Fuck Ageism. When I Get Old, I'm Gonna Be Like "DAMN, These Are Some FINE Lines."

I love learning little tidbits about real life in the Mormon Church. When my S.O. was a DJ for his Mormon youth gatherings in high school, he wasn't just a volunteer. It wasn't just a job they gave him. No, when they needed a new DJ, men from the church decreed that he was called upon by God to DJ the dances, and honest to fucking Christ, anointed him with oils so that he could answer God's call.

Anyone who makes pot candies but doesn't market them as "lollipots" is wasting an opportunity.

I've decided I'm going to refer to "humble bragging" as "the glass is half full of yourself."

Random people: "You get to go to college for free since you're Native American, right?" Me: *cries a slow, single tear as the wind picks up my hair and a flute plays mournfully from nowhere*

A Reminder About Light Skin Privilege

One term can have different meanings and subtleties across different groups. The term “light skin privilege” carries a particular weight and meaning when used in reference to Native American people.

Between strict blood quantum laws and perceptions, and stereotypes about our looks (must have dark reddish brown skin, long black hair, etc), people are dying to tell us we’re not “real Indians.” We are often clearly spotted as not-white by white people, and treated as such, yet if we don’t meet preconceived notions about our race, we’re “not allowed,” to “claim to be” who we are. This is not only a matter of “acting white,” or people using our light brown skin to say we’re “not Indian enough,” it is also a matter of people frequently using our light brown/ non-white skin to somehow disagree entirely with our factual race. Yes, even some of us who are “full blooded” are told we are not who we are. When something is used to call our existence into question, in a way that is unique to Native American groups, it can be very impactful to say that that trait is a privilege.

There’s certainly common ground between various non-white communities; that said, there’s a lot of nuance to each group’s oppression, and what it means to be part of that group. As a single label can have different connotations depending on who is using it toward whom, we should think twice before using a term of privilege to describe someone from a different oppressed race than our own. In those situations where it is accurate and needs to be said, say it with some indication that you are mindful of those nuances which you do not experience and may not understand.

People love to say variations of “you have to love yourself first in order to be loved,” and lament over how people who’ve killed themselves or tried to kill themselves “have people who love them, even if they didn’t know it.” Fuck you. Figure this shit out. Stop telling people that no one will love them if they don’t love themselves. You’re hurting a lot of people by perpetuating the myth.

When they say "make love, not war," but your cock ring is stretchy enough to shoot at your partner like a rubber band.

Speaking Thoughtfully on the Suicide Hotline

I was experiencing heavy ideation, worried I may actually try to go through with it again. I decided to call before it was too late. I thought of my potential suicide in the most logical ways possible, giving myself true pros and cons, considering grey areas, realistic impact, etc. The person on the other line was clearly struggling. Eventually he admitted that they were trained for people who were in paroxysms, simply panicking about their situation, and he had no idea what to do with someone who thoroughly thought it out in a rational manner. He couldn't help me. After a while of speaking to me, he assumed from my relative calm and way of speaking that I wasn't in danger. He said "it sounds like you're going to be okay. I need to talk to other people calling." I felt even more alone and uncared for after calling. If not even the people whose job it is to care (volunteer or otherwise) seem to care about me, I felt it must truly be hopeless, that there was no reason to be around. Sharing hotline numbers is great. I'm sure the service has helped many people. I wanted to share my experience to potentially help people like me, who don't sob and cite purely emotional motivations (a different experience which is also terrible) so they know what they may be walking into at such a vulnerable moment.

In a relationship or two? Feel each other's bits for cancer. Celebrate a clean exam with more feeling of each other's bits.

But I’m Special!

A lot of people seem to think they get a pass on problematic arguing tactics because they're a minority or an activist or what have you. You don't get a pass. It's not going to fly if you say "there are multiple bad things/reasons for a bad thing, don't try to focus on one." You don't get to say " *I* don't experience that problem" when someone says a problem exists, and not get called out on it. You don't get to badger someone who has made it clear that they don't want to talk to you about a subject, and have it be okay. I'm not buying it when your response to being called out is a tired variation of "I guess you're not capable of talking about things rationally" when someone doesn't put up with your tactics. Not only will your behavior be called out, but your hypocrisy will be called out as well.