A recent study published in The New York Times revealed a massive disparity in voting access between whites and minorities in the U.S. In minority neighborhoods, voting lines are about twice as long as those in majority-white areas. In addition, minority voters are six times more likely than whites to stand in line for more than an hour to vote. This disparity is no accident. Recently, Republican lawmakers have closed polling places and implemented strict ID laws designed at repressing minority turnout.
To call attention the disparity in election access, The New York Times created a video game called “The Voter Suppression Trail.” It’s a parody of the classic “Oregon Trail” computer game popular in elementary schools in the ‘80s and ‘90s. The object in this new eight-bit online game is to try and cast a vote as one of three characters: a white programmer from California, Latina Nurse from Texas or an African-American salesman from Wisconsin.
Spoiler alert: If you choose the white voter in California, voting is pretty darn easy. Low wait times and easy access to polls have you in an out of a voting booth in a jiffy. But if you choose to play as one of the two minority voters you have to endure long lines, a poorly-trained election staff, and angry calls from the boss urging you to get out of line. Can you fight your way to the voting booth or will your vote die a premature death?
Play “The Voter Suppression Trail”
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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.