I actually got pretty pissed during this movie but not for the usual reasons. It's fucking disrespectful that Dornan is phoning it in like he's too good for that shit while his costar brought her A-game and gave a great performance and managed to turn an extremely unlikeable character very sympathetic and even fun. So maybe Dornan is too good for 50 shades, I dunno, but he's not too good for the money it just made him, though his costar does all the heavy lifting. Fuck that.

I love you guys. Serious love.

Scalzi and WB were doing what they do and looking out for writers, and I’ve always appreciated that. I’m glad to see that you’ve responded and done the right thing.

The tone of some of the comments I’ve seen on Twitter and John Scalzi’s blog are majorly bumming me out though. Lots of outrage from a bunch of white dudes (one even called for the site to go up in flames) and once again I’m reminded how those men (not all, ha ha) don’t understand how important a site like this is for so many of us. You’re a small, new-ish site, you’ll make mistakes, you won’t be able to pay very much (though maybe with increased ad revenue you could pay writers more? Especially considering the marginalized voices you published who are often taken advantage of anyway). Still, this has become a safe space for me and I think for others. For white men to so callously write the site off for a mistake (granted, a pretty big one, and Nick’s comments really didn’t help) I think highlights their privilege. White cis het men have how many sites and articles written that they can relate to? But I have far fewer sites where I can see the experiences of me and my friends reflected.

Beautifully written, Nichole.

I have feelings about this topic. Not to take away from the bravery it takes to talk about body issues and self esteem...I guess I just feel impatient for a world where fat acceptance is the norm (ever the optimist I) and we have reached the point where we celebrate and love our fat bodies because why should they be celebrated and loved any less than thin bodies? It's the only body I've got and it's amazing, if not perfect.

I re-read this piece today (did someone else link to this on The Toast already? if so, apologies):
http://kateharding.net/2007/11/27/the-fantasy-of-...

I endorse Beeper Queen’s answers, and will add my own thoughts (by the way, Beeper Queen, you sound awesome).

(1) Green jello and funeral potatoes (the most often derided Utah foods) are very much holdovers from the older generation, but I love them! Funeral potatoes are so good. And so bad for you. And so good. My sister-in-law’s grandma served her children green jello mixed with canned chicken when she was raising her kids. My sister in law brings it up every so often so we can laugh about it, usually around Thanksgiving when my mom makes a layered jello salad in all colors of the rainbow (a bit ironic, yes). So yeah, green jello seems to be something of a holdover for those who survived the Depression and ate mostly things that they could store and that were also cheap.

(2) I agree with the Beeper Queen. Sleeves aren’t enough to cover the temple garments! I stopped wearing t-shirts under sleeveless things when I was fourteen because I knew it looked tacky, but I still wear those modesty shirts Mormon women love (I have big boobs and my cleavage can be a bit uncomfortable to flash at my conservative workplace). Even shirts that you’d think would cover your garments often don’t, and having your garments peek out from underneath your clothes is a big no-no, to the point where strangers point it out to you.

(3) City Creek Mall: Built to keep the poors away from Temple Square. Because Christians (Not all Christians! I know!)

(4) I still don’t drink possibly because I really have no idea how or what or why or with whom but also because of mental illness and medication and the fear that my highly addictive personality will like alcohol a little bit too much. So your question has definitely occurred to me and I don’t have an answer. I went on a mission to Italy so I can see myself really getting into wine…

(5) No shit from the Church, as I haven’t made it official. And I don’t think anyone is going to get any flak if I do leave officially (basically, that means that I send in a letter of resignation to LDS headquarters and have my records expunged) except for me getting lots of anonymous smiley-face nice-notes slid under my front door telling them how much I’m missed. Which, in the scheme of things, really isn’t so bad.

(6) I really have no idea, but Beeper Queen’s answer makes sense. We love our pioneers. Seriously. They were pretty bad ass.

(7) Beehives are symbols of industriousness, business, working together, and families. Mormons love all those things. It’s a symbol from the pioneer days of the Church.

(8) IDK about this either because I have always hated stereotypes and refused to give them credence. I’ve noticed that sometimes mission calls run in the family (not officially). I went to Italy and tons of other missionaries had dads or moms or siblings who had also been missionaries in Italy. I studied Italian for two years before I decided to go on a mission, and that may have had something to do with where I was sent.

Missionaries with specific medical conditions are usually kept within North America.

The biggest stereotype I know of is getting called to the Pocatello, Idaho mission. Again, IDK why, because all missions are pretty much the same work (I say this laughing because I went to Italy and ate tons of gelato and pizza and walked by naked statues on the daily).

I would love to see some articles about Professional Mormon Enthusiasts (Enthusiasting?) here on The Toast. Also an article about your visit to the Ogden Temple Open House. I’m a native Utahn transitioning out of Mormonism and can answer all your questions. Or explain the mysterious allure of green jello and funeral potatoes. Or just shut up and read the article and cheer silently in my cubicle. Whatever. I’m not picky.