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sad realizations

June 2nd, 2005 at 11:08 pm

I came home tonight to find that one of my first fish had died. She had been behaving a bit oddly for the past few days, but with no visible symptoms, I didn't know how to help her. Very sad. It's a toss up for me - do I get a pet that will live a long life (like my 17 year old cat), and know that I will get attached and be devasted when that animal dies, or do I keep pets (like fish) that have much shorter life spans? I still manage to get attached.

Also, I've come to the realization that I've been spending much less time in the Discussion section of this board lately because of the influx of people just dying to pick a fight. I've liked this board more than many others because people ordinarily carry on civilized conversations and agree to disagree about things. However, I'm not interested in hearing about how all democrats are evil and all republicans are wonderful (or vice versa), that by shopping at Walmart I am devil spawn, and that (speaking of devil spawn) I had better hurry up and embrace someone else's religion, or else. If I wanted that, I would frequent a politically-based message board, a social justice message board, and a religious message board. I'm here because it is a savings message board, something that you'd think all cultures, religions, races, and political biases could relate to on some level.

I assure you I am not talking about everyone - there are plenty of people who share different values and political/religious beliefs from my own here, and they don't bother me one bit. It's the people who are just here to pick a fight. It's unfortunate that every message board on the internet draws in that mentality eventually. Can't we all just get along?

*sigh* I'm going to get a beer, turn on the tv, and mourn my fish.

7 Responses to “sad realizations”

  1. Anonymous Says:
    1117766076

    Hey...First of all, I'm sorry to hear about your fish. We have them too, and I find it very peaceful to be in a room with them. As for your other point, I find that I've been spending more time reading the journals than reading the discussion boards lately. May be that I've grown attached to the regulars who post entries, versus the discussion area where anyone can visit and post. I hope that the few bad apples don't ruin it for you. I, for one, always look forward to your posts. You seem to be a great person with a lot of good advice.

  2. Anonymous Says:
    1117767378

    OK, edited to add:

    YIPES! I read your journal and responded before I visited the discussion area (as usual). I read through the post about Walmart, followed by the post about the Fed, and agree with you totally. I'm an educated woman (MBA and all), and I can honestly say that I'm not looking to this site to provide my moral direction or my analysis of the economy. I dig the everyday money-saving tips that I haven't thought of yet...

  3. Anonymous Says:
    1117769576

    I think you have a valid point about the discussion boards. I stick to the journal entries. They seem more informative and well thought out. The people who submit are really working out their issues with money. And if they express views different from my own, its their space to write what they want. The discussion forums seem like they should introduce topcis that a wider range of people can participate in. Just my opinion...

    I would like to echo mjrube94's sentiments. It was the thought process and the sincerity of your journal entries that pushed me over the edge to finally contribute my own. I'm also from the mid-west, though now in the southwest and I very much relate to your musings about money...I chalked it up to a variation of the midwestern workethic that one can't seem to escape when from that part of the world. Wink
    Re the pet...no words of wisdom for you. I have three cats, one with feline leukemia. I get teary eyed already when I think of the day they will no longer be with me. I find them more snugly than fish. But fish dont shed...its a toss up.

  4. Anonymous Says:
    1117805740

    thank you both for your kind comments about my journaling. it is so nice to get feedback..it's easy to feel like you're just babbling to yourself, isn't it? Wink I love both of your journals as well.

    esmeralda...I'm so sorry about your cat. mine passed away last year, and I was devastated. I still can't imagine getting another cat yet. it feels a bit like a betrayal after 17 years. someday I'm sure I'll feel differently. on a happy front, my sister's cat has been critically ill for well over a year now, and still alive and happy (much to the surprise of her vet). I hope your cat does well.

    mjrube94...aren't some of those discussion board entries crazy? I'm surprised by it, though I probably shouldn't be.

    thanks again, you both brightened my day. Smile

  5. Anonymous Says:
    1117814676

    sorry to hear about your fish! like you, I get easily attached!

  6. Anonymous Says:
    1117844950

    Kashi,
    I don't know about what's going on with the Discussion boards, but I too am sorry to hear that they have taken a turn for the worse. I am so sorry to hear about your fish. I can totally empathize on getting attached to an animal you've only had for a relatively short while. I remember my first year of teaching, my class went through three pet rats. Even though none of them lived for much more than a few months each, it was very disheartening to enter the classroom in the morning to find that the little rat you've cared for and played with and cleaned its cage numerous times, has died. Even more so to have to explain it to the kids that once again something had happened to our class pet. After the third one, I just gave up on class pets.

    I've had my cat, Monkey, for eight years this coming Labor Day. If something were to happen to him I would be extremely sad, but I also would not regret having had him in my life. The time he's been in my life has been just that much fuller and richer because of him. I would say even of the pet rats whom I just could not get to live, I don't regret the experience of having cared for them either. Not everyone can say they've had a rat for a pet. Smile
    Laura

  7. Anonymous Says:
    1117973616

    I know what you mean about the boards, and I am yelling at myself for stepping into the one Frown. Sorry.

    Hope your fish feel better.

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