The Nix

by Nathan Hill

“We would prefer less loaded terms. Not ‘attacked.’ Rather, she was exercising her First Amendment rights using symbolically flung gravel.

That’s what the doctors called them—panic attacks—which didn’t seem accurate to Faye. It didn’t feel like she was panicking; it felt more like she was being forcibly and methodically deactivated all over.

It’s a very male way of expressing unconditional love. All of this goes unsaid, naturally.

“If the army wanted us to have emotions, they would have issued us some.”

She’s not aware of having made a decision; it’s more like the decision has been there all along, already made for her.

the world has pretty much given up on the old Enlightenment idea of piecing together the truth based on observed data. Reality is too complicated and scary for that. Instead, it’s way easier to ignore all data that doesn’t fit your preconceptions and believe all data that does. I believe what I believe, and you believe what you believe, and we’ll agree to disagree. It’s liberal tolerance meets dark ages denialism. It’s very hip right now.”