@211, Actually I am pretty sure this did come from my ex because it came from this computer. I am not the type to trap anyone, and being the single mother of two was not exactly a dream come true. Raising my first child completely on my own and I never asked for anything from anybody. If MRA, hadn't convinced me that he was at least respectable enough to support his end of the deal, I would have explored other options. He has narcissistic personality disorder, and it is evident in every aspect of his letter. from stating that I hadn't had other relationships (trust issues), implying I must be so horrible I deserved it, to making me cry- implying that he has a lot of power, and also that crying somehow shows that I deserved it. No one has any idea the embarrassing, horrible things he has done to me ,or that I tried my hardest to treat him with respect and compassion. He basically thought that writing this would give him the validation he feels he needs ( I don't think if you want to leave someone that you even need a reason, just do it.) to ditch out on his responsibilities and go fuck around. I figured as much would happen, and didn't want that kind of lifestyle but was still willing to be friends. I am just tired of getting shit on by this guy, you know? Especially when Dan's guess was exactly correct. No, he wasn't ugly and at one point I considered him to be the most handsome man alive. But that's when I was wearing love goggles. I was really pretty though, and I think it's OK to stick up for myself, and I would love to not have to deal with his shit anymore. He just left out anything that would make him seem less... in the right, I guess? But like I said, When you want to go, just go. You don't need a reason.

Just thought I'd mention that "shitting eggs" is used in Australian slang in no way associated with ovulation. It means to be freaked out/panicking/stressed such as in "When I saw that black-snake heading for the kids, I started shitting eggs."

It's pretty acceptable outside of formal situations.

I am a firm believer in this: If you don't want a girl to act like a crazy bitch, don't treat her like one. It's remarkable how well people handle the truth when you grant them the due respect that accompanies honesty. People say "The truth hurts". I personally believe lies hurt a lot more. The truth hurts when you have been lying to yourself, and when someone has been lying to you. I think that accepting truth can be hard enough without the added humiliation of also being deemed worthless enough to be deceived. When you lie to someone, you are assuming that they are not smart enough to figure out the truth. So when you find out you have been lied to it is often a double whammy. Who cares if MRA is People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive? He's still an emotionally retarded asshole. Beauty really is in they eye of the beholder. Ever met someone you thought was gorgeous and then after getting to know them, you find them almost repulsive? I think MRA owes that girl that girl a real explanation, explaining just how superficial he is. She'll feel respected and most likely take the whole thing a lot better.

I really only would have accepted "laying eggs"......as that is a common reference to females in most species, most notably hens. If all your gayness will allow for is to equilibrate female humans to hens, I can allow that, Dan. But shitting eggs is unacceptably offensive. You should publish a retraction.

Hunter, you probably study your own ejaculate. And yes, you did ask a question: "How dare I?"

I'll get that one for you: you're a self-congratulatory, defensive prick who can't decide if he's Frasier Crane or Sam Malone, still patting your own back months later for getting yuks out of your "working-class" bar "friends." I bet they can't wait til you go home.

That poor bartender, too. Tips ≠ respect.

@240 - most likely you are correct.

And for a lot of women, it's easy to tell when you ovulate - feels like someone is sticking you in the ovary with a pin for about 24 hours, sharp pulsing pain. Not terrible, but unmistakable. I get horny a bit before that, a few days usually - I wonder why the sudden spike, and then, ah, well, that's why. If I'm in a relationship or merely around men of interest, I won't be able to discern the spike as easily, but if I am separated from other humans for long periods of time (months, at least), it's a pretty significant and obvious leap in sex drive. It gets cloudy when you have other stimuli in the picture, but if it's just you and your hormones, pretty simple. Women really do have a hormonal cycle, and it does make a difference in our sex drive, not all that shocking considering it involves things like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.

EricaP - can't you just do salivary hormonal tests to pinpoint ovulation? A lot less debatable than tracking cycles, and easier. Then you have people take an online quiz with facial images or whatever you are testing. You can have them come in to have it done, or have them do it online, which would encourage compliance by lowering the amount of work required. College students appreciate easy money, which this would be. They'd probably even do it for a cookie if you wanted to make them come in. You wouldn't need to use the same people over and over again, just have them come in for a baseline in order to qualify and anytime they feel like dropping by they can do the test for a snack. You get enough of this done, you've got a decent data set. You could run it cheaply for years.

I'm a woman and I found "shitting eggs" to be offensive. It felt like an aggressive hateful term, rather than funny. I also think it's unfair to assume that if a person hasn't lost their virginity by the time they are 23, they must not be hot. Having said all that, this is the first time in all the years I've read Dan's column that I found something to be truly offended by.

'Shitting eggs' is hate speech :(