144 Comments
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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

I am generally not a big Pranks Person but hiding someone’s meds and lying about it while they cry is not a Prank, it’s cruel and fucked up.

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Lesley's avatar

Everyone please sign my petition to outlaw “why can’t you take a joke” from now to eternity.

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ST's avatar

I am such a grumpus about pranks because a really funny one is REALLY FUNNY but most people just do something terrible and cruel like this and then it becomes IT WAS JUST A JOKE BRO IT WAS A JOKE and *Thor face* was it *really?* Basically my objection is not to pranks qua pranks as it is to most people being really bad at them.

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Emi.'s avatar

I can see a basically decent person having a temporary brain meltdown and thinking it would be a good prank, but then she would be totally horrified when she realized what she'd done. I could forgive her for starting it but not for not immediately calling it off and apologizing profusely.

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JacketDan's avatar

It was bad from the start, but carrying it until he's crying on the floor and then getting defensive about it is just massively fucked up. She's got to go.

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Alexis's avatar

I used to be a big pranks person (have mostly trained myself out of it because I am an adult and most pranks are actually mean) but even at my worst I would never ever ever have messed with someone's meds. Or kept up any prank after they started to get upset. That's not humor, that's just cruelty.

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Anna's avatar

Ooh, that post made me so mad! I have several friends with loved ones with schizophrenia that has not been well treated with meds, so I was additionally furious that his girlfriend seems to have no concept of how lucky they both are to have meds that work and what a nightmare it is for everyone without them.

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

Yes, I have a good friend with schizophrenia and if they had this bitch messing with them instead of their wonderful and supportive husband I would do a murder.

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

HUGE LOVE today to everyone at The Outline, who just got laid off. By which I mean: everyone got laid off, including one of my best friends, and I’m really mad and sad.

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David M.'s avatar

I've been offline for several hours so I just found out from here, and what the fuck.

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Elizabeth J's avatar

Extremely dammit

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MH's avatar

Friends friends friends! I remain chest-coughy, but I am no worse! I am stable! MY CONDITION IS STABLE!!!! And my parents sent me a beautiful precious pizza from my homeland and it will arrive frozen in the mail today.

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Cat's avatar

Hooray! My best wishes for a rapid and complete recovery! (And enjoy that pizza!)

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MH's avatar

Thank you!!! The fact that I am still excited about pizza (and can taste things, at least for now) is in itself very encouraging.

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Cat's avatar

Nicole, can we talk about how amazing your Care and Feeding column today is? It is amazing. "I do not want any of my readers to die because they don’t want to enforce a boundary with their grown children. I like my job." in particular is such a good line.

(Teenagers are awful. I know. I KNOW. I used to teach high school, and now I teach undergrads. But you know what is worse? Contracting a virus, bringing it home to your nuclear family, and then having a member of said nuclear family die on the floor of your TV room in front of you while you helplessly wait for the paramedics to show up. If your teenager is not taking this seriously, I will gladly get on the phone with him/her/them and describe in exquisite detail what said experience was like for me. And my experience was with a normal-whacky-virus, not a pandemic-whacky-virus, so I will impress the exponential consequences of such actions. I am a biologist and my best friend is a medical doctor; I will use very big, very scary words. KEEP YOUR OFFSPRING AT HOME.)

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Li's avatar

I'm so sorry for your loss.

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Emi.'s avatar

Oh my word I'm so sorry, Cat.

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

HORRIBLE

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Al's avatar

Total aside, I have such complicated feelings about the shy letter- I was a shy kid who I suppose is still a shy adult I just have a lifetimes worth of coping mechanisms and I get where the LW is coming from but also that doesn't seem the way to grapple with that.

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Piemouth's avatar

I thought a lot about it. So many parents seem to see "shy" as a pejorative term instead of just a descriptive one. Nothing wrong with being shy, or being shy in some situations. One of the commenters said they identify with the term "reserved", and I like that.

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Al's avatar

My shyness was a real source of Strife in my life. and I think it depends on a lot but I totally get the "shy kid" baggage

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Al's avatar

and is.

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Cat's avatar

Yeah, I have weird baggage around all sorts of things that basically boil down to "my parents were trying their best, but nobody twigged that I was a kid experiencing mental health problems, so I got called a bunch of names instead of getting the help I needed" -- and coming from that vantage point, I can kind of see what that LW is trying to say. This, just, yeah. Not the healthiest framing.

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Mer's avatar

Sorry for your troubles. I hope you and yours are safe

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gr's avatar

Nicole, I have a nice cry almost every morning when I read the last paragraph of the newsletter. It always hits exactly where I need it to. It is very embarrassing to have to get on a video call with my boss afterward. I love you and I like you and I appreciate you.

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

I keep waiting for someone to say they hate the validations but so far enough people find them helpful that I plan on keeping them up indefinitely.

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

If it’s too corny people can always scroll past if they are not in the mood for it.

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ST's avatar

Honestly they are kind of corny but it's sweet and nice since you're our friend? Nicole Cliffe's Relentless (Attempted) Positivity In The Face Of All This Shit is very "I roll my eyes like a teenager but secretly enjoy it like a teenager."

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gr's avatar

I don't find them corny at all! we all need someone to validate us!

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Katie M's avatar

They are so nice! It is a bit corny but the kind that soothes and comforts and makes me smile

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Alexis's avatar

Every time I read them I go "these are corny and obviously she doesn't mean _me_" and yet I still feel better. Every time.

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

I always mean you!

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Mo's avatar

That's my favorite part, when you say "I mean you".

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Lou's avatar

I am a deeply secular person, so the best description I have is that it feels like having Mr. Rogers with us again. They are an unexpected and unmerited kindness.

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Renita's avatar

They are lovely. Even though we have only interacted via this comment section and will likely never meet "in real life" it makes me feel warm and fuzzy every time.

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Laura's avatar

I'm a bit of a cynic (and an earnest and well-adjusted nihilist) and I ADORE the validations. With every one I think you cannot possibly mean me, but I read them and inevitably really believe that you're addressing me, personally, and I feel so validated.

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Liz's avatar

I love them! I live for praise

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Cat's avatar

Nicole, they are AMAZING. And we love you so much right back. <3

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Phrynes_Apprentice's avatar

ah I wrote the same thing before reading this! something about today was particularly potent, I guess. It's nice to have this company. I love you all! Good Readers forever.

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burningupasun's avatar

I always make sure to scroll down and read them because they make me smile and feel better!

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Hannah's avatar

“I’ll block a man just to watch him be blocked.“ this line gave me my first good laugh of the day! Thanks for protecting us Nicole

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

“I’ll block a man in Fresno, just to watch him be blocked.”

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Cathy Farman's avatar

Nicky I love the affirmations and I love them at the start of my day. I had a big HAPPY cry this week because for two years I’ve worked on a fundraising campaign to remodel the kitchen for our county’s domestic violence shelter. The money was slow coming in and we found a donor to fund the balance of what we need. As soon as this time is over our shelter is getting a new kitchen. The old one is 30 years old and our shelter has tripled the number of residents. I’m crying again sharing this news.

Also that GF who hid the meds is trash.

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

I am so happy for you and so proud of the amazing work you do.

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Cathy Farman's avatar

😘

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Annette Rojas's avatar

In these trying times, it seems important to me that I respectfully let you know the smol thrill I get it when you sign the newsletter 'nicky'.

Thanks for that. :)

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

it’s very soothing to me to hear my nickname from you fine people when I’m not able to hear it from my extended family

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Maria P's avatar

The first time it happened, I thought, "Oh. We're really friends now." My love to you and you, Nicky!

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Maria P's avatar

A small triumph: my local grocer had their in house potato bread with cheddar and green onions *IN STOCK*

I cried thinking about all of the labor that went into that loaf and I also cried for all of the comfort that small reassurance gave me.

My deep love and affection for all of you who also bring me comfort and reassurance each day.

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ellen z.'s avatar

Good morning, everyone!

I haven't read in a few days for Reasons but am excited to be back. My shingles (I don't know if I mentioned that I have SHINGLES) have largely abated and I am in substantially less pain than I was a week ago; I think finally well enough to exercise again, which I'm extremely excited about.

Because I haven't read in a few days (and haven't gone back to check things out yet), I'm not sure if Martha Stewart's personal instagram (https://www.instagram.com/marthastewart48/) has graced the pages of this fine and astute publication. Within the past day or so, her posts have ranged from weirdly wholesome personal care advice to videos of her animals set to music to extremely verbose musings on green juice. It's exactly what I need right now.

Now I'm going back to my important morning tasks - watching Sister Act while trying to actually get some work done. It's Friday, it's almost shabbat, I'm being gentle with myself. Hope everyone has exactly the morning they need.

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

How DARE you have shingles right now!!!

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ellen z.'s avatar

It was TERRIBLE TIMING and SO PAINFUL and since I am among friends I will further reveal that they were ON MY BOOB.

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

unacceptable COMPLETELY unacceptable

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Emma's avatar

BOOB TREACHERY is one of the worst treacheries

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ellen z.'s avatar

ALSO on a previous post that was either a few days ago, a few weeks ago, or several years ago, I mentioned that the theatre company I'm on the administrative staff of, the NY Neo-Futurists, has launched a podcast to keep making and sharing art while the show is dark. I'm making my podcasting and Neo-Futurist art debut tonight at midnight (eastern) with a play on one of this week's episodes! It's about Animal Crossing (but it's also about other things too). Check it out maybe at http://nyneofuturists.libsyn.com/, or wherever fine podcasts are distributed.

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Suzanne's avatar

One of my old friends just told this story on our Discord and I thought the cuteness might resonate with some of you:

The boys were just telling Your Mama’s So Fat jokes while they get dressed. I’m not sure where they picked that up. Finally, H says “Hey, we have the same Mom.” J: “Oh yeah, our Mom is nice.” Then two minutes later they started again.

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

My brother and I make Your Mom jokes to each other CONSTANTLY, despite having the same Your Mom.

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ellen z.'s avatar

My sister and I were really into this for a while, especially while in the backseat of the car. My mom... did not love it.

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Mo's avatar

My kids do this and I love it.

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User's avatar
Comment deleted
Apr 3, 2020
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Emi.'s avatar

we stan a fighty queen

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Jenny's avatar

She's gotta show her kids the Yo Mama Battle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG1_393MvaQ

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Suzanne's avatar

That is precious and I am sharing it with her right now.

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Emma's avatar

I realized the reason these daily threads are so comforting: they remind me a lot of the MBTV/TWOP message boards, which were my formative (and largely positive) Internet playgrounds as a teenager/college student. (Also, importantly, featuring moderators with A Strong Blocking Hand.) happy Friday all.

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Emi.'s avatar

I have been coveting Keds x Rifle Paper Co shoes for literally years and I FINALLY bought some. AND some for the toddler (on eBay, for a sweet discount).

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Jessica's avatar

I am so EXCITED for you. I bought a pair from their first collection and I still adore them. May you have many happy floral foot days!!

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Elizabeth J's avatar

The ads that follow me everywhere, and yet I have never given in! I'm happy for you!

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JacketDan's avatar

Our Peloton shows up on Monday and so does the kid's new play set! Peloton was offering 39 months same as cash financing and getting the deposit back on my wife's 40th trip paid for the play set. I feel like this is all a bit of retail therapy, but right now I am still jazzed about it.

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Mary Y's avatar

Congratulations on the Peloton, I have their wildly expensive but extremely lovely treadmill, and I ADORE IT. (Purchased during maternity leave when I desperately needed to resume running for my mental health but was trapped at home by a tiny baby.) Very jealous of the play set! If we had a bigger yard, we would absolutely have also sprung for that right now, my kid is desperate to go to the playground and not old enough to understand why we can't.

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JacketDan's avatar

Just to balance out the braggy nature of this post. We did win a parenting championship yesterday. https://twitter.com/JacketDan/status/1245817893041864706?s=20

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Victoria Edel's avatar

tw for death

My dad is in the hospital and is probably going to d*e and it absolutely fucking sucks

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Li's avatar

I'm so sorry. I'm thinking of you and your family.

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Jenn's avatar

I am so so sorry. There's no good words for times like these, and I hope you're as surrounded by love and support as you can be. You'll be in my thoughts.

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Liz's avatar

I'm so sorry.

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Nicole Cliffe's avatar

oh, no, I’m so sorry

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solo sarah's avatar

Absolutely fucking sucks!

I'm sorry. Holding you, your dad, and the rest of your community in the light.

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Maria P's avatar

I'm so sorry. Wishing you and your whole family gentle tenderness right now. And tomorrow. And for years to come

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Maria's avatar

I'm so so sorry.

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Ames's avatar

I’m so sorry. It does absolutely fucking suck and I will be sending you love from afar.

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Jenny's avatar

My heart is with you today.

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David M.'s avatar

I'm so sorry, that's awful.

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Emi.'s avatar

I'm so sorry and I'll pray for you all.

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Alyssa's avatar

I am really feeling it this morning after several days of being more or less okay.

Two of the last three things left on my summer calendar were officially cancelled last night/this morning. I expected they would be; it is of course the right thing; but I am still sad every time. (A production of Emma that we bought tickets to for my mom's birthday, and a local music festival whose lineup this year was all women/queer folks/non-cismen, basically.)

Also yesterday was to be the home opener for my beloved MN Twins. I miss baseball!!!

These are petty grievances though really. In better news, I have officially been living with my gf for a week and that part is going really well.

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