good bye

Ace,

<<Empathy for what? Just another whining post about how disregarded one is? Empathy for how badly one is treated in these forums?

Gimme a break!!!

Its sad, Selador... Its sad that one has to stoop to the level of shouting over the Internet about how "woe" is "me".

I've listened to this crappola just a few too many times to even give it more than a modicum of attention.>>

No, by empathy I mean being able to put yourself in another's shoes. By having some modicum of appreciation for how other people work, even if they are different from you. Even if they might be dysfunctional by your own standards.

By having some respect for what another person has accomplished, and some awareness of what drives them, and to be able to see their behaviour in the context of a volatile and creative personality.

By having some degree of sensitivity, to be aware when another person is suffering.

In short, by being a decent human being.

It is a shame that some posters in this thread have shown IMO that they are not.

Nicely put, Selador

OK, you people have all got me. I confess, I don't get it. Despite staying quiet since just after the start of this thread, reading what people have written, watched the discourse, I still don't understand.

Why are people protecting Catherine when the content of her first post, abusive and accusatory as it was, singling out individuals and blaming them for her actions, really started this? Plus no less she put signs containing the same information in several places in world. That's griefing. Plain and simple. And she lies, selling land to her alt, then getting it back, never once actually cancelling her account at all, or really selling the land on to a third party (although that appears to have backfired on her now). So go on please explain why you're protecting her?

I replied very early on (2nd reply I think) saying 'Oh please Catherine, not again' and I get a 'Screw you' in response (you see, more abuse, which I see Jeska has edited on Catherine's original post, but kindly left in on my quote of her!), yet some of you still wish to look on those who see through the fakery and validly call it as such with disdain.

I simply 100%, absolutely, completely and utterly do not get it. Why protect her when she throws the abuse so wide and far in the first place? If she's unwell then she needs help. I understand that she's going to be alone at Xmas, which isn't nice, but she always backtracks blaming difficult RL mitigating circumstances - the thing is you can't throw this sort of crap around then blame it on something totally seperate all the time. You end up getting responses from those that are tired of having to put up with it all the time. Kind of like the majority of people on this thread.

Understand that what's happened here with Catherine is a carbon copy of the previous times she's done it. But do I feel sorry for her? Sure I do, because it's pretty obvious she cannot take the cut and thrust of debate and has to resort to pulling the sympathy card when she feels it's getting too much. I feel sorry that she feels that's her only way of dealing with it.

I think the reason this Thread has not been closed is for all to learn a lesson and be educated by it. To see that one can only take so much. And know where to draw the line with criticism based on that persons tolerance. Sometimes if you don't agree with someone or something, it is best to bow out and leave well enough alone, to see the hurt that it can cause; to learn "Tact" and get experience in how to communicate in a compassionate manner when acknowledging someones times of stress and how you can help rather than instigate. To learn "Tolerance", to know conviction and it's outcome. To respect ones opinion and convey yours in a repectful manner.

I stole the Christmas Spirit and pinned the blame on the people listed. I'm really ashamed of what I did, but I only did it because I have severe mental depression and therefore am completely blameless. You see, I've spent the last 5 years training my dog to be a contestant on Jeopardy and a few weeks ago he completely froze up at the auditions. All those talking lessons were for nothing as all he could do was whimper and piss on the floor.

I'm not returning Christmas Spirit becaue in hid it somewhere and I don't remember where. I will try to find it before next year but I can't make any promises.

http://www.prozac.com/

Actually the reason this thread has not died is LL knows the minute they lock 'this' thread another one of its nature will open up again and continue.

It is all so so so

anyway see everyone here in 3 months same bat time same bat channel.

D'

I should probably keep my mouth shut but this is kind of pissing me off. My sister was stationed in Kuwait during the war as an operating room nurse in the army, where she treated soldiers with severe head wounds, Iraqi children who had stepped on land mines, etc. During the half a year she was gone, her husband was once asked by a stranger in a grocery store how he felt being married to a baby killer. I never saw either one of them take this situation out on anyone else. I'd be surprised if there weren't a number of SL players with a loved one on active duty, in the hospital, or who knows what else. Maybe one of those people was just accused of stealing someone's Christmas spirit, told to "stfu", or had their property in-world vandalized. Empathy is a two-way street.

Very well said Cadroe

Great Post Cadroe, At first when I read "but this is kind of pissing me off." I started thinking oooh a fun one. After reading it, in light of things it was very well written.

I agree with you to a point Kris. And I understand your outlook. Peoples actions can effect people psycologically in different ways over time. I do care about your opinions and what you think, some may not; some may be sarcastic and critical, but; the challenge is to find balance and equalibrium to maintain sanity. I struggle with it all the time as some of us all do especially here in the Forums. I want to look at people as a human being and respect of their feelings. My sanity is sometimes tested and sometimes I regret retaliation of worded discourse because I know people have real feelings and emotions, and sometimes others are offended where none was mean't and such results in confusion and or perception that is either a misinterpretation or perceived as intent which is sometimes difficult to decipher and issues get torn out of context. It is easier to be cynical than to be rational, it is harder to debate than argue.

To strive to achieve balance is honorable. To satisfy all in agreement is impossible. To Error is Human. We can only try to reflect what we want reflected and strive to gain perception of others as we would have perceived upon ourselves.

I think the whole point here is that people have different capacities for trauma - regardless of what the trauma has been. You aren't able, evidently, to see the difference. That's ok, but ya see now I can say that some people are so easily pissed off and unable to control their emotions when confronted with a situation such as this. But I won't because I am able to put myself in your shoes. I see where you are coming from and won't persecute you for it.

I was empathetic the first and second times around this block.

I had a friend in high school who would have dramatic outbursts and then go back and blame it on stress in his life. Both our fathers were in the first Gulf War. He acted like an ass and blamed it on stress. I did not. At some point you just have to tell people they need to grow up.

We've all had family members in danger. We've all had family members die. We've all had bad things happen to us. We don't all behave this way. I don't think it's too much to call people out for their behavior and say "Hey I feel bad for you but you acted like a brat." I feel bad for Catherine, but I'm not going to reward the drahma.

What you call being a "decent human being" I call being an enabler. You're just rewarding this behavior and ensuring we'll see it again in a month or two.

This sitting on the fence thing is starting to hurt my butt.

My lack of eloquence fails me, and Moopf hit it right on the nose.

LF

Ya know, there might be a market there... fence cushions.

If you're going to sit on the fence, might as well be comfortable.

oooh you making them please oh please sell me one?

oops I denoted Comercialism in the wrong forum am I to be banned??????????

This thread has gone far beyond the point of useful discussion and as such is being closed.