Do you ever just dread opening certain topics?

[Logan]

I am an admitted wimp. :o Sometimes, whether it be in the Dog House, Dog General, Cat General, Health, etc, there are just some topics I don't want to open because I know they are going to contain something depressing. They show up everywhere, not just at Pet Talk, on many other groups too. Sometimes, just dealing with other's pain over the loss of their pet, or a sickness, is just about as much as I can handle.

For the record, if I don't always respond, it isn't because I don't care, just that I couldn't take anymore. :(

[Tonya]

Me too. Sometimes on the sadder subjects, I don't respond because I don't know what to say.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Make that "me three." It makes my heart ache but sometimes it is just too hard for me.... So that makes me a wimp too.

Shall we form WWW .... Wimps World Wide?

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

me four!

If i can tell by the topic that it is going to be sad... or mayby graphic / voilent towards an animal.. i can't open it.

signed..
wimp#4

[catlover4ever]

Count me in on that one....sometimes I just can not handle reading about abused animals...it is just so upsetting and depressing. It's not that I don't want to respond...it's just that sometimes I can not put into words my thoughts and feelings...does that make sense??

[gini]

Logan, you are so right! In the morning I usually go online and check out the latest news. Many times there is a lead-in to a story and I can just tell by that headline - I cannot go there!

If it is on Pet Talk, I usually will go to the thread, because if it is one of our own - they probably need to hear some kind words.

I know when I lost my beloved Patches and Magic the posts really helped me - because I knew people here really understood my loss and my pain and they cared.

[Randi]

I'll join the wimp gang - at least on certain days. :(

One subject I can't read is "animal abuse" that is just too depressing!! :( I saw some pictures recently, I wish I hadn't - they were in files back from the beginning of the nineties.

On the subject of loosing your pet, I often have problems finding the right words to try to comfort - and not repeating what everyone has already said. I do if that's what I mean to say. And some days, the english language flows better for me than other days.

When I don't reply to such a post, it's because of this.

[Freckles]

If I don't like the thread title and I don't recognize the starter, I usually don't open it.

I think it's important to have an honest title. A title might be:
"I need to get rid of my dog (or) cat (or) bird!" and the first post starts with "just kidding!" I very seldom open another thread by that person.

[Cataholic]

Those that know me, in person, would never classify me as a wimp. But, on PT, and in real life conversations dealing with animals, I often turn away from hurtful topics. With one exception. I do go to the Cat Memorial section. I know no matter how awful I might feel, the person posting in the cat memorial section feels worse than me.

I do notice one or two people on PT ALWAYS posting depressing/tragic threads. I avoid them. I don't need to see it to know it exists, and some people seem to get a perverse pleasure out of posting this stuff. :(

[Logan]

I do notice one or two people on PT ALWAYS posting depressing/tragic threads. I avoid them. I don't need to see it to know it exists, and some people seem to get a perverse pleasure out of posting this stuff.

I guess that's sort of the same feeling I am having, Johanna. It's not just pet related, but politics, etc. I just can't handle more than the losses of our Pet Talk friends, which I always try to be sympathetic and respond to. I hope I do ok in that regard.

[DJFyrewolf36]

Seems to be a lot of depressing things going on lately. I almost regret going into Dog General anymore *Lots of puppies going to the RB* :( but I know people need support in times of trouble. I always check for updates on posts where peoples pets are ill *Its impulsive, after a while you feel like you know them so you always want to know how they are doing and such*. I don't notice people who ALWAYS post depressing threads...I guess this is a recient development. *I admittedly don't check a lot of forums often, Im usually stuck in cat general and the dog house*

[Logan]

I will admit to going to many different subject topics, after all, I have pets who fit in all the catagories! I probably don't look at breeds and behavior issues, only because I am just pressed for time. But the others, I check as often as possible. I want to be supportive of health issues and certainly memorials, which I usually am. It's just those headlines that let me know I'm in for an ugly story......some news story that will break my heart, or a shameful story about how some shelter or animal control facility has gone wrong, or one of those heinous crimes where someone has hurt an animal, or God forbid a political atrosity, where I know there will be controversy........I do look sometime, but we have so much grief, just within our group, with animals who have no hope and have to cross the bridge, that sometimes I just wish for the rest to go away.

That's why I call myself a wimp, a loving wimp, for sure, but still a wimp. :o

[My Peanuts]

I almost never open the ones with poems about the RB or anything like that. Angie has been gone over a year, but I'm still not ready to read those:(

[DJFyrewolf36]

Originally posted by Logan


That's why I call myself a wimp, a loving wimp, for sure, but still a wimp. :o

I agree with you there, Logan

[Denyce]

I can't read the Rainbow Bridge poem. I can't even think about it too hard or I start to tear up.

I don't read all the animal abuse ones...or lets say I open them but if I have to go to another page to read it I won't. But I do try to read them and learn. Not because I want to make myself miserable. But someone has to bear witness. Someone needs to know what these innocent beings have gone through and give a prayer for them. It also opens my eyes to what to look for in my own area so that perhaps someday I can help an animal from suffering any more. It is my feeling that if we stick our heads in the sand and try not to see the ugliness then how can we fully appreciate the beauty and how can we not be part of the problem?

It is just my own philosophy. Everyone has to deal with what they can in life to stay sane. In some strange ways this helps me sometimes. Because I know I sound nuts by saying this but I feel like if I listen closely I can hear the pained souls screaming. Ok I should shut up now.:o

Denyce

[Twisterdog]

Originally posted by Freckles
I think it's important to have an honest title. A title might be:
"I need to get rid of my dog (or) cat (or) bird!" and the first post starts with "just kidding!" I very seldom open another thread by that person.

I SO agree with that. If I open one of those "Just kidding!" posts, it totally ticks me off, and I won't read anything by that poster again.

Also, I hate posts like this, "I was thinking about ..." or "What do you think about this?" You have to open the thread to find out that what it is about ... which could be anything from pizza to television shows to llamas. A huge waste of time, in my opinion. I wish people would put the real topic in the topic line.

I'm not really a wimp, I don't necesarily shy away from controversial topics. However, I don't read about or look at pictures of graphic animal abuse. I find that those kinds of stories haunt me and bother me for a long time. I don't think people should stop posting them, however, because people need to know that this sort of thing goes on. Ignorance is certainly not bliss.

[sirrahbed]

YES:rolleyes:

[Kfamr]

I dread going into the memorial threads.
I cry each and every time..... I really do hope though, that I will have PT years from now when it comes one of my babie's times. I just don't know how I could deal with it alone.



I apologize if any of my threads are depressing or what you guys mentioned. :( :)

[jazzcat]

I know you what you all mean. I've started avoiding those posts that are just news articles about abuse. Some days it seems that there are so many of them posted and one reason I love coming here is to get my mind off of stuff and enjoy the pets and the great PTers. I don't feel I stick my head in the sand and I do try to always give a few words of comfort to those who have lost or have a sick pet but I can only take so much before I notice that it is affecting my well being.

There are a few people I classify as "Uncle Clyde". He's my uncle who has always called with news about a death or something else bad. My heart always sinks when I hear his voice on the phone because I know most the time it's bad news. I kind of have that same feeling with certain posts.

[dukedogsmom]

Yes. On those that people ask our opinions or we voice our opinion and it's not the popular one so we get flamed. And I wish they would keep the abuse articles in the dog house. I don't particularly want to know about all that either. If I choose to come here to read them, so be it.

[moosmom]

Logan,

I'm also a wimp when it comes to certain topics. If I don't respond, it's because I just can't take anymore stories about animal abuse, abandonment, etc. I know it's out there, I've seen it, MANY times. But my heart just hurts too much to read yet ANOTHER story of some sick 6astard getting his jollies out of hurting, killing, or torturing a poor, innocent animal.

[cloverfdx]

I am going to Ditto you all. :)

I too dont like the titles eg, What do you think about..... then
having to click on the thread and find out what it is going to be about.


:)

[anna_66]

I'm not sure I'd consider myself a wimp, but with alot of the abuse topics I just don't see the point of reading it. All it's going to do is get me upset or mad. So normally I don't read these.
But I do try to go to the memorial section because I know how much a kind word or two can help.

No, I don't think any of you are wimps. Your just emotional people.;)

[stacwase]

I never used to respond to the threads in the memorials, because I thought that anything I said would just sound stupid. I mean - how could my few words help?

But - they do. I learned that over the past few days. So from now on I will respond to those threads.

I do stay out of the "ignorant owners" and animal abuse threads. What good does reading them do anybody? It just depresses me and I can't help.

[sirrahbed]

OK I am back - first I just answered YES and now I will answer more. Sometimes, I spend so much time here and become very emotionally involved with many of the things going on - the sick animals, abuse stories, and even the personal struggles of some of the PT folks who have become my friends. Once in awhile, when a discussion becomes heated, it really bothers me ALLOT! This is my nature. So, I answered yes, because sometimes I stay away completely for a day or two, just to protect my sanity. There are some people who I feel are very critical & negative and so I block them. Other times, I see another post about abandonment of animals and depending on my mood - I just feel I can't take it right then. A few nights ago - I had been avoiding one about some terribly abused kittens but finally made myself look - and the sad pictures I saw just made me hysterical and I cried into the night. I should NOT have looked because A)I was PMSing B)I was low on sleep anyway and C)I was worried about some sad family problems.
I am not a *wimp* exactly because I DO care about things very deeply and normally involve myself at all costs - but sometimes I have to protect myself without turning away from problems and sadness. I do not ever want to lose my compassion. (small chance of that:D ) OK, so I AM a *WIMP*.
end of novel~did anyone stay to the end?:p

PS -I agree that an answer to the memorial threads is very much appreciated - it does not take much - just "I am sad for you" or "I am sorry" - I know when my time comes to grieve - I will be thankful for any words!! Nothing eloquent is necessary at all!!!

[tatsxxx11]

Logan, you and I have spoken of this very topic so often. Since the advent of home computers, our "worlds" have expanded, at least for me, to unimaginable proportions. We come to know and care about so many people from all over the world, and their families, and as a result, we are exposed to so many more potentially heartbreaking topics/situations than we would ever expect to experience in our daily "lives."

How often I've said to myself, I just can't bear to read of another horrific case of abuse, suffering and loss. I take each one to heart, so personally and sometimes the pain of it all is almost unbearable. I never open the abuse threads, unless it involves some sort of proactive component that I can impact positively, e.g. a peition, letter writing campaign, etc. I'm very active in helping to shut puppy mills, but even there, I don't need to see any more pictures of the suffering, though many who never have, should at least see once, the incredible suffering these animals endure. I've often thought, "I can't do this anymore." But then I think, there's that one person that's reaching out, sad, frightened, hoping someone is on "the other end" to listen and give them support and comfort:( It's very difficult; more difficult than dealing with all the sadness and suffering I've had to deal with in my nursing career.

Most of my Pet Talk time is spent replying to the Dog, Cat and POTD, in the D,C,P General(s), Health and Memorial sections, and at the other end of the spectrum, replying with congrats on happy events in General. I don't have the time or the stomach to get into discussing politics and some of the more controversial topics in the Dog House anymore. I have found it's too easy to have your point misunderstood or not "read" in the spirit or tone in which it was intended over the internet. A couple of times I have unintentionally angered friends here with a reply to a "hot button" topic I KNOW would have been taken in a far less "threatening" light had I been speaking with them personally. Voicing my opinon here on such matters is not worth losing a friend! So, I choose to have those debates with someone whose face I can see or voice I can hear:D For the most part, I come to Pet Talk to enjoy the good people and precious pets and try to come away with something positive:)

[halliecat]

There are some threads I can't read....it is important to know that there is abuse going on or certain diseases...not sure I want ALL the gory details!

Also can't read some of the poems....then I want to cry all day.

Sometimes I'm not sure what words to use to someone who has had troubles...

Call me a wimp too.

But I am a sucker for success stories and rescues.!!!

[RICHARD]

Self admitted Girly-man.....