Avoiding Nice-Guy Fantasy
I’m writing an urban fantasy novel, so I’ve been thinking a lot about the genre. I’ve always been a fan of fantasy/sci-fi stories, but there are some unfortunate tropes in the genre that reflect a lot...
View ArticlePolyamory vs. Relationship Anarchy
I have mixed feelings about Louisa Leontiades’ recent post entitled “The Mass Exodus of Polyamorous People Towards Relationship Anarchy.” My first thought is that it’s silly. Relationship anarchy and...
View ArticlePolite Poly
This post grew out of a conversation with my friend Heina Dadabhoy, who writes Heinous Dealings at the Orbit, a new blog network focused on social justice minded atheism. Heina has a companion blog...
View ArticlePolitical Responsibility
This past weekend, a North Carolina Republican field office was firebombed, with the words “Nazi Republicans leave town or else” and a swastika spraypainted on the walls. In response, within hours, a...
View ArticleRational Relationships: The Illusion of Transparency
The illusion of transparency is a common cognitive bias wherein people overestimate both the degree to which their internal thoughts are apparent to those around them and the degree to which they...
View ArticleNewcomb’s Problem and Relationship Rules
In my defense of egoism, I discussed Newcomb’s Problem, summarized in the Less Wrong wiki as: a superintelligence called Omega shows you two boxes, A and B, and offers you the choice of taking only box...
View ArticleI Wish That I Knew What I Know Now When I Was Younger
My dating life really started in my late 20’s. I grew up fat and unpopular. I had some nasty skin conditions. I was generally low-status in my social circles. My dating pool was small. Up until age 21,...
View ArticleNobody Deserves to Suffer
A few days ago, I posted this on Facebook: So much of the worst of humanity comes from our seemingly intractable sense of outrage at the idea that other people might get things they don’t deserve It...
View ArticleAutism and Polyamory
Today, June 18, is Autistic Pride Day! This year, I found out that I am on the autism spectrum – basically what used to be called Asperger’s. It wasn’t terribly surprising, but it explained a lot of...
View ArticleBill Maher is Wrong About Fat Shaming
Bill Maher promoting science-denialism This past Friday night, Bill Maher used his popular HBO show to declare that “fat shaming needs to make a comeback.” During his closing “New Rule,” Maher mixed...
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