Oh how I love Farm Sanctuary! A friend goes up there all the time to hang out with the cows and goats and chickens etc. I love looking at her photographs of the happy animals. Some of them are super cuddly! I wasn't able to visit before I moved to the west coast, but I want to go hug the cows someday...

Aw I just moved to LA to pursue my dreams 'n shit too - I wish you the best of luck. Yay for following dreams.

Oh, believe me, that's an entirely different discussion I could go on for hours about. I completely blame the disgusting state of public health in the US for...well, I blame it for a lot. A system that keeps people sick by design...

Thank you! I'm glad you read it as intended. I'm cool with backlash on my actual opinions, but not quite with having my words misinterpreted so aggressively.

It is an odd turn, right? I feel like the jumps people are making (I'm jealous of the "benefits" of cancer?!) are just so huge. I guess that can be read into what I was saying? It's certainly not a dark driving force behind my opinions. I'm grateful that I don't have to deal with cancer and terrified one day I will -…

Ah, this is exactly what I intended to express: "I think it is natural to feel bad that people make a bigger deal out of one plight versus another when you're on the receiving end of some really bad luck and could use some help yourself."

No you've been reasonable! I sort of responded to you because I didn't want to pull a couple others from the gray. And I was definitely pretty bleak when it happened - winter in New England, grad school, a small town...I'm sure I wasn't thrilling conversation.

Yeah, so this thread has gotten pretty vindictive. I thought I was just expressing my thoughts on this one situation and how it relates to something I experienced last year. That doesn't mean I'm sitting around being a shitty bitter asshole to my friends, and it also doesn't mean the friends in that one specific town…

That is nice of your friends - ha, I discussed the band situation with the one friend who was actively setting up fundraisers, and she pretty much described it as fans trying to make sure the music they love can continue as opposed to just a random person asking for money. I responded to someone else that I would have…

I would feel guilty starting my own campaign based on the same logic I'm using regarding the band, frankly, and that's why I did not. That's why I said "Maybe" it's jealousy. I'm jealous of the money, yes. I am not jealous that people in positions of privilege end up getting even more privilege in times of need.

RELEVANT

Somewhat recently, a band in my close friend's home town began a fundraising campaign for one of it's members who had been diagnosed with cancer. It's sad and tragic and horrible that this person has cancer, but I've been somewhat bothered by the amount of money that's been raised and earned to contribute to his care.

Right, yeah, I do see where you're coming from and it's actually interesting/amusing the things some people "get" and "don't get." There are lots of things of which I can't understand the appeal.

So basically I think this comes down to "not getting" the mindset of someone who's passionate about photography and/or photojournalism? Obviously, no, this is not some sort of earth-shattering image, but a photographer will see something compelling, and feel compelled to capture it.

God I am so glad to see that other feminist ladies are into Ramsay. I was once publicly mocked for my crush, even!

Oh wow, yeah, I know those feels. I had a dislocation last year so severe it got stuck that way, and it was FOUR HOURS IN until someone in the ER gave me a pain medication that worked. I was begging them the whole time, Christ. It necessitated surgery. I've also broken bones in half, dangling etc. and it was less…

Yeah, it's confusing with the "find me" and the picture part...because why bother with a brush-off if you're going to play games? Am I missing the point of playing games? I guess this is why I hate dating...

Yikes, well this pretty much describes/encapsulates society's lack of empathy toward the "less-genetically-blessed." It's...a problem. I applaud you for being so honest (no sarcasm) but also: yikes.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww yay, this is a great rescue. My parents have adopted two dogs there. One was a Jack Russell who'd been paralyzed and left to die in Brooklyn. Instead of having her euthanized because she was severely injured and already old, North Shore rehabbed her and adopted her out. Their work on saving Scooter…

That's it. These win. Fight over everyone go home Dr. Who victor.