I’m with you on words just being words. But there is one factor, especially in ongoing relationships (romantic, platonic, familial, whatever), that makes apologies important.

I don’t care about the feeling bad or the words or whatever, but I do care about acknowledging wrong-doing. Because if they haven’t apologized, they might not think what they did was wrong, and there is absolutely no reason to believe if the situation came up that they wouldn’t do it again.

Now, don’t get me wrong, plenty of people apologize and then do the thing again. But if they don’t even apologize, it’s practically guaranteed. The apology just sends the message that you and they are on the same page about whatever it is.

I assumed it was a smoker

Right? I’ve gotten “Aren’t you worried about going to Hell?”

Just… no.

I live on an island in Alaska, so my Amazon alternatives are usually Walmart, maybe Target… not a lot of others. If I can buy direct from the company I will, but a lot of times Amazon is the only real option (and no option to buy local).

I definitely blame the system for allowing all that illegal voter suppression.

And I definitely blame Democrats for being such a shit party and doing such a shitty job.

But I also blame people who didn’t vote, or protest voted. They still enabled what is happening, and commentary on how the Democrats didn’t woo you (not you you, the “you” that is making the argument) to their side is childish. The time to hit hard on making change to allow better options is in between elections, not when the choice is full-on fascism and significantly less fascism.

And those of us still harping on the point is because the no-vote people still don’t think they did anything wrong, and will continue the behavior in the future. And frankly, as small of a chance as there is, we’re more likely to convince those people to vote next time than we are to, currently, convince the government to fill the systemic gaps in or convince the Democrats to… stop being… what they are (though some are making some headway there, which is great! Let the Leftists take over the Dem Party they way the Teabaggers took over the Republican Party!).

I haven’t felt lonely in many years. I kind of miss it (or at least the opportunity). What little time to myself I have is so precious.

It’s like spending your childhood occasionally stuffing yourself so full you feel sick and miserable, but the rest of the time at least feeling well fed. And then you hit adulthood, get poor, and every chance you get to eat just takes the edge off the hunger.

More of a respect-loop, but my world history teacher in high school would sit at his desk and all of us would chat or whatever until he was ready to start the lesson. Then, without saying a word, he would get up, walk to the front of the class, and sit on the stool there, and within seconds the classroom was silent with every student looking at him. The man never raised his voice (unless he was telling a story), and ultimately never needed to. He didn’t believe in homework, because he respected our time. He never talked down to anyone.

He got respect, behaved in a way that justified that respect, and got more respect. It was inspiring.

I’ll be honest, it’s pretty hit and miss. You get someone just throwing diced avo on toast, and it’s pretty mid. But you go to a place that seasons it, includes grilled onion and peppers, uses high-quality sourdough bread, and covers it in bacon and a fried egg? One of the best things I’ve eaten. And one of the messier.

Yeah, I’ve always thought trucks are dumb, but the bus and my bike can’t pull my boat, and I live on island, so…

So far Cosby’s was overturned and he’s not in jail, and Weinstein’s was overturned and he is awaiting a retrial (granted, he is doing so in prison).

I actually had this discussion about one of my coworkers.

Very competent, very capable, and very poor risk assessment.

Even if they were trying to flirt, being told repeatedly not to do something that they keep doing anyway is not flirting.

The argument that everyone having access to doctors would mean people would constantly go in for trivial things or waste time so waits are so much longer has always seemed so silly to me.

I cut on and salt-water-soaked my severely infected toe (badly ingrown nail) for two months before I saw a doctor for it. And I had insurance so it cost nothing. Just because I didn’t want to bother with going to a doctor.

People don’t go to the doctor for fun, and amongst all the people I’ve known with great insurance, there have been considerably more instances of not going to the doctor_when they should_ than going unnecessarily (approximately zero times, actually).

So that tells me they want some people to not have access to needed medical care so they have access whenever they want, with lower wait times. It’s like the people who hold the empty laundry carts while their clothes are in the wash.

It was so bad that Team America World Police had a song about how bad it was as their ballad.

I just bought a house with an attached 1-bedroom apartment (with its own address). My 11-year-old daughter has already laid claims to taking it when she graduates high school. So I don’t think she’s feeling stifled at all, lol.

Better be prepared to pay rent if she’s not in school come the fall after high school, though (I’ll give her the summer to get her plans worked out).

First time I bought a firearm in my life (after 40 years on this earth) was specifically protection from bears when I moved to Alaska.

I get that I’m part of that very small percentage, but it’s funny to be pointed out for it when where I am it is super common (also common to see people strapped on hiking trails with their kids and dogs).

I liked it a lot growing up in the US. I still have the mental image of them “fixing” a flat tire (by duct taping a new tire to the flat) and the good tire popping off and rolling away when they drove away.

If women can’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

Hopefully COPS.

To be clear, that list (aro and “black-pilled”) was not all-inclusive. There are plenty of people who just don’t want to date, for whatever positive reason (e.g. too busy, focusing on other things, not feeling like making the effort) or even some with negative reasons (e.g. not feeling like they are in good working order mentally, just got out of a relationship and want to spend some time on their own, trauma) that aren’t aro or “black-pilled.” THIS LIST IS ALSO NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE.

Also:

You’re a bigot.

Just… don’t. Stop throwing the word around so spuriously, or it could lose its meaning. It’s an important word, and using it like that leads to the kind of linguistic drift that takes the meaning out of the language.

That is very obviously not what anyone is saying. Not dating because you are not interested in dating is different than not dating because you’re down on yourself and blame the world (and those of the gender you find attractive) for creating your situation.