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Post by abbey1227 on Dec 28, 2022 10:52:30 GMT
Theater director Jeff Church found dead following sex abuse allegationsBy Yaron Steinbuch December 27, 2022 11:26am Updated Jeff Church was found dead on Christmas Eve following multiple accusations of sexual abuse against him. The Coterie A longtime children’s theater director in Kansas City was found dead on Christmas Eve — days after he resigned amid allegations of sexual abuse. Jeff Church, 63, who had led the Coterie Theatre for over 30 years, was found dead at his home on Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Star reported. The cause of death has not been released. On Thursday, KKFI 90.1 radio host Mark Manning accused Church on Facebook of assaulting him in 1991 when he was 27. He came forward by sharing a since-deleted video by Deshawn Young, a Florida-based actor who previously lived in Kansas City, in which he described an assault. “I am sharing this video testimonial from my friend Dashawn Young. Please be careful. This is very difficult to watch and hear,” Manning wrote. “My emotional muscle memory was triggered in a way I did not fully expect. I lost it. I became so emotional that I wondered if I could even do my radio show,” he continued. Mark Manning, a Kansas City radio host, said he was sexually abused by Church in 1991 at age 27. Facebook/Mark Manning Manning went on to recount how Church allegedly assaulted him at the director’s home during a party after the production of “Dinosaurs.” “I found myself pushed back on the bed, his mouth was on my body parts, my clothing seemed to disappear, and very quickly the director had penetrated me,” he wrote. “It felt like my body was being used. How did this happen?” Manning said, adding that he had heard of many similar accounts of sexual abuse at the hands of the theater honcho. Manning told the Star that the sickening acts had been “going on for over 30 years.” “Most of these people were young theater artists trying to find their way through their theatrical career and a person in a very great authority position of directing them and deciding who gets paid and who gets the job [was] interfering in people’s lives,” he told the paper. He said that after he shared the lengthy post, three other people reached out to him to share their similar experiences. On Friday, the Kansas City Pitch first published more shocking allegations against Church from more than a dozen people. KC Comeaux, an actor who worked for Church in his early 20s, also spoke out on Facebook. “I was sexually assaulted by Jeff Church. Many of you in Kansas City had no idea of this man’s behavior. Many of you had heard rumors. But I’m here to tell you that he is a predator,” he wrote. “He has groomed, abused, and assaulted, numerous young men over the course of 30+ years. Myself included,” Comeaux wrote. “…this man, who has used his position of power as an Artistic Director of a renowned children’s theatre, for manipulation and sex exploitation.” On Saturday afternoon, the theater announced that it had accepted Church’s resignation and planned to investigate the multiple allegations. “We want you to know that we are taking these allegations extremely seriously and will move forward with the investigation immediately, despite the impending holidays,” it said in a statement. Manning called the lurid matter a “tragedy for our community.” “I don’t want to see a whole theater company be destroyed because of one person and the horrible things that they did over a long period of time to a lot of different people, both men and women,” he told the paper. Church’s death comes a month after the Coterie’s executive director, Joette Pelster, died in her sleep at age 71 — a week after she announced her intentions to retire after almost 30 years. “Her achievements were many and her impact on the performing arts in Kansas City was immense,” theater rep David Golston told the Star last month. It has not been confirmed whether others at the theater had known about the allegations against Church, the paper noted.
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Post by Prometheus on Dec 28, 2022 10:56:56 GMT
Sounds like his protector pre-deceased him....
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Post by gaia1953 on Dec 28, 2022 18:42:52 GMT
Theater director Jeff Church found dead following sex abuse allegationsBy Yaron Steinbuch December 27, 2022 11:26am Updated Jeff Church was found dead on Christmas Eve following multiple accusations of sexual abuse against him. The Coterie A longtime children’s theater director in Kansas City was found dead on Christmas Eve — days after he resigned amid allegations of sexual abuse. Jeff Church, 63, who had led the Coterie Theatre for over 30 years, was found dead at his home on Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Star reported. The cause of death has not been released. On Thursday, KKFI 90.1 radio host Mark Manning accused Church on Facebook of assaulting him in 1991 when he was 27. He came forward by sharing a since-deleted video by Deshawn Young, a Florida-based actor who previously lived in Kansas City, in which he described an assault. “I am sharing this video testimonial from my friend Dashawn Young. Please be careful. This is very difficult to watch and hear,” Manning wrote. “My emotional muscle memory was triggered in a way I did not fully expect. I lost it. I became so emotional that I wondered if I could even do my radio show,” he continued. Mark Manning, a Kansas City radio host, said he was sexually abused by Church in 1991 at age 27. Facebook/Mark Manning Manning went on to recount how Church allegedly assaulted him at the director’s home during a party after the production of “Dinosaurs.” “I found myself pushed back on the bed, his mouth was on my body parts, my clothing seemed to disappear, and very quickly the director had penetrated me,” he wrote. “It felt like my body was being used. How did this happen?” Manning said, adding that he had heard of many similar accounts of sexual abuse at the hands of the theater honcho. Manning told the Star that the sickening acts had been “going on for over 30 years.” “Most of these people were young theater artists trying to find their way through their theatrical career and a person in a very great authority position of directing them and deciding who gets paid and who gets the job [was] interfering in people’s lives,” he told the paper. He said that after he shared the lengthy post, three other people reached out to him to share their similar experiences. On Friday, the Kansas City Pitch first published more shocking allegations against Church from more than a dozen people. KC Comeaux, an actor who worked for Church in his early 20s, also spoke out on Facebook. “I was sexually assaulted by Jeff Church. Many of you in Kansas City had no idea of this man’s behavior. Many of you had heard rumors. But I’m here to tell you that he is a predator,” he wrote. “He has groomed, abused, and assaulted, numerous young men over the course of 30+ years. Myself included,” Comeaux wrote. “…this man, who has used his position of power as an Artistic Director of a renowned children’s theatre, for manipulation and sex exploitation.” On Saturday afternoon, the theater announced that it had accepted Church’s resignation and planned to investigate the multiple allegations. “We want you to know that we are taking these allegations extremely seriously and will move forward with the investigation immediately, despite the impending holidays,” it said in a statement. Manning called the lurid matter a “tragedy for our community.” “I don’t want to see a whole theater company be destroyed because of one person and the horrible things that they did over a long period of time to a lot of different people, both men and women,” he told the paper. Church’s death comes a month after the Coterie’s executive director, Joette Pelster, died in her sleep at age 71 — a week after she announced her intentions to retire after almost 30 years. “Her achievements were many and her impact on the performing arts in Kansas City was immense,” theater rep David Golston told the Star last month. It has not been confirmed whether others at the theater had known about the allegations against Church, the paper noted.
Yikes! I used to live in Kansas City; this is shocking and disturbing.
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Post by abbey1227 on Dec 29, 2022 0:00:44 GMT
Theater director Jeff Church found dead following sex abuse allegationsBy Yaron Steinbuch December 27, 2022 11:26am Updated Yikes! I used to live in Kansas City; this is shocking and disturbing.
But in the world we live in.......is it really all that shocking?
How do you feel about the age of the victims mentioned, though?
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Post by gaia1953 on Dec 29, 2022 17:30:11 GMT
Yikes! I used to live in Kansas City; this is shocking and disturbing.
But in the world we live in.......is it really all that shocking?
How do you feel about the age of the victims mentioned, though?
Just because they weren't children doesn't mean that it wasn't a forced sexual assault. I believe it is called rape. Adults are more likely to speak out. Children tend to hide it. If this guy wasn't a preferential offender, who knows how many children might have been involved? The Coterie Theater was for children. It was iconic back in the day, part of growing up in KC. It was after I was an adult, so I never went, but tons of kids did.
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Post by abbey1227 on Dec 30, 2022 2:26:39 GMT
But in the world we live in.......is it really all that shocking?
How do you feel about the age of the victims mentioned, though?
Just because they weren't children doesn't mean that it wasn't a forced sexual assault. I believe it is called rape. Adults are more likely to speak out. Children tend to hide it. If this guy wasn't a preferential offender, who knows how many children might have been involved? The Coterie Theater was for children. It was iconic back in the day, part of growing up in KC. It was after I was an adult, so I never went, but tons of kids did.
I didn't say it wasn't assault.......or rape.
THAT's the part I'm wondering about........why adults didn't go to the police right afterwards?
My theory on this kind of predator is that they migrate to wherever their victims are. Once priests and Boy Scout leaders were outed as the big threat.......teachers and occupations like this become the prime spots.
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Post by Prometheus on Dec 30, 2022 9:28:42 GMT
Just because they weren't children doesn't mean that it wasn't a forced sexual assault. I believe it is called rape. Adults are more likely to speak out. Children tend to hide it. If this guy wasn't a preferential offender, who knows how many children might have been involved? The Coterie Theater was for children. It was iconic back in the day, part of growing up in KC. It was after I was an adult, so I never went, but tons of kids did.
I didn't say it wasn't assault.......or rape.
THAT's the part I'm wondering about........why adults didn't go to the police right afterwards?
My theory on this kind of predator is that they migrate to wherever their victims are. Once priests and Boy Scout leaders were outed as the big threat.......teachers and occupations like this become the prime spots.
You really don't understand the emotional and psychological toll of rape, do you?
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Post by ant-mac on Dec 30, 2022 11:38:45 GMT
Just because they weren't children doesn't mean that it wasn't a forced sexual assault. I believe it is called rape. Adults are more likely to speak out. Children tend to hide it. If this guy wasn't a preferential offender, who knows how many children might have been involved? The Coterie Theater was for children. It was iconic back in the day, part of growing up in KC. It was after I was an adult, so I never went, but tons of kids did.
I didn't say it wasn't assault.......or rape.
THAT's the part I'm wondering about........why adults didn't go to the police right afterwards?
My theory on this kind of predator is that they migrate to wherever their victims are. Once priests and Boy Scout leaders were outed as the big threat.......teachers and occupations like this become the prime spots.
1. What's the significance of the ages of the victims? 2. A feeling of shame, shock, or self-loathing? Ten different people might react in ten different ways to the same event... and none of those ways might be how you would react. 3. What did the big nasty English teacher do to you?
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Post by abbey1227 on Dec 30, 2022 14:44:06 GMT
I didn't say it wasn't assault.......or rape.
THAT's the part I'm wondering about........why adults didn't go to the police right afterwards?
My theory on this kind of predator is that they migrate to wherever their victims are. Once priests and Boy Scout leaders were outed as the big threat.......teachers and occupations like this become the prime spots.
1. What's the significance of the ages of the victims? 2. A feeling of shame, shock, or self-loathing? Ten different people might react in ten different ways to the same event... and none of those ways might be how you would react. 3. What did the big nasty English teacher do to you?
1. Just my stupid opinion.....but I feel that it's easier to victimize people the younger they are, as they don't have the maturity or language skills when young to communicate well to others if there's a problem. But even though say a teenager or early 20s type might not be fully mature brain-wise........they should be more than capable of telling authorities when a crime has occurred.
2. I know I'm the oddball minority..... I get that. But it's also NOT like it hasn't been a few decades in a row now of all of these shows and PSAs involving becoming victimized and what to do afterwards in order to prevent that criminal from getting away with their crimes any further.
3. I got pretty good grades in Honors English. So it may have been a mutual kinda thing. Actually, I love pointing out the teachers and daycare workers because I've seen decades of priest accusations ........but most of them happened 30-40-50 years ago. The gig is up for priests. Which is why we're seeing more of it in those other occupations now, imo.
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Post by Prometheus on Dec 30, 2022 23:58:32 GMT
1. What's the significance of the ages of the victims? 2. A feeling of shame, shock, or self-loathing? Ten different people might react in ten different ways to the same event... and none of those ways might be how you would react. 3. What did the big nasty English teacher do to you?
1. Just my stupid opinion.....but I feel that it's easier to victimize people the younger they are, as they don't have the maturity or language skills when young to communicate well to others if there's a problem. But even though say a teenager or early 20s type might not be fully mature brain-wise........they should be more than capable of telling authorities when a crime has occurred.
2. I know I'm the oddball minority..... I get that. But it's also NOT like it hasn't been a few decades in a row now of all of these shows and PSAs involving becoming victimized and what to do afterwards in order to prevent that criminal from getting away with their crimes any further.
3. I got pretty good grades in Honors English. So it may have been a mutual kinda thing. Actually, I love pointing out the teachers and daycare workers because I've seen decades of priest accusations ........but most of them happened 30-40-50 years ago. The gig is up for priests. Which is why we're seeing more of it in those other occupations now, imo. 1. 2. 3.
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Post by ant-mac on Dec 31, 2022 1:30:05 GMT
1. What's the significance of the ages of the victims? 2. A feeling of shame, shock, or self-loathing? Ten different people might react in ten different ways to the same event... and none of those ways might be how you would react. 3. What did the big nasty English teacher do to you?
1. Just my stupid opinion.....but I feel that it's easier to victimize people the younger they are, as they don't have the maturity or language skills when young to communicate well to others if there's a problem. But even though say a teenager or early 20s type might not be fully mature brain-wise........they should be more than capable of telling authorities when a crime has occurred.
2. I know I'm the oddball minority..... I get that. But it's also NOT like it hasn't been a few decades in a row now of all of these shows and PSAs involving becoming victimized and what to do afterwards in order to prevent that criminal from getting away with their crimes any further.
3. I got pretty good grades in Honors English. So it may have been a mutual kinda thing. Actually, I love pointing out the teachers and daycare workers because I've seen decades of priest accusations ........but most of them happened 30-40-50 years ago. The gig is up for priests. Which is why we're seeing more of it in those other occupations now, imo. 1. Because the elderly are never victimized by their carers - including family members - or random "tradies" who offer to perform maintenance on their property? 2. And if someone is experiencing a strong sense of shame, shock or self-loathing, how much difference do you think that will make? We're talking about Humans, not Vulcans. 3. I think the gig is far from up for child molesters, regardless of their profession or where and when they "operate". In fact, many successful perverts often operate within their own family or friend groups. Stranger danger is a much smaller threat than it's generally perceived to be.
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Post by abbey1227 on Dec 31, 2022 1:51:59 GMT
1. Just my stupid opinion.....but I feel that it's easier to victimize people the younger they are, as they don't have the maturity or language skills when young to communicate well to others if there's a problem. But even though say a teenager or early 20s type might not be fully mature brain-wise........they should be more than capable of telling authorities when a crime has occurred.
2. I know I'm the oddball minority..... I get that. But it's also NOT like it hasn't been a few decades in a row now of all of these shows and PSAs involving becoming victimized and what to do afterwards in order to prevent that criminal from getting away with their crimes any further.
3. I got pretty good grades in Honors English. So it may have been a mutual kinda thing. Actually, I love pointing out the teachers and daycare workers because I've seen decades of priest accusations ........but most of them happened 30-40-50 years ago. The gig is up for priests. Which is why we're seeing more of it in those other occupations now, imo. 1. Because the elderly are never victimized by their carers - including family members - or random "tradies" who offer to perform maintenance on their property? 2. And if someone is experiencing a strong sense of shame, shock or self-loathing, how much difference do you think that will make? We're talking about Humans, not Vulcans. 3. I think the gig is far from up for child molesters, regardless of their profession or where and when they "operate". In fact, many successful perverts often operate within their own family or friend groups. Stranger danger is a much smaller threat than it's generally perceived to be.
1. What does an elderly, failing minded person, have to do with more youthful victims of crime? It excuses away the need to report crimes and possibly prevent others from being victimized?
2. There's the problem. I more align my thinking with Vulcans.....or maybe even Romulans. Humans behave much too irrationally for my taste. And too many feel emotions make up for everything else......when the complete opposite is true, imo.
3. No doubt. Their best best is to get it all called 'born that way' and how they identify in the near future. But it ain't going away anytime soon.
Another great point........they use the emotional tool of close family to their advantage. Here again, I am an outlier because I operate on a different wavelength and people often question how I can be the way I am........while I wonder how humanity can be the way it is? As Mark Twain is often credited with saying: The more I know about people, the more I like my dogs.
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Post by ant-mac on Dec 31, 2022 2:09:49 GMT
1. Because the elderly are never victimized by their carers - including family members - or random "tradies" who offer to perform maintenance on their property? 2. And if someone is experiencing a strong sense of shame, shock or self-loathing, how much difference do you think that will make? We're talking about Humans, not Vulcans. 3. I think the gig is far from up for child molesters, regardless of their profession or where and when they "operate". In fact, many successful perverts often operate within their own family or friend groups. Stranger danger is a much smaller threat than it's generally perceived to be.
1. What does an elderly, failing minded person, have to do with more youthful victims of crime? It excuses away the need to report crimes and possibly prevent others from being victimized?
2. There's the problem. I more align my thinking with Vulcans.....or maybe even Romulans. Humans behave much too irrationally for my taste. And too many feel emotions make up for everything else......when the complete opposite is true, imo.
3. No doubt. Their best best is to get it all called 'born that way' and how they identify in the near future. But it ain't going away anytime soon.
Another great point........they use the emotional tool of close family to their advantage. Here again, I am an outlier because I operate on a different wavelength and people often question how I can be the way I am........while I wonder how humanity can be the way it is? As Mark Twain is often credited with saying: The more I know about people, the more I like my dogs.
1. I'm just making the point that, theoretically, anyone can be a victim under the right circumstances. 2. Romulans are evolved from Vulcans who embraced their emotions, so they're not that different from Humans. 3. Dogs are not just better than cats, but they're better than people too.
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Post by abbey1227 on Dec 31, 2022 2:17:25 GMT
1. What does an elderly, failing minded person, have to do with more youthful victims of crime? It excuses away the need to report crimes and possibly prevent others from being victimized?
2. There's the problem. I more align my thinking with Vulcans.....or maybe even Romulans. Humans behave much too irrationally for my taste. And too many feel emotions make up for everything else......when the complete opposite is true, imo.
3. No doubt. Their best best is to get it all called 'born that way' and how they identify in the near future. But it ain't going away anytime soon.
Another great point........they use the emotional tool of close family to their advantage. Here again, I am an outlier because I operate on a different wavelength and people often question how I can be the way I am........while I wonder how humanity can be the way it is? As Mark Twain is often credited with saying: The more I know about people, the more I like my dogs.
1. I'm just making the point that, theoretically, anyone can be a victim under the right circumstances. 2. Romulans are evolved from Vulcans who embraced their emotions, so they're not that different from Humans. 3. Dogs are not just better than cats, but they're better than people too.
1. Of course. But what are we telling people, have been telling people, for years now? How best to stop future crimes?
2. Slight differences seem to make all the difference.
3. Don't let merh see that one. We'll both be accused of needing dopey attention seekers.......as opposed to snotty house guests
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Post by ant-mac on Dec 31, 2022 2:33:55 GMT
1. I'm just making the point that, theoretically, anyone can be a victim under the right circumstances. 2. Romulans are evolved from Vulcans who embraced their emotions, so they're not that different from Humans. 3. Dogs are not just better than cats, but they're better than people too.
1. Of course. But what are we telling people, have been telling people, for years now? How best to stop future crimes?
2. Slight differences seem to make all the difference.
3. Don't let merh see that one. We'll both be accused of needing dopey attention seekers.......as opposed to snotty house guests
1. Ask Tom Cruise. 2. The devil is in the detail. 3. Either species still beats most Humans.
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Post by abbey1227 on Dec 31, 2022 2:42:35 GMT
1. Of course. But what are we telling people, have been telling people, for years now? How best to stop future crimes?
2. Slight differences seem to make all the difference.
3. Don't let merh see that one. We'll both be accused of needing dopey attention seekers.......as opposed to snotty house guests
1. Ask Tom Cruise. 2. The devil is in the detail. 3. Either species still beats most Humans.
1. Nice pull. Which could also be seen as an obscene remark.
2. Sometimes the details regarding humans are too grisly for even me.
3. Very true.
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Post by abbey1227 on Dec 31, 2022 13:27:21 GMT
1. I'm just making the point that, theoretically, anyone can be a victim under the right circumstances. 2. Romulans are evolved from Vulcans who embraced their emotions, so they're not that different from Humans. 3. Dogs are not just better than cats, but they're better than people too.
I wanna delve back into this slightly and clarify my views a bit. It's a given already that I'm the uncaring areshole........this we know.
But I am not completely incapable of empathizing with any of these victims of crime. Being mugged, being raped, being killed, being scammed.......all bad and horrible things to happen. That's another given.
But in my uncaring mind, that doesn't give adult victims a pass on how they should react and whether or not they report it........anymore than I'd give a pass to the mugger, raper, killer or scammer simply because I could empathize with their backgrounds and experiences.
Am I seeing it that oddly? That differently than others?
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Post by ant-mac on Dec 31, 2022 13:38:29 GMT
1. I'm just making the point that, theoretically, anyone can be a victim under the right circumstances. 2. Romulans are evolved from Vulcans who embraced their emotions, so they're not that different from Humans. 3. Dogs are not just better than cats, but they're better than people too.
I wanna delve back into this slightly and clarify my views a bit. It's a given already that I'm the uncaring areshole........this we know.
But I am not completely incapable of empathizing with any of these victims of crime. Being mugged, being raped, being killed, being scammed.......all bad and horrible things to happen. That's another given.
But in my uncaring mind, that doesn't give adult victims a pass on how they should react and whether or not they report it........anymore than I'd give a pass to the mugger, raper, killer or scammer simply because I could empathize with their backgrounds and experiences.
Am I seeing it that oddly? That differently than others?
1. Having second thoughts? Or is your New Year's Resolution to be more honest and caring? 2. Oh, I never thought you were incapable... just unwilling. 3. Once again, I think you're missing the whole point about victimhood... It doesn't matter who you are, how old you are, or how big and tough you are. If it strikes you down, you will be left struggling to deal with the situation.
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Post by abbey1227 on Dec 31, 2022 14:05:18 GMT
I wanna delve back into this slightly and clarify my views a bit. It's a given already that I'm the uncaring areshole........this we know.
But I am not completely incapable of empathizing with any of these victims of crime. Being mugged, being raped, being killed, being scammed.......all bad and horrible things to happen. That's another given.
But in my uncaring mind, that doesn't give adult victims a pass on how they should react and whether or not they report it........anymore than I'd give a pass to the mugger, raper, killer or scammer simply because I could empathize with their backgrounds and experiences.
Am I seeing it that oddly? That differently than others?
1. Having second thoughts? Or is your New Year's Resolution to be more honest and caring? 2. Oh, I never thought you were incapable... just unwilling. 3. Once again, I think you're missing the whole point about victimhood... It doesn't matter who you are, how old you are, or how big and tough you are. If it strikes you down, you will be left struggling to deal with the situation.
1. Dude, I really don't know how much more honest I can be. It seems to offend plenty as it is. But caring? Nope, can't be bothered to muster up the energy for most people on this planet. Sorry
2. Exactly
3. I get all of that.........THEN the question becomes HOW BEST to help yourself AND help to make sure other people don't suffer the same abuses? Reporting crime like a grown up is one of those minimal expectations, no?
I feel horrible for any woman that gets abused. But if I then discover she's repeatedly abused? thru more than one chosen partners over many years? Sorry, but my sympathy levels drops big time.
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Post by ant-mac on Dec 31, 2022 14:52:21 GMT
1. Having second thoughts? Or is your New Year's Resolution to be more honest and caring? 2. Oh, I never thought you were incapable... just unwilling. 3. Once again, I think you're missing the whole point about victimhood... It doesn't matter who you are, how old you are, or how big and tough you are. If it strikes you down, you will be left struggling to deal with the situation.
1. Dude, I really don't know how much more honest I can be. It seems to offend plenty as it is. But caring? Nope, can't be bothered to muster up the energy for most people on this planet. Sorry
2. Exactly
3. I get all of that.........THEN the question becomes HOW BEST to help yourself AND help to make sure other people don't suffer the same abuses? Reporting crime like a grown up is one of those minimal expectations, no?
I feel horrible for any woman that gets abused. But if I then discover she's repeatedly abused? thru more than one chosen partners over many years? Sorry, but my sympathy levels drops big time.
1. Don't look at me, I've already moved on from Humans... I'm currently debating which species I should place my support behind, Cockroaches or Octopods. 3. And sometimes these people who've been victimized need help to help themselves. Everyone's different, with individual strengths and weaknesses.
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