must-read article

I had no idea! Now I want to know how they manage get those dang cars into smaller malls

I particularly appreciate the comments that give context to Tiger parents – how families would struggle if they did not study hard enough. In America, an "underachiever" would be just fine. Also, I find it strange that he equates a close family to being American, but can't completely disagree. Anyway, pretty relatable!

I'm shocked that those are actual ads! I had never seen them before

Wish this article were longer!

Ah – an absurd non-political article that I feel very comfortable showing my utmost disgust in. It's one thing to criticise the "activewear" industry (and just capitalism in general, criticisms with which I wholeheartedly agree with), but a whole other to make the logical leap that women are choosing a "worse" product over a superior one. When I discovered yoga pants, I started to enjoy exercising for the sole reason that it felt so might lighter than baggy, uncomfortable sweatpants.

The only argument that she kind-of makes that I can see honour in is that women shouldn't be compelled to feel sexy. However, she framed her argument in a way that brings down women who choose to wear yoga pants, rather than encouraging them to try other forms of clothing (Elephant pants? Robes? Underwear? Why sweatpants?). There, the author has created an arbitrary line. Her claim is that women either wear yoga pants because they're fooled by the fashion industry or they're wearing them because societal norms and pressure. There is no other choice that she finds legitimate, as she also only briefly mentions that women can be "fit and liberated:

"Women can, of course, be fit and liberated. We may be able to conquer the world wearing spandex. But wouldn’t it be easier to do so in pants that don’t threaten to show every dimple and roll in every woman over 30?"

^Dear Honor Jones: I think you may be purchasing the wrong size.

Overall, the author's argument that "women shouldn't bring down other women" falls short when her entire article has message as not-so-subtle subtext. If you truly want to encourage women to wear unattractive clothes, make that the thesis.

That was fun to write!

Omg the joke about the geese killed me

This read gave me chills. Great, sobering, and hopeful(?) article.

It's sad how easy it is for people to skip the 2 minutes it would have taken to fact check this tweet for themselves. Also, good for Chris Long!

Wow!

"Once, she told me, she was hanging out with a friend who was texting her boyfriend. “I was trying to talk to her about my family, and what was going on, and she was like, ‘Uh-huh, yeah, whatever.’ So I took her phone out of her hands and I threw it at my wall.”

I couldn’t help laughing. “You play volleyball,” I said. “Do you have a pretty good arm?” “Yep,” she replied."

I know I shouldn't laugh, but I did. I can't even fathom how difficult it will be to manage technology when my generation has kids in a decade or two!

Also, I found it very strange that "less sex"/sex at a later age was lumped in the same category of negative effects of smartphone usage (and it also surprised me). I don't think extension of childhood is necessarily a bad thing, especially as I've mostly heard parents complain about how their children are in such a hurry to grow up

Great look into Tonya Price reminiscing about Tonya Price. The writing style was a bit... extra, though

I'm usually very against gene testing because it infuriates me how we consider genetics and race, something we've essentially constructed somewhat ambiguously, something could be "traced". At what point in history did a Chinese person become completely Chinese?

Aside from my grievances against that, genetics and race do have meaning in the context of this story, and I'm very glad I read it – especially since, as a Chinese person, I too observe Asian biases from the inside. Huge fan of your writing Sung J. Woo :)

"You're damned if you do, damned if you don't."

This article was not shocking, but it was still very depressing to read! Very well-written, too.