What’s the best way to control overthinking?

It likely depends on what the overthinking is trying to protect you from. Is it anxiety? Perfectionism? An attempt to control unruly situations? Try and address the underlying thing. And also, be kind to yourself right now in Covid times. Everyone is at least a little more wound up than usual.

Hello! Didn’t know you went online, but anyways, I have a question, acctually my cousin has, but he isn’t in BC, so I am writing it.

This is what he is asking (I didn’t write it): “Does stimulating my anus gently when I “play with myself” harm me and is it bad to do it?”

Because of the many nerve endings in the anal area, many people find pleasure in anal stimulation. Gentle stimulation of the anus while masturbating will not harm you physically. More care is needed if inserting something into your anus- fingernails should not be sharp, and objects should never be inserted completely in. Whether or not anal stimulation is “bad” depends on your opinions on sex and what you decide is good or bad for you.

Do you think the recent increase in COVID cases on campus will lead to students being required to self-quarantine for 2 weeks like Michigan State?

You know what I find ironic? One thing BC showed me is how easily someone can be treated as insane, vulnerable, or as a criminal, and locked up or deprived their self-autonomy. Then, the pandemic makes this a collective experience where everyone can be locked up and deprive self-autonomy so easily. I’m not against the quarantine policy, if anything, I’m more okay with being taken away freedom or self-autonomy for the greater common good than being told that others “believe it to be my best interests/for my safety” and make the judgment for me. And perhaps the pandemic will make the society think more about the individuals who are locked up, treated inhumanely, and suffer from inequity, now that it’s supposed to be a collective experience no one can turn away from.

Lots of campuses have responded to outbreaks by going all online for the semester, or for a while. The Cal State system has announced they’ll be primarily virtual through the spring also. My helpers are well-informed but don’t really know more than you do about what BC will or won’t do. It would be a wonderful thing if this terrible year increased the amount of empathy we have for others.

Hi Wall! You know how Holly Cross has a webpage ab their CARETEAM so students at least know who know about their situations/ crises/ hospitalizations?

Don’t you think it would alleviate lots of students’ stress and concern about privacy if BC somehow create a intro page for their BET team people as well. https://www.holycross.edu/campus-life/student-care-team/care-team-members. I guess I can communicate this myself when I get a chance, but I like how you wall provide answers and usually get a more concrete response from whoever you reach out to!

Thanks, I’ll send this idea along to the Office of Student Support and Outreach. If they respond, I’ll post an update.

Update 9/10: “Student Outreach and Support Services is grateful for your feedback, they are in the process of updating their websites and communication in general and will take your feedback into consideration.”

Hi wall! Do I get an award for having asked you more than 100+ questions since my freshman year?

Glad to know that I’m still here, healthy & alive, and am not kicked out by the institution, and am thriving. 🙂 Thx to the amazing ppl who answer questions and support students.

It hadn’t occurred to me to give out awards, but it’s nice to hear from you again and I’m glad you’re doing well. At least one of my helpers has said this is their favorite part of the job, so thanks very much for sharing your warm wishes.

Desperately Seeking a Man

Hey Wall, how are doing? I can’t believe that we are now in September. It is so crazy and yet sad at the same time. Any who, I wanted to let you know that I have met a new man. And I like the way our relationship is going. We are building our friendship first. I am excited to see where this goes. I will keep you updated. Take care. ?

Yay! I’m so glad for you, and I hope things go better and better for you. I’m fine, thank you, and happy to see some students. (I’m working remotely right now, but they have a webcam I can look in on occasionally). Definitely keep me posted!

Hey wall! Do you know if the police record from BCPD stays on student’s record?

If you have encounter with them and got sent to student conducts, would that affect your public record or FBI check at all?

IDK. Here’s where you can find out: https://www.mass.gov/criminal-record-check-services. For a definitive answer to your second question(s) I would check with a criminal lawyer. Tip: don’t ask a nonprofessional for legal or medical advice.

But the professionals always lie (eg police, psychiatrists, etc) and hurt you. They’re the ones with power to document things from their perspectives and minimize the harm they do to you, while claiming the person to be lying and a lack of insight …… so they seem to be less trustworthy than the Answer Wall…

I haven’t been sure how to respond to this, because I do have a good deal of trust left in professionals, particularly library ones. But your experience is your experience and I honor that. I suspect you might get different results from a professional you were paying, like the lawyer I mentioned.

Then where is the sense of humanity left then? If the professionals were to only work for individuals who pay them and/or worry about losing the stakeholders who pay them more, wouldn’t that result in a misuse of power and a neglect of the powerless minors and the marginalized populations?

Yes. It was a more cynical response than I usually give, but the power dynamic you’re describing, where people in institutions often serve their own needs or the organization’s rather than those they are meant to serve, is sadly common. In a just world you wouldn’t need an advocate to deal with healers or protectors. In ours you sometimes do.

When will Fr. Leahy SJ finish his term as president?

We all are tired of him. We need a chance at BC!!! Do we need to write to the pope, to Boston Cardinal, to President Trump, to the general of the Jesuits in Rome??? Or do we have to wait until Jesus call him to the light of his face? I know wall you aren’t tired of him, for all you care is money and endowments and building… you will never understand; you’re not a human, but don’t you get we need a change?

Fr. Leahy will end his presidency when he retires or the Board of Trustees decides he should no longer be President of BC. Also, having a different President does not necessarily mean you will like the changes that they make. Rather than wishing for a new President, you might let Fr. Leahy know the changes you would like to see. Finally, I care much more about you and the people at BC than I do about money and endowments (although as a wall I do care a great deal about buildings).