Again, we will have to agree to disagree on what is or is not insensitive. I take issue with it being okay for infertile women to lie to avoid uncomfortable situations regarding childlessness while it isn't okay for other women to lie to avoid uncomfortable situations regarding childlessness (yes, I realize it's never…

We will have to agree to disagree on the "right" and "wrong" of it and what is or isn't insensitive. Since you've also noted that the intention behind both is to avoid uncomfortable situations I guess it's hard for me to feel that one form of it is acceptable while another never is.

Sometimes, people comment to agree with you and say it in a slightly different way that means something to them. Instead of saying that I've misunderstood you, do you not think it's possible that I was agreeing but putting it in my own terms? That is why I was saying you should reread your comment about "reading into…

In the situation discussed, the women I know who claim to not want to have children when they are in fact infertile do so to avoid an uncomfortable situation, one in which they feel shame. In that regard, they can both be compared.

I'm not sure that anyone here has made the argument that they are, Volc... Could you explain what this means?

I feel like potentially you should read your own words back before you determine that a discussion is "fruitless." I wouldn't ever claim that someone cannot listen simply because they do not agree with my perspective and I therefore cannot change their opinion. Good luck with everything, though.

I have zero hostility to you or your situation, which notably I'm unsure on the details.

It seems like you only think it's not okay for someone who can conceive to claim infertility, but that it's perfectly fine for someone who is infertile to claim lack of desire. Both are to avoid a "shame" that the woman feels is worse, but you only seem to condemn half of that situation. I get that you identify with…

This is exactly the point I was trying to make, although I don't think I did quite so eloquently as you. I feel like sometimes the shame and pain that I receive from others comments for having shared that I'm not sure about have children could rival the shame and pain a woman feels internally for not being able to…

I respectfully have to disagree with you on all respects. Sure, infertility is a charged issue for many women, but if a woman who does not want to have children says to people that she's not having them due to infertility than that is her issue. I've known two women who have claimed not to want children when they were…

Yeah, but it's like, a Whitney Houston/Mariah Carey kinda note...

I'm really surprised that nobody has commented on this yet. I was hoping they would so I wouldn't have to. I don't have a zingy response. All I can say is no no no no no!

I think it has to be that way because that's what appeals to their target audience. I mean, Smallville was on the air for what? 7 seasons? Obviously they think the formula works, they're just hoping that they can use it to strike gold again with their audience. It may sound dull to you, but you're probably not their…

I kinda love that they talk about her standing out specifically because of her clothes with no discussion of her race. It's a non-issue on the show and obviously the crew doesn't see it as an issue. I'm a huge fan of that.

Everytime I go out with other people the waiter always asks us if the check is together or separate. I guess in my area it's not assumed that it's on one ticket. Even when I go out with my mom they ask. I mean, obviously the answer is "one ticket, she'll be paying," but they still ask before assuming we're together.

Why is it that female-female friendships are criticized so much more than male-male or male-female friendships?

This is one that I had to learn because of my brother. I wasn't the one who married her, so as long as they're good together and happy then it really doesn't matter what my unsolicited opinion is. It has certainly made my relationship with both my brother and my sister-in-law go a bit more smoothly.

Maybe I go out with different types of people, but this is never an issue. The waiter comes by, asks if we want separate checks, and someone will usually say something to the effect of "Yes, the appetizer is on mine." No argument about "please split the wine between the 7 of us" but that's probably because we know…

Thanks! Reading it now

and Hamilton Nolan too.