I get the FPC thing. It's a way of saying you're respectful of the pain of other people. And that you're not trying to steal thunder. Because some people can be drama queens, and what's wrong with saying you're not one?

WRT the FPC, I can see where you are coming from, brenda. I find the FPC disclaimer extraneous. But then again I also think about the number of times I don't post about things that are hard or upsetting me because I feel like, if I start counting my blessings, they are many and I shouldn't bitch about my little grievances. And so I usually just don't post when I'm down. And well, that's not really the answer either, is it? So I figure if posting a disclaimer helps empower someone to post, then it's a net good.

I'm with Burrell on this one. I totally understand both sides of it.

I have this TERRIBLE hangnail.

le n: You totally made me snort.

I will, naturally, be in Nashville while Kate is Massachusetts.

D'oh! We'll be gone from Wednesday through Sunday, but if by any chance your stay will be longer than that (and you'd have time to get away), let me know!

I had a whole thing written up about the FPC, but the more I thought about it, the more conflicted my thoughts were. To try to sum up: I can see the use for it; like Burrell said, if the notion of it helps someone to post about what's bothering them when otherwise they might have stayed silent, I got no problem with that. On the other hand, it makes me sad to see people using it for things that seem like pretty major problems to me. I don't think we should feel the need to invoke the FPC when complaining about, say, loved ones with serious health troubles (to pick an example at random). But then, I'm not in charge of how people feel about their own problems, and I also recognize that the line between major and minor is different for different people/situations, and is sometimes difficult to judge when you're the one in the middle of the shitstorm.

So... in conclusion, I don't know. I wish we didn't feel the need for it as often as we do, but I think it's still a useful idea.

I've somehow missed what FPC means

Fucking Perspective Clause.

Fucking Perspective Clause.

Ah, makes sense, I would say more often than not, not necessary.

Kate, when are you going to be in Boston?

Because some people can be drama queens, and what's wrong with saying you're not one?

Heh. I am fine with being a drama queen about, y'know, concerts and Disneyland and Tim Burton movies and zomg look at this hat!, but I am (apparently) overwhelmingly freaked out that I may come across as a drama queen when talking about my problems.

le nubian, I cackled so hard that I alarmed all the cats. Well done!

I have this TERRIBLE hangnail.

As you might have guessed, this is a family response to many kinds of drama.

sj, we'll be in MA Wednesday night through Sunday afternoon, but we're actually just going to be in Western Mass. We were thinking we might be able to swing a day trip to Boston, but I'm pretty sure it's not going to happen. We've only got a few days, and lots of people in the Northampton area to see, and traveling is more exhausting for me these days than usual.

Kate, if you have any free time while you're in Western MA, we might be able to come to you. Western MA is much easier for us than driving into Boston (which I not so secretly despise doing). So, let me know, but absolutely no pressure.

It's a way of saying you're respectful of the pain of other people.

I guess this is the way I often see the FPC. I often talk myself out of posting because my problem feels trivial to others. So by throwing the FPC in there, or words to that effect, I feel like I'm acknowledging that. But yeah, no one should have to apologize for posting.