Looking for some advice as to how to handle an impending death in the family I married into and with whom I am very close. While I come from a family that talks about
everything, my husband comes from a family that talks about most things, but not at all about health issues and death. I would like to be able to support them in the days and weeks ahead but I have no idea how to navigate within their framework.
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posted by mireille
on Mar 3, 2012 -
6 answers
If an alien located on a planet 100 light years from here was to switch on a big, multi-frequency radio receiver, and record all the noises coming from outer space for the
next hundred years, on all frequencies, how many soap operas, advertisements and new broadcasts would they pick up from Earth? Would a mass-market radio, similar to our Earthly equivalents, pick up anything? Over time, as the number of Earth transmissions increases exponentially, would the alien pick up a cacophony or a damp fizzle?
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posted by 0bvious
on Feb 23, 2012 -
10 answers
Can you keep this old house from falling down -- or help me stop pointlessly worrying about nothing -- by helping me ask my licensed structural engineer this question the right way? (Long.)
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posted by slidell
on Feb 22, 2012 -
11 answers
BF and I (straight mid-twenties lady) have a happy, loving relationship (2 years+). But, this is my first long-term relationship and I have an anxiety disorder. I want to "check in" with him and make sure we're still on the same page about us and the future, but this is my pattern and it has been unhealthy for me. To the healthy couples - do you "check in" with your partner? Should I? Snowflake details inside.
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posted by Paper rabies
on Feb 17, 2012 -
16 answers
Breakup customs-filter. I did my boyfriend wrong, by becoming an exhausted-complaining mess, on a recent depressive lapse I had, partially due to a physical condition. He left me, scared and confused, though we were madly in love, after 3 months of this. I wish to part in peace.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 16, 2012 -
52 answers
My SO would like advice on how he can overcome some of the frustration and sadness he feels about the LDR he and I are in when he misses me.
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posted by iLoveTheRain
on Feb 7, 2012 -
13 answers
If my boyfriend says he's coming home late by txt, and I want to know more basic information, like who he's hanging out with, maybe also where, how can I communicate my need to know (for my own peace of mind) without coming off as insecure or controlling?
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posted by Sa Dec
on Jan 27, 2012 -
86 answers
Tips on communicating with a partner who has medical issues that cause confusion but not quite dementia (and perhaps spotting it earlier)
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posted by MCMikeNamara
on Jan 26, 2012 -
8 answers
How do I become comfortable with how my father chooses to be involved in my life (minimally, not of his own initiative) as an adult? What are the limits between healthy and compassionate effort on my part and a realistic acknowledgment of both of our limitations?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 24, 2012 -
8 answers
Is it going to be worth it to confront this friend/classmate about her competitive nature and its impact on our friendship, or should I just give up?
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posted by These Birds of a Feather
on Jan 23, 2012 -
21 answers
I recently reestablished contact with an ex-girlfriend that I haven't spoken to for many years. a few polite emails went back and forth, but i was hoping for so much more...
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posted by camdan
on Jan 21, 2012 -
32 answers
How (specifically) do people in successful relationships let an intimate partner know when he is being insensitive and hurtful?
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posted by sockratties
on Jan 20, 2012 -
37 answers
New relationship - how and when do I bring up the "serious" relationship conversations?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 12, 2012 -
16 answers
Funny Cross-Cultural / Difference Skits? How to teach people about leveraging difference.
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posted by emkelley
on Jan 11, 2012 -
1 answer
How do you connect with people? How do you reach out to someone you're interested in getting to know better to let them know you're interested in them as a person (with or without romantic potential).
I suffer from a bit of social anxiety and shyness so I tend to feel extremely awkward in approaching opportunities for one-on-one interaction.
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posted by myShanon
on Jan 9, 2012 -
19 answers
In a Business setting, how do you measure intangibles such as fostering communication with junior members of the organization? For example VP holding open door meetings every month? In the end I need a metric (A number)? The problem here is that its very hard to articulate value of such things in a metrics crazy world/companies? And I need a metric!
posted by r2d2
on Jan 6, 2012 -
7 answers
I'm curious about military communication methods from before radio - how armies coordinated maneuvers and formations without it. I'm also curious which preradio communications methods would most be of use to modern protesters in urban settings should they be unable to use modern wireless devices.
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posted by EatTheWeak
on Jan 4, 2012 -
26 answers
How do my girlfriend and I deal with differing styles of communication? I'm a wait to talk it out person, and she's a talk it out now person.
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posted by Autumn
on Jan 4, 2012 -
12 answers
In July, I entered my only FWB relationship. I started catching feelings, and he decided he couldn't reciprocate. He came back into my life on New Year's Eve wanting more. HOWEVER, I have found out some things that have inspired my current run for the hills (irrelevant as it may be, the nitty-gritty is inside). How do I tell him that I know the truth? Or, should I just go cold turkey on communication?
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posted by acertainseason
on Jan 4, 2012 -
26 answers
Sticks and stones can break my bones but unread emails make me want to hide in a closet. Please help me get over my avoidance of communication. Bonus: failed therapy attempt; social outcast complications.
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posted by griselda
on Dec 2, 2011 -
26 answers
How can I take a more active role in my aging parents lives? More details and thoughts on finance and marital strife, and lack of open communication inside.
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posted by filthy light thief
on Nov 29, 2011 -
7 answers
Book filter - I am looking for books and other resources that teach interpersonal communication skills.
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posted by 7life
on Nov 28, 2011 -
5 answers
How can I work on a more "natural" delivery (emphasis, pitch, etc.) when reading books aloud?
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posted by yersinia
on Nov 16, 2011 -
9 answers
Reasonable Interaction Wishes:
Okay out there, help me either adjust my expectations or hold out for communication/relational interaction I'm wanting. Am I expecting too much?
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posted by sleeping beauty
on Nov 9, 2011 -
26 answers
How do you cope and work effectively in an office culture where poor communication is rife? I'm so frustrated.
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posted by Ziggy500
on Nov 8, 2011 -
16 answers
My new boyfriend has become incredibly paranoid about my literary interests. How can I put him at ease?
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posted by xbeautychicx
on Nov 2, 2011 -
80 answers
What are some questions I can ask new dating partners to get to know them beyond a superficial level?
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posted by oceanview
on Oct 25, 2011 -
24 answers
I remember hearing an anecdote about the number of bugs a complex piece of software has (Windows Vista in this case?) can be correlated with the number of steps of communication between developers working on the project.
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posted by parallax7d
on Oct 25, 2011 -
7 answers
Help me analyze this: why am I strongly prefer email than phone call to communicate with my friends. Am I selfish, hypocritical?
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posted by akomom
on Oct 23, 2011 -
25 answers
Hacking around sound cancellation on Google+ and Skype: Two tier question here about a related problem. Firstly, a way to sidetrack the software audio limits of a Google+ Hangout. Secondly, a way to stop Skype from cancelling out audio from one half of a conversation.
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posted by 0bvious
on Oct 21, 2011 -
2 answers
Yesterday I was called into what turned out to be a humiliating tag-team meeting where my supervisor and the department director took turns berating me for my job performance over the past year. Short on specifics and long on phrases like "you don't display ownership of your projects," and "you're always late," etc. All this is odd because just a couple months ago I got an un-scheduled mid-year raise and 'ata-boy from the director. Yes, one of the same who was pounding on me yesterday.
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posted by markhu
on Oct 5, 2011 -
22 answers
Follow up to this question: What are productive ways to be mad or frustrated with an SO? I want to honor my feelings and work through them properly, but I also really want to keep moving forward with my guy, too.
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posted by iLoveTheRain
on Oct 4, 2011 -
5 answers
I suck at having productive conversations about "heavy" stuff with my significant others, and as such, my current-SO and I are on a break because neither of us know how to work with each other when we're having problems. I want to be better. How?
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posted by iLoveTheRain
on Sep 25, 2011 -
12 answers
