It was serious. He was quite serious. He had expressed to me, in private in the past, how much he hated the thought of having children. He really did think this woman was a "hero".

I'm not sure how any of it would relate to satire.

I think he glossed over some of the more odious aspects of the story, e.g. the "shopping" part, and that's why I stepped in and pointed that out.

I didn't call any of his friends selfish. I called the parent who wrote the article selfish, which she is and was.

Let's be clear: there was no actual debate here. He, along with his friends, just hated my tone and approach, because I wasn't being all fake, PC, mealy-mouthed. That's how they talk. I don't talk like that. Any time you disagree, you have to preface it all with a bunch of mush about how you still "respect" everyone's view points, in an effort to ensure no one gets butthurt.

So they didn't even bother arguing my points, they just hated that I disagreed and presented myself in a way that did not make them feel all safe and comfortable.

They're snowflakes.

I DO agree with you that there were many ways to handle this.

Part of the reason I just jumped in and popped off my opinion is because I'd watched his Facebook page for a few years, and this was a pattern -- he posts some opinion, and 20 of these fake friends jump in and engage in all of this over-the-top praise and butt-kissing (there's a secondary reason for all this I won't get into, having to do with promotion of a product of his and the fact they were all in the same industry -- complicated, but explains why they all engaged in so much butt-kissing, because they need each other for different things within their industry. Of course, this goes unstated, but the friendliness is quite fake. I've actually seen the same phenomena in my OWN line of work, but I do not engage in it. Quid pro quo/scratch my back, I scratch yours sort of stuff, all dressed up with this, "Oh I really care about you and you're my best buddy!" crap).

So I'd just had it. I was curious to see if he could even handle anyone disagreeing, and disagreeing in a manner that did not go along with his penchant for P.C. decorum.

Keep in mind, this guy is a big-mouth who talked for years about how he loved "debate" and loved to be "challenged". lol...yeah, right.

"He private messaged you about the situation, indicating his mannerism is not one to publicise indifferences of opinion. You could have had an indifference, but without the insults and name calling."

In fairness to me, I didn't call anyone names. My opinion was certainly forceful, and to Snowflakes, that feels like they are being assaulted.

"But again - I go back to my original point - I don't think it was a serious article and I think it's one that took the mickey out of having kids."

No, it's a very serious article, still available online. I just read it the other day.

I do realize his "larger" point was that raising children isn't for everyone (a valid point) -- what irked me was the "hero" part, along with the butt-kissing from his fake friends -- not a single one who used ANY critical thinking or analysed the article.

And no, I do not think we need parents to "come forward" -- while their children are alive -- and say they wished they never had them.

You are correct. At one point he literally said, "It doesn't matter what happened or who she is, if I say not do date that person, you will not date that person if you are a good friend."

Nope, sorry, that's way over the top controlling and irrational behavior. Which I told him.

But anyway, it just feels like my friends never grew up, and I did.

And I'm disappointed in them.

That's the long and short of it. I just wish they'd grow up and grow a pair, and get over all this childish butthurt.