Dear Ms. Shepard, I don’t mind the question; but I can’t blame you for not answering. That was a particularly unkind thing that your sister and brother in law did. No I take it back…That was MEAN. I don’t see why they pass the information to a 13 year old child. So sorry.

Dear Cassie, Not very shocking, just refreshing. You are exercising great wisdom. It’s not about the world or the times. It’s about YOU. When I was your age, there was the appearance of sexual freedom (Do it with all the time with anybody); but it was a sham. Personally I thought it was hype and held out for the right guy (not marriage; but no regrets). People talk a big game but they miss one point: Real sexual liberation is about deciding what is right for YOU. You are brave and wise beyond your years. YOU WILL KNOW when the time and the person is the right one. I applaud your decision.

Contribution is not compulsory. Intelligence is, to an extent, subjective. Professionalism is probably not required for a cyber post; especially if using a psedonym. Hopefully this site wants professional accomplished women to to gab about all kinds of topics. Could it be that you were looking to fullfill professional networking needs? That’s fine; but I don’t belive it to be the goal of this site so far. Please let’s be careful of censoring and judging others too much. Let’s make this an opportunity to not “parent” something/someone. We could all learn alot from each other if we listen openly. Thanks.

The higher the intelligence level, the greater the need for play. In this case levity. Since there have been discussions about Iraq, the political debates, CBS news, and so forth, I personally do not think that anyone here is suffering from “brain vapidity”. Honestly, does every single conversation that we have with our girlfriends have the same urgency, and socio-political tone of a G8 Summit meeting? Doubtful.

As a late blooming repressed Catholic school girl with more fear than wisdom I can honesly say that I envy your number. It seems like just enough to gather some good memories and also be certain of what you don’t want. Never regret.

Please remember that you will not like every single topic. This site is not tailored to every nuance of your personal interests. You make a valid point about the disclosure/professional reputation aspect. However as has been stated, you may use and alias and an avatar. No one is so incredibly unique that an answer would identify them to a potential employer who by the very definition that term would not know the contributor that well anyway. Please remember that some of us do not have a place to be silly and middle aged at the same time without repercussions. Should you ever decide to muse on something in this forum that does not amuse or inform me, I promise not to judge or censor you. This site is a great forum for both the important and the not so pressing topics of the day. Let’s enjoy more and control less. PLEASE.

If it is the Jim Kelly I’m thinking of, I went to college with him and we all thought he was THE GUY. He was always very nice and kind and almost oblivious to his own charm. LUCKY YOU. And really if it’s not THE JIM KELLY that I am thinking of…let’s just prentend.

Hello Everyone, It’s not that there aren’t more serious things going on in the world and in our lives. We know this. It’s not about being PC or the changing times. I attended all girls middle school and high school in the 70’s. We addressed each other as “you guys”. We did NOT address our teachers, mothers, or our mothers’ friends this way (or any adult male or female). social civility—> respect—>thoughtfulness—>compassion. It all starts with an attempt at good manners.

I have been experiencing this phenomenon since I began working in an all woman department last year. For all of my career I had worked almost exclusively with men. It’s amazing how much women in the workplace overshare. This creates an atmosphere for painful gossip and dangerous speculation about coworkers’ personal lives. Productivity suffers because of the constant chatter as well as the paradox that you mentioned (“chatty and confiding one minute, and demanding and icily professional the next”). I have discovered that if you “stay out of it” you become “the odd one” or the subject of speculation. In my workplace I am alternately cast in both of these roles (no matter). I think that some of this is caused by the need for close friends as we dicussed in an ealier conversation. Furthermore I am sure that the increase of celebitry worship creates a feeling (for some) that their lives are dull unless their every acquaintance is privy to their every activity.

I moved 5 times in my life. Each time to a completely diffrent place (Miami, Chicago, Sydney, Scottdale, Southern California). I have also travelled alot for business and pleasure. As a single person in my mid forties, I find that friendship are harder to cultivate than ever before. I believe that some of it is due to a shift in how we assess people. Political views, religious affiliations, clothing choices, dating styles, even career choices seem to polarize and (sometimes incorrectly) inform our openness to friendship more than ever before. The trick is to get past the initial urge to judge and hang actually listen to people we meet. The really hard part is WHERE (besides work) are people meeting? It used to be that my friends and I would wonder where to meet men… Now we just want to know where EVERYBODY is.