Sometimes, I just really don’t enjoy my job and cannot even feel certain I’m doing it decently.
Man, I hate posts like that, and trying to answer them just wears my shit right out. I think I need a bath, and it’s not even past noon.
(It didn’t help, by the way, that a situation like that so totally illustrates to me the ridiculousness of conservatives positing that readiness for sex is not so much about age as it is about marriage, and that while a young adult isn’t capable of managing sex, they are capable of managing marriage AND sex. And parenting. Lordisa. But of course, you know that the response would simply be that if they had followed the “rules” of marriage, everyone would be doing just fine. It’s not getting married and pregnant young that creates any problems or isn’t so easy, it’s doing so and not following the rules.)
July 31st, 2008 at 6:12 am
wow, I know your answer must have been so taxing to write but I just have to say I really love it! I especially admire that you give this young woman credit for the *possibility* that polyamory/an open marriage is something she COULD handle and enjoy if she and her partner develop the right skills of communication and negotiation - that people do it, happily and healthily, all the time, and that it’s even an understandable thing to look to for sexual fulfillment when you’ve married young. These young people who write to you with non-normative sexual issues (bisexuality, poly, kink, etc.) are even more stunningly lucky than the mass of teenagers you help. Just wanted to give you a cheer for an awesome answer and for the work you do…
July 31st, 2008 at 6:56 am
i’ve been visiting your journal on and off for years now and have just finished reading the posts on the front page.
i am inspired by the work you do, the way you commit to it and the compassion and empathy you show others. the work you do is amazing.
i understand you get a lot of negativity from many people for what you do, but i hope you never let that outweigh all the positivity you inspire and create in this world.