Do you ever just dread opening certain topics?

[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 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