Thursday roundup

This kind of thing is why I'm not on Facebook.

What people choose to do with their names is none of anyone else's business. What people choose to do with their bodies--particularly with regard to medical choices--is none of anyone else's business. But not all critique is "women bashing women."

A woman receives constructive criticism about something she’s rightfully publicly accountable for, like products she’s trying to sell or ideas she’s imposing on others (rather than personal choices about her body or lifestyle, which are nobody’s business), and that criticism just so happens to come from a person who is also female.

The complaint is dismissed as nonsensical and invalid with the simple insistence that “women should support each other,” and the fact that this critic is somehow not supporting her fellow woman must make her a “jealous” anti-feminist or just not worth listening to. Dismissing a valid question or criticism based on the complainer’s gender is extremely sexist, defensive and unhelpful — it’s also unfortunately one more way the patriarchy is screwing us by pitting us against each other.

Pair with this wonderful piece on the religion of staying out of people's faces. And pair that with this piece on Bill Maher.

This times a thousand:

In general when confronted with an over-talker — at work, in the neighborhood, etc. — you need to internalize a belief the over-talker is the rude one for cornering you, and that reclaiming your time is fair game. 

 It's really okay preferable to expose your kids to views you may disagree with.


I'm pretty uninterested in disecting the Gwyneth food challenge, but you can read this, about how poverty's not a game you try for a month.
I love this not-quite-defense-of Whole Foods. It really is true that you can find very good deals there.