I’m really glad to hear you now see what your parent is like, and know that it isn’t your fault (that was the hardest thing for me, believing that it actually WAS his fault the entire time, and had nothing to do with me).

Also the child of a narcissist. This is spot on. Everything is everyone else’s fault. Always.

Duuuuude. Most Canadians I know are freaked the fuck out that you guys are going to blow yourselves up and take us with you. Unfortunately for us, the states is our biggest trading partner and closest geographic partner (duh). What you guys do, DOES affect us, so we have a damn right to give a fuck, and be concerned,…

That is a very good point. Basically exactly what the tobacco industry does/did? I have much loathing for the tobacco industry, so I definitely now have a better idea why there’s so much vitriol for the gun manufacturing industry on here. I don’t really see gun stuff, since I don’t live in ‘murica, so I don’t get…

I’m Canadian and very against guns. But I also don’t see why people assume gun manufacturer’s are at fault here. There ARE uses for guns that are responsible, the issue should fall on the laws and political dipshits that allow guns to be bought SO DAMN EASILY. It’s not that guns are produced, it’s that anyone anywhere…

Word. My father never bashed my mom, but the reasons why I never want to see him/have totally cut him out were always my fault/somebody else’s. Obviously could never ever be his, that would just be ridiculous.

Nah. Court mandated visits wouldn’t likely be granted if the children were the ones who didn’t want to see them. The courts generally want what’s best for the kids, not for the shit parent(s).

Kate may have encouraged, but those girls may still have refused to go see him. My mother really wanted me to have a relationship with my father, and did everything aside from forcibly making me stay she could have reasonably done. I get the major vibe from these few comments that they do not want a relationship with…

We don’t yet know how USA swimming/the US olympic committee is going to react. Sure, Lochte is being vilified way way way more than Phelps was, but that isn’t Phelps’ fault, it was the timing of the incidents.

He wasn’t exactly unscathed... He was banned from USA swimming for 6 months and from the next year’s world champs. Speedo would have dropped him if that news had blown up as much as this whole Lochte business, and also probably would have now since he’s older/there are no more shiny Olympic medals to be had. It’s…

That’s not ageist, it’s accurate. Plus, he’s only 31 (which is still quite old for a swimmer). I think Phelps also set a record for the oldest man to win olympic gold in an individual swimming event (not kidding).

That seems accurate, with their specific sports. Manuel is actually a bit on the short side for a free sprinter at 5'11".

8 LENGTHS DAMNIT!!!!

Agreed. If I ever found out someone hired me JUST because I was a woman. I’d feel rather hurt, partly because I’d have felt lied to, and also because apparently people hadn’t thought I actually was good at my job?

AND SHE’S CANADIAN!!!

One good/awful thing is that I have two good friends who completely understand (or at least have a damn good idea why I hate him/have disowned him) because they had awful/abusive/neglectful/absent fathers themselves. I wouldn’t wish a terrible parent on anyone, but at least we had each other for support and…

Yeah, I have had friends who would say ‘ohhh, he can’t have been THAT bad; he bought you a car!!’ because spending money on someone totally means they can’t be emotionally abusing/manipulating you. Hell, the damn car was part of the whole manipulation.

That sounds about right. I have a very biased view of sociopaths (people with anti-social disorders) because my father is one. Never been formally diagnosed, but I’d bet everything I have that he’s a prime example of one. He only ever used physical violence once (against my mother) to gain control. Usually he just was…

Fuck. I feel you. We’ve had 3 major rounds of layoffs over the past year and a half, and I’m now actively looking for another job because the environment that’s left behind is awful. It used to be such a great, warm, supportive, social workplace; but now it’s stressed, fearful, or angry. I used to love my job but now…

Definitely not super easy. It takes years.