though, damn man--take a compliment :)

i'm watching my fiancee's family implode over a situation maybe half as bad and far more "normal" (in that it's not surprising her 90 year old grandpa's health is failing and he's doing dumb stuff), so I might have a lower view of people's ability to handle shit right now than you.

>Point being, I believe many people would be able to handle it.
>We tend to adapt to our surroundings and develop survival
>mechanisms and learn to cope.

handle, yes. handle well? that's i think what i was trying to get at.

>Not trying to be contentious or anything, that comment simply
>gave me food for thought and I felt like chewing the fat a
>little :).

no doubt. it's an interesting abstract debate. it might also have to do with how situations get sprung on people--you've been handling this for a long time. but if all of that fell on my lap right now, even with all of the privilege and status and success i have (that didn't sound dickish at all, did it? but hopefully you know what I mean), I'd probably be handling it much worse than you are. bottomline, while I see what you're saying and you very well may be right, and it's good to be humble, it's also ok to be proud of doing as much as you are doing.

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It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious.