mandy - i never thought about it that way. my mom was more of a mental and emotional abuser when i was little but her and i have worked past that and we went to family therapy together. so i guess the only ones left would be my father and my other abusers who were all men. (boys actually). i guess that would make sense that maybe im really wanting a man to feel compassion for me because thats who abused me. good thinkin.