lol, good troll

I believe that "easily amused" is actually correct.

What does it say about me that I liked both the OP and your reply .

It's gratifying to imagine being rude to rude people, certainly.

Dunno. Some philosophy based around the concept of utility, I suppose?

I am really tired of that "killed my family" / "kidnapped my (some female relation)" plot. Can't even care anymore.

I can't adequately answer that, because I can't imagine a point at which another adult's choices become "my business" except as it overlaps with my right to defend myself. I know what it feels like to care about someone else's choices, but I long ago got over the illusion that I can or have a right to make choices…

Actually, it's not. Your welfare is your concern. Their welfare is their concern. Best thing to do is take responsibility for yourself and stop trying to control other people. When people you care about make bad decisions that hurt your feelings it's sad for them and sad for you, but that's it.

You also don't get to control your family members' lives. They are your family, but you don't own them. If they are adults, they can make their own choices. You don't get to pick for them, even if their choices hurt your feelings.

You are so right.

My problem was that my dad told me he'd have me committed if I called the authorities.

There's a child in this exact situation right now. If I knew who and where, I'd want to call adult help for them, even knowing how ineffectual CPS is. I wouldn't want to tell the kid to handle it alone, no matter what.

All those first person pieces are like that, aren't they? So far, that's always my reaction: I'm willing to be interested and educated and empathetic, but when I'm done I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to be taking away.

Are you sure there isn't one? o_o

Yeah, I didn't know they had internet there.

She might have a point, you know, if only she weren't totally wrong and willfully blind about it. For example,

Interesting. I suppose if I read both studies rather than the articles about them they would be somewhat different.

Pretty hard wired

I regret not having been more sexually adventurous when I was young, too.

Precisely.