Ask Rachel

Dear Rachel,

Why do I feel like everyone I know is asking for money? Every time I go on the social media that shall not be named, someone is raising money for a cat’s Lasik surgery or a charity I’ve never heard of or a revolutionary new art project. It’s like life itself is becoming a public radio pledge drive, and all I want to do is listen to the music. What happened to the days when making a living was a respectable career path?

– Just Say No

Dear Ebenezer,

Let me guess. When you pass a person on the street asking for money, you don’t just ignore them or cross to the other side of the street, like most people do. No, I bet you lie to them and say you don’t have any money on you. News flash: no one enjoys asking for money. But the people who do so swallow their pride to support a cause they truly believe in. It’s charity and art and survival, man. Don’t begrudge us those things.

– I’ll match your pledge, Rachel

Dear Rachel,

Kavanaugh? Ugh.

– America

Dear F*&k Yeah,

Kavanaugh. Ugh. But seriously, vote. Please vote. I don’t even care how you vote. (OK, I care. But still.) Vote.

– Vote vote vote, Rachel

Dear Rachel,

I’ve got this boss who loves to over-communicate. I completely understand the philosophy behind this approach. I’d rather touch base on things unnecessarily than find out too late that we didn’t talk enough. But seriously, there’s got to be a point that’s beyond unnecessary. I basically can’t go take a leak without him wanting to hold a five-minute informal chat about how everything went in there. He even follows every request with “Just over-communicating!” which makes the whole ordeal even more annoying. How can I make myself clear to him without, myself, over-over-communicating?

– Clam It

Dear Sounding Board,

This feels like one of those problems where the only thing worse is not having the problem at all. (I mean, we’d all rather have a receptive listener on the Supreme Court, amirite?) If you tell your boss to stop over-over-over-communicating, he’ll probably just shut up and give you that worse problem of stony silence. Maybe you could at least benefit from his managerial style. Set up a Patreon where people can give you a dollar every time your boss says “Just over-communicating!” It’s like a swear jar for aspiring executives.

– I’m listening, Rachel