Amelia Christnot is an Oglala Lakota, Kanien'kehá:ka Haudenosaunee and Métis Navy brat who settled in the wilds of Northern Maine. A member of the Indigenous Journalists Association, she considers herself another proud Maineiac.
Being friendly with neighbors can make life easier—or harder. If the neighbors are respectful of each other’s space, things will remain peaceful. But if one party isn’t… A new mom turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit for feedback about an overbearing neighbor. GreenMangoRhetoric asked: “AITA? Neighbour tried to invite herself into my […] More
Should pets be allowed on furniture? Some people are a hard yes, some a hard no, while some say it depends on how nice the furniture is. Pets in the bed is another bone of contention for people, especially in relationships. A woman—for whom English isn’t their first language—turned to the “Am I The A**Hole” […] More
The words consent and content have only one letter difference between them, but since the advent of social media, they’ve been linked in other ways. Most states have one or two party consent laws when it comes to being recorded—either audio or video. The laws were primarily enacted to block things like wiretapping and recording […] More
Who does an engagement ring belong to? As a gift, one would assume it belongs to the recipient. But many states in the U.S. have added laws to address claims on engagement rings. Factors such as did the couple marry, why or why not, and the ring’s provenance—is the ring a family heirloom?—are all considered. […] More
People keep a wide variety of things as keepsakes, souvenirs, and mementos. While it may have no meaning for anyone else, it’s precious to the person keeping it. Respecting what people consider precious shouldn’t be a difficult ask, but some people seem incapable of it. A wife turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) […] More
Carpooling is a part of the school and workplace experience for many people. Usually it’s relatively smooth going if people’s schedules are consistent. If the schedule is set and one passenger needs a separate schedule for a single day, that person is generally responsible for making their own arrangements. A carpooler turned to the “Am […] More
Alarm clocks seem to be a common point of contention for people who share living spaces. Usually, the issue revolves around the person who needs to wake up not waking, while people who want to sleep are awoken. A sibling turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit for feedback after turning off their […] More
In business communication, there is a general expectation of clarity. However, rules for written versus verbal and in-house versus with clients or the public often vary greatly. For example, profanity is generally forbidden in written and verbal communication outside the office, but might occur often during in-house verbal communication. So, is it appropriate to correct […] More
Sometimes when you buy a home, you find some of the previous owners possessions tucked away somewhere, possibly forgotten or misplaced. If they’re personal items, like photos, most home buyers will try to return them. But what if the person says they don’t want them? Is there any obligation to store other people’s stuff? A […] More
Getting ourselves out of bed is something everyone usually faces at some point in their lives. Some parents start their kids off with alarm clocks as soon as they begin school at age 4 or 5. Some parents wait until their child is in middle or high school. And some parents continue to be their […] More
Roommates often have to make accommodations for each other. House rules covering common areas and household chores are usually developed. But in an emergency, should exceptions be made? A woman in hot water with her roommate turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit for feedback. Altruistic-Loss4549 asked: “AITA for allowing my boyfriend to […] More
There’s a saying about gifts that “it’s the thought that counts.” It’s a way to approach gift giving and receiving that’s less about money, and more about the consideration behind the gift. The saying doesn’t mean that as long as a person produces a gift, no matter how ill-conceived or thoughtless it is, the recipient […] More
