Repping other people's words

You know when you're fighting with someone, and you get a bit het-up and your words get a bit garbled and you come away from it thinking "dammit, if I'd had more of a grip on myself that would have gone so much better and I might have got my point across!"?

Yes, google, yes I did.

So many times, when I engage with someone about a particular topic, I wish I could get them to read some of the stuff I have, which explains precisely my point in a far better, wittier and more accessible way than I ever could. Recently in particular, the Internet has been AFIRE with brilliant opinion pieces and social commentaries, and so, this is where my contribution to this blog post ends (just about). Below are some brilliant articles I've read recently, that I'd love to share. Facebook has become something of a circle-jerk of interesting articles lately, which I can't help but love, so here's my attempt to collect a few together in one place rather than spamming everyone.

1. HULK EXPLAIN, DISSECT AND CRITIQUE RAPE CULTURE IN SURPRISINGLY NUANCED YET PASSIONATE MANNER. An essay, written entirely in capslock by Film Critic Hulk, which is one of the best, most thoughtful, intense and accessible analyses of rape culture I have ever, ever read. It's long, but it's worth it. (Huge trigger warnings for rape and sexual assault - proceed with caution.)

2. Crying shame: Things you should know if you're a cryer (or you have one in your life), by Chichi Kix. This essay is me. I am this essay. For someone who has always felt ashamed that crying is my default reaction to basically all emotional stimuli (joy, sadness, anger, fear, hunger, anything), this was enormously reassuring. Please read it if you'd like to understand me, and people like me, better.

3. 12 mistakes that almost everyone who writes about grammar mistakes, makes by Arrant Pedantry. I have OPINIONS about linguistic prejudice anyway, but this piece sums up perfectly the frustrating, patronising trend of articles about spelling and grammar 'mistakes'. Oh, you know how to use apostrophes in a standard manner? Congratulations, you're a better human than everyone else.

4. Aamer Rahman on "reverse racism" - not an article, a YouTube video, but more than worth your time. Adeptly and amusingly explains why racism against white people isn't a real thing.

5. How to write about the North, by Stuart Maconie. It's grim up North, you know?

6. What if Spotify recommended hot guys instead of music? Ah, BuzzFeed, you have permeated basically every aspect of online life with your gif-heavy lists and nostalgia hits, but I can't fault you for this one. Particular kudos for the inclusion of Tom Welling (damn, Smallville) and Tom Mison.

Go forth and enjoy, readers! (All four of you.)