The Rise and Fall of Yashar Ali

On Jealousy, Networking, Schadenfreude and Self-Pity

My greatest trouble is jealousy.

-       Sylvia Plath

In early 2010, I gave a talk at a feminist conference at Santa Monica College.  Afterwards, a scruffy young man in a Depeche Mode t-shirt came up, shook my hand, and asked if I had a moment to offer some advice.

His name was Yashar, he said, and he was a political activist and aspiring male feminist wr…