Fletcher

Religion isn't the only arena that has charlatans, manipulators and con artists.

Which, if the retailer has any kind of a brain, will be followed by a polite request for a demonstration of how you were using said tool when it broke. They know what to watch for to identify scammers, trust me.

I believe a fair and reasonable restocking fee is absolutely justified when customers try to game the system. Having worked in several retail establishments over the years, I can tell you that this sort of behavior is rampant and I've seen lots of really shady shit from people, including:

• Buying clothes for a special event and then trying to return them the next day.
• Buying a tool to fix something in your home, and then trying to return it the next day.
• Breaking an item that you purchased, and then wanting to return it, claiming that it is defective.

People are opportunists. If there are no controls in place to keep some people from doing shitty things, some people will do shitty things.

In a private statement following his account being let back online, Mamdani called the suspension “an alarming example of how corporate social media platforms police and suppress progressive political speech under vague pretenses to satisfy their corporate sponsors.”

If ever there was a solid argument for not using corporate social media, this is it.

I meant the type of event where nudity is present and expected.

There is always a social media propaganda campaign going on. On just about any subject you can think of. Is this really the first time you're noticing? You do know that governments, political parties and corporations employ people whose only job is to study and manipulate social media trends, right? What do you think a social media 'influencer' is?

People with a highly metaphysical worldview are easier to deceive and manipulate because their normal logic barriers have already been broken down - ie, if you already believe that the earth and everything on it was created by an omnipotent superbeing in six days, it's not much of a further leap to believe that demons are making you horny.

Yeah, because it's not what everyone is asking for. It's trying to move the goal post to avoid being caught.

Sure, at some point we all have to realize that our actions may attract unwanted attention and take appropriate precautions. That being said, no means no. If a lady is obviously uncomfortable by your presence, put on the big boy pants and move on - don't try to argue your case or convince her of anything. Just move on and leave her the hell alone.

I've been to a few 'clothing optional' events in my time - and this is how I have successfully navigated those events:

• Don't talk to a naked woman unless SHE initiates the conversation.
• Don't make ANY comments about a naked woman's appearance unless SHE comments about yours FIRST.
• Keep your eyes on a naked woman's FACE.

Is this stupid and unfair? Yes. Have I ever been asked to leave one of these events, or gotten into any trouble? No. If you can't handle it, don't go to these types of events.

If your religious 'freedoms' involve protecting child abusers, you should be the one confessing.

Stories are medicine.

It's one healthy way for our brains to process situations, dreams, aspirations, fears and experience. And it works.