I Don't Date Men Who Yell at Alexa

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. When Jeremy barked orders at his personal assistant, she didn't flinch, but I did. Something about the sound of his sharp, commanding tone--directed not at me, but still, at a woman--repulsed me. In the few weeks we had been dating, he had never spoken to me this way. But could he? Hearing Jeremy make ungrateful demands didn't make him seem powerful or important. He sounded entitled and difficult, like someone who enjoyed commanding for the sake of commanding.