U.S. women’s chess player Nazi Paikidze-Barnes announced last week that she will boycott February’s Women’s World Chess Championship in Iran due to the nation’s compulsory hijab laws, which require women to wear religious head coverings.
The protest has been lauded by some of her peers but criticized by several Iranian female chess grandmasters, including Mitra Hejazipour, who called the boycott detrimental to female sport in the country, which has never before hosted a women’s sporting event of this size.
“These games are important for women in Iran,” Hejazipour told The Guardian. “It’s an opportunity for us to show our strength.”
On Thursday, Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent Iranian human rights lawyer, announced her support for Paikidze-Barnes in a post to her official Facebook page.
“Seriously, which is more important,” Sotoudeh wrote, according to a translation by University of Montreal Ph.D. candidate Vahid Yücesoy, “the idea of (not yielding to) compulsory veil or our country’s progress in the realm of chess?”
Soutoudeh rose to prominence in 2009 for defending imprisoned oppositionist activists, journalists, and politicians. She was arrested in 2010 for “spreading propoganda and conspiring to harm state security” and was originally sentenced to 11 years in prison, before being released early in 2013. While Sotoudeh was in prison, the European Parliament awarded her the €50,000 Sakharov Prize for individuals who make important contributions to the fight for human rights.
As of this writing, a change.org petition created by Paikidze-Barnes calling to “Stop Women’s Oppression at the World Chess Championships by Challenging FIDE’s Decision” has garnered more than 15,000 signatures. Gary Walters, president of the U.S. Chess Federation, also issued a statement this week to FIDE, the World Chess Federation, in support of Paikidze-Barnes.
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.