Death by Treacle: Sentiment surfaces fast and runs hot in public life, dumbing it down and crippling intimacy in private life.

In this article the author examines the role of sentimentality in American public life and culture. She comments on the evolution of charity and awareness efforts such as 5 kilometer (5K) memorial races and colored ribbons, explores the purposes of the use of victim impact statements within the court system, and argues that online social networks such as Facebook contribute to the lack of interpersonal intimacy in individuals' private lives.