with fun, provocative, and informative opportunities to explore the role of sex and sexuality in our lives. There …
Feb 08 2012
Criticizing is Not Complaining
Most bloggers expect and receive their fair share of stupid comments. It’s kind of an occupational hazard. However, one recurring theme I see in comments–both on my writing and that of other opinion writers–disappoints me the most. That theme is always some variation on the following: “Sure, this is a problem. But it’s not worth …
Feb 02 2012
Don't Blame it on the Tech
[Snark Warning] A modified version of this piece also appeared as my column in the Daily Northwestern. Technology gets a bad rap. You wouldn’t think so–obviously, we all love it–but in a way it does. You can’t really go a day anymore without encountering a book, article, or person spewing some variation of the following: …
Dec 28 2011
My Facial Expression is None of Your Business
[Snark Warning] I am not a cheerful person. I don’t wear my happiness on my face, and I do not consider it my moral duty to brighten the day for perfect strangers. I am an introvert despite the fact that I’m usually pretty friendly and sociable when spoken to. Most of the time, I inhabit …
Dec 21 2011
Death to Debbie Downer
I propose a moratorium on the term “Debbie Downer.” “But whyyyy?” you might argue. “Those negative people are so annoyinggg!” Perhaps. But I think we need to stop using that phrase, for several reasons. The first thing I think of when I hear the phrase “Debbie Downer” in one of the contexts it’s most commonly …
Dec 11 2011
How to "Be There" for a Depressed Person
So. I’ve talked about things not to say to a depressed person before. People have often asked me how, then, one should go about it instead. One of the nicest things that ever happen to depressed people is when one of our close friends or family members tells us emphatically that they want to “be there” for …
About the Author
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- "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can make me think I deserved it."“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can make me think I deserved it.” - xkcd: Sticks and Stones […]
- On Useful and Not-So-Useful Definitions of RacismOn Useful and Not-So-Useful Definitions of Racism: Richard Dawkins, whose Twitter feed never fails to amuse, has lately been discussing racism–specifically, against white people. Dawkins sounds eerily like my high school self here–desperate to stick to his own definitions of things and reject the definitions of others, all while claiming that everyone needs […]
- In which I have zero patience for sexism and mansplaining on my Facebook Wallpiedpi: No country for Reddit/MRA arguments. The article being not-debated is here. The thing that sucks the most is that this is one of my good friend’s fiance… And she actually liked the article when I posted it. IT’S SO WEIRD WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING I WROTE AND THEN I COME ACROSS IT. […]
- WHO THE FUCK IS IN BOTH A RADICAL FEMINIST MEETUP AND A PUA...WHO THE FUCK IS IN BOTH A RADICAL FEMINIST MEETUP AND A PUA MEETUP […]
- "It's not about gender.""It's not about gender.": Sea turtles (superfamily Chelonioidea) are found in all of the world’s oceans except the Arctic. They spend the majority of their lives in the sea, but females return to shore to lay eggs. All seven surviving species of sea turtle are on the endangered species list. Like many marine animals, they are threatened by oil […]
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Two things to keep in mind:
1. I am bad at answering lengthy emails. Sorry!
2. I may ask you for permission to blog about our correspondence. However, if you are harassing/abusive/trollish, then I no longer have to ask you for permission. Proceed with caution!
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