I agree that we can't like all women based on their gender any more than we can like men based on theirs. I would like to clarify a couple of things with Emily Ruth:

I voluntarily left my job, with nothing else lined up, because my boss was a misogynist who literally gave me nightmares. I don't even wear nailpolish, nor do I condone its application in the workplace. So we agree on that much.

Sadly, we do not leave our issues at home. That's why a large segment of the publishing industry is devoted to office politics and how to deal with abusive bosses. But maybe if one thinks one is better than most women, one could imagine themselves above such tendencies. I guess my contention here is that you probably hurt women without realizing it. I would love to be wrong about this.

The female misogyny issue reminds me that racial minorities are most often the victims of racial violence. Our attitudes do affect other people, and that is my main point here. I admire that you are honest enough to admit your dislike of women. My guess is that there are many male and female misogynists who wouldn't admit it even to themselves.

Even if it's true, it's a horrible thing to print. As a reader, I don't want to know that about anyone, no matter how famous they are, or how much I like or dislike them. Congratulations for reaching what must be an all-time low in gossip journalism.

to spend your time typing hateful things into a computer that you know the writer is going to read? At least Ms. Silag is trying to be honest with herself.

Another great volunteer opportunity is the Homework Helper program, through your local public library system. A lot of disadvantaged kids have NO ONE to help with their homework, and maybe their parents are even illiterate. This is a great way to make a difference and do something constructive. Pick out the branch libraries in the "worst" neighborhoods.

for being so damned reasonable! how very refreshing!

Right on the money! WTF, Salon?!?

People with Borderline Personality Disorder try to steal your identity and sabotage you behind your back. They're actually worse and more destructive than narcissists. And they almost never get better because they blame their crap on everyone else. Therapy won't help them because for it to work they have to be honest and they almost never are. I agree with the people who say run, don't walk. I'd also add please cover your ass because it could get dangerous.

Lots of great responses here. LW, keep going. The more different and great you are, the longer it will take to get heard. What works for you in the long run will work against you in the short term. Best of luck!

you can't force growth. also, he's 800 miles from his kid? he's just not on the same level of personhood as you and probably never will be. you can do better!

and so you need to respect and honor that by providing him with information. No need to share your revulsion, though. Also, Darwin wasn't necessarily an atheist. I wish hard science was taught in schools, and that we all had classes in comparative religion. Like, "Jews believe X, Christians believe Y, Muslims believe Z." That way it would just be pure information, not dogma, and the kid could make up their own mind, and the religious freaks could have their free expression without misinforming anyone.

... is how it implies the girls' bodies/activities/abstinence is the parents', or anyone else's public business! That is its own form of sexual abuse! Why not install a monitor camera in her underwear, for f@#$'s sake? Then, when she does fall off the chastity wagon, daddy gets to wring his hands, lay all kinds of guilt trips on her, tell her she's a slut and she's let him down.

She (and SATC) are in the spotlight is because our culture cultivates and rewards narcissism like none other. However, the first couple seasons of SATC were great I think for capturing the true weirdness of dating.

In recent presidential elections, southern cities voted Democrat, while the rural areas went Republican. So I'm hearing a lot of generalization about Southerners, when maybe we could be talking about Southern rural dwellers. I can tell you with all certainty that in Tennessee, Davidson and Shelby counties (Nashville and Memphis) will vote for Obama.

Most people I know despise Palin, not for her pro-life stance, but for her belittling of Obama's community organizing, her implication that he's had no responsibilities, her implication that Obama's platform consists of "a voyage of personal discovery." She comes out and very pompously says this stuff in her FIRST SPEECH, and then has the ovaries to cry "sexism" when people don't like it. Also she lied and said the Obama campaign attacked her family which it did not. Not one person in his campaign has said one thing about her family, and Obama himself has said they're off-limits.

My first reaction on seeing the backward "B" was she did it herself w/ a mirror. And the "black" eye looks like makeup. Plus the story is not believable. When muggers mug you, they just want to take the money and get away, they don't look at bumper stickers.

Very thoughtful piece and I like what Rodrieguez has to say. But what I'm not seeing in the article and comment posts is the idea that churches are afraid of divine retribution for tolerance of homosexuality. Like when Robertson blamed 9/11 on "homosexuals and abortionists." And there are people who blame our failure/casualties in Iraq on abortion and homosexuality. They really think that "God will stop protecting us" if we show tolerance. I'm afriad the churches' fears are not as logical as Rodriguez so generously believes.