Michelle Obama is coming under fire for saying this?

"Because sometimes it's easier to hold on to your own stereotypes and misconceptions. It makes you feel justified in your own ignorance."

We don't really know anyone else, especially if we remain insulated or separated from them as she said in her comment about college. The only way to get to know another person is... to get to know another person.

I resent how everything anyone says gets ripped out of it's context and sent to the boring evening news for dissection and outrageous assumption. It's insulting. The newspeople are the ones who think we are all ignorant if they are feeding us this crap.

Why is it so terrible and unpopular to be the truth teller? She's right! Where's the problem except in other people's minds?

I don't have more than a minute here today but your desire strikes me as a personal one and no one can know better than you what would be best. Cary's take on desire fits many situations.

That said, being a parent is so hard. Greatest challenge I've ever taken on, and my little teachers are right here practicing the art of bugging each other. They are professionals!

A friend who was being snarky and rude with me at one point later confessed her desire to have kids made her jealous. Meanwhile, back in reality, I was sleepless, drowning in diapers, kids in cribs at the same time and desperate for an hour to myself. Maybe grass is always greener when you are knee deep in it.

28, I hear you, but the world is wide open for you right now. The pressure you feel may not be feel under your control, but you can choose to move your focus away from the domestic life you envision. It is never as you imagine it to be. Kind of like that movie that you saw after you read the amazing book.

Hang in there and hey, wanna babysit?

LW, good for you! It's tough to find someone you really like and that is a much bigger problem for most than the how we met question. I have found most people aren't that interested, they are just making conversation when introduced to a new mate. You are a step ahead, don't look back.

A Tony Danza Extravaganza:

vodka, lime, ginger ale, splash triple sec and/or rum, stir with long twizzle stick and serve in extra large martini glass.

Or a Bowie Blast:

sky citron and raspberry, seven up, serve with lemon and glittery garnishes in rocketship glass.

Just a few thoughts:

More physical activity.

Moderation.

Not in my industry. Maybe I just haven't been to London much.

"Stoned at a funeral?

Cary, please tell your story about being stoned at a funeral. Some of us love black humor."

YES! We need that story, please... pretty please?

LW,

I have some good friends who are kind of like you. College is a hard place to be introverted.

What if you could pretend that you are a character? Life's a stage and you have a part to play, which includes dialogue and dancing and rabble rousing. (I have been wanting to slip rabble rousing into a sentence for so long!)

It's easy to do but it could not be more different than attending a party as yourself, because you can't slip into character when up close and personal. I've done improv, acting, been in bands and orchestras, sales and enjoy public speaking. The part that may seem strange: I am by nature, an introvert. I can work a room, and appear to be an extrovert, but it's exhausting.

Here's what keeps me going back for more in every social situation and I wonder if you are similar: Unquenchable desire to know more about others. I want to understand and hear more, see what matters to them and how they think and feel about life. It's fascinating, isn't it? So, when you are out there mixing it up with the 'animals' you can lose yourself in this keen interest.

You don't have to change, but you don't have to be afraid to put yourself out there either. We are all just human beings (I think) in the same creaky rocking ship. We're all a bunch of fools. That's one way you can think of it, that no one is really secure.

Now, if you aren't interested in really getting to know others or what they are about, then this would be a different conversation and one for someone who prefers to be a loner. You sound like you want to get out there and have some fun. At 21, in school, you'll find many opportunities. Take a deep breath, smile and dive right in!

Thanks for writing that in response to some of these letters. I agree when it comes to this and so many of articles online. Never ceases to amaze me.

RT, Great idea for a book and interesting article.

He is playing this game with you and although you sound kind and thoughtful you've forgotten yourself here.

What's not to like about Moby.

That's all, just another fan chiming in and looking fwd to hearing his work.

I just threw up.

Savages like these "people" are driving, voting (although they don't seem smart enough to know how to vote) and they will be procreating. Complete scumbags. There is no shortage of bullying morons in this world and seeing things like this just illuminates the depressing fact that we are doomed.

Lock em up and leave em there. Bullies who gang up on others never change their behavior, they just grow up to be useless vampires in our society.

I'd refer to them as animals, but that would be insulting to the animal kingdom where even the rat is worth more than these cowardly fools.

Damn, I don't know. If you find out, let me know too.

Best,

e.m.