We all agree that it’s lovely when mothers and daughters can maintain a close relationship, but we disagree when it comes to how close it should be — both as girls and adult women. There are some mothers and daughters who proudly call themselves “best friends,” others who always stay within their “parent” and “child” roles, and some mother/daughter relationships are so complicated they can’t even be labeled. Hey, whatever works for you! After the jump, we asked some women to share their thoughts about being best friends with mom: is it a heartwarming bond or just a major lack of boundaries? Weigh in with your opinion in the comments! Keep reading »
Tag Archives: debate this
The Debate I Never Knew I’d Have: Oral Sex Vs. Cheese
Columbia University’s blog, Bwog, makes it a tradition to ask graduating seniors if they’d rather give up cheese or oral sex. I don’t know why this is a question of interest, but it is. I chuckled as I read the headline, thinking to myself, Who in the world would choose cheese over oral sex?
Apparently, 42 percent of graduating seniors from 2006 to 2013 prefer cheese. An anonymous senior with the handle “Fromage 13″ did a breakdown of the archives of oral vs. cheese responses and found that the Columbia student body had a predominantly “fromage-centric attitude.” I laughed again. Pshaw, those silly kids must not be doing it right. Keep reading »
Debate This: Grandfather Posts Picture Of Himself With Grandaughter In Bath Tub — Inappropriate Or Not?
A mini-explosion occurred on the Internet this week when Bishop Larry Trotter, pastor of a Chicago mega-church, posted a picture of himself in the bathtub with his four-year-old granddaughter. Trotter sat in the tub smiling beside the little girl, whose face has been blurred out; both are covered in bubbles, so it’s impossible to tell whether he or she is naked (or wearing swimwear, or otherwise clothed).
Quite understandably, people got very concerned. Keep reading »
Debate This: Should Taxpayers Be Funding Sex Reassignment Surgery For Transgender People In Prison?
Inmate's Surgery Approved
Michelle Kosilek will transition from male-to-female on taxpayers' dime. Read More »
Local news in my adopted state of Massachusetts is all abuzz lately with controversy over prisoner Michelle Kosilek, currently incarcerated for the 1990 murder of her spouse, and who has, after years of legal struggles, been awarded a court order mandating that she receive the surgery she so desperately needs, on the taxpayers’ dime.
The catch — and of course there’s a catch — is that Michelle Kosilek is transgender, and the court-ordered surgery is sex reassignment surgery. She was convicted of murdering her wife by strangling her with a wire (and, apparently, nearly decapitating her in the process), when her name was Robert Kosilek, and is now serving a life sentence for that crime. Kosilek began transitioning the same year as the murder, and has brought numerous lawsuits fighting for her right to trans-specific medical care, from hormone therapy to electrolysis treatments. Keep reading »
Debate This: Do You Judge Guys Who Don’t Read Or By What They Read?
Earlier this week, we asked a bunch of guys on our IM what they want and do not want to see on the bookshelves of the women they date. Their answers were interesting and varied (Hide your copy of The Notebook! Books about soccer are sexy!) and so we decided to turn the question, somewhat, around on ourselves: do we judge guys who either don’t read or by what they read? Our conflicting views are after the jump — plus, share your thoughts in the comments!
Keep reading »
Debate This: Would You Laugh Or Get Mad If Your BF Peed On You In The Shower?
After watching the most recent episode of “Girls,” I came to a rather interesting conclusion. I think the world can safely be divided up into two types of people: 1) People who would laugh if their significant other peed on them (on purpose, as a surprise) in the shower and 2) people who would be mad if such a thing occurred. I am firmly in Camp Laugh Out Loud, along with Julie and Ami, while Winona and Jessica are in Camp Be Furious. (For those of you wondering where Option 3 — “would be turned on” — is, erotic golden showers are another subject entirely.)
Personally, I would laugh at the utter ridiculous ballsiness of such a prank. Plus, I’m not a germaphobe and even if I was, I figure urine is sterile and besides, I am in the shower cleaning already anyway. What’s NOT funny about that? Well, Hannah on “Girls” didn’t find it funny when new official boyfriend Adam pissed on her as a joke, but perhaps that’s because she’s young. Come to think of it, Jess and Winona are younger than Julie, Ami and I, so maybe appreciating a surprise golden shower for what it is — hilarious! — comes with age and maturity. Yes. That must be it.
Debate This: Joan Holloway’s Choice To “Sleep Her Way To The Top” On “Mad Men”
Sunday night’s episode of “Mad Men” was a climactic one, and possibly the best episode of the season. Peggy, fed up with being taken for granted by Don, landed a new job at a rival firm and resigned by Sterling Cooper Draper Price. Meanwhile, SCDP’s deal with Jaguar seemingly hinges on Joan sleeping with an exec from the car manufacturer. That Pete dared to bring this proposal to Joan was loathsome. The other partners’ (save Don’s) begrudging support of pimping out one of their most loyal and hardworking employees was disgusting. Even Don’s plea to Joan that sleeping with the exec “wouldn’t be worth it” (which came, unbeknownst to him, just a little too late) was not without room for criticism — his primary motivation was likely his ego’s desire to land the deal on his own merit.
But what of Joan’s decision to sleep with the Jaguar exec in exchange for partnership in SCDP (with a five percent stake)? We got a glimpse at Joan’s current home life as a single mom (her husband, Greg, having filed for divorce last episode), living with her judgmental mother, and it was clear that it’s not an easy, comfortable one. Was Joan’s decision to use her sexuality in the most blatant of ways to get ahead (exchanging sex for money) ultimately a feminist decision? Or was the fact that she was clearly conflicted — and certainly not “enjoying it” — a sign that she was clearly disempowered, whether she came out better financially or not? Jessica and I both had really strong opinions on the subject, so we decided to talk it out over IM. Read our convo after the jump and then share your views in the comments! Keep reading »
Debate This: Is Body Odor A Reason To Break Up?
In a recent Dear Prudence column, a woman wrote in, concerned about her fiancé’s aversion to her scent. She wrote:
“Last night, a bit too much wine prompted my fiancé to tell me a secret he’s been keeping for years: He thinks I smell bad. And that’s why our sex life has been on the decline. I know I do sweat more than some people, but I shower daily and always use deodorant. I can’t figure out if I am actually as bad as he says or if he just thinks I’m stinky because he is lucky enough to have totally odorless sweat. I am seriously considering calling off the wedding because of this.”
Prudence advises her to seek medical evaluation for her odor, adding, “If you feel your fiancé told you in a cruel or malicious way, or you think he is establishing the groundwork for breaking up with you, then you need to engage in a frank discussion about where your romance is headed.” Keep reading »
Debate This: 10 Reasons Jeggings Are Awesome (And 10 Reasons They’re Not)
Jeggings, the love child of jeans and leggings, are a huge point of contention in the fashion world. Some people think they’re the best thing to happen to denim since the advent of the dark wash boot cut. Others find them more offensive than mom jeans, acid wash skinny jeans, and men’s jean shorts combined. Here are 10 arguments for jeggings, and 10 arguments against. Make your own informed decision and share your opinion in the comments! Keep reading »
Debate This: Are Men Worse At Being Single?
In Dominique Browning’s New York Times piece “Alone Again, Naturally“, she explores why being alone after a divorce or breakup seems to be more unbearable for men than it is for women:
“Judging by statistics, to say nothing of the glaring evidence around me, men do not have any problem remarrying. In fact, most men seem unable to live alone for longer than, say, at the outside … three months.”
I had always assumed that it was the other way around, but reading her piece made me question whether or not my perception was a faulty gender stereotype. I decided to canvas some men I know and get their thoughts. Keep reading »
