[LMo]

There are a couple of things you're upset about:

1) Men who treat women badly
2) You feel like you can't express yourself without people jumping on you

I've definitely been hurt by men. However, I recognize that the problem is those particular individuals. Also, the older I get, the easier I can recognize hurtful people and can avoid them. I think that the reason you saw people "jump on you" was the way you expressed yourself -- not that your feelings or reasons weren't valid. Nobody likes to be stereotyped. All kinds of stereotypes upset me. It's like saying that fat people are lazy. Or black people are illiterate. Or anyone with a mental health problem should be locked away. You can't tell from reading what I wrote if I really mean it or if I've had some bad experiences and I'm just venting. So it probably upsets people to see those words in writing. That's what I meant about the man-bashing -- I KNOW you don't feel that way about all men! But it wouldn't hurt to choose the words a little more carefully to avoid misinterpretation. And, I wouldn't want the men here, who will be sensitive to reading such things, to feel like we are grouping them into that same category as abusive men. That's why I can't support the blanket statements. Do you see what I mean?

What is your current relationship like? Do you want to talk about any of that?

Love,
LMo