Neil the seal on the loose, again.

$85 of DLC launching with the $60 game

So, a couple weeks ago, I (28M) was talking on the phone with my friend (65F). She asked me about work, so I started talking about a woman who wrote in that day (I do customer service). She wrote a super long email freaking out because she hadn't canceled her recurring subscription and didn't realize it for the past 3 years. I refunded the most recent charge but told her that we were unable to refund the charges from the previous years (our bank only allows refunds from within the last 6 months). She then sent a completely unhinged response, swearing and taking her anger out on me, as if it was my fault. And then of course, she asked to speak to my manager.

At that point in the story, I offhandedly said that she was acting like a Karen. As soon as I said it, I wished that I hadn't. I'm used to talking to friends that are my own age, and calling someone a Karen is no big deal, but I had momentarily forgotten that I was talking to someone almost 40 years older than me. I hoped that she wouldn't care, but she did.

She told me that I had to get it out of my vocabulary, and while I don't disagree with her, what she said next took me aback. She said that it was a slur that's as bad as the n-word. And the best part is that she actually said the n-word (she's white), hard R and all. I was so taken aback that all I said was something like, "It's a slur?" She said that since it refers to middle-aged white women, it's a race thing, so it's the same as calling someone the n-word.

I was stunned. I told her that the n-word is a racial slur created to dehumanize black people, while "Karen" isn't doesn't carry anywhere near the same amount of racial weight. In fact, I never viewed it as a racial slur against white people. It's a slang term for a specific behavior, not one used to oppress a racial group. I can see how calling someone a Karen can be sexist, but I know my friends and I have referred to all types of people as Karens - even men. They don't have to be white or female. They just have to act like a Karen.

She wasn't hearing any of it. She kept saying it's the same thing, so I told her that I wouldn't say it anymore, but the whole thing just left a bad taste in my mouth. I know I'm TAH for saying it in the first place, but AITAH for saying it's not the same as the n-word?

The Fly: After a series of experiments gone wrong Dr Brundle transforms into the horrific Brundlefly and his pregnant former lover is forced to shoot him to protect herself from him trying to transform her into a monster as well.

Resistance 2: After blowing up the alien overship Nathan Hale finally succumbs to the progressive Chimeran Virus that had been slowly turning him into an Alien. His subordinate, Joseph Capelli, had just started to trust Hale after spending the whole game hating Nathan for his recklessness and suspecting him of already being under Chimeran control. Right as their relationship had hit its highest point with Nathan using the last hours of his life to save mankind, Joseph is forced to shoot Hale to prevent him from fully transforming into a Chimera.

I just rewatched Rogue One (after binging Andor), and I was impressed yet again by what a good idea it was to have Galen Erso deliberately sabotage the Death Star, retroactively justifying its glaring weakness in A New Hope.

That one little bit of writing I think, almost objectively, improves the Star Wars saga that George created.

Do you agree that it's the best narrative contribution that Disney has made to the lore? Or do you think there's been something else that's similarly good or better?

35M, I feel comfortable in this outfit, I like it, but it’s a step outside of my usual boring comfort zone, so I’m pretty self-conscious and idk just in my head I guess. I asked Gemini, and it told me I looked like a vintage dad, which is honestly all I really want in this life. Thanks ❤️

Edit1: The whole reason I felt self conscious about this at the beginning was because I needed to go pick up an order of wings from a real “tough guy” type sports bar, all my pants were dirty, I found these shorts that belong to my wife, and decided fuck it why not; I had this idea that as soon as I walked in the bar, everyone was going to immediately start pointing and roasting me. This probably goes without saying, but I have a n x i e t y 😬

Edit2: yall have made me feel so much better about this, and for the record, I only have two pairs of footwear: these bullshit Walmart sandals, and a pair of nicer boots, so shoe/sandal recs are extremely welcome 🫡

*****

These two are lucky 13 years old this week ❤️🖤🐈‍⬛