> My thought so far is that the helpfulness of any real thoughts I have on the subject will be negated by the fact that there is a difference between the situations of a newcomer to the community and someone who has been here for multiple years. I could speculate and theorize, but I'm not sure how much good that'll do anybody.

... I can say that I've never gotten any "false" sympathy in my time at RinkWorks for my own physical disability as well as what situational problems I have, even when I've been majorly stupid in handling them. Somehow I've convinced at least a few people here to care about me, and I can say I know I have their prayers and support when I need it. Even some of those I may not call closest friends still care (and I care in return), at least a bit -- none of it fake that I've encountered.

So while the situation may be different for a "newcomer," with someone like our dearest Gahalyn to care at first (and for what I know of her, she does care -- don't take her sympathy for fake), that doesn't last long.

I have to say I had a hard time reading DriverDB's in-name quote thing, though. Periods are good, you know. ;)

Ri "Something I've learned: don't refuse sympathy -- you just turn away those few who actually do care" a