We built a sand box the other day for me and my friends to play in. We never really understood how and why we were friends. We had nothing in common, other than a sand box.

Somedays, some of us would arrive with nothing to play with in the sand box. However we still had fun. We could build imaginary dreams and tear them down. We had lots of good ideas.

One day I came along with a bunch of new toys to play with in the sand box, and everything was going a long good, according to my liking.

A week or two go by and everyone started playing different. They changed the rules. They wanted to change the way we played. How dare they change, I thought to my self, don't they know that if it wasn't for me, they wouldn't have any toys to play with. So I tried to change them back. They would,t change. What am I to do? They're not thinking like me! They must, they must, it has to be.

As I write this I have a chain around my neck and I"m standing on a foot stool, and my stool is teetering, or I could take all my toys and run. I'll show them, I'll fix them for speaking out against me.

Either way I'll loose some friends, because I didn't allow them expression. My way or none?

-- hillbilly (internethillbilly@hotmail.com), January 12, 2001

Answers

I genuinely hope this is metaphorical, but just in case it isn't please find someone to talk to. A friend, a neighbor, a doctor. And if you can't talk to any of those people e-mail one of us.

Little bit farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@calinet.com), January 12, 2001.

It will be interesting to see how this one goes. Quite a shocking title. So what's your point? This one could be at least three different threads.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), January 12, 2001.

hillbilly, Ain't nuthin' wrong with your toys. Some of em just need the stickers left on to tell how old we have to be to play with em. :) Don't jump out the sandbox, just yet. I think all we gotta do, is clean up where our cats have been in the sandbox first.BTW, put me on your email list, if you get any jokes to hot for the forum.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 12, 2001.

I have dibs on his boots and goat...

-- William in WI (thetoebes@webtv.net), January 12, 2001.

hillbilly make sure the chain is attached to the sandbox. If your depressed e-mail me.. due to circumstances out of my control I'll be home all week-end.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), January 12, 2001.

Is there room for two? After nursing a sick goat last weekend, I am now nursing a yearling lamb. This is nuts! If I'm not drenching him, I'm poking him with a hypodermic or putting him on his feet. My happy farmstead is becoming a seething mass of germs, it would seem. I could use some sleep, too. So move over.

btw, if you ARE serious, ditto on getting professional help. I sure would.

-- sheepish (WA) (rborgo@gte.net), January 12, 2001.

Hillbilly,I have a little song you might like to hear.You and anyone else will have to email me so I can attach it.

-- Bettie Ferguson (jobett@dixie-net.com), January 12, 2001.

I'm alright. I just wanted to say, we can't all agree and we can't all live our lives the same way.I read a lot of answers to different questions posted herein, and some of the people here re- mind me of this story. I can't name any names because then I'd be picking on them. As a matter of fact I shouldn't have said as much as I have.

Hopefully, they'll read this and understand that the only person you hurt when you carry on as such, is yourself.

I for one would truly miss you even if we can't agree.

Sheepish, I don't know anything about goats or sheep, wish I did. Sorry about your misfortunes.

-- hillbilly (internethillbilly@hotmail.com), January 12, 2001.

Thanks! I don't think I know anything about them either! I am learning things the hard way, like we all do.

Hey, if everyone leaves the sandbox, what are we going to argue about?

-- sheepish (WA) (rborgo@gte.net), January 12, 2001.

I get the point hilly billy. Funny and sadly true.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 12, 2001.

Good observation Hillbilly. Think you are right, it is "My way or none?"

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), January 13, 2001.

Within the first sentence I knew the metaphor, my oldest daughter went through that because she was an only child for five years and would have a screeching fit when my nephew would come over and want to play different. They play seperately if they don't want to play the same thing and then play together when they agree. I became so used to debate about religion and politics that I forgot how sensative people can be when someone else doesn't agree with them. I post on the Religious Reffugees forum which is inhabited by christians and pagans. The debates get intense on occassion (presently their discussing hate crimes), those who can't stand the heat leave, but the rest remember that diversity is indeed the bane and windfall of humanity and they all love oneanother despite the differences. This tempers how they debate and no one takes it personal. It takes time and perseverence to develope the thick skin needed to interact with others without being too sensative.

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), January 13, 2001.

I will play in the sandbox even if I get sand in my eyes,,it's only sand.Hillbilly it's nice that you want others to play and will share your toys.There are no rules for me or from me.Playing with others in the sand box helps me grow up.

-- teri (mrs-smurf2000@yahoo.ca), January 13, 2001.

First off, forget the shit that "everybody" is going to play in "your" sandbox. Ain't gonna happen. I know you had ideals and morals, so do some of the rest of us. You may not reconize us when you meet our eyes. We are your Fast Food Server, the waiter, waitress, Indian Chief, yada yada, you know the rest. Why do you attempt to "give up", when the rest are left without a "champion". Get off your duff, and do what you can.

-- Dear hillbilly (youaremy@neighbor.com), January 17, 2001.