A video from Yale University is catching fire on the internet today for showing a heated debate between Yale Silliman College Master Nicholas Christakis and several students. Over Halloween weekend, his wife Erika Christakis, an Associate Master at Silliman College, emailed students critiquing people’s over-sensitivity to cultural appropriation. Read the original email here.
In response to this email, students rallied against the perceived lack of support on the faculty’s part in supporting minorities on campus. Watch the students’ video first:
Nicholas Christakis responds by vehemently supporting his wife’s right to freedom of speech, noting that “I stand behind free speech, especially when it’s offensive. Even though I don’t agree with the content of the speech, […] I defend the right of people to speak their minds. So who gets to decide what’s offensive?”
His response:
The video harkens back to fundamental sentiments first fought for in Berkeley’s Free Speech Movement, but its context is vastly different considering the series of events on the Yale campus over the past week. According to a Business Insiderarticle outlining the timeline of events, the tension began with alleged racism from members of the fraternity SAE, who were accused of turning away students on Halloween based on race and ethnicity.
Yale sophomore Neema Githere first sparked the dialogue with this Facebook post:
Dean Jonathan Holloway, notably the first African American dean of Yale College, held an emotional three-hour open forum during which students expressed distress at the administration’s perceived failure to support minorities on campus. An article from Yale News notes that Holloway ended the event by “promising to more fully embrace his responsibilities as a prominent black administrator and professor of African American Studies.”
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Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
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.