This is me, too. I run a dual Sim on my phone for this reason. I’ve always been good at ignoring things after hours unless motivated by self interest.

Yes, I agree, a terrible parenting strategy. Also fuck elf on the shelf, since the whole book is about how the elf is Santa’s spy and you can’t question or touch it. I’m pretty sure this is what gave her the awful idea.

Feel you. I got accused by my brother in law of being some kind of psychopath for not wanting Santa in the house.

In their house, my sister is already using the threat of Christmas big brother against any minor hijinks that their kid gets up to.

I have a three year old, so unfortunately, I have another 4 years of this nonsense ahead of me.

This should be pinned to the top.

“for some reason” first rodeo with the Daily Hiel?

I hope so. Although, I can see the potential for a school community to essentially play a game of telephone over social media as well.

We don’t know her priors. But if she has them, fair enough really.

Does a definitive answer of “at least it wasn’t racist” make this appreciably any better? Does it make them any more likely to get a teaching job after this?<

On the first question: yes, making a bad joke is better than being a racist. On the second: also probably… yes, tbh. Not saying it wouldn’t harm her career but less that everyone thinking you’re racist.

It also doesn’t change the core argument the teacher is making in the story. “You lumped me in with a bunch of racists because I was white. I took down the image because it was offensive. Obviously. Why would I leave it up if it was offensive?”<

Completely agree. Claiming reverse racism is almost always shitty thing to do. I’ll happily concede that it’s even less likely the school is racist.

Showing it as a back to school necklace is most likely racist, but even if it wasn’t intended to be racist then it is a joke about teen suicide. Both are fucking terrible.

I completely agree that both are terrible. However one probably doesn’t get you ostracised from society forever but the other does. Being labelled as a racist in your community can ruin your life in a way that having some very questionable dark humor wouldn’t.

I have no idea if the woman is a racist or not, but IF she isn’t, her punishment from the school and the community seems quite harsh.

BTW I’m not from the US, but nooses still make me immediately think of Jim Crow or the KKK (and spaghetti westerns, but thats besides the point).

I might get downvoted to oblivion, but I’m open to discussion.

Firstly, having read the full article… IF (big if) she’s telling the truth and it wasn’t even her then its hard not to feel sympathy for her.

Secondly (more controversially), is a picture of a noose racist? I mean, it certainly has racist connotations and I personally wouldn’t have used it, but (bear with me) I’m not sure racist is the concrete conclusion. Lots of people have been hung throughout history, if you’re not viewing it through a racial lens then are you a racist or just very insensitive.

What about if it was a picture of a mastiff? Or a police officer? Both these things could symbolise the subjugation of slaves. Are we really gonna ban pictures of dogs or police?

Symbols mean different things to different people. Sometimes people just need to be told they’ve been insensitive and given the chance to apologise with promise of doing better in the future.

There is a scenario where whoever put that up was not invoking the lynchings of black people specifically.

Just my 2c.

It’s from an episode of Pingu. I only know this because it terrified me as a child and still haunts my nightmares as I approach my 40s.

A young girl makes a wish so powerful that it’s answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. With Star’s help, the girl must save her kingdom and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.

The theme song to The Raccoons really is an 80s banger.

I prefer your list aside from

#2 UBI or not, we should be honest and admit all work is not equally meaningful, we shouldn’t pretend that my office job is as important as the paediatrician nursing a kid through Lukemia.

#3, it’s better to start from a position of everyone is worthy and be proven wrong.

#8 “I will not let society define what success looks like to me” sounds a bit less harsh.

Organising nones is like herding cats. The evangelicals do not get their power from their number. They vote uniformly and reliably, turning out for every primary, local, and federal election.

We are a diverse bunch with diverse opinions.

As a local, I really don’t mind that this is the most famous Manchester picture from the last 4/5 years- genuinely a work of art.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/535/cpsprodpb/181AF/production/_87453789_1capture.jpg

https://knowyourmeme.com/videos/82210-robocop-on-a-unicorn

Being able to pay for for therapy, or being financially secure to admit to yourself that you have a problem is a privilage.

Source: would like to do therapy but life/raising 3 kids is in the way.

Perry Bible Fellowship is the best Web comic. Been reading it on/off for what must be 20 years now.

My sympathies.

Part of me wonders what a Greta Gerwig - Oppenhiemer and/or Christipher Nolan’s - Barbie would look like.