You would think. But the kind of lameness you describe is the exact reason I won't take grad students as interns anymore. My last one was so lacking in basic workplace sense, seemed extremely immature, and unable to assume any responsibility whatsoever. When I spoke to her program supervisor, she has the nerve to…

I don't know if it's the same with dogs, but out cat spent the first month hiding under a couch when we got her as a kitten due to some trauma she'd been thru, but eventually came out of her shell and became a real love bug.

Are these just isolated incidents or does stuff like this happen a lot? The reason I ask is because unfortunately I think this stuff is typical once in awhile, I know sometimes stuff like this will happen with my kids (they are almost 9) and then I will get worried about it, but then it blows over. One day my…

That teacher should be fired, pronto. I hope your friend reported this to the principal or at least got the poor kid transferred to another class. Not only is this rude and judgmental, but shows that this teacher knows zero about empathy, motivating kids, or child development.

"cube-shaped anguish farm."

YES! Usual reply: Well, we have to try SOMETHING.

Wait, isn't divorce a sin, too? Does Beth send this type of RSVP/hate screed to divorced moms who are trying to raise their kid on one income and have to forego basic necessities for several weeks so she can afford to invite Beth's kid to her daughter's birthday party? Is Beth concerned about exposing Tommy to that…

As long as Christian ministers are performing marriage ceremonies for divorced people, I really just don't want to hear anything about their views on marriage/sin. Please get over yourselves. And PS., so tired of hearing ignorant people talking about how the country was founded on Christian principles, whatever that…

Lots to be had. Until you mentioned it, it never occurred to me that it was a thing. You can even get a "Riggins Rigs" t shirt, apparently!

Love it when my favorite worlds collide....

I've worked in psych for over twenty years and have multiple grad degrees in the subject.

YES! It's one thing to feel bad and frightened, but when you spend all your time talking about how it affects you, then that's what you're doing. Stop pretending it's about the real victims at that point.

I don't even think the implication is that they feel worse, I think the implication is that people should spread some of their empathy out to THEM because it could have been them.

YES! I work in a school, and when people said shit like that, I was like, "Are you for real? This has nothing to do with us, it has to do with those specific families, period." I mean, you might think about it for a minute, but if your entire response to a tragedy that has harmed real people is to carry on about your…

Making a comment like that would be certainly appropriate. But when people continue to turn the entire story around to how it impacts THEM, and what they can do to make THEM feel better, that's a problem. Then there's those who venture into exploitative territory under the guise of "But I'm HELPING!!"

Yes. The genetic predisposition is often overlooked and instead conveniently repackaged as some kind of moral failing or lack of willpower. I can't remember the specifics, but in grad school I took a class on addictions, and the way the instructor described the genetic component changed the way I look at people who…

Yeah, I get all that, and I'm really not trying to troll or be obtuse. It just bothers me that we seem to be so harsh on boys who do this and NOT on the girls, and I get that the social repercussions for girls are worse, it's just...I don't know. I'm teaching both my daughter and my son not to do shit like this, and…

I did get the authorities involved, but that's besides the point. And believe me, he is getting backlash from his peers, so I'm not really sure what difference that makes as to whether or not kids should face legal consequences. And, I know of one boy who did something similar and wound up in jail. But if a girl…

OK, but that was still a part of what she did. And everyone here seems to be arguing that it's "small stuff" that the police are making a big deal out of. While I agree that distributing child porn is a reach, I think that kids sending sexual images of themselves to other kids is harassment, regardless of the…

Well, middle school goes up to fifteen. And regardless, if they are unsolicited, I think whether they felt harassed or not, that would be a problem. That isn't separate from sexting. That is sexting. Sometimes kids think they are being cute or funny or flirtatious and the people on the other end are completely not…