The "you're beautiful therefore awesome / perfect" always made me think - dude, I am not perfect and sometimes I am a fucking bitch. You made up some magical story about me because you got a boner.

If you stay it's poison. The comparing with the gf will start, then the flirting with him, the "I'm cool you can tell me anything", the hanging out for drinks and he'll talk about how hot the gf is (maybe!) and you'll seethe inside, or worse he'll start liking the attention... and one drunken night you're making out…

No, not at all! When you say it like the last paragraph that sounds like a good mind set. Is she the "right" woman, or just the one that came along as soon as you started to change? Because that could be a little off putting if she just happens to be ok enough and you are ready to settle down.

There might be a bit of a dichotomy you have created, or maybe just the way you came across (if by accident). The way you describe the "tight bodies and sexy attire", "raw lust and sexual attraction" "outwardly gorgeous" etc vice your "pragmatic" current relationship (sounds as exciting as three day old oatmeal!) she…

He put that up there for you to see so you could read his tone policing. (wahhh, do as I say!) He says that you don't seem to realise there is a person behind the screen but he "started it" by reading what your profile said and decided "she doesn't know what she wants" and wrote you anyway. If he keeps it up on his…

Another thing I learned from him was, in addition to copyright, you are automatically granted what is called 1) moral rights and 2) patrimonial / neighbouring rights. Moral rights are things like: I get to say what my work is associated with, I get to determine how my work is manipulated etc. This is why, say, a photo…

Maps can be copyrighted and even ones in the public domain have to have the appropriate credit. Originality is the basis of copyright. It doesn't matter that everyone with a camera has taken a self-portrait. Each one is considered "original" and so protected. If this were true many portrait photographers would never…

I had a chance to speak to Emmanuel Pierrat a lawyer specialising in copyright and if you can prove you created an image you don't have to register copyright as it is automatically granted. His recommendation was to email yourself your images but this was to a group of professional photographers asking about copyright…

My sister was in a similar boat. But they got divorced because because he cheated on her while she was deployed because he was "bored". It was super hard for her. She had the panic attacks, too, every time she saw his truck (that she paid for!). She would call me up with revenge plots, "What if I snuck over there…

I hear you! (and know worries about the medical stuff - its lost in the murky abyss of internet, ha ha) There are times when you try and try to answer the questions in a polite, off-hand way and some people just feel the need to convince you of what you're missing (hahah!). I am certainly not missing my sleep, money,…

Fuck. Yes.

My pleasure :D "Living well is the best revenge" is my, and my sister's, life motto, lol. Not everyone knows how insufferable they can sound when evangelising about their "perfect" life. You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders, have a big heart, love your family and are brave enough to take risks in your…

It's a tough situation, I can completely relate. I mean - if she is going through something you want to be there for her. But if she is "naturally" becoming someone with a negative personality and you are drifting away from that... it can seem harsh to leave someone for that reason. I guess the good aspect of it is -…

I hear what you are saying. BUT. If the product (rightly or wrongly) is being marketed to "brighten / lighten and even" skin there will be some women (rightly or wrongly) who will pursue skin lightening products / procedures because of hyperpigmentation and who may not be of the variety that "hates their skin because…

I agree it can be a cop out. I physically can't have kids because of a previous illness, my husband has had a vasectomy, he hates kids, I never wanted them and never will. Telling strangers / co-workers / gossipy people ALL the reasons we aren't having kids is like airing my dirty laundry and tramping down the "spill…

win!

Someone started to cry when I told them once. They were pregnant I found out later. I wanted to smack them and say "but I don't care!" as soon as the tears started.

I had a friend like this. She knew the behaviour was awful because she, too, had a friend like her while we were friends. She complained about this other friend's soul-sucking negativity all the time. My jokes about "karma" or "chill" or trying to get her to laugh at some of the more absurd slights she felt she barely…

When I say these things I have no delusions that I am teaching anyone a moral lesson on "mind your own business". People just think I am strange and still bother other people about the same thing. Maybe it'll change one person's mind one day!

I guess that is part of the problem, eh? Better, non-toxic creams are available to the rich / people with access to the products. Cheaper, toxic creams are readily available that "work" to those that want them. I have hyperpigmentation but don't do anything about it (no creams etc) because I am too poor.