Hi Dunnit,

I know what you mean by wanting to shut the world off. I have sort of shut myself down from interacting with people -- especially other females. When I have had female friends, I either notice that they are jealous, competitive or they are looking for some way to stab me in the back at some point.

For example... here recently I had a co-worker who I thought of as a friend report me to the HR department for something I said in confidence to her two years earlier. I ended losing my job over it and so here I am... now unemployed and looking for work.

Am I hurt... am I angry? Hell yeah!!

And I don't want to sound cynical but I think I have come to the point where I am not going to even bother reaching reaching out to people anymore.

Certainly not in the workplace!!

Will I reach out elsewhere?

Perhaps....

But if I do, it will only be superficially. I am not going to go out of my way for people, nor am I going to reveal too much of myself either.

It's just not worth the trouble.

Anyway if you want message me privately, feel free... and I will try to not be so grumpy sounding as I am now. Today has been a rough day.

Peppermint Patty

P.S. It seems like my online friendships are of a better quality than the ones I have in real life. Why is that??