I am an ethical non-monogamist; most of my close friends are monogamous. Sharing any updates at all on my love life – in response to their direct inquiries (!) – makes them supremely uncomfortable. This is compounded when I happen to be seeing someone who is in a committed relationship and also (openly) seeing me.… Continue reading Your Friend is An Ethical Non-Monogamist
I’m currently at a conference for the work I do that actually pays the bills. This one happens to have over 1,700 attendees from all over the country. I’ve attended a half dozen of these over the years, and here are some ways I’ve learned to not be a jerk at these things. Arrival Be… Continue reading Attending a Conference
I want to help my brother out when he asks for things but I know that he is an addict. I stopped giving him money years ago. When things are tough I want to be able to pay stuff for him like his electric bill. I worry that that’s the same thing as giving him… Continue reading Your Relative Has An Addiction
I hate my boyfriend’s mom. Okay, maybe not hate, because hate is a strong word, but we do not get along. I think the only thing we have in common is that we both like her son. I feel like my partner should know because I want to be honest with him. At the same… Continue reading You Hate Your Boyfriend’s Mother
Regardless of how you choose to use Facebook, there are definitely ways you can be a jerk on there. Below are just a few things I’ve noticed over the years; I may add to this as I experience more in the future. Friending I have a general rule with Facebook: if I wouldn’t make the… Continue reading Using Facebook, Generally.
I feel like a complete jerk when people Facebook friend request me and I don’t want to accept. This happens in both my personal and professional life. Sometimes acquaintances will want to be friends. Or at work, sometimes colleagues or even interns will friend request me. I don’t want to be a jerk, but I… Continue reading Ignoring Friend Requests on Facebook
What is the best way to address a family member who is terrible about RSVP’ing to events?
Okay, so we’ve all seen the video, right? And then read the absurd initial statement from the United CEO? And then the follow-up email to company staff? Followed by a few hundred million lost on the stock market, then something resembling the kind of apology a PR company might write? Does the internet really need… Continue reading You Run an Airline
I am horrible at keeping in touch with my friends, especially those who live far away. The worst is that I often don’t end up responding to emails for a long period of time. I get an email, read it on my phone (which, side note, I hate typing emails on), plan on responding, forget,… Continue reading You’ve Totally Spaced in Responding To Your Friend’s Email
How can I not be a jerk when a family member is being a little bit racist? Not a lot racist, and not even racist by everyone’s definition. Maybe they don’t even know they’re doing it. I don’t want to let it pass, but they’re family and I’m not interested in publicly shaming them or… Continue reading A Family Member is Being A Little Racist