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Men Have No One to Truly Open Up To According to Men
ByMikeM October 4, 2023October 4, 2023 Reading Time: 2 minutes

There are more details to describe what some men meant by no one, but no one was a very popular response. I’m not surprised by that. I think most men don’t open up 100% to anyone. Part of it is not having that kind of relationship with anyone, part of it is society’s expectations of men to be strong and stoic, part of it is women’s expectations that the men in their lives remain strong and stoic, and part of it is just our unwillingness to have uncomfortable conversations.

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Why Advocates Should Think Twice About Laws They Support
ByMikeM September 30, 2023September 30, 2023 Reading Time: 4 minutes

Law enforcement officials don’t just want to be able to scan for CSAM. That’s the excuse to get the public to buy into mass surveillance. “It’s for the kids” is disingenuous. It’s not for the kids to them, it’s to open the door to the police, and anyone with some skill, to watch ALL of our communication and use it in any way they see fit.

Yes, that will include that cop who’s a little too friendly with the teens in the neighborhood, the one abusing his wife, or the one stalking an ex. It’ll also include officials with political leanings spying on opponents, dictators with unfettered access to all communication coming and going to their citizens, and hackers getting access to blackmail material.

All of it. Out there for anyone with the keys to see, store, and use as they see fit.

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Links

Sharing – A comment shouted from a stranger in a passing car saved her life
ByMikeM September 16, 2023September 16, 2023 Reading Time: 1 minute

We don’t always know what impact our small actions will have. It might feel like it’s not enough and maybe even not worth doing, but to this woman that small action meant everything in that moment. If we take away anything from her story it should be that no matter how insignificant that small action might seem to you, do it anyway. There’s no downside, only the possibility that it will make a difference to someone.

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Links

When Mental Health Struggles Spread Through the Family
ByMikeM August 14, 2023August 13, 2025 Reading Time: 2 minutes

The parents trying to navigate the maze of mental healthcare while also trying to work to help pay for the care that winds up not being covered and be there for their other children as well. It’s a lot. All of that stress isn’t good for anyone’s health, mental and physical. Imagine trying to support a child with getting mental healthcare while also needing your own care, or dealing with illnesses.

It’s a mess. I don’t envy parents who find themselves in this position. If you know any parents in this boat, maybe see what they need. Find some way to take a little stress off. Provide a meal or two, run some errands for them, etc. They need it more than they will probably ever admit.

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Weekly Links

Shared Links (weekly) Aug. 6, 2023
ByMikeM August 6, 2023August 5, 2023 Reading Time: 1 minute
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Links

Sharing – Peer-on-Peer Abuse: What can be done when kids hurt kids?
ByMikeM August 1, 2023August 1, 2023 Reading Time: 2 minutes

There’s no real difference. I should know. I was sexually abused by an older minor. There was no creepy old man, only an older and bigger kid who threatened me. Someone in my own family. Mall parking lots, school, and our neighborhood park weren’t the places where I was not safe, my family was.

And I had no way to tell anyone, because I wasn’t taught about that being child abuse. Only strange men in white vans giving out candy abused children. Whatever was happening in my family wasn’t to be discussed with anyone. It wasn’t, and it went on for years.

Maybe we should do better with understanding the ways kids abuse other kids, and talking openly about it. The link below can help.

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