It has been a really long day, followed by a dinner out with multiple margaritas, so I am ready post my first LBT Rants and Raves post.

I won't follow the herd anymore. Ever. I stopped doing that years ago when I realized that I made every decision based upon how I could make the most people happy (or prevent conflict). That's simply not healthy. And it takes all the fun out of life.

I hate absolutes. Absolutely hate them. I can't stand to lump a group of people together for any reason. All people at LBT are not sweet and perfect. All people at OH are not cheerleaders and ***** supporters. All Muslims are not extreme radicals. Not all of us Texas women are Southern Belles (ok so that one is debatable). All women are not subservient (ok I know you ladies agree with that one). We are all, quite simply, just people.

I don't want to be told I have to do something because it is the Christian thing to do. Are you my priest? My rabbi? My high priestess? Where do people get off on judging other people????? I don't freakin' get it. Each of us have own spirituality or lack of it. Each of us have our own moral core - although some are harder to identify than others. Don't attack me because I don't agree with you - hire a yes-man for that job - it doesn't pay enough for me to take it. And don't push your personal belief system off on me.

I like most people. Really I do. And I get along with most people. Some people just get to me, and I don't have to like them. There is no rule about that. There is only one person on my bad list at the moment, and if I ever get a personal apology that person will come off the list. You and I don't have to like the same people or have the same ideas to be friends. I prefer friends who are different from me. If I wanted everyone to be like me - well then I would become a hermit(ess) and just have ME for companionship.

I love our differences. I love the passion in which so many of us debate what we believe in. I just hate the herd mentality that says we all have to believe the same thing, or like the same people, or hate the same people....because ya know what? We don't. We are different. Our differences make us unique and teach us more about life than any book will.

And one more thing. I rarely drink and I really love Margaritas! :whoo:

At least she apologized to you. I never got an apology from her. And if you couldn't tell by that statement, yes, I do hold grudges. I may not mention my grudge to someone's face, but I never forget what they did.

I always think of the past as a tether holding me back - so I face forward as much as possible.

And if you haven't already figured it out, I see the good in most everybody and it usually far outweighs the annoying.

I always think of the past as a tether holding me back - so I face forward as much as possible.

And if you haven't already figured it out, I see the good in most everybody and it usually far outweighs the annoying.

Oh, I do, too. I just don't see any good in Sandy, pretty sure there isn't any to find, either.

I always think of the past as a tether holding me back - so I face forward as much as possible.

And if you haven't already figured it out, I see the good in most everybody and it usually far outweighs the annoying.

And to be honest, I don't let it hold me back. I just remember it. I mean, you wouldn't forget that a particular dog bit you, would you? I mean, you might still love the dog and pet it every day, but you don't look at it the same way anymore. You don't give it the chance to bite you again.

And honestly, Chelle, your posts on OH not only hurt at the time, they offended. Again, I know you didn't mean them to. But it felt like none of the people looking on were taking it seriously. Here we were, getting attacked personally by people from every direction, and someone's over there getting a laugh out of it. Can you understand how that felt?

Hey, you asked why I lumped you in with her friends, and that was why. I'm all for sarcasm, but it is very easily misunderstood in tense situations. Honestly, everyone at that point was so tense, especially the people getting attacked, that your funny pictures and sarcasm felt like more of an attack, because they felt aimed at them, not the people doing the attacking. I'm sure you meant well and didn't mean it the way it felt, but it wasn't the best time for it.

Good thing I have a thick skin. And Lauren, my inbox always spiked with PM's after I did that, from people thanking me for throwing a roadblock in the way of the runaway drama train.

If I want fear and seriousness in my life, I think of my young nephew in Iraq, and how scared I am every day that he is over there. He is my 3rd nephew to serve in Iraq, and two have been injured. I love this boy.

chelle- I get the "wanting to be you" part and all that, but why do OH people jump all over people who go up against Sandy? I am not saying that you join in when they gang up but I am not saying that you do not ( I honestly don't remember). THAT is the part that I do not understand. Not getting involved at all is understandable, but getting involved on BEHALF of the liar is what I cannot understand.....

MrsP...

This is a good point.

Chelle, can you offer any insight here?

MrsP...

This is a good point.

Chelle, can you offer any insight here?

Not really....

And to be honest, I don't let it hold me back. I just remember it. I mean, you wouldn't forget that a particular dog bit you, would you? I mean, you might still love the dog and pet it every day, but you don't look at it the same way anymore. You don't give it the chance to bite you again.

I have a big scar on my arm from the last dog bite I received at the tender age of ten. I didn't have to worry about it biting me again because they cut his head off.

And honestly, Chelle, your posts on OH not only hurt at the time, they offended. Again, I know you didn't mean them to. But it felt like none of the people looking on were taking it seriously. Here we were, getting attacked personally by people from every direction, and someone's over there getting a laugh out of it. Can you understand how that felt?

Lauren, I completely understand how that could have felt. I also know that before I went through 2 years of therapy after my father died, that I might have reacted the same way. It was something I had to get over. He was the one and only person to love me unconditionally, ever. When I lost him I lost part of myself. It took a long time for me to be strong enough to be me. And sometimes I get hurt too. But I have to let it go.

Not really....

That is unfortunate....

Lauren, I completely understand how that could have felt. I also know that before I went through 2 years of therapy after my father died, that I might have reacted the same way. It was something I had to get over. He was the one and only person to love me unconditionally, ever. When I lost him I lost part of myself. It took a long time for me to be strong enough to be me. And sometimes I get hurt too. But I have to let it go.

Yes, but I'm sure you wouldn't give a person the opportunity to hurt you again, if they hurt you once. There's only so much trust and leeway that I'm willing to give people online. I figure, if they act a certain way towards me at one time, they are very likely to do it again. I generally don't give them a second chance to do that. Sure, I'll make nice, unless they are someone I completely detest (like Sandy), but they generally aren't close friends of mine, anyway, so there isn't any harm done if I don't trust them as far as I can throw them.

Wow, Chelle! You are really trying to analyze Lauren's psyche....but cannot offer any insight into the behavior of "good friend's" . The friendships made through years of OH must not offer much insight but you sure are good with strangers!

Wow, Chelle! You are really trying to analyze Lauren's psyche....but cannot offer any insight into the behavior of "good friend's" . The friendships made through years of OH must not offer much insight but you sure are good with strangers!

Yep, that's what I thought, too.

:speechles Sorry. Maybe I spoke out of turn.

:speechles Sorry. Maybe I spoke out of turn.

Hey, there is no "out of turn" on a message board, just like there is no "private conversation" on a thread (had to break that to someone yesterday, so sad). :huytsao Speak away, we're listening! :biggrin1: