I had similar reactions when I read the first post on this thread. It seems it's taken off in a vastly different direction from how I first interpreted it. I can also see how it can be interpreted in different ways, depending on who you perceive the target population is.

What I find terribly disappointing, however, is the tone that this thread has at times taken, and some of the posts in other threads that are loosely related to this one, at least according to some. Frankly, I would expect more respect, empathy, and tolerance for differences in values, individual strengths and weaknesses, different mental illnesses and pathology and other personal characteristics from posters on support forums. I'm saddened and stunned by what I've read recently.

Wants2fly, I think you are a very good writer. Your post certainly reflects that. And apparently it's evoked quite a response from others, which I'm sure is a writer's dream. Incidentally, I had a hard time at first how you so quickly made the leap in your reply to emmy from her use of the word "cruel" to your examples of "slave holders" and "abusers". Then I remembered the paradoxical therapy technique called "extending" and and it's counterpart in maladaptive communication, and it made much more sense to me. Have you perhaps experienced this before?

Take care everyone.

gg