I am an abuse survivor, and I cherish my son. You'd be surprised.

Meh, I practiced some pretty hardcore attachment parenting, and I do not helicopter my son, nor do I have trouble saying 'no' to him.

Having read her answers to some of the other participants in this column, I have to say that she just comes off as really smug and blamey. Also, the woman who wrote in the original question already blames her friend anyway. Ugh. Plus, that frothy column is not the place for issues of such magnitude.

Right on. I totally agree.

Don't we all have a relatively unique perspective on any issue? I don't think you are seeing things from the perspective of the marines in question.

In this case, they adopted the puppy while they were in Afghanistan; they became the puppy's owners. To abandon it would have been irresponsible as it probably would have meant certain death for young Bill. As for adopting another puppy, I'm all for it. A lot of the servicemen I know are traumatized by having to shoot…

I kind of feel that this is how we would all look if those x-ray specs you used to see advertised in the back of comic books actually worked.

The way thing are going with the economy, I would have a lot more faith in someone who has a degree in home economics than I would in economics.

Seriously, I just wish he would GO AWAY.

No, accusing someone of rape is not worse than real rape. I've been raped, and it took me many years to ever be able to tolerate intimacy. And I could not work because of PTSD. It took me many years to realize what had happened to me because the rapist was one of my dearest friends. So suck it.

Posh people actually never say pardon or I beg your pardon. It's common.

I'm from the Bay, and from what you say, we are almost exact contemporaries, and this lady totally reminds me of my friend's mom. I wonder if you are she-that would be wierd.

My son would FREAK OUT if anyone did that.

Yeah, there was an active pedophile in our neighborhood. His actions had a terrible effect on the kids in our town, even though he never got to most of us, his influence was felt in many different ways.

I'm in 78704!

@petitoiseau

Oh sweetie, I have a similar problem...I can have orgasms with partners, but the most satisfying ones were with men who were seriously abusive toward me, and I do not know why that is.

I like going down on partners who have shown that they are seriously invested in my pleasure. I feel like it's something they have to earn.

You know, I am an old, practical lady (42), and I do keep condoms on hand because I want to be prepared. I respect guys who have them. It doesn't mean we are going to have sex, and in fact can be used to introduce a dialogue about sex: hearing some equivalent of 'I have condoms if you're wanting to take things…

I am a bigger girl, and I get contacted on my online dating site all the time by guys looking for NSA or 'FWB' (except they just want the 'b' without the 'friend' part). It's bizarre. Fortunately I also get contacted by guys who want to go to the movies or need a running partner. Hah.