Writing Exercise - Write a letter to your 17-year-old self

[TxRad]

Love the sincerity of the last part. "Have a nice day:" the ultimate catch phrase for the American and intellectually challenged. Goes well with other such phrases as, "Would you like to upsize that?"; "This phone call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes."

But seriously, back to the original thing. It's a free forum and a free world. I posted what I thought because I can.

You're right MC was off base with her comment to you but you have to realize that we have a problem like the asshat two door above you, namely people like JBJ. There is no moderator for this forum so we are stuck with him and his like.

Read my comment to him and I think you will understand.

 

[michchick98]

Love the sincerity of the last part. "Have a nice day:" the ultimate catch phrase for the American and intellectually challenged. Goes well with other such phrases as, "Would you like to upsize that?"; "This phone call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes."

But seriously, back to the original thing. It's a free forum and a free world. I posted what I thought because I can.

Now you read way more into that than you should have. I was telling you have a nice day, but whatever. If you wanna take it as me being intellectually challenged, be my guest. I was simply trying to be polite.

Would it be more up your alley if I told you to go to hell?

And I understand it's a free forum, but why bring your bitterness to this thread? We have enough already.

 

[laurafairlie]

Now you read way more into that than you should have. I was telling you have a nice day, but whatever. If you wanna take it as me being intellectually challenged, be my guest. I was simply trying to be polite.

Would it be more up your alley if I told you to go to hell?

And I understand it's a free forum, but why bring your bitterness to this thread? We have enough already.

Listen, honey, you're presuming a way lot about me from one post. I'm not bitter about anything in this world. In fact, I'm one of the happiest people you'll ever meet.

It's a dangerous thing to start assuming things about people before you know anything about them. It's cool though because that's the way most people are.

Hey, live and let live is all I'm saying. I have every right to say what I think, and as TxRad rightly pointed out, you're the one out of line here. I'm not interfering with free expression. YOU are the person trying to pick a fight and limit MY right to free expression. I did nothing to disparage the merits of this thread. I merely stated my point of view.

So much for finding free speech on a porn board, the one place you'd most expect to find it and oddly the least likely place you will in fact find it. How ironic is that?

 

[Guest]

Listen, honey, you're presuming a way lot about me from one post. I'm not bitter about anything in this world. In fact, I'm one of the happiest people you'll ever meet.

It's a dangerous thing to start assuming things about people before you know anything about them. It's cool though because that's the way most people are.

Hey, live and let live is all I'm saying. I have every right to say what I think, and as TxRad rightly pointed out, you're the one out of line here. I'm not interfering with free expression. YOU are the person trying to pick a fight and limit MY right to free expression. I did nothing to disparage the merits of this thread. I merely stated my point of view.

So much for finding free speech on a porn board, the one place you'd most expect to find it and oddly the least likely place you will in fact find it. How ironic is that?

But you have free speech. No one has removed or censored your comments. Everyone has free speech here until someone steps in and removes/deletes the comments or censors their content.

Your comment that there is no free speech on this thread because she questioned what you have to say intimates that you think it's only free if it goes unchallenged. HER freedom of speech entitles her to question what you have to say. That's the whole point of free speech. Just as YOUR free speech entitled you to complain about the topic of this thread.

Michchick98's basic point was that if you're not going to write a letter to your 17 year old self, then why did you feel the NEED to post here? Because you can is a justification, not an answer. All your comments did was detract from the original point of the thread. And you do so in the name of free speech? You just threw your hat in with the other people that TxRad mentioned. Your "point of view" had nothing to do with actually writing the letter, just bitching about the fact that you thought something voluntary was unnecessary. If it is unnecessary, then why did you bother to get involved? Your comment was a distraction from an exercise that other people were enjoying.

Don't wave a free speech flag around here unless you have a legitimate complaint of censorship.

Having the ability to do something does not mean that you should do something. I am exercising my right to free speech by telling you that you should try to stick to the point of the thread instead of talking IN THE THREAD about why you AREN'T GOING TO STICK TO THE TOPIC OF THE THREAD.

Way to go. You were out of line too. Do you want to upsize that?
[/soapbox]

 

[laurafairlie]

But you have free speech. No one has removed or censored your comments. Everyone has free speech here until someone steps in and removes/deletes the comments or censors their content.

Your comment that there is no free speech on this thread because she questioned what you have to say intimates that you think it's only free if it goes unchallenged. HER freedom of speech entitles her to question what you have to say. That's the whole point of free speech. Just as YOUR free speech entitled you to complain about the topic of this thread.

Michchick98's basic point was that if you're not going to write a letter to your 17 year old self, then why did you feel the NEED to post here? Because you can is a justification, not an answer. All your comments did was detract from the original point of the thread. And you do so in the name of free speech? You just threw your hat in with the other people that TxRad mentioned. Your "point of view" had nothing to do with actually writing the letter, just bitching about the fact that you thought something voluntary was unnecessary. If it is unnecessary, then why did you bother to get involved? Your comment was a distraction from an exercise that other people were enjoying.

Don't wave a free speech flag around here unless you have a legitimate complaint of censorship.

Having the ability to do something does not mean that you should do something. I am exercising my right to free speech by telling you that you should try to stick to the point of the thread instead of talking IN THE THREAD about why you AREN'T GOING TO STICK TO THE TOPIC OF THE THREAD.

Way to go. You were out of line too. Do you want to upsize that?[/soapbox]

My, my, my. What a squeeze-box you are. All I have to do to get things started around here is say "free speech" and it all goes to hell in a handbasket? How hilarious.

You're a guy, no doubt about it, and one who thinks he's the boss, no doubt about that either. Think you're gonna push me off with your DEMANDS that I answer your questions? Honey, please, you need to grow up. Real men don't demand answers. They look at the situation, size it up, and make their point, then move along.

Since you have so beautifully clarified what free speech is for pitiful little me who knows nothing about it, let me reply to you exercising all the powers of my free speech:

Upsize this, mother fucker:

 

[Guest]

My, my, my. What a squeeze-box you are. All I have to do to get things started around here is say "free speech" and it all goes to hell in a handbasket? How hilarious.

You're a guy, no doubt about it, and one who thinks he's the boss, no doubt about that either. Think you're gonna push me off with your DEMANDS that I answer your questions? Honey, please, you need to grow up. Real men don't demand answers. They look at the situation, size it up, and make their point, then move along.

Since you have so beautifully clarified what free speech is for pitiful little me who knows nothing about it, let me reply to you exercising all the powers of my free speech:

Upsize this, mother fucker:

exactly my point

 

[laurafairlie]

exactly my point

Then we share the same attitude toward each other.

Fuck off.

 

[Katyusha]

People are posting on this thread for different reasons, however, I don't necessarily believe that any of us who HAVE written a letter to our 17-year old selves is reliving regrets that they can't let go of. And it's ridiculous to assume that these letters denote anything at all in everybody who's writing them. The past is the past and we should move on? How does anybody know that the advice we'd give ourselves is because we've never moved on? Do you know us all that well?

The whole "these posts are very telling," bullshit is just that. Bullshit. Whether or not you're a therapist by profession means squat, because a therapist who could legitimately make that determination would be one who knew us, who'd spent real time getting to know us, rather than thinking they know all of our internal workings because of some posts on message boards. So give it up.

And finally, it's a writing exercise. Can you get in touch with yourself well enough to advise your younger self? ARE you that in touch with yourself; do you know your feelings that well? It's hard to be in touch with your characters if you're not in touch with yourself and your feelings.

 

[Guest]

People are posting on this thread for different reasons, however, I don't necessarily believe that any of us who HAVE written a letter to our 17-year old selves is reliving regrets that they can't let go of. And it's ridiculous to assume that these letters denote anything at all in everybody who's writing them. The past is the past and we should move on? How does anybody know that the advice we'd give ourselves is because we've never moved on? Do you know us all that well?

The whole "these posts are very telling," bullshit is just that. Bullshit. Whether or not you're a therapist by profession means squat, because a therapist who could legitimately make that determination would be one who knew us, who'd spent real time getting to know us, rather than thinking they know all of our internal workings because of some posts on message boards. So give it up.

And finally, it's a writing exercise. Can you get in touch with yourself well enough to advise your younger self? ARE you that in touch with yourself; do you know your feelings that well? It's hard to be in touch with your characters if you're not in touch with yourself and your feelings.

I was enjoying it as a writing exercise, and also as an opportunity to learn a little more about some of the fellow LIT members. I actually enjoyed writing mine, and reading some of the others.

Is it therapy? No, not really. Not, at least in the sense (to me) of sitting down on a couch and explaining yourself to someone else for $120 an hour. It's hard to open up on a message board and give REALLY personal details where others will read them. But I liked the thought.

 

[Katyusha]

I was enjoying it as a writing exercise, and also as an opportunity to learn a little more about some of the fellow LIT members. I actually enjoyed writing mine, and reading some of the others... It's hard to open up on a message board and give REALLY personal details where others will read them. But I liked the thought.

Me too.

 

[Guest]

Me too.

I should have known better than to get in an argument with someone on an internet message board. Things here just aren't that serious.

laurafairlie, I apologize. I am sorry that I offended you and I will try not to do so in the future.

~Paul

 

[michchick98]

Listen, honey, you're presuming a way lot about me from one post. I'm not bitter about anything in this world. In fact, I'm one of the happiest people you'll ever meet.

It's a dangerous thing to start assuming things about people before you know anything about them. It's cool though because that's the way most people are.

I never said you were unhappy, you just seemed bitter about this thread for whatever reason. I was just curious to know why, if you aren't interested in "Writing a letter to your 17 year old self" (which, if you look is the topic of this thread) you posted here at all? If you're happy with the way your life turned out, great.

And you're the one who assumed things about me...a person you know nothing about...when I said, "have a nice day."

You implied...no you outright said...I was intellectually challenged for telling you have a nice day. Do you say that to everyone who tells you "have a nice day"?

Next time I see a post from you (if I feel the need to respond) I'll simply tell you to fuck the hell off, okay sunshine?

Hey, live and let live is all I'm saying. I have every right to say what I think, and as TxRad rightly pointed out, you're the one out of line here. I'm not interfering with free expression. YOU are the person trying to pick a fight and limit MY right to free expression. I did nothing to disparage the merits of this thread. I merely stated my point of view.

I never said you didn't have a right to say what you want. Why post your point of view? That's not what this thread is about.

I wasn't trying to pick a fight. I was simply asking a question. You're the one who got her tits in a wringer over it.

So much for finding free speech on a porn board, the one place you'd most expect to find it and oddly the least likely place you will in fact find it. How ironic is that?

And how ironic is it that you're the one calling ME intellectually challenged when it's clear you missed the whole point of this thread, then you get in even more of a snit when others call you out on your shit too.

Yeah, how proud you must be of your happy self.

 

[oggbashan]

Another (fictional) message to 17-year-old Og based on facts.

I know that you are enjoying life and that you want to try any experience if you get a chance but:

Some things are just too dangerous. If the experts won't do it because it's unsafe, you shouldn't either. You are not immortal.

I know that you can swim. You can swim competently and you've got certificates to prove it. A rip tide doesn't care how many pieces of paper you've got. Nor does a shark, nor a school of jellyfish. Swimming where there are large salt water crocodiles is just stupid and/or suicidal. Don't.

Training to play sports is good. Playing sport is good. Playing Australian Rules is not good unless 1) you know the rules, and 2) you are bigger than they are. Neither apply so you are going to get hurt. Playing Australian Rules more than once is a triumph of hope over experience. You are going to get hurt again.

Trying to live off the land in the undeveloped back blocks of rural Australia is hard enough. You don't have to make it harder by using black powder flintlock weaponry. A modern light .22 rifle will kill a rabbit. A .7 lead ball will turn it into mincemeat and the ancient rifle is much heavier to carry in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees F.

Australian aborigines can eat grubs. Even they prefer something else. Eating one grub, to prove that you can, is enough. A tin of corned beef is more sustaining than a handful of grubs.

If the water looks foul - it is. Bull ants bite. Many Australian snakes are venomous. Try to avoid them, not chase them.

Koala Bears may look cuddly but they are nocturnal and have claws. Even in zoos they are best left alone or you may get scratched and/or peeded/shat on. Kookaburras are noisy. Do not disturb them.

Last - avoid large spiders. Some are harmless. Some aren't.

Og

 

[stephen55]

Sorry, stephen, but you got a lot of useless hate for maybe the wrong person. There are people who can deal better with hate than with love.

And those "half green niggers who's gonna cry when their momma dies" have at least a little bit of feeling, which nobody shall attack. I wouldn't accept this done on my biggest enemy.

Popping, I don't feel that way and I don't have useless hate. What I posted was simply a rant against JBJ using his own words and ideas.

 

[laurafairlie]

I never said you were unhappy, you just seemed bitter about this thread for whatever reason. I was just curious to know why, if you aren't interested in "Writing a letter to your 17 year old self" (which, if you look is the topic of this thread) you posted here at all? If you're happy with the way your life turned out, great.

And you're the one who assumed things about me...a person you know nothing about...when I said, "have a nice day."

You implied...no you outright said...I was intellectually challenged for telling you have a nice day. Do you say that to everyone who tells you "have a nice day"?

Next time I see a post from you (if I feel the need to respond) I'll simply tell you to fuck the hell off, okay sunshine?



I never said you didn't have a right to say what you want. Why post your point of view? That's not what this thread is about.

I wasn't trying to pick a fight. I was simply asking a question. You're the one who got her tits in a wringer over it.



And how ironic is it that you're the one calling ME intellectually challenged when it's clear you missed the whole point of this thread, then you get in even more of a snit when others call you out on your shit too.

Yeah, how proud you must be of your happy self.

So much energy and such a spirited reply to something so meaningless. If it were worth further discourse, I would engage, but it's already boring.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Dear 17 year old, dont fool around with MichHicks 17 year old, she's a skank.

 

[_Lynn_]

People are posting on this thread for different reasons, however, I don't necessarily believe that any of us who HAVE written a letter to our 17-year old selves is reliving regrets that they can't let go of. And it's ridiculous to assume that these letters denote anything at all in everybody who's writing them. The past is the past and we should move on? How does anybody know that the advice we'd give ourselves is because we've never moved on? Do you know us all that well?

The whole "these posts are very telling," bullshit is just that. Bullshit. Whether or not you're a therapist by profession means squat, because a therapist who could legitimately make that determination would be one who knew us, who'd spent real time getting to know us, rather than thinking they know all of our internal workings because of some posts on message boards. So give it up.

And finally, it's a writing exercise. Can you get in touch with yourself well enough to advise your younger self? ARE you that in touch with yourself; do you know your feelings that well? It's hard to be in touch with your characters if you're not in touch with yourself and your feelings.

I expanded the exercise and wrote a letter 'to myself today, looking back'. I followed a similar premise as Cloudy set when she began this thread. An interesting addition to the first letter I wrote for sure.